"Moriquendi" || Revenge of the Elves // [EDH] [Elven Empire] [Golgari] (EDH / Commander)

...::: SOME "DECK TECH" ELEMENTS :::...

The general strategy is familiar and basically simple: put as many elves as possible on the battlefield in the shortest possible time (mutual interaction) and defeat your opponent.

1. Win cons

Despite all the simplicity of this deck, there are a few featured strategies to help us win the game:

• simply elves (in various configurations, supported by protection spells)
• one elf for all elves v. 1: Taunting Elf or Ochran Assasin + horde of attacking elves (or a few elves with a large attack, e.g. thanks to Timberwatch Elf)
• one elf for all elves v. 2: Taunting Elf or Ochran Assasin + Gaze of the Gorgon
• full ride in: Ezuri, Renegade Leader or Elvish Warmaster or even Numa, Joraga Chieftain ((if we have a big ramp on the battlefield), i.e. attack with boosted elves with trample
• land attack: Sylvan Advocate + Sylvan Awakening (and eventually Glorious Sunrise - this card can really save life or give a small but always advantage in the mid game)
• tokens, everywhere tokens: this is a strategy that is better used when the commander is Lathril, but it can also be effective when commanded by Miara and Numa (Lathril + Wolverine Riders + Elven Ambush + Elvish Promenade + Druid's Delivrance); nice with Throne of the God-Pharaoh
• Nissa Revane: ultimate ability + Heroic Intervention and/or Golgari Charm in case of mass removal
• Vraska, Golgari Queen: with a lot of elves on the battlefield, and especially if you've managed to create a few tokens, defending Vraska for a few turns shouldn't be difficult, and then you just need to use her ultimate ability
• naked and cheerful: winning in this way can be successful if we have on the table together Ruthless Winnower and Dictate of Erebos (not necessarily played in that order), obviously, assuming that the opponents do not quickly throw our cards into the graveyard

2. Rampa

The ramp is essential in this type of deck. Hence the large number of elves allowing us to increase our mana pool quickly. Additionally every elf on the battlefield is an advantage for us, also in terms of ramp:

• Oracle of Mul Daya || Deathrite Shaman || Joraga Treespeaker || Llanowar Elves || Canopy Tactician || Elvish Mystic || Rishkar, Peema Renegade || Wirewood Channeler || Elvish Archdruid || Circle of Dreams Druid || Arbor Elf || Marwyn, the Nurturer and Golgari Cluestone

3. Aggro

The more elves, the stronger the elves. Simple:

• Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen || Marwyn, the Nurturer || Timberwatch Elf || Elvish Archdruid || Imperious Perfect || Canopy Tactician || Immaculate Magistrate || Pelt Collector || Ezuri, Renegade Leader || Numa, Joraga Chieftain || Elvish Warmaster and Bow of Nylea and finally Oran-Rief, the Vastwood

4. Lifegain

Sometimes playing for time can prove victorious, especially against other tribal decks:

• Nissa Revane || Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen || Rhys the Exiled || Deathrite Shaman || Elderfang Venom || Glorious Sunrise || Bow of Nylea and Cosmos Elixir

5. Card advantage

It is difficult to win if you have nothing to play with:

• Oracle of Mul Daya || Miara, Thorn of the Glade || Elvish Visionary || Skemfar Avenger || Beast Whisperer || Oakhame Adversary / Vraska, Golgari Queen || Underrealm Lich || Vivien, Champion of the Wilds and Cosmos Elixir

6. Protection

The main weakness of triblal decks is their vulnerability to mass removal. This is why you need to protect your creatures:

• Oak Street Innkeeper || Golgari Charm || Gaze of the Gorgon || Blessed Respite || Heroic Intervention || Druid's Deliverance

7. "Not everything is lost"

Sometimes a card that we really need can be found in the graveyard. Then you can help yourself:

• Bow of Nylea || Blessed Respite || Find // Finality || Return Upon the Tide || Storrev, Devkarin Lich

8. Removal

Sometimes it is impossible to do otherwise:

• Dictate of Erebos || Hero's Downfall || Putrefy || Poison the Cup || Gaze of the Gorgon || Ruthless Winnower || Casualties of War || Nullmage Shepherd and Jagged-Scar Archers

RECAPITULATION

As with any of my decks: they are not copies of decks that someone else has created before. I always try to choose the cards myself, even if I build the deck around a particular archetype. Sometimes I also just pick cards that I like. MtG is a game, and that means that winning is important, but it shouldn't be the most important thing: the game itself is the most important thing!

The deck can of course be upgraded with various synergies, fetch lands etc. Perhaps the time will come for that as well. I will be grateful for any comments and recommendations.

Please remember, I myself am not a pro player, I derive pleasure and joy from collecting, arranging cards and then playing them (that's why I don't like proxies).

...::: UPDATE 1 :::...

The deck finally looks rather complete. Improvements, if any, will be purely cosmetic.

A curiosity: from building the deck as it stands today, I am left with 189 elf cards, not counting various lands, including 20 rare, 70 uncommon and 99 common, including a dozen foil and play sets.

...::: BRIEF REMARKS :::...

1. The deck is under construction (at the bottom is a list of cards to be completed and perhaps included in the final version of the deck).
2. I am currently playing with two commanders (partner): Miara, Thorn of the Glade and Numa, Joraga Chieftain (Lathril is not only more expensive, but it is also much harder to put back on the battlefield, which can cause us a lot of problems in the early stages of the game).
3. Two main elements of strategy, typical for elves:
   • rampa
   • aggro
4. It is, of course, necessary to have certain "aids", so first of all the removal, reanimation and protection of our creatures - everything is in the deck, I think in the right proportions, however a few cards can be swapped for better ones (see below).

...::: INITIAL DESCRIPTION :::...

This is my first deck for EDH. It is in the process of being created.

Obviously based on the pre-made "Elven Empire" deck from the Kaldheim expansion.

I used to play elves, almost 15 years ago, because it was my favorite race from "Lord of the Rings".

The sentiment remains ;-)

This is supposed to be a simple and fun to play deck. No special combinations or tricks. Just fast and powerful elves.

Work in progress.

Some cards for possible upgrades:

• Allosaurus Shepherd
• Nath of the Gilt-Leaf
• Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
• Savra, Queen of the Golgari
• Vraska, Golgari Queen
• Damnation
• Essence Warden
• Fyndhorn Elves
• Priest of Titania
• Wellwisher
• Yeva, Nature's Herald
• Triumph of the Hordes
• Coat of Arms
• Steely Resolve
• Asceticism
• Wirewood Lodge
• Elvish Champion
• Eladamri, Lord of Leaves

Sometimes I wonder if I should "go all the way" and throw the maximum amount of creatures possible and try to play Mortal Combat, heh.