[Deck] Crystalline Elves

[Illissius]

Happy Gilmore's deck looks intringuing, even if it's missing fun Sylvan Messenger action. You do realize that Mosswort Bridge comes into play tapped, though, right? I thought R&D had gone insane before I noticed the CIPT clause hidden in the reminder text. What's the point of running Wirewood Herald without any semblance of a toolbox? You don't have Caller, Ending, any of the many artifact and enchantment killers, or even Messenger. And is Elvish Champion better than Imperious Perfect?

[Happy Gilmore]

Happy Gilmore's deck looks intringuing, even if it's missing fun Sylvan Messenger action. You do realize that Mosswort Bridge comes into play tapped, though, right? I thought R&D had gone insane before I noticed the CIPT clause hidden in the reminder text. What's the point of running Wirewood Herald without any semblance of a toolbox? You don't have Caller, Ending, any of the many artifact and enchantment killers, or even Messenger. And is Elvish Champion better than Imperious Perfect?

Wow, I didn't notice that at all...that makes Bridge a lot worse than I thought. I think its safe to take out the bridges, coming into play tapped is enough of a drawback not to play it. Imperious Perfect may also be better than Champion, making 2/2 elves each turn seems very very good. I overlooked him completely and I feel stupid about it since I used him to rape face at the pre-release. Yes, he is probably better than Champion.

-4 Champion
+3 Imperious Perfect
+1 Caller of the Claw

[Silthyn]

I'm not too sure about Eladamri. If you run him, that means Quirion Ranger and Wirewood Symbiote gets weaker. Is it really worth it? I'm not sure, but the Forestwalk-ability is really good against Threshold :)

[Eldariel]

Elves win if your opponent cannot kill your Elves, or doesn't play combo. Eladamri tackles the first one. He'll slow you slightly down, but he'll guarantee your win.

[Lego]

Elves win if your opponent cannot kill your Elves, or doesn't play combo. Eladamri tackles the first one. He'll slow you slightly down, but he'll guarantee your win.

I'm not actually sure this is true. Pyroclasm still beats you. Bolt et all really don't seem to be that relevant, especially if you have Symbiote. You' just got too many good dues for it to matter.

[godryk]

Gempalm Strider in response to Pyroclasm seems techy in this deck and is also an interesting uncounterable pumping effect than can be very useful I've found it very interesting.

I like this deck, because it's sometimes like Meathooks with card advantage. Anyway I think the Gb plan is the best.

[Pinder]

I like this deck, because it's sometimes like Meathooks with card advantage. Anyway I think the Gb plan is the best.

Actually, it's better. You have the virtual card advantage that Eladamri gives you, plus the actual card advantage that Sylvan Messenger gives you.
I've always been a big fan of Elves!, Trinity Green and the like, and I think now that Eladamri protects himself as well, they could become truly viable.

[insertnamehere]

I have twiddled with several versions of elf based decks in the past. I think you can run as little 8 lands using E.S.G., lotus petal and land grant. I think it should be toyed with.

[Jak]

A list I have been thinking of.

Lands
4 Wasteland
4 Rishadan Port
4 Wooded Foothills
2 Windswept Heath
4 Bayou
3 Forest
1 Pendelhaven

Non-Creatures
4 Aether Vial
4 Cabal Therapy

Mana Elves
3 Fyndhorn Elves
3 Elves of Deep Shadow

Creatures
4 Eldamri
4 Sylvan Messenger
4 Imperious Perfect
4 Skyshroud Elite
4 Wirewood Herald
1 Caller of the Claw
1 Tribal Forcemage
4 Wren's Run Vanquisher

SB
4 Duress
4 Thoughtseize
4 Planar Void
3 Krosan Grip

I want to add a lot of cards in the board, but this is pretty good I think. 2 cards too much MD, but basically the frame is what I think would be best for an elf deck.

[Berzerked]

Lands
4 Wasteland
4 Rishadan Port
4 Wooded Foothills
2 Windswept Heath
4 Bayou
3 Forest
1 Pendelhaven

Non-Creatures
4 Aether Vial
4 Cabal Therapy

Mana Elves
3 Fyndhorn Elves
3 Elves of Deep Shadow

Creatures
4 Eldamri
4 Sylvan Messenger
4 Imperious Perfect
4 Skyshroud Elite
4 Wirewood Herald
1 Caller of the Claw
1 Tribal Forcemage
4 Wren's Run Vanquisher

We are testing a very similar list with these changes:

-1 Wasteland
-4 Rishadan Port
-1 Imperious Perfect
-1 Tribal Forcemage

+1 Windswepth Heath
+1 Forest
+3 Thoughtseize

We opted for more discard instead of the LD route.
8 colorless lands interfered with turn2 Eladamri or turn2 discard+elf more often than you'd expect, and in most cases 22 land was just too much.
The addition of Thoughtseize MD helps improve our poorer matchups more than the LD package does.
Tribal Forcemage is ehh. Seems more like a win-more than anything.
Imperious Perfect seems like the weakest part of the deck. I'm thinking of dropping them and one of the Messengers for some meta hate...though I haven't thought what that might be yet.
Extirpate/Planar Void/Leyline of the Void/Tormod's Crypt/Phyrexian Furnace hit a lot of the meta.
Eyeblight's Ending seems interesting - attainable through Herald and Messenger to take out those Goyfs. It's semi over-costed, though, and Vanquisher fills the same roll.

