CookeMonster - the nice thing about Grove Rumbler is he has a better chance of surviving languish then most early creatures will.
If on the play T2 a Rattleclaw Mystic then T3 I can drop this guy. Let's say T4 I drop a fetchland but don't crack it and instead spend my 4 other mana on Explosive Vegetation giving Grove Rumbler a +6/+6 until end of turn and am content swinging for my 9 damage. I pass turn and they Languish on their turn. I can respond by cracking my fetch giving grove rumber +2/+2 and put him out of range by 1 health. Now would I really do that? I don't know. If the meta is full of Languish I bet I would. He at least has a little tactics he can use that most other ones don't.
I agree, it does allow you to play around languish. You cant play any creature deck on autopilot. The other problem is the crowded 4 drop spot. Hopefully, the will spoil a 2 drop ramp that wont die easily to removal.
Grove Rumbler could be the 4 drop for the landfall/elemental deck in Standard. Grovetender could be a player in an Abzan rally/elf deck in standard. Nothing really making those decks Tier 1 though. They both still suffer from the Languish problem.
I think in this version of elves the win condition is either beats or kill with shaman of the pack. The lack of chord of calling in everyone list is confusing as well since it is such a good tool for finding shaman of the pack to end the game.
I have been play testing the deck and I agree. Chord just performed better than collected company, especially with the elite's. Here is where I am at now with the deck:
I think in this version of elves the win condition is either beats or kill with shaman of the pack. The lack of chord of calling in everyone list is confusing as well since it is such a good tool for finding shaman of the pack to end the game.
I have been play testing the deck and I agree. Chord just performed better than collected company, especially with the elite's. Here is where I am at now with the deck:
4 Sylvan Advocate
4 Embodiment of Insight
4 Embodiment of Fury
4 Rattleclaw Mystic
2 Mina and Denn, Wildborn
2 Omnath, Locus of Rage
2 Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger
4 Oath of Nissa
4 Explosive Vegetation
4 Nissa’s Pilgrimage
2 Chandra, Flamecaller
Lands
4 Wooded Foothills
4 Cinder Glade
4 Windswept Heath
9 Forest
3 Mountain
It would be nice to squeeze in Lumbering Falls, but would probably have to cut down on the land ramp.
Here is my R[ally] Mardu list. Seems fun, but dont know if it has enough umph and definitely needs tuning.
4x Chasm Guide
4x Expedition Envoy
3x Firemantle Mage
3x Grim Haruspex
4x Kalastria Healer
3x Liliana, Heretical Healer
3x Merciless Executioner
4x Nantuko Husk
4x Zulaport Cutthroat
2x Ally Encampment
3x Battlefield Forge
2x Bloodstained Mire
4x Caves of Koilos
3x Nomad Outpost
1x Plains
2x Shambling Vent
4x Smoldering Marsh
1x Swamp
4x Rally the Ancestors
Planeswalker (2)
2x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
2x Crux of Fate
4x Magmatic Insight
4x Radiant Flames
1x Roast
4x Tormenting Voice
4x Treasure Cruise
Creature
4x Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
2x Sire of Stagnation
Enchantment
4x Sphinx's Tutelage
2x Ob Nixilis Reignited
Instant
2x Murderous Cut
Land
4x Bloodstained Mire
3x Island
3x Mountain
4x Polluted Delta
4x Shivan Reef
4x Smoldering Marsh
4x Sunken Hollow
1x Swamp
2x Crux of Fate
2x Disdainful Stroke
2x Dispel
2x Languish
2x Murderous Cut
2x Negate
3x Transgress the Mind
I agree, it does allow you to play around languish. You cant play any creature deck on autopilot. The other problem is the crowded 4 drop spot. Hopefully, the will spoil a 2 drop ramp that wont die easily to removal.
Seems good
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Gnarlroot Trapper
4x Dwynen's Elite
4x Elvish Visionary
4x Shaman of the Pack
3x Nissa, Vastwood Seer
4x Sylvan Messenger
1x Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen
1x Woodland Bellower
1x Gilt-Leaf Winnower
1x Reclamation Sage
1x Roaring Primadox
3x Obelisk of Urd
Instants:
4x Chord of Calling
Lands:
7x Forest
4x Swamp
4x Temple of Malady
1x Mana Confluence
4x Llanowar Wastes
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Here is the final build I am going for next week. Shaman just slams so hard every time. Elite is the second best card in the deck.
I have been play testing the deck and I agree. Chord just performed better than collected company, especially with the elite's. Here is where I am at now with the deck:
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Gnarlroot Trapper
4x Dwynen's Elite
4x Elvish Visionary
4x Shaman of the Pack
4x Nissa, Vastwood Seer
4x Sylvan Messenger
1x Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen
1x Woodland Bellower
1x Gilt-Leaf Winnower
1x Super Secret Tech
3x Obelisk of Urd
Instants:
4x Chord of Calling
Lands:
7x Forest
4x Swamp
4x Temple of Malady
1x Mana Confluence
4x Llanowar Wastes
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4x Elvish Mystic
4x Sunblade Elf
4x Gnarlroot Trapper
4x Dwynen's Elite
4x Elvish Visionary
4x Shaman of the Pack
2x Nissa, Vastwood Seer
2x Sylvan Messenger
2x Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen
4x Collected Company
3x Hero's Downfall
Lands:
7x Forests
4x Temple of Malady
4x Sandsteppe Citadel
2x Llanowar Wastes
1x Plains
4x Windswept Heath
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
4x Reclamation Sage
Maybes:
Leaf Gilder
Deadbridge Shaman
Eyeblight Assassin
Yeva's Forcemage