Elfhame Sanctuary

I started playing Magic: the Gathering a couple of years after it was introduced. From then on, it has always been a part of me. Throughout the years, the game has progressed and has given rise to defining decks associated for each player. One that has become a signature deck for me, at least locally, are elves. The plethora of cool elf creatures, spells, and legends attracted me to the Elven tribe. I designed a deck as soon as the Visions expansion was released. I have been playing elf decks since while regularly tweaking and evolving them into what they are today.

I understand sharing my deck lists and deconstructing them for all the world to see exposes my game strategy and my deck "secrets." It also open the decks up to a lot of negative criticism and become vulnerable to copycats. Yet, it is the internet age and information is relatively free. The game strategy, synergy, and theory are open secrets anyway. I might as well be either the first person to post it or be the go-to person for such decks. Besides, you may know my decks but you'd still have to beat them to earn bragging rights *hehehe* I update these decks regularly depending on the new expansions coming out or when I find something to make it more fun to play with.

You'll Like These Decks If...
You love pointy eared treehuggers.
You like creature synergies.
You like a low mana screw percentage.
You go for speed and consistency.
You're also into versatility and resiliency.

You Won't Like These Decks If...
You're not into a tribal theme.
You don't like a cluttered battlefield.
You're a heavy control player.

Primer
The decks always have stayed within the Legacy Format and I always have played them casually. Since the EDH/Commander variant had been introduced, they have gotten a new home. Every color has their own strengths. Green and the Elves specialize in mana production. These decks take the first strength of the elven tribe and uses it as a speed advantage in the early turns. The various mana, ramp, and draw creatures are favorites during these parts. From there, it moves to an aggro-control strategy. It can pressure opponent/s with aggro through an elven swarm, some of which are tokens. At the same time, it uses another strength of the tribe which can try to control and/or stall the game with solution tactics in order to fend off opponent/s (especially in combo rich environments). Eventually, it will find openings during the course of the game where it can finish opponent/s off with its own combo.

Card Highlights
Aside from the obvious, the basis for some of the card selection were mostly in consideration of it's characteristic multiplayer and fun factor. There are a lot of elves already printed, but some are lackluster while others are more suited for certain deck types. Still, I've managed to cram in as much efficient, versatile, and cool elves as I can. Cards that are in both the EDH Multiplayer and French Meta banned lists are automatically excluded from my deck. I do this so that I can fairly play against whatever deck in whatever format my friends bring to the table or to wherever I may go. There are a ton of other cool cards to add; but, I may neither find one, spare the card slot, nor afford it. *grins* Still, others are there for sentimental reasons.

Mana Blooming
[ Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary / Argothian Elder / Elvish Archdruid / Gaea's Cradle / Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx / Priest of Titania / Wirewood Channeler ]
I placed these cards in a single category being the important components that make elf decks fast and efficient. Frankly, it is quite easy to figure out why they are a part of any green or elven deck.

Card Drawing Cluster
[ Elvish Visionary / Farhaven Elf / Fauna Shaman / Masked Admirer / Regal Force / Skyshroud Poacher / Sylvan Ranger / Wood Elves ]
[ Crop Rotation / Cultivate / Demonic Tutor / Genesis Wave / Green Sun's Zenith / Harmonize / Increasing Ambition / Night's Whisper / Praetor's Counsel / Regrowth ]
As above and with the basic game strategy, gaining an overwhelming card advantage over your opponent/s through resources such as cards in hand, board position, and mana production will win you the game. Add tutors. Throw in combo and/or synergistic cards. Lather, rinse, and repeat. 'nuff said.

S.W.A.T. Cluster
[ Nath of the Gilt-Leaf / Deathrite Shaman / Elf Replica / Viridian Shaman ]
[ Beast Within / Bojuka Bog / Crushing Vines / Damnation / Eyeblight's Ending / Putrefy / Tormod's Crypt / Wasteland / Withering Boon ]
These are primarily here as preventive measures against opponent/s. They can rob a combo win or get rid of a pesky card. They are some of the best disruption and control cards to add, especially with my kind of gameplay. Combine them with the spells right below, and we have a very decent toolbox.

