Abilities: Defender and Mana gain

I am still learning how to fit walls into a strategy. I have tried to use Gatecreeper Vine for more than just getting that land card, but I am not yet getting how I can use it beyond mana feed.

Mana gain can be combined with controlling creatures with Defender. That combination makes Axebane Guardian an interesting "build around" card; meaning that we can build a whole deck around this combination of abilities.

 

 Defender is an ability that is usually connected with creatures with the word "wall" in them. Here is one of those creatures.

Straight old mana gain is a great ability. I use Borderland Ranger almost in any deck that I can use it.