Thoughts/Ideas?

[Kronicler]

I can't believe that Imperious Perfect feels weak. Not only does he pump all of your guys but he makes tokens every turn! He seems incredibly strong.

Kronicler

[Silthyn]

I've tested Elvish Harbinger a little. I find it great - Not only does it find Wren's Run Packmaster, Priest of Titania or any other elf you need, it produces black mana. Turn 2 Harbinger, Turn 3 Wren's Run Packmaster (Removing Harbinger for later use (like when they kill the Packmaster, which they have to in most cases)) seems very strong.

[insertnamehere]

I can't believe that Imperious Perfect feels weak. Not only does he pump all of your guys but he makes tokens every turn! He seems incredibly strong.

Kronicler

I think he is very useful except when Eladamri is in play. In regards to making the creature everyturn, the Packmaster does a better job.

[Curby]

I'd like to keep the sexy curve of 8-12-12-8 though...

I think you can slightly reduce the number of 2-drops, since your 1-drops are all mana elves and you can often accelerate into your 3-drops on the second turn.

I think he is very useful except when Eladamri is in play.

Eladamri conflicts with the Prefect?

[GreenOne]

I think he is very useful except when Eladamri is in play.

Can you explain this?

In regards to making the creature everyturn, the Packmaster does a better job.

The Packmaster makes Wolves and wants 3 mana. To take avantage of him as token creator you need to have at least 6 free mana a turn.

Imperious makes 2/2 Elves (sinergy anyone?), that can be untargettable and forestwallking if there's Eladamri. and can be 3/3 or more with multiples Imperious.

I think that imperious is better in creating tokens. That leaves us with a 5/5 for 4 that kills one elf when it comes into play vs a 2/2 for 3 that pumps all our elves and gets tapped almost each turn to make a token.

[insertnamehere]

Can you explain this?



The Packmaster makes Wolves and wants 3 mana. To take avantage of him as token creator you need to have at least 6 free mana a turn.

Imperious makes 2/2 Elves (sinergy anyone?), that can be untargettable and forestwallking if there's Eladamri. and can be 3/3 or more with multiples Imperious.

I think that imperious is better in creating tokens. That leaves us with a 5/5 for 4 that kills one elf when it comes into play vs a 2/2 for 3 that pumps all our elves and gets tapped almost each turn to make a token.

I made a mistake on Imperious, except for the fact he only creates 1 elf a turn where the Packmaster creates multiple with cradles and priests on the board.

[Silthyn]

Can you explain this?
That leaves us with a 5/5 for 4 that kills one elf when it comes into play...

False. It removes it from the game, and then returns it. Huge difference if you remove a messenger or Harbinger.

[Wynk]

The only problem with it is if you cast it with only one other elf in play, and then the opponent uses spot removal in response to the casting of it. It will kill both the original elf and the just cast Packmaster. Otherwise its a bomb, capable of killing tarmogoyfs galore with deathtouched wolves.

[Curby]

Huge difference if you remove a messenger or Harbinger.

Championing Caller of the Claw also works to combat some sweepers, but doesn't work against Flamebreak/Deed/Explosives since the Packmaster might not die.

The only problem with it is if you cast it with only one other elf in play, and then the opponent uses spot removal in response to the casting of it. It will kill both the original elf and the just cast Packmaster. Otherwise its a bomb, capable of killing tarmogoyfs galore with deathtouched wolves.

It's not difficult having two Elves in play, plus you're using Eladamri. However, without Priests and/or Cradles, you can't really abuse the Wolf-generating feature. Priests+Symbiotes+Packmasters would be really nutty, but otherwise a 3-drop that happens to make a 2+/2+ each turn and helps all elves is better than a 4-drop that makes a 2/2 each turn (without massive mana, you can't count on more).

[Silthyn]

Championing Caller of the Claw also works to combat some sweepers, but doesn't work against Flamebreak/Deed/Explosives since the Packmaster might not die.



It's not difficult having two Elves in play, plus you're using Eladamri. However, without Priests and/or Cradles, you can't really abuse the Wolf-generating feature. Priests+Symbiotes+Packmasters would be really nutty, but otherwise a 3-drop that happens to make a 2+/2+ each turn and helps all elves is better than a 4-drop that makes a 2/2 each turn (without massive mana, you can't count on more).

I heard Gaea's Cradle is broken with Packmaster, maybe 2 of those could be included in the list? ^_^