I'll say what everyone else is thinking: Standard is the most expensive format.
I got back in around M12 after leaving the same time you did. I just bought an event deck and tinkered with it, it might be a good place for you to start too. They're not SUPER competitive but they're good for an 3/3 (or 4/2 on a good Friday).
If that's not your style, or you want a bit more bite for coming back, as Misanthropist said B/W Humans, W/R Boros, or really any White Weenie type deck will be competitive and inexpensive.
My suggestion is to go to your local shop with your older cards and try and trade. Or, better yet, if your stockpile is big enough, think about getting into modern. You'll spend more up front but you'll be able to keep your cards usable for MUCH longer rather than them continually rotating out.
A lot of Modern decks have mana bases that are as/more expensive as entire Standard decks. So I wouldn't neccessarily say that Standard is the most expensive format.
A good place to start if you're no a tighter budget is usually going for an Aggro deck of sorts, since they run less "money cards" on average. Something like a red splash white or white splash red Aggro deck might be a good starting point and it can surely win you some games.
The reason Standard is the most expensive is because it rotates on a regular basis. Modern/legacy uses cards that does not rotate out. You have to update your deck every 3 months with standard. Albeit in small increments. Modern/legacy has the same 3 month update, but not as major. Once a year with standard you have to update your deck with a major overhaul, or completely change out decks to be competitive.
I'm thinking deicideas a 1-of in the sb. Banishing light could be good unless the meta changes to more enchantment removal. It is technically better than heroes downfall with so little enchantment removal right now.
I understand the dump efffect of Vitu, but why not play heliod in place? for the same mana we produce a 2/1 and he is much harder to remove
I think the populate ability is more relevant than the centaur tokens. having voice tokens or advent tokens give it more synergy. And having a 2/2 body early can be relevant vs more aggro decks.
also why i like having the mimic in play though it might be too slow.
So glad someone had the idea i did!
Only thing is why Vitu, clone, voice, and serenity?
I can see why he's utilizing Vitu-Gazi Guildmage. It synergizes very well with prophet as a mana dump every turn. I sort of like progenitor mimic over clone in this instance.
i don't think supreme verdict should be sided. While you want to keep the prophet in play, you would be utilizing verdict when its to your benefit. On curve, having verdict wipe the board and then having prophet on board would be very beneficial. If you have prophet on board and you're behind on board you definitely wouldn't mind using verdict. His deck is very mid-range so having verdict vs the more aggressive decks will help him out.
Has anyone had any luck beating RG Aggro decks with these elf decks? I've been playing GW Elves for about 3 weeks now, and have been able to beat every deck at FNM (went undefeated 2 weeks in a row) except I auto-lose to any of the typical RG aggro/Burning Tree Emissary decks. I'm thinking of white and adding red instead for 4x Bonfires. Any thoughts?
What's your decklist. hard to give you any advice without that.
Went 3-1 with this last FNM. Losing to a GR aggro deck. Top deck thundermaws for the lose.
As you can see I've lowered the curve for the deck a lot. This allows for a lot more consistent early play. While I'm dropping the explosiveness of the combo, I think its well worth it for more matchups.
While Caller of Beasts is the nuts I don't want it in my opening hand. I'm thinking 3 is fine also but its been working fine with just 2. Domri Rade is great for the early game, and having the ult as a threat against control is important. Little garruk is there mainly for the removal. While 4 mana is expensive for just a removal, again he's pretty strong against the control matchup. Having his -1 search ability is helpful too to get that craterhoof. I have bonfire over mizzium because I very rarely ever have 3 red in play. And the x ability is a lot more useful when I have a ton of mana dudes in play. One of the main reasons to be in red is because of wolf run, and bonfire is just another spell with the x cost.
I'm still fine tuning the sideboard. I was thinking of using deathrite shaman as another elf/GY hate card, but I hardly ever side him in so he'll be coming out. Ranger's guile is pretty strong vs. control type decks to keep in archdruid or just to protect hydra in the swing in. Pithing needle is surprisingly pretty good against a lot of match ups. Hits aetherling, drownyard, maze's end, olivia. Ruric thar doesn't need an introduction I believe. Most of the sideboard cards are to slow down the deck to have a stronger end game. I'm going to have to modify it vs aggro decks though. Any suggestions would be nice.
