What do we think of cutting a land from 18 lands to 17 lands and going up to 12 mana dorks?
My reasoning for this is that having 1 or 2 mana dorks in opener is absolutely CRUCIAL to having a keepable hand.
Mana dorks 9-12 can be any number of Boreal Druids / Elves of Deep Shadow (I want to try a 2/2 split to mitigate hurting myself too often)
Thoughts?
What would you take out in place of the 3 dorks you're adding? I think it's interesting but it's very difficult to cut some stuff especially with our deck having 50 or more cards that are crucial.
What do we think of cutting a land from 18 lands to 17 lands and going up to 12 mana dorks?
My reasoning for this is that having 1 or 2 mana dorks in opener is absolutely CRUCIAL to having a keepable hand.
Mana dorks 9-12 can be any number of Boreal Druids / Elves of Deep Shadow (I want to try a 2/2 split to mitigate hurting myself too often)
Thoughts?
What would you take out in place of the 3 dorks you're adding? I think it's interesting but it's very difficult to cut some stuff especially with our deck having 50 or more cards that are crucial.
It would be trimming flex slots for consistency (E.g. No Elvish Visionary, Eternal Witness or Scooze/Rec Sage).
The one issue I have with it is that it makes sideboarding trickier, with less flex slots to cut easily.
EDIT: I should clarify, this would be for the BG Shaman version of the deck. The GW already has decent additional dorks in Devoted Druid.
3. How do we beat UW Control? What sort of cards do I want from my sideboard? I can be flexible for next week!!
4. How do we beat Amulet Titan?
1. Which have you been having more success with. Chord or Lead? Itlimoc has been pretty nice for me.
2. I 100% agree on Westvale. Card is a beast. Plan C option.
3. From my experience, beating UW control is fairly easy. 4 Caverns are sweet and baiting out the counter spells to land a CoCo typically ends the game. Never lost to UW control. They just can't keep up with our speed.
4. I personally never played against that deck, so I can't help you there.
Hello! Its been a while since I have posted here. Still playing the same tight G/b/w Elves list. Still does consistently well and is as strong as ever. Hoping we return to tier 2 status soon but for now I am enjoying players being less prepared for the match.
Since 2015, I have played elves and I am finally almost done foiling all of my 75. Obviously I could save up and buy it online. But I have enjoyed searching each store I travel to when I go to IQs, GPs and just LGS. Searching for 3 Cavern of Souls, 2 Chord of Calling, and 3 Verdant Catacombs. Finding foil Reclamation Sage at a store or booth is very rare. This isn't a request to help find or anything. Sharing my excitement since I recently finished the sideboard.
Also played a little bit with Growing Rites of Itlimoc. I did see the potential right from the start. My first brew was built around Growing Rites and I found that it can win but most games, Elves win the game on their own. Felt like a Win-more card and was unnecessary 1 trick pony with Hoof. Also tried just adding 1 to my current Elf list and It was never worth it and was sided out most games.
I do find the U/W control deck a fairly easy match but also it can easily become frustrating. Honestly, the only card that truly wins them the game is Sphinx's Revelation. Being on the play is the largest advantage since It is worth trying to kill them if you can do it before their turn 4. Keeping a hand with 1 or 2 caverns is great and playing a slower game so the verdict won't blow you out. They lack a way to win quickly.
For game 2, I personally love 1-Fecundity in this match but I recommend 1-Selfless Spirit, 1-Reclamation Sage, 1-Scavenging Ooze, 1-Phyrexian Revoker, and possibly 1-Dismember if they play Spell Queller. Also I like Eidolon of Rhetoric in this match because it can force your Companys and chords to resolve
I really don't like playing against any decks abusing Primeval Titan. Amulet Titan and Valakut Titan both require searching to be consistent. I use Aven Mindcensor with Eidolon of Rhetoric. Makes for a very hard match for them. If you don't have access to white, Being faster is best way to bean Amulet Titan. Plus Spellskite can redirect Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion and Slayers' Stronghold effect, which definitely slows them down.
