Ok, this was my FIRST EDH deck made, and now that I have made a few, I decided to fix it up, realizing the main problem was the land. This deck needed land, and fixers, like Weathered Wayfarer, Land Tax, Scroll Rack, and a few others that I did not know existed until making a few others.
With that out of the way, I will say this, as I have now been playing MTG for a full year, my favourite creature type and colour have been white Soldiers, and thus sparked me wanting to make this deck.
Reason for #2: Makes 2 Soldier tokens, see reason #1 for a combo, plus it combo's with Militia's Pride for a lot more prevention.
Reason for #3: One of the best graveyard hates I can think of, for just white. Basically 3 mana to exile a card from any graveyard, and then replayable. If opponents know you have him in your hand again, they will think twice about any graveyard actions.
Reason for #5: Can be good against token decks, also great for when they attack and Darien, King of Kjeldor is in play, I lose no life and gain that many Soldiers.
Reason for #6: Don't think I need to explain this one.
Tarnished Citadel is great with Darien and can produce colorless if you're low on life. Nomad Stadium is also worth considering.
Hmm, great choices, probably don't want too many things that deal me damage, but could always use City of Brass or Ancient Tomb, so will give the Tomb a try as it's acceleration. Also, those reminded me of a card, Arena of the Ancients, seeing as the only 2 things effected in my deck are my general and 1 land, and my general isn't designed to need to deal damage.
Funny. I was just thinking to myself that I like soldiers, I don't like paying for an exorbitant manabase, and I'd love an EDH deck. So Darien seemed like an ideal place to start... and here I look and there's a deck! Now, I had previously made some budget restrictions for myself ($100 total, max $5 per card) which are going to immediately invalidate a few cards, despite how good Elspeth is in this deck. But if you don't mind, I may steal a few cards from your build (though, to be honest, we already had a bit of overlap) in making my budget EDH deck.
Funny. I was just thinking to myself that I like soldiers, I don't like paying for an exorbitant manabase, and I'd love an EDH deck. So Darien seemed like an ideal place to start... and here I look and there's a deck! Now, I had previously made some budget restrictions for myself ($100 total, max $5 per card) which are going to immediately invalidate a few cards, despite how good Elspeth is in this deck. But if you don't mind, I may steal a few cards from your build (though, to be honest, we already had a bit of overlap) in making my budget EDH deck.
Not a problem! Elspeth is one of those cards that if I didn't own, I'd not consider putting her in a deck (hence why none of my decks have old fetch lands or original dual lands), so I understand the price limits. If you'd choose to take some things out, I can understand many probably don't share my love for equipments, and nor does this include any Zendikar yet, as I'm still getting to learn the set.
I hope this helps any and all who would like to work on Soldier EDH decks, and I can't really claim any 'ideas' for my own, MTG made the cards, I just pulled the ones I liked
Sun Droplet to go with some pain lands, such as the Ancient Tomb thats already on your list.
There's also Celestial Crusader as an interesting combat trick. Buff your guys and get an extra body in play. That guy with Darien + Tarnished Citadel = 4 2/2's and an opponent who will frown.
I put together a deck very similar to this one about three months ago (inspired heavily by your list, thank you very much!). Horizons has been a total powerhouse. The card advantage is crazy. Not only do you insure yourself a land drop every turn, you guarentee that the card you draw will be 90% business, 10% sweet non-basic land. Afraid of playing it early because everyone's playing green? No problem! Only remove 15-20 plains and you'll still hit the land you need. Plus, you played turn one Land Tax, right? Right.
I love this deck. I'll get around to posting my list sometime when I'm less lazy (and less at work).
Working on restructuring my Darien-Equipment deck. Using a lot from this list because the Soldiers I already had were really lackluster. Didn't have much mana ramp either, so it was really slow.
