It’s been a while since our original top 10 reviews for Black and Green in EDH – we’re going back to revisit our picks and NOT look at our original lists – let’s see what’s changed.
JOSH
10 – Awakening Zone
9 – Acidic Slime
8 – Krosan Grip
7 – Genesis Wave
6 – Craterhoof Behemoth
5 – Doubling Season
4 – Greater Good
3 – Eternal Witness
2 – Oracle of Mul Daya
1 – Sylvan Library
JIMMY
10 – Yavimaya Elder
9 – Skyshroud /Explosive Vegetation
8 – Worldly Tutor
7 – Avenger of Zendikar
6 – Tooth and Nail
5 – Craterhoof Behemoth
4 – Eternal Witness
3 – Survival of the Fittest
2 – Doubling Season / Parallel Lives
1 – Oracle of Mul Daya
NEW LISTS:
JOSH (6 different – 2 of top3 same)
10 – Lifecrafter’s Bestiary
9 – Bane of Progress
8 – Cryptolith Rite
7 – Sylvan Library
6 – Krosan Grip
5 – Burgeoning
4 – Seedborn Muse
3 – Oracle of Mul Daya
2 – Rampant/Cultivate/Etc
1 – Eternal Witness
JIMMY: (7 different – 1 of Top3 same)
10 – Green Sun’s Zenith
9 – Birthing Pod
8 – Life from the Loam
7 – Greater Good
6 – Tooth and Nail
5 – Sylvan Library
4 – Chord of Calling
3 – Oracle of Mul Daya
2 – Craterhoof Behemoth
1 – Seedborn Muse
JOSH:
10 – Sheoldred
9 – Kokusho
8 – Crypt Ghast
7 – Decree of Pain
6 – Sorin Markov
5 – Living Death
4 – Victimize
3 – Grave Pact / Dictate
2 – Necropotence
1 – Toxic Deluge
JIMMY:
10 – Living Death
9 – Reanimate
8 – Black Sun’s Zenith
7 – Liliana Vess
6 – Phyrexian Arena
5 – Yawgmoth’s Will
4 – Sheoldred
3 – Necropotence
2 – Grave Pact / Dictate
1 – Toxic Deluge
JOSH: (4 new – same top3)
10 – Leyline of the Void
9 – Gray Merchant of Asphodel
8 – Crypt Ghast
7 – Decree of Pain
6 – Sheoldred
5 – Curtain’s Call
4 – Phyrexian Arena
3 – Grave Pact / Dictate
2 – Necropotence
1 – Toxic Deluge
JIMMY: (4 new – 2 of Top3 same)
10 – Black Sun’s Zenith
9 – Westvale Abbey
8 – Grave Titan
7 – Living Death
6 – Bojuka Bog
5 –Sheoldred
4 – Crypt Ghast
3 – Phyrexian Arena
2 – Grave Pact/Dictate
1 – Toxic Deluge
What We Mentioned on The End Step:
American Gods
Check out our sister podcast – The Masters of Modern:
https://commandzone.com/category/the-masters-of-modern/
Commander/EDH Official Rules, Forums, & Banlist
Elf tribal is returning to Magic: The Gathering within the Limited format via a Black and Green Midrange archetype in Kaldheim.
Midrange decks capitalize on being flexible, with touches of Aggro and Control built into them. BG in MTG Kaldheim shifts from the typical Golgari “dying matters” Midrange archetype to a Midrange Elf tribal build that likes to go wide with tokens and reanimate from the graveyard. The goal behind drafting BG in KHM Limited is to use Elf synergies that will get stronger during the midgame and go lethal before running out of gas.
Here are the best Black/Green Elf cards to build around in Kaldheim Limited.
