Green/White Humans Deck with Precinct Captain

September 24, 2012 | Posted by Dee

I think Green/White (GW) Humans is going to be a top deck in the new Standard format with Return to Ravnica.

The deck won’t lose much when Scars of Mirrodin block and Magic 2013 leave the format. Hero of Bladehold will be missed but there are suitable replacements.

GW Humans got a powerful creature from Return to Ravnica. Precinct Captain is easily the best two-drop in Standard from the Human tribe. He’s hard to block because of his first strike ability and he punishes your opponent for not blocking.

Every time you hit your opponent with him, you get a 1/1 Soldier. If your opponent can’t find an answer, he will gradually build up an army all by himself. That’s a lot of value for only two mana.

Here’s a decklist that’s been testing well for me.

GW Humans

Creatures (24)

Spells (13)

Lands (23)

Sideboard (15)

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Precinct Captain

[Preorder Precinct Captain on eBay at a low price]

Precinct Captain is not just good on his own. In this deck, he combos with many cards.

With Silverblade Paladin, he gains double strike so he becomes even harder to block. Also, you get two 1/1 tokens when he is not blocked because he deals combat damage twice to your opponent.

The first strike of Precinct Captain goes well the buff effects in the deck. Mayor of Avabruck gives him +1/+1 while Sublime Archangel turns him into a huge creature with her exalted abilities. Ajani, Caller of the Pride can give him +1/+1 counters and gradually make him a bigger threat.

For one turn, you can pump him up and give him trample with Selesnya Charm. The trample ability is nice because you can kill a chump blocker and still deal damage to your opponent to get a 1/1 Soldier token.

My favorite buff effect is definitely Rancor. Gaining two power is huge for a first strike creature and you also get the trample ability to make it easier to hit your opponent. More importantly, unlike Selesnya Charm, the buff and trample ability don’t go away at the end of the turn.

Silverblade Paladin

[Buy Silverblade Paladin on eBay at a low price]

All the buff effects that combo well with Precinct Captain also interact well with Silverblade Paladin because of his double strike soulbond ability.

If you want to play this deck, I would definitely try to pick up this card soon. He’s one of the best cards in the deck so I think he will rise in price once people realize how good this deck is.

Loyal Cathar

[Buy Loyal Cathar on eBay at a low price]

Originally, I had 4 Mayor of Avabruck and 0 Loyal Cathar but I ran into control decks with boardwipe spells. I cut 2 Mayor of Avabruck for 2 Loyal Cathar to have a better creature against these decks.

This card is great with Rancor. If your opponent clears the board, Rancor goes to your hand and Loyal Cathar returns to the battlefield as a transformed Unhallowed Cathar at the end of his turn.

Therefore, on your turn, you will have a creature to enchant with Rancor that can attack right away.

Four-Drops

[Buy Garruk Relentless on eBay at a low price]

Garruk Relentless, Sublime Archangel, and Riders of Gavony are my attempts to replace Hero of Bladehold at the four-drop spot.

If you can trade for or buy Garruk early in the Standard season, I would definitely do so. In my testing, Garruk has been a solid card in different types of green decks. I see him rising in price as the season goes along.

Garruk is a good card for several reasons. He’s a planeswalker that produces decent sized creatures so he’s good against mass removal spells.

If you suspect that your opponent has one of these spells in his hand and you have a creature on the board already, you can cast Garruk instead of a creature. This play improves your board position without risking losing multiple creatures to one spell.

Also, the 2/2 Wolf tokens from Garruk ensure that you don’t run out of creatures to buff with Rancor and Ajani, Caller of the Pride.

The green planeswalker can function as removal. Three damage may not seem that much but it can take out strong creatures like Vampire Nighthawk, Olivia Voldaren, Bloodline Keeper, Huntmaster of the Fells, and other Precinct Captains and Silverblade Paladins.

I only play three copies because you can’t have multiple Garruks on the battlefield at the same time.

Regarding the other four-drops, I’m not sure which card is better, Sublime Archangel or Riders of Gavony, so I’m playing both.

Ajani, Caller of the Pride

[Buy Ajani, Caller of the Pride on eBay at a low price]

Ajani fits well in this deck because it has a lot of cheap creatures. By the time you cast the planeswalker, you will usually have at least one creature on the board to buff up with his +1 ability.

