Has anyone tested Soul of the Harvest? He's a tutorable glimpse that also beats for trampling 6 every turn. I comboed on T3 the first game I played with him.
I tried him in a green/black aggro elf deck as well as trying two of his elemental friends; Regal Force/Skullmulcher. Since I was not running Cloudstone Curio main deck I found him to be a win more. If your getting a 6 drop to stick odds are good you were ahead allowing additional elves to replace themselves.
It is different now that I am moving away from the agro version of elves (No Bloodbraid Elf) and embracing the combo version. I can see both the agro and the combo synergies with him. Without testing I still feel that a 6 drop which is not an elf that allows the combo to go off in card draw is better done with the cheaper Elvish Visionary. If your elves need trample the Bramblewood Paragon combined with Master Biomancer
Then again I have been wrong more times than I would like to admit!
I ran something similar durring a game day was using Biomancer, Corpsjack and Trol with an elf core Arbor/Deathright/Elder to help ramp as Biomancer, Gyre and the guildmage are elves. My other "Big" creatures were 1's of Primal Hydra, Predetor Ooze, Dreg Mangler, Dreadbridge All creatures who like +1 counters. I went 2/2/1 for the day and had fun with surpising twists and seamed to be reasonably competitive but could tell it needed more work.
Prime Speaker/Thragtusk while good creatures do not seam to have as much synergy.
Going forward I am dumping the Gyre as it is too slow and I never saw the flood of cards from the guildmage I hoped for.
One spell I used for fun was Increasing savagry. With ramp and coprsejack it was huge.
My feeling is like others have stated Simic needs something more and a Gogari may be it.
The dec you have shown needs removal either with creatures or spells.
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@ItsDaBear: Anything with an ETB ability can be a potential combo piece in this deck, really. But mana cost is a big factor. All the tried-and-tested ETB ability dudes are 3cc or below (1-Essence Warden, 2-Elvish Visionary, 3-Eternal Witness). Ivy Lane Denizen is 4, and arguably worse than Ezuri.
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I think you misunderstand you do not bounce the Ivy Lane Denizen you bounce anything else. All the other creatures are green thus its ability kicks off.
Yes one on one he is worse than Ezuri but he is not a lengendary and his synergy with the deck could surprise you outsde the full combo even partially combo'ed he will help. His counters stick around after he has been removed. The counters can go on anything - best on lords to get them out of bolt range.
...Reality Acid is slow and off-color.. Off colour? Yes but not a stretch with some Breeding Pools. and slow? if you have the curio and any other enchantment you cast, then bounce it back casing another enchantment. Again this would be a bigger commitment to enchantments. But could also wipe out lands, and it kills not bounces Primal command does not do everything
Ok they all seam a bit out there and the last one a real long shot. Just remember that Cloudstone Curio can bounce permenets of the same type and does not require that the subtype (elf) be the same. Thus any creature can bounce a creature.
If your elf combo deck starts to run more enchantments another to consider is Reality Acid for some targeted permenent removal.
Search the City is another one that is way out there. Play it and get 5 cards exiled then bounce the common ones for card draw and the outside chance at an extra turn.
I am not saying I think these combos are right or wrong just trying to drum up ideas.
Master Biomancer is pretty bad because in order to get the most of his effect, you have to play your Elves after you play him. If you play your Elves first, then Biomancer, you have very few Elves left to receive its benefits. If you play Biomancer first (keeping all your other Elves in hand), then it's likely that you're dead at that point, because you spent the first three turns doing nothing.
An extra lord would be better - it doesn't care if it came down first or your other Elves did.
Cloudstone Curio bounces your elves thus the Biomancer does act like a Semi-Lord and with 4 toughness and making all other lords - entering out of bolt range is a good thing. (Min plus is +2 and any lord makes this +3 or better). Not saying Biomancer is a 4 off as that is too much but it will make your new elves a threat even if he is taken out later unlike a lord.
But this is an argro veiw point making your elves bigger. He does not help the combo only makes your midgame a bit stronger.
Lets consider some of the other new elves from Gatecrash
Gyre Sage only workes wonders if you have access to creatures that will evolve her or you have access to some +1 conters. Not impossible but is not helping the combo directly. As well it is a 2 drop which puts it a bit slow to be used as a dork.
