I think this is all solid advice, although I noticed he doesn't have Fauna Shaman in his list, so I'm not sure how solid the Vengevine will be. Yeah, GfTT is nice against Spellskite, because Spellskite wouldn't be a valid target and thus it can't be redirected.
Meretrix, is 1 swamp enough to guarantee black mana? I know there are Sylvans as well...
I feel like Memoricide is such a good general answer to a lot of midrange combo-control deck problems that it deserves a spot in the deck when Creeping Corrosion, etc. might not cut it... Tezz? see ya. Primeval Titan? bye...
I'm still ardently testing out the blue splash but I figured I'd also put my own dark elves decklist out there for critique. I don't know if blue is strong enough and black discard and removal are pretty darn solid disruption...
The thing about your list that jumps out at me right away is the number of non-creature spells.
One of the reasons I found elves to be so explosive as of late is the card advantage we get from exploiting Lead the Stampede. The only way to fully take advantage of Lead the Stampede however, is to have as few non-creature spells as possible (4 to 6 at the most). Normally this would be problematic. But by combining utility creatures with LtS (fauna, spellskite, slime, manticore, corrupter, etc.) allows the deck to function explosively and still have answers to your opponents while using LtS as nitro to fill your hand with elves or over-draw and pitch vengevines.
For your list, to optimize your Game 1, I'd say leave the monuments and memoricides in the SB and Maindeck the Slimes. On that note, what are the Monuments for exactly? Also, 2 Wormcoils is probably unnecessary, by the time you get 1 out, you should be well on your way to victory- and that's even if you need to get 1 out. I'd keep them to the sideboard too and pack more elves to maximize the ezuri/archdruid overwhelm (which is one of elves major win conditions.)
I'm thinking spellskite would be very useful in this deck. i know it's not infect but you can drop it turn 2 and protect your infect dudes.. yesnomaybe?
A Standard Magic deck, by Preston Phillips
4th place at a StarCityGames.com Standard Open tournament in Denver, Colorado, United States on 2011-06-12
As reported at http://www.starcitygames.com/openseries
By long run I mean "over the course of many games". It basically matters how many games are we expected to lose because we lost extra 3-4 life vs how many games we will win because we will draw an action spell (which this deck wants more than lands) instead of a land.
No, it's not closer to 0.5%. Look at the thread I posted.
The thread you are referring to was locked for useless arguing, and a bit of flaming- doesn't bode well for your point...I tried reading a bit of it and was just bored and stopped.
Haven't posted in a while as I've had no internet. Needless to say I got absolutely rolled last week using GodGers previous list. Partially bad draws, but mainly just out gunned. Removal, evasion, disruption.. Mono Black, Cawblade, even mono red. No fun at all.
I have not given up completely on elves yet.
Going to try the GSZ-less build. More actual creatures plus LTS seems good to me. It has been considerable lack luster with all the spells thus far.
Yes, VV will still trigger. It doesn't matter what happens to the creature. All that matters is that you CAST it. It's MAY, so don't miss your triggers.
Find room main board for 2-3 copies of Tezzeret's Gambit" target="blank">Tezzeret's Gambit and you might want to run this Viridian Corrupter for those pesky swords. Might want to think about these Corrupted Resolve" target="blank">Corrupted Resolve in the side. I have had decent run playing this locally, but they are starting to hate me out with board sweepers. I am thinking of switching decks for a bit so everyone forgets about it.
I have been running Tezz Gambits from the get-go. My initial build, pre-forum research, was a poison control build- tho the aggro strategy is way more effective with infect's shorter clock, but I like the idea of throwing the COrrupted REsolves in into the SB, escpecially to avoid the hate.
Also, this is probably a dumb idea but I just want to throw it out there. What about 2 Tumble Magnet maindeck? I haven't put much thought into it, but its an idea.
My initial poison control build also ran tumble magnet. Works well with the control strategy, and with the various proliferate (including throne of geth at the time). Ultimately the pump aggro thing makes more sense though.
Gogders, I tend to agree with your lines of reasoning, I'm hitting FNM tonight with your list, I'll report back after. The only changes I'm making are SB, -1 Dismember, -1 Leyline; +2 Act of Agression.
Spellskite generally is no good for this deck, I was always dissapoined seeing it in hand.
Thirded, I'd also fit in Fauna Shaman's for sure.
I think this deck has legs considering the buzz in the last week or so.
Had the idea of trying out a few Contested War Zone's with this deck too. Battlecry + infect seems really good to me.
