Stride with the Pride: A Green and White Agro

Motivation

Focusing heavily on the combination of both the mechanics of Strive and Heroic, this unique Green and White agro deck focuses on placing as many +1/+1 counters on your creatures as fast as possible.  With Ajani and Brimaz on the forefront, they will help build up your front line and continue to dominate the battlefield.  This is certainly the most expensive deck I have built, currently ranging near $81, before I add in any other cards to help solidify the deck.

Deck Contents

Land (19)

• 7- Plains ($1.40)
• 11- Forests ($2.20)
• 1- Temple of Plenty ($4.98)
• 1- Selesnya Guildgate ($0.11)

Creatures (31)

• 1- Ajani, Mentor of Heroes ($19.19)
• 1- Brimaz, King of Oreskos ($18.99)
• 1- Hero of Leina Tower ($0.44)
• 1- Karametra, God of Harvests ($2.72)
• 2- Archetype of Courage ($0.76)
• 3- Akroan Skyguard ($0.30)
• 3- Dawnbringer Charioteers ($0.60)
• 3- Snake of the Golden Grove ($0.15)
• 3- Swordwise Centaur ($0.27)
• 4- Nyxborn Shieldmate ($0.28)
• 4- Pheres-Band Tromper ($0.20)
• 4- Setessan Oathsworn ($0.36)

Spells (10)

• 1- Setessan Tactics ($0.40)
• 2- Trollhide ($0.10)
• 3- Solidarity of Heroes ($0.45)
• 4- Ajani's Presence ($0.36)

Total Cost: $80.99

Ways to Improve the Deck

Land

• 2- Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx ($10.80)
• 2- Mutavault ($51.00)
• 3- Temple of Plenty ($14.94)

Creatures

• 1- Brimaz, King of Oreskos ($18.99)
• 1- Ajani, Mentor of Heroes ($19.19)
• 2- Elspeth, Sun's Champion ($39.14)
• 2- Heliod, God of the Sun ($7.88)
• 2- Nylea, God of the Hunt ($8.84)
• 3- Hero of Leina Tower ($1.32)
• 4- Fleecemane Lion ($3.52)

Spells

• 2- Bow of Nylea ($2.52)
• 2- Spear of Heliod ($3.30)
• 2- Dictate of Heliod ($0.82)
• 2- Godsend ($13.86)
• 3- Setessan Tactics ($1.20)
• 4- Banishing Light ($5.96)

Potential Sideboards:

1) Spell Focus

• 1- Brimaz, King of Oreskos
• 1- Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
• 2- Bow of Nylea
• 2- Dictate of Heliod
• 2- Godsend
• 3- Setessan Tactics
• 4- Banishing Light

2) Creature Focus

• 1- Brimaz, King of Oreskos
• 1- Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
• 2- Elspeth, Sun's Champion
• 2- Heliod, God of the Sun
• 2- Nylea, God of the Hunt
• 3- Hero of Leina Tower
• 4- Fleecemane Lion

3) Hybrid

• 1- Brimaz, King of Oreskos
• 1- Ajani, Mentor of Heroes
• 1- Setessan Tactics
• 2- Godsend
• 2- Banishing Light
• 2- Bow of Nylea
• 2- Dictate of Heliod
• 2- Elspeth, Sun's Champion
• 2- Nylea, God of the Hunt

Strategy of Play for Base Deck:

The deck runs strong with a ton of low mana cost creatures and the 4 Pheres-Band Trompers.  The Trompers are fantastic in this deck to help put pressure on your opponent.  Every time they untap, they gain a +1/+1 counter.  Costing 4 mana, they can essentially double themselves to 6/6 creatures by round 7, making them a great investment.  Ajani will help the deck, by either searching for creatures or placing 3 +1/+1 counters on your creatures.  Karametra, the weakpoint of the deck is nice to keep up with mana, but I would certainly replace her with either Elspeth or another Ajani.  Playing any of your Dawnbring Charioteers will create tension among your opponents, as they try to fight against your growing health pool and the impending threats of of 4/6 flyers (after one spell is cast on them). 

Conclusion

While the deck is pricey, it certainly function fine with 19 mana.  I would/will probably fill in the rest of the temples by replacing forests and look at adding a couple mana confluence, if the shock is not fully harmful.  In general, it is a strong deck that can overrun your opponent quickly, if you are allowed to get ahead in tempo.

All prices were checked at http://www.tcgplayer.com/.  Here you can browse for the price of cards and get a general idea of your deck/collection of cards.