Restrictions I put on myself: the deck must have the same number of rares (21) and mythic rares (2) as the original list. Wizards put that restriction in place and I think it's only fair to keep to it. Yes, you could REALLY make this deck crazy good if you branched out from there (playsets of Thoughtseize and Bitterblossom for all!), but that would make the real-world price nutso and really isn't the point of the Event Decks anyway. So before you ask, that's why this list is still far from "ideal": it's still an Event Deck, and I wanted to keep it reasonable. Now, with that out of the way....
For the most part, I stuck with Wizards' original card choices. Near playsets of Honor of the Pure, Intangible Virtue, Lingering Souls, Raise the Alarm, Isolated Chapel, and so on make sense, and it was refreshing to see them run with 3-4 copies of key cards rather than try and spread things out as they have with many other event decks. But like I said, this is about what tweaks I DID make, so let's move on to that.
Elspeth, Knight-Errant still occupies a mythic slot, and while her Sun's Champion version might warrant attention, or certainly Sorin, Lord of Innistrad, I stuck with the Elspeth they already had because she IS quite versatile. The other mythic slot drops the Sword that was in there previously (which seemed an odd include, even if it could potentially stop certain decks) and slotted in Hero of Bladehold, one card many saw as a glaring omission from the original list. Outside of the whole "dies to removal" argument, she's obviously fantastic in this kind of deck.
Other changes:
-2 Soul Warden, +2 Auriok Champion
Champion takes away one of the original deck's few Turn 1 plays, yes, but protection from black/red is huge. Not only does the Champion still give you the same crazy lifegain as Warden, but she can chump block black and red all day long, and survives popular red wipers.
+1 Thoughtseize
Yes, one isn't going to make or break many games, but tossing one in for value and versatility gives you an occasional Turn 1 windmill slam card in addition to Inquisition of Kozilek, and having just one still nudges newer players in the right direction (acquire and add more!). I removed a Tidehollow Sculler to make room.
+1 Bitterblossom
Because...tokens. Again, adds serious value, fits thematically, and doesn't make the deck overpowerful or overcostly with just a singleton. Replaced Shrine of Loyal Legions from the original list.
+1 Twilight Drover
Just makes too much sense to leave out. Doesn't really help with value, but a ton of fun if you resolve it. Sometimes it's worth it to fill a rare slot with a card that simply adds a lot to the fun factor.
-1 Honor of the Pure, +1 Spear of Heliod
I know Spear hasn't really taken off too much in Modern, but it seems to me that paying one more for a superior anthem (all creatures vs just white...makes a difference with Bitterblossom, at least!) is okay, especially one that helps zap threats. Admittedly probably the least necessary change I made...I just liked it. *shrug*
Mana Base:
-2 Caves of Koilos, -1 Isolated Chapel, -2 Windbrisk Heights
+3 Godless Shrine, +1 Plains, +1 Swamp
I think people would much rather run with Godless Shrine over Caves of Kolios, even though Caves isn't a bad card. Substituting a pair of them for Shrines seems better to me, and similarly, dropping a Chapel for one more Shrine helps cut down on potential mana clogs early. As for the 2 Windbrisk Heights...well, the rare slots had to open up SOMEWHERE, right? I don't think Heights is a bad card by any means, and makes a lot of sense with all these tokens, but I think the other rares slotted in to the deck above are far superior.
Sideboard:
-3 Kataki, War’s Wage, +2 Aura of Silence
Again, Kataki had to go to free up rare slots. A pair of Aura of Silence somewhat makes up for it, though the deck is now admittedly more vulnerable to artifacts as a result.
- 3 Relic of Progenitus, +2 Nihil Spellbomb
You're running black anyway, so Spellbomb can do what Relic did for the same cost (1 to cast, 1 to exile graveyard and draw a card), and can potentially do it for only 1 mana total if you don't need the card draw. The best part? Unlike Relic, the Spellbomb leaves your own graveyard alone, which could be crucial if you have a Lingering Souls or two sitting there.
+2 Rootborn Defenses
A bit costly in mana, admittedly, but a key tool against control and other decks running lots of wipe. Wizards' list really has no answer to Wrath of God, Supreme Verdict, and that ilk. Rootborn is probably the best in these colors in Modern, especially when you have tokens to populate.
So what do you think of the tweaks? What would YOU change with this list or Wizards' original? Discuss, debate, dissect. Any helpful comments will get you +1 rep points from yours truly. Thanks in advance, and happy brewing!