Spire Tracer is a 1 drop and has a minor evasion tallet which is ok for aggro but no help for the Combo.
Zameck Guildmage has the potential to be a card draw outside the combo to help draw the combo however it is very blue mana intensive and while elves can splash is asking too much of the mana base?
Greenside Watcher can be another mana dork except his ability is limited to gates but gates come into play tapped slowing the deck down and he is a 2 drop both are heavy downsides.
The last is perhaps the best of the bunch for combo.
Ivy Lane Denizen - Whenever another green creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. All are elves are green and we certaily have in one turn a creature bouncing around alot which makes it a +1 counter party. So while your going for infinite mana at the same time you could be make all your creatures (except the one your bouncing) really big.
Downside is it is a 4 drop and could be veiwed as a win more rather than an alternative to Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. It needs playtesting to find out if it is a win con or a win more.
Friday Before the GP
Deck from above -2 Arbor Elf +1 Bloodbraid +1 Essence Warden (Main) +1 Prowess of the Fair (Side) my initial thoughts that going to 16 land and in play testing though that was enough.
1st Grinder
Game 1 – kept a slow hand 3 land, wren + 3 lords. Found out I was playing against eggs. Thought to myself this is interesting. I had lethal on the board turn 5 but he went off…in a speedy 25min? for one turn? Argg…… Game 2 aggressively mulled to 5 and killed him on turn 4. Game 3 great starting hand but he went off on turn 3. I usually shrug off loses like this but I found out I hate playing against eggs. I would have rather stand in the rain in the parking lot than play another one.
2nd Grinder
Match 1 against a white black token? deck. He came out fast with a lynx and land fetches, pathing both an early lord and wren. Finished me with a sword on a spirit token. I sided in the hurricanes and the Blood Moons. Next game I hit a Blood moon on a Bloodbraid. To see his face was priceless. Third game the Lynx came out but ran into the deathtouch Wren but was followed up by a wave of spirit tokens. Hurricane was the champ sweeping the blockers and hurting him enough that the attack was lethal.
Match 2 was against Jund. Took two straight here. I got my Deathrites before his and targeted anything he targeted slowing him down. Then I got 2 Elvish Champions out with heritage Druid before he could draw enough creature kill.
Match 3 was another Jund. He took the first with early pair of bolts slowing me down enough that I was playing catch up till I died. 2nd game felt like a repeat of the first but I managed to stabilize. Then I cast a Bloodbraid which cascaded into a Elvish Champion to my doom, as it gave +1/+1 to all elves so his Bloodbraind and his Deathrite Forestwalked in to me for lethal.
With these games and some other play testing games I decided on the above posted deck. You really need land + dork first turn in modern. Mull agressivly!Also while Bloodbriads are elf card goodness multiples early are too slow a well as not all spells are good all the time.
Saterday @ GP
Match 1 vs Soul Sisters.
Having practiced against this deck I found it was a very favourable match up and was not disappointed. Two straight games straight and was feeling good.
Match 2 vs Doran
Started playing and had my opponent call a judge on my Heritage Druid saying he thought that it was banned. I knew it wasn’t and was proven correct. We continued play but I was a little rattled and made a bad block due to Doran and lost both Deathrites. Lead the stampede refilled my hand for four and went on to win. Sided in Blood Moon and got to play it on turn 2. He rage quit.
Match 3 vs Tron
This was one I was dreading as in play testing first games I was only 30%. In true form he had tron on turn 3. Wurmcoil followed by Karn next turn. Side in the Blood Moons for the Essence Wardens (life gain is meaningless) and Prowess for 1 Bloodbraid 1 Lead that Stampede and 1 Deathrite thinking I wanted speed. First hand was ok.. not fast enough and no side board cards. Mulled to 6, worse. Mulled to 5 no land. – Same with 4. Thinking that I would keep whatever I had 3 and was rewarded with two lands and an Arbour Elf. – Play land & elf – Pass. He drops a tower, + sphere and passes. Draw a lead, play the land cast the lead draw 5!. He plays a Plant and drops a star pass. Draw then play a land cast my whole hand on the back of heritage druid. His turn and yes another 3rd turn Tron… but has not a follow up. I draw and cast an Archdruid and swing for 16 he is down to 4 and is staring at a huge wave of elves. This from a mull to 3! He topdecks a path and targets my lord, the card from the star is an Ancient Stirings where he gets a Wurmcoil, plays anther Tower and casts the Wurmcoil. Pass. I draw/play a land swing even though I know the result. Although it is lethal the lifegain on the Wurmcoil offsets the 6 points of unblocked creatures and my wren trades for his creature but now has two backup tokens. Pass – His turn.. yep Karn and I never recover. Everyone around (we were playing at the end of long set of tables) was talking about how fast the elves came back and I should have been proud – instead I felt a bit down.
