Allosaurus Shepherd - WOW! Elf, check. Can't be countered, nice. GREEN SPELLS you control can't be countered, wat?!?! This is amazing for finishing a game and getting through spells during a pod filled with control players. Plus for our Wirewood Symbiote loop that elf type is relevant. I don't think that 4GG ability is that relevant though. Still an immediate pickup for me, just don't know exactly what I'm going to cut to slot it in.
Lurking Predators - Not as crazy about this card, but still seems neat. Especially because we're a creature based deck, being able to get a handful of free creatures with the number of spells going on. It does say "Put it on the battlefield". But it being 6CMC and enchantment doesn't make me think it'll be good enough to slot into the deck.
As for M21:
Garruk's Uprising - I believe that this is the most relevant card to Yeva in the set. With Yeva out, you get a card when it ETBs. For some of our other creatures Pow greater than 4 we get a little more card draw. Then, the "all your creatures get trample" clause is also nice for finishing off the game in some scenarios. Even being an enchantment all of those effects for 3CMC isn't a bad price.
Elder Gargaroth - First off I don't hate this card. Card draw each turn you can attack (plus it's got vigilance, so it can stay defensive). Flash this out to block something to get a card. I just don't know how I feel about 5CMC. Though some of our card engines (Primordial Sage and Soul of the Harvest are 6CMC). So I don't think it's too crazy to think this powerhouse of an attacker and blocker would be good. I'm still back and forth on it.
Garruk's Harbinger - Unlike Elder, this beast has to actually make contact to get it's card advantage. 3CMC isn't too steep of a cost, and hexproof from black is alright. Since we don't have anything that gives extra combats or anything that cares about beasts. I think I don't like this card all that much.
Lurked here for a while and finally got around to posting in this thread. I've been playing Yeva as one of my regular commanders since late 2018. I just wanted to voice my opinion on some of the new cards in sets since the last major revision of the original post, and some of the modifications I've done for my own meta/play style. Also, just a thank to Iansisle for the large amount of work that's gone into this post for so long, and because of that I was able to find a commander that's became my absolute favorite!
Cards I've changed:
Elvish Reclaimer has been one of the best cards IMO for Yeva that I've seen. I've even replaced Tempt with Discovery with it! Being able to repeatedly (to an extent) fetch out lands on an elf creature screams what this deck is all about. Plus once you have the wirewood/temur combo up and running you can even fetch out utility lands at instant speed (given that you have a creature that untaps a land out). Side note, I also run Windswept Heath and Wooded Foothills to help a little with Reclaimer's enough lands in the graveyard pump ability. I can't actively think of a time that actually mattered, but something of note.
Castle Garenbrig has also been a card that I've enjoyed playing. I've swapped it with Blighted Woodland. Comparing it to what I swapped it for Castle Garenbrig and Blighted Woodland both have their effect be 4 mana (2GG vs 3G, which for a mono-green deck is basically the same). However, the effectiveness of the cards is key. (Assuming you have 4 lands out already) On the turn that Castle Garenbrig comes into play you can more often than not be tapped to get 6 usable mana (for spells or active abilities of creatures only)! That mana amount is key for some of our 'cast creature, draw card' creatures. Whereas, Blighted Woodland you have to wait another turn to get the cards ramp (b/c the lands come in tapped and you have to wait to untap them). Technically, Blighted Woodland thins the deck by 2 forests so swapping Castle Garenbrig does have a minor trade off, but well worth it, IMO.
Collector Ouphe is my replacement for Seeds of Innocence. I enjoy this Ouphe mainly because it is a creature that can be flashed out with Yeva. It doesn't destroy artifacts like Seeds does, but flashing this out in response to an opponent tapping out to play an expensive mana rock (them assuming they'll have access to that mana when it resolves) is an amazing feeling!
Questing Beast is what I needed for at my LGS. I replaced Vizier of the Menagerie with it. After playing with Vizier for a while, I felt it was one of the weaker card advantage pieces in the deck. I was also running into more people playing fogs (mainly Constant Mists ). So Questing Beast was my answer to fogs when I'm combo-ing off at the end. This substitution has more to do with my local meta, rather than a 'better' card. Though, deathtouch is a good reason to not having people swing in at you.
