The reason for this is that you probably have Shaman of the Pack in the main deck while your white cards come from the side board. You need to consistently cast Shaman while you can Chord for our bullets. I also suggest having the least number of noncreature spells in your sideboard as this dilutes your Leads and CoCo's. You should probably get Caverns as soon as possible as Chalice and control decks are rampant here in PH meta.
The reason for this is that you probably have Shaman of the Pack in the main deck while your white cards come from the side board. You need to consistently cast Shaman while you can Chord for our bullets. I also suggest having the least number of noncreature spells in your sideboard as this dilutes your Leads and CoCo's. You should probably get Caverns as soon as possible as Chalice and control decks are rampant here in PH meta.
Thanks for the tip. Yeah, Caverns is a must. I am able to play around it most of the time but I don't intend to push my luck I play at Block 101 and NG Centris whenever there's a Modern pod. Nice to know that another Filipino is contributing healthily in this thread
I play at Block 101 sometimes too! Add me up on Facebook so you can reach me easily if you have more questions. Sending you a link of my profile via PM.
Round 1: v Abzan Company (favored) DRAW
G1: He tried beating me down with Voice of Resurgence while I build my board up. He ended losing the race as I overran him after building a board of 5 little elves and Archdruid.
G2: This really wasn't his best match-up as he saw next to no action. Maybe kept a bad hand? 1-0
Round 2: v RW Prison? (not sure) PLAY
G1: T1 he laid down a Leyline of Sanctity so I knew he was some sort of pillowfort deck. Then he put Gideon of Trials t3. We had a bit of a shake-up since I played Shaman t2 and we both missed the Leyline. We decided to not call a judge and keep the game as is. T4 kill here.
G2: He had a really oppressive hand. Pithing Needle, Blood Moon, Runed Halo, Stasis Snare. I had two Shamans on the board and he was down to 11 when he cast Halo. I also held another Shaman with no other wincons in sight. Fortunately, I drew a Lead into Rec Sage attacking and then slamming down Shaman for the win 2-0
Round 3: Burn (50-50) DRAW
G1: He got me down to one with Guide and Swiftspear + spells while he was still at a healthy 13. He had no cards in hand and no board so I cast Coco at his end step getting two Archdruids while holding an Ezuri.
G2: Mull'd to 6 while he mull'd to 5. His hand was really explosive plus his live draws. Didn't manage to get a board going.
G3: T1 mystic, T2 heritage, nettle into dwynen's and Archdruid. He scooped. He had all creatures in his hand and literally no spells. 3-0
Round 4: Death and Taxes (favored) PLAY
G1: He got me down to 5 by beating my face with Flickerwisp and Copter. At T4, I had a pretty wide board just without Ezuri. Drew one, swung for 30+ dmg
G2: I Rec Sage'd his Vial t2, he plays a Copter and Leonin Arbiter. He tried Ghost Quartering my land. I dismembered his arbiter in response. He played another Copter next turn. Swung for lethal T4 4-0
Round 5: Affinity (slightly unfavored) DRAW
G1: Mull'd to 5, kept the game close despite being down two cards and being on the play. He managed to close me out with Etched Champion. He missed lethal though as I couldn't have blocked Champion with him having a lot of stuff plus Ravager on board. Would've won if I had one more turn.
G2: Kataki, Fracturing Gust blowout.
G3: I mull's a bad hand into a REALLY good hand, potentially killing T3. He opened up with Vault Skirge, me with Elvish Mystic. 2nd turn he put glimmervoid , attacked and passed. I should've known better since this was a hand Affinity players doesn't keep. T2 I laid down Heritage, Dwynen's into Archdruid, clutching an Ezuri which was lethal next turn. Next turn, he Whipflares me. I should've thought harder. I was too excited about my hand and him having one creature. I didn't suspect him having Whipflare. *GOD THIS STILL MAKES ME SALTY AS F*CK JUST TYPING IT HERE* 4-1
Round 6:
I got paired down last round so my chances of top 8 was slim if we drew. My opponent begged me to not play the game but he wanted to top 8 (douchebag move, I know) so we decided to split the prizes. Got 3x my entry fee plus tons of experience. Moving forward, that Affinity round was a lesson to be learned. Hopefully, those of you that read this will learn from it too. It really sucks. Lol. 4-2
Changes that I'm planning to make:
Mainboard: none
Sideboard: maybe find a room for one more Reclamation Sage. Kitchen Finks was an all-star all day. I'm thinking of adding Creeping Corrosion. Maybe removing Glissa.
