The New Face of Elves?

Modern forum

Posted on July 2, 2015, 3:06 p.m. by InnerFlame

With Magic Origins coming out, there appears to be a few new elves that could find a place in modern elves.

I may not be too familiar with elves, and I may be completely wrong here, but I think the colors for elves are about to change with the addition of two or three cards. Where do I get off on making this assumption? The synergy between Sylvan Messenger and Shaman of the Pack seems too fun to pass up on. This may just be the case of some unworthy and awkward man-crush that I have on these cards clouding my judgement, but the possibilities seem endless. This of course makes the deck B/G. I find this as a positive since it allows the possibilities of Thoughtseize, Abrupt Decay, and Gilt-Leaf Palace. I know some people aready push for the B/G build, but this thought pushes it further.

Think this, Sylvan Messenger into something like Elvish Visionary, Elvish Archdruid, and Shaman of the Pack...assume you get a land in there somewhere for the fourth card. That's already 4 damage and four creatures for 4 mana...assuming you don't have any other eves out to inflate the damage which you likely do since you're playing elves. Where do these cards fit? I think Sylvan Messenger would be a great replacement for Chord of Calling.

Let me get one thing straight, elves is already a bit of a toolbox deck...but with more situation cards surfacing, I see the deck becoming even more of a toolbox and with a lot of draw. This of course will require more Fauna Shaman and cards like possibly Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen. By letting in more Fauna Shaman, the sideboard cards could become even better with more consistency. There is going to be a lot of card draw in the deck, there already is a good bit, so possibly add in something that will allow the draws to be a bit more juicy...say Animist's Awakening? That last bit may be a little too much for the deck, but it's a possibility since a lot of mana will be generated within the deck and you want you're draws from Elvish Visionary and Sylvan Messenger.

What do you guys think? Am I crazy or is this actually viable and a decent thought?

Slycne says... #2

Just to be clear since your post insinuates otherwise, Sylvan Messenger puts them into your hand not into play. It's still pretty good, but that card would be absurd if it was Elf-mini-Genesis Wave.

July 2, 2015 3:12 p.m.

RoarMaster says... #3

Well, your not really getting 4 dmg and 4 creatures for four mana with a messenger since messenger just puts them into your hand not play. But yeah, some nifty elves are coming out alright.

July 2, 2015 3:12 p.m.

kmcree says... #4

I think you're confused. Sylvan Messenger puts the elf cards into your hand, not into play. That's a huge difference from something like Chord or even CoCo.

July 2, 2015 3:12 p.m.

kmcree says... #5

Annnnnd Ninja'd.

July 2, 2015 3:13 p.m.

RoarMaster says... #6

Triple ninjad even ;)

July 2, 2015 3:15 p.m.

pumpkinwavy says... #7

I believe elves will remain mainly the same, except some lists will do the black splash for Shaman of the Pack and Abrupt Decay. Fauna Shaman, Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen and especially Animist's Awakening will not be making the cut, but the new elves are certainly... interesting. We'll see soon enough how and if they change elves.

July 2, 2015 3:16 p.m.

InnerFlame says... #8

OHHHHH! yup, I was confused there...that brings its power down a bit lol. Still viable?

July 2, 2015 3:17 p.m.

JWiley129 says... #9

pumpkinwavy - Fauna Shaman is already in a few Elf lists as extra ways to find Ezuri, Renegade Leader when you're ready to kill them. But it's usually as a 1 or 2 of.

July 2, 2015 3:24 p.m.

Meanwhile Im just durdling over here with my B/G elf list that Ive been rocking for awhile now, pre-CC wondering "what the hell is happening?"

July 2, 2015 3:29 p.m.

seuvius says... #11

Isn't Sylvan Messenger a reprint?

July 2, 2015 5:19 p.m.

KillDatBUG says... #12

....Until you realize that G/W Elves is straight-up better anyway.

July 2, 2015 5:21 p.m.

awphutt says... #13

What does white bring to the table that's straight-up better than black?

July 2, 2015 6:07 p.m.

I've never seen a competitive elf list that runs thalia or path.

hushwing gryff is another good one though.

July 3, 2015 12:40 a.m.

awphutt says... #16

They're all fine, but so is Thoughtseize, Abrupt Decay and Shaman of the Pack. I'm not saying black is better or worse, because I haven't tested with it. I'm just saying that white's not straight better than black.

July 3, 2015 4:01 a.m.

I'd definitely argue that black is the better splash. There's a reason why legacy elves plays black, and NOT white.

July 3, 2015 2:52 p.m.

As someone whose played the archetype alot, Abrupt Decay is your friend.

July 4, 2015 1:12 a.m.

Never not run Abrupt

July 4, 2015 1:13 a.m.

Darkmagi1131 says... #20

I think that Infinite Obliteration slants things more in favor of black for the splash

July 7, 2015 2:31 p.m.

awphutt says... #21

Infinite Obliteration will see 0 Modern play. I'd be surprised if it saw any standard play.

July 7, 2015 3:54 p.m.

MagnusMTG says... #22

I think the only new elf that might show up in Modern with a black splash is Shaman of the Pack.

July 8, 2015 3:11 a.m.

shaman of the pack and i feel like eyeblight massacre might be a good sideboard inclusion

July 8, 2015 9:40 a.m.

MagnusMTG says... #24

What I'm wondering is, with or without splashing black, should I even bother playing Modern Elves without Collected Company?

July 9, 2015 2:49 p.m.

awphutt says... #25

Depends on how competitive you want to be. If you want a competitive deck, I'd suggest not building Elves. If you don't mind so much, go for it.

July 9, 2015 3:22 p.m.

MagnusMTG says... #26

I don't have the $$ to invest in anything else, and my card collection doesn't suggest anything else except some janky Jund or Grixis build.

Elves w/o Company is all I got (It did get me 2nd place at a Modern 7-man tournament on Tuesday . .)

July 9, 2015 3:49 p.m.

awphutt says... #27

Why particularly do you not want to run Collected Company? Is it a price thing or what?

July 9, 2015 4:12 p.m.

MagnusMTG says... #28

I absolutely do want Collected Company. It is 100% a money issue.

I'm trying to do my best with what I have.

July 9, 2015 6:34 p.m.

This discussion has been closed