Drove of Elves

Creature — Elf

Hexproof

Drove of Elves's power and toughness are each equal to the number of green permanents you control.

Discussion (51)

Guerric on Lathril's Relentless Elves

2 months ago

As for things to cut, here is my list-

Cards to definitely cut- 1) Abomination of Llanowar he's just a big, dumb of elf with a target on his back for removal. There are better options. At least Drove of Elves has hexproof, but I wouldn't even play that. The only one I'd play is Jagged-Scar Archers, and that's because of its utility against flyers.

2) Elvish Rejuvenator He gets a land, but doesn't actually ramp you. And that is if you get a land- you might whiff. You have better options. If you really want this effect Sylvan Ranger costs one less mana and is guaranteed to not whiff.

3) Eyeblight Cullers 5cmc is just too much for something that only gives you three tokens on its death, and you have no mill synergy.

4) Golgari Findbroker This card was made for draft. It just costs too much for what it does. Its not just the four cmc, 2 {G} and 2 {B} is a high opportunity casting cost.

5) Harald, King of Skemfar He's basically a 3/2 with menace that replaces himself. The clause on Tyvar might seem good if you add him (which is good idea, btw- he'll be worth it even if he doesn't stick around too long), but even then you have to remember that he won't find Tyvar the majority of the time. Again, its nice he replaces himself and gives you some selection, but there are better options.

6) Jaspera Sentinel Dorks are great, but you have to tap two creatures for one mana, which is a bad rate in elves. There are better dorks suggested above.

7) Masked Admirers This is one of those cards that Wizards stuffs into every precon conceivable, even though its bad in most of them. We don't need it here.

8) Thornbow Archer He's only draining one life for each time he attacks. That isn't enough to justify his slot.

9) Voice of Many You get maybe three cards for four mana at most? He's not the worst and he does draw cards, but I've never liked him.

10) Voice of the Woods This might sound like a good use of your elves, but its better to pump your elves than to use them to summon elementals. Plus he costs five to cast.

11) Tergrid's Shadow We have a joke about this card in our playgroup, but in general it isn't what we want. Letting your opponents pick what they sacrifice means you'll rarely hit the thing you need to get rid of. You might as well just play Doom Blade or any other premium removal card in these colors. There are a lot!

12) Poison the Cup They just put this in the precon because foretell was a Kaldheim theme, but there are so many cheap (both in real world and mana cost) black removal cards that this one shouldn't make the cut.

13) Roots of Wisdom You're better off just playing Harmonize or getting one of the consistent draw pieces I suggested. This card won't do a lot for the slot in your deck.

14) Return Upon the Tide This just costs too much mana, and you have other better recursion pieces out there.

Cards to think about removing

1) Serpent's Soul-Jar This card could be good, but could also be a trap. Your graveyard is a resource, and exiling everything from it prevents mass recursion. Also, your opponents can target this with removal and you'll never get your stuff back. I'd probably just play Haunting Voyage, Patriarch's Bidding, and Living Death to get your goodies back for more fun!

2) Twinblade Assassins He does draw cards, and is probably at least as good as Phyrexian Arena while he lives. So you might keep him, but he costs 5cmc, so if you have enough card draw you might want to cut him.

3) Numa, Joraga Chieftain He can pump your stuff. But Kindred Summons, Genesis Wave, or the above mentioned Torment of Hailfire and Exsanguinate are much better ones!

4) Nullmage Shepherd This can allow us to remove problematic stuff. But tapping four elves is a bigger cost than we often want to pay. Something to think on.

5) Sylvan Messenger Again, this card does get us some draw, much like Lead the Stampede which I used to play does. I've just never found it good enough to include though. Nonetheless, you want at least ten pieces of draw, and this does count as that!

6) Eyeblight Massacre This will kill a lot of stuff, but will often leave what you most need to kill alive. Ezuri's Predation is a recently reprinted board wipe that is now more affordable and will wreck your opponents while leaving your stuff intact. In Garruk's Wake and Plague Wind cost a 25 cents each and will hose everyone but you, and because you are playing elves you can afford their cmc!

