I think in EDH, life is still valuable. Even though we start at 40, a little extra life wouldn't hurt. Especially when running cards like Sylvan Library, the life loss can add up, especially when getting ganged up on. I figure I should run at least 1 creature that can gain me back some life. Here's some options and I would like to hear what people think.
Pelakka Wurm. The card I'm planning to swap out is Giant Adephage. The wurm isn't off the mark by much, as its also a 7/7 trampled. The added bonus is 7 life which is pretty huge. Plus a can trip, if it dies. Not a bad card at all. Also has the added bonus of working well with Stampeding Serow/Stampeding Wildebeests, Greater Good, and being the best beater available.
Engulfing Slagwurm. Yeva, Nature's Herald is my general so flashing this blocker would kill anything.... But a 7/7 should be able to kill 99% of all creatures in combat anyway... Then on the offense, the lack of trample hurts. I think I'd rather run the Pelakka Wurm
Scavenging Ooze. I feel like everyone would just sa Ooze and look no further. In my meta, I don't need graveyard hate, since it not abused. So all it becomes is a 2/2 bear that can gain me miniscule amount of life. I can imagine it good in most metas but I don't want to waste a slot on a 2/2 bear.
Thragtusk. An early beater but it doesn't do enough IMO. I'm rather pay 2 more to gain 7 life and possibly draw a card.
Right now, I'm leaning towards Pelakka Wurm surprisingly since gives the most bang for my buck but I don't know. Maybe Scavenging Ooze is just straight up the best play in general. Thoughts?
I could not agree with you more; life gain in EDH is ignored if you listen to the vocal minority. It never hurts to gain life, and losing life with cards like Sylvan Library makes it even more worthwhile.
If the Ooze will only gain life for you and you do not have one, it is probably not worth the price to obtain one.
Pelakka Wurm is not a bad choice, but Giant Adephage is so cool! Is there really nothing of a similar mana cost that could go?
I like Engulfing Slagwurm, especially with Yeva. Nice, big surprise!
Primal Command can gain you some life when you need it and provide double duty with one of it's other modes. As already suggested however, Bow of Nylea is probably your best bet. It can gain you life when you need it while not being a dead card when you don't.
Unfortunately every try hard from Sacramento to Shanghai preaches from the top of their 27 lands + Mana Reflection that Tooth and Nail and Time Stretch are fine to play in the same turn but Armageddon is unfair.
Engulfing Slagwurm. Yeva, Nature's Herald is my general so flashing this blocker would kill anything.... But a 7/7 should be able to kill 99% of all creatures in combat anyway... Then on the offense, the lack of trample hurts. I think I'd rather run the Pelakka Wurm
I do have to agree with you whole-heartedly, but I have to ask: you're running mono-green and have no ways to grant trample? No Rancor or Brawn?
Engulfing Slagwurm is an awesome choice in my opinion....but he tends to want something that can force people to block him (like Lure) or give him surprise blocking abilities, such as instant speed reach.
Scavenging Ooze. I feel like everyone would just sa Ooze and look no further. In my meta, I don't need graveyard hate, since it not abused. So all it becomes is a 2/2 bear that can gain me miniscule amount of life. I can imagine it good in most metas but I don't want to waste a slot on a 2/2 bear.
So.... what I am actually hearing here is how you should roll a black reanimator deck and abuse the fact that people arent hating on graves.
Back on topic though... Ooze really is good even if its not a problem. He usually beats fairly well and there is still lifegain. Last night someone had a 15/15 ooze he was swinging around...
Pelakka Wurm - I have always liked this guy though and I think if I was specifically looking for lifegain in mono green he would be something I look at.
Momentus Fall - It does a lot of good things including gain life.
Primeval Bounty will make all of your ramp into life buffers. If you wanted to get silly, drop it first and then use Boundless Realms.
Staff of the Wild Magus honestly as a budget option it isn't bad. It's laughable enough to fly under the radar, and 1 life every land drop and green spell will often get ignored until it's too late.
Pelakka Wurm would actually be a good choice for your Yeva deck, as you could flash him in on the spot wen you wanted. Engulfing Slagwurm works best if you have some sort of Lure effect on it for maximum carnage, so you're spot on in your assessment.
I could not agree with you more; life gain in EDH is ignored if you listen to the vocal minority. It never hurts to gain life, and losing life with cards like Sylvan Library makes it even more worthwhile.
If the Ooze will only gain life for you and you do not have one, it is probably not worth the price to obtain one.
Pelakka Wurm is not a bad choice, but Giant Adephage is so cool! Is there really nothing of a similar mana cost that could go?
I like Engulfing Slagwurm, especially with Yeva. Nice, big surprise!
Thanks for the replies everyone. The thing about it is I would like my source of life gain to be a creature so I can tutor for it. That's why stuff like primeval bounty, Loxodon Warhammer, bow of Nylea, etc aren't really what I'm looking for. Thanks for the ideas though.
Wurmcoil Engine was something that I never thought of but it can't be flashed in with Yeva so I'm kind of turned off by it...
But by the looks of it, people seem to have a good impression on Pelakka Wurm, so I guess I'll give it a try for now. Anyone have more suggestions?