1. I've had good success with Lead - 3 mana draw 5 at best is incredible value even at Sorcery speed. At worst you draw at least 2 elves.
I'm going to put 1xChord of Calling in though so I can tutor for sideboard/Ezuri/Shaman/Archdruid if and when I need to.
3. If only I had 4xCavern of Souls... I own 1 thankfully, but not 4. They're ~£40 each... However, I'm running a Modern Masters 2017 draft in December so may get lucky, and the draft entry from my mates will give me cash!
4. I guess I need to learn what "being faster" would involve. If they have T1 Amulet of Vigor it can get very silly very quickly...
Mind sharing your current list?
I'm also in the process of foiling my deck but it's a slow and painful process as I'm still a student. How do you keep your deck from warping? Especially the Gateway Promo Llanowar Elves.
I keep my sleeves pretty new, and if the cards start to warp I'll resleeve them and keep them in a pretty tight fit for a while. Like in my deckbox and fill it with some extra bulk to make it a super tight fit or stack some textbooks on top. And always double-sleeved. Once they are flat they don't tend to warp much as long as I treat them nicely. I'll be honest, I also sort of lightly bend them back into shape if that doesn't work. They're my cards and I've never noticed any damage because of me doing it.
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"We have been patient. We have planned our attack. We are ready... now."
-Eladamri, Lord of Leaves
I won a Nerd Rage Gaming Championship Trial Qualifier today. MVP was 4-of Shapers' Sanctuary in the board. Played 4 midrange and 1 control match today, and none of them could deal with Shapers'. Also beat a UR Storm and Burn deck. Total record 13-3 in games today, with one unintentional draw and one intentional draw.
Round 1 UW Pillowfort (Control)2-1
Game 1 Stalled with Gideons and Flip Jace until he could start swinging with Gideons for the win.
Game 2 He tapped out to Spreading Seas me, I T3 combo him.
Game 3 He taps down my team before combat with Cryptic Command, I had double Devoted Druid Ezuri so I infinite overrun in response and kill him with Devoted Druids.
Round 2 Naya Burn 2-0
Couldn't deal with mainboard Essence Wardens, and then tried to play an attrition matchup with elves.
Round 3 Sultai Midrange 1-1-1
He stalled a boardstate long enough to force the draw, but he couldn't get through a few elves and 3 Shapers' Sanctuarys.
Round 4 Esper Shadow 2-0
Game 1 He was stuck on 1 land.
Game 2 I landed 3 Shapers' Sanctuarys by the end of the game and he couldn't keep my board down from there.
Round 5 ID with 4-Color Shadow
Made 2nd Seed
Top 8 UR Storm 2-0 (Overall 7th Seed)
Game 1 He wipes my board with Grapeshot, but I quickly rebuild, CoCo into Dwynen's Ezuri and swing for lethal.
Game 2 He taps out to play Serum Visions and Baral, I turn 3 combo.
Top 4 Grandpa (Classic) Jund 2-1 (Overall 3rd seed)
Game 1 Got run over by a swarm of Goblin Rabblemaster tokens.
Game 2 Hit Ezuri and Dwynen's again for a lethal swing through two Goyfs and a Bob.
Game 3 Started with 3 Shapers' Sanctuarys in hand. Played them all, forcing removing a couple times completely outdrawing him and finally landing a Colossus and Elvish Champion for Forestwalk.
Finals 4-Color Shadow 2-0(Overall 1st Seed)
Game 1 He had a very aggressive hand, but was low on removal and couldn't stop an Ezuri from sticking.
Game 2 Shapers' Sanctuary blanked most of his removal and Elvish Champion prevented Liliana Last Hope from killing dorks, leading to forestwalking elves winning the match.
Shapers' Sanctuary is a house. You should play it. Probably just as good in any color variant.
