So just finished a VERY grindy game against Planeswalker control. Key part of winning was Slimefoot. When they removed him the first time, I was fortunate enough to sac all my saplings to Plots to find another copy of Slimefoot, and then use the combo of Path to Discovery and Plots to make a sap, explore, dump the creature I revealed, and then rinse and repeat until I made just enough tokens to play Slimefoot and win instantly. Granted, parts of that game were very fortunate, but I liked discovering that interaction.
Along with a singleton Path (only game I drew it in) I'm trying a singleton The Immortal Sun, (didn't draw it in above game, will probably sideboard second copy), worked well enough as anthem, and really well as a draw machine. Not as useful in cost reduction, but in may help in other games I get it out early.
Lacked Fungal Plots in most games played tonight, so I might bump it up to 3 copies. A decent amount of Enchant/Artifact removal is being played mainboard, so it might help to have a backup copy.
Here's my testing of the deck thus far. It's been a lot of fun thus far, especially with Slimefoot/Fungal Plots. Rites works well before and after Spore Swarm, even if it only hits half the time. A lot of times I just try to build up my army until I can push through or sac for damage. One of my first games I defeated a Turn 1 Authority of the Consuls through amassing forces then Torgaaring down from 38.
Vraska's quite good here too, I side her in for certain matches. Tend to side out 1 each of Torgaar, Tendershoot, Growing Rites and Song of Freyalise for sideboard cards. The core of the deck being make of a lot of dudes with lords and pseudo-lord/anthems is still fairly brutal, but helps if you can also grind with Plots.
Nothing's set in stone, but I find trying to plan for a meta very difficult. The current biggest frustrations are Tron and Valakut decks, and I'm not sure if I should try Stain or not. Thoughtseizes have worked alright. Affinity is an old bugbear, so may as well nuke it, need to put Fracturing/Corrosion back in.
Are we back to Nettle Sentinel/Visionary being definite choices again? Definitely like it with Pokédex builds... which I really want to try, but seems ill timed before a big event. Maybe in a side event.
Loving the Eldritch Evolution talk. I believe this card has a very strong chance of developing a new Elf archetype, replacing Lead, Chord, or even Collected depending on build preference.
Seems like it could be a murderous Silver bullet dispenser: I dream of going turn 2 sac mana dork get Kataki, War's Wage against Affinity.
And remember people, it tutors for X+2 or less, where X is the CMC sacrificed, tokens get 2 or less, mana dorks get 3 or less, and so on.
r list man. Taking some notes to your sideboard choices. Chameleon Colossus was great before Eldrazi. I'll probably great again. Jund has been getting cocky in my area and I laugh when they try to dismember it. Also how do you feel when you play Melira, Sylvok Outcast with 1 Chord. Do you ever feel the need to aggressively mulligan for her? I have lost a few games against infect because the turn I would cast Lead to find her is the turn before they kill me.
To be honest I haven't faced Infect this season yet. From past experience I'm not the biggest fan of using Chord to find a silver bullet against other turn 3-4 kill decks, especially on the draw. Currently I would sideboard Spellskite, Melira and Dismember. Perhaps I should side out a Finks for another Melira or Dismember, but I like the safety in multiple Finks, and in my Meta Burn is far more likely. Otherwise I think against Infect if you can, you just have to blitz them and win before they do, surprisingly not hard for Elves sometimes.
Still working on finalising the sideboard, but otherwise very happy with it for this season. Have played Merfolk, Burn, Thopter/Tron, Grixis Midrange, Storm, U/W Control, Jund. The one-of Chord has been involved in some good plays, but not sure if I want to add more in the side yet, I prefer the card advantage of Lead at the moment.
Alright guys, I present the first new deck idea in a while: BW Eldrazi Midrange. The new creatures we've gotten have little to no setup required and provide a lot of value. Reshaper grabs another card, Thought-Knot is a delayed clique, and Smasher... Well, he smashes things. As well, Warping Wail, Path to Exile, and Thought-Knot Seer all setup Strangler. The idea is to drop all the situational stuff, and play a faster deck with less setup required. Relic of Progenitus, Blight Herder, and Oblivion Sower are all cut for lower cost creatures. Against Aggro, we now have early creatures to trade or block. Against midrange, our creatures still provide enough value to make it an easy matchup. Against combo and control, we have a much faster clock now, so we can simply race them. Let me know what you all think, this is quite a drastic change. And I know that some of you are very against dropping Herder, Sower, and Relics, but I feel like this is a direction very much worth exploring. Maybe it won't work out, but we should at least think about it and give it a shot. I mean hey, Heartless Summoning made an appearance at SCG this weekend.