[ Abrupt Decay / Krosan Grip / Sudden Death ]
These are solution cards that are tough to counter or get away from. Let's face it, combo is the aggro of Commander. Having the most efficient solution cards to get rid of an annoying permanent or to stop another player from getting a combo run is simply priceless.

[ Terastodon ]
Terastodon is not an elf. Terastodon is fun. Terastodon kills. Period.

[ Triangle of War ]
Another fun card. It works best with Glissa, the Traitor.

Combo Cluster
[ Cloudstone Curio / Staff of Domination / Umbral Mantle ]
These are the hard core combo cards for the tribe. Combine them with the Mana Producing and Card Drawing clusters, and you're all set. Umbral Mantle, most especially, equipped on a mana dork is one of the deck's best combo win. An elf can power up for an "infinite" amount of mana and booster up as an immense monster. I've once included Sword of the Paruns, though I've removed it from the deck. It just cost a lot of mana to cast then equip on a mana dork. Staff of Domination is a no-no in Commander, but it is a card that I've always included in my elf decks. for other formats. Honestly, I've so overheated these with Priest of Titania, Rofellos and Elvish Archdruid so many times, it's insane!

[ Quirion Ranger ]
I was and still am impressed with the versatility offered by this swiss-army elf. At a time when xXxGeddon, Necrodecks, RG Landkill and TurboStasis were dominating the standard scene, it simply shined. It is a quick drop, could save your lands, untap your creatures, and more importantly, it is a fun card to play! I thought the Landfall mechanic would drive it back to the limelight; but, I really haven't found any space for it that would suit the overall strategy at the moment. I do have an idea to add a land matters component for the deck, but there aren't enough other "Fastbond" elves aside from Skyshroud Ranger and Oracle of Mul-daya. In time, I hope.

[ Wirewood Symbiote ]
I was quick to notice this card when it first came out since I am an Elf player. Much like Quirion Ranger, it too was fun to play with. Plus, it combos well with your ETB elves. I used it then with Multani's Acolyte which is now obviously replaced with Elvish Visionaries. Paired with Viridian Shaman, it is sick against any deck playing a lot of artifacts destroying 2 per turn. These days, I combine it with Yeva for more gravy sauce!

Political / Fun Bearing Cluster
[ Spectral Searchlight / Forbidden Orchard ]
I just love playing the political game every once in a while. In fact, there are a lot in my deck that doubles as political cards. I highlight these, though, as some of the best tools a political player can get! I hope Wizards consider printing more cards like them. Forbidden Orchard serves as an enabler for Glissa, as well. Spectral Searchlight could be replaced with Golgari Signet. Fractured Powerstone can be added if playing Planechase. Hmmm...I have to put a name to this cluster, so I nominate them the Fun Bearing Cluster. Ha! I can persuade another player into something saying "I come bearing gifts!"

Protection and Enabling Sub-Cluster
[ Ezuri, Renegade Leader / Glissa, the Traitor / Oak Street Innkeeper ]
[ Avoid Fate ]
[ Cavern of Souls / Darksteel Plate / Swiftfoot Boots / Thousand-Year Elixir ]
Nothing ruins a well-timed attack or combo play than another player's S.W.A.T. cards. I've carefully considered and included these following cards for their best defensive and overall capabilities. They are there as either aggro, combo, and/or control enablers.

Sharpen Your Ears
If you'd played any elf deck, you'd know they have a lot of synergy with each other. For newer players getting into the elven tribe, it may take some time to see these synergies. You only need to keep playing the decks to see them. It will also let you see good cards to add or use everytime a new set comes out.

Elven Dynamics
Format: EDH / Multiplayer Commander
Commander: Glissa, the Traitor
Timestamp: 12:00 AM Aug/01/2011




Ezuri Elfhame Evergreen
Format: EDH / 1v1 Duel Commander
Commander: Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Timestamp: 12:01 AM Jan/1/2014






Annotations
Notes: 04:18 PM 01/26/2008 [ Moved from Geocities to Blogger ]
Notes: 06:13 AM 11/23/2012 [ Updated Introduction, Primer, Deck Deconstruction and Card Highlights ]
Notes: 12:01 AM 01/01/2014 [ Updated with Multiple Deck Listing ]
Notes: 12:01 AM 01/01/2014 [ Still in the process of updating ]

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