Magic: The Gathering

[Tricen]

Play casual at a store if you have one near you. Don't play in a tournament unless you wanna get your ass handed to you by competitive players.

[Diamicles]

Next EDH general is going to be Ghost Council of Orzhova, even though I'm not quite done tuning my Sharuum, the Hegemon deck

[miokomioko]

For someone who hasn't played magic in over 10 years and barely remembers anything about it, but wants to give it a try again, where would be the best place to learn how to play again? I watched a few videos and recall most of the basics... but feel like I might be missing something important.

This was pretty much where I was at when I rediscovered my collection a year or two ago. Since 'M10' (the newest core set, Magic 2010) was just released, I would recommend starting there. Each expansion between core sets tend to have some awkward/confusing new key-worded mechanics here and there that new players get pretty put-off by. If you're just coming back and are looking at something like Alara or Lorwyn block stuff with mechanics like Cascade, Evoke, Prowl, Tribal, Kinship, Champion, etc. don't let it intimidate you. Just start back at the basics, which 'M10' was pretty much built to do. Not to mention the rules-changes with 'M10' made a few things a lot more intuitive for new/returning players (mostly combat) and 'M10 was built around the new rules. Just get ready to see things like "in play" is now "battlefield." "Remove from play" is now "exile." And "play" is now "cast."

[Price]

My green/white elf combo deck didn't do as well as I'd hoped in FNM the other night. Fairies and Black/Red Burn were thrashing me, couldn't explode fast enough.

[Zilong]

Elf is like mono green or bust for the competitive tier.

[Tricen]

Sunpetal grove and wooded bastion allow for a white splash. Barrington Forgetenders and that one enchant that prevents all noncombat damage is pretty good for that deck.

[Price]

Yeah I used 4x Sunpetal and 4x Wooded Bastion and 1x plains should I get path to exiled. I ran the forge tenders and mark of the asylum side board to stop the burn. Ranger of Eos is an AMAZING card for pulling off the nettle sentinel / heritage druid combo. I threw in 1x mirror entity too for good measure, manafueled with elf bonuses he is pretty good.

[Tricen]

I wouldn't run 4 wooded bastions. Getting an opening hand with 2 is a huge kick in the balls.

[Awoir]

Cards sorted by color and type. Elf deck at the bottom has each card in those soft protector sleeves.


Blue
Creatures
Apprentice Wizard (2)
Balduvian Conjurer
Balduvian Shaman
Coastal Hornclaw
Coral Fighters
Dandan (2)
Deep-Sea Serpent
Dream Fighter
Fog Elemental
Giant Albatross
Giant Crab
Giant Oyster
Hazy Homunculus
Homarid
Homarid Shaman
Illusionary Forces
Keeper of the Mind
Knight of the Mists
Krovikan Sorcerer (2)
Kukemssa Serpent
Manta Ray
Manta Riders
Merfolk Looter (2)
Merfold Raiders (2)
Mirror Wall
Noble Benefactor
Pirate Ship
Reef Pirates (2)
Ribbon Snake
Rootwater Diver
Sea Troll
Shaper Guildmage
Sinbad
Stormwatch Eagle
Svyelunite Priest
Thought Nibbler
Vodalian Mage
Wave Elemental
Zuran Enchanter

Enchantments
Aboshan's Desire
Animate Artifact
Arnjlot's Ascent (2)
Breath of Dreams (2)
Cloak of Invisibility (2)
Coral Reef
Creature Bond (3)
Erosion
Essence Flare (2)
Flight (2)
Gaseous Form (6)
Homarid Spawning Bed
Iceberg
Insight
Lifetap
Merseine
Mystic Veil (2)
Psychic Venom (2)
Puppet Master
Shimmering Wings
Snow Devil (2)
Soar
Soul Barrier
Sunken City
Teferi's Curse
Tidal Flats
Unstable Mutation (2)
Volrath's Curse
Zur's Weirding