I like the permanent buff from this ability because it makes your creatures harder to kill with a hardcast Bonfire of the Damned.

While buffing up your creatures, Ajani threatens to go ultimate and flood the board with a horde of 2/2 white Cat creature tokens.

Also, if your opponent is not prepared to deal with a high power flyer, Ajani can give a creature flying and double strike. This ability can deal a ton of damage in the air when you target a creature with Rancor or multiple +1/+1 counters.

Selesnya Charm

[Preorder Selesnya Charm on eBay at a low price]

Selesnya Charm from Return to Ravnica gives the deck flexibility at the two-drop spot.

If you need a creature for Rancor or to soulbond with Silverblade Paladin, Selesnya Charm gives you a 2/2 Knight at instant speed.

If you need to deal with a big creature, Selesnya Charm can exile a creature with five or more power. This ability combos with Rancor. You can enchant an opponent’s creature to buff it up to at least five power and then exile it with Selesnya Charm.

With this tricky play, Rancor also goes back to your hand after the creature is exiled.

If you need to push through some damage to hit your opponent or if you need to make a creature bigger to survive against a big blocker, Selesnya Charm can buff a creature for +2/+2 and give it trample.

Filed Under Standard

35 Responses to “Green/White Humans Deck with Precinct Captain”

allan on September 25th, 2012 12:06 am

can you give a sideboarding guide for the following decks:

1. Zombies
2. Control (UW miracles, Grixis)
3. Mirror

I have a similar build. But on my SB i use Rootborn Defenses, Thragtusk (for RDW and zombies)

I only use 3 Cavern, because 4 is clunky at times and I also play gavony township.
Drinne on September 25th, 2012 3:52 am

Ok I like the list, but what would you suggest if you would like to avoid cards over 20$ each – specifically Ajani and Sublime Angel? Will the engine still run without them?
Carlos on September 25th, 2012 8:05 am

Not bad, but i think turn 4 huntmaster is the better play, you can use innistrad WR (temple garden sinergy).

Huntmaster + Silverblade is awesome!
Dee on September 25th, 2012 9:47 am

@ allan

Zombies

+3 Knight of Glory
+2 Slayer of the Wicked

-2 Mayor
-1 Sublime Archangel
-1 Riders of Gavony
-1 Ajani

Control

+2 Loyal Cathar
+4 Oblivion Ring

-3 Ajani
-2 Fiend Hunter
-1 Riders of Gavony

Mirror

No changes
Dee on September 25th, 2012 9:49 am

@ Drinne

I think the deck is still pretty good without those cards. I actually board out Ajani against decks with a ton of removal.

Here’s how I would replace Ajani and Sublime Archangel.

-3 Ajani
+3 Oblivion Ring (from the sideboard)

This gives you 3 open spots in the sideboard. I would fill those spots with 1 Slayer of the Wicked and 2 Centaur Healer.

For Sublime Archangel, I would play a second Riders of Gavony over her.
Denni on September 25th, 2012 3:11 pm

How about chancing mayor for mikaeus the lunarch.
He works great with ajani and can pump creatures above
+1/+1. And there is no transformation when a turn nothing would be cast.

Also i would make place on the lands spots for 2 gavony townships.

Other then this i like the deck a lot. I am conna play this or a populate g/w version when rtr hits.
allan on September 25th, 2012 10:07 pm

thanks dee for the sideboarding guide. I agree that centaur healer is good sb for life. In my testing, it is better for this deck than thragtusk. Because thragtusk came late at times against the RDW. What this deck needs to survive the early beats is just a simple body that can block and the +3 life is already enough. Because sometimes, thragtusk is still in my hand and I cannot cast it, then I just die.

What is your idea about rootborn defense and faiths reward against board sweep? I prefer it over your SB of 2 loyal cathars.
Dee on September 27th, 2012 7:15 pm

@ allan

I like Loyal Cathar because it is cheaper and more proactive than those two cards.