Manabase is still very much in the works. I might want to find room in the main for Thoughtseize, Eldrazi Displacer might get the axe again.
Came up with a similar idea last night to amend my current B/W eldrazi with the new cards, basically taking the Processing out of the deck:
The one-of Wastes is Blood Moon insurance, fetchable by Map and Ghost Quarter in emergencies. Map provides a minor toolbox approach for the lands, not only getting the main engine but providing some long game activity and protection against counter spells.
Minor deck thinning has its appeal with Company, but you're right. Didn't see too many disasters with fetch/shock, but the games I played it rarely mattered. Mainly worried about sideboarded mono white/black cards being stuck in hand, though it sounds fine.
Played a G/B version to test the new cards, with 4 Dwynen's, 4 Shamans, 2 Ezuris and 18 lands, without any one-ofs in the main. Dwynen's and Visionaries worked very well together, while Shaman was good, but I only wanted two per game. I never lacked for Ezuri, though I did want Mirror Entity available at times.
Sideboard was a mess, but it did give me opportunity to test 2 copies of Prowess of the Fair. It worked very, very well against Jeskai control and Jund, keeping a number of elves on the field, definitely wanted a third available.
Will probably try the G/b/w version next weekend, with 2 less Shamans, and 1 more land and Mirror.
So... Yasova Dragonclaw is up against Master of Waves. As far as I can tell it's a green creature vs a pro-red creature, so Yasova can block and deal damage to MOW. But can she use her red/blue ability against him?
702.14b A permanent or player with protection can't be targeted by spells with the stated quality and can't be targeted by abilities from a source with the stated quality.
My interpretation of that rule is that since Yasova is a Green source, not a Red/Blue/Green source, she can target MOW with her ability.
Playing the 10 mana dorks because I feel this deck wants to be ahead on mana as much as possible, certainly preferring to be able to play a threat and leave Stubborn Denial mana up as needed. Seemed to work fine against the control and aggro decks, didn't get to face a Green Devotion deck yet. Crater's Claws has been astoundingly good at finishing people off or killing 4+ toughness creatures as needed.
I'm not sure how we beat it consistently, especially on the draw. They play just enough big butts in Sylvan Caryatid, Courser of Kruphix, and Nylea's Disciple to fend off our early game, eventually building up to massive Nykthos hi jinx. I had an opponent fire off a Polukranos monstrous for 17, which basically wiped my board besides a couple of regen'd Experiments and a leftover Voice token. Polukranos, World Eater, Sylvan Primordial, and Nylea, God of the Hunt seem to be the primary win-cons.
I fully expect to see more of this deck as we get closer to rotation and G/B based devotion in general getting stronger post.
So, what can we put in our 75 that helps tip this match up in our favor? I'm not certain I see *good* answers in the existing pool.
Alright, I don't know your build or how your games played, but... Selesnya Charm pump on block, Banishing Light or Setessan Tactics to take out their creatures should've worked. All their win-cons are vulnerable to Banishing Light/Selesnya Charm too.
I played 8 rounds total, 4 Mono Black Devotion, 2 Mono Blue Devotion, Jund Monsters in the semis and RUW Control in the finals (who was a little slack at some of the intricate rules, like protection targeting). My side boarding was mainly the Brimaz out for Witch/Fiend, and Ooze/Soldier for Celestial Flares in the MBD and Skylashers in the MUD. Boon Satyrs worked great in the final match, stealing the win with a bestowed Satyr. I was expecting more Aggro, hence Steadfast (life gain etc) and Unflinching, and had Glares in for my nemesis, the Ram (and Archangel/Elspeth).
This was my third time in the finals with GW Aggro, and I think I got lucky that most of the field decided to play MBD and MUD rather than BW or control. I highly recommend Witchstalker for the decent body hex proof that can't be targeted against heavy black removal. Brimaz seemed less necessary (though I still like the interaction with Tactics), and Ooze wasn't really worth it, but maybe that's just because I didn't face any aggro decks.
Really great to hear some positive tournament results.
Xenagos is a really interesting addition, I hadn't thought about it, but he himself is basically a 12 life swing the turn he comes down. Wowow, definitely going to throw him in as a one-of in mine.
Just remember you can't use his ability on himself. He does make everyone a lot better though.
Along with a singleton Path (only game I drew it in) I'm trying a singleton The Immortal Sun, (didn't draw it in above game, will probably sideboard second copy), worked well enough as anthem, and really well as a draw machine. Not as useful in cost reduction, but in may help in other games I get it out early.
