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(OLD) MDV Creature Feature - Ahead of the Rest: Top 30 Elves. - by Streetz - posted 5/13/08 - discuss here

This was indeed a challenging list to put together for you.  I used a rating system this time to rate each of the elf cards.  The rating categories included the following: Casting Cost, Ability, Popularity, and Overall.  Once I rated each of the 70+ elf cards, I then had trouble redefining some of the ratings because of the close similarity many of the elves have.  For instance, which is better, Fyndhorn Elves, Llanowar Elves, Birchlore Rangers or Wirewood Elf?  You tell me!  

Below is the list in descending order.  Almost all of the cards on the top 30 list and honorable mention list have a deck to associate them with.  Some of these decks I had to find while doing the list.  This, as always, if for your enjoyment and to expand the deck database here at Magic Deck Vortex.

To the right: Seeker of Skybreak, the new art from seventh edition, is a great example of a good elf.  In fact, Seeker of Skybreak made it on the top 30 list as #15.

...from Llanowar to Fyndhorn and the Wirewood forests, the elves have been rated.

gaeas_skyfolk.jpg (21138 bytes)#30: Gaea's Skyfolk
How often do you get a 2/2 flyer for only 2 mana? Not too often.  I would suppose this is why this guy made the cut.  MYSTIC BLUR is a good example of a deck with this guy in it.

 

birchlore_rangers.jpg (19865 bytes)#29: Birchlore Rangers
This would be the newest version of the Llanowar Elves in today's scene... with the added ability to make it a mana of any color as many times as you have sets of 2 creatures.  Here is a deck,  Turbo Laugh..., that uses this card.

 

timberwatch_elf.jpg (18004 bytes)#28: Timberwatch Elf
The Nantuko Mentor of the elves or the Priests of Titania for power and toughness. SUFFER is a good example of the Timberwatch Elf in action.

 

Fyndhorn_Elder.jpg (17528 bytes)#27: Fyndhorn Elder
The Elder has some great uses in infinite mana generators, like this one: PRAYING FOR GLADE.  The biggest downside to this elf is for three mana you only get a 1/1.  This makes him easy fodder to burn.

 

wirewood_savage.jpg (15885 bytes)#26: Wirewood Savage
Combo this bad boy with lots of beasts and you will be shocked at your card advantage.  It doesn't hurt that you get a good creature stat(2/2) and ability for only 2G.   Check out LEGACY'S ALUREN.

 

primal_whisperer.jpg (17593 bytes)#25: Primal Whisperer
Check out LIES & WHISPERS.  This guy would have made it farther on the list had he not been so darn expensive to cast for only a 2/2.  True, he gets +2/+2 for each morphed creature in play, but what if there are none.  Overall, this is still a great card with good artwork.

 

Skyshroud_Elf.jpg (17296 bytes)#24: Skyshroud Elf
This elf fits nicely into an Elfball given it's ability to turn mana into white or red.. even tapped.  He works well is a Dragon decks too, like this one: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS.

 

Elvish_Archers.jpg (18852 bytes)#23: Elvish Archers
It is a shame that these guys don't have another cool ability, like add a mana to your mana pool.  They are great but so rarely used.  Here is a theme deck called Bow/Archery.

 

titanias_chosen.jpg (25615 bytes)#22: Titania's Chosen
Not that I am fond of +1/+1 counters or anything, but this guy is great in mono green decks.  Especially if teamed up with cards like Rancor & Endless wurm.. HIDDEN GREEN

 

wirewood_herald.jpg (19187 bytes)#21: Wirewood Herald
If you would like to see a deck using this guy, check out SUFFER.  Wirewood Herald is a cheap way to find an elf card you need, like say Voice of the Woods.  Not a bad way to search your library for 2 mana.

 

voice_of_the_woods.jpg (18695 bytes)#20: Voice of the Woods
ELF WAVE is a deck using this Lord.  Combined with cards like Intruder Alarm or Vitalize, it is not too long before you have a army of 7/7 elementals to be reckoned with.

 

wirewood_elf.jpg (17690 bytes)#19: Wirewood Elf
OATMEAL is an interesting deck that uses the Wirewood Elf.  This guy has a little more endurance than the Llanowar Elf, but unfortunately isn't as quick and is still open to a shock to kill em.

 

Fyndhorn_Elves.jpg (26553 bytes)#18: Fyndhorn Elves
Usually in speed decks, the Fyndhorn are coupled with the Llanowar for early mana.  This card is exactly the same as the Llanowar, except from Ice Age.  Here is a deck: ELF CHAMPIONS.

 

elvish_piper.jpg (16845 bytes)#17: Elvish Piper
Here is a deck that uses the Elvish Piper to its full potential: SIZE MATTERS.  How can you beat a creature that brings a big creature into play for one mana?  A shock, of course, but this guy is still cool.

