Playtesters Wanted - Budget Elves

Legacy* HiddenStrings

SCORE: 13 | 40 COMMENTS | 1447 VIEWS | IN 4 FOLDERS


Phitt says... #1

Personally I'm not a big fan of the Joraga Warcaller / Immaculate Magistrate combo. It is slow since Magistrate costs 4 mana and needs to wait a turn before he (she?) can do his magic due to summoning sickness, it is a two card combo that without help from other cards will only happen in 1 out of 4 games and the Magistrate on his own is just wasted card, so is Warcaller usually since you can't kick him when you play him with Genesis Wave or Green Sun's Zenith. It's one of those combos that are awesome when they work out, but more often than not you will simply end up with dead cards in your hand.

So personally I'd maybe add Ezuri, Renegade Leader and/or another Craterhoof Behemoth as finishers and use the rest of the freed up space to add some Wirewood Lodges and maybe Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx for a more reliable mana base.

March 3, 2015 5:15 a.m.

HiddenStrings says... #2

Wirewood Lodge is a cool card. Not sure if I'd run it though. This deck in no way is dependent on Joraga Warcaller and Immaculate Magistrate combo. To whit, however, I've had Immaculate Magistrate out on T2. He also works well with any other elf, including Taunting Elf.

March 3, 2015 5:24 a.m.

Phitt says... #3

How did you get him out on T2? I fear I don't understand that. On turn 1 you play Llanowar Elves + Forest. On turn 2 you play another Forest and...Quirion Rangers? You can untap the Llanowar Elves with them, but that leaves you with 3 mana only (not counting the mana you had to spend to play Quirion Rangers). I have no idea how to get 4 mana all at once into your mana pool on turn 2.

I don't think you need 15 Forests (15 lands yes, but not all of them need to be Forests), usually you only need one on turn 1 and then maybe another one turn 3 or 4, and that only in case you have 2 Quirion Rangers. Wirewood Lodge is a lot of additional mana in combination with Priest of Titania or Elvish Archdruid, it is bascially an additional Wirewood Symbiote / Quirion Rangers effect. And of course you can always tap it for 1 colorless, which is good enough in almost all cases since everything else in your deck produces green mana.

I agree that Immaculate Magistrate isn't completely useless, that was certainly exaggerated - it's true that he works with Taunting Elf as well. I just think that a 4 mana creature that has to wait a turn to be effective is quite expensive and slow in a fast elf deck like this.

Hope I'm not annoying, it's your deck after all.

March 3, 2015 3:22 p.m.

HiddenStrings says... #4

Phitt Whoah...complete typo there. T3, obviously.

No, you're not annoying. You may have a point there. Maybe I can run 2 instead. I'm afraid I've become too attached to the card. I still like the Warcaller, but maybe I should drop some there, too.

I'm not really a big fan of Ezuri. He can't even save himself. In that case, what would you suggest? Another Taunting Elf? But now it feels like he'd be more worthless without Warcaller or Magistrate.

March 3, 2015 3:45 p.m.

HiddenStrings says... #5

I guess I could be an asshole with lifegain, after all.

March 3, 2015 3:59 p.m.

Phitt says... #7

Ezuri is mostly a cheaper finisher if you can't afford Craterhoof Behemoth, but he does also have some advantages in comparison - he's an elf, so he has synergies with Wellwisher, Archdruid, Priest etc, you can play him for 4 mana only (sounds obvious, but if for some reason you absolutely can not get 8/9 mana in a single turn - and that happens - you can at least use his overrun ability the next turn whereas Craterhoof can't be cast no matter what) and he can regenerate important elves like Priests/Archdruids or even Craterhoof in case someone uses spot removal to kill your one and only finisher.

The only feasible enchantment that gives haste is Concordant Crossroads. It's great, only one green mana. Downside is that your opponent's creatures get haste as well. But especially in combination with Genesis Wave it's a must have imo, you can directly use all those elves you just played and tap them for more mana/effects. If timed well it can give you a nice advantage.

March 3, 2015 4:48 p.m.

HiddenStrings says... #8

I've posted a new update. Please read.

I'm thinking I could run a few Concordant Crossroads in conjunction with Immaculate Magistrate and Taunting Elf. The Crossroads could be used as a win condition if held onto until the right moment.

March 3, 2015 4:53 p.m.

emvill7e says... #9

You've got everything put very limited card draw Harmonize is easily added and played with your mana dorks.

March 3, 2015 7:25 p.m.

Elves have vary strong hate on them. I would say add Defiant elf for some early trample. Ambush Commander is great as well turns your Forest into elves for extra power. Well wisher is fantastic for life gain. I agree that concordant crossroads would speed this deck up as well as Harmonize. I do see why there are almost no instants or sorcery's. you dont want them all going to the grave yard. I know its an expensive card but its also really easy to cast in this deck add one of Eldrazi titans. They reshuffle your grave yard.Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre, Kozilek, Butcher of Truth

March 6, 2015 1:30 p.m.

HiddenStrings says... #12

This is a budget deck. $50 cards won't make the cut.

March 6, 2015 3:27 p.m.

derickmoore25 says... #13

I agree with him you should add at least 1 of the eldrazi cyles ypour deck and protects you against mill. I like to use Kozilek, Butcher of Truth myself for the card advantage he creates. What are you using all that mana generation for i don't see any big mana dump win-cons. You could try splashing red for x burn cards. or runing a few hydras with trample. Another option is Overwhelming Stampede. Nissa Revane works as life gain and Genesis Wave together. just a few quick ideas.

March 6, 2015 3:40 p.m.

You can always buy the deck now. Then proxy a titan. Save up and get later. I agree with some red x spells. But if you want to win by force alone you need more trample. try adding 2 loxodon warharmmer they are 50 cents

March 6, 2015 9:55 p.m.

emvill7e says... #15

Add one bellowing tanglewurm I know it's not an elf but getting a fleet of intimidate creatures is strong.

March 12, 2015 1:12 a.m.

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