MTG Salvation

Quote from yawg07

Yep, Goyfs are actually a no problem pick up at $25 now, I'd peg them at $15 post rotation, stabilizing to $15-20

Yeah, they will no doubt rebound soon after rotation when everyone realizes "Hey, I can finally get that playset of Goyfs I always wanted." After all, it's still a great card in Extended and Legacy. I predict that like the fetches it will weigh in at $18-20.

Wow! You guys answered more questions than I knew I was asking. You're good! Thanks again though.

Thanks a lot guys; that really clears up some things.

though it's a mana ability because it's an activated ability that produces mana which means that it doesn't use the stack, but that's a different problem

So, since mana abilities don't use the stack they can never be "in responsed to" or countered? I.e. I never have to worry about my Llanowar Elves being blown up or tapped in response to me tapping it?

I've been looking at cards like Heritage Druid, Skirk Fire Marshal, Catapult Master, etc... and wondering in ins and outs of them. I am aware that using their abilities I can tap stuff (including themselves) that has summoning sickness. I'm more concerned with what happens if I use the "tap three elves" get GGG ability of Heritage Druid and say my opponent "in response" Terrors one of the three elves. Can I tap another elf and get the GGG, or do I have to tap a new three elves? Also, what if it is Heritage Druid herself that gets Terrored in response? Are my elves still tapped? Do I get the GGG? Any help would be appreciated.

Pithing Needle

I would like to know what exactly Pithing Needle can stop. Can someone explain the differences between activated abilities, triggered abilities, etc... As I understand it right now an activated ability has a mana symbol followed by a colon or the tap arrow - possibly with a mana symbol. Finally, what about cards like Heritage Druid, what type of ability is that? Can it be stopped by Pithing Needle? Thanks in advance for any help.

Quote from Voxxen

RG is always an option, its just a matter of whether its the best option at any given time.

It just depends on what your meta is. Lots of Fae/RDW/Elves = good choice. Lots of Lark/Ramp/Control = bad choice.

Quote from shinyflavors7

How is the match vs. RDWs?

With the life-gain of Finks and the in general hard to kill creatures that are good for their mana cost RDW should be an easy MU for this deck.

Let's look at the bright side, while the deck might be down for now, its two biggest foes, RG Big Mana and especially Lark, will definitely be put out of commission upon rotation. At the same time what does this lose - Tarmogoyf, which almost everyone is losing, and Magus of the Moon? This is a small price to pay in my opinion. Bide your time.

You know what I would invest in - Tarmogoyf lol! His price is dropping through the floor, so go Extended! Seriously though, Elves of any kind - G, GB, or (G/W), UB Faeries, RDW, or Kithkin Mirrormaster (which can really wreak havoc at FNM) are all good choices. Now you must decide based on your budget and playing style.

Quote from eskimo227 »

I've realized that Vigor really sucks against RDW.

I disagree with this completely. Vigor is specifically sideboarded against RDW and other aggro running a lot of burn. Like Shikuzesa said, you just have to be smart and bait their burn a little.

Quote from eskimo227 »

I don't know if someone mentioned this already, but Elvish Eulogist is very very good against RDW.

Along the lines of baiting, I think Essence Warden might be a better inclusion than Elvish Eulogist because it is something that they have to deal with immediately.

Quote from eskimo227 »

Now to figure out what to do against MBC other than not overextending...

MBC is such a small fraction of the decklists out there (maybe 1 in my meta), and it isn't all that competitive to begin with, so I am willing to accept a bad MU if it comes to that, relying on my playing ability (and a little luck) to get me through.

Ok, I just started playing this deck like a week or two ago, but I've seen so much "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES, THE ROTATION IS UPON US!" crap out in the Type II lobby I couldn't not think about what will happen to Elf-Ball.

We will lose:
Gaea's Anthem
Boreal Druid
Squall Line
Krosan Grip
Pendelhaven
Harmonize
Essence Warden
and I'm probably missing a few others. I'm not saying that all of these cards are run in every deck. I'm saying that these cards potentially make up a group that we find useful, but will not have access to after the rotation.

In general, it looks like we lose pump affects and sideboard stuff.

Thoughts on rotation?

Edit: In hindsight I guess we're losing very little compared to some other competitive decks.

@Kman, sorry I thought "mirrormaster" was widely known as W(U/W) Kithkin employing Mirrorweave & co. - maybe that's just what it's called in my area though.

@What-a-Noob



Because I only lost to control/combo I'm thinking of making the knee-jerk reaction of removing Vigor from the side in favor of something that would help in what I deem to be a difficult MU.

FNM Rundown:
This was my first with Elf-Ball, went 3 win, 2 loss (1 in top four match) in a group of 17 people. Meta consisted mostly of B/G Elves, 3 Mirrormaster, 2-3 U/W Merfolk, 1-2 B/U Faeries, couple of red decks, Lark, few others. Losing top four was a bit disappointing, but overall I'm happy with the result.

Match 1: 2-1 agianst good Mirrormaster. I was just faster and had more guys in most cases. The 1 game he won was do to flyers.
Match 2: 2-0 against classic B/U Faeries. Game 1 he held me off for a while, but little threats took the game for me. Game 2 he was clicking a little better, when he stole my Perfect and dropped Mistbind in my upkeep championing a BB token he thought I was in trouble, but I overran ftw.
Match 3: 1-2 against U/W control, running Tef, Wrath, Sower, Cryptic, lots of counter magic (a pretty good deck). Game 1 I was too fast. Game 2 I didn't go so fast, and after delaying me alot and stealing some of my guys his Sowers (I HATE SOWERS!) and my guys ended up killing me. Game 3 samme as 2.
Match 4: 2-0 against Mirrormaster. This guy didn't play his deck quite as well as the first guy, and I once again proved too fast. Note: I didn't bother siding in Vigor (or anything) in either Mirrormaster match.

I made top 4 with first Mirrormaster guy, third round guy running U/W control, and Lark.
Match: 0-2 against Lark. Game 1 he goes first, I go fast. I had him dead on my turn 4, BUT he has to go and wrath me on his turn 4, grrr. Game 2 I'm not so fast, he holds me off with blinking Riftwatchers until he can play Wrath. I play a few more turns in vain, but eventually lose to the combo. Oh well, this is not one of our best MUs in my opinion.

I guess the first question I have to ask is "Are you interested in mono G Treefolk or the GWB (not GWB Doran Rock, but including Doran himself) version?"

If mono G Treefolk, then check out my list here. Maybe it will help.