Nyxbloom Ancient - It's a hell of a crazy card, but I don't think it's something for the current form of the deck. Because we're looking to get 6+ mana to get our Wirewood/Temur loop going that means you'll need to get out a Nykthos or Gaea's cradle, which can typically make that much mana without a mana-tripler on board. I'd rather a utility creature personally.
Nylea, Keen-Eyed - This almost did it for me, but putting your cards into the graveyard rather than the bottom of the library (like how Duskwatch Recruiter does it) was the deal breaker. Though it's still a 5/6 Indestructible creature that reduces creature cost ... so it's certainly good, just wasn't my cup of tea (and still isn't).
Vivien, Monster's Advocate - That '-2' is really neat. I think there's quite a number of solid plays that can be made with that. It does also give that slight card advantage from the top of your library which works well with our deck style (i.e. heavy on creatures). But, for me, 5 mana is a lot plus it's not a creature (so I can't flash it out). And that makes me hesitant on this card (though I'd love to know other people's opinions because that '-2' ability keeps coming back to my head).
Hyrax Tower Scout - A good backup for if Wirewood Symbiote gets destroy (or worse ... exiled). I don't think it's worth a slot in the maindeck right now, but it has some potential in the future. IDK, I'm still brewing with it. Though it's slow going with the plauge and all
Wildborn Preserver - It used to be in my deck, and was my favorite creature to have paired with Selvala, Heart of the Wilds. A beautiful feedback loop throughout turns in the game when Wildborn gets bigger, Selvala taps for more mana, to be used to make wildborn bigger, etc.! Reach is certainly a good keyword, and being able to flash out Wildborn even without Yeva is a wonderful trick, too. Sadly other than a creature that you can use to put excess mana into each turn after flashing out other creatures, it being an elf, and potentially getting sacrificed to Greater Good, I didn't feel there was that much other synergy with it. It certainly did do work though and would recommend for other people to try Wildborn out!
Titanoth Rex - I don't know why I enjoy this card so much ... basically giving something trample permanently plus drawing a card. Not anything too crazy. I don't think I'd ever throw it into the deck, but something that I enjoy having in the back of my mind for future sets hopefully!
Allosaurus Shepherd - WOW! Elf, check. Can't be countered, nice. GREEN SPELLS you control can't be countered, wat?!?! This is amazing for finishing a game and getting through spells during a pod filled with control players. Plus for our Wirewood Symbiote loop that elf type is relevant. I don't think that 4GG ability is that relevant though. Still an immediate pickup for me, just don't know exactly what I'm going to cut to slot it in.
Lurking Predators - Not as crazy about this card, but still seems neat. Especially because we're a creature based deck, being able to get a handful of free creatures with the number of spells going on. It does say "Put it on the battlefield". But it being 6CMC and enchantment doesn't make me think it'll be good enough to slot into the deck.
As for M21:
Garruk's Uprising - I believe that this is the most relevant card to Yeva in the set. With Yeva out, you get a card when it ETBs. For some of our other creatures Pow greater than 4 we get a little more card draw. Then, the "all your creatures get trample" clause is also nice for finishing off the game in some scenarios. Even being an enchantment all of those effects for 3CMC isn't a bad price.
Elder Gargaroth - First off I don't hate this card. Card draw each turn you can attack (plus it's got vigilance, so it can stay defensive). Flash this out to block something to get a card. I just don't know how I feel about 5CMC. Though some of our card engines (Primordial Sage and Soul of the Harvest are 6CMC). So I don't think it's too crazy to think this powerhouse of an attacker and blocker would be good. I'm still back and forth on it.
Garruk's Harbinger - Unlike Elder, this beast has to actually make contact to get it's card advantage. 3CMC isn't too steep of a cost, and hexproof from black is alright. Since we don't have anything that gives extra combats or anything that cares about beasts. I think I don't like this card all that much.
Cards I've changed:
Elvish Reclaimer has been one of the best cards IMO for Yeva that I've seen. I've even replaced Tempt with Discovery with it! Being able to repeatedly (to an extent) fetch out lands on an elf creature screams what this deck is all about. Plus once you have the wirewood/temur combo up and running you can even fetch out utility lands at instant speed (given that you have a creature that untaps a land out). Side note, I also run Windswept Heath and Wooded Foothills to help a little with Reclaimer's enough lands in the graveyard pump ability. I can't actively think of a time that actually mattered, but something of note.