Instant/Interrupt/Sorcery
Brainstorm
Command of Unsommoning
Energy Tap
Evervate (2)
Ether Well
Forbid (2)
High Tide
Impulse
Jolt
Magical Hack
Mana Leak
Memory Lapse
Mind Bomb
Power Sink (3)
Portent
Ray of Command (3)
Ray of Erasure
Reality Ripple (2)
Remove Soul
Shadow Rift
Siren's Call
Syncopate
Thoughtlace
Time and Tide
Time Ebb (2)
Touch of Invisibility
Updraft
Word of Undoing (2)

White
Creatures
Ardent Militia
Benalish Hero (2)
Benalish Knight
Benalish Missionary
Civic Guildmage
Combat Medic (3)
D'Avenant Archer (2)
Devoted Hero
Elite Javelineer
Femeref Knight (3)
Femeref Scouts
Femeref Javelineers
Icatian Phalanx
Icatian Scout (3)
Infantry Veteran
Kelsinko Ranger (2)
Kjeldoran Warrior
Knight of Valor (4)
Master Decoy
Mesa Pegasus
Mounted Archers
Mtenda Herder (3)
Serra Zealot
Soul Charmer
Spotted Griffin
Teferi's Honor Guard
Trained Pronghorn (3)
Tundra Wolves
Venerable Monk
Vigilant Martyr
White Knight
Zhalfirin Commander (2)
Zhalfirin Crusader
Zhalfirin Knight (3)

Enchantments
Animate Wall
Armor of Faith (2)
Aura Fracture
Blue Scarab
Brainwash (5)
Cagemail (3)
Celestial Dawn
Circle of Protection: Black (4)
Circle of Protection: Blue (4)
Circle of Protection: Green (4)
Circle of Protection: Red (3)
Circle of Protection: Shadow
Circle of Protection: White (2)
Equipoise
Favorable Destiny
Gossamer Chains
Green Ward
Karma
Kithkin Armor (2)
Prismatic Circle (2)
Prismatic Ward (2)
Righteous Aura
Seeker (2)

Instant/Interrupt/Sorcery
Blood of the Martyr
Cease-Fire
Defiant Stand
Dust to Dust
Embolden
Guided Strike
Healing Salve
Hope Charm
Ivory Charm (2)
Lead Astray (2)
Martyrdom
Morale (2)
Piety
Prismatic Strands (3)
Ray of Revelation
Scent of Jasmine
Warrior's Charge

Green
Creatures
Anaconda
Birds of Paradise
Brown Ouphe
Carnivorous Plant
Cartographer
Cat Warriors
Chub Toad
Crash of Rhinos (2)
Craw Giant (2)
Craw Wurm (2)
Dire Wolves
Druid Lyrist
Durkwood Boars (2)
Elder Druid
Elite Cat Warrior
Elvan Riders
Elvish Scout (2)
Fallow Wurm
Feral Thallid
Fyndhorn Brownie (2)
Ghazban Ogre
Giant Caterpillar
Giant Mantis
Giant Spider (2)
Giant Warthog
Gibbering Hyenas
Gorilla Pack
Gorilla Warrior
Granger Guildmage
Grizzly Bears (4)
Harvester Druid (3)
Hungry Mist (6)
Ironshell Beetle
Johtull Wurm
Jungle Wurm
Juniper Order Druid
Kraklin
Krosan Wayfarer (2)
Leaping Lizard
Ley Druid (4)
Llanowar Druid
Lowlan Basilisk
Marsh Boa
Marsh Viper (2)
Nafs Asp
Nantuko Mentor
Nantuko Tracer
Nullmage Advocate
Panther Warriors (2)
Penumbra Wurm
Pradesh Gypsies
Pyknite (3)
Quirion Elves (3)
Quirion Ranger
Rabid Elephant
Rabid Wolverines
Rowan Treefolk
Sabertooth Cobra
Scaled Wurm (2)
Scavenger Folk
Scryb Sprites
Shambling Strider
Silt Crawler
Skyshroud Behemoth
Skyshroud Ranger
Spike Colony
Squallmonger (2)
Stampede Driver
Thorn Elemental
Thorn Thallid
Trained Armodon
Uktabi Efreet
Uktabi Faerie
Unseen Walker (3)
Village Elder
Vintara Elephant
Wall of Pine Needles
Wall of Wood (2)
War Mammoth (2)
Wild Elephant (3)
Wild Mongrel
Woolly Spider
Yavimaya Ancients
Yavimaya Granger

