[Primer] Elves!

Hello community again! Today I come asking advice on "if I should get out of a deck". I currently have Death & Taxes, OmniTell, Burn & Elves completed. Now I have always had a soft spot for Elves, but since I have moved into the Modern format and playing it more commonly then Legacy, I thought I might get out of Elves since I have Elves in Modern which I find just as fun.


I was thinking of trading / selling the Gaea's Cradles (but keep one for EDH) as well as the Natural Orders for Modern staples I'm looking to acquire. What does the community think?

TL:DR; Having the feeling to trade/sell Legacy Elves for Modern staples. Is it worth it if based more in Modern and already having 3 other Legacy decks?

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Originally Posted by Brentane

Hello community again! Today I come asking advice on "if I should get out of a deck". I currently have Death & Taxes, OmniTell, Burn & Elves completed. Now I have always had a soft spot for Elves, but since I have moved into the Modern format and playing it more commonly then Legacy, I thought I might get out of Elves since I have Elves in Modern which I find just as fun.


I was thinking of trading / selling the Gaea's Cradles (but keep one for EDH) as well as the Natural Orders for Modern staples I'm looking to acquire. What does the community think?

TL:DR; Having the feeling to trade/sell Legacy Elves for Modern staples. Is it worth it if based more in Modern and already having 3 other Legacy decks?

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Dunno. I converted my foil elves to cash because of usually being the back end in each control & combo matchup these days, which are pretty common and I don't see a tribal deck getting enough cards in a reasonable time to fix either problem. Elves was best during the TC wars

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Originally Posted by Brentane

Hello community again! Today I come asking advice on "if I should get out of a deck". I currently have Death & Taxes, OmniTell, Burn & Elves completed. Now I have always had a soft spot for Elves, but since I have moved into the Modern format and playing it more commonly then Legacy, I thought I might get out of Elves since I have Elves in Modern which I find just as fun.

I was thinking of trading / selling the Gaea's Cradles (but keep one for EDH) as well as the Natural Orders for Modern staples I'm looking to acquire. What does the community think?
TL:DR; Having the feeling to trade/sell Legacy Elves for Modern staples. Is it worth it if based more in Modern and already having 3 other Legacy decks?

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What exactly do you want us to say about that? Cradles and Orders will not fall in prices in the nearest future. I don't know about modern staples although.
I am playing elves for 3 years already and I am still not 100% sure that the list I've chosen is the correct one. This is a very intense deck with a lot of options and I am having fun playing it.

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Originally Posted by Brentane

Hello community again! Today I come asking advice on "if I should get out of a deck". I currently have Death & Taxes, OmniTell, Burn & Elves completed. Now I have always had a soft spot for Elves, but since I have moved into the Modern format and playing it more commonly then Legacy, I thought I might get out of Elves since I have Elves in Modern which I find just as fun.


I was thinking of trading / selling the Gaea's Cradles (but keep one for EDH) as well as the Natural Orders for Modern staples I'm looking to acquire. What does the community think?

TL:DR; Having the feeling to trade/sell Legacy Elves for Modern staples. Is it worth it if based more in Modern and already having 3 other Legacy decks?

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If you need the cash, then exigency should prevail. Otherwise, Elves will be back, eventually. If you like playing Elves, don't let the fact that the meta has been sketchy of late dash future hopes. The reason I like this deck is because it is hard to play. It provides short, medium, and long game options like no other deck. While there is nothing directly controlling about it, its versatility forces people to play. It is a deck with multiple game plans that uses most of its cards in multiple ways.

Myself, I don't mind losing with this deck, because I like playing with it. Unlike so many other decks, I have multiple objectives going at the same time and I never know how the story will end until the game begins to unfold. There is a MacGuyver-esk element to it and it is a deck that can come back after being board or hand wiped.

So, I'd keep it together if you can. Those Cradles will always have value--so long as MTG has value and there will be other decks where you'll use them.

Just my 2 cents.

LoR

Creatures (28)	Spells (12) + Lands (20)	Sideboard (15)
2 Birchlore Rangers 2 Craterhoof Behemoth 4 Deathrite Shaman 4 Elvish Visionary 3 Heritage Druid 3 Nettle Sentinel 4 Quirion Ranger 1 Reclamation Sage 1 Shaman of the Pack 4 Wirewood Symbiote	4 Glimpse of Nature 4 Green Sun's Zenith 4 Natural Order 2 Forest 2 Bayou 2 Verdant Catacombs 3 Misty Rainforest 2 Windswept Heath 2 Wooded Foothills 4 Gaea's Cradle 1 Pendelhaven 2 Dryad Arbor	1 Meekstone 1 Null Rod 1 Pithing Needle 1 Sylvan Library 1 Scavenging Ooze 3 Abrupt Decay 1 Disfigure 1 Progenitus 3 Cabal Therapy 2 Thoughtseize

Played Elves in a 25 person GPT over the weekend.