7) Ruthless Winnower Having played against this card I can attest that it is annoying, but your opponents will often kill it before it can have too much impact. If it were a lower cmc it would be a guaranteed in, at least it will take the heat off of more important cards. It is high at 5cmc though. Keeping it might be the right choice, but I'd at least consider it.

marn3us on Lonis, Elfball Crypto Investor

10 months ago

Thank you very much again, those are great suggestions that I'll definitely consider.

I agree that Drove of Elves is a bit of a dud and i'll cut it for the sabertooth, but I would not underestimate Expel from Orazca 's potential for a surprise blow-out by putting a pesky permanent on top of an opponent's library and immediately stealing it with Lonis. It's very satisfying when you steal a Rhystic Study or a combo piece (e.g., Phyrexian Altar ) with it.

Normally I don't run tutors in my decks (or maximum one) because I enjoy the variance of EDH games and I don't want to push the power level excessively (my plagroup usually plays with 6-7 decks), but Neoform sounds like an amazing suggestion that would find me some good elves without being too powerful, thanks!

multimedia on Lonis, Elfball Crypto Investor

10 months ago

Hey, you're welcome.

You could cut Drove of Elves for Sabertooth and cut Expel from Orazca for Staff. Some other upgrades to consider are tutors to get the more impactful Elves quicker.

• Neoform
• Eldritch Evolution
• Natural Order
• Chord of Calling
• Summoner's Pact
• Shared Summons
• Solve the Equation : to get Rift or Triumph.
• Whir of Invention : to get Staff.

Some tutors could replace some of the less impactful draw spells and ramp such as Bounty of Skemfar , Chart a Course , Harmonize , Sakura-Tribe Elder , Llanowar Visionary .

Podkomorka on Pauper EDH Deck Compendium

1 year ago

Decks added:

• Tallowisp
• Evolution Sage
• Drove of Elves
• Slinn Voda, the Rising Deep
• Enduring Scalelord
• Paragon of the Amesha
• Tuya Bearclaw

Guerric on [Primer] Elfpocalypse Now! An Ezuri Elves Guide

1 year ago

Update May 11, 2021

Due to some fabulous new elves that have been released over the past few sets as well as the printing of Commander Collection: Green, I've aquired a few more cards and have updated my list.

Forest OUT Fyndhorn Elves IN

I'm not sure why Fyndhorn wasn't initially in here, but its as a good as a land in this deck.

Forest OUT Worldly Tutor IN

While we already have most of the best tutoring green has to offer here, we added the last missing piece. One often overlooked aspect of Elves is that they have incredible toolbox properties, so being able to grab what we need cheaply is great. By cutting two forests we are down to 30 % land, which is what we would run in modern and is a great benchmark for lands. We've got lots of ways to grab our lands in the deck, so we shouldn't miss them too much.

Praetor's Counsel OUT Ezuri's Predation IN

One thing that is really hard to come by in mono-green is board wipes, so I'm really pleased that they reprinted this recently. In theory Praetor's Counsel is good because board wipes are the bane of our existence and this gives us a way to recover, but in reality if we get wiped we'll never be able to pay the mana cost. Its better to just play conservative and use Ezuri's 2nd ability to protect out pieces, and cards like Eladamri to protect him.

Drove of Elves OUT Canopy Tactician IN

Yet another Elf Lord that pumps our whole team and gives us more ramp to boot? Give me more. As for Drove, we have other ways to make one thing big, and while this card has never been bad its never been exciting either. Jagged-Scar Archers gives us crucial anti-flying tech when we need it for one less mana, and while it lacks hexproof, we'll be happy of our opponents waste removal on archers and not one of our more important cards. Timberwatch Elf and Immaculate Magistrate give us flexibility in combat that is far better than the obvious threat drove represents.

Nylea's Presence OUT Elvish Warmaster IN

While giving non-green decks a forest to enable a forest-walk kill is cute, this is somewhat situational, and we have lots of other ways to get through with the damage we need. Warmaster just such incredible value for the same mana that this change seems to be a no-brainer.

Sylvan Offering OUT Elven Ambush IN

While offering is a good card, giving our opponents blockers just doesn't suit us in this deck. Ambush helps only us at instant speed with the creature type we want. Its an improvement on Elvish Promenade that absolutely deserves a spot.