Forgot to include the list. I had planned to include it in a spoiler. I do have issues with warping. Fresh sleeves and fresh perfect fits the day before an event usually solves it. Officially nobody seems to be able to cut the deck to the nettle sentinels but their foiling process hasn't held up well and is always a problem with warping. I'm also a big fan of pack rares so I wouldn't know about Gateway promo Llanowar Elves.
@slaywithfury
What match do you bring 4x Shapers' Sanctuary for? I'm interested in testing this card but i'm still a big fan of Fecundity.
My most recent changes are removing 4x Gilt-Leaf Palace for 3 Verdants and 1 Overgrown Tomb. Also removed Melira for a Fracturing Gust. If I needed space in my sideboard, I could remove Tajuru Preserver since Eldrazi Tron feels less common and the Death's Shadow tend is slowing down I could cut a Colossus.
Sideboard questions:
1. I've seen a few lists running Driven // Despair in the sideboard, what exactly is this for?
2. I'm assuming Heroic Intervention is there purely for sweepers/boardwipes? In non-Chord builds I'm guessing its better than Selfless Spirit or Burrenton Forge-Tender?
3. Is Stain the Mind worth it in GB Shaman builds vs combo matches if you know the best cards to take with it?
4. Shapers' Sanctuary is great - seeing my Abzan opponent take it from an Inquisition of Kozilek showed how much they feared it!
@slaywithfury
What match do you bring 4x Shapers' Sanctuary for? I'm interested in testing this card but i'm still a big fan of Fecundity.
@Larriepogi
I wouldn't say the 2nd Vizier is an all-star, but it does help in some matchups to have the first removed by hand disruption or a failed attempt from comboing, and to still have it as an option later. It's more that I can't decide on a better card as a 1-of in the slot so it lets me have a slightly higher chance of hitting the Vizier.
And yes, I still love my Wardens. My burn opponent had no chance when I kept playing them, and people often target them for fear of them pushing the game too far out of reach.
@Retswerd
I bring in Shapers' Sanctuary in against any matchup where they will be consistently targeting my creatures. I take CoCo out in this case, because Chord allows me to get more must-answer threats, and Shapers' punishes them for trying to remove them. UW Control stopped targeting my elves with his Planeswalker abilities, Jund gave up trying to spot removal me, and 4-Color Shadow gave me three draws every time they were forced to kill Ezuri or Archdruid.
One of the things to remember, is that it's draw on target. Unlike Fecundity, the creature doesn't have to die and thus you can protect it in response. So draw that Chord off the top and cast it to get Spirit or Ezuri to regen. And if they use Electrolyze on two different creatures, that's multiple targets for multiple triggers. Shapers' Sanctuary has done wonders in my UG Pummeler Standard deck as well. The number of times I draw a hexproof spell off the top to protect my creature is insane.
The last thing, and the major selling point for me, is that this is a fantastic turn 1 play. I would rather play this turn one, and a Devoted Druid or two dorks turn two than a turn one dork. The only time I'd prefer Fecundity is against decks running a lot of sweepers, but there are a few sweepers like Anger or Flaying Tendrils that you still wouldn't draw cards because your creatures are exiled instead.
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"We have been patient. We have planned our attack. We are ready... now."
-Eladamri, Lord of Leaves
Sideboard questions:
1. I've seen a few lists running Driven // Despair in the sideboard, what exactly is this for?
2. I'm assuming Heroic Intervention is there purely for sweepers/boardwipes? In non-Chord builds I'm guessing its better than Selfless Spirit or Burrenton Forge-Tender?
3. Is Stain the Mind worth it in GB Shaman builds vs combo matches if you know the best cards to take with it?
4. Shapers' Sanctuary is great - seeing my Abzan opponent take it from an Inquisition of Kozilek showed how much they feared it!
I have never played a pure GB Shaman list, but here are my thoughts on these cards:
Short version: Driven // Despair: Worth testing Heroic Intervention: Solid sideboard card Stain the Mind: Not a fan; kinda slow, not proactive, doesn't always do enough Shapers' Sanctuary: Highly recommend
Long version:
1. Driven // Despair is a good card to punch in some extra damage in the GB version in order to get your opponent into Shaman range. If they connect, they also punish the opponent pretty hard so they're more likely to be block unfavorably.