I had one game against UWR Control that went like this:

I was on the play.
Turn 1 (T1): Champion
T2: Loyal Cathar, swing for 2; opponent kills Champion with Pillar of Flame
T3: Silverblade Paladin, swing for 4; opponent kills Silverblade with Mizzium Mortars
T4: Champion, two Rancors on Loyal Cathar, swing for 6; opponent plays a shockland untapped to lose 2 life, then he casts Sumpreme Verdict
T5: recast the Rancors on the flipped Loyal Cathar, swing for 6, opponent goes to 0 life

My opponent died with four cards in hand while I only had one card.

Loyal Cathar doesn’t need other cards to be good.

It’s much more aggressive than Rootborn Defenses and Faith’s Reward, which is what you want because this deck can’t afford to slow down and play too many cards that cost three or more. The deck’s strength is its speed. Loyal Cathar allows you to continue the fast aggro strategy while also being a good card against boardwipe spells.

The deck can’t afford to leave mana open for reactive cards. It should be dropping creatures and pressuring your opponent from the start.

Also, there will games when your opponent doesn’t draw their boardwipe spells. In those situations, you definitely want a creature instead of Rootborn Defenses and Faith’s Reward. For example, those two spells don’t match up well against Jace, Architect of Thought and Tamiyo. You’d much rather have a creature to attack those planeswalkers or to just attack your opponent if his life total is low enough.
allan on September 29th, 2012 12:33 am

ok i somewhat agree with your explanation. I noticed you have 4 ground seal. Is it really necessary? ho do I sb against reanimator? maybe you could use tormod’s crypt instead. It is 0 to cast, and it can hit gravecralwer and undying creatures unlike ground seal. what is your idea?
cgsublimelee on September 29th, 2012 9:44 am

This deck seems like a hard match up vs G/B zombies. It is almost as fast, the amount of FS kinda beats out the zombies, and even if a Zombie gets big enough that charm seems to laugh at you. Plus the mirror rancors again brings up the FS.
Finally the sideboard is much stronger for the humans. Knight of glory and Slayer of the wicked will be more proactive then Skirsdag high priest, Abrupt decay,and maybe cower in fear.
Am i missing something here, or are the zombies doomed from the start of this match?
Gauld on October 1st, 2012 4:35 am

Hi Dee!

What do you think about the maindeck Fencing Ace? That new 1/1 double strike guy. I think it can works well with Rancors and with the Mayor. And what do you think about replacing Ground Seal with Rest in Peace?
Thanks for the answers.
allan on October 1st, 2012 8:13 pm

@Gauld, the reason why you cannot use Rest in Peace is because it will affect your Rancor.
scryb on October 2nd, 2012 8:56 am

Hi!!
I like so much that deck but i like the elite inquisitor. What do you think about him?
Thanks
Dee on October 2nd, 2012 9:01 pm

@ allan

I actually haven’t played against a Reanimator deck with this deck so I’m not sure which sideboard card is best. Tormod’s Crypt might be better than Ground Seal. I like Ground Seal because it replaces itself by drawing a card.

But the cheaper cost of Tormod’s Crypt might be better than drawing a card.

I would sideboard like this:

+4 Ground Seal

-1 Plains
-2 Fiend Hunter
-1 Garruk

I don’t bring in graveyard hate against Zombies because I don’t want to dilute the deck aggressiveness.

Plus, graveyard hate is not that effective against cards like Lotleth Troll, Diregraf Ghoul, and Dreg Mangler. When these creatures are attacking you, the last thing you want to draw is Tormod’s Crypt.

@ cgsublimelee

I haven’t played against Zombies but it does look like GW Humans has the edge. Cower of Fear is pretty good against Knight of Glory though.

@ Gauld

Fencing Ace seems solid. Not sure if he is better than the other two-drops especially since his ability overlaps with Silverblade Paladin. Why don’t you test him and find out?

I agree with allan about Rest in Peace. It hurts your Rancors so I don’t think it is better than Ground Seal.

@ scryb

If your metagame has a lot of Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies, I like Elite Inquisitor. If not, I like the other two-drops better.
allan on October 3rd, 2012 3:41 am

in magic-league.com, the reanimator deck took 1st place twice. So maybe your 4 Sb of graveyard hate is necessary. Have you tried which is better among Tormod’s crypt and Ground seal?

Based on my own testing, Tormod’s crypt seems better. because on 2nd turn if I have ground seal, I want it to play immediately to avoid 3rd turn unburial rites.