Enchantments
Barbed Foliage
Blanchwood Armor
Carapace
Choke
Cyclone
Earthlore
Elven Fortress
Familiar Ground (2)
Fertile Ground
Forbidden Lore
Katabatic Winds
Maddening Wind (2)
Thelon's Chant
Titania's Song
Venom (3)
Wanderlust
Wild Growth (4)

Instant/Interrupt/Sorcery
Canopy Claws
Channel
Choking Vines
Crop Rotation
Desert Twister
Elephant Resurgence
Fog (5)
Hurricane
Hush
Krosan Reclamation
Natural Spring
Needle Storm
Rampant Growth (2)
Reality Anchor (2)
Reverent Silence
Sandstorm
Seedling Charm (2)
Serene Heart (2)
Serene Sunset
Shrink
Sudden Strength
Trailblazer (2)
Tranquil Domain (2)
Tranquility
Tropical Storm
Tsunami (2)
Untamed Wilds (2)
Unyaro Bee Sting
Venomous Breath
Venomous Vines (2)
Wing Storm
Winter Blast
Winter's Grasp

Red
Creatures
Ambush Party (2)
Armorer Guildmage
Barbarian Bully (3)
Barbarian Guides
Bird Maiden (3)
Blistering Barrier (2)
Bone Shaman
Brassclaw Orcs (3)
Burning Palm Efreet
Burning Shield Askari (4)
Canyon Wildcat
Dwarven Scorcher (3)
Dwarven Trader (3)
Dwarven Vigilantes
Dwarven Warriors
Emberwilde Djinn
Goblin Chirugeon
Goblin Hero
Goblin Rock Sled
Goretusk Firebeast (2)
Hill Giant
Jackal Pup (2)
Liberated Dwarf
Orcish Captain
Orcish Conscripts (3)
Orcish Lumberjack (2)
Orcish Settlers
Orcish Spy (4)
Orcish Squatters
Orcish Veteran (3)
Pardic Swordsmith
Primordial Ooze
Rogue Skycaptain
Searing Spear Askari
Suq'Ata Lancer (2)
Telim'Tor
Wall of Diffusion
Wall of Dust
Wall of Fire
Wall of Heat

Enchantments
Eternal Warrior
Firebreathing
Giant Strength (3)
Goblin War Drums
Imposing Visage
Infectious Rage (2)
Kamahl's Desire
Planar Chaos
Reflexes

Instant/Interrupt/Sorcery
Anarchy
Blazing Salvo
Book Burning
Browbeat
Disintegrate (4)
Ember Shot (2)
Engulfing Flames
Fireball
Flameshot
Flaring Pain
Game of Chaos
Goblin Grenade
Illicit Auction (2)
Incinerate (4)
Inferno
Kaervek's Torch (2)
Lava Dart (2)
Lightning Bolt
Shatter (2)
Stone Rain
Swelter
Swirling Sandstorm (2)
Winds of Change

Black
Creatures
Armor Thrull
Barrow Ghoul
Basal Thrull
Black Knight
Bog Imp
Bog Wraith
Breathstalker (3)
Brine Shaman (3)
Brood of Cockroaches
Cabal Inquisitor
Cadaverous Knight (4)
Craven Knight
Crypy Creeper
Cuombajj Witches (2)
Cyclopean Mummy (2)
Dauthi Horror
Dauthi Marauder
Dauthi Slayer
Death Charmer
Dirtwater Wraith
Dread Specter
Drudge Skeletons (6)
Earsplitting Rats (2)
Erg Raiders (7)
Fallen Angel
Fallen Askari (2)
Feral Shadow (3)
Fetid Horror (3)
Frozen Shade (2)
Gangrenous Zombies
Ghost Hounds
Giant Slug (2)
Grandmother Sengir
Gravedigger
Hasran Ogress (4)
Hoar Shade
Hypnotic Specter
Initiates of the Ebon Hand (3)
Kjeldoran Dead (3)
Krovikan Elementalist (2)
Lim-Dul’s Cohort (2)
Lost Soul (7)
Marsh Lurker
Mind Maggots (2)
Mindstab Thrull (3)
Moor Fiend (2)
Morinfen
Muck Rats
Murk Dwellers (5)
Necrite (4)
Order of the Ebon Hand (3)
Pit Raptor
Pit Scorpion (2)
Plague Rats (3)
Python
Restless Dead (3)
Scathe Zombies (5)
Sengir Bats
Servant of Volrath
Shadow Guildmage (3)
Skeletal Crocodile
Skulking Ghost (2)
Soldevi Adnate
Tar Pit Warrior
Uncle Istvan
Urborg Mindsucker (2)
Urborg Panther (3)
Vampire Hounds (3)
Wall of Bone (2)
Wall of Corpses
Whipstitched Zombie
Zombie Mob
Zombie Scavengers