Lacked Fungal Plots in most games played tonight, so I might bump it up to 3 copies. A decent amount of Enchant/Artifact removal is being played mainboard, so it might help to have a backup copy.
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Yavimaya Sapherd
4 Sporecrown Thallid
3 Slimefoot, the Stowaway
4 Tendershoot Dryad
2 Torgaar, Famine Incarnate
4 Spore Swarm
2 Growing Rites of Itlimoc
2 Cast Down
3 Song of Freyalise
2 Fungal Plots
4 Saproling Migration
9 Forest
5 Swamp
4 Woodland Cemetery
4 Blooming Marsh
Here's my testing of the deck thus far. It's been a lot of fun thus far, especially with Slimefoot/Fungal Plots. Rites works well before and after Spore Swarm, even if it only hits half the time. A lot of times I just try to build up my army until I can push through or sac for damage. One of my first games I defeated a Turn 1 Authority of the Consuls through amassing forces then Torgaaring down from 38.
Vraska's quite good here too, I side her in for certain matches. Tend to side out 1 each of Torgaar, Tendershoot, Growing Rites and Song of Freyalise for sideboard cards. The core of the deck being make of a lot of dudes with lords and pseudo-lord/anthems is still fairly brutal, but helps if you can also grind with Plots.
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Heritage Druid
4x Llanowar Elves
3x Essence Warden
4x Dwynen's Elite
1x Scavenging Ooze
1x Spellskite
1x Selfless Spirit
4x Elvish Archdruid
3x Ezuri, Renegade Leader
4x Shaman of the pack
1x Reclamation Sage
4x Chord of Calling
4x Collected Company
Land (18)
2x Forest
4x Blooming Marsh
4x Cavern of Souls
4x Gilt-leaf Palace
1x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
3x Horizon Canopy
2x Dismember
2x Lead the Stampede
1x Phyrexian Revoker
1x Elvish Champion
1x Chameleon Colossus
1x Melira, Sylvok Outcast
2x Thoughtseize
2x Golgari Charm
1x Reclamation Sage
2x Stain the Mind
Nothing's set in stone, but I find trying to plan for a meta very difficult. The current biggest frustrations are Tron and Valakut decks, and I'm not sure if I should try Stain or not. Thoughtseizes have worked alright. Affinity is an old bugbear, so may as well nuke it, need to put Fracturing/Corrosion back in.
Are we back to Nettle Sentinel/Visionary being definite choices again? Definitely like it with Pokédex builds... which I really want to try, but seems ill timed before a big event. Maybe in a side event.
Seems like it could be a murderous Silver bullet dispenser: I dream of going turn 2 sac mana dork get Kataki, War's Wage against Affinity.
And remember people, it tutors for X+2 or less, where X is the CMC sacrificed, tokens get 2 or less, mana dorks get 3 or less, and so on.
To be honest I haven't faced Infect this season yet. From past experience I'm not the biggest fan of using Chord to find a silver bullet against other turn 3-4 kill decks, especially on the draw. Currently I would sideboard Spellskite, Melira and Dismember. Perhaps I should side out a Finks for another Melira or Dismember, but I like the safety in multiple Finks, and in my Meta Burn is far more likely. Otherwise I think against Infect if you can, you just have to blitz them and win before they do, surprisingly not hard for Elves sometimes.
5 Forest
4 Cavern of Souls
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Llanowar Wastes
1 Pendelhaven
Creatures (34)
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Heritage Druid
4 Nettle Sentinel
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Dwynen's Elite
4 Elvish Archdruid
4 Shaman of the Pack
2 Ezuri, Renegade Leader
4 Collected Company
3 Lead the Stampede
1 Chord of Calling
1 Dismember
1 Melira, Sylvok Outcast
2 Scavenging Ooze
2 Fracturing Gust
2 Reclamation Sage
3 Kitchen Finks
2 Chameleon Colossus
1 Thrun, the Last Troll
1 Spellskite
Still working on finalising the sideboard, but otherwise very happy with it for this season. Have played Merfolk, Burn, Thopter/Tron, Grixis Midrange, Storm, U/W Control, Jund. The one-of Chord has been involved in some good plays, but not sure if I want to add more in the side yet, I prefer the card advantage of Lead at the moment.