I had wasted my mana in casting a creature. A precinct captain maybe or Mayor and Loyal cathar to add the beats would be decent than playing a 2 mana spell which is reactive.

Whereas, if i have Tormod’s crypt, I can just play it on 2nd turn and not affect my curve. Try it out bro, and give me your own experience about it.
ZinZIn on October 3rd, 2012 3:53 pm

What about Azurius Justiciar for 4 drops ?

Keep the Rider of Gavony for SB.
Richard on October 3rd, 2012 3:54 pm

@allan

Ground Seal just seems better than Tormod’s Crypt mainly because
1.) Ground Seal lets you draw a card.
2.) It stays as an enchantment and prevents cards from the graveyard to be targets of spells or abilities.

Hmmm… nevermind. Tormod cost 0 mana. This is a tough one
allan on October 3rd, 2012 9:01 pm

@ Richard,

Yes ground seal can draw you a card, but what are you going to do with it if your ground seal is destroyed at EOT, then they cast unburial on their turn and animate griselbrand?

With tormod’s crypt if they destroy it, you can always sacrifice it in response and remove their graveyard.

about number 2, Tormod’s crypt can also prevent them from targeting spells in graveyard and putting anything to it. Because they know that if they overload their graveyard, you can remove it anytime.
Dee on October 3rd, 2012 11:06 pm

@ allan

I’ve thought about it some and I think you’re right. Tormod’s Crypt seems better than Ground Seal because the deck is aggro. You’d rather have speed than card advantage to go with the deck’s theme. Tormod’s Crypt is much faster because of its zero casting cost.

I won’t be able to try it out anytime soon because I’m working on other articles and decks. But in theory, I think your reasons are solid.

Thanks for sharing them!

@ ZinZIn

That seems fine. Thanks for the tech!
jcnavarro on October 5th, 2012 1:04 pm

I was thinking in a super aggro approach I have goldfish 4 turn kills consistently

4 Dryad Militant
4 War Falcon
4 Precint Captain
4 Silverblade Paladin
2 Loxodon Smiter
2 Mikaeus, the Lunarch
3 Elite Inquisitor
3 Sublime Archangel

2 Bonds of Faith
4 Rancor
3 Ajani, Caller of the Pride
4 Selesnya Charm

4 Temple Garden
2 Gavony township
4 Sunpetal Grove
8 Plains
3 Forest

Sideboard
4 Knight of Glory
3 Tormod’s Crypt
2 Sundering Growth
2 Garruk Relentless
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Pithing Needle
Richard on October 15th, 2012 3:04 pm

@allan
thanks for sharing. It totally makes sense!
Max on October 20th, 2012 10:22 am

Is there a way to replace cavern of souls?
Dee on October 21st, 2012 6:14 pm

@ Max

You can play a combination of Selesnya Guildgate, Plains, and Forests to replace Cavern of Souls.

I would try something like:

-4 Cavern of Souls

+2 Selesnya Guildgate
+1 Plains
+1 Forest
Max on October 22nd, 2012 9:09 pm

ty big help for budget player like me
Edwin on November 1st, 2012 6:24 am

Hello Dee,

First of all I want to say that your article about Selesnya Humans is really helpfull and inspiring. But I could use some more advice.

I want to try a variation on this deck with no Garruk Relentless and Riders of Gavony mainbord. Instead I consider playing more copies of Sublime Archangel en 2 or 3 copies of Thalia, Guardian of Thraben.

What do you think about this? Without Garruk, should I have more removal? And is Thalia a good replacement for Loyal Cathar?

Of course everyone has his own playing style. But I thought maybe you could advice me on my variation. Because the considerations you describe are really helpfull!

I’m looking forward to your response!
Dee on November 1st, 2012 12:15 pm

Hey Edwin,

Thanks for visiting my site.

Regarding your question, it all depends on your metagame.

Garruk is good if there are a lot of decks with mass removal while Riders of Gavony is good if there are a lot of tribal decks.

Sublime Archangel is good in general. She might be better than Garruk in an unknown metagame. I’m not sure.

Thalia could be a decent replacement for Loyal Cathar. The reason I don’t like her that much is because this deck has 13 non-creature spells. If you play her, I would lower that number to eight or less.

