Five-Color Voja Elves | Against the Odds

[@sechmet987]

I'd like to say "thank you very much" to whoever drew Voja for the thumbnail of the video. Great work

[@hablasetacobell]

His name is Adriano Kitani and he does all the Goldfish art thumbnails, he's great

[@clintcook8691]

I swear the “best deck in standard” changes every video 😂

[@thatoneperson9619]

That's how you know it's a fun standard lol. No oppressive meta yet.

[@lelandgill3631]

Well if you run jank like Seth, every other deck in the format is the best by comparison

[@S4DC4T]

@@thatoneperson9619but there is tho, it might not be the same deck but it’s always sheoldred and graveyard trespasser and tenacious underdog

[@brettgrossman1113]

Have you played standard recently lol? Domain and convoke are much better than generic black midrange piles@@S4DC4T

[@blackiscolor7732]

There’s usually just a couple “best deck in standard”s

[@derelict844]

"Hold me closer, Fleetfoot Daaancer..."

[@epothos1]

🎶🎵Count the blockers on the battlefield🎵🎶

[@epothos1]

@@brackish2386 you sure about that?

[@joshuajordan6632]

I would also add that Roaming Throne triggers Ward 3 TWICE. So good luck killing Voja

[@charlied8284]

Nope

[@wha7does7hefox99]

@@charlied8284Ward is a triggered ability so it will be doubled if Roaming throne names wolf

[@Cheerwine091]

@@brackish2386Unstoppable Force vs (near) Immovable Object

[@alwaysplaythegame]

Somewhere Crim is rambling about how everyone needs to be playing Void Rend

[@KarmicMishap]

I like to think that the ambitious card designers at WotC watch these videos and cry tears of joy that someone has noticed their neat little card.

[@bensteinhauser784]

Missed win at 30:45. Instead of flipping up Voja and disguising Brazen Upstart, instead, put a counter on each color creature, then flip up Voja and attack. It would have given exactly 2 more damage.

[@tristian2598]

"opponent on mobile and arena crashing" so many games lost to needing to respond to a text and arena freaking the fuck out, or it bugging out and forcing me to restart and never loading, terrible mobile app with a great game slapped on it

[@bensteinhauser784]

Every time I hear "This is great aside from how it lines up against Sheoldred [in combat]" I question why Sheoldred is a 4/5 instead of a 4/4.

[@davidhansen5067]

Siege Rhino 2.0, in every way. 😹

[@THELASTMASTA]

Insane how pushed Voja is for commander. It's a craterhoof that draws you cards and has ward in your command zone.

[@Asageun]

Ive played it. On lower tables, it can get out turn 3-4, then things get really bad. It did not need ward 3

[@devinayaz9210]

i still hate the fact the entire meta is revolved around "is there a sheoldred"

[@koolaiddude7685894]

I promise youll be okay

[@pug8714]

​@@koolaiddude7685894 And I promise it's not the healthiest state a game can be in

[@evankraabel5415]

it really doesnt, sheoldred isnt even played in most decks that can cast him. Like, the esper deck in match 1 very likely had 0 sheoldreds, or max 2.

[@koolaiddude7685894]

​@@pug8714 youre reallllly trying to pretend it is warping a format, and it's just so far from that 😂 it's a strong mythic that slots into any black deck. Nothing more

[@pug8714]

@@koolaiddude7685894 where did I say it warped a format? I didn't? Oh

[@kelvinliu-huang5955]

34:49 does Seth not realize Glissa beats anything in combat??

[@CupOYerba]

And destroys enchantments.

[@vanblod9338]

Yeah, I wouldn't have scooped until they showed some removal personally.

[@Gowdy591]

@@ther3aper561Can't block with the lands though, since Loamspeaker animates them at sorcery speed. Without losing the loamspeaker blocking, he'd take 14 next turn, then another 10 the turn after.

[@ther3aper561]

@@Gowdy591 oh my bad, I didn't realize it was sorcery speed. Thank you for clearing that up!

[@Atmapalazzo]

What I learned this week is that the werefox are elves. Took me awhile to figure out why, but that is neat.

[@JonaxII]

Why are they? I mean, okay, they said the werefox are elves, I got that, but you telling me there's a deeper reasoning behind that?

[@Atmapalazzo]

@@JonaxII long story short a bunch of elves are cursed by a witch, and turn into werefox.

[@dinnerpartyempire]

just like werewolves are like a human-wolf thingy, werefoxes are elves with the curse of foxness ​@JonaxII

[@sammybanger85]

I took your Doppelgang deck from a couple weeks ago and added one card... Mirror Box. Holy hell it makes it so much better!

[@jarvvoitlus9458]

when he was being smug about voja being unkillable against the esper deck i was expecting the surprise Void Rend so hard

[@Muongoing.97c]

Not every esper player is crim.

[@Shimatzu95]

​@@Muongoing.97cOnly about 70% of them are

[@crazyvikingboy2856]

I always get obliterated by Voja commander decks on arena and paper

[@kalebgray1050]

Voja is *extremely* annoying on brawl. Basically a 5 mana craterhoof if you played an elf every turn.

[@coreysierchio4650]

I remember when there wasn't continuous preview season & Seth would poll the audience on what he was going to play for "Against The Odds." Not like I can remember what's legal in Standard anymore anyway, lol. *Thanks for the Content!*

[@ther3aper561]

I feel like the scoop against boros was a little early. Having a glissa and plenty of lands to throw in front of a bunch of x/2s is fine especially cuz you're drawing live for fleetfoot dancer and voja. Now if they draw removal that makes sense but otherwise going to 9 and waiting another turn is probably fine

[@adamkleber4355]

I think you punted at 30:45 - if you wait until combat, use vannifar to pump your face down Voja and the other disguise, then flip up Voja before attacks with the extra counter, I'm pretty sure you have exactsies

[@nbmbruh]

Love watching you beat standard meta decks. Hate to see everyone run the same stuff.

[@goomshill]

I've been playing voja elfