Deck 2 - Anafenza Warriors

This deck is part of the Two-Headed Giant Commander decks, these are designed to be played 2v2 or 3v3 in the Commander format, but can also be played 1v1. 

Certain decks have certain themes, and will pair better with other decks, which decks work best have been listed below. These decks are on a higher skill level than most of the other decks in the club, with a lot of interacting mechanics. This can be overwhelming to learn and master but it is a whole lot of fun when you do.

In the untamed wilderness beyond the kingdom’s borders, the Wild Outlanders thrive. These warriors, elves, and goblins live in harmony with the forest, their lives deeply connected to the natural world. Their leader Kresh, the exiled brother of King Kenrith, has forged a life of freedom and strength among these outlanders. As the kingdom faces the threat of the Villains, the Wild Outlanders must decide whether to join the fight for glory or remain hidden in their remote villages, untouched by the turmoil of the outside world.The theme of the Wild Outlanders box is a . The main theme for the Wild Outlander decks are +1/+1 counters, Warriors, Elves and Goblins. 

Anafenza was a valiant woman from Tarkir. She epitomized the unstoppable nature of the Abzan Houses. When Anafenza was younger, her family was betrayed and given to the Sultai. Anafenza watched her parents and uncle be slaughtered before her Krumar cousin Gvar Barzeel rescued her. They made their escape and eventually discovered that Oret was the traitor who gave the information to the Sultai. Anafenza spent the next several years building up her reputation in the Abzan until she was elected as Khan. Oret arrived for her coronation as even he could not miss it; just as she planned. She and Gvar, together with her captain of the guard, Kwaro confronted him, and Anafenza publicly and spiritually disowned Oret from her family. She declared that Oret was not her family and that she would kill him the next time they met while acknowledging her Krumar cousin, Gvar as her brother and true family.

As the khan, Anafenza used to lead her army from the front, riding out with her chariot pulled by her prized Ibex goats. Leading from the fortress of Mer-Erk, she waged war not to conquer, but to maintain the trade routes that allowed the clan to function, and to protect her people from the Sultai Brood and Mardu Horde. She was served by an elite of vulture-like Aven. When she held court in Mer-Erk, she sat on the Amber Throne under the First Tree.

Anafenza, the Foremost commands a deck that focuses on building a resilient and aggressive board state through +1/+1 counters and powerful synergies that bolster your creatures. This deck excels in growing your creatures' power and toughness, making them formidable threats on the battlefield while simultaneously disrupting your opponents' graveyard strategies. With a combination of counter synergies, powerful creatures, and utility spells, this deck seeks to overwhelm opponents with sheer force and resilience.

Key Cards:

• Anafenza, the Foremost: As the commander, Anafenza not only bolsters your attack by adding +1/+1 counters to an attacking creature but also disrupts opponents' graveyard strategies by exiling creatures that die. This dual functionality makes her a central piece in both your offensive and defensive strategies.

• Hardened Scales and Winding Constrictor: These cards are crucial in maximizing the value of your +1/+1 counters. Hardened Scales adds an additional +1/+1 counter whenever one or more counters would be placed on a creature you control, and Winding Constrictor doubles up by adding an extra counter for each counter placed.

• Corpsejack Menace and Conclave Mentor: These creatures significantly amplify the power of your counter strategy. Corpsejack Menace doubles the number of +1/+1 counters placed on your creatures, while Conclave Mentor provides an additional counter and even gives you life when it dies, making it a versatile piece in your game plan.

• The Ozolith and Ozolith, the Shattered Spire: The Ozolith ensures that no counters are wasted when a creature leaves the battlefield, transferring all counters to another creature. Ozolith, the Shattered Spire acts as an additional counter-doubling effect and a source of consistent counter generation.

• Champion of Lambholt and Forgotten Ancient: Champion of Lambholt grows with each creature you cast, eventually making your entire team unblockable. Forgotten Ancient accumulates counters as spells are cast, and can then distribute those counters to any of your creatures, making it a flexible and powerful threat.

• Gavony Township and Karn's Bastion: These lands provide valuable ways to proliferate and distribute +1/+1 counters across your board. Gavony Township allows you to consistently pump your entire team, while Karn's Bastion offers the ability to proliferate, spreading your counters even further.

• Eerie Ultimatum and Sigarda's Summons: Eerie Ultimatum allows you to return all of your permanents from the graveyard to the battlefield, giving you a powerful late-game recovery tool. Sigarda's Summons turns all your creatures with +1/+1 counters into flying 4/4 angels, creating an overwhelming aerial assault.

Strategy:

Early Game: In the early game, focus on ramping and setting up your counter synergies. Play mana dorks like Avacyn's Pilgrim and ramp spells like Farseek and Cultivate to accelerate your mana base. Deploy early counter enablers like Hardened Scales or Winding Constrictor to start building up your board. Anafenza, the Foremost can come down early to start applying pressure and disrupting graveyard strategies.

Mid Game: By the mid-game, your goal should be to establish a board full of creatures with +1/+1 counters, supported by key synergy pieces like Corpsejack Menace, Conclave Mentor, or The Ozolith. Use Anafenza, the Foremost to continue growing your creatures and attacking with impunity. Play powerful creatures like Champion of Lambholt and Forgotten Ancient to further build your board presence. Gavony Township and Karn's Bastion can help spread your counters, making your board even more formidable.

Late Game: In the late game, focus on closing out the game with overwhelming board presence and powerful interactions. Eerie Ultimatum can bring back any lost resources, giving you a fresh army to dominate the battlefield. Sigarda's Summons can transform your army into flying threats, allowing you to finish off opponents who thought they were safe. Utilize Gavony Township and Karn's Bastion to ensure your creatures are as large and deadly as possible. If the game drags on, cards like Nissa, Voice of Zendikar can continue to generate value and ensure you maintain pressure.

Mulligan Guide:

Opening Hand Considerations: Look for a balanced hand that includes ramp, a counter enabler, and a strong creature or utility spell. A hand with Avacyn's Pilgrim, Arcane Signet, or a ramp spell like Farseek will help you accelerate into your more powerful mid-game plays. If you have early enablers like Hardened Scales or Winding Constrictor, it’s usually a good keep as these cards are key to your deck's strategy. Also, look for hands with card draw or utility options, like Inspiring Call or Inspiring Call, to ensure you have gas as the game progresses.

Hands to Avoid: Avoid hands that are too slow or lack ramp, as you need to establish your board presence early to take advantage of your counter synergies. Hands with too many high-cost spells or without any early plays are also risky. If your hand doesn’t have a clear plan for the first few turns, consider taking a mulligan to find a more balanced hand that can set up your synergies quickly.

With this strategy guide, you should be well-prepared to pilot your Anafenza, the Foremost deck to victory. By leveraging the power of +1/+1 counters and Anafenza’s aggressive abilities, you can build a resilient, unstoppable board that crushes your opponents under the weight of your creatures.