2. Heroic Intervention Yes, this card is great against sweepers, but can also blow out an opponent in a combat phase. It's more likely to be played in a GB list alongside Lead the Stampede and no Chords. You need something so you don't fold completely to sweepers, and GB doesn't have many other options.
3. Stain the Mind is not a bad card, but I'm also not a fan. Its best uses are for stripping away sweepers and combo pieces. But fast combo decks like UR Storm or possibly Counters Company will go off before you can cast it or will just use an alternate combo. Giving Valakut a turn by tapping out to cast this to strip Angers is also still helping them. The deck it is best against is Ad Nauseum, but that shouldn't be a matchup to hedge too much against. Not sure it's worth playing.
I just started playing magic again after a long hiatus. I sold a lot of my cards to float my wife and I while she finished school and was a full-time student.
I’ve made a pretty standard Gb Elves deck, with Lead instead of Chord. I know I’ll be posting my deck list later with many additional questions, but for now I just have a few about the sideboard.
First, if I were to play Driven//Despair, against what decks would I sideboard it?
Are there still enough Islands around to make Choke worth consideration in the SB?
I’ve been finishing up my deck and haven’t had a chance to go play and get a look at the modern meta at my LGS, so I’m just kind of guessing at this point.
Heroic Intervention was just spoken of. Has Prowess of the Fair been written off for board wipe/removal consolation? I haven’t seen it mentioned lately.
I’m really excited about playing again. Sorry I didn’t hyperlink the cards. I usually do. I’m on my cellphone and kind of in a hurry. Thanks in advance for any info/tips!
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MODERN: BRGJUNDGRB---BRHOLLOW ONERB---BGELVESGB---BRGLIVING ENDGRB---GWBOGLESWG EDH: BRGKARRTHUS, TYRANT OF JUNDGRB
playing Elves now for about a year, i am glad to share my experience with you.
I think the pure G/W List is too prone against removal. If they disrupt your Combo you are just out of cards, if you play with chord.
Playing GB with Shaman and Lead for the last couple of Tournaments it felt just better in grind out your opponents and have another good wincon alongside Ezuri. I rly dont wanna Cut Shaman entirely, even in the combo List.
Shaper´s Sanctury is defefinitly a great Sideboard Card and a must have i think!
I agree on the GW version being prone to removal. However, it fights on two different axes. One is trying to assemble the combo and the second is by traditional beatdown. The deck is designed to outrace other linear decks while still having enough gas to survive a grindy match-up. Plus, you're forgetting how great the sideboard can be when you're on white. I do still think GB is strong and I think it's a better deck when you're fighting through a meta full of control/midrange decks. I think the two decks are very competitive right now, it's just a matter of how you read the meta.
Shaper's Sanctuary is definitely a house and makes your opponents wanna pull their hair out. Kill my dork? Sure, but not before I draw another.
I test this card with my GB fun deck just to see how the card perform.
Cons - You need a significant board state for it to have value usually 2 creatures is enough depends on the current game state.
Pro - I almost always cast both side on the same turn to maximize its value. For 4 cmc total, Giving your elves Trample and Menace will really caught your opponent off guard. And a resolved driven and despair will really turn the game state in your favor. The Menace is really the key in casting the card to make sure that at least 1 creature goes thru to draw cards and make your opponent discard. If you manage to discard your opponent hand you are almost in the drivers seat.
I only test it in kitchen table magic. I haven't use it yet in my local against the current meta. I just want to share my finding for those who might want to test it in competitive scene. If you do test it, share your finding.
playing Elves now for about a year, i am glad to share my experience with you.
I think the pure G/W List is too prone against removal. If they disrupt your Combo you are just out of cards, if you play with chord.
Playing GB with Shaman and Lead for the last couple of Tournaments it felt just better in grind out your opponents and have another good wincon alongside Ezuri. I rly dont wanna Cut Shaman entirely, even in the combo List.
