Subject: Elvish Time Bomb Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 21:08:15 -0400 (AST) From: Glenn MacEachern To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com Well, just to start out, let me say that I HATE fancy combo decks, ProsBloom is a major drag, and Fruity Pebbles is just not fun to play against. That said, Stronghold has introduced the most degenerate combo since Channel-Fireball, this infinite mana engine called the Elvish Time Bomb. This baby can be set off 3rd turn, allowing you to have the mana to counter anything and toast your opponent with a huge fireball, and to make matters worse, this combo isn't only limited to one attempt, it could be done several times, (in case it is somehow interupted). Here's the 3rd turn blow off. 1st: Forest, Birds of Paradise 2nd: Island, Quiron Elf, Llanorar Elf (Not needed btw) you only need 1 blue creature producer to set off the mana gathering, although 2 helps. 3rd: Island, Intruder Alarm (go look what it does) Tap your elves for mana, Shrieking Drake, Return Drake to your hand, Critters are now untapped, Replay Shrieking Drake, Untap, Retap, continue til tired. This mana could now be placed in a mother Torch or Fireball, or Unlimited Whispers, or in any such number of sweet and friendly things. However, it usually isn't neseccary to win 3rd turn, and if you just hold off a turn or 2, this combo becomes more steady, (However, 3rd turn victory IS tooooo sweeeeet....) How this will affect the play enviroment is still to be seen, as it will not be tested until the cards are released, or people use proxies in thier place. It seems to be VERY strong game 1, it might have troubles after sideboarding, because if you just eliminate the elves, you win the game. I don't think this really makes this combo less important, as it becomes a Prosbloom kind of thing, it's just another factor to metagame about. The Engine Itself revolves around the mana-elves, Shrieking Drake, and Intruder Alarm. I'm thinking 4 Birds of Paridise and 4 Quirion Elves might be enough, but 4 Skyshroud Elves (If you have a fireball in hand you only need 1 blue source) could also make the trip if you intend on ending it via Burn. To protect this combo, various counters could be introduced, Mana Leak and Power Sink would both work well in this deck, although Memory Lapse could also work. To complete the basic deck, Whispers, Torches for the kill, and Impulses to get key cards. Here is a basic deck list, I guess everyone else in the world can just run with it...This might be too unruly to start, but you never know, the idea of 3rd turn kills on Average draws just screams out to me. Elvish Time Bomb 4 Shrieking Drakes 4 BoP 4 Quirion Elves 4 Skyshroud Elves 4 Intruder Alarms 4 Mana Leaks 4 Power Sinks 4 Torches 4 Whispers 4 Impulses 12 Forests 8 Islands P.S. Ignore the fact that this is my 2nd post in a week, I'm on spring break and I'm thinking too much:) Glenn MacEachern Dalnet, Efnet:Glenn glenn@ug.cs.dal.ca