Round 1 - 2-0 vs Something?
Round 2 - 2-0 vs UBR Tezz
Round 3 - 0-2 vs UB Tezz
Round 4 - 2-1 vs Dega
Round 5 - ID vs Bant TNN
Top 8 - 2-1 vs Bant Stoneblade
Top 4 - 1-2 vs UBR Tezz

Yes my area is a bit strange sometimes.
Never saw Shaman of the Pack. Didn't use half my sideboard (including Ooze) - though that's mostly the result of my matchups.

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Originally Posted by Echelon

Well, in theory, with the absolute motherfucking nuts one could Glimpse through the deck and finish the opponent with the Shaman (or bounce the Shaman once for 2x 10+ lifedrain). The chances of that happening are just rather slim. Same goes for the Natural Order route, but the Natural Order route just takes less of a board presence to make the kill.

I dunno, I like the speed of the Elves! deck. Making the deck more grindy seems like moving towards a bad Maverick build (yes, I'm hyperboling).

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I was thinking about this style of deck - definitely more of a Glimpse deck. Has anyone tried a version that goes even more all-in with Glimpse, such as running 1 or 2 Beck//Call in the main and splashing for blue?

With, say, 6 copies of the draw spell, odds go up quite a bit of getting a Glimpse chain to go off. Stuff like Dwynen's Elite becomes very powerful with Beck since you get to draw 2 from it, and GSZ will also lead to a drawn card. Just an idea. I think I'd rather stick with several elves + instant NO win versus having to really hope to draw into certain Nettle/Birch/Heritage and then Glimpse configurations to go off.

Hm...Edric, Spymaster of Trest?

On the other hand, a 2 CMC creature is not something you'd want to see during a Glimpse chain. That's also why Beck//Call doesn't see play - the colours needed can be fixed, but 2 mana is just too steep to start a decent chain even though it works wonderfully with GSZ.

Edric is more of a sideboard card. You bring him in vs. MU's where you expect sweepers. Edric + 2/3 guys equals a full hand at all times, so the turn after the sweeper you just rebuild your board like there hasn't been a sweeper in the first place.

hi guys. i decide to play elves. maybe it's not the best moment for this deck but I've always wanted play it in a tournament.


you guys think is a good idea mount this version ?

http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=18055&iddeck=136360

i really love it

or is better star with the standart list?

where i can found a list for what side IN OUT plz?

thanks

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Originally Posted by kuroko16

where i can found a list for what side IN OUT plz?

thanks

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Try the primer on the first page of this topic. Ctrl+F "Sideboard".

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Originally Posted by kuroko16

hi guys. i decide to play elves. maybe it's not the best moment for this deck but I've always wanted play it in a tournament.


you guys think is a good idea mount this version ?

http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=18055&iddeck=136360

i really love it

or is better star with the standart list?

where i can found a list for what side IN OUT plz?

thanks

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That list is fine enough - you can acquire the NOs and Hoofs/Ruric later if it doesn't suit you.

So I've been watching some videos of Elves! and I've noticed some number of people playing Savannahs, however I haven't actually seen what cards they could be splashing for. What are the common white sideboard cards, and are they actually worth playing nowadays.

Gaddock Teeg is one.

When I started to play elves it had a savannah for gaddock teeg, 3 thalias and qasali pridemage

Qasali Pridemage also used to be a thing. Nowadays we have Reclamation Sage.

On a side note: I still run Teeg in the SB, but don't run a Savannah for it. Between GSZ, DRS & Birchlore Rangers there are plenty of ways to get it onto the battlefield/fix the white mana.

So...I was mulling over early Deathrite plays while I was driving into work.

I'm finding that my typical turn layouts go something like this:

T1: Start either with Nettle (great with Heritage/Birchlore in hand) or with option of 3 mana on T2 thanks to GSZ->Arbor, DRS, Birchlore/Heritage, Quirion (semi does this, at least means a single forest will generate 2 mana).
T2: Play couple of spells and try to setup for a T3 win.
T3: Play more creatures, Glimpse chain, or NO into a win.
That's the normal gameplan, obviously sometimes it takes another turn for creature density.

Now suppose that you start with a fetch into DRS. You have the option of either making mana with it and expanding your board presence T2, or say, playing another 1 drop and leaving mana open to activate DRS with. What do you guys typically do in these situations?

Any insight on knowing early whether your opponent is on Reanimator/Dredge/ANT where having an unuseable DRS could mean a loss on T2? Are there other matchups where early graveyard interaction is required?

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Originally Posted by square_two

Now suppose that you start with a fetch into DRS. You have the option of either making mana with it and expanding your board presence T2, or say, playing another 1 drop and leaving mana open to activate DRS with. What do you guys typically do in these situations?

Any insight on knowing early whether your opponent is on Reanimator/Dredge/ANT where having an unuseable DRS could mean a loss on T2? Are there other matchups where early graveyard interaction is required?

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You answered your own question I think. If you are in a matchup where graveyard hate matters early, the second play is usually best (unless you feel you can't win anyway, in which case sometimes just going for the turn 3 while your opponent stumbles works out).

Basically if you're vs reanimator, lands, or dredge...leave the DRS up all game. If not, consider how impactful a DTT would be...and if that's not an issue, just go balls deep. ;)

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Originally Posted by Shagstaman

You answered your own question I think. If you are in a matchup where graveyard hate matters early, the second play is usually best (unless you feel you can't win anyway, in which case sometimes just going for the turn 3 while your opponent stumbles works out).

Basically if you're vs reanimator, lands, or dredge...leave the DRS up all game. If not, consider how impactful a DTT would be...and if that's not an issue, just go balls deep. ;)

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Well, I was more wondering what specific cards or early plays these decks might have T1 or T2 that would indicate they would be on a graveyard plan. I might just need to go get more match experience or look at decklists and figure it out. If there are any certain "key" plays that opponents make that suddenly changes your typical Elf gameplan, I thought it might be a good discussion point.

@haganbmj

I like your list idea cutting a heritage druid and nettle sentinel for a rec sage and shaman of the pack!

what about a board like?

4 Cabal Therapy
3 Abrupt Decay
1 Krosan Grip
2 Choke
1 Pithing Needle
1 Null Rod
1 Scavening Ooze
1 Slyvan Library
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed

That could lead to following board plans:

vs. Miracles
- 1 Heritage Druid
- 1 Nettle Sentinel
- 1 Birchlore Ranger
- 4 Natrual Order
- 2 Craterhoof Behomth
+ 3 Abrupt Decay
+ 1 Krosan Grip
+ 2 Choke
+ 1 Pithing Needle
+ 1 Null Rod
+ 1 Slyvan Library

We become lower to the ground and more a destroy counterbalance deck.

vs. Omni
- 1 Shaman of the Pack
- 1 Craterhoof Behmoth
- 1 Heritage Druid
- 1 Nettle Sentinel
- 1 Birchlore Ranger
- 2 Quirion Ranger
- 2 Wirewood Symbiote
- 1 Natural Order
+ 4 Cabal Therapy
+ 1 Krosan Grip
+ 2 Choke
+ 1 Scavening Ooze
+ 1 Slyvan Library
+ 1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed

not sure if this is right. It just looks like a bunch of hate.

vs. Grixis
- 1 Heritage Druid
- 1 Nettle Sentinel
- 1 Birchlore Ranger
- 1 Shaman of the Pack
- 1 Craterhoof Behmoth
- 2 Glimpse of Nature
- 1 Quirion Ranger
3 Abrupt Decay
2 Choke
1 Scavening Ooze
1 Slyvan Library
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed

Again this just looks like anti delver and tie up thier mana to get hoof or Ruric out.

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Originally Posted by lambert101

@haganbmj

I like your list idea cutting a heritage druid and nettle sentinel for a rec sage and shaman of the pack!

what about a board like?

4 Cabal Therapy
3 Abrupt Decay
1 Krosan Grip
2 Choke
1 Pithing Needle
1 Null Rod
1 Scavening Ooze
1 Slyvan Library
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed

**Shortened for Space**

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Thanks, I've never liked the quad Heritage Druid lists - it's the worst card in the deck except when you really need it (if that makes sense). Playing the extra Birchlore has been sufficient for me. I finally got to use Shaman of the Pack last night, I was able to drain Merfolk when I couldn't profitably maneuver through his True-Name.

Round 1 - 2-0 vs UB Tezzeret
Round 2 - 2-0 vs Enchantress
Round 3 - 2-0 vs Merfolk
Round 4 - 0-2 vs Lands (ID'd and played for some prize cards)

I've always hated Ruric Thar and every time I've ever played the card I wished it was something else. If you're able to Zenith for it you're usually already winning. If you're resolving Natural Order you're usually able to get Craterhoof and kill them. I've really only had it be relevant once and that was blocking Lingering Souls tokens from a Junk deck... oh and the one time my Nic Fit opponent played a Ruric and could no longer Zenith->EWit->Deed me; Score!
Against Omni you can probably just kill them instead, might be fine against Grixis.

I used to play Wren's Run Packmaster in that mid slot because it was the not-quite-hoof GSZ target when all the removal was Decay and Bolt.

I like your sideboard against Miracles. I might have to try that some week just to see what I think. I like leaving in some number of Natural Orders and bringing in Progenitus just because it forces them to respect me, but I'll try cutting them post board some week. I'm moving next Thursday though so it might be a break from legacy for me unless the local store where I'm moving actually gets legacy turnouts (Comics & Gaming Fairfax? Monday Legacy?).

Great news, we can say good bye to Dig Through Time

Omnitell will fall, can we remove the copy or copies of Krosan Grip from the sideboard