Match 3 vs Splinter Twin
I had not play tested against Twin but thought I could out race. First game went well I had lethal on the board then he twined a pestermite and it was all over. I sideboarded the Huricanes, Nullmages and the Blood Moons after seeing his mana base was all specialized lands. We went to start the 2nd game but we had a deck-check. After waiting a while and talking pleasantly, Judges came back with his deck and then asked to see me. Wondering what I had done wrong I followed. It appeared that when I sideboarded in my cards the Bloodmoons and the Hurricanes were upside down. I had not paid attention when I was sideboarding them in. A judge then showed me how he was able to cut the deck repeatedly at an upside down card. (not that with my clunky hands I could ever do such a thing nor would want too) Since it was only some of my side board cards and obviously an error on my part I got off with a warning. I went back to my match with a time extension and proceeded to play. I was again rewarded with what I thought was a great starting hand. I managed a turn 2 Blood Moon where my opponent responded with a fetch for an island. He did not look all that worried which should have been my first clue. Next turn I dropped some elves and passed . He dropped a land and passed. I drew a lead the stampede and cast it. Drawing 4 lands and one Elvish Champion! I swung and he flashed in Deceiver Exarch and saved a bit of damage. Then his next turn he drew a card, did not look at it and cast twin – because I cast Blood Moon giving him the red he did not have! Game.
My standing was 2 / 2 / 0. I was technically still in but had to win all 5 of my next matches, I was emotionally spent, Hungry and they were offering an interesting “Frankin-Sealed deck” so I signed up for that and got a bite to eat.
I liked my elf deck and it surprised a few people. But after a reasonable review I find that my sideboard Chameleon Colossus while a great card is not a great answer for anything in the meta that I saw. Torpor Orb would be a better choice. Main Decking zealots is likely also not the worst. I like the Wrens and think I was correct about 3 Bloodbraids. Nullmages in play testing seamed to be a good sideboard card when I used it but would not be fast enough in some cases I think.
Well I got the fetches so again I am back on the Bloodbraid wagon. Still trying to figure if the drow deck can tolerate 4 of them. They are good but found another sub draw - Joraga Warcaller comes in not kicked.
Played against Tron/Storm/Soul Sisters/Jund and a few home brews. Tron was the hardest lineup for me as I was only winning 1 in 3.
The wiedest game was Soul Sisters...we both got life gain creatures out,,, and life totals shot up huge. Warcaller was the hero then as +10 kicks took huge life total down fast.
I am considering Blood Moon in the sideboard as it would drastically wreck some decks where it is just anoying to us.
good points. i'll put in another overgrown tomb. prowess are in the sb. i shall also consider the wrens. how did you like the bloodbraids? how often would you just hit a mana dork w/the cascade and be sad?
It felt like about half the time. In reality it was less than that. I rarely found the bloodbraids were a "oh now I am going to win" type card if you can understand that. It put pressure on yes but the presure could have been with 2-4 other elves for that mana. I was not ever certain that I wanted to play 4 in the deck as 2 in hand is a bit clunky.. three a mulligan. Everyone I played against said I should play with 4. Playing them and geting a lord was nice. Never got a lead the stampede with it. Was kind of fun playing against jund having them throw one down.. and then you throw yours down with lords... "mine is bigger than yours!":D
A 4 drop in the elf deck that does not win the game changes the way the deck plays. If you get lucky it works...great .. if not.. meh...
I have been playing with friends getting ready to the GP in Toronto and using proxies as I do not have a set of fetch lands. I am coming to the conclusion that while Blood Braids are nice relying on caverns and my oppenents ditching land is not enough for me to play them. So is this card reality of mine colouring my experiance of using them? Perhaps. Try it and see.
okay, im gonna do some hard testing with bloodbraid elf tonight and in the future. i've always been a combo/ramp elf player, and tend to be less aggro (so i don't have much experience in the area). i know he is good and popular as of late, but i just realized he may be flat out better than peaking at regal because he is 3 mana cheaper. landing a bloodbraid into a lead the stampede/or any lord just sounds retardedly awesome. also cavern of souls helps me get the red mana and lets the braid hit with no fear of counter magic. im excited. here is my working Bloodbraid aggro list. suggestions?
