Have you ever noticed how many creatures, especially elves, are drawn with long hair?
Alright, that's a bit of an odd tangent to start this deck on but it'll make sense in a moment (especially if you've actually read the title). This is a deck that I threw together in an attempt to make a more thematic EDH deck. So the basic idea of long haired tribal (I know, Avacyn's Pilgrim, Ondu Giant and Sakura-Tribe Elder are technically bald, but they have long haired souls) transformed into a full theme - a bunch of hippies living in a commune, sharing the good vibes, maintaining a communal garden and a petting zoo... there are the occasional moments of the collective buzz being harshed of course, but they live in harmony worshiping the earth goddess.
This deck has been put together for our budget playgroup. That means no card other than the commander more expensive than $1 mid on magiccards.info. I've playtested it several times now. It usually starts out strong, it can drop Karametra on turn three or four with impressive consistency, and from there ramp up with cards like Whitemane Lion while taking advantage of various ETB effects. Usually I can ride that momentum all the way to the end of the game. It's by no means a hyper-competitive deck in the budget meta but it can definitely keep up.
What I'm kind of missing though is a way to turn all that mana into something that would allow me to really lock down games. I've had one very fun way where Zendikar Resurgent paired with Whitemane Lion and Hunting Pack to give me 17 4/4 beast tokens during the end step of the player to my right, but it feels like I need more finishing power. Obviously with my budget constraints cards like Craterhoof Behemoth aren't an option. The closest I've found so far is Gigantomancer, but I'm looking for more options.
Maybe Wolfbriar Elemental? With all that land you should have, this followed up with one of the many cheap Overrun effects previously suggested should end the game.
Not sure about Overrun effects. Centaur Chieftain and Wolfbriar Elemental could definitely work though. The former has long hair and the latter is kind of sort of a plant. Thanks for the suggestions!
Beastmaster Ascension is a classic tokens win condition, plus the artwork is definitely a long-haired elf drug-dealer sicking his pet tigers on some narc.
Ant Queen isn't really thematic, but it's cheap as dirt and makes a lot of mana into a lot of creatures.
Ursapine makes a bunch of mana into one really buff creature.
And I know that you didn't ask for for card draw, but Diviner's Wand is one of my favorite ways to convert mana directly into card advantage, and can serve as a quasi win condition.
Sadly Beastmaster Ascension recently rose beyond the playgroup's price limit. Still an awesome card, but sadly not allowed. Here's hoping for a reprint. I'll test Ant Queen (can't have an all natural garden without some insects skittering around) and Ursapine though.
It's a shame you can't use red, because Radha, Heir to Keld's hair is exactly what you're looking for. Though he doesn't look as mellow as most of your deck.
Alright, that's a bit of an odd tangent to start this deck on but it'll make sense in a moment (especially if you've actually read the title). This is a deck that I threw together in an attempt to make a more thematic EDH deck. So the basic idea of long haired tribal (I know, Avacyn's Pilgrim, Ondu Giant and Sakura-Tribe Elder are technically bald, but they have long haired souls) transformed into a full theme - a bunch of hippies living in a commune, sharing the good vibes, maintaining a communal garden and a petting zoo... there are the occasional moments of the collective buzz being harshed of course, but they live in harmony worshiping the earth goddess.
This deck has been put together for our budget playgroup. That means no card other than the commander more expensive than $1 mid on magiccards.info. I've playtested it several times now. It usually starts out strong, it can drop Karametra on turn three or four with impressive consistency, and from there ramp up with cards like Whitemane Lion while taking advantage of various ETB effects. Usually I can ride that momentum all the way to the end of the game. It's by no means a hyper-competitive deck in the budget meta but it can definitely keep up.
What I'm kind of missing though is a way to turn all that mana into something that would allow me to really lock down games. I've had one very fun way where Zendikar Resurgent paired with Whitemane Lion and Hunting Pack to give me 17 4/4 beast tokens during the end step of the player to my right, but it feels like I need more finishing power. Obviously with my budget constraints cards like Craterhoof Behemoth aren't an option. The closest I've found so far is Gigantomancer, but I'm looking for more options.
