Thanks a ton for the props, Supermanddk! I +1'd and checked out your deck. It's a bit outside my usual build, so I couldn't offer any suggestions.

And I'm very glad that you feel that way, CurdBrosBrewingCo! It definitely means a lot coming from a seasoned modern player like yourself. I agree - I feel like the sideboard's come together nicely. I feel like I may need to prepare for a little more grave-hate, but other than that I have it functioning at a speed/consistency where I feel comfortable. :)

I wish I could run it in some online tourneys. I'm a bit strapped for cash, so I don't really have the money to sink in to MTGO. I wish I did. I feel like this deck could really preform with some love & attention!

could add Biorhythm for more infinite life

That's true, strongrad. Although, take into consideration you can actually generate infinite life off any of the Staff of Domination combos. That card seems like it would be great in aiding an infinite draw/mana engine for sure, just maybe not this one. :)

infinite creature/mana engine* my bad.

ok

I like that you can go infinite on your opponent's end step, but I honestly wish you had a way to give these guys haste. It seems odd to be able to make infinite creatures and mana turn 3 and only be able to win with the one craterhoof behemoth (which could be the thing they counter, or spot remove)

I see what you mean, gaymer. Keep in mind that unless the Craterhoof is countered, the effect still resolves and all my other creatures get +X +X (X = infinite).

If it does die to spot removal, I should still have one or two X/X creatures to swing with as my combos do rely on having a non-summoning sick creature in most instances.

I was thinking about going for a Helix Pinnacle as a secondary win-con. The haste seems like it'd be a bit of a pain to work in, honestly.

That's true. You really only need one creature to get through at that point. I am a lover of Intruder alarm though.

Rhys the Redeemed and Imperious Perfect are great elves that generate cheap tokens. Imperious is less of a mana hog and can help you win in the event you don't get to combo off. They're also synergistic with Elvish Archdruid. Presence of Gond does mean any creature and Alarm will make you go infinite (much like a splinter twin deck) because it requires no additional mana investment. Why are there only two elvish archdruids in there but 3 Karametra's Acolyte who tap for decent mana but are four drop non elves? I know it's not an "Elf" deck right now, but a few small tweaks it could serve as both an elf deck and a combo deck.

The reason I opt for Karamtera over the Archdruid is because I find Karametra has early game consistency. Take this for example:

T1: Forest, arbor elf

t2: forest, utopia sprawl. Drop in your Karametra's Acolyte

t3: elvish archdruid (or two manadorks) + staff of domination. ka boom!

That's only two or three elves, but 5 devotion. See where I'm going with that?

I actually use Imperious Perfect in an EDH version of this build. Rhys the Redeemed can be cool, but he requires an infinite mana engine to accompany him (minimum 3 per "cycle"). That's a bit difficult to generate at times Same goes for Imperious Perfect , but the 1 mana isn't too bad to have to sink. The only reason I'm running Kazandu Tuskcaller over these is because of Pyroclasm . It's not being used as much this season it seems though, so it's definitely worth some consideration.

I wonder if there's a great mana engine you can run into Genesis waves and Genesis Hydra (frm M15)

I like Staff of Domination for your mana sink. I have a black deck with a focus on devotion and fat creatures and use Phyrexian Arena and Dark Confidant for the card draw. But Staff of Domination does that fairly nicely as well.

Nykthos is such a fun card to build around, as is devotion.

Have you considered one Dryad Arbor? Misty Rainforest into a dryad arbor can untap your guys if you're having trouble, need to block, or just want to keep going but are just short of mana to go infinite.

I'm going to be brewing a lot with arbor elf and Prismatic Omen and Nykthos (or other untap land things)

I may try to make a budget version of this lol. I love combo decks...on a budget.

Infinite Possibility (On A Budget!) - There's a list that's under 200$, sideboard not included. The fetchlands are nice for thinning and stability, but they're the core cost of the deck. That and the sideboard fixings.

And gaymer, I really hope they give green some shiny new tools to work with too. Genesis Hydra has caught my interest as well. I might actually try the Dryad Arbor just to see how it works, it could definitely prove to be useful in some situations.