I could go wrens instead of champion. not sure though. might be nice to have some viridian zealots in there as well. i'll let you know my feelings on the contrast from a regal ramp list to the braid aggro list.
Your a bit light on the black for 4 deathrites but the fetches will level that. I assume Prowess of the Fair is still in the sideboard but now are harder to play.
I played a similar list with +4 Wrens -1 Joraga -1 Imperious -2 Champions. I found that I had mana troubles more often than I wanted. I think is was more bad luck on reflection. Do not discount the Champions witht he number of Jund decks out there it is a good card. Atleast have the balance of champoins in your sideboard.
I like the addition of the Kithkin Mourncaller as a cheaper alternative to Regal Force for card draw and provides asimilar effect to Prowess of the Fair in getting value when your elves die. Not nearly as explosive and a conditinal card draw. 4 may be a bit much for a 3 cast elf. Perhaps trade 2 for 2 Essence Warden as the life gain is usefull.
The Deathrite Shaman is a great card for the meta in modern. I understand that fetch lands are expensive. Their synergy goes down a but due to missing in your deck but lots of other people run them so using your oppenents graveyard is nice.
I can also see that the missing fetch lands is making you run Boreal Druid instead of Arbour Elf due to only 5 targetable lands. I too may have to make that choice although I wish it wasn't Elves of Deep Shadow may give you some additional black source with a small pain.
Lys Alana Scarblade is good elf creature removeal but 3 maindeck is perhaps a bit much. Depending on your meta there are several decks with no creatures. Move 1 to the sideboard unless your sure about your current area.
Not using Heritage Druid is a bit of a puzzler. It allows you to get some use/mana out of just summoned creatures, including your wolf tokens. for almost no downside.
For lords are running only 8 which is a bit low. You have 4 Elvish Archdruid who are a must. 4 of the Imperious Pefect which can generate creatures too. I understand that you have been not impressed with Joraga Warcaller but with a chunk of mana he can be explosive. You should have also seen a huge upswing in Jund decks who our answer is Elvish Champion something that ususally sits in the sideboard but would provide you with another lord in your main.
A "one of" for your token rich deck which some might find janky - Rhys the Redeemed
Alters reap allows you to get some use out of a targeted creature about to die. However it forces you to keep black + colourless mana open. Somehting this deck will not want you to do. Speed is your friend, holding back for control options is not. Also you have 17 lands and 10 non-creatures which dilutes the effectiveness of Lead the Stampede
When thinking about building a sideboard try thinking of using creatures for your solutions first to keep the creature count up.
Dakienx .. interesting deck. I had not really considered the drove of elves / Wolf-skull Shaman combo. Marlen of the Mornsong is poision - do not play in modern. any combo deck you play against will love you for it. Robots & infect would not gain.. but Storm/loam/ie any combo deck would go off even sooner.
Mostly due to our high creature count the non-creature spells we use has been lead the stampede with prowess as a anti board sweep. lead the stampeed has drawn me the magic 5 creatures lots of times. For you mana base (24) being quite a bit higher than our (15-16) you perhaps will not get quite the same bang for the buck.
Since you are using black... Deathrite Shaman has some uses in your deck. Although with out fetch lands in your deck he lacks some synergy. Cavern of Souls is another consideration for you to beat the counter spells.
well .. it doesn't let you "wait another turn", what it says is: draw a card
if the card is an elf, play it for free
if it isn't put it on the bottom of your library. draw a card
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library. If it's a creature card that shares a creature type with a creature you control, you may cast that card without paying its mana cost. Otherwise, put that card on the bottom of your library.
I do not see the extra Draw a card
However you may be talking about the stardard draw card after upkeep. I did not think about that effect. Thus it does filter the top card so it will allow you a better chance at drawing a creature. Even with that I believe it is too slow... but close enough now to be worth trying out.
At first thought this cards seams like it would be good in the elf deck. Our creature concentration is very high so it seams like it would hit creatures fairly often.