1x Karametra, God of Harvests
Ramp (16)
1x Arbor Elf
1x Avacyn's Pilgrim
1x Boreal Druid
1x Elvish Mystic
1x Fyndhorn Elves
1x Llanowar Elves
1x Harvester Druid
1x Khalni Heart Expedition
1x Quirion Elves
1x Sakura-Tribe Elder
1x Burnished Hart
1x Farhaven Elf
1x Wood Elves
1x Karametra's Acolyte
1x Keeper of Progenitus
1x Kor Cartographer
1x Ondu Giant
Selfbounce (7)
1x Jeskai Barricade
1x Kor Skyfisher
1x Whitemane Lion
1x Emancipation Angel
1x Fleetfoot Panther
1x Stonecloaker
1x Temur Sabertooth
1x Elvish Visionary
1x Wall of Blossoms
1x Wall of Omens
1x Lifecrafter's Bestiary
1x Llanowar Empath
1x Masked Admirers
1x Seer's Sundial
1x Nessian Game Warden
1x Primordial Sage
1x Rishkar's Expertise
1x Soul of the Harvest
1x Zendikar Resurgent
Buffs (7)
1x Quest for Renewal
1x Archetype of Courage
1x Retreat to Kazandu
1x Retreat to Emeria
1x Juniper Order Ranger
1x Collective Blessing
1x Archetype of Endurance
Retrigger (3)
1x Flickerwisp
1x Felidar Guardian
1x Glimmerpoint Stag
1x Creeping Renaissance
1x Emeria Shepherd
Removal (11)
1x Soul Snare
1x Darksteel Mutation
1x Banishing Light
1x Manglehorn
1x Stasis Snare
1x Polukranos, World Eater
1x Acidic Slime
1x End Hostilities
1x Sylvan Reclamation
1x Brutalizer Exarch
1x Terastodon
Land (37)
23x Forest
14x Plains
Tokens (3)
1x Sporemound
1x Zendikar's Roil
1x Pack Hunt
1x Karametra, God of Harvests (1)
Long haired freaky people (22)
1x Arbor Elf
1x Avacyn's Pilgrim
1x Boreal Druid
1x Elvish Mystic
1x Fyndhorn Elves
1x Llanowar Elves
1x Elvish Visionary
1x Harvester Druid
1x Kor Skyfisher
1x Quirion Elves
1x Sakura-Tribe Elder
1x Emancipation Angel
1x Farhaven Elf
1x Wood Elves
1x Karametra's Acolyte
1x Keeper of Progenitus
1x Kor Cartographer
1x Llanowar Empath
1x Masked Admirers
1x Ondu Giant
1x Juniper Order Ranger
1x Emeria Shepherd
1x Jeskai Barricade
1x Wall of Blossoms
1x Wall of Omens
1x Lifecrafter's Bestiary
1x Stonecloaker
1x Seer's Sundial
Good vibrations (11)
1x Archetype of Courage
1x Flickerwisp
1x Retreat to Kazandu
1x Retreat to Emeria
1x Creeping Renaissane
1x Primordial Sage
1x Collective Blessing
1x Rishkar's Expertise
1x Soul of the Harvest
1x Zendikar Resurgent
1x Archetype of Endurance
The petting zoo (10)
1x Whitemane Lion
1x Burnished Hart
1x Fleetfoot Panther
1x Manglehorn
1x Felidar Guardian
1x Glimmerpoint Stag
1x Temur Sabertooth
1x Nessian Game Warden
1x Pack Hunt
1x Terastodon
1x Soul Snare
1x Darksteel Mutation
1x Banishing Light
1x Stasis Snare
1x Polukranos, World Eater
1x Acidic Slime
1x End Hostilities
1x Sylvan Reclamation
1x Brutalizer Exarch
The communal garden (4)
1x Khalni Heart Expedition
1x Quest for Renewal
1x Sporemound
1x Zendikar's Roil
Land (37)
23x Forest
14x Plains
Currently Playing:
Multiplayer EDH Lists (click italics for a link to the thread!)
[Primer] Lord of Tresserhorn - Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do[Primer] Roon of the Hidden Realm - Rhino Blink
5 Color Tribal Guide (Slivers, Atogs, Allies, Spirits)
Also Playing (most decklists can be found on my profile)
MarathGeistKamahlGrenzoBolasThassaGitrog
PiratesZurVial Smasher&ThrasiosYennettJhoira(cEDH)Strix(Pauper)
Legacy: Maverick
Modern:
Melira PodRIP 1/19/15GWHatebearsAnt Queen isn't really thematic, but it's cheap as dirt and makes a lot of mana into a lot of creatures.
Ursapine makes a bunch of mana into one really buff creature.
And I know that you didn't ask for for card draw, but Diviner's Wand is one of my favorite ways to convert mana directly into card advantage, and can serve as a quasi win condition.
Currently Playing:
Multiplayer EDH Lists (click italics for a link to the thread!)
[Primer] Lord of Tresserhorn - Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do[Primer] Roon of the Hidden Realm - Rhino Blink
5 Color Tribal Guide (Slivers, Atogs, Allies, Spirits)
Also Playing (most decklists can be found on my profile)
MarathGeistKamahlGrenzoBolasThassaGitrog
PiratesZurVial Smasher&ThrasiosYennettJhoira(cEDH)Strix(Pauper)
Legacy: Maverick
Modern:
Melira PodRIP 1/19/15GWHatebears