Shaper´s Sanctury is defefinitly a great Sideboard Card and a must have i think!
That's what I thought at first too. But I tried out GW and having a single copy of Vizier doesn't significantly dilute our elf base and in return it gives us the oops-I-win combo, especially in game 1. Devoted Druid's can also go infinite on their own with 2 of them and an Ezuri out.
I definitely miss Shaman but current metagame (at least my local one) is better suited for GW version rather than grindier GB. And like Larriepogi said, white sideboard options are plentiful.
I need your thoughts on my sideboard. Stock GW lists with Ooze and Spellskite MD, fairly regular meta. Expecting lots of Storm, GDS, ETron and fair/grindy/value decks.
What would you take out in place of the 3 dorks you're adding? I think it's interesting but it's very difficult to cut some stuff especially with our deck having 50 or more cards that are crucial.
It would be trimming flex slots for consistency (E.g. No Elvish Visionary, Eternal Witness or Scooze/Rec Sage).
The one issue I have with it is that it makes sideboarding trickier, with less flex slots to cut easily.
EDIT: I should clarify, this would be for the BG Shaman version of the deck. The GW already has decent additional dorks in Devoted Druid.
This build topped with Regal Force and Craterhoof. Interesting.
1. Growing Rites of Itlimoc felt unnecessary and a bit of win-more card. I rarely needed the extra mana, and its ETB effect is worse than a Lead the Stampede. I might run a 3rd Lead or a Chord of Calling.
2. Westvale Abbey over Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx is great!
3. How do we beat UW Control? What sort of cards do I want from my sideboard? I can be flexible for next week!!
4. How do we beat Amulet Titan?
1. Which have you been having more success with. Chord or Lead? Itlimoc has been pretty nice for me.
2. I 100% agree on Westvale. Card is a beast. Plan C option.
3. From my experience, beating UW control is fairly easy. 4 Caverns are sweet and baiting out the counter spells to land a CoCo typically ends the game. Never lost to UW control. They just can't keep up with our speed.
4. I personally never played against that deck, so I can't help you there.
Since 2015, I have played elves and I am finally almost done foiling all of my 75. Obviously I could save up and buy it online. But I have enjoyed searching each store I travel to when I go to IQs, GPs and just LGS. Searching for 3 Cavern of Souls, 2 Chord of Calling, and 3 Verdant Catacombs. Finding foil Reclamation Sage at a store or booth is very rare. This isn't a request to help find or anything. Sharing my excitement since I recently finished the sideboard.
Also played a little bit with Growing Rites of Itlimoc. I did see the potential right from the start. My first brew was built around Growing Rites and I found that it can win but most games, Elves win the game on their own. Felt like a Win-more card and was unnecessary 1 trick pony with Hoof. Also tried just adding 1 to my current Elf list and It was never worth it and was sided out most games.
I do find the U/W control deck a fairly easy match but also it can easily become frustrating. Honestly, the only card that truly wins them the game is Sphinx's Revelation. Being on the play is the largest advantage since It is worth trying to kill them if you can do it before their turn 4. Keeping a hand with 1 or 2 caverns is great and playing a slower game so the verdict won't blow you out. They lack a way to win quickly.
For game 2, I personally love 1-Fecundity in this match but I recommend 1-Selfless Spirit, 1-Reclamation Sage, 1-Scavenging Ooze, 1-Phyrexian Revoker, and possibly 1-Dismember if they play Spell Queller. Also I like Eidolon of Rhetoric in this match because it can force your Companys and chords to resolve
I really don't like playing against any decks abusing Primeval Titan. Amulet Titan and Valakut Titan both require searching to be consistent. I use Aven Mindcensor with Eidolon of Rhetoric. Makes for a very hard match for them. If you don't have access to white, Being faster is best way to bean Amulet Titan. Plus Spellskite can redirect Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion and Slayers' Stronghold effect, which definitely slows them down.
I'm going to put 1xChord of Calling in though so I can tutor for sideboard/Ezuri/Shaman/Archdruid if and when I need to.
