The printing of several Elf cards in Magic Origins has got me interested in knowing the possibility of this archetype if it can compete in the Standard metagame. It maybe is viable but I think it won’t only concentrate on the aggro plan of attacking opponents with critters. Here is a reference list from the Starcity Games Standard Open Chicago which was held last weekend:

G/B Elves by John Ostrem

Maindeck
Creatures
4 Dwynen’s Elite
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Gnarlroot Trapper
4 Leaf Gilder
1 Reclamation Sage
4 Shaman of the Pack
4 Sylvan Messenger
2 Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen

Spells
4 Chord of Calling
4 Collected Company

Lands
12 Forest
3 Swamp
4 Llanowar Wastes
2 Mana Confluence

Sideboard
2 Gilt-Leaf Winnower
1 Reclamation Sage
2 Display of Dominance
2 Plummet
1 Bow of Nylea
2 Eyeblight Massacre
2 Self-Inflicted Wound
3 Thoughtseize

The deck made it to Day 2 and finished in a decent 41st place. While the list looks stable enough, it does have only two cards (Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen) to anthem its critters. It relies on strength in numbers and is powered by the chord and Collected Company. Chording for a Dwynen is nice but most of the critters are weak in its early turns and can easily be killed with Arc Lightning or Twin Bolt.

It needs another anthem card and I think Obelisk of Urd fits that role. At least three copies in the maindeck would give you a high percentage of drawing that card by turn three.

That said, here is an updated decklist of the archetype:

Creatures
4 Dwynen’s Elite
3 Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen
4 Elvish Mystic
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Gnarlroot Trapper
3 Leaf Gilder
4 Shaman of the Pack
4 Sylvan Messenger

Spells
2 Chord of Calling
4 Collected Company
3 Obelisk of Urd

Lands
12 Forest
2 Swamp
4 Llanowar Wastes
3 Mana Confluence

As for its sideboard, I don’t seem to like Gilt-Leaf Winnower and would replace it with Hero’s Downfall or Ultimate Price. I would also replace Display of Dominance with a fourth copy of Thoughtseize and maybe another Self-Inflicted Wound since GR Devotion is getting the hype in the current meta.

That is a wrap for now. The next part of this archetype discussion will be on the Abzan version of the deck featuring Siege Rhinos, Charms and Dromoka’s Command.

Until the next post.