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 Strategy isn’t really your thing, huh? You don’t want a challenge? You’d rather just take the easy way out and put forth the least thought and effort to get a victory? Well, here you go, champ. Here’s the deck for you. Okay... maybe that’s not totally fair. The Elves deck still requires a fair amount of strategy. But, I think it's fair to say that the Ears deck is arguably the best of the available decks.
Strengths
- Incredibly versatile. Lots of ways to beat your opponent.
- Potential to have a ton of creatures.
- Lots of great boosting spells and abilities.
- Potential to have a ton of creatures boosted ridiculously. Think 10 creatures about 12/12 on the board at the same time. Yeah... ridiculous.
Weaknesses
General Strategy – Overwhelm and overpower
I hate this deck for a number of reasons. For one, I assume that Wizards was going for some degree of deck parity, and that’s part of the reason they left out deck customization. Well, with the Elves deck, they screwed up royally. It’s not just that you can get a ton of creatures out, nor that they can get boosted to all be ridiculously powerful. Add to that the fact that you’ve got direct-damage spells, ways to counter enchantments/artifacts, insta-kill spells, etc., etc. The deck is just too good for a number of reasons.
Typically, when playing this deck, your goal should be to keep your weak elves alive long enough to get them boosted by Immaculate Magistrate, Elvish Champion, or, ideally, Coat of Arms (there are a couple others in there, too).
So, early in the match, you might want to take some hits from your opponent, even if it means leaving your piddly 1/1 elf to stand there looking stupid. If you get lucky, that elf may suddenly end up 11/11 or something ridiculous, and you can take your opponent out in one turn.
Now, I'm not trying to imply that this deck is unbeatable... it most certainly is. However, there are only a couple decks that can beat this one with any degree of consistency.
Killer combos and card-specific notes
Immaculate Magistrate
Her ability to add +1/+1 counters is permanent, and cumulative. So, you can keep boosting up a single elf until it’s a ridiculous 30/30 juggernaut or something. At her cost, she is way too good.
 Coat of Arms
This is the key card in the deck. If you can get it out with even a small handful of elves on the field, they’re suddenly top-tier creatures in terms of power and toughness. It can mildly backfire against certain scenarios (like if your opponent has a ton o’ goblins out or something). But, for the most part, it’s going to work in your favor.
Elvish Eulogist
The epitome of a sacrificial lamb, if you’re hurting for health and your opponent is attacking, first block with her, then sacrifice her. As soon as she’s set as a blocker, your opponent’s attack is directed her way. So even if she’s not there before the attack resolves, you won’t take any damage. And, if you have a few elves in the graveyard already, you’ll get a nice boost.
 Imperious Perfect, Nath of the Gilt-Leaf, Lys Alana Huntmaster
These cards can bolster your army by providing extra 1/1 elf tokens. Those elves are great for additional boosting for cards that rely on number of elves or for sacrificial lambs.
Deck matchups
Teeth of the Predator (Green)
You’ve got the advantage here for a few reasons. 1.) No fliers to worry about. 2.) If you get Elvish Champion out, all your creatures are unblockable. 3.) You’ll have plenty of blockers for the small-but-powerful army. 4.)Your Eyeblight’s Ending card can kill a big creature instantly.
Hands of Flame (Red)
Hands of Flame can actually be a bit of a threat. The direct-damage cards can take out your good elves. Prodigal Pyromancer can decimate your weaker elves and keep you from building up an army. Bloodmark Mentor can put a damper on your ability to attack or block. And Hostility’s ability could cause your Coat of Arms to backfire stupendously. To win, try and bait your opponent into wasting Shock and Incinerate on the wimpy elves. If you get Coat of Arms, Flame has no way to get rid of it. But, keep in mind that Flame has a lot of goblins, so Coat of Arms can backfire slightly.
Wings of Light (White)
Wings often benefits from a drawn-out battle where it can just accumulate life. If your opponent seems to take that route – let them have a ball. You just need to last long enough to get a Coat of Arms or somehow otherwise get your elves really strong. Getting Jagged Scar Archers out will really help you negate the major flight advantage. Beware that your opponent may have cards like Mass Calcify and Wrath of God to destroy a large army you’ve amassed. A quick win should be your goal here, typically.
Eyes of Shadow (Black)
Eyes seems to have the best matchup vs. the Elves that I’ve seen so far. Black’s ability to disrupt with discards can really cause trouble as can the insta-kill abilities of Terror, Consume spirit, and Deathmark. Final Revels also can wipe out a majority of your creatures right away if they aren't boosted. Plus, with a good number of fliers, they can pick away at the elves. This one often comes down to who has the best first couple of turns. But, Eyes has no way to directly eliminate Coat of Arms, so you've got a big advantage if you get it out. Also, your Moonglove Winnower can avoid Terror and halt any ground-based creatures from attacking.
Thoughts of the Wind (Blue)
You can really hose Wind with Gaea’s Herald. It effectively negates Wind’s ability to cancel out your creatures. However, you’ll still have to worry about Wind’s ability to counter your non-creature spells. They also have the flight advantage. Even without a boosted army, though, you have a good shot to build up enough peons to take out Wind quickly.
Claws of Vengeance (Red, White, Green)
Your only significant threat here is Naturalize on Coat of Arms. There are a few direct-damage spells that can cause problems, and Pacifism can be a thorn, though it only stops attacking/blocking – not your creatures’ abilities. An Elvish Champion and Forestwalk can really put you in the driver’s seat.
Ears of the Elves (Black & Green)
This can end up a ridiculous juggernaut matchup. Many of the cards you’ll play will benefit both teams, no matter who played it. Eyeblight’s Ending is useless, as it can’t be used against Elves. So, your only real direct-attack option will be Essence Drain.
Scales of Fury (Black, Red, Green)
Your ability to get a small army quickly will probably give you the advantage here early. If you get it, run with it. As soon as Scales gets their army built up, you’re in for a world of hurt. Scales has a number of direct damage or insta-kill spells and abilities that can take out your best creatures. Scales also has Naturalize, which can destroy your Coat of Arms. It's definitely between Scales and Eyes for the best chance to face the elves.
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