Maralen and Ob the second aren't going to do anything together. The opponent simply tutors for removal every time you play the elf and if they already have removal in hand, they simply get free demonic tutor.
no, they get a demonic tutor that cost them a creature, and 13 life... Think about that.
So you are suggesting first playing the demon (6-drop) and then playing the elf? I'm just going to boldly claim that's not reality in formats where both cards are legal.
I think you're not seeing how it works. Elf fetches Demon, the opponent may not care that you're giving them a card yet and may let you do your thing. Demon comes down and they need to remove the elf/demon before their turn to avoid the 13 lifeloss (sans in-hand instant speed removal that they, for some reason, haven't used yet..)
It certainly depends on what you're facing and I don't see it being a 'thang' in Eternal formats (6 CMC is reserved for specific decks and better cards) but in EDH or what have you; you may well take 3 life and get a SUPER AWESOME TIMMY WIN CON and then your opponent drops the D in their turn for 13 health on your upkeep. It could be doable as a Rogue combo deck with Cabal Ritual (tutor Ritual if you have Demon, tutor Demon if you have Ritual, tutor Orb if your ahead) and get it T4. Rogue decks get away with all kinds of "dumb" play mistakes because the opponent doesn't know what they're planning on doing.
That said, taking a bolt to the face to spend mana and your draw step on a 2/3 still doesn't feel good. It's a reasonable value if you remove her for the opponent. If you're going to combo; I feel like being in a black deck you could've seen their hand before Elfing and tear out the first combo piece. The likely Blue aspect of the combo also implies that you could be sitting on Force or some such to either protect the Elf, your combo, or prevent theirs.
A 1-for-1 that does 3 to an opponent while siphoning some of their mana would be like an Undermine which is quite a reasonable card in itself. Combine with "You have to do this or you take 13" is a pretty powerful incentive to do it. No one says you couldn't Mindlock Orb in the same deck as 1-ofs. This guy is just an alternate win-con for a janky rogue deck.
I think you're not seeing how it works. Elf fetches Demon, the opponent may not care that you're giving them a card yet and may let you do your thing. Demon comes down and they need to remove the elf/demon before their turn to avoid the 13 lifeloss (sans in-hand instant speed removal that they, for some reason, haven't used yet..)
Look, Fetch, Draw, Look
Draw
Fetch
Look
That said, taking a bolt to the face to spend mana and your draw step on a 2/3 still doesn't feel good. It's a reasonable value if you remove her for the opponent. If you're going to combo; I feel like being in a black deck you could've seen their hand before Elfing and tear out the first combo piece. The likely Blue aspect of the combo also implies that you could be sitting on Force or some such to either protect the Elf, your combo, or prevent theirs.
A 1-for-1 that does 3 to an opponent while siphoning some of their mana would be like an Undermine which is quite a reasonable card in itself. Combine with "You have to do this or you take 13" is a pretty powerful incentive to do it. No one says you couldn't Mindlock Orb in the same deck as 1-ofs. This guy is just an alternate win-con for a janky rogue deck.
Look, Fetch, Draw, Look
Draw
Fetch
Look