Castle Garenbrig has also been a card that I've enjoyed playing. I've swapped it with Blighted Woodland. Comparing it to what I swapped it for Castle Garenbrig and Blighted Woodland both have their effect be 4 mana (2GG vs 3G, which for a mono-green deck is basically the same). However, the effectiveness of the cards is key. (Assuming you have 4 lands out already) On the turn that Castle Garenbrig comes into play you can more often than not be tapped to get 6 usable mana (for spells or active abilities of creatures only)! That mana amount is key for some of our 'cast creature, draw card' creatures. Whereas, Blighted Woodland you have to wait another turn to get the cards ramp (b/c the lands come in tapped and you have to wait to untap them). Technically, Blighted Woodland thins the deck by 2 forests so swapping Castle Garenbrig does have a minor trade off, but well worth it, IMO.
Collector Ouphe is my replacement for Seeds of Innocence. I enjoy this Ouphe mainly because it is a creature that can be flashed out with Yeva. It doesn't destroy artifacts like Seeds does, but flashing this out in response to an opponent tapping out to play an expensive mana rock (them assuming they'll have access to that mana when it resolves) is an amazing feeling!
Questing Beast is what I needed for at my LGS. I replaced Vizier of the Menagerie with it. After playing with Vizier for a while, I felt it was one of the weaker card advantage pieces in the deck. I was also running into more people playing fogs (mainly Constant Mists ). So Questing Beast was my answer to fogs when I'm combo-ing off at the end. This substitution has more to do with my local meta, rather than a 'better' card. Though, deathtouch is a good reason to not having people swing in at you.
Talking about cards now:
As for DooMxWolf's cards (plus I'll also talk about Hyrax Tower Scout, Wildborn Preserver and Titanoth Rex)
Nyxbloom Ancient - It's a hell of a crazy card, but I don't think it's something for the current form of the deck. Because we're looking to get 6+ mana to get our Wirewood/Temur loop going that means you'll need to get out a Nykthos or Gaea's cradle, which can typically make that much mana without a mana-tripler on board. I'd rather a utility creature personally.
Nylea, Keen-Eyed - This almost did it for me, but putting your cards into the graveyard rather than the bottom of the library (like how Duskwatch Recruiter does it) was the deal breaker. Though it's still a 5/6 Indestructible creature that reduces creature cost ... so it's certainly good, just wasn't my cup of tea (and still isn't).
Vivien, Monster's Advocate - That '-2' is really neat. I think there's quite a number of solid plays that can be made with that. It does also give that slight card advantage from the top of your library which works well with our deck style (i.e. heavy on creatures). But, for me, 5 mana is a lot plus it's not a creature (so I can't flash it out). And that makes me hesitant on this card (though I'd love to know other people's opinions because that '-2' ability keeps coming back to my head).
Hyrax Tower Scout - A good backup for if Wirewood Symbiote gets destroy (or worse ... exiled). I don't think it's worth a slot in the maindeck right now, but it has some potential in the future. IDK, I'm still brewing with it. Though it's slow going with the plauge and all
Wildborn Preserver - It used to be in my deck, and was my favorite creature to have paired with Selvala, Heart of the Wilds. A beautiful feedback loop throughout turns in the game when Wildborn gets bigger, Selvala taps for more mana, to be used to make wildborn bigger, etc.! Reach is certainly a good keyword, and being able to flash out Wildborn even without Yeva is a wonderful trick, too. Sadly other than a creature that you can use to put excess mana into each turn after flashing out other creatures, it being an elf, and potentially getting sacrificed to Greater Good, I didn't feel there was that much other synergy with it. It certainly did do work though and would recommend for other people to try Wildborn out!
Titanoth Rex - I don't know why I enjoy this card so much ... basically giving something trample permanently plus drawing a card. Not anything too crazy. I don't think I'd ever throw it into the deck, but something that I enjoy having in the back of my mind for future sets hopefully!