Overall, I'm happy with the consistency of the deck, except for that mulligan to 5 versus Affinity. I think this was due to me having randomly deckchecked as the Judges piled my stuff together. Fetches and shocks didn't matter that much vs Burn as long as you know how to manage your life total as a resource rather than being defesive all the time. That Affinity blowout though. Damn.
EDIT: I'm too lazy to put in how I sideboarded. If you got any questions, feel free to ask.
wow. Its good to see Pinoys being active here. I too is an elf lover but I'm using GW combo elves so I'm not that active in giving inputs cause my deck play a different style than what is promoted here (though it is close to GW toolbox). But I'm following the thread for a long time now to check for new ideas and strategy. btw, I place 3rd today in my LGS (mdp). Like you, I have made a mistake/miscalculation that cause me the top finish.
Which combo are you referring to? Vizier + Devoted Druid? You can report that here, I think. People look for results and reports and it's always good to see how other variations play out.
MDP is Magic Dreams Portal right? We should make a Facebook group. I know a few others that play Elves.
How is it going for you? Staff of Domination seems too cute. For 3 mana, I'd rather just play Archdruid, Ezuri or Shaman, widens the board and keeps you close to lethal.
EDIT: Just realized you have 4 Spellskites and 4 Spirits. Aren't you better off having Heritage Druid and Nettle Sentinel in those spots?
Which combo are you referring to? Vizier + Devoted Druid? You can report that here, I think. People look for results and reports and it's always good to see how other variations play out.
MDP is Magic Dreams Portal right? We should make a Facebook group. I know a few others that play Elves.
Yes, MDP is my LGS. I'm using Cloudstone Curio as a combo enabler. I find it more reliable than devoted vizier. I am a combo and elf lover that is maybe because of my attachment to legacy elf when Im still playing legacy. I tried all combo possible in an elf deck and curio version is the one I find more explosive and reliable. I could give you my list if you wish. Curd has made a separate thread for the combo version of elves way back because of the split of players playing different approach.. and my deck is in between of those 2 version..
Which combo are you referring to? Vizier + Devoted Druid? You can report that here, I think. People look for results and reports and it's always good to see how other variations play out.
MDP is Magic Dreams Portal right? We should make a Facebook group. I know a few others that play Elves.
Yes, MDP is my LGS. I'm using Cloudstone Curio as a combo enabler. I find it more reliable than devoted vizier. I am a combo and elf lover that is maybe because of my attachment to legacy elf when Im still playing legacy. I tried all combo possible in an elf deck and curio version is the one I find more explosive and reliable. I could give you my list if you wish. Curd has made a separate thread for the combo version of elves way back because of the split of players playing different approach.. and my deck is in between of those 2 version..
Mind posting a decklist? I'm curious on how you built something between two different versions.
As you can see in my list, it is on budget restriction and it is also the reason why I'm so reluctant to post my deck here.
Judge's Familiar is the one I'm testing right now but I haven't board it in yet. I'm testing it as a specific tool in response to Languish/All Is Dust using chord.
Beast Within - I'm inclined to use this in place of path to exile because it is much more versatile. I really hate the ramp given to opponent. 2nd turn beast within can still make a difference in modern meta IMHO. 3/3 beast in exchange to Goblin Electromancer, Puresteel Paladin, Blinkmoth Nexus, And you can sometimes delay tron if you are lucky.
Feel free to ask question and I'm also open for suggestion. Cheers.
Edit :
The main objective of my deck is still the same with GB/GW elves, go wide and go full aggro. The combo is just a secondary "Oopps I win" Button. 50% of my game is still won by going wide, 30% via hate cards and only 10% via combo.
And take note that my list has also a 2nd turn kill like any other curio build. Yes it requires 7 cards but those cards not necessarily be in your opening. You just have to get those 7 on your first 8 cards on the PLAY, or assemble those 7 on your first 9 on the DRAW.
But the consistency of the deck still on its ability on going wide and its hate toolbox build.
What do people think about Prowess of the Fair in GB Shaman elves?
