The furry planeswalker is back, this time in the plane of Theros. I think he will be the walker to wrap up the count in this block. There is not much introduction of him at the mothership site when he was previewed earlier today. I am not sure why but it seems to be the recent trend today for the planeswalker to just be revealed instantly and not slow rolled. Anyhow, here is his new form:

His five-mana casting cost makes it reasonable for the two +1 abilities, and no minus loyalty drawbacks. The +3/+3 counter pump make me consider hexproof critters like Witchstalker in the main deck if ever they go in the same list. With that in mind, here is a rough draft of a Green White Midrange deck with the new Ajani.

Lands
7 Plains
7 Forest
2 Mutavault
4 Temple of Plenty
4 Temple Garden

Creatures
2 Banisher Priest
4 Boon Satyr
3 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
4 Elvish Mystic
2 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Polukranos, World Eater
3 Witchstalker
4 Voice of Resurgence

Spells
1 Angelic Edict
3 Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
3 Elspeth, Sun’s Champion
4 Selesnya Charm

Elvish is your only mana guys to ramp into an early Ajani or Elspeth, but the deck can also curve out well from VoR into Brimaz into Polukranos. We are somewhat clogged into the three drops but Boon Satyr at most times is being played as an Aura so he is a five-drop.

I have chosen Polukranos, World Eater over Advent of the Wurm for the four drop as the latter cannot be fetched by Ajani. Polukranos has also proved to be a walking removal with its monstrous fight ability.

The only six-drop, Elspeth, Sun’s Champion, can generate Soldier tokens to benefit Ajani’s +1/+1 counter and is already a late game bomb on its own.

Selesnya Charm is the standard choice for these colors in terms of combat tricks and pseudo removals. I’ve also considered Banisher Priest and a lone Angelic Edict (which can also deal with spheres and connections) for additional spot removals. The priest might look weak on this build but it is the best critter removal White has to currently offer, plus it can also be pumped by Ajani.

My next plan is to have Ajani, Mentor of Heroes in a Naya version of a midrange deck, though I think I have to wait for the entire cards in the set to be revealed so as to have more choices.

That is a wrap. Until the next post.