Pauper: UG Elves Deck Tech & Sideboard Guide

vs. Gruul Ponza

I want to start talking about this matchup since, as Gruul grew on the Metagame, Elves ended up growing too, and it's easy to understand why: Elves are its natural predator, since it makes no sense to destroy our lands if our creatures generate much more mana.

In this match, our biggest problem is post-side, since the opponent will have Fiery Cannonade against us, but we also have sideboard cards and the game is still favorable for us.

A situation that should be repeated a lot post-sideboard is, many times, taking out Lead the Stampede instead of Distant Melody. This is because Lead the Stampede will end up throwing our Sideboard to the bottom.

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vs. Affinity

In this matchup, I'm sure some people will say that we need more Gleeful Sabotage, but my explanation is that the single Gleeful Sabotage isn't for Affinity's lands but against Makeshift Munitions, which gives us a huge headache, much more than their free creatures.

Speaking of creatures, there's our second-biggest problem, Krark-Clan Shaman — which easily cleans our board, and we can't interact so easily - so play carefully around it.

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vs. Bogles

Here we have a good match for our deck, but one we must be aware of, or it might become a bad match. We need to have Wellwisher early in the game and, in theory, be able to gain more life than our opponent can take from attacking us.

As this game is already good, we don't have much to change. The main card is Gleeful Sabotage to destroy something specific that might be getting in our way, like an enchantment that provides trample, protection or even some lifegain

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vs. Izzet or Dimir Faeries

Any of these opponents is annoying to play against, as they both have Spellstutter Sprite, which counters almost everything in our deck.

Both have many removals and some sweepers, but there is a difference in that: Dimir usually has Suffocating Fumes and even Echoing Decay in the maindeck, so we must consider it on Game 1. The Izzet version will have Fiery Cannonade and even Electrickery, but usually always on the sideboard, which gives us a slightly better Game 1.

One advantage that we can use in G1 is Jaspera Sentinel which, as I said at the beginning, is great against faeries.

On the side, we have good cards against both decks, like Scattershot Archer, Spidersilk Armor and even Viridian Longbow, although I don't usually like it.

Side in Vs. Dimir Faeries

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Side in Vs. Izzet Faeries

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vs. Elves

What to say about this matchup? Have you who read this far seen an Elves mirror? Both players with hundreds of creatures on the board and plenty of life, and wondering how the game ends? So, this is a summary of that matchup.

This is another matchup where whoever starts and get a little lucky wins. Pretty much whoever plays a Lead the Stampede, Distant Melody or Timberwatch Elf first ends up winning.

On the sideboard, there is a card that can also make a difference, Viridian Longbow, but only if the game is locked. I feel that if you leave the artifact in play and pass the turn, then your opponent generates a lot of mana and cast many creatures first, having Viridian Longbow isn't going to help as much.

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Ending another article, I recommend that you play with the deck. It's fun, it's strong, and your opponents will be stunned when, in one turn, you play more than 10 creatures, gain a lot of life or win the game with just one strike.

Any questions or suggestions, just leave it here in the comments, and I'll come back to talk about it!

Thank you very much, and I hope you enjoyed the reading.