3. If only I had 4xCavern of Souls... I own 1 thankfully, but not 4. They're ~£40 each... However, I'm running a Modern Masters 2017 draft in December so may get lucky, and the draft entry from my mates will give me cash!
4. I guess I need to learn what "being faster" would involve. If they have T1 Amulet of Vigor it can get very silly very quickly...
Mind sharing your current list?
I'm also in the process of foiling my deck but it's a slow and painful process as I'm still a student. How do you keep your deck from warping? Especially the Gateway Promo Llanowar Elves.
-Eladamri, Lord of Leaves
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Heritage Druid
4 Essence Warden
4 Dwynen's Elite
4 Devoted Druid
2 Vizier of Remedies
4 Elvish Archdruid
4 Ezuri, Renegade Leader
4 Collected Company
4 Chord of Calling
Lands (18)
4 Cavern of Souls
4 Horizon Canopy
3 Razorverge Thicket
3 Forest
2 Windswept Heath
1 Temple Garden
1 Westvale Abbey
4 Shapers' Sanctuary
1 Chameleon Colossus
1 Elvish Champion
1 Aven Mindcensor
1 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Ethersworn Canonist
1 Tajuru Preserver
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Selfless Spirit
1 Kataki, War's Wage
1 Loaming Shaman
1 Scavenging Ooze
Round 1 UW Pillowfort (Control)2-1
Game 1 Stalled with Gideons and Flip Jace until he could start swinging with Gideons for the win.
Game 2 He tapped out to Spreading Seas me, I T3 combo him.
Game 3 He taps down my team before combat with Cryptic Command, I had double Devoted Druid Ezuri so I infinite overrun in response and kill him with Devoted Druids.
Round 2 Naya Burn 2-0
Couldn't deal with mainboard Essence Wardens, and then tried to play an attrition matchup with elves.
Round 3 Sultai Midrange 1-1-1
He stalled a boardstate long enough to force the draw, but he couldn't get through a few elves and 3 Shapers' Sanctuarys.
Round 4 Esper Shadow 2-0
Game 1 He was stuck on 1 land.
Game 2 I landed 3 Shapers' Sanctuarys by the end of the game and he couldn't keep my board down from there.
Round 5 ID with 4-Color Shadow
Made 2nd Seed
Top 8 UR Storm 2-0 (Overall 7th Seed)
Game 1 He wipes my board with Grapeshot, but I quickly rebuild, CoCo into Dwynen's Ezuri and swing for lethal.
Game 2 He taps out to play Serum Visions and Baral, I turn 3 combo.
Top 4 Grandpa (Classic) Jund 2-1 (Overall 3rd seed)
Game 1 Got run over by a swarm of Goblin Rabblemaster tokens.
Game 2 Hit Ezuri and Dwynen's again for a lethal swing through two Goyfs and a Bob.
Game 3 Started with 3 Shapers' Sanctuarys in hand. Played them all, forcing removing a couple times completely outdrawing him and finally landing a Colossus and Elvish Champion for Forestwalk.
Finals 4-Color Shadow 2-0(Overall 1st Seed)
Game 1 He had a very aggressive hand, but was low on removal and couldn't stop an Ezuri from sticking.
Game 2 Shapers' Sanctuary blanked most of his removal and Elvish Champion prevented Liliana Last Hope from killing dorks, leading to forestwalking elves winning the match.
Shapers' Sanctuary is a house. You should play it. Probably just as good in any color variant.
-Eladamri, Lord of Leaves
Congratulations! I see you still prefer Essence Wardens over Nettle Sentinels. How has the double Vizier performed for you?
@slaywithfury
What match do you bring 4x Shapers' Sanctuary for? I'm interested in testing this card but i'm still a big fan of Fecundity.