I'm uncertain if the Jaces or Garruks should become Restoration Angels. I feel Jace is good against the BTE decks, because it effectively halves their power. Garruk is great against opposing control decks, but poor against BTE.
Restoration angels are more versatile than jace/garruk. If you know your meta is full of control decks than having mb jace/garruk seems fine. If it's a mix than you can put those in sb for the angel mb. But the best way is to playtest with angels or the jace/garruk.
Think the only reason why there's no traffic on this thread is cuz of Gatecrash.
Was there any reason you dropped Drogskol Reaver? I think that's the main reason this deck went bant in the first place. With the new gatecrash cards you might want to consider going junk with this deck. In particular, this card looks interesting, Vizkopa Guildmage. Along with Obzedat, Ghost Council.
The reason Standard is the most expensive is because it rotates on a regular basis. Modern/legacy uses cards that does not rotate out. You have to update your deck every 3 months with standard. Albeit in small increments. Modern/legacy has the same 3 month update, but not as major. Once a year with standard you have to update your deck with a major overhaul, or completely change out decks to be competitive.
I think the populate ability is more relevant than the centaur tokens. having voice tokens or advent tokens give it more synergy. And having a 2/2 body early can be relevant vs more aggro decks.
also why i like having the mimic in play though it might be too slow.
I can see why he's utilizing Vitu-Gazi Guildmage. It synergizes very well with prophet as a mana dump every turn. I sort of like progenitor mimic over clone in this instance.
Read mana bloom again. doesn't work that way.
If you want to stick with gw you can have wolfir avengers and/or thragtusks in the sideboard. should be able to help you out with that matchup.
What's your decklist. hard to give you any advice without that.
2 Yeva, Nature's Herald
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Elvish Archdruid
1 Craterhoof Behemoth
2 Garruk Relentless
2 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
3 Scavenging Ooze
3 Bonfire of the Damned
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
4 Arbor Elf
4 Elvish Mystic
2 Domri Rade
11 Forest
2 Mountain
4 Stomping Ground
4 Rootbound Crag
3 Huntmaster of the Fells
2 Pithing Needle
2 Deathrite Shaman
3 Ranger's Guile
2 Wolfir Silverheart
3 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
Went 3-1 with this last FNM. Losing to a GR aggro deck. Top deck thundermaws for the lose.
As you can see I've lowered the curve for the deck a lot. This allows for a lot more consistent early play. While I'm dropping the explosiveness of the combo, I think its well worth it for more matchups.
While Caller of Beasts is the nuts I don't want it in my opening hand. I'm thinking 3 is fine also but its been working fine with just 2. Domri Rade is great for the early game, and having the ult as a threat against control is important. Little garruk is there mainly for the removal. While 4 mana is expensive for just a removal, again he's pretty strong against the control matchup. Having his -1 search ability is helpful too to get that craterhoof. I have bonfire over mizzium because I very rarely ever have 3 red in play. And the x ability is a lot more useful when I have a ton of mana dudes in play. One of the main reasons to be in red is because of wolf run, and bonfire is just another spell with the x cost.
I'm still fine tuning the sideboard. I was thinking of using deathrite shaman as another elf/GY hate card, but I hardly ever side him in so he'll be coming out. Ranger's guile is pretty strong vs. control type decks to keep in archdruid or just to protect hydra in the swing in. Pithing needle is surprisingly pretty good against a lot of match ups. Hits aetherling, drownyard, maze's end, olivia. Ruric thar doesn't need an introduction I believe. Most of the sideboard cards are to slow down the deck to have a stronger end game. I'm going to have to modify it vs aggro decks though. Any suggestions would be nice.
Restoration angels are more versatile than jace/garruk. If you know your meta is full of control decks than having mb jace/garruk seems fine. If it's a mix than you can put those in sb for the angel mb. But the best way is to playtest with angels or the jace/garruk.
Was there any reason you dropped Drogskol Reaver? I think that's the main reason this deck went bant in the first place. With the new gatecrash cards you might want to consider going junk with this deck. In particular, this card looks interesting, Vizkopa Guildmage. Along with Obzedat, Ghost Council.
Standard:
RUG Pod
RGw Pod
UW Delver
BR zombies