Crystal Elf Combo deck

[June]

Hi, I'm a fairly new player who built this deck to use some of my highest glory cards, but the combo turned out to be surprisingly effective. I'd like to share the deck as well as ask for suggestions on how to improve it:

THE COMBO
Armored Escort
Guardian x2
Crystal Arcanist
Crystal Archers

SUPPORT/FILLER (5 of the following)
Last Stand
Rabid Prowler
Musketeer
Daggerfall
Slitherbound
Arcane Ring (only in here for the glory, I almost never wind up using it)

HOW IT WORKS
I start my combo by playing Armored Escort, letting my opponent steal tempo while I recharge my mana. Once my mana bar is full, I play either Arcanist or Archers (depending on the enemy's minions) at the back of my field, giving me 3-4 Mana Surged attackers flanking whatever the enemy sent at me. As soon as my side is clear, or if my elves are threatened (say by an enemy spell), I'll put a Guardian down to protect them.

I'll play a second Guardian when the first dies or when my elves reach the bridge. If they get slowed down by enemy minions before/at the bridge I'll add a second Elf card as long as it doesn't remove my Mana Surge.

Unless countered by cards like Chain Lightning or Colossus, my Elves will tend to either decimate whatever army my opponent throws in their way or take out about half his tower's health before dying.

[Vrakos Anthrakir]

this isn't a new deck type by any means so you don't really need to go through a 'how it works'. I wouldn't even consider last stand for the other half, take black hole and some bridge grab like crossbow dudes. also might as well just take a regular prowler if you want one of those instead of the rabid

[June]

Thanks for the reply! Why wouldn't you consider Last Stand? It may not play directly into the combo, but it seems a pretty solid card on its own (about as strong as the old Legionaires before the nerf, 7 for 7 mana instead of 5 for 5 mana). I use it to counter the enemy's bridge grab and tie up whatever they play next, or to stop a push when my combo isn't ready yet. It also provides a second target for Morellia's Forbidden Knowledge.

As for the prowler, I only have the rabid version, and it synergizes well with my Musketeer's Call Slitherbound. If I'm careful where I play it it can be a powerful push on its own. (It's also one of my only 200+ glory cards.)

I've thought before about adding a Bridge Buddies or something similar to reduce the enemy's XP advantage; I'll try a couple different options and maybe that Black Hole you mentioned and see how they feel.

[Flicker Bean]

Last Stand isn't a bad card, necessarily, but it is a Fireball or Wheel of Doom waiting to happen if your opponent knows you have it or is prepared (for a 3 mana tempo swing rather than 1 with the regular legionnaires. It also requires a much more specific board position (not holding any bridges) to get value from and costs 7 mana meaning that you have to wait a while for your mana surge afterwards. I agree with Vrakos regarding Black Hole. Something like Nyrvir's Breath or maybe a lucky Magma Storm will make your combo look much less threatening but a Black Hole counters that very efficiently. As for the rest of it, whatever you are most comfortable with is probably best.

I see this kind of deck often enough, its been around for some time, and it can be tough to play against. I wouldn't play your version myself though because I hate the way that wildcards alter the balance of the game. Just my personal issue though and if you are OK with them, they are within the rules so you are well within your rights to use them. Black Hole can be difficult to time and place correctly until you have had some practice with it so be aware of that. Good luck with it anyway.