The downside is that it costs 3 mana and most of our lords do as well. Comparitivly would rather drop a lord than an enchantment who may get me a creature - next turn - and likely a 1 cast cost on at that because that is the deck greatest chance. Then I need to wait another turn before I have another ... chance ... at another creature. Yes in a long running game this card has a great bennifit. However in the agro plan - nope - too slow and reduces the creature count.
Bouncing enchantments with enchantress in play would be great card advantage.
Reset specific enchantments like Runed Halo, Nevermore, Bonds of Faith
Take multiple use of Enter the Battlefield (ETB) enchantments Abundant Growth, Ground Seal, Spreading Seas, Fists of Ironwood, Sigil of the Empty Throne
Further bouncing of ETB creatures .. Auramancer, Eternal Witness
Destroy/Exile permannents with enchantments Reality Acid, Oblivion Ring + any flash enchantment.
Partially dodge the negative effects of some of your enchantments; Ground Seal, Rest in Peace
I tried him in a green/black aggro elf deck as well as trying two of his elemental friends; Regal Force/Skullmulcher. Since I was not running Cloudstone Curio main deck I found him to be a win more. If your getting a 6 drop to stick odds are good you were ahead allowing additional elves to replace themselves.
It is different now that I am moving away from the agro version of elves (No Bloodbraid Elf) and embracing the combo version. I can see both the agro and the combo synergies with him. Without testing I still feel that a 6 drop which is not an elf that allows the combo to go off in card draw is better done with the cheaper Elvish Visionary. If your elves need trample the Bramblewood Paragon combined with Master Biomancer
Then again I have been wrong more times than I would like to admit!
Prime Speaker/Thragtusk while good creatures do not seam to have as much synergy.
Going forward I am dumping the Gyre as it is too slow and I never saw the flood of cards from the guildmage I hoped for.
One spell I used for fun was Increasing savagry. With ramp and coprsejack it was huge.
My feeling is like others have stated Simic needs something more and a Gogari may be it.
The dec you have shown needs removal either with creatures or spells.
I think you misunderstand you do not bounce the Ivy Lane Denizen you bounce anything else. All the other creatures are green thus its ability kicks off.
Yes one on one he is worse than Ezuri but he is not a lengendary and his synergy with the deck could surprise you outsde the full combo even partially combo'ed he will help. His counters stick around after he has been removed. The counters can go on anything - best on lords to get them out of bolt range.
...Reality Acid is slow and off-color.. Off colour? Yes but not a stretch with some Breeding Pools. and slow? if you have the curio and any other enchantment you cast, then bounce it back casing another enchantment. Again this would be a bigger commitment to enchantments. But could also wipe out lands, and it kills not bounces Primal command does not do everything
Thanks about Realmwright did not know.
Realmwright bounced a few times makes all our land produce any colour we need.
Two Burning-Tree Emissary + Cloudstone Curio + Ivy Lane Denizen = another way to make good without Heritage Druid/Nettle Sentinel.
Sage's Row Denizen + Cloudstone Curio+Heritage Druid+Nettle Sentinel+Simic Guildmage mills your opponent
Ok they all seam a bit out there and the last one a real long shot. Just remember that Cloudstone Curio can bounce permenets of the same type and does not require that the subtype (elf) be the same. Thus any creature can bounce a creature.
I also noticed that some are playing 2 X Abundant Growth + Cloudstone Curio for some card draw. (curio can bounce enchantments too!) A sideboard addition could be Ground Seal - Just remember to take out the Deathrite Shaman's.
If your elf combo deck starts to run more enchantments another to consider is Reality Acid for some targeted permenent removal.
Search the City is another one that is way out there. Play it and get 5 cards exiled then bounce the common ones for card draw and the outside chance at an extra turn.
I am not saying I think these combos are right or wrong just trying to drum up ideas.
Cloudstone Curio bounces your elves thus the Biomancer does act like a Semi-Lord and with 4 toughness and making all other lords - entering out of bolt range is a good thing. (Min plus is +2 and any lord makes this +3 or better). Not saying Biomancer is a 4 off as that is too much but it will make your new elves a threat even if he is taken out later unlike a lord.
But this is an argro veiw point making your elves bigger. He does not help the combo only makes your midgame a bit stronger.