1 Darien, King of Kjeldor
// Soldier Creatures (25)
1 Aven Cloudchaser
1 Aven Squire
1 Aven Brigadier
1 Ballyrush Banneret
1 Benalish Commander
1 Captain of the Watch
1 Catapult Master
1 Daru Warchief
1 Eiganjo Free-Riders
1 Field Marshal
1 Haazda Shield Mate
1 Intrepid Hero
1 Loxodon Gatekeeper
1 Oathsworn Giant
1 Patrol Signaler
1 Preeminent Captain
1 Rhox Pikemaster
1 Soltari Champion
1 Steam Catapult
1 Steelshaper Apprentice
1 Stormfront Riders
1 Taj-Nar Swordsmith
1 Veteran Armorer
1 Veteran Armorsmith
1 Veteran Swordsmith
1 Cloudgoat Ranger
1 Knight-Captain of Eos
1 Stonecloaker
1 Stonehewer Giant
1 Soul Warden
1 Weathered Wayfarer
// Creature Control (6)
1 Condemn
1 Path to Exile
1 Prison Term
1 Swords to Plowshares
1 Temporal Isolation
1 Unified Strike
// Battelfield Control (4)
1 Arena of the Ancients
1 Decree of Justice
1 Wrath of God
1 Martial Coup
// Graveyard Control (3)
1 Honor the Fallen
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Reito Lantern
// Creature Boosts (4)
1 Akroma's Memorial
1 Honor of the Pure
1 Militia's Pride
1 Mobilization
// Equipment (5)
1 Shield of Kaldra
1 Sword of Fire and Ice
1 Sword of Light and Shadow
1 Umezawa's Jitte
1 Worldslayer
1 Scroll Rack
1 Sensei's Divining Top
// Mana Fixing (3)
1 Extraplanar Lens
1 Gauntlet of Power
1 Land Tax
// Planeswalkers (1)
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant
// Land (40)
1 Ancient Tomb
1 Forbidding Watchtower
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Kor Haven
1 Kjeldoran Outpost
1 Maze of Ith
1 Mutavault
1 Nomad Stadium
1 Strip Mine
1 Tarnished Citadel
1 Vesuva
1 Wasteland
1 Windbrisk Heights
27 Snow-Covered Plains
With that out of the way, I will say this, as I have now been playing MTG for a full year, my favourite creature type and colour have been white Soldiers, and thus sparked me wanting to make this deck.
There are only 6 non-Soldier creatures, those being:
1: Cloudgoat Ranger
2: Knight-Captain of Eos
3: Stonecloaker
4: Stonehewer Giant
5: Soul Warden
6: Weathered Wayfarer
Reason for #1: He makes 3 Soldier tokens, and combo's with either Eiganjo Free-Riders, Stormfront Riders, and possibly Stonecloaker, if I don't need graveyard hate that game.
Reason for #2: Makes 2 Soldier tokens, see reason #1 for a combo, plus it combo's with Militia's Pride for a lot more prevention.
Reason for #3: One of the best graveyard hates I can think of, for just white. Basically 3 mana to exile a card from any graveyard, and then replayable. If opponents know you have him in your hand again, they will think twice about any graveyard actions.
Reason for #4: Great for pulling out equipment, combo's well with Shield of Kaldra and Worldslayer.
Reason for #5: Can be good against token decks, also great for when they attack and Darien, King of Kjeldor is in play, I lose no life and gain that many Soldiers.
Reason for #6: Don't think I need to explain this one.
Hmm, great choices, probably don't want too many things that deal me damage, but could always use City of Brass or Ancient Tomb, so will give the Tomb a try as it's acceleration. Also, those reminded me of a card, Arena of the Ancients, seeing as the only 2 things effected in my deck are my general and 1 land, and my general isn't designed to need to deal damage.
Not a problem! Elspeth is one of those cards that if I didn't own, I'd not consider putting her in a deck (hence why none of my decks have old fetch lands or original dual lands), so I understand the price limits. If you'd choose to take some things out, I can understand many probably don't share my love for equipments, and nor does this include any Zendikar yet, as I'm still getting to learn the set.
I hope this helps any and all who would like to work on Soldier EDH decks, and I can't really claim any 'ideas' for my own, MTG made the cards, I just pulled the ones I liked
Glarecaster is good too.
Also, I think the deck could use some artifact and enchantment removal. Kor Sanctifiers, Return to Dust, and Ray of Distortion are good ones for mono-white.
http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/1959
There's also Celestial Crusader as an interesting combat trick. Buff your guys and get an extra body in play. That guy with Darien + Tarnished Citadel = 4 2/2's and an opponent who will frown.
I put together a deck very similar to this one about three months ago (inspired heavily by your list, thank you very much!). Horizons has been a total powerhouse. The card advantage is crazy. Not only do you insure yourself a land drop every turn, you guarentee that the card you draw will be 90% business, 10% sweet non-basic land. Afraid of playing it early because everyone's playing green? No problem! Only remove 15-20 plains and you'll still hit the land you need. Plus, you played turn one Land Tax, right? Right.
I love this deck. I'll get around to posting my list sometime when I'm less lazy (and less at work).
RGW Uril, the Miststalker - Retired
W Darien, King of Kjeldor
UGR Intet, the Dreamer
BG Sapling of Colfenor
Angelic Chorus is another card that combo's with Darien.
Slate of Ancestry could be huge.
Maybe add in some sacrifice effects? Such as Altar of Dementia, Helm of Possession, Ashnod's Altar, etc.
Jinxed Idol might be fun as well. Mana Vault and Mana Crypt provide acceleration while also making soldiers with Darien.