Harald, King of Skemfar
Harald, King of Skemfar
Harald, King of Skemfar is the official KHM Draft legend with the color combination of Black and Green. The elf warrior is a legendary creature (only one copy on the battlefield at a time) who has Menace, along with a CMC of 1(BG) and 3/2 stats. Harald, King of Skemfar can apply early pressure on an opponent via his usage of the keyword Menace. He also tutors for Elf and Warrior creature types from the library. Upon entering the battlefield, Harald’s controller can look at the top five cards of their library and reveal an elf, warrior, or Tyvar card to put in hand.
Low-cost creatures
Low-cost creatures in a Midrange build allow a player to establish a board state during the early game. Elvish Warmaster accomplishes this in the GB KHM deck by creating a 1/1 Green Elf Warrior token whenever one or more other elves enter the battlefield under that player’s control. He’s a two-drop 2/2 who’s a solid first pick in Draft to build around. Elvish Warmaster can also function as a finisher, pumping all elves with +2/+2 and Deathtouch at the cost of 5(GG).
Mid-game creatures
Mid-game creatures are the foundation of the BG deck, providing powerful synergies, abilities, and solid stats. Elderfang Ritualist is a three-drop 3/1 who returns an elf card from the graveyard, to hand, upon death. Elderleaf Mentor creates a 1/1 Elf Warrior token upon entering the battlefield, which synergizes with Skemfar Shadowsage—a four-drop 2/5 Elf Cleric who deducts an opponent’s life total, or gains you life, based on the number of elves you control.
Bloodline Pretender is a Shapeshifter that lets its controller pick a creature type (Elf), who scales with +1/+1 counters every time an elf enters the battlefield. There’s also Littjara Glade-Warden, another Shapeshifter who can pump creatures with a +1/+1 upon exiling a creature from the graveyard.
If you high roll in Draft and come across a Canopy Tactician, the Rare Elf Warrior is a solid first pick, just like Elvish Warmaster.
Snow
Players can also choose to incorporate Snow into the BG Midrange Limited build, using cards like Boreal Outrider and Sculptor of Winter. Snow lands are a necessity when pulling off Snow synergy and are drafted like any other card in KHM Limited Draft. If you’re playing around Snow in BG Midrange, Spirit of the Aldergard is also a solid four-drop option over Littjara Glade-Warden. Glittering Frost will work too but has a CMC of 2(G), competing with better three-drops.
Saga/Equipment
Elven Bow is an Equipment in KHM that can add value to a number of creatures. It’s a one-drop that creates a 1/1 Elf Warrior token when an additional two mana of any color is paid upon casting. Elven Bow also provides +1/+2 to that created token and Reach. If the creature dies, Elven Bow remains and can be attached to another creature upon paying its Equip cost.
Elves don’t have a saga in KHM, but Binding the Old Gods slots right into the BG Midrange build. Its first chapter destroys a nonland permanent, while the second chapter searches for Forest. And the third chapter gives all creatures Deathtouch, which can tear apart an opponent’s board state when you have a battlefield full of elf tokens and creatures.
Spells
Elven Ambush combos nicely with Skemfar Shaowsage, as does Return Upon the Tide. It’s a Sorcery speed spell that returns a creature to the battlefield. If that creature is an elf, it creates two 1/1 Elf Warrior tokens. Return Upon the Tide also uses the new KHM mechanic Foretell, providing an option to split its cost up over the course of two turns.
Removal
The BG Elf tribal Midrange build contains a solid number of removal spells, too. Feed the Serpent is a four-drop Instant that exiles a target creature or planeswalker. Weigh Down is a Sorcery spell that applies a -3/-3 to a target creature for a cost of (B) and exiling a creature from your graveyard. And Thornmantle Striker is an Elf Rogue that can double as removal upon entering the battlefield based on the number of elves you control.
All images via Wizards of the Coast.
This article includes affiliate links, which may provide small compensation to Dot Esports.
Danny Forster
Releasing digitally on April 15, STX showcases several mechanics and themes that thrive in the color Green. Quandrix College (GU) contains Fractal and ramp synergies while Witherbloom College (GB) thrives off Lifegain and removal.
