Ezuri, Renegade Leader, since Rofellos is banned. Ezuri gives you some protection against removal and provides a reliable sink for the massive amounts of mana that tend to result from playing elf tribal.
Johan is best, IMO. You get access to red for global haste and fireball effects. You get white for ghostway and other anti-wrath effects. Those two colours plug up the two biggest weaknesses of a multiplayer elf deck. Johan's pseudo vigilance is also awesome, letting you attack with your mana dorks then tap them for a /massive/ overrun.
There are options, but I feel like Ezuri captures the elf deck feel most. Pure green, drown yourself in mana, overrun and attack with a bajillion bajillion/bajillion elves. I made an Ezuri deck just out of what we had (priest of titania, but no wirewood channeler, no lords, and plenty of other great elf cards missing) and it kills faaaast. And it can recover from a wrath to play later on too. It's fun to play, technically, but I dislike killing one person quickly (especially since it's easy to get wrathed before killing two, and after a good wrath your game changes a bit). It just feels mean and takes a little fun from the strat. That said, I wouldn't change the general.
I agree, Ezuri is the best of the available options. You can make a case for Yeva, but then again you can make a case for Yeva with any mono-green deck idea
My top choices for playing elves are Rhys the Redeemed and Nath of the Gilt-Leaf. Ezuri is a great option too, but I think Rhys is better, Gives you access to white, doubles your elf tokens (which a lot of elves make), and you can usually get a pretty solid deck together. Alternately Nath is the same, just with access to black.
Perhaps, but my friend runs Rhys and his deck usually kicks a lot of ass. The deck is comprised of almost all elves for the creature base, and it has taken a lot of practice but he's gotten down to working out how to use Rhys correctly... That is to say, not casting him as soon as you can or too early on, but waiting until Rhys actually has a reason to activate his abilities before casting him.
EDIT: And saying that he eats removal... I mean, seriously, aside from a handful of legends, most commanders eat removal. Of course he is a prime target; he's tiny, but comes down with a potent ability that can really set you ahead mid-late game. I think it just depends on how you use him.
Perhaps, but my friend runs Rhys and his deck usually kicks a lot of ass. The deck is comprised of almost all elves for the creature base, and it has taken a lot of practice but he's gotten down to working out how to use Rhys correctly... That is to say, not casting him as soon as you can or too early on, but waiting until Rhys actually has a reason to activate his abilities before casting him.
Interesting.
There seems to be two lines of thought here.
1. Dropping Rhys turn 1 and using his token ability to create virtual card advantage, all the while hoarding the cards in your hand.
2. Dropping Rhys when he can immediately double up tokens, with the help of Lightning Greaves or something to that effect.
I'm still uncertain which is the "correct" school of thought here, but I've usually used the first strategy.
Rhys is so cheap that you can do both. Drop him first turn and start making tokens until someone takes you seriously and Wraths you. Then play your real cards, Boots, and explode tokens all over the place.
Rhys is so cheap that you can do both. Drop him first turn and start making tokens until someone takes you seriously and Wraths you. Then play your real cards, Boots, and explode tokens all over the place.
Hmmm, well that makes sense.
Maybe I'll pull him out next time I play and see if I can change my lackluster experiences with him thus far. Thanks for the advice, and sorry for the de-rail.
Radha, Heir to Keld. Drop tons of mana dorks, Fireball, repeat. It may not be a backbreaker like Ezuri, or super competitive like some of the other suggestions, but it'll be satisfying when you drop someone with a Banefire. Just hold that Reverberate for when someone thinks they're clever and sends it back at you.
I am kind of amazed at [...] the fact that somebody on this thread called Mind's Eye, Mirari's Wake, Decree of Pain, Desertion, AND Scroll Rack, all before they were officially spoiled. I will edit this post VERY shortly with the username of this user who deserves at least all of the cookies. Probably more cookies than that.
Erebos B | Ghost Council WB | Grimgrin UB | Jhoira UR
Jor Kadeen RW | Melek UR | Mimeoplasm GUB | Rasputin WU
Savra BG | Sisay GW | Teneb BGW | Thada Adel U | Wort BR
I draft and play EDH. If a Standard player can't understand who a card is for, it's probably for me.
I also write things about good films.
WUB Sharuum the Hegemon, the Destroyer of Darksteel
BGW Teneb, the Harvester, my Pimped Out Reanimator
GUB The Mimeoplasm Ooze-Mill
GWU Rafiq the Exalted
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
Black adds some of the better tribal elf stuff from Lorwyn block (Eyeblight's Ending and Prowess of the Fair come to mind). If you want to go more of a Voltron BG, Glissa, the Traitor is fantastic in combat.
stuff
He's actually pretty slow at doubling tokens, and almost always eats removal. I've been less than impressed thus far. Perhaps it's my build though.
EDIT: And saying that he eats removal... I mean, seriously, aside from a handful of legends, most commanders eat removal. Of course he is a prime target; he's tiny, but comes down with a potent ability that can really set you ahead mid-late game. I think it just depends on how you use him.
Interesting.
There seems to be two lines of thought here.
1. Dropping Rhys turn 1 and using his token ability to create virtual card advantage, all the while hoarding the cards in your hand.
2. Dropping Rhys when he can immediately double up tokens, with the help of Lightning Greaves or something to that effect.
I'm still uncertain which is the "correct" school of thought here, but I've usually used the first strategy.
Perhaps that's why I've been less than impressed.
My G Yisan, the Bard of Death G deck.
My BUGWR Hermit druid BUGWR deck.
Erebos B | Ghost Council WB | Grimgrin UB | Jhoira UR
Jor Kadeen RW | Melek UR | Mimeoplasm GUB | Rasputin WU
Savra BG | Sisay GW | Teneb BGW | Thada Adel U | Wort BR
I draft and play EDH. If a Standard player can't understand who a card is for, it's probably for me.
I also write things about good films.
Hmmm, well that makes sense.
Maybe I'll pull him out next time I play and see if I can change my lackluster experiences with him thus far. Thanks for the advice, and sorry for the de-rail.
RWGMayael, the AnimaRWG
UWGJenara, Asura of War EnchantressUWG
Looking for feedback:
RWBQueen Marchesa's loyal VassalsRWB
Came in here to recommend Edric. He can be super fast/potent.
That said, every two-color pair has at least one very good Elf that you can use. Radha, Heir to Keld, Rhys the Redeemed, Rhys the Exiled, Nath of the Gilt-Leaf, and Edric, Spymaster of Trest all allow access to a second color and help shape the deck. I personally use Nath, as it allows me access to card draw, removal, and a subtheme.
Commanders:
Basandra, Battle Seraph | Diaochan, Artful Beauty | Mayael the Anima | Nath of the Gilt Leaf | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Raksha Golden Cub | Rayne, Academy Chancellor | Roon of the Hidden Realm
Otherwise, all the suggestions have been brilliant. Depends on what you want.