Annihilate
x4
2
Devour
x4
2
Temple Scribe
x4
2
Vara's Favor
x2
3
Auralian Merchant
x4
3
Ayan, the Abductor
x4
3
Banish
x4
3
Desecrate
x4
3
Ebon Dune Smuggler
x4
4
Saber-Tooth Prideleader
x4
4
Vara, Vengeance-Seeker
x4
5
Tasbu, the Forbidden
x4
8
Azindel, Revealed
x4
Shadow Sigil
x5
Time Sigil
x4
Crest of Mystery
x4
Seat of Mystery
x4
Xenan Banner
x4
Xenan Insignia
x4
View Deck on Shiftstoned
Devour and Scribe are an interesting choice. Why these two over Teacher and Argenport Instigator? Did you find the card draw better? Same reason why I'm wondering why Tasbu over Xumu.
Do you find having Prideleader and Vara better than Sandstorm Titan in one of those slots? And lastly how do you feel about 4 Azindels in the main?
A lot of the choices come down to personal preference. But generally speaking, I would say that this deck is more reactive than the other Xenan decks you seem to be referring to. For one thing, fourteen Fast Spells and thirteen Ambush Units means having a lot of interaction on your opponent’s turn. In addition, eight Merchants allow you to adapt to different matchups while sacrificing some of the aggression of more tempo-oriented Xenan builds.
You are correct that this list emphasizes card draw over early threats such as Teacher of Humility or Argenport Instigator. The inclusions you mention (Temple Scribe, Devour, Tasbu, the Forbidden) work together to help draw into your removal and ultimately pull Azindel, Revealed your finisher.
Ideally you want to be spending most of your Power on your opponent’s turn. Scribe makes an excellent Devour target. But holding up 2 Power also means that Devour might as well read “GIve any of your units ‘Entomb: Draw two cards’”. Make that three cards if Tasbu is on board. It helps to take the sting out of getting Harsh Ruled for example.
Ambush Units (including Saber-Tooth Prideleader) pair well with the Fast Spells. Because if your opponent does not play a removal target, you are free to spend that Power you are holding to deploy a threat of your own which will be able to block or attack immediately. Ambush Units also play nicely with the Xenan Initiation spell found in Xenan Temple.
There is enough removal here that flyers are not a particular concern, so Sandstorm Titan’s ability is less important. The life gain from Vara, Vengeance-Seeker (and Ayan, the Abductor) help you survive long enough to play out your finisher.
Speaking of Azindel, four of him in the main deck works well with your eight Merchants. If you draw Azindel early in the game, you can trade him for an answer in the Market. Then play another Merchant later on to pull him out and finish the game when you have enough resources.
Hope this helps to answer your questions, and good luck.
either remove varas choice or the wasp from the market.