Came up with a similar idea last night to amend my current B/W eldrazi with the new cards, basically taking the Processing out of the deck:
4 Matter Reshaper
4 Thought-Knot Seer
4 Reality Smasher
4 Oblivion Sower
1 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
Spells (19)
3 Expedition Map
4 Inquisition of Kozilek
4 Lingering Souls
4 Path to Exile
1 Slaughter Pact
1 Thoughtseize
1 Liliana of the Veil
4 Eldrazi Temple
2 Eye of Ugin
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4 Marsh Flats
3 Ghost Quarter
2 Godless Shrine
2 Plains
2 Swamp
1 Mirrorpool
1 Sea Gate Wreckage
1 Wastes
1 Cavern of Souls
1 Crucible of Worlds
1 Slaughter Pact
2 Celestial Purge
2 Spellskite
1 Duress
1 Liliana of the Veil
2 Engineered Explosives
2 Flaying Tendrils
2 Stony Silence
1 Timely Reinforcements
The one-of Wastes is Blood Moon insurance, fetchable by Map and Ghost Quarter in emergencies. Map provides a minor toolbox approach for the lands, not only getting the main engine but providing some long game activity and protection against counter spells.
Sideboard was a mess, but it did give me opportunity to test 2 copies of Prowess of the Fair. It worked very, very well against Jeskai control and Jund, keeping a number of elves on the field, definitely wanted a third available.
Will probably try the G/b/w version next weekend, with 2 less Shamans, and 1 more land and Mirror.
702.14b A permanent or player with protection can't be targeted by spells with the stated quality and can't be targeted by abilities from a source with the stated quality.
My interpretation of that rule is that since Yasova is a Green source, not a Red/Blue/Green source, she can target MOW with her ability.
Can anyone confirm the ruling of this?
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Sylvan Carytid
2x Rattleclaw Mystic
4x Savage Knuckleblade
4x Polukranos, World Eater
3x Stormbreath Dragon
1x Keranos, God of Storms
4x Crater's Claws
4x Stubborn Denial
2x Lightning Strike
2x Divination
2x Sarkhan the Dragonspeaker
4x Wooded Foothills
4x Temple of Mystery
4x Temple of Abandon
2x Frontier Bivouac
2x Yavimaya Coast
1x Shivan Reef
4x Forest
2x Mountain
1x Island
4x Hornet Nest
3x Anger of the Gods
2x Harness by Force
2x Disdainful Stroke
2x Sagu Mauler
2x Surrak Dragonclaw
Playing the 10 mana dorks because I feel this deck wants to be ahead on mana as much as possible, certainly preferring to be able to play a threat and leave Stubborn Denial mana up as needed. Seemed to work fine against the control and aggro decks, didn't get to face a Green Devotion deck yet. Crater's Claws has been astoundingly good at finishing people off or killing 4+ toughness creatures as needed.
Alright, I don't know your build or how your games played, but... Selesnya Charm pump on block, Banishing Light or Setessan Tactics to take out their creatures should've worked. All their win-cons are vulnerable to Banishing Light/Selesnya Charm too.
3 Soldier of the Pantheon
3 Sunblade Elf
4 Voice of Resurgence
4 Fleecemane Lion
1 Scavenging Ooze
2 Brimaz, King of Oreskos
2 Witchstalker
4 Selesnya Charm
2 Setessan Tactics
3 Banishing Charm
2 Ajani, Caller of the Pride
3 Advent of the Wurm
4 Temple of Plenty
4 Mana Confluence
7 Plains
6 Forest
2 Boon Satyr
2 Celestial Flare
3 Glare of Heresy
2 Skylasher
2 Unflinching Courage
1 Witchstalker
1 Fiendslayer Paladin
2 Ajani Steadfast
I played 8 rounds total, 4 Mono Black Devotion, 2 Mono Blue Devotion, Jund Monsters in the semis and RUW Control in the finals (who was a little slack at some of the intricate rules, like protection targeting). My side boarding was mainly the Brimaz out for Witch/Fiend, and Ooze/Soldier for Celestial Flares in the MBD and Skylashers in the MUD. Boon Satyrs worked great in the final match, stealing the win with a bestowed Satyr. I was expecting more Aggro, hence Steadfast (life gain etc) and Unflinching, and had Glares in for my nemesis, the Ram (and Archangel/Elspeth).
This was my third time in the finals with GW Aggro, and I think I got lucky that most of the field decided to play MBD and MUD rather than BW or control. I highly recommend Witchstalker for the decent body hex proof that can't be targeted against heavy black removal. Brimaz seemed less necessary (though I still like the interaction with Tactics), and Ooze wasn't really worth it, but maybe that's just because I didn't face any aggro decks.
Just remember you can't use his ability on himself. He does make everyone a lot better though.