MTG Salvation

The Instrument of the Chorus
Selesnya Guildmage

Introduction
This is my second pauper list, but the third I have posted in my Ravnica Block Guildmage series, the exact opposite of the Dimir Guildmage. After ISBPathfinder and others had started to engage pauper as a Commander format I was keen to try and have since managed to persuade my local games shop (Good Games) to support it a bit more. As a result there now at least 6 others who have all common, except the general, Commander decks!

As the first of my green guildmage decks I wanted to go for a token feel, while leaving the big fatties idea to another guildmage (most likely Gruul Guildmage), which green and white do very well fortunately. The deck has a low land count, but is geared towards a partial elf tribal subtheme (although there are non-elves), token or swarm theme and last of all enchantress. Now, there are no common enchantresses, but white and green do profit from them at times, so that idea was embraced. This deck is intended to not necessarily be quick, but be very resilient and operate on good card advantage and be threatening even when general isn't out. All up, if you choose to play him, I hope you find the Selesnya Guildmage fun.


What is Pauper Commander?
1. Same rules as Commander.
2. Commander is an uncommon. It can be any uncommon, not just a legend.
3. Rest of deck must be common in a non-Magic Online (Masters Editions come to mind) printing!

To be strong a Pauper Commander deck must use or have an answer to the 'Four Pillars':
1. Fireball and variants - Red and black have them, be able to survive it.
2. Capsize- Banned in some places, you need to be able to disrupt the buyback.
3. Pestilence and its variants - board sweepers, be ready.
4. Alabaster Potion and variants - Lifegain, the opposite of Fireball, reusable effects also count.

This deck runs one of the fourth pillar, Stream of Life and Sun's Bounty.




Change Log

New Inclusions
Dark Ascension
Gather the Townsfolk - A useful token generator at a fair cost, but can sometimes have greater benefit. Cut, was used previously.
Haunted Fengraf - An excellent new utility land that is an auto-include for most pauper Commander decks.

Return to Ravnica
Rootborn Defences - Great way to preserve my token and elf hordes.
Selesnya Guildgate - More great common level mana fixing.
Transguild Promenade - Rupture Spire number two.

Gatecrash
Ivy Lane Denizen - Free +1/+1 counters increase the power passive and reduce my need to commit to the board as well as weakening black and red sweepers.

Modern Masters
Moldervine Cloak - Effectively second Rancor in this deck, albeit with dredge.

Magic 2014
Elvish Mystic - Llanowar Elves number two in every way. Redundancy is very strong.

Theros
Commune with the Gods - This deck has many enchantments and creatures.


Cards I need or am on fence about:

I will likely use once I get an additional one
1. Seal of Cleansing

Could maybe use
1. Dawntreader Elf
2. Woodland Sleuth
3. Nightshade Peddler
4. Seraph of Dawn
5. Call to Serve
6. Elvish Guidance
7. Spectral Gateguard
8. Cloudshift
9. Captain's Call
10. Spidersilk Armor

Cut cards, that are still very playable

I believe this deck is strong and can hold it's own, but I would welcome feedback.

I have made a few small updates, once I get three cards as listed in OP I will be updating again. I hope people who do follow these find them interesting.

It's been many months, but I made some small updates to deck. For those following, I hope they help.

Good to see you're developing your list. I have a few suggestions:

1) Definetely include Nightshade Peddler like you consider. Wouldn't you want to add deathtouch to your tokens?

2) On that note, why not add reach and boost toughness with Spidersilk Armor too?

3) Broken Fall. It is at least as good as Fanatical Devotion that you're already running, but an argument could be made to run both.

4) Midnight Guard. You're already running Presence of Gond and other untap effects. Why not include a fun infinite combo?

5) Lignify is at least better than Pacifism, though I personally think it's on the same level as Faith's Fetters (it only targets creatures but also stops triggered or continous effects)

7) Night Soil. Yes, it's a common. Arguably the best GY hate in Pauper and fits right into your deck concept.

Quote from urdjur

Good to see you're developing your list. I have a few suggestions:

1) Definetely include Nightshade Peddler like you consider. Wouldn't you want to add deathtouch to your tokens?

I will pay closer attention to this one, it is pretty good, I'm unsure if metagame warrants deathtouch for me given sheer presence of Crypt Rats in so many decks, but I'll see what makes sense.

2) On that note, why not add reach and boost toughness with Spidersilk Armor too?

On above Crypt Rat point this makes sense

3) Broken Fall. It is at least as good as Fanatical Devotion that you're already running, but an argument could be made to run both.

I'm not sure I have room for both, tokens inherently favour devotion, but I'll consider this.

4) Midnight Guard. You're already running Presence of Gond and other untap effects. Why not include a fun infinite combo?

That is pretty cute, I'll run it.

5) Lignify is at least better than Pacifism, though I personally think it's on the same level as Faith's Fetters (it only targets creatures but also stops triggered or continous effects)

I'll consider this, it probably does outdo a simple Pacificism.

7) Night Soil. Yes, it's a common. Arguably the best GY hate in Pauper and fits right into your deck concept.

GY hate isn't necesarily needed in my metagame, but I'll keep an open mind regarding this.

Thanks for the response, I'll consider what you said, Midnight Guard should be a standut.

I made a long overdue update, changes include: Midnight Guard, Lignify, Elvish Mystic, Elvish Lyrist, Commune with the Gods and Moldervine Cloak.

Spidersilk Armor may yet go in.

I'd swap out Elvish Lyrist for Devout Harpist. Auras are probably the most-played type of Enchantments in Pauper EDH (since they're used for both Voltron+protection and as removal) except for staples Flood and Rhystic Study. Repeatable aura-destruction is super gravy.