I actually didn't entirely build around Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx or devotion in general. I started with an elf core 'cause I knew of the Intruder Alarm combos, and ended up some how combining my Staff of Infinite Devotion build into that. I always wanted to work with some version of combo elves, I just couldn't find one that fit my playstyle. It's liek those two decks were just meant to become one haha.

It reminds me of a lot of older decks from back when I started. I guess that's why it caught my eye. Cards like Viridian Joiner/Staff of Domination and back in the day Kiki Jiki/Intruder Alarm.

But my blue devotion deck sigh for some reason went to Aura of Dominion and when I went to Intruder Alarm I went with Tangleroot and beatdown elves.

I guess you could use Intruder alarm with Kiki Jiki and Krenko Mob boss too. but then I guess it's better to just splinter twin lol.

How does this fare against splinter twin anyway?

OH! I got it. I'll make a deck with Intruder Alarm and Bloodline Keeper  ^Flip and Captivating Vampire

Infinite combos are my favourite way to play. The first time someone beat me with one I was in utter shock. I fell in love with the playstyle from there haha. It probably would've been from around that time too.

There's so many damn cards that work well with intruder alarm. I'd be interested to see a BWU Thraben Doomsayer is one that I've wanted to work with; that plus Presence of Gond and Midnight Guard . It'd make for a pretty interesting bant deck, and there's lots of other ways you could combo it like Rhys the Redeemed , Imperious Perfect .

This deck does hold up fairly well against Splinter Twin . I usually end up taking out a presence of gond or two, focus on Kazandu Tuskcaller and Karametra's Acolyte . Acolyte dodges Lightning Bolt , kazandu's tokens dodge Pyroclasm . You need to sideboard in the Spellskite and a few counter spells. If they're going tarmo-twin, throw in the Surgical Extraction for good measure.

I'd say this deck goes 60/40 against splinter twin, more if it's an incomplete/tweaked list. Hard control, affinity, and pod are the biggest threats. I built this sideboard with a lot of hate for Splinter Twin , so I might change that up a bit eventually.

Oh, to elaborate on the sideboard vs splinter twin, you throw in Spellskite and a few Remand for good measure. Shuts them down hard. They can't play Splinter Twin while Spellskite is out or else it'll steal it, and Spellskite is immune to Lightning Bolt . This generally makes them burn their counter spells on Spellskite , leaving me to bust off my combo as fast as I can.

The deck can sort of hybridize itself if you sideboard it correctly.

Random question for anyone who's reading: How do you guys feel about adding 4x Verdant Catacombs to the list? I wouldn't be able to afford them for a while, but it could definitely add some more consistency via manafixing and deck thinning.. I'm conflicted.

Verdant Catacombs is black-green, not blue-green. i think your talking about Misty Rainforest .

If so, i dont think its worth the money to run a playset, but a couple would probably be worth it. Your mana base is pretty good, so i would'nt worry about it too much.

I guess my question was whether or not there are any drawbacks. Sorry for the confusion.

If money weren't the problem, I'd have all the fetchlands haha.

Hey Dave! The big benefits of fetch-lands is that they (a) help you fix mana extremely easily with shock-lands and (b) they thin your deck of lands (as each effectively pulls two lands out of the deck) to ensure that your later draws are a lower percentage of "top deck" lands.

Having said this, fixing is not a huge problem for you; and having 8 fetch lands would cost you an extra few damage every game (on average). I don't think in this case the thinning would be enough to justify the loss of life. I would keep the Misty Rainforest ; but unless you plan on splashing black into the deck or sideboard; I don't think Verdant Catacombs 's would end up being worth it.

I could always be wrong! I'm sure there are others out there who know Modern well that may have an opinion as well that either supports my thoughts or may even suggest you add them...just my two cents as a Modern guy :)

Sorry, CurdBrosBrewingCo! I missed your reply some how. :S

I was thinking pretty much the same things. They can fetch for a plain Forest as well though, so I could negate some of the lifeloss from fetching shocks.

I think I'll leave it out, but it's still sitting in the back of my mind.

I know its not an elf or an elephant, and not the right colors, but Godsire