Lets consider some of the other new elves from Gatecrash
Gyre Sage only workes wonders if you have access to creatures that will evolve her or you have access to some +1 conters. Not impossible but is not helping the combo directly. As well it is a 2 drop which puts it a bit slow to be used as a dork.
Spire Tracer is a 1 drop and has a minor evasion tallet which is ok for aggro but no help for the Combo.
Zameck Guildmage has the potential to be a card draw outside the combo to help draw the combo however it is very blue mana intensive and while elves can splash is asking too much of the mana base?
Greenside Watcher can be another mana dork except his ability is limited to gates but gates come into play tapped slowing the deck down and he is a 2 drop both are heavy downsides.
The last is perhaps the best of the bunch for combo.
Ivy Lane Denizen - Whenever another green creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. All are elves are green and we certaily have in one turn a creature bouncing around alot which makes it a +1 counter party. So while your going for infinite mana at the same time you could be make all your creatures (except the one your bouncing) really big.
Downside is it is a 4 drop and could be veiwed as a win more rather than an alternative to Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. It needs playtesting to find out if it is a win con or a win more.
2x Arbor Elf
4x Deathrite Shaman
3x Elvish Champion
4x Elvish Archdruid
3x Essence Warden
4x Hertiage Druid
3x Imperious Perfect
3x Joraga Warcaller
4x Llanowar Elves
4x Nettle Sentinel
3x Bloodbraid Elf
3x Wren’s Run Vanquisher
3x Cavern of Souls
6x Forest
1x Stomping Ground
2x Overgrown Tomb
4x Verdant Catacombs
Sorcery (4)
4x Lead the Stampede
3x Prowess of the Fair
2x Hurricane
3x Blood Moon
2x Creeping Corrosion
2x Nullmage Shepherd
1x Essence Warden
My Toronto GP results;
Friday Before the GP
Deck from above -2 Arbor Elf +1 Bloodbraid +1 Essence Warden (Main) +1 Prowess of the Fair (Side) my initial thoughts that going to 16 land and in play testing though that was enough.
1st Grinder
Game 1 – kept a slow hand 3 land, wren + 3 lords. Found out I was playing against eggs. Thought to myself this is interesting. I had lethal on the board turn 5 but he went off…in a speedy 25min? for one turn? Argg…… Game 2 aggressively mulled to 5 and killed him on turn 4. Game 3 great starting hand but he went off on turn 3. I usually shrug off loses like this but I found out I hate playing against eggs. I would have rather stand in the rain in the parking lot than play another one.
2nd Grinder
Match 1 against a white black token? deck. He came out fast with a lynx and land fetches, pathing both an early lord and wren. Finished me with a sword on a spirit token. I sided in the hurricanes and the Blood Moons. Next game I hit a Blood moon on a Bloodbraid. To see his face was priceless. Third game the Lynx came out but ran into the deathtouch Wren but was followed up by a wave of spirit tokens. Hurricane was the champ sweeping the blockers and hurting him enough that the attack was lethal.
Match 2 was against Jund. Took two straight here. I got my Deathrites before his and targeted anything he targeted slowing him down. Then I got 2 Elvish Champions out with heritage Druid before he could draw enough creature kill.
Match 3 was another Jund. He took the first with early pair of bolts slowing me down enough that I was playing catch up till I died. 2nd game felt like a repeat of the first but I managed to stabilize. Then I cast a Bloodbraid which cascaded into a Elvish Champion to my doom, as it gave +1/+1 to all elves so his Bloodbraind and his Deathrite Forestwalked in to me for lethal.
With these games and some other play testing games I decided on the above posted deck. You really need land + dork first turn in modern. Mull agressivly!Also while Bloodbriads are elf card goodness multiples early are too slow a well as not all spells are good all the time.
Saterday @ GP
Match 1 vs Soul Sisters.
Having practiced against this deck I found it was a very favourable match up and was not disappointed. Two straight games straight and was feeling good.
Match 2 vs Doran
Started playing and had my opponent call a judge on my Heritage Druid saying he thought that it was banned. I knew it wasn’t and was proven correct. We continued play but I was a little rattled and made a bad block due to Doran and lost both Deathrites. Lead the stampede refilled my hand for four and went on to win. Sided in Blood Moon and got to play it on turn 2. He rage quit.