Liam77 on Elves Overrun

1 year ago

Swapping: Ambush Commander for Priest of Titania . Drove of Elves for Staff of Domination . Rishkar, Peema Renegade for Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury .

Optimator on Bastards on Parade

2 years ago

Some potential cards. Most of these might be side-grades or out of budget but are worth noting in the Maybeboard. I have a few of these:

Ramp:

Creatures are obviously optimal, what with elf anthems and counters and stuff. I would try to squeeze in the first three if you can. The tempo of getting your commander down on turn 2 is amazing.

Fyndhorn Elves , Priest of Titania , Boreal Druid , Farhaven Elf , Leyline of Abundance , Castle Garenbrig , Llanowar Tribe , Overgrowth , Reap and Sow , Kodama's Reach , Explosive Vegetation , Nature's Lore , Ranger's Path , Skyshroud Claim , Grow from the Ashes , Emerald Medallion , Growing Rites of Itlimoc  ^Flip, Harrow , Circuitous Route

Utility:

Rishkar's Expertise , Soul's Majesty , Mirror Shield , Zendikar Resurgent , Primal Rage , Heroic Intervention , Return to Nature , Overwhelming Stampede , Overrun , Beastmaster Ascension , Loxodon Warhammer , Colossal Majesty , Rancor , Vivien, Champion of the Wilds , Blossoming Defense , Withstand Death , Titanic Brawl , Ancient Animus , Momentous Fall , Nature's Claim , Once and Future , Regrowth , Wildest Dreams , Road of Return , Creeping Corrosion , Season of Growth , Blanchwood Armor , Sandwurm Convergence , Garruk, Primal Hunter , Vivien Reid , Vivien of the Arkbow , Ghost Quarter ,

Aspect of Mongoose is nice but prevents untapping shenanigans with your commander.

Counters:

Some obvious out-of-budget stuff here and some lower-powered stuff too but I'll suggest them for posterity.

Llanowar Reborn , Karn's Bastion , Forge of Heroes , The Great Henge , Incubation Druid , Loyal Guardian , Tuskguard Captain , Pollenbright Druid , Solidarity of Heroes , Biogenic Upgrade , Durable Handicraft , Planewide Celebration , Courage in Crisis , Verdant Confluence , Bow of Nylea , Contagion Clasp , Contagion Engine , Hydra's Growth , Path of Discovery , Retreat to Kazandu , Forced Adaptation , Evolutionary Escalation , New Horizons , Nissa, Voice of Zendikar , Jiang Yanggu, Wildcrafter , Vivien, Arkbow Ranger , Kalonian Hydra , Arbor Armament , Stony Strength , Savage Summoning , Hunger of the Howlpack , Soul's Might , The Crowd Goes Wild , Armory of Iroas , Weapon Rack , Predatory Hunger , Primeval Bounty

I have a Drove of Elves I'm not using

Kaja3 on Indestructible, Flying, Infinite Squirrels

2 years ago

Just to be evil, you could put in a few Drove of Elves so you have some cheap infinity/infinity's once you get the squirrel setup. In a similar vein, if it's worth making the deck Green/White, a Festival of Trokin will give you infinite life for one white mana with the infinite squirrels, and Shanna, Sisay's Legacy provides a cheaper albeit white alternative to Drove of Elves. While the potential infinity/infinity creatures are just potential bastard moves, Festival of Trokin is actually very useful if you just got the squirrel setup the turn before your opponent would destroy you with flying creatures, and you cannot make them flying before you would die. Nonetheless, all of these will make powerful combos with infinite squirrels, especially considering they are stupidly cheap for their broken potential and you keep the squirrels.

I should also mention that there are some alternatives that cost a little more, but cause board wipes in addition to the mentioned buffs in exchange for the deaths of your squirrels. Phyrexian Rebirth will give you a white infinity/infinity artifact creature, and Fumigate gives you infinite life, but both require your squirrels to not have Indestructible. Not sure if those would work well with this deck in particular, considering it aims to make the squirrels indestructible, but they might help.