Enchantments
Binding Agony (4)
Casting of Bones (3)
Cloak of Confusion (7)
Coils of the Medusa
Dread of Night (2)
Drudge Spell
Enfeeblement (2)
Exotic Curse
Fear (7)
Feast of the Unicorn (3)
Grave Servitude (3)
Infernal Tribute
Krovikan Fetish (5)
Lim-Dul’s Hex
Necropotence
Paralyze
Pestilence (4)
Phyrexian Reclamation
Seizures
Soul Kiss (6)
Torture (5)
Tourach’s Chant
Tourach’s Gate
Unholy Strength (2)
Warp Artifact
Weakness (3)

Instant/Interrupt/Sorcery
Afflict
Agonizing Memories
Ashes to Ashes
Breach
Broken Visage
Buried Alive
Burnt Offering (2)
Choking Sands (3)
Dark Banishing (5)
Dark Ritual (4)
Diabolic Edict (2)
Disturbed Burial
Drain Life (3)
Dregs of Sorrow
Dry Spell (2)
Evincar’s Justice
Fevered Strength (3)
Flay
Funeral Charm
Gaze of Pain
Hand of Death
Headstone (2)
Howl From Beyond (8)
Marsh Gas (8)
Mind Ravel (2)
Mind Rot
Necrologia (2)
Painful Memories
Perish
Raise Dead
Reckless Spite
Shattered Crypt
Soul Strings
Soulshriek
Spinning Darkness
Tendrils of Despair
Terror
Touch of Death (2)
Toxic Stench (2)
Transmutation (2)
Vampiric Touch
Word of Binding (3)

Artifacts
Aesthir Glider
Amulet of Kroog (2)
Arcum’s Sleigh (2)
Ashnod’s Battle Gear
Barbed Sextant
Battering Ram (3)
Brass Man
Bubble Matrix
Celestial Prism
Celestial Sword
Chariot of the Sun
Clay Statue
Clockwork Gnomes
Clockwork Steed
Clockwork Swarm
Conch Horn
Coiled Tinviper
Conservator
Coral Helm
Crystal Rod
Diamond Kaleidoscope
Dragon Mask (2)
Ebony Horse
Ersatz Gnomes
Excavator
Feroz’s Ban
Flowstone Sculpture
Flying Carpet
Grapeshot Catapult (3)
Helm of Awakening
Hematite Talisman
Ice Cauldron
Igneous Golem
Implements of Sacrifice
Iron Star
Juju Bubble
Lead Golem
Mana Prism
Meekstone
Mindless Automation
Nacre Talisman
Null Brooch
Obsianus Golem
Onyx Talisman
Patagia Golem (2)
Phyrexian Vault (2)
Pit Trap
Puppet Strings
Roterothopter
Serrated Arrows
Shield of the Ages
Shifting Wall
Skull Catapult
Soldevi Golem
Soldevi Sentry
Soldevi Simulacrum
Soul Net
Squee’s Toy
Sunstone
Tawnos’s Wand
Tawnos’s Weaponry
Telim’Tor’s Darts
The Hive
Wall of Shields
Wall of Spears
Watchdog
Whalebone Glider
Wirecat
Zelyon Sword

Unglued
Infernal Spawn of Evil

Foil
Infectious Rage (Red Enchant Creature)
Earsplitting Rats (Black Creature)
Abolish (White Instant)
Thought Nibbler (Blue Creature)

