Originally running Sultai to utilize Dread Presence and an Elemental package, but now, as shown this last weekend at SCG Philly, sporting the best card white has to offer over Sultai, Teferi, Time Raveler, brings Bant Scapeshift to the forefront of the format with a solid game plan and means to execute it.

The win condition of the deck is by casting Scapeshift with 7 or more lands and tutor out one to four copies of Field of the Dead and additional minimum of six other lands with different names to create an army of 2/2 zombie tokens equal to the number of lands you tutor times the number of Field of the Dead you put into play. This happens because the lands will enter the battlefield at the same time upon the resolution of Scapeshift, and because of this, each individual land will trigger Field of the Dead so as long as its condition is met. For a general example, having eight lands out and casting Scapeshift, by sacrificing all eight lands, finding 2 Field of the Dead and six other lands with different names will create 16 Zombie tokens. In most games, this is super lethal. 

The lands in the deck were picked mainly to have a critical mass of differently named lands, as well as minor utility, such as gaining life, being searchable with Circuitous Route, scrying or the one-of Blast Zone to assist in board control. The only advisory note with this mana base is to be wary of Assassin's Trophy and the number of basics you keep in the deck. Generally if playing or searching out basics can be avoided, do so until Assassin's Trophy may allow you to.

The plan of action is to spend turns 1-4 ramping with Growth Spiral and Circuitous Route, and also Arboreal Grazer and Elvish Rejuvinator to double as roadblocks to the fast aggro decks in the format. Teferi, Time Raveler plays an important role in the deck where he either aids in slowing down your opponent with his static ability or minus ability, or allows instant speed Scapeshifts to give the zombie horde pseudo haste on the following turn. Only other cards to address are the Hydroid Krasis to dump mana into, and Time Wipe and Prison Realm to have some interaction that is needed to not die to the various aggro decks in the format. (Note: I am considering a third Time Wipe, which is currently in the sideboard, to be able to consistently hit the card when I would need it against the decks in question.)

On to the sideboard, the main card to usually cut for cards to bring in is Circuitous Route. While it is an Explosive Vegetation, at 4 mana, it is best to lower the curve and bring in answers to what the opponent is wanting to accomplish. Generally bringing in Ajani's Welcome against aggressive decks will grant time for the deck to reach its land critical mass and combo to then gain the life to stabilize and win shortly after. Shifting Ceratops is to be brought in to be a bane to blue decks and also be a wall against decks it can block profitably against such as drakes and other flyers. Veil of Summer as well as Dovin's Veto fill similar roles in preventing the opponent from disrupting the threats the deck wants to deploy. Holding up Veil of Summer while resolving a Teferi, Time Raveler can so much as spell victory against flash/ instant speed decks. Ixalan's Binding and Sorcerous Spyglass also have shared roles in dealing with problematic permanents cheaply and efficiently. Binding can create dead cards in the opponent's hand after the first copy of a card exiled by it is dealt with, and Spyglass doubles as giving information for what's in hand and shutting down key planeswalkers such as Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord, the various Chandras, Teferi, Hero of Dominaria, and, to a degree, Nissa, Who Shakes the World.

In depth sideboard guide to be written later this week!