[Primer] Elves!

[henweigh]

I'm wondering if others have thoughts on this.

Looks like we had a rough GP. But we'll come back.

I want to try a little thought experiment. -Given the kinds of match ups we face and where our strength already lie, I'm curious which of the following we'd prefer:

Choice A---Black elf for some Z cost that says. B, Sac ~: target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.

or

Choice B---Black elf for some Z cost that says. B, Sac ~: creatures your opponents control get -1/-1 until end of turn.

I can see advantages to both. Attached to an elf, which would be more useful, a one-shot -1/-1 to lots of creatures or a one-shot -2/-2 to target creature?

[Krasman]

I'm wondering if others have thoughts on this.

Not sure that I would even play an elf that sacrifices and does -2/-2 to target creature.

As far as your second one that sacrifices and gives creatures -1/-1; you could run:
Eyeblight Massacre
Marsh Casualties

[EEk1TwEEk]

I'm wondering if others have thoughts on this.

I thought there is a special topic where you can describe your imaginary dream cards.
Anyways, I would like to not see these cards in the nearest future, because they will be played against us

[EEk1TwEEk]

I have a question to all of you:
I am running Leovold in my maindeck and therefore I have 1 Tropical Island
I am thinking about sideboard options: what counterspells can i use effectively in my SB? Russian meta has a lot of miracles, eldrazi and omnisneak decks.

[mistercakes]

Flusterstorm is a good one which can also help vs storm. Other than that I'd just focus more on using discard. Eldrazi shouldn't really require counterspells.

[Krasman]

I have a question to all of you:
I am running Leovold in my maindeck and therefore I have 1 Tropical Island
I am thinking about sideboard options: what counterspells can i use effectively in my SB? Russian meta has a lot of miracles, eldrazi and omnisneak decks.

Flusterstorm
Swan Song

Mindbreak Trap is also really good with Leovold (as storm targets and you can draw a bunch with Tendrils on the stack)

[EEk1TwEEk]

Flusterstorm
Swan Song

Mindbreak Trap is also really good with Leovold (as storm targets and you can draw a bunch with Tendrils on the stack)

Woah Mindbreak Trap!
DUDE

Never thought of it before!!! This is actually genius

Also thought about swan song btw against pesky T1 Top T2 Counterbalance

[Prdgychild]

does fatal push have the potential to push out elves?

[resum]

the only real effect i see fatal push having is making packmaster no longer the stone nuts against bgx decks. outside of that, it's not any worse for elves than swords or bolt.

[henweigh]

What are our toughest match-ups these days?

[resum]

i personally order them
sneak show
reanimator (br worse than ub but both are bad)
lands
miracles

really only sneak show and reanimator are atrociously awful.

[jjkbb2005]

i personally order them
sneak show
reanimator (br worse than ub but both are bad)
lands
miracles

really only sneak show and reanimator are atrociously awful.

Sneak Show is by far the worst.

Now with x2-x3 Surgical in the SB, Reanimator (especially R/B Reanimator) is not nearly as scary as it used to be and I have beaten/raced a T1 Sire of Insanity and Chancellor.

Lands is very beatable matchup but relies heavily on us having a quick Combo, in addition to a Cradle or multiples.
Turbo Depths is the deck that I think really gives Elves fits. Silkweaver Elite will be a huge benefit to help shore up both the Lands matchup and Turbo Depths.

Miracles is not nearly as bad as it used to be as the deck has been very well adapted to beat it now.

[Ezuri]

Isn't fatal push something we could play (SB) like abrupt decay?

[Lord_of_Rivendell]

i personally order them
sneak show
reanimator (br worse than ub but both are bad)
lands
miracles

really only sneak show and reanimator are atrociously awful.

I agree with this but would add Eldrazi to the list as a particularly challenging match.
Also some configurations of burn are quite tough.
B/R Reanimator--a mostly brainless thing to pilot--is a more viable brand of roulette than others of its kin.

[Krasman]

does fatal push have the potential to push out elves?

If decks just run 1 for 1 removal we should be happy as we will out card advantage them easily.

[resum]

Isn't fatal push something we could play (SB) like abrupt decay?

i dont think there's room given the number of combo hate cards we need. also, decks where push is relevant are almost all good matchups already

Sneak Show is by far the worst.

Now with x2-x3 Surgical in the SB, Reanimator (especially R/B Reanimator) is not nearly as scary as it used to be and I have beaten/raced a T1 Sire of Insanity and Chancellor.

Lands is very beatable matchup but relies heavily on us having a quick Combo, in addition to a Cradle or multiples.
Turbo Depths is the deck that I think really gives Elves fits. Silkweaver Elite will be a huge benefit to help shore up both the Lands matchup and Turbo Depths.

Miracles is not nearly as bad as it used to be as the deck has been very well adapted to beat it now.

possibly. reanimator still gives me fits though. i think my perception of the lands matchup may be colored by somehow always getting t1 or t2 tabernacled.

I agree with this but would add Eldrazi to the list as a particularly challenging match.
Also some configurations of burn are quite tough.
B/R Reanimator--a mostly brainless thing to pilot--is a more viable brand of roulette than others of its kin.

i think eldrazi depends on what version of eldrazi. in my experience playing elves, with the NO version, colorless eldrazi is relatively easy, but white eldrazi gives me some problems.

[EEk1TwEEk]

i personally order them
sneak show
reanimator (br worse than ub but both are bad)
lands
miracles

really only sneak show and reanimator are atrociously awful.

UB infect is a terrible matchup because it's faster and has dazes + FoWs

[TrincoTeq]

Hello everyone!

I am a long time follower first time writer.

Unfortunately I'm having some difficulties in beating Grixis or 4c Delver decks lately... I can't understand why since I never had this kind of issues before! I still don't think is too bad as a match-up, but they just seem to have everything everytime!

What are your thoughts on the match up?

[Lemnear]

Hello everyone!

I am a long time follower first time writer.

Unfortunately I'm having some difficulties in beating Grixis or 4c Delver decks lately... I can't understand why since I never had this kind of issues before! I still don't think is too bad as a match-up, but they just seem to have everything everytime!

What are your thoughts on the match up?

The question is: How are they able to overcome your cardadvantage engines and endless blocks?

[catmint]

I think the matchup is positive, but it can make a huge difference
a) if the opponent is skilled and
b) whether they have a draw that can beat us (more disruption & relevant creatures to get ahead early and not a lot of cantrip fooling around).

If they are able to kill the first elf - and trade a lot of 1:1 with having us tight on mana - while getting a delver (or stopping our blocking engine) and getting zombie fish then they can increase their win%.

Similarly - since we are disrupted a lot I think it is a skill intensive matchup for us. So I would focus mostly on your in game choices - starts with the keep in g2/g3 - one landers are risky since the will likely kill the first elf and if you don't have a second land and they daze - this is how the losing road often starts.

I play 2 decay main which helps in this matchup.