I love the way this deck runs and I love that no one is prepared for it. This really isn't an aggro deck, it's just a high synergy deck that does its own thing, kind of reminds me of Aristocrats. There's definitely a lot of math involved. I rarely fully deploy my hand but am still able to cast Shaman of the Pack to drain for 4+. You really have to calculate how much potential damage a shaman or Foul-Tongue Shriek will yield you vs. getting in chip shots and losing a couple elves. Most wins are an overwhelming board presence that abuses shaman or shriek. I'm extremely happy with the decklist. Most games I'll have 3 or 4 creatures out by turn 2, Gnarlroot Trapper and Beastcaller Savant allow you to explode out of nowhere while most opponents are fidgeting with their 4 color mana base. Shaman and Drana are just completely unfair in a collected company deck, this isn't a grind so much as a few explosions of damage chained together. I've literally had games where I CC double shamans for 10-12 drain then next turn swing with shriek and the game is over, 3 durdly elves turning into a lethal attack in one turn.
This deck is even more vicious after sideboard when you bring in 4 Duress or 4 Eyeblight Massacre they're just completely unfair when you strip their sweeper and don't miss a beat or you're both building your armies and a one sided sweeper ends the game. Evolutionary Leap could probably be something else, it's just there to ruin games where they try to grind you out. Sideboarding is easy, Sylvan Messenger is usually the first thing to go, Collected Company is the best card in the deck and usually creates games where you always have an out so I never cut in a way to make it bad.
Tonight I went 2-1-0
First deck was 4 color Rally (1-0-0)
You gotta be fast, you have to make them waste resources when you make your big drains, Drana and Dwynen are big help but they leave you prone to combat blow outs so watch their mana. If they're holding mana to kill them in combat and lose your anthem let them, your drains don't sacrifice your board presence. Duress their Rally and apply lots of pressure, don't trade resources, Shaman wrecks this deck, you have to leverage your army of elves so they make bad sacks, Shriek messes up combat math, use it after blocks before damage. This deck really struggles to beat us when we have a big board and Massacre forces them to make bad sacs. Try something like a two prong side board plan, 3 Duress, 3 Massacre, cut a couple shriek, messenger, a dywnen, this match is completely winnable.
Second deck was U/R Thopters (1-1-0)
This match should be winnable but I never saw massacre. The anthem girls Drana+Dwynen can lose the game for you. Drana can't punch through, and double burn on Dwynen in combat can create terrible situations. I like keeping Shriek in here for the life gain, but only a massive Shriek. If they're trading burn for little elves they'll lose because visionary, Dwynen's Elite and CC can put you very far ahead. I'm not sure how much people will see this deck but it's hard to win with Massacre.
Third deck Rally again! (2-1-0)
This is why a play magic. Was just a complete slaughter. Shamans on Shrieking Shamans, 15 points of drain in one turn. I had 3 little elves, CC'd into double shaman into shriek and he was chump blocking to save his life. This is why I think the elves deck is completely competitive.
There aren't a lot of changes I would make to this deck. I don't think Nissa is better than Deadbridge Shaman honestly. Fetching a forest is pointless and she'll never flip. New Nissa maybe but I have no idea what to cut for her without interfering with collected company.
I really like your deck. I liked it so much that I'm using it for the basis of my own deck with a few minor tweaks:
The sideboard is more of cards that I am thinking about substituting into the deck card than actually being a sideboard. I really want to try this deck out at a standard FNM.
I'm thinking about going back to straight G/b. For me, the only reason to add white was for Gideon, but doing that slows the deck down too much. He's good for a more mid-rangey type deck, but that not this deck. New Nissa is a decent alternative. My new favorite, though is Oath of Nissa. I think I really want to run 4 since the etb trigger is all this deck needs anyways. So far, I've not been unhappy to see that card whenever I draw it. It's possible I may try to go Jund, so I can keep Atarka's Command, but the jury's still out
I am extremely confused to the second part of the Oath of Nissa. What is considered to be a Planeswalker Spell or am I interpreting it wrong?
I just wanted to create an account to say that I like the way you are going with Dromoka's Command in the elves deck. I am most interested if the synergy with Eldrazi Displacer is worth putting it in any type of elves deck.
I really like your deck. I liked it so much that I'm using it for the basis of my own deck with a few minor tweaks:
4 Gnarlroot Trapper
4 Thornbow Archer
4 Dwynen's Elite
4 Beastcaller Savant
4 Elvish Visionary
4 Shaman of the Pack
2 Drana, Liberator of Malakir
2 Sylvan Messenger
3 Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen
1 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
Spells 8
4 Foul-Tongue Shriek
2 Collected Company
2 Ruinous Path
Lands 20
4 Llanowar Wastes
2 Jungle Hollow
7 Swamp
7 Forest
2 Eyeblight Massacre
4 Duress
4 Zulaport Cutthroat
2 Murderous Cut
2 Collective Company
1 Nissa, Voice of Zendikar
The sideboard is more of cards that I am thinking about substituting into the deck card than actually being a sideboard. I really want to try this deck out at a standard FNM.
I am extremely confused to the second part of the Oath of Nissa. What is considered to be a Planeswalker Spell or am I interpreting it wrong?