Thanks for the replies everyone. The thing about it is I would like my source of life gain to be a creature so I can tutor for it. That's why stuff like primeval bounty, Loxodon Warhammer, bow of Nylea, etc aren't really what I'm looking for. Thanks for the ideas though.
Wurmcoil Engine was something that I never thought of but it can't be flashed in with Yeva so I'm kind of turned off by it...
But by the looks of it, people seem to have a good impression on Pelakka Wurm, so I guess I'll give it a try for now. Anyone have more suggestions?
For Yeva, Jaddi Lifestrider could be an interesting creature to flash in right before your turn begins. Molder is decent utility with lifegain tacked on.
While lifegain isn't as bad in EDH as people say, it's still better to attach it to something else. So the Wurm and Scavenging Ooze look good. I know you can't flash it, but Wurmcoil Engine is still the absolute nuts. Momentous Fall, as an instant, is pretty nifty as well.
Pelakka Wurm. The card I'm planning to swap out is Giant Adephage. The wurm isn't off the mark by much, as its also a 7/7 trampled. The added bonus is 7 life which is pretty huge. Plus a can trip, if it dies. Not a bad card at all. Also has the added bonus of working well with Stampeding Serow/Stampeding Wildebeests, Greater Good, and being the best beater available.
Engulfing Slagwurm. Yeva, Nature's Herald is my general so flashing this blocker would kill anything.... But a 7/7 should be able to kill 99% of all creatures in combat anyway... Then on the offense, the lack of trample hurts. I think I'd rather run the Pelakka Wurm
Scavenging Ooze. I feel like everyone would just sa Ooze and look no further. In my meta, I don't need graveyard hate, since it not abused. So all it becomes is a 2/2 bear that can gain me miniscule amount of life. I can imagine it good in most metas but I don't want to waste a slot on a 2/2 bear.
Thragtusk. An early beater but it doesn't do enough IMO. I'm rather pay 2 more to gain 7 life and possibly draw a card.
Right now, I'm leaning towards Pelakka Wurm surprisingly since gives the most bang for my buck but I don't know. Maybe Scavenging Ooze is just straight up the best play in general. Thoughts?
Another, non-creature option for a mono-G deck might be the toolbox that is Bow of Nylea.
If the Ooze will only gain life for you and you do not have one, it is probably not worth the price to obtain one.
Pelakka Wurm is not a bad choice, but Giant Adephage is so cool! Is there really nothing of a similar mana cost that could go?
I like Engulfing Slagwurm, especially with Yeva. Nice, big surprise!
Essence Warden works if you're casting a ton of creatures. Nylea's Disciple is okay. Ravenous Baloth is classic.
Also, I'd like to suggest Loxodon Warhammer and Momentous Fall. They're awesome.
I do have to agree with you whole-heartedly, but I have to ask: you're running mono-green and have no ways to grant trample? No Rancor or Brawn?
Engulfing Slagwurm is an awesome choice in my opinion....but he tends to want something that can force people to block him (like Lure) or give him surprise blocking abilities, such as instant speed reach.
So.... what I am actually hearing here is how you should roll a black reanimator deck and abuse the fact that people arent hating on graves.
Back on topic though... Ooze really is good even if its not a problem. He usually beats fairly well and there is still lifegain. Last night someone had a 15/15 ooze he was swinging around...
Pelakka Wurm - I have always liked this guy though and I think if I was specifically looking for lifegain in mono green he would be something I look at.
Momentus Fall - It does a lot of good things including gain life.
Primal Command - there is a gain 7 option to it.
Wurmcoil Engine - its an option. The fact that it splits on death is sort of nice too.
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I'm a fan of Pelakka Wurm. Does cool things with Nim Deathmantle + Greater Good.
Staff of the Wild Magus honestly as a budget option it isn't bad. It's laughable enough to fly under the radar, and 1 life every land drop and green spell will often get ignored until it's too late.
Momentous Fall, a single use Greater Good with some life gain added on minus the discard.
Pelakka Wurm would actually be a good choice for your Yeva deck, as you could flash him in on the spot wen you wanted. Engulfing Slagwurm works best if you have some sort of Lure effect on it for maximum carnage, so you're spot on in your assessment.
Life gain is actually great unless someone is comboing.
In my experience few games are decided by commander damage.
Not only does a healthy life total keep you alive it keeps you from being a target in many instances.
Don't overlook Thragtusk. It's not a good threat but for a value engine deck I like it.
Wurmcoil Engine was something that I never thought of but it can't be flashed in with Yeva so I'm kind of turned off by it...
But by the looks of it, people seem to have a good impression on Pelakka Wurm, so I guess I'll give it a try for now. Anyone have more suggestions?
In my Enchantress Deck (and our huge multiplayer games), Roots of Life is epic.
If you're playing anything like Roaring Primadox or a Mimic Vat try Thragtusk.
Pelakkalaka is a pretty solid inclusion overall.
You may not want Wurmcoil since it's not green but the card is awesome. It may be worth not being able to cast it with flash.
EDH Decks
RGMarhault Elsdragon (A Touch of Rampage)RG
GWTrostani, Early Bird (Wurm Tribal)GW
RWAgrus Kos, Bumbat Drinkin' BadassRW
RDiaochan, Hateful BeautyR
Draft my Peasant Cube.