Lemme introduce you to a card. It's called Collected Company.

I'd tell you about all the other things the Elf deck plays now, but honestly, I'll just give you this instead.

KillDatBUG has the right of it. Every Elf deck in Modern should be running Collected Company - that card has basically revived the archetype. It comes out a lot faster than a Genesis Wave, which gives your deck major T3/T4 kill potential.

While we're at it, let's talk about some of the other cards here. Nissa Revane (and by extension Nissa's Chosen) are not particularly powerful, especially when they seem to be taking up deck slots that could be used on Heritage Druid and Nettle Sentinel. 4 Oran-Rief, the Vastwood out of 16 lands is also far too many - try Pendelhaven, Okina, Temple to the Grandfathers and Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx instead. Immaculate Magistrate looks neat, but it's also too slow. I'd roll with Dwynen's Elite when it comes out, and Fauna Shaman and Scavenging Ooze until it does.

I know about those cards D: and they're awfully good. I know. But this is also a very budget deck. I already have most of these cards. I only have about 100 dollars to spend which is why I don't want to buy a playset of Collected Company or Heritage Druid, which is as well I dont have Nettle Sentinel because it's useless witout Heritage Druid. I like the Okina and I'll definitely consider it. I just don't have the money for the bigger cards though :) I will get them one day after I get another check :P but as of right now, what other cheap improvements that arent 20 dollars a piece can you guys recommend? I put the money out for the spellskite because its really good, and very much needed for early defense.

Well, if you're going for a more budget version of the deck, I'd try cards like Imperious Perfect (pump and tokens, yum), Phyrexian Revoker in the board (shuts off planeswalkers, Grim Lavamancer, Tasigur, the Golden Fang, etc., and is searchable), and I'd also up the land count a bit - even the Elf decks with Heritage Druid for more ramp run 18.

Okay. I will update that then :) and question; why is Nissa Revane bad? With Nissa's Chosen. If needed, which in testing with proxies hasn't happened, it can give me some chump blockers to stall for a while, and as well the Nissa can give me a little bit of late game. I know it's slower, but I still do potentially have the T3/T4 win and an average T5 win with Ezuri. The Nissa is in there to add a late game, and as well to give me life back if I need it.

I'm telling you- Make Collected Company your number 1 priority card to acquire. Yeah, I get that they're $60 for a playset. But there is no card that's better in Elves right now than Collected Company.

Nissa Revane is bad because she's slow, basically. The strength of Elves is that they can spit out a bunch of creatures in 3-4 turns, pump them all up, and boom - the game is over. She doesn't jive with that - Nissa's Chosen is a decently sized body, but not much else. If you need life, get it from Scavenging Ooze or even Feed the Clan. Not worth the spots IMO.

Why no Collected Company? Seems like it would do pretty well in here. Also, the new Sylvan Messenger would do well.

Edit: Didn't notice the budget part. So CoCo my not work out, but the other might.

SirFowler Although I do think that in some cases Sylvan Messenger would do well, I think that Genesis Wave is a little better, especially in the case of the Nettle Sentinel + Heritage Druid combo. The problem I have with Messenger for Modern is that it doesn't put the elves out on to the battlefield for free, just into my hand, while Genesis Wave lets me put any permanent with X or less out onto the battlefield. And with the amount of mana ramp in this deck, the Sylvan Messenger won't even be needed.

That's just my logic with it - I'm fairly new to the competitive scene and I am trying to learn, so if I am completely wrong with that, please let me know.

Hey, I'm not much of a competitive player either, I just like elves.

What are your thoughts about adding in a Dryad Arbor for a free creature? I like it, but I'm not sure if it would be necessary.

Hm. I would definitely consider Dryad Arbor if Green Sun's Zenith was Modern legal because I could get a turn one forest, GSZ, get Dryad Arbor out and have two land turn one. Other than that, I don't think it has much of a use for this deck. :|

I like elves. Like the only mono-green deck I'll ever make. Have you thought about Craterhoof Behemoth and Akroma's Memorial(the second is my little addition that makes Genesis Wave with the Behemoth that much more powerful)? Also, as SirFowler said, if you can get your hands on them, then you should seriously get some Collected Company. Probably soon, I don't see that card going anywhere but up in price.

I've considered Behemoth and CoCo most definitely, but they aren't budget D: My big card (which I'm trading for) is Heritage Druid. That's the most expensive card I can go, and it's needed more than CoCo

I see. Well, Craterhoof Behemoth would be a one-of, just so you know. And yeah, those Heritage Druid are ridiculously priced right now. And yes, get those before the CoCo.

Holy crap! The druid is $20?! Wow, I probably won't be making any real life modern decks any time soon.

It's a rough world in Elves :'(

The one thing I'm glad about is that I bought Ezuri, Renegade Leader When he was 2 bucks a piece - then he went up to 11, so I'm glad I made that investment early. Just sad I didn't take the chance to get Heritage Druid when it was 6 bucks each.

At least it's not as bank busting as Tron. That s%#! is ridiculous.

Edit: I remember I bought an Omniscience for 5 bucks. It's worth the investment....sometimes at least.

Dude this isn't budget, it's over 250 bucks.

It's pretty budget! For a tournament ready deck, it's very budget.

Yeah $250 is definitely on the cheap end for a modern deck. I think you've done well with your budget.

The only recommendations I have would cost money (Collected Company, fourth Heritage Druid) so I think you're deck is as good as it can be with your budget.

Awesome :) thank you for the insight. I definitely want to get a playset of CoCo, just not within budget :( I have other priority cards, and I can sub CoCo for other things.

Just win a few FNM events and you'll have your playset in no time ;) 1st place FNM normally pays about $60 at my store, that's almost enough for a playset right there!

I'm reluctant to order the rest of this deck! I want to, but I'm unsure of how it will compete. Do you think it stands a good chance in a somewhat competitive scene? Not like GP, but competitive enough.

It's good enough to play at FNM, I'd say. I wouldn't take this to any tournament with more than 4 rounds though. Long tournaments are where the inconsistencies start to show.