New Golgari Collected Company Elves list to replace my current GW version.
I've been on GW for a while and love the linearity, toolbox feel of the deck, and superior white splash for the sideboard. However, after seeing Ricgard Drummer's Top 8 GB Elves perform in SCG Dallas and noting the aggro in the meta, I've decided to build this grindier version.
The addition of Shaman of the Pack is the main boon; it acts as a second wincon in matchups where Ezuri might as well read "1GG Sorcery - Target opponent discards a Lightning Bolt and taps a land". Chording for or CoCoing into one is also always a pleasure. A late game top deck can also be a fine "oops I win" as well.
Black also gives us the modern staple Abrupt Decay for reliable removal (something the GW version lacked) and Thoughtseize for better game against Combo and Control. Sweepers were always a problem for me and Golgari Charm is a solution as well. In addition, as a charm spell it doubles as both a tiny wrath effect against Affinity, Lingering Souls, Infect etc. and random enchantment hate. Finally, we have
Eyeblight Massacre
: a one-sided sweeper for Burn, Affinity, Infect, and other aggro decks.
Since the version is grindier, I've also added Lead the Stampede and
Sylvan Messenger
to mitigate mid to late game stalls by restocking my hand full of creatures. These spells also make the deck much more resilient to the sweepers and multiple removal salvos of Jund, Grixis Control, Junk, etc. and against opposing Thoughtseizes Inquisition of Kozileks, and Liliana of the Veils.
Initially I was worried about the addition of two sorceries and two 4 cmc creature, but in my testing with the deck they have minimal impact on the efficacy of my Collected Companys.
Overall, I believe this to be a good switch for what I believe to be an increasingly aggressive meta that will eventuall face a backlash from both midrange and Twin which I believe to be just around the corner.
Whereas GW Elves had game against other Aggro-Combo decks by virtue of its linearity, ability to race as well as its sideboard bullets, GB Elves can be both fast (T4 wins are still possible without much interruption) and grindy against Jund and Twin when its initial game plan fails.
Let me know what you think of the deck and my interpretation of its and GW's match ups.
