I'm building this deck for casual games. I feel like the creature booster enchantments (Collective Blessing and Glorious Anthem, etc) are superfluous, being that this isn't a battlecruiser deck. I've already played it against someone once. He refuses to play against it again. Says it's too gamebreaking. And I'm thinking - how, exactly? Is this too cutthroat for a casual setting? Or is he just being a wimp?
It was a tossup between Selvala, Explorer Returned and Captain Sisay for General, but Selvala is just too powerful. I should also note here that my primary opponent is pretty married to mono-black.
They way I approached construction was to identify some wincon combos, and work backward. Being that it's casual, I'm happy to avoid any game breakers, like Iona, Shield of Emeria or Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger. I may keep some combos in my back-pocket if my opponent gets too obnoxious Helm of Obedience + Rest in Peace
, anyone?)
But things like Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite + Kamahl, Fist of Krosa
are good with me. And that is going in there. Hurricane will be one of my gamewinners, which demands some pretty stupid ramping. And I've built in some decent life gain for use with Serra's Avatar or Aetherflux Reservoir, or, if necessary, to absorb the damage from Hurricane. Aetherflux Reservoir is self-explanatory. Serra's Avatar is for combat protection, used with Brave the Sands. Between Sisay and a recurring Defense of the Heart, I can pretty much access all the vital components of this deck quickly and as needed.
Ideally, General Selvala comes out on turn 3.
Small scale Elfball over the next few turns, all the while using Parley. And Selvala is an elf, which is just gravy.
Use Seeker of Skybreak and/or Wirewood Lodge to accelerate Parley use. At this point, my opponent should be discarding quite a bit. At this point, the linear strategy stops. I'm drawing fast enough where I will come across whatever I need in short order. Alhammarret's Archive speeds up my draw even more, as well as my life gain. Soul of the Harvest is great because it's triggered by Defense of the Heart.
This deck is one big super combo: it all builds up to one of a few wincons, with a little bit of stax thrown in to ensure my survival. When the Elfball is sufficiently large, and Paradox Engine is in play, the rest of the game is basically one long turn - my long turn. I can Parley, play a creature, Soul of the Harvest and Zendikar Resurgent trigger for two draws (4 if Alhammarrets's Archive is out), and all my Elves reset, including Selvala. Parley again. Play another spell (if it's a creature, more card draw), rinse repeat. Over and over again, until I have my wincon in hand. My opponent just sits there. The Reliquary Tower is in there just in case I have to end my turn. Elvish Piper and Quicksilver Amulet are in there to let me get creatures on the field for cheap in a hurry. Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Sigarda, Heron's Grace, Tajuru Preserver and Linvala, Keeper of Silence are all very important. Although, perhaps I should take either Sigarda or Aegis of the Gods out, because they are both in there for the same purpose: hexproof me.
Wincons:
Stupid life gain via Soltari Visionary + Celestial Mantle + Boon Reflection + Alhammarret's Archive. Aetherflux Reservoir. Win.
Stupid life gain again. Make use of Selvala mana ramping and Elfball to power a Hurricane that kills opponents but not me. Win.
Kamahl, Fist of Krosa gives all my creatures trample, Serra's Avatar attacks. Voltron. I win.
For Stax:
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite can board wipe weenies all by herself. Kamahl can see to it she wipes out lands, too.
Linvala, Keeper of Silence. No activated abilities for you.
Tajuru Preserver. No, I will not be sacrificing anything because you said so.
Oblivion Ring. Targeted exile, which also contributes to Sphere of Safety. Feel free to attack me, as long as you can afford to spare the mana. Add Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger to that mix, and not only does my opponent have to pay to attack me, but the mana stays tapped next turn.
Avacyn, Angel of Hope turns all my elves into viable blockers. Brave the Sands doubles the number of creatures I can block. And, of course, Avacyn makes sure
winds of wrath
only affects people who aren't me.
