Angels

Serra Angel (artist: Rebecca Guay) card art

Continuing 'tribal month' (see this post), today I look at Angels.

Introduction
Angels first appeared in Legends (1994), though retroactively, with Gabriel Angelfire; 255 unique ones have been printed to date. As you would expect, they are predominantly mono-white (180 cards), with the remainder multi-colored (55 cards), mono-black (10 cards), colorless (7 cards), mono-red (4 cards), and mono-blue (1 card). (The math doesn't add up here . . . either my search terms are wrong or something is off in scryfall's database. No matter.) 

I don't know how viable Angel tribal was as a deck archetype a few years ago, but Angels got a boost from Kaldheim (2021) with 13 new cards. Righteous Valkyrie, Youthful Valkryie, Valkryie Harbinger, and Starnheim Aspirant (not an Angel but makes them cheaper) are easy includes in most Angel decks.

Staple/Sample Cards

Not surprisingly, Angels are about life and protection. They can buff or protect your creatures, gain life, save you (the player) from losing the game, and more. Most of them are expensive as a result (they have a high mana value). The below sample gives you an idea. Of these, I'll call out one: Inspiring Overseer is a staple in an Angel tribal deck. For only 3 mana, it enables you to draw a card and gain 1 life, which can be quite powerful if paired with synergistic options like the aforementioned Kaldheim cards.

Deck Ideas

For Commander, there are a number of nice options. In mono-white, Lyra Dawnbringer or Iona, Shield of the Emeria are nice, but my commander of choice is Giada, Font of Hope. In multi-color, Sigarda, Font of Blessings and Atraxa, Grand Unifier are nice.

For casual decks, below are two Arena options I quite enjoy. 

For the first: besides cards already mentioned, Speaker of the Heavens and Legion Angel build your army, Scroll of Avacyn gives you life and a card, and Angel of Grace can be a nice surprise when all appears lost.

Angels Watching Over Me

4 Speaker of the Heavens (M21) 38

4 Youthful Valkyrie (KHM) 382

4 Starnheim Aspirant (KHM) 380

2 Resplendent Angel (M19) 34

4 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24

1 Legion Angel (ZNR) 23

2 Baneslayer Angel (M21) 6

1 Angel of Grace (RNA) 1

1 Lyra Dawnbringer (DAR) 26

2 Valkyrie Harbinger (KHM) 374

4 Scroll of Avacyn (JMP) 483

3 Banishing Light (THB) 4

4 Angel of Vitality (M20) 4

24 Plains (SLD) 101

Sideboard

3 Legion Angel (ZNR) 23

For the second: this deck was Standard legal for a time, and really fun. Gain life with various options, and if you can get 1-2 Righteous Valkyrie out, your army becomes formidable indeed. Doomskar, Beaming Defiance, Fateful Absence, and Borrowed Time provide removal or protection.

Angelic

4 Youthful Valkyrie (KHM) 382

4 Starnheim Aspirant (KHM) 380

4 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24

4 Inspiring Overseer (SNC) 18

4 Starnheim Unleashed (KHM) 33

2 Elspeth Resplendent (SNC) 11

2 Valkyrie Harbinger (KHM) 374

4 Giada, Font of Hope (SNC) 14

2 Doomskar (KHM) 9

3 Beaming Defiance (STX) 9

2 Fateful Absence (MID) 18

2 Borrowed Time (MID) 6

23 Plains (JMP) 40

The sky is the limit with Angel decks. Reach for the heavens; you may experience life abundantly.