With the loss of Elspeth, Courser of Kruphix and Thoughtseize, most people assume that Abzan Control is dead in the Standard metagame after the release of Battle of Zendikar. Well Bradley Carpenter proved them wrong as he piloted the BFZ Standard version of the deck to a Top 8 finish in the Starcity Games Standard Open last weekend in Indianapolis.

Here is the decklist:

Maindeck
Creatures (12)
4 Den Protector
1 Gilt-Leaf Winnower
4 Siege Rhino
3 Nissa, Vastwood Seer

Planeswalkers (4)
4 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

Spells (17)
4 Abzan Charm
2 Ultimate Price
1 Utter End
3 Despise
3 Languish
4 Ruinous Path

Lands (27)
3 Forest
2 Plains
3 Swamp
1 Canopy Vista
3 Caves of Koilos
3 Llanowar Wastes
4 Sandsteppe Citadel
1 Scoured Barrens
4 Shambling Vent
3 Windswept Heath

Sideboard
4 Arashin Cleric
2 Greenwarden of Murasa
2 Hidden Dragonslayer
1 Utter End
1 Duress
2 Painful Truths
3 Transgress the Mind