 

gempalm_strider.jpg (18109 bytes)#16: Gempalm Strider
True, his cycling ability costs a lot, but it does so for good reasons.  Even if you don't cycle him, he is a 2/2 for 1G.. which is nice too.  Here is a deck, MONOELF, that uses this card.

 

seeker_of_skybreak.jpg (16015 bytes)#15: Seeker of Skybreak
This chick is busty and versatile.  Need more mana, more damage, more abilities per turn, just use her to untap one of your creatures for an extra effect  SEEKING LIEGE is a good example. 

 

heedless_one.jpg (14961 bytes)#14: Heedless One
Let's see.. I have Heedless One in play and 6 other elves.  That would make this chick (with cool art mind you) a 7/7 trampler for only 4 mana.   I would like to see her in the top 10.. but there are other cool cards to be seen.

 

wellwisher.jpg (15593 bytes)#13: Wellwisher
What's nice about the Wellwisher is it is cheap, reasonable, and easy to come back with in a game where you were losing before you brought this into play. 

 

Heart_Warden.jpg (16144 bytes)#12: Heart Warden
Elves are always better when you can sacrifice them for a card.  Whether it be in response to a lightning bolt or for the effect of a Pattern of Rebirth.  Check out IVY LEAGUE.

 

wirewood_channeler.jpg (18566 bytes)#11: Wirewood Channeler
The beefier version of the Priest of Titania.  It's about time WotC puts this card out.  COUNT THE ELVES IN PLAY is a good example of this guy in use.

 

Gamekeeper.jpg (12820 bytes)#10: Gamekeeper
Oh look, my Gamekeeper just died and brought my Krosan Cloudscraper into play.. for well.. nothing.  What's not to like about a creature with this capability.  Of course, Gamekeeper is better known for its use in a mill deck called ALTAR-DRAKE

 

tribal_forcemage.jpg (19492 bytes)#9: Tribal Forcemage
Look at Overrun for a second... +3/+3 and trample for 5 mana.  Turn this guy over for two and you get +2/+2 and trample to all creatures of your choice.  Cheap and yet so good.  

 

elvish_vanguard.jpg (18455 bytes)#8: Elvish Vanguard
Its the newer cheaper version of Titania's Chosen except he is restricted to Elves instead of Green spells.  Did I mention I like +1/+1 counters?  Check out TRIBAL TWISTER if you want to see him in a deck. 

 

Wood_Elves.jpg (20596 bytes)#7: Wood Elves
FIST OF WOOD is a good example of the Wood Elves in action.  Wood Elves is two cards in one: Nature's Lore and Willow Elf.  Any card that combines two into one and has a great comes into play ability is only bound to make this listing.

 

Priest_of_Titania.jpg (51793 bytes)#6: Priest of Titania
I own about 24 copies of this card.. I guess I found so many uses for it when I first started collecting Urza's Saga cards.  Priest of Titania was made into a foil Promo card too as it was so popular after the release of the tribal themes in the Onslaught block. VERD is a good example of the Priest offering a great deal of speed to a BEATDOWN deck with fatties like Force of Nature and Verdant Force.

 

deranged_hermit.jpg (24476 bytes)#5: Deranged Hermit
Deranged Hermit makes for a good Squirrel Deck or a good Opposition Deck.  Deranged hermit has seen a lot of play in the tournament scene and thus has a good rapport with all magic players.  For this reason, and for its great abilities, Deranged Hermit has made #5.  Here is an interesting deck using the guy called MAKRUS/ PSYCHIC VORTEX

 

Taunting_Elf.jpg (18066 bytes)#4: Taunting Elf
He is a mini bomb on the playing field, allowing you to do some heavy damage if you attack with everything.  Everything able to block him must do so.. so for one mana you get a creature and lure in one.  If I remember correctly, Lure cost three mana so this guy is a steal for one.  FALLEN'S TERRA GROW is a perfect example of the amount of damage this little laughing elf can do. 

 

llanowar_elves.jpg (17363 bytes)#3: Llanowar Elves
Llanowar Elves have been with use since the very beginning.. since Alpha.  It should be no surprise that these guys made the top five elves.  They are 1/1 for one mana that give you an extra mana tap ability in play.  There are so many decks other than theme elf decks that you can find this card in.  Here is one deck, called STORM ELVES, that uses them in an Elf-like theme deck with lots of big creatures and the Storm Cauldron.

 

rofellos_llanowar_emissary.jpg (23764 bytes)#2: Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Here's an elf you can add to ANY mono green deck and not feel bad about it.  He is a mana accelerator at its best.  Throw in some wood elves or Explosive Vegetation to the mix, and watch him explode with mana.  Rofellos may be a Legend so you can only have one in play at a time, but he is certainly a great one.   BIG GREEN is a mono-green deck example where Rofellos is featured at a quantity of four.