What's the context of you wanting to play this? I'll assume for now its wipe insurance, in which case the competing card is Selfless Spirit:
1. Selfless can be chorded for, Prowess can't.
2. Selfless can be picked up by coco, prowess can't.
3. Selfless will preserve the elves as-is, instead of leaving you with tokens instead of Ezuri and co.
4. Selfless can tap to convoke for chord, prowess can't.
5. Selfless insures against Anger of the Gods, Kalitas and other such exile replacement effects, prowess does not.
1. Prowess can tap with heritage druid for mana.
2. Prowess counts toward Shaman lifeloss.
3. Prowess counts toward Archdruid mana count.
4. Prowess can be regenerated(!) using Ezuri's ability.
5. Prowess dodges creature removal.
6. Prowess insures against Ugin's -X*, Living End and other such sacrifice effects. Selfless does not.
*thanks kavselj
Personally, I'd prefer to chord for selfless spirit. Reason being you want your insurance card to be readily available without compromising your plan A. If you bring in several Prowesses to insure, you're basically taking creatures out. With Selfless spirit you just need 1, Chord makes it like you have 5.
I believe the question was about GB elves, for which you'd have to splash white for spirit or count on Chord/CoCo for it. Not bad plans, as Spirit is a great card.
Thoughtseize/IoK are also decent cards for GB in battling sweepers. More timing required, but they can do the job. They also aren't creatures or elves, so those are obvious downsides. I think spirit is the best answer, but you've got to be running chords and splash white to do it. I personally run 3 leads/1 Chord, no white splash, so sweepers are tough to deal with.
Prowess is also quite nice against decks in Izzet/Grixis colors packing a lot of spot removal. It doesn't always find its way into my sideboard, but the card is undeniably strong in G/B.
Prowess can be drawn of Sylvan Messenger if you are playing that card in GB. I was running a build a while back that used messengers in the Lead the Stampede slot and Eldritch Evolutions in the Chord of Calling slot and an all elf sideboard. Saw some success but 4 manna of Messenger is a huge downside over 3 manna of Lead.
Mirror Entity as a main card in the GB beatdown?
Budget versions of Abzan not running or running 1 Horizon Canopy?
Deck lists by FNM players? One list is running 2 Melira, Sylvok Outcast.
Seriously, you are telling me this is the best there is?
Dont get me wrong, there is some good stuff, but its mixed with so much outdated and faulty information that its hard to read.
Mirror Entity as a main card in the GB beatdown?
Budget versions of Abzan not running or running 1 Horizon Canopy?
Deck lists by FNM players? One list is running 2 Melira, Sylvok Outcast.
Seriously, you are telling me this is the best there is?
Dont get me wrong, there is some good stuff, but its mixed with so much outdated and faulty information that its hard to read.
As far as decklists are concerned, if you're preoccupied with "the best there is", then please go to MTGtop8.com. The primer is supposed to cover more ground then simply throw the "best" lists at you. FNM lists may not be what you decide to bring to a 256 man tourney but it can sometimes provide new perspectives and insights into local metas and even help when someone played well in a meta similar to your own.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
BGW Elves BGW|BW Tokens BW|WBR Sword&ShieldWBR|BUG DelverBUG|UWR Kiki UWR | UR Storm UR
What's everyone experiance with/opinion of heroic intervention? Seems like a viable counterspell for sweepers? I know selfless spirit does the same while also being a creature, but I'm GB with no white splash and looking for optimal ways to combat sweepers. Hand disruption and heroic intervention my best bet?
Mirror Entity as a main card in the GB beatdown?
Budget versions of Abzan not running or running 1 Horizon Canopy?
Deck lists by FNM players? One list is running 2 Melira, Sylvok Outcast.
Seriously, you are telling me this is the best there is?
Dont get me wrong, there is some good stuff, but its mixed with so much outdated and faulty information that its hard to read.
As far as decklists are concerned, if you're preoccupied with "the best there is", then please go to MTGtop8.com. The primer is supposed to cover more ground then simply throw the "best" lists at you. FNM lists may not be what you decide to bring to a 256 man tourney but it can sometimes provide new perspectives and insights into local metas and even help when someone played well in a meta similar to your own.
This is exactly right. I am one of the writers for the primer (much of the BG portion) and I can attest to the fact that our goal in writing the primer was "give as much of a wide range of ideas as possible, opening the mind up to different possibilities," not "provide the best and most relevant decklist for competitive players in large tournaments." Are we concerned about competitive players? Yes, of course. I am a competitive player myself. However, we are also concerned about new players who play in FNMs and creative players who want just that nudge towards an interesting idea.
I want to believe Shaman in the sb is worth the small splash (8 B sources). So far in testing it's been great to have the extra angle which forces Shadow decks to play much safer. I would bring it in against any midrange MU, against ensnaring or pithing needle.