Green in STX is so packed with value that even its most vanilla card deserves an honorable mention. Spined Karok is a simple three-drop with solid stats that will fit within the Witherbloom and Quandrix archetypes. Mage Duel has potential but can also become a trap while Charge Through is one of the better one-drop combat tricks within STX.
From ramp and Lifegain to removal and tokens, here are the nine best Green cards in STX Limited.
Overgrown Arch
Image via WotC
Fueling Lifegain synergies, Overgrown Arch works best in the Witherbloom archetype but can also slot into Quandrix.
Overgrown Arch pairs exceptionally well with Dina, Soul Steeper, and Mortality Spear. The synergy created from Black and Green, removal, and Lifegain, might rank Witherbloom as one of the strongest archetypes in STX Limited. Overgrown Arch can also work in Quandrix builds, utilizing Lifegain to buy time.
Professor of Zoomancy
Professor of Zoomancy has the potential to become the best Limited Green Common in STX.
Bookwurm
Designed specifically for the Quandrix ramp build, Bookwurm is a finisher. It also slots in as a splash within Control decks.
Bookwurm is packed with value: Trample, Return, Lifegain, and card draw. It’s also an eight drop. The Wurm is a bomb in Sealed but only slots into a couple of specific Limited archetypes. It’s not a pack one first-pick but it has the potential to be a first-pick in later packs.
Bayou Groff
Bayou Groff is potentially the best Limited card in STX or just a mediocre 5/4 for five.
Ideal within a Witherbloom sacrifice deck and Aggro builds, Bayou Groff ends games quickly when played as a two-drop. Eyetwitch is an ideal one-drop to sacrifice, pulling a Lesson from outside the game—as are Pest tokens, synergizing with the Lifegain theme. Silverquill builds can also take advantage of the Dog by sacrificing cards like Professor of Symbology and Star Pupil. And it can even work in Quandrix decks. Fail to get it out prior to turn four, though, and Bayou Groff loses all its value.
Emergent Sequence
Emergent Sequence is what Quandrix builds want: ramp with the added value of creature who has Counters.
The Quandrix archetype is all about getting to eight mana, and Emergent Sequence is the ideal spell to help players achieve their archetype goals. It’s a Sorcery spell that puts a land immediately onto the battlefield (tapped) while also creating a 2/2 creature token. For a two-mana casting cost, Emergent Sequence is pure value.
Honor Troll
Apply pressure to opponents while gaining extra life points with Honor Troll.
Honor Troll packs a punch while synergizing with Lifegain themes found in the Witherbloom archetype. It gains its controller an additional life point while triggering Lifegain synergies, and when a player happens to crest 25 life points, the Troll pumps himself +2/+1. The overachieving Honor Troll is a three-drop that combos with Overgrown Arch, putting early pressure on opponents.
Master Symmetrist
Slotting nicely into either Witherbloom or Quandrix builds, Master Symmetrist is a solid defender against flyers who can also apply massive amounts of pressure during the attack stage.
Master Symmetrist synergizes with Fractal tokens, providing Trample to the Druid when it attacks. It also has Reach, defending against the many Flying creatures and tokens within STX while buying Quandrix builds time to ramp up. Master Symmetrist can also get splashed in a number of other archetypes as a solid four-drop with value.
Field Trip
Fetch a land and put it onto the battlefield immediately with Field Trip while also pulling a Lesson from outside the game.
Slotting ideally into the Quandrix ramp theme, Field Trip packs additional value via the Learn mechanic. Quandrix builds want to hit eight mana quickly, requiring ramp and stalling spells. Field Trip provides both and can even get splashed in other archetypes.
Devouring Tendrils
Ideal within a Witherbloom Lifegain build, Devouring Tendrils is a slightly worse version of Rabid Bite.
Should Devouring Endrils destroy the permanent it targets, it provides its controller with two life points, synergizing nicely with the Lifegain themes found in Witherbloom College. Outside of the Witherbloom archetype, it becomes slightly worse, in which players may want to pick up STX Mage Duel instead.