Match 3 vs Tron
This was one I was dreading as in play testing first games I was only 30%. In true form he had tron on turn 3. Wurmcoil followed by Karn next turn. Side in the Blood Moons for the Essence Wardens (life gain is meaningless) and Prowess for 1 Bloodbraid 1 Lead that Stampede and 1 Deathrite thinking I wanted speed. First hand was ok.. not fast enough and no side board cards. Mulled to 6, worse. Mulled to 5 no land. – Same with 4. Thinking that I would keep whatever I had 3 and was rewarded with two lands and an Arbour Elf. – Play land & elf – Pass. He drops a tower, + sphere and passes. Draw a lead, play the land cast the lead draw 5!. He plays a Plant and drops a star pass. Draw then play a land cast my whole hand on the back of heritage druid. His turn and yes another 3rd turn Tron… but has not a follow up. I draw and cast an Archdruid and swing for 16 he is down to 4 and is staring at a huge wave of elves. This from a mull to 3! He topdecks a path and targets my lord, the card from the star is an Ancient Stirings where he gets a Wurmcoil, plays anther Tower and casts the Wurmcoil. Pass. I draw/play a land swing even though I know the result. Although it is lethal the lifegain on the Wurmcoil offsets the 6 points of unblocked creatures and my wren trades for his creature but now has two backup tokens. Pass – His turn.. yep Karn and I never recover. Everyone around (we were playing at the end of long set of tables) was talking about how fast the elves came back and I should have been proud – instead I felt a bit down.
Match 3 vs Splinter Twin
I had not play tested against Twin but thought I could out race. First game went well I had lethal on the board then he twined a pestermite and it was all over. I sideboarded the Huricanes, Nullmages and the Blood Moons after seeing his mana base was all specialized lands. We went to start the 2nd game but we had a deck-check. After waiting a while and talking pleasantly, Judges came back with his deck and then asked to see me. Wondering what I had done wrong I followed. It appeared that when I sideboarded in my cards the Bloodmoons and the Hurricanes were upside down. I had not paid attention when I was sideboarding them in. A judge then showed me how he was able to cut the deck repeatedly at an upside down card. (not that with my clunky hands I could ever do such a thing nor would want too) Since it was only some of my side board cards and obviously an error on my part I got off with a warning. I went back to my match with a time extension and proceeded to play. I was again rewarded with what I thought was a great starting hand. I managed a turn 2 Blood Moon where my opponent responded with a fetch for an island. He did not look all that worried which should have been my first clue. Next turn I dropped some elves and passed . He dropped a land and passed. I drew a lead the stampede and cast it. Drawing 4 lands and one Elvish Champion! I swung and he flashed in Deceiver Exarch and saved a bit of damage. Then his next turn he drew a card, did not look at it and cast twin – because I cast Blood Moon giving him the red he did not have! Game.
My standing was 2 / 2 / 0. I was technically still in but had to win all 5 of my next matches, I was emotionally spent, Hungry and they were offering an interesting “Frankin-Sealed deck” so I signed up for that and got a bite to eat.
I liked my elf deck and it surprised a few people. But after a reasonable review I find that my sideboard Chameleon Colossus while a great card is not a great answer for anything in the meta that I saw. Torpor Orb would be a better choice. Main Decking zealots is likely also not the worst. I like the Wrens and think I was correct about 3 Bloodbraids. Nullmages in play testing seamed to be a good sideboard card when I used it but would not be fast enough in some cases I think.
Played against Tron/Storm/Soul Sisters/Jund and a few home brews. Tron was the hardest lineup for me as I was only winning 1 in 3.
The wiedest game was Soul Sisters...we both got life gain creatures out,,, and life totals shot up huge. Warcaller was the hero then as +10 kicks took huge life total down fast.
I am considering Blood Moon in the sideboard as it would drastically wreck some decks where it is just anoying to us.
It felt like about half the time. In reality it was less than that. I rarely found the bloodbraids were a "oh now I am going to win" type card if you can understand that. It put pressure on yes but the presure could have been with 2-4 other elves for that mana. I was not ever certain that I wanted to play 4 in the deck as 2 in hand is a bit clunky.. three a mulligan. Everyone I played against said I should play with 4. Playing them and geting a lord was nice. Never got a lead the stampede with it. Was kind of fun playing against jund having them throw one down.. and then you throw yours down with lords... "mine is bigger than yours!":D
A 4 drop in the elf deck that does not win the game changes the way the deck plays. If you get lucky it works...great .. if not.. meh...