 

caller_of_the_claw.jpg (17775 bytes)#1: Caller of the Claw
Casting cost and extremely good considering you get an ability, a 2/2 and the versatility of an instant for 2G.  Combine that fact with a GREAT ability (anti-wrath of god/ anti-Mutilate) and you have this list's number one creature.  Caller of the claw can be found in a number of decks on the tournament level as well as several casual decks.  Here are two W/G examples of Caller of the Claw in action: CRANK CALLERS & DONAIS'S WEENIES.

Honorable Mention.

Nomadic_Elf.jpg (16573 bytes)#31: Nomadic Elf
THREE DEUCE knows this elf well.  I guess he almost made the top 30 because of his mana conversion ability.. that and he is a 2/2 for 1G. Combo him with Heartstone and you have a one for one mana conversion card.

 

Skyshroud_Sentinel.jpg (22691 bytes)#32: Skyshroud Sentinel
The Sentinels from the Mercadian Masques block were extremely overcosted, but fun.   POPULATE is a good example of how to make this guy useful.

 

sylvan_messenger.jpg (22607 bytes)#34: Sylvan Messenger
Almost the Brass Herald for the elves.  Instead of giving Elves +1/+1, he gets trample.  Not a bad trade.  This card is undercosted for the card advantage you get and works great in SYLVAN ELFBALL decks.

 

Urborg_Elf.jpg (23859 bytes)#37: Urborg Elf
Before the Birchlore Rangers, this card was it's replacement since you could have access to blue, green and black mana.  For an elf, that is an ability worth having. A perfect example of his use would be in a deck called ENCHANT THIS.

 

Argothian_Elder.jpg (19705 bytes)#38: Argothian Elder
Fuel for infinity this Elf is and he has some cool art by DiTerlizzi.  It is overcosted in my opinion but to untap two lands is a blessing to the Elvish. 

 

Skyshroud_Troopers.jpg (48610 bytes)#43: Skyshroud Troopers
There is not a thing wrong with this card.  It is a good 3/3 for 3G and you get the 'Llanowar elf' effect.   He can survive a shock and attack for three.  An interesting Land Destruction Deck called Hungry Sleepy Bubbly Ants is a good example of what the Troopers are good at...

 

Norwood_Priestess.jpg (35836 bytes)#45: Norwood Priestess
The Elvish Piper from Portal, except all you have to do is tap this Priestess to bring the creature into play (and it has to be green).  Too bad she is banned from all tournaments since it is only a portal card.  Sorry.. there is no deck for this one.

 

wirewood_hivemaster.jpg (16870 bytes)#56: Wirewood Hivemaster
I have always enjoyed Insect themed decks.  This guy would fit perfectly into one.  If only he cost one green instead of 1G.  OF INSECTS AND ELVES is an example of the Wirewood with his Elf and Insect friends.

 

symbiotic_elf.jpg (17610 bytes)#62: Symbiotic Elf
This minute I saw this guy I though "DEATH MATCH" combo.  Then I tried putting a deck together called "Survival Match" and it didn't work all too well.  Then I found a deck on MTGCITY.COM called SYMBIOTIC HUSK.  It needed a little work, but the overall concept is perfect. 

 

elvish_farmer.jpg (20848 bytes)#66:  Elvish Farmer
Fallen Empires was almost a waste of a set except for a few shining cards like the Thallids and the other cards similar like the Elvish Farmer.  THALLIDRY is a good example of this card in action. 

 

Elvish_Scout.jpg (16086 bytes)#70: Elvish Scout
Gustcloak must have its ancient origins in the Elvish Scout from Fallen Empires.  While this is not the best green elf in the world, it is special to note its ability.  The only deck I could find using this Guy was from vossler.com.  The deck is called ER GREEN, originally, I but renamed it: HEARTIER GREEN.

 

multanis_acolyte.jpg (20218 bytes)#76: Multani's Acolyte
This guy was made before R&D of Magic decided to re-divvy the color wheel (before green got its card drawing power that is).  Since it is GG to cast, this guy was easy to throw into any green deck.  One such deck is BLANCHWOOD

 


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Other Top X Creature Features:
[2005 Article Archives]
[Visitor Comments 2004]
[Top 30 Zombies 2004!]
[(2005) +1/+1 Counters]
[(2003) Cumulative Upkeeps]
[Visitor Comments 2003]
[Top 30 Soldiers 2003]
[(2003) Charms]
[Top 30 Elves 2003]
[Top 30 Beasts 2002]
[Top 30 Legends 2002]

 

 
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