For example, you could cut the Garruks for Riders of Gavony and Sublime Archangel.

Regarding the removal question, I do think some Oblivion Rings should be in the main deck especially if you cut Garruks.
Edwin on November 4th, 2012 4:55 pm

Hey Dee,

Thank you for your response! Much appreciated!

I guess I won’t play Thalia mainbord because I don’t think she overweights the non-creature spells enough. Rancor, Ajani CotP and Selesnya Charm are just too good to lower below 11. I even want to try a fourth Charm for it’s flexibility. With the +2/+2 / trample and the exile power 5 or greater, I guess this card is even better removal than Oblivion Ring. And the instant boost + trample could give an extra soldier from Precinct Captain and makes double strike from Silverblade Paladin really painfull.

But I still think about cutting Garruk. I think Garruk lacks synergy with the deck, but that’s my opinion of course. I want to discuss one more card with you: Champion of Lambholt. What do you think about her? I believe she has great synergy with Precinct Captain, Selesnya Charm, Rancor, and Loyal Cathar. Do you think she would fit and be competitive enough?

Of course, the metagame is unknown to me and I just have to try. Although my perfectionism has been keeping me from finishing decks all these years. But with your help because of this article, I will finally take a stand. The only thing I worry about most is UWR control. This deck is very popular. What gameplan should I use/ have in my sideboard?

I can’t thank you enough for your last response. I hope I will read another soon.

Greeting from the Netherlands!
Edwin
Dee on November 5th, 2012 10:58 pm

@ Edwin

I wouldn’t cut Garruk because he’s good against mass removal. If you’re worried about UWR Control, then Garruk should stay in the deck.

UWR Control plays mass removal spells like Terminus and Supreme Verdict. Garruk is better against those cards than other four-drops like Sublime Archangel and Riders of Gavony.

Champion of Lambholt seems decent if there are a lot of creature decks in your metagame. I’m not sure if she’s better than the other three-drops though.

Versus UWR Control, I would sideboard like this:

+2 Loyal Cathar
+4 Oblivion Ring

-3 Ajani
-2 Fiend Hunter
-1 Riders of Gavony

Good luck!
Josh on November 7th, 2012 12:58 pm

what about angel of glories rise? i put together a great RW humans deck featuring 2 AoGR for late game mind blowing. added into that i run 4 Cavern of Souls with the first to enter play naming humans and the second naming angels. I also like Chamption of Lambholt paired with rancor or buffed using Cathars Crusade
Dee on November 7th, 2012 2:15 pm

@ Josh

Angel of Glory’s Rise is too expensive for me in this fast aggro, but it’s definitely fun.

I like it in a less aggro, more midrange deck.

Yeah, Chamption of Lambholt is pretty sweet when you increase her power.
Edwin on November 20th, 2012 12:47 am

Heeej Dee!

A few weeks later playing the deck I agree on Garruk Relentless. I’ve been playing against a lot of control decks with Supreme Verdict. Versions with Green, Red or Black. What do you think about Rootborn Defenses in sideboard to board in against Supreme Verdict? I think it would be a good play to let opponent waist his or her turn and end the game!

O and my experience against other decks is really positive. Nice flexibility for an all out aggro deck. GW Humans is really fun to play and a deck to be taken serious by any opponent.
Dee on November 20th, 2012 4:02 am

Hello!

Rootborn Defenses looks like a good idea to beat Supreme Verdict. I like Loyal Cathar slightly better but you can play both, of course.
Portella on December 7th, 2012 7:14 am

I use Azorius Arrester to slow down the game a little bit.

Also, I’m using Mikaeus with Gavony. For 4 manas, I put 2 counters +1/+1 in each creature I control.

Also, instead of Riders, I’m using 1 Odric, and instead of Sublime, I’ve put that Captain of Vigilance (I think) where I get 3 soldiers, and bust all other cards (as they are soldiers) with +1/+1 and Vigilance.

Using Loxodon, which ALWAYS pulls something to destroy it.
Edwin on January 29th, 2013 5:06 am

With Gatecrash, do you think Humans should change color to WR of GWR?
Dee on January 30th, 2013 4:48 am

@ Edwin

I think GW, WR, and GWR are all good color combinations.