I have been playing with friends getting ready to the GP in Toronto and using proxies as I do not have a set of fetch lands. I am coming to the conclusion that while Blood Braids are nice relying on caverns and my oppenents ditching land is not enough for me to play them. So is this card reality of mine colouring my experiance of using them? Perhaps. Try it and see.
Your a bit light on the black for 4 deathrites but the fetches will level that. I assume Prowess of the Fair is still in the sideboard but now are harder to play.
I played a similar list with +4 Wrens -1 Joraga -1 Imperious -2 Champions. I found that I had mana troubles more often than I wanted. I think is was more bad luck on reflection. Do not discount the Champions witht he number of Jund decks out there it is a good card. Atleast have the balance of champoins in your sideboard.
I like the addition of the Kithkin Mourncaller as a cheaper alternative to Regal Force for card draw and provides asimilar effect to Prowess of the Fair in getting value when your elves die. Not nearly as explosive and a conditinal card draw. 4 may be a bit much for a 3 cast elf. Perhaps trade 2 for 2 Essence Warden as the life gain is usefull.
The Deathrite Shaman is a great card for the meta in modern. I understand that fetch lands are expensive. Their synergy goes down a but due to missing in your deck but lots of other people run them so using your oppenents graveyard is nice.
I can also see that the missing fetch lands is making you run Boreal Druid instead of Arbour Elf due to only 5 targetable lands. I too may have to make that choice although I wish it wasn't Elves of Deep Shadow may give you some additional black source with a small pain.
Lys Alana Scarblade is good elf creature removeal but 3 maindeck is perhaps a bit much. Depending on your meta there are several decks with no creatures. Move 1 to the sideboard unless your sure about your current area.
Not using Heritage Druid is a bit of a puzzler. It allows you to get some use/mana out of just summoned creatures, including your wolf tokens. for almost no downside.
For lords are running only 8 which is a bit low. You have 4 Elvish Archdruid who are a must. 4 of the Imperious Pefect which can generate creatures too. I understand that you have been not impressed with Joraga Warcaller but with a chunk of mana he can be explosive. You should have also seen a huge upswing in Jund decks who our answer is Elvish Champion something that ususally sits in the sideboard but would provide you with another lord in your main.
When playing remember that Prowess of the Fair will activate Lys Alana Scarblade, Kithkin Mourncaller and Wolf-Skull Shaman
A "one of" for your token rich deck which some might find janky - Rhys the Redeemed
Alters reap allows you to get some use out of a targeted creature about to die. However it forces you to keep black + colourless mana open. Somehting this deck will not want you to do. Speed is your friend, holding back for control options is not. Also you have 17 lands and 10 non-creatures which dilutes the effectiveness of Lead the Stampede
When thinking about building a sideboard try thinking of using creatures for your solutions first to keep the creature count up.
Anti Blue Scrub Ranger
Anti Black Chameleon Colossus
Anti Enchantment/Artifact Virdian Zealot / Nullmage Shepherd
Mostly due to our high creature count the non-creature spells we use has been lead the stampede with prowess as a anti board sweep. lead the stampeed has drawn me the magic 5 creatures lots of times. For you mana base (24) being quite a bit higher than our (15-16) you perhaps will not get quite the same bang for the buck.
Since you are using black... Deathrite Shaman has some uses in your deck. Although with out fetch lands in your deck he lacks some synergy. Cavern of Souls is another consideration for you to beat the counter spells.
I going to love making the Chocolate Drow less "Janky"
I do not see the extra Draw a card
However you may be talking about the stardard draw card after upkeep. I did not think about that effect. Thus it does filter the top card so it will allow you a better chance at drawing a creature. Even with that I believe it is too slow... but close enough now to be worth trying out.
At first thought this cards seams like it would be good in the elf deck. Our creature concentration is very high so it seams like it would hit creatures fairly often.
The downside is that it costs 3 mana and most of our lords do as well. Comparitivly would rather drop a lord than an enchantment who may get me a creature - next turn - and likely a 1 cast cost on at that because that is the deck greatest chance. Then I need to wait another turn before I have another ... chance ... at another creature. Yes in a long running game this card has a great bennifit. However in the agro plan - nope - too slow and reduces the creature count.