Hi bro! Where do you play? I suggest fine-tuning your own first. However, I can suggest this land base:
4 Blooming Marsh
4 Windswept Heath
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Temple Garden
3 Forest
1 flex spot
The reason for this is that you probably have Shaman of the Pack in the main deck while your white cards come from the side board. You need to consistently cast Shaman while you can Chord for our bullets. I also suggest having the least number of noncreature spells in your sideboard as this dilutes your Leads and CoCo's. You should probably get Caverns as soon as possible as Chalice and control decks are rampant here in PH meta.
wow. Its good to see Pinoys being active here. I too is an elf lover but I'm using GW combo elves so I'm not that active in giving inputs cause my deck play a different style than what is promoted here (though it is close to GW toolbox). But I'm following the thread for a long time now to check for new ideas and strategy. btw, I place 3rd today in my LGS (mdp). Like you, I have made a mistake/miscalculation that cause me the top finish.
Which combo are you referring to? Vizier + Devoted Druid? You can report that here, I think. People look for results and reports and it's always good to see how other variations play out.
MDP is Magic Dreams Portal right? We should make a Facebook group. I know a few others that play Elves.
How is it going for you? Staff of Domination seems too cute. For 3 mana, I'd rather just play Archdruid, Ezuri or Shaman, widens the board and keeps you close to lethal.
EDIT: Just realized you have 4 Spellskites and 4 Spirits. Aren't you better off having Heritage Druid and Nettle Sentinel in those spots?
Yes, MDP is my LGS. I'm using Cloudstone Curio as a combo enabler. I find it more reliable than devoted vizier. I am a combo and elf lover that is maybe because of my attachment to legacy elf when Im still playing legacy. I tried all combo possible in an elf deck and curio version is the one I find more explosive and reliable. I could give you my list if you wish. Curd has made a separate thread for the combo version of elves way back because of the split of players playing different approach.. and my deck is in between of those 2 version..
Mind posting a decklist? I'm curious on how you built something between two different versions.
2 Elvish Mystic
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Elvish Archdruid
3 Dwynen's Elite
3 Elvish Visionary
4 Nettle sentinel
4 Heritage Druid
1 Ezuri, Renegade Leader
1 Mirror Entity
1 Essence Warden
1 Spellskite
1 Selfless Spirit
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Reclamation Sage
2 Chord of Calling
2 Lead the Stampede
4 Collected Company
3 Cloudstone Curio
Lands(18)
10 Forest
4 Razorverge Thicket
3 Temple Garden
1 Westvale Abbey
2 Chord of Calling
2 Burrenton Forge-Tender
3 Beast Within
1 Chameleon Colossus
1 Kataki, War's wage
1 Eidolon of Rhetoric
1 Reclamation Sage
1 Eternal Witness
1 Phyrexian Revoker
1 Mark of Asylum
1 Judge's Familiar
As you can see in my list, it is on budget restriction and it is also the reason why I'm so reluctant to post my deck here.
Judge's Familiar is the one I'm testing right now but I haven't board it in yet. I'm testing it as a specific tool in response to Languish/All Is Dust using chord.
Beast Within - I'm inclined to use this in place of path to exile because it is much more versatile. I really hate the ramp given to opponent. 2nd turn beast within can still make a difference in modern meta IMHO. 3/3 beast in exchange to Goblin Electromancer, Puresteel Paladin, Blinkmoth Nexus, And you can sometimes delay tron if you are lucky.
Feel free to ask question and I'm also open for suggestion. Cheers.
Edit :
The main objective of my deck is still the same with GB/GW elves, go wide and go full aggro. The combo is just a secondary "Oopps I win" Button. 50% of my game is still won by going wide, 30% via hate cards and only 10% via combo.
And take note that my list has also a 2nd turn kill like any other curio build. Yes it requires 7 cards but those cards not necessarily be in your opening. You just have to get those 7 on your first 8 cards on the PLAY, or assemble those 7 on your first 9 on the DRAW.
But the consistency of the deck still on its ability on going wide and its hate toolbox build.
