Selvala, Explorer Returned

Legendary Creature — Elf Scout

Parley — : Each player reveals the top card of his or her library. For each nonland card revealed this way, add to your mana pool and you gain 1 life. Then each player draws a card.

Discussion (51)

enpc on What are your favorite underused, ...

2 weeks ago

I really like Selvala, Explorer Returned in green/white/X decks (not just as the commander). She's just a good all-rounder. Good blocking potetial, card draw (albeit for everyone) and mana ramp, what's not to love.

Reznorboy on Zada zing, Zada zoom

2 weeks ago

I've run into the exact same problem as you described, admittedly (lack of creatures, or having too many, and then not having enough mana replenishers during the combo turn). However, I did some research online, and some people (including myself) have come up with quite intriguing solutions.

I think the most competitively viable solution would be this - (and yes, I also now agree that more colors may be both necessary and useful) - tutor for Selvala, Explorer Returned with the buffet of black tutors available, try to play targeting cantrips that give creatures haste (or any other good way of giving her haste works too), then focus on playing the targeting cantrips that untap stuff.

This solves the issue of not having enough mana, and works well because your opponents most likely will be unable to do much with all the cards you're putting in their hand, as you'll most likely win that turn. If you really wanted to be creative, you could play elements of Lantern Control in that deck to optimize your Selvala taps and plan on milling them out, which is great synergy.

Another possibility (this one was not my idea), (also yes, it sounds ridiculous, please bear with me) is - Arcane Tribal. Basically, Arcane is normally terrible. However, with the way the rules are currently built, there just so happens to be some insane interactions with Zada. Say you have, Tazri+Zada and a couple other creatures, and you play Ideas Unbound. Your opponents think "OK? So what?" Now imagine that you Splice on Hundred-Talon Strike. For 2 mana, you just drew 12 cards. If you tap Tazri for the Splice (whatever), target Zada, you will give all creatures the first strike - as well as draw 3 per creature. This can also be applied with other cards, like Desperate Ritual - (of course, there are other splice cards, some you want to target, some not, some you want to play first, some not).

The main issue with this idea is that it requires more mana at the beginning of the combo - and more importantly - lowers consistency. However, what's more epic than playing ARCANE TRIBAL in cEDH? It would also require a lot more skill to use, however, would totally catch people off guard.

One last idea I had (this one is especially half-baked) is Additional Combat Tribal. There happens to be one card, Seize the Day, which both targets a single creature, and gives additional combats (and even has flashback!). One could tutor for it with black, play a lot of creatures with keywords such as vigilance, flying, haste, etc. and simply beat face. Hard. You could even play untapping targeting cantrips and cards that give mana for combats, such as Neheb, the Eternal and Sakiko, Mother of Summer.

Thanks for reading. If either of these sound like good ideas, feel free to try them. Luckily, with 5 colors, there are many, many possibilities, so eventually only one needs to work well to matter.

Reznorboy on Donate To-Don'tRoastMe Defense Fund

3 weeks ago

I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm ignoring you. I'm trying to take your suggestions into consideration and use them. I want to fit a theme and I don't have all of the exact cards to work with. I got some new cards and made changes accordingly (~12 cards). I agree that Tolsimir is far from perfect, in this deck, but I don't have Selvala, Explorer Returned right now and I'm trying to first see if she's necessary. I actually did pretty decent today when I played against people. With the updates, I had consistent mana and consistent draw power, and almost always something to do with it. I even almost was able to defeat Sigarda. The issue I ran into was that I did not mill people quickly enough to win. I consistently had ~10 artifacts on the field by turn 5, all of which were helping me in various ways. I was able to defend myself and do things. The issue was that I (misplayed a lot, but besides that) did not finish the job in quite enough time. I know you said that I only have 5 mill cards, but some of the cards, such as Voltaic Servant, are actually dual purpose, (ramp and mill), and I (especially now) play a lot of draw power. I think if I were to play a few more good mill cards, I would be in good shape. I know that Tolsimir was intended to be wolf tribal, but in my philosophy, you will never achieve greatness if you only act in the intended way. Your opponents will not lose to themselves, you have to take a step outside, beyond what was previously thought possible, to be great. Anyway, I think the deck (despite the competitive meter rating) is starting to shape up. I think what I need is the protection cards in my aforementioned post, more ways to blink and/or sac then reanimate at instant speed, and a little bit more mill. The deck is faring well in certain departments, but is also incomplete.

Reznorboy on Donate To-Don'tRoastMe Defense Fund

3 weeks ago

Thank you. The only issue is that the way I designed the deck, I wanted it to be a mill deck. I know that sounds really weird considering that I'm not playing black or blue, but my concept was that rather than using Tolsimir primarily as an aggro beatdown (I'm ok with having that as a backup wincon, but I don't really want that as the main one) I could use Tolsimir for 2 things (other than his colors) : 1. Removal (especially to prevent brokenness/infinite combos) 2. Making the game take long enough that my opponents could not kill me before I milled them.

Now, I know it all sounds really ridiculous, but I wanted to try it.

I eventually want to make more competitive decks, (honestly I wanted to make Selvala, Explorer Returned the commander, but could not find any) (though Tolsimir has actually begun to grow on me), so who knows where that will take me.

My point is, say someone is playing competitively and they take out Ghave, Guru of Spores and look like they're ready to go infinite. If I have Tolsimir and say, flash in a wolf (most wolves have flash) (at least in green) and then also blink Tolsimir with an Ephemerate, they no longer have Ghave, and one of the essential pieces to do that, I always have access to.

Now, after that, I have gained life and most likely still have a creature or two, and more importantly, resources. I can continue nipping wincons in the bud and keeping my life total safe until I mill them. (I think).

The important mill cards are Grindclock and Otherworld Atlas. In a perfect world, I would use my white cards to protect them, as well as my artifacts that let me untap them, such as Manifold Key, in order to start milling hard. Also, if a wincon that requires tutoring is now in grave, even better.

The main issue, in my opinion, with the deck right now is - lack of good draw power - and lack of good protection cards - such as Angel's Grace and Teferi's Protection.

rdean14 on Card creation challenge

3 weeks ago

Based off of Azusa, Lost but Seeking and Selvala, Explorer Returned

Azusa, Returned

Legendary Creature - Human Monk

: Each player may reveal the top card of their library. For each land revealed this way, put it into its owner's hand.

1/3

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I'd like to see other updated legends

crazedspeed on Kenrith best of all worlds

2 months ago

Out:

1. Selvala, Explorer Returned
2. Reveillark

In: 1. Faeburrow Elder 2. Sylvan Library Selvala, Heart of the Wilds

griffstick on The EDH Name Game

2 months ago

Selvala, Explorer Returned

griffstick on Suggestions for a New Commander

2 months ago

Have you tried building a token deck yet. They are lots of fun. I run Selvala, Explorer Returned as my token deck commander in this token deck