Gold
Hymn of Rebirth
Lithatog
Savage Twister

Non-Basic Lands
Bad River
Bog Wreckage
Crystal Vein (2)
Flood Plain
Glacial Chasm
Havenwood Battleground
Krosan Verge
Pine Barrens
Riftstone Portal
Smoldering Crater (2)
Teferi’s Isle

Basic Lands
Island (35)
Snow-Covered Island (2)
Plains (26)
Snow-Covered Plains (2)
Forest (30)
Snow-Covered Forest
Mountain (26)
Snow-Covered Mountain (2)
Swamp (30)

Elf Deck
Creatures
Ambush Commander (2)
Birchlore Rangers (2)
Druid Lyrist (2)
Elvish Herder (4)
Elvish Soultiller
Elvish Warrior (3)
Heedless One
Llanowar Elite (2)
Lone Wolf (3)
Nantuko Mentor
Seedborn Muse
Silklash Spider
Timberwatch Elf (4)
Treetop Scout (3)
Wellwisher (2)

Enchantment
Alpha Status (4)
Familiar Ground (2)
Words of Wilding

Instant/Interrupt/Sorcery
Folk Medicine
Winter Blast (2)

Basic Land
Forest (21)

[Price]

Turn 2-3 primal commanding a tri-land that comes into play tapped back on top of the library is also a big kick in the balls. I never had the dual wooded problem though. I lost in FNM with my elves last night to fairies and another elf deck lol. He got luckier on the draw and combo'd faster

[Tricen]

I had a blue/green aggro control esque deck made from elves. Ran boomerangs and cryptic commands. Against 5cc I'd just bounce their lands and beat face. Su much fun.

[Price]

Would you post the deck lineup for that one? Sounds like something I'd be interested in trying :S

[Tricen]

If you have access to cryptics and a decent cardpool, I'd aim for:

Land:
3 Flooded Grove
3 Reflecting pool
3 seaside citadel
2 Vivid Grove
2 Vivid Creek
5 Forest
5 Island

Spells
4 Cryptic Command
4 Boomerang
2 Negate
2 Dream Fractures

Planeswalkers
2 Jace Balerans
2 Garruks Wildspeaker


Creatures
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Bramblewood Paragon
4 Chamaleon Colossus
4 Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 Impoerious Perfect

So there's 1 spot open which could be a mirrorweave or something sneaky.

[Price]

Well the boomerangs aren't standard anymore, what would you replace those with?

[Tricen]

They didn't reprint boomerang? Oh wtf... Ugh well, Consign to Dream is about the only other option. And it's not too shabby, especially since if you are playing against green or red permanents it's most likely aggro and they need to not draw what they already have. Also less color intensive.

[MrW]

What about disperse? Fills the 2 mana slot. Not as good as Boomerang obviously but not a TERRIBLE option.

[Tricen]

Well, if you are playing 5cc, bouncing their lands turn 2-4 is pretty devastating for them.

[MrW]

This is true but without Boomerang in Standard you don't have very many options

On the play a Cryptic draw bounce isn't so bad.

[Tricen]

Naw, what happens is like. If you go first:
m=my t=their
m1 Seaside citidel
t1 vivid creek
m2 island -> Wren's Run revealing something
t2 vivid crag
m3 forest -> Imperious perfect
t3 that grixis triland idr the name
m4 flooded grove -> swing for some damage. If they cat anything then you cryptic bounce, if not hold off.
t4 filter land of some sort, sunken ruins maybe then they'll either cast jace or something and you counter bounce and they get a little irritated
m5 land and if you have another cryptic in your hand, then don't play anything other than a llanowar and swing.
t5 they'll prolly cast something and you'll deny them and bounce again. At this point they do that eye roll sigh thing and prolly start getting mad.
m6 they should be at like 12 or 13 maybe even lower. At this point you just drop an imperious or something and swing for most likely lethal.



Protip with imperious: Don't swing with them unless you are about to win, it's always better to at the end of turn make a token. Especially if there's a bramblewood in play.

[Kaludneisucks]

1st turn scrubland, sol ring, isochron<->Orim's chant. Game Over.