[Deck] Elves Combo

[(nameless one)]

And its a casted Eldrazi, not cheated you get the perks.

Hey ruckus, if your meta on paper is ideal for Elves Combo and Survival of the Fittest gets the axe, how would your list look like. Would it look the same as your MTGO list? How would this affect your deck's playstyle?

[k2thej]

I tried Army of Ancients (Glimpse + Food Chain Elves), but the list relies too heavily on Food Chain.

Turn 2 Eldrazi is really funny however. :)

True, though I get turn 2 Emrakul quite a bit as it is...

[Mr. Safety]

Just a question: if I decide to utilize Emrakul in my build, does Priest of Titania become neccessary? I would think so...

[k2thej]

Just a question: if I decide to utilize Emrakul in my build, does Priest of Titania become neccessary? I would think so...

No it doesn't. I optimize my build for combo, so I want as few creatures that are more than one mana as possible. Visionary is necessary for consistency in the combo, so she's in, and then I figure I need a lord for an aggro backup and a mana lord. Archdruid does both in one card and leaves room for more one drops. Thus, he is the choice.

[Neil]

k2thej could you post your latest deck list? Also on what turns do you likely combo off?

[Koby]

Most of the discussion from August to today is relevant. I highly recommend interested players in reading the thread from then.

Combo Elves can conceivably go off turn 2. Turn 3 is very common start up as well. 4 Summoner's Pact make it easy to get the right pieces; just watch out for potential mass/spot removal in case you need to pass the turn.

[GoldenCid]

Well....i'm starting with this deck with a "full combo" ie no natural order. I goes off pretty good but i know it dies to plague. But well, it's just the begining. Suggestions are welcomed and advises too.


// Lands
3 [ON] Wooded Foothills
8 [P3] Forest (2)
1 [ON] Windswept Heath
2 [US] Gaea's Cradle

// Creatures
4 [ALA] Elvish Visionary
1 [IA] Fyndhorn Elves
4 [5E] Llanowar Elves
4 [ON] Birchlore Rangers
4 [MOR] Heritage Druid
2 [US] Priest of Titania
4 [EVE] Nettle Sentinel
4 [SC] Wirewood Symbiote
2 [EVG] Sylvan Messenger
1 [EVE] Regal Force
1 [FD] Eternal Witness
1 [EVE] Wickerbough Elder
1 [ROE] Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
2 [FNM] Quirion Ranger

// Spells
3 [RAV] Chord of Calling
4 [CHK] Glimpse of Nature
3 [FUT] Summoner's Pact
1 [TSP] Grapeshot

// Sideboard
SB: 3 [LE] Caller of the Claw
SB: 2 [TSP] Krosan Grip
SB: 3 [LRW] Thorn of Amethyst
SB: 4 [SHM] Faerie Macabre
SB: 3 [TE] Choke


3 NO + 1 Proggy post side is good?? What about leyline of the vitality?

Thx you all!

[Koby]

Hey ruckus, if your meta on paper is ideal for Elves Combo and Survival of the Fittest gets the axe, how would your list look like. Would it look the same as your MTGO list? How would this affect your deck's playstyle?

I believe my metagame is about 40-50% blue decks, comprised of Merfolk, X-still, and CB/Top. The remaining is random decks from every gamut (Affinity, RDW/Burn, Goblins, Aggro Elves, Zoo, etc). Only about 15-20% of it is Survival decks right now. Until Jan 1st (once bannings are in place), I would say that the metagame is marginally positive for combo Elves.

I would very likely play a list very similar to k2thej's. It is very streamlined. Unfortunately, I prefer the SotF back-up plan with Anger/utility, and that may sadly get banned. We'll see soon enough.

[Hrelja]

Hello :)

I got to say I really like k2thej's list. Quite stable and really quick, I've gotten Emrakuls on turn 2 with surprising regularity. It's on page 24 if I'm not mistaken.

I'd be interested in an updated list as well if you have one.

As for Priest of Titania, I haven't missed it in my 20ish matches with the deck.

Also, yes, Survival might get banned, according to BDM's last article.

[Koplinchen]

I like this list as well. It is suprisingly stable and within a few turns it can fully recover from opponent's bomb. I was just thinking that the inclusion of single viridian shaman might be vital. Chalice turn1 just kills this deck, doesen't it?
I am not sure if that is relevant argument for weakaning maine? And if the calls for it, what to replace?
Second. Is Gaea's Cradle all that necessary? Doesen't if weaken your opening hand?

I am just starting with this decek eventhough I play legacy for a long time.

Thank to all for comments.

[Koplinchen]

I like this list as well. It is suprisingly stable and within a few turns it can fully recover from opponent's bomb. I was just thinking that the inclusion of single viridian shaman might be vital. Chalice turn1 just kills this deck, doesen't it?
I am not sure if that is relevant argument for weakaning maine? And if the calls for it, what to replace?
Second. Is Gaea's Cradle all that necessary? Doesen't if weaken your opening hand?