4x Llanowar Elves
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Nettle Sentinel
4x Heritage Druid
4x Elvish Visionary
4x Dwynen's Elite
4x Elvish Archdruid
4x Shaman of the Pack
2x Ezuri, Renegade Leader
4x Collected Company
4x Chord of Calling
Lands (18)
4x Cavern of Souls
4x Blooming Marsh
4x Forest
3x Verdant Catacombs
2x Horizon Canopy
1x Overgrown Tomb
1x Burrenton Forge-Tender
1x Dismember
1x Tajuru Preserver
1x Scavenging Ooze
1x Spellskite
1x Phyrexian Revoker
1x Selfless Spirit
1x Aven Mindcensor
1x Eidolon of Rhetoric
1x Fecundity
2x Reclamation Sage
2x Chameleon Colossus
1x Fracturing Gust
My most recent changes are removing 4x Gilt-Leaf Palace for 3 Verdants and 1 Overgrown Tomb. Also removed Melira for a Fracturing Gust. If I needed space in my sideboard, I could remove Tajuru Preserver since Eldrazi Tron feels less common and the Death's Shadow tend is slowing down I could cut a Colossus.
1. I've seen a few lists running Driven // Despair in the sideboard, what exactly is this for?
2. I'm assuming Heroic Intervention is there purely for sweepers/boardwipes? In non-Chord builds I'm guessing its better than Selfless Spirit or Burrenton Forge-Tender?
3. Is Stain the Mind worth it in GB Shaman builds vs combo matches if you know the best cards to take with it?
4. Shapers' Sanctuary is great - seeing my Abzan opponent take it from an Inquisition of Kozilek showed how much they feared it!
@Larriepogi
I wouldn't say the 2nd Vizier is an all-star, but it does help in some matchups to have the first removed by hand disruption or a failed attempt from comboing, and to still have it as an option later. It's more that I can't decide on a better card as a 1-of in the slot so it lets me have a slightly higher chance of hitting the Vizier.
And yes, I still love my Wardens. My burn opponent had no chance when I kept playing them, and people often target them for fear of them pushing the game too far out of reach.
@Retswerd
I bring in Shapers' Sanctuary in against any matchup where they will be consistently targeting my creatures. I take CoCo out in this case, because Chord allows me to get more must-answer threats, and Shapers' punishes them for trying to remove them. UW Control stopped targeting my elves with his Planeswalker abilities, Jund gave up trying to spot removal me, and 4-Color Shadow gave me three draws every time they were forced to kill Ezuri or Archdruid.
One of the things to remember, is that it's draw on target. Unlike Fecundity, the creature doesn't have to die and thus you can protect it in response. So draw that Chord off the top and cast it to get Spirit or Ezuri to regen. And if they use Electrolyze on two different creatures, that's multiple targets for multiple triggers. Shapers' Sanctuary has done wonders in my UG Pummeler Standard deck as well. The number of times I draw a hexproof spell off the top to protect my creature is insane.
The last thing, and the major selling point for me, is that this is a fantastic turn 1 play. I would rather play this turn one, and a Devoted Druid or two dorks turn two than a turn one dork. The only time I'd prefer Fecundity is against decks running a lot of sweepers, but there are a few sweepers like Anger or Flaying Tendrils that you still wouldn't draw cards because your creatures are exiled instead.
-Eladamri, Lord of Leaves
I have never played a pure GB Shaman list, but here are my thoughts on these cards:
Short version:
Driven // Despair: Worth testing
Heroic Intervention: Solid sideboard card
Stain the Mind: Not a fan; kinda slow, not proactive, doesn't always do enough
Shapers' Sanctuary: Highly recommend
Long version:
1. Driven // Despair is a good card to punch in some extra damage in the GB version in order to get your opponent into Shaman range. If they connect, they also punish the opponent pretty hard so they're more likely to be block unfavorably.
2. Heroic Intervention Yes, this card is great against sweepers, but can also blow out an opponent in a combat phase. It's more likely to be played in a GB list alongside Lead the Stampede and no Chords. You need something so you don't fold completely to sweepers, and GB doesn't have many other options.
3. Stain the Mind is not a bad card, but I'm also not a fan. Its best uses are for stripping away sweepers and combo pieces. But fast combo decks like UR Storm or possibly Counters Company will go off before you can cast it or will just use an alternate combo. Giving Valakut a turn by tapping out to cast this to strip Angers is also still helping them. The deck it is best against is Ad Nauseum, but that shouldn't be a matchup to hedge too much against. Not sure it's worth playing.
4. Shapers' Sanctuary A similar scenario happened to me as well, but my opponent used Mishra's Bauble to see that I had Shapers' on top, then Inquisitioned away my Archdruid. Next he tapped out to Abrupt Decay my Shapers'. He didn't have much removal left after that, and I was able to dump my hand with Heritage Druid.
-Eladamri, Lord of Leaves
I just started playing magic again after a long hiatus. I sold a lot of my cards to float my wife and I while she finished school and was a full-time student.
I’ve made a pretty standard Gb Elves deck, with Lead instead of Chord. I know I’ll be posting my deck list later with many additional questions, but for now I just have a few about the sideboard.
First, if I were to play Driven//Despair, against what decks would I sideboard it?
Are there still enough Islands around to make Choke worth consideration in the SB?
I’ve been finishing up my deck and haven’t had a chance to go play and get a look at the modern meta at my LGS, so I’m just kind of guessing at this point.
Heroic Intervention was just spoken of. Has Prowess of the Fair been written off for board wipe/removal consolation? I haven’t seen it mentioned lately.
I’m really excited about playing again. Sorry I didn’t hyperlink the cards. I usually do. I’m on my cellphone and kind of in a hurry. Thanks in advance for any info/tips!
BRGJUNDGRB---BRHOLLOW ONERB---BGELVESGB---BRGLIVING ENDGRB---GWBOGLESWG
EDH:
BRGKARRTHUS, TYRANT OF JUNDGRB
I agree on the GW version being prone to removal. However, it fights on two different axes. One is trying to assemble the combo and the second is by traditional beatdown. The deck is designed to outrace other linear decks while still having enough gas to survive a grindy match-up. Plus, you're forgetting how great the sideboard can be when you're on white. I do still think GB is strong and I think it's a better deck when you're fighting through a meta full of control/midrange decks. I think the two decks are very competitive right now, it's just a matter of how you read the meta.
Shaper's Sanctuary is definitely a house and makes your opponents wanna pull their hair out. Kill my dork? Sure, but not before I draw another.
I test this card with my GB fun deck just to see how the card perform.
Cons - You need a significant board state for it to have value usually 2 creatures is enough depends on the current game state.
Pro - I almost always cast both side on the same turn to maximize its value. For 4 cmc total, Giving your elves Trample and Menace will really caught your opponent off guard. And a resolved driven and despair will really turn the game state in your favor. The Menace is really the key in casting the card to make sure that at least 1 creature goes thru to draw cards and make your opponent discard. If you manage to discard your opponent hand you are almost in the drivers seat.
I only test it in kitchen table magic. I haven't use it yet in my local against the current meta. I just want to share my finding for those who might want to test it in competitive scene. If you do test it, share your finding.
That's what I thought at first too. But I tried out GW and having a single copy of Vizier doesn't significantly dilute our elf base and in return it gives us the oops-I-win combo, especially in game 1. Devoted Druid's can also go infinite on their own with 2 of them and an Ezuri out.
I definitely miss Shaman but current metagame (at least my local one) is better suited for GW version rather than grindier GB. And like Larriepogi said, white sideboard options are plentiful.
WBG Elves WBG
Cheeri0s
EDH:
RG Omnath, Locus of Rage RG || GWUB Atraxa, Praetors' Voice GWUB
R Zo-Zu the Punisher R || WU Brago, King Eternal WU
UB Gisa and Geralf UB || BGW Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW
Thinking of putting in a single Sigarda, Host of Herons in place of BFT or Mindcensor.
EDIT: I think 2 Sanctuaries are enough. They suck when you're topdecking. Maybe take them out for Kitchen Finks?