Need help for a green player
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Dec. 20, 2022, 9:53 a.m. by DarthSygg
I'm trying to put together a deck for a new player and she love elves in general so I thought they would be a good entry point for her.
She doesn't have a big budget so if there's a way to shave some $$ off down to a 200-300$ build and keep it in a 6-7 power level range I would be super grateful.
Cool, well it looks like an awesome build already, and here are maybe a few suggestions from my time as an elf player. Love the commander too, Freya may not be the most combo-power commander, but she's an amazing toolbox and sometimes that's so much better : )
allosaurus shepard isn't really necessary and can cut back the overall price a lot. I'd say the same with growing rights of itlimoc and in general all of the land ramp might be unnecessary just due to how much creature ramp you will get. Things like Fauna Shaman will be better than land based ramp because they will help you hit your Priest of Titania or other elf-ramp.
To replace some of the ramp like Kodama's Reach I'd put in more big creatures to pay off your ramp. carterhoof behemoth may be the staple, but there are great low cost alternatives.
Other than that there are a few ways you can go with the deck. Elfs can do many infinite combos if that's interesting in the playgroup, or you could also splash enchantments for Setessan Champion and other enchantress card draw. Or you could add toolbox creatures to make an aggro midrange deck that attacks with elves and equipments.
But yep, looks like a great deck already. I just think that to make it budget you might just want to look at what is really necessary. Worldly Tutor and Boseju and The Great Henge and nyxthos and Veil of Summer, I don't think they make the deck run as much as they make it run better, where something like Coat of Arms is absolutely one to include.
December 20, 2022 12:51 p.m.
Cuts:
I did a lot of research on precon decks while building my Urza/Mishra partner deck. This is definitely above that, which is fine, but one of the more interesting things I saw in said research was that it isn't always best to include tutors because new players don't even know the cards in the deck, much less what to search for. Land ones are fine, obviously, because they tell you what to find. Cards like Chord of Calling is great as an upgrade, but it may cause an unintentional feeling of being overwhelmed with options. Cutting it would also save $6-7.
Bala Ged Recovery Flip is another card that I'd cut just because it may be slightly confusing for newer players. It's also $4? When did that happen?!
Triumph of the Hordes is another cut I'd make with the same reasoning as above. Trying to explain the difference between combat damage and commander damage is probably enough for now. Again, great upgradefor later. This would cut about $12.
Cutting these three would shave off another $20-25.
Adds:
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Two more lands
Growth Spiral is close enough to Bala Ged Recovery Flip but without the added confusion of it also possibly being a land.
Speaking of lands, I think adding in two more would help smooth out any potential mana-screws, which are a horrible feeling as a seasoned player... and even worse than that as a newer player. Whether they be two more forests or something like Khalni Garden, Fertile Thicket or Tranquil Thicket, I think two more lands would help smooth things out.
I would also mention that while Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury is the deck's commander, Ezuri, Renegade Leader, Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen and Marwyn, the Nurturer could also be the deck's commander. She's not necessarily locked in to just Freyalise.
The last thing I'll mention is that none of us here know the person you're making the deck for. If you see any of this advice and think "eh, I think she'd get it" or "She'll understand this pretty easily", then go for it! Build whatever you think they'd like the best.
December 20, 2022 5:33 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #5
If she’s a new player I would second what legendofa said; start with the lands. I’m glad to have “grown up” in MtG when nonbasics were rare... it made them more special and less default. I would caution you avoid “helping” her skip right past all the weird wonder of magic to the high-powered fine-tuned “right way” to play. Is it possible for me to use “too many” quotation marks? “Maybe.”
December 20, 2022 5:46 p.m.
KBK7101 Were you aiming for Regrowth instead of Growth Spiral?
December 20, 2022 6:49 p.m.
Nature's Spiral was the card I was going for. Whoops!
legendofa says... #2
My first thought is to cut the expensive lands. While Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, Boseiju, Who Endures, and Cavern of Souls are all very good cards well worth their price tag, they can be reasonably replaced with less expensive options, down to basic Forests. That will cut +/-$100 there.
For another big cut, The Great Henge can be replaced with Soul of the Harvest if you're using it for card draw (I was going to suggest Guardian Project, but you already have that), Llanowar Tribe for ramp (already have Leyline of Abundance), or Door of Destinies for pump. This will cut another $40-60.
December 20, 2022 12:41 p.m.