4 Blighted Agent
4 Ichorclaw Myr
2 Necropede
Spells
4 Vines of Vastwood
4 Mutanagenic Growth
3 Distortion Strike
3 Gitaxian Probe
2 Tezzeret's Gambit
2 Throne of Geth
3 Lifewire Lash
2 Garruk Wildspeaker
3 Contested War Zone
7 Island
9 Forest
The thing about your list that jumps out at me right away is the number of non-creature spells.
One of the reasons I found elves to be so explosive as of late is the card advantage we get from exploiting Lead the Stampede. The only way to fully take advantage of Lead the Stampede however, is to have as few non-creature spells as possible (4 to 6 at the most). Normally this would be problematic. But by combining utility creatures with LtS (fauna, spellskite, slime, manticore, corrupter, etc.) allows the deck to function explosively and still have answers to your opponents while using LtS as nitro to fill your hand with elves or over-draw and pitch vengevines.
For your list, to optimize your Game 1, I'd say leave the monuments and memoricides in the SB and Maindeck the Slimes. On that note, what are the Monuments for exactly? Also, 2 Wormcoils is probably unnecessary, by the time you get 1 out, you should be well on your way to victory- and that's even if you need to get 1 out. I'd keep them to the sideboard too and pack more elves to maximize the ezuri/archdruid overwhelm (which is one of elves major win conditions.)
4 Arbor Elf
4 Copperhorn Elves
3 Joraga Treespeaker
3 Sylvan Ranger
4 Fauna Shaman
4 Ezuri Renegade Leader
4 Elvish Archdruid
4 Vengevine
2 Acidic Slime
1 Genesis Wave
19 Forest
2 Obstinate Baloth
2 Leatherback Baloth
2 Leyline of Vitality
2 Torpor Orb
1 Molten-Tail Masticore
4 Dismember
I will be removing the Genesis Wave permanently for something, possibly a slime or Viridian Corrupter.
Sideboard I never used the Torpor Orbs or the Leylines, but could Use more Spellskite- they's useful.
I also enjoyed the Masticore. Utilitarian and works well with Vengevine in hand
Decks played: Green Stompy Home Brew, Caw Blade, Tezzeret
MVP's in the side included Spellskite, Moltensteel Manticore.
Gotta run, post my list later.
Me neither. Can some one paste the Levy article?
4th place at a StarCityGames.com Standard Open tournament in Denver, Colorado, United States on 2011-06-12
As reported at http://www.starcitygames.com/openseries
Maindeck:
3 Ichor Wellspring
2 Panic Spellbomb
Artifact Creatures
3 Immolating Souleater
4 Memnite
4 Signal Pest
4 Goblin Bushwhacker
4 Goblin Guide
2 Hero of Oxid Ridge
Instants
4 Lightning Bolt
Sorceries
4 Arc Trail
2 Devastating Summons
4 Kuldotha Rebirth
12 Mountain
Lands
4 Contested War Zone
4 Teetering Peaks
The thread you are referring to was locked for useless arguing, and a bit of flaming- doesn't bode well for your point...I tried reading a bit of it and was just bored and stopped.
I have not given up completely on elves yet.
Going to try the GSZ-less build. More actual creatures plus LTS seems good to me. It has been considerable lack luster with all the spells thus far.
Don't you think you have too many mana dork(ish) creatures? are 4 Sylvan ranger really necessary?
Don't double post please.
I have been running Tezz Gambits from the get-go. My initial build, pre-forum research, was a poison control build- tho the aggro strategy is way more effective with infect's shorter clock, but I like the idea of throwing the COrrupted REsolves in into the SB, escpecially to avoid the hate.
My initial poison control build also ran tumble magnet. Works well with the control strategy, and with the various proliferate (including throne of geth at the time). Ultimately the pump aggro thing makes more sense though.
Could you post your list?
Spellskite generally is no good for this deck, I was always dissapoined seeing it in hand.
The idea is to inflict quick, evasive infect damage early, then counter/control your opponent, proliferating/drawing and then poison to death.
4 Blighted Agent
4 Blight Mamba
4 Ichorclaw Myr
2 Tangle Angler
2 Viral Drake
3 Mana Leak
3 Corrupted Resolve
2 Tumble Magnet
2 Distortion Strike
2 Horizon Spellbomb
1 Contagion Engine
Land
10 Forest
11 Island
I'm trying to figure out what my meta is, but I've been out of the game for 10 months.
Is there an easy way to see what decks have been played recently at my local store?