What's the context of you wanting to play this? I'll assume for now its wipe insurance, in which case the competing card is Selfless Spirit:
1. Selfless can be chorded for, Prowess can't.
2. Selfless can be picked up by coco, prowess can't.
3. Selfless will preserve the elves as-is, instead of leaving you with tokens instead of Ezuri and co.
4. Selfless can tap to convoke for chord, prowess can't.
5. Selfless insures against Anger of the Gods, Kalitas and other such exile replacement effects, prowess does not.
1. Prowess can tap with heritage druid for mana.
2. Prowess counts toward Shaman lifeloss.
3. Prowess counts toward Archdruid mana count.
4. Prowess can be regenerated(!) using Ezuri's ability.
5. Prowess dodges creature removal.
6. Prowess insures against
Ugin's -X*, Living End and other such sacrifice effects. Selfless does not.*thanks kavselj
Personally, I'd prefer to chord for selfless spirit. Reason being you want your insurance card to be readily available without compromising your plan A. If you bring in several Prowesses to insure, you're basically taking creatures out. With Selfless spirit you just need 1, Chord makes it like you have 5.
BGW Elves BGW|BW Tokens BW|WBR Sword&ShieldWBR|BUG DelverBUG|UWR Kiki UWR | UR Storm UR
Thoughtseize/IoK are also decent cards for GB in battling sweepers. More timing required, but they can do the job. They also aren't creatures or elves, so those are obvious downsides. I think spirit is the best answer, but you've got to be running chords and splash white to do it. I personally run 3 leads/1 Chord, no white splash, so sweepers are tough to deal with.
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
Mirror Entity as a main card in the GB beatdown?
Budget versions of Abzan not running or running 1 Horizon Canopy?
Deck lists by FNM players? One list is running 2 Melira, Sylvok Outcast.
Seriously, you are telling me this is the best there is?
Dont get me wrong, there is some good stuff, but its mixed with so much outdated and faulty information that its hard to read.
As far as decklists are concerned, if you're preoccupied with "the best there is", then please go to MTGtop8.com. The primer is supposed to cover more ground then simply throw the "best" lists at you. FNM lists may not be what you decide to bring to a 256 man tourney but it can sometimes provide new perspectives and insights into local metas and even help when someone played well in a meta similar to your own.
BGW Elves BGW|BW Tokens BW|WBR Sword&ShieldWBR|BUG DelverBUG|UWR Kiki UWR | UR Storm UR
This is exactly right. I am one of the writers for the primer (much of the BG portion) and I can attest to the fact that our goal in writing the primer was "give as much of a wide range of ideas as possible, opening the mind up to different possibilities," not "provide the best and most relevant decklist for competitive players in large tournaments." Are we concerned about competitive players? Yes, of course. I am a competitive player myself. However, we are also concerned about new players who play in FNMs and creative players who want just that nudge towards an interesting idea.
BGElvesBG and BUGNissa ElvesBUG Faithful Elfer since May 1st, 2015
Results: SCG IQ Top 8, Monthly Modern Masters Top 4
4x Devoted Druid
3x Dwynen's Elite
4x Elvish Archdruid
4x Elvish Mystic
2x Elvish Visionary
4x Ezuri, Renegade Leader
4x Heritage Druid
4x Llanowar Elves
3x Nettle Sentinel
1x Scavenging Ooze
1x Vizier of Remedies
3x Forest
2x Horizon Canopy
1x Overgrown Tomb
3x Razorverge Thicket
1x Temple Garden
1x Westvale Abbey
3x Windswept Heath
4x Chord of Calling
4x Collected Company
1x Eidolon of Rhetoric
2x Kitchen Finks
3x Path to Exile
1x Phyrexian Revoker
2x Reclamation Sage
2x Rest in Peace
1x Selfless Spirit
2x Shaman of the Pack
or...
4x Devoted Druid
3x Dwynen's Elite
4x Elvish Archdruid
4x Elvish Mystic
2x Elvish Visionary
4x Ezuri, Renegade Leader
4x Heritage Druid
4x Llanowar Elves
3x Nettle Sentinel
1x Scavenging Ooze
1x Vizier of Remedies
3x Forest
3x Horizon Canopy
1x Pendelhaven
3x Razorverge Thicket
1x Temple Garden
1x Westvale Abbey
2x Windswept Heath
4x Chord of Calling
4x Collected Company
1x Eidolon of Rhetoric
2x Kitchen Finks
4x Path to Exile
1x Phyrexian Revoker
2x Reclamation Sage
2x Rest in Peace
2x Selfless Spirit
I want to believe Shaman in the sb is worth the small splash (8 B sources). So far in testing it's been great to have the extra angle which forces Shadow decks to play much safer. I would bring it in against any midrange MU, against ensnaring or pithing needle.
GBRJund Elves
GWDevoted Elves
WDeath & Taxes
GWUBRHumans
EDH:
GTitania, Protector of Argoth