I am just starting with this decek eventhough I play legacy for a long time.

Thank to all for comments.

[GoldenCid]

I like this list as well. It is suprisingly stable and within a few turns it can fully recover from opponent's bomb. I was just thinking that the inclusion of single viridian shaman might be vital. Chalice turn1 just kills this deck, doesen't it?

Thank to all for comments.

I'm running 1 x of Wickerbough Elder and it works awesome!

[k2thej]

I'm running 1 x of Wickerbough Elder and it works awesome!

Your list isnt bad, but Emrakul+Grapeshot=overkill. The reasons this deck works is because you maximize the number of favorable opening hands, and to do this you want to minimize the number of times your wincon is in your opening hand, thus, only play one. Especially if your one goes back into your library if discarded.

I will post a new list once I finalize the few slots I am toying with right now.

[k2thej]

Just thought of new terminology we should start thinking about using.

Tapper- heritage, birchlore
Untapper- Nettle (yes I want to consider Nettle an untapper), wirewood, quirion
Starter- glimpse, Regal (ideally through a summoners pact)

You generally want one of each of these categories in your opening hand (or a pact so sub for one or even two), usually, in the order they are written down. This deck is all about getting one of each of these puppies in your opening hand, design accordingly!

[abel_lg]

Just thought of new terminology we should start thinking about using.

Tapper- heritage, birchlore
Untapper- Nettle (yes I want to consider Nettle an untapper), wirewood, quirion
Starter- glimpse, Regal (ideally through a summoners pact)

You generally want one of each of these categories in your opening hand (or a pact so sub for one or even two), usually, in the order they are written down. This deck is all about getting one of each of these puppies in your opening hand, design accordingly!

I'm agree with that clasification if we speak about opening hands and odds. Which is in your opinion the best possible hand/s?

[k2thej]

I'm agree with that clasification if we speak about opening hands and odds. Which is in your opinion the best possible hand/s?

Anything that gets you a turn 2 combo. Almost always involves glimpse being in your hand. Something like this:

Glimpse
Land
Heritage
Nettle
Qurion
Land
Llanowar/fyndhorn

Note that you can have a pact to replace anything you would play on the turn you combo. They are literally interchangeable at that point with no drawbacks; one of the main contributions to the consistency of this build.



The main change I am toying with in my build right now is 3 wishes for the emrakul and two other spots. I really like the idea of never having emrakul when you don't need him (again, ups the consistency of opening hands) since you would always be able to get him when you need him as well. It seems to remove the downside of having emrakul in your opening hand without contributing and new drawbacks. It also allows you access to a cradle mid combo if you are running out of mana, and access to a regal force if you are running out of dudes. It seems like a good idea, my only hesitation is what other two cards to remove to free up the three slots for the wishes.


I do, however, think the maindeck is pretty set. Let's face it, it works. The thing keeping this from being a top-tier deck is that there arn't many complementary sideboard cards, especially since anything we add to the deck to, in a sense, up the defense against something will weaken our combo consistency. If we can figure out sideboard choices and what to board out for them to maintain consistency (mainly against sweepers) this will become a top tier deck. But it is the sideboard that is holding it back not the main deck.

[nodahero]

My suggestion to strengthen the deck against sweepers would be to include some combination of Elevish Messenger (the Apoc. elf ringleader) and Elvish Champion.

These adjustments to the board allow you to become a more aggro oriented build that is not dependent on comboing off and reduces the opponents ability to gain card advantage and thus in turn reducing there ability to win through brute card advantage.

[k2thej]

My suggestion to strengthen the deck against sweepers would be to include some combination of Elevish Messenger (the Apoc. elf ringleader) and Elvish Champion.

These adjustments to the board allow you to become a more aggro oriented build that is not dependent on comboing off and reduces the opponents ability to gain card advantage and thus in turn reducing there ability to win through brute card advantage.

I don't think diminishing the combo is the way to beat sweepers. In fact, it hurts us against sweepers. The combo allows you to wait to drop your elves until you will win that turn, removing the threat of any sorcery sweepers. Aggro leaves your guys out vulnerable to all sweepers on the field. It is better to keep everyone you can in hand until you go off. The deck should be played by only dropping the elves you NEED out in order to combo off the following turn.

[kicks_422]

I tried Army of Ancients (Glimpse + Food Chain Elves), but the list relies too heavily on Food Chain.

Well, the Food Chain Elves list relies on Food Chain just as much as the Glimpse Elves list relies on Glimpse of Nature.

[k2thej]

Well, the Food Chain Elves list relies on Food Chain just as much as the Glimpse Elves list relies on Glimpse of Nature.

Food chain is 3 mana and it is on the field and can be killed. It is much better to rely on glimpse. Also, we have regal force and pacts to get him if need be.

We should be focusing on sb though.