Originally Posted by
Shagstaman
Ok gents, since Julian dropped this gem in our laps but went afk when the questions flooded in, I decided to take matters upon myself to test this in a "fairly" competitive event. It wasn't a gp or an open, but the meta contained no joke decks and all the players I went up against were at least competent and knew their decks well.
(disclaimer: I don't blame him, it's just atypical from most players who find something fun/good. I'm sure he's a busy guy!)
Since I am at work atm and don't have time for a full match by match write-up I'll share my thoughts which can sum things up in regard to the deck.
1. I wanted NO basically the entire event. I could see shaving down to 2-3 copies, but losing our "I win" button hurt more than a few times. I had several glimpse turns where if they just had a pyroclasm afterward I all but lost...I had several fair decks which normally scoop to progenitus beat me because my deck consisted of mostly abrupt-decayable, lightning-boltable duders. If I had access to 4-mana 20+ dmg or 10/10 screw you, I would've won more games plus the same games I won anyway...but easier.
2. The deck basically plays the same, but having the main deck teeg and ooze was nice. Obv Teeg is a non-bo with NO, so I wouldn't ever play the two together in the main...but I think scooze main and teeg sb might be a consideration going forward.
3. WRP should be in everyone's 75 by now. The only exception is if you play in a super combo meta...otherwise the card is the stone colds. It wins games that you can't win with NO, glimpse, etc. So many decks fear this card that don't even know they fear this card... it's hilarious and stupid good.
4. Cavern of Souls is the bees knees. I feel bad for the people who were suggesting this card in the past couple years and were met with statements from forum regulars such as "unplayable garbage," "not a forest--gtfo," and "lol cavern??." This card beats miracles, chalice decks and to a lesser extent, delver decks. Setting it to creature type-Beast is particularly hilarious vs your blue opponent who has kept the same 2-3 cards in hand all game (repping FoW).
5. The added noncreature spells were great too...crop rotation and library main won me a few games, by extending glimpse turns when I'd normally have run out of mana-- or by presenting yet another must-counter threat that would take over the game if left unchecked.
6. I won the event, but it was pure luck that I even made top 8-- one dark confidant dealt 11 damage to his controller over 3 turns, and another opponent's Ad Nauseam dealt 20 dmg to its controller on turn 2 on the play...
TL:DR version: Chaos Elves is good, fun, and challenging; and harkens back to what makes the deck great overall--the grindy midrange strategy. That being said, I probably won't playing this deck over the NO version unless the meta is like 25%+ storm and miracles (vast majority)...because the deck definitely seems ready to prey on a very specific metagame.
Elves! is still Elves! and is still jawesome. :cool:
