[Standard] Soldiers

[Dark Wolf]

I used to run a dedicated soldier deck in casual play that was really fun. Vigilance, first strike, and being huge all seemed like a really good deal when it came to white creatures. Lately, since I've been playing around with new ideas for mono-white (Knight deck once 2011 comes out, woot!), I thought I'd see what you all thought of a Standard Soldier deck and how it would match up against the current field. I'm still brainstorming, so if anyone thinks a different creature would be better, please say so.

4 Elite Vanguard
4 Kazandu Blademaster
4 Veteran Armorsmith
4 Hada Freeblade
4 Palace Guard
2 Captain of the Watch

4 Path to Exile
4 Honor of the Pure
4 Brave the Elements
4 Oblivion Ring

18 [c]Plains
4 Emeria, the Sky Ruin

Sideboard

4 Kor Firewalker

I'm not sure what else to say about this deck. It seems pretty straightforward. Yes, the two white Allies are in this deck. Even though they really shine in a dedicated Allies deck, a 1/2 turn one can be just as good as a 2/1 turn one, and a 2/2 first strike vigilance guy on turn two or three is never a bad thing. I've never been sorry to see Kazandu Blademaster ever since I started playing him. Captain of the Watch is shaky, but I think that the possibility of having a ton of big vigilant soldiers is too good an opportunity to pass up as a finisher. Rhox Pikemaster also seems like it may have a good fit somewhere, maybe as a two of and knocking Palace Guard down to a two of as well. I'm not really sure what to do for a sideboard, as most of your maindeck spells should handle anything in the format (Path for creatures, O-ring for planeswalkers and other nasties). Let me know what you all think!

[Ferridge]

How comes your not playing with Student of warfare? He's such a solid 1 drop

[Into the Aether]

Martial Coup is also wonderfull soldier card, but considering it is rotating out, its probably not worth it.
I am also intrested in knights in 2011, but it seems as though there are not many knights to run with it yet. Either there will be a few more knights spoiled, or for some reason there will be an abundace of knights in the Scars block.

[Demoninabottle]

What about Veteran Swordsmith? Your Freeblade/Blademaster ally combo should be saved for ally decks only. The swordsmith will net you a +1+0 for all of your soldier creatures, not just those that are allies. For better pump, I would consider sacking one of the Honor of the Pure one Brave the Elements for 2 Coat of Arms, and sack one O-ring and one Path for 2 Conquerors pledge, which combos excellently with Coat of Arms (assuming no other creatures on the field, you would get 6 6/6's for 5 mana). If you're worried about control issues by the loss of two of your removal cards, try substituting 2 of your Elite Vanguards for Hookmasters, which lock up a creature for two turns upon entering the field. Plus, vanguards are terrible topdecks late-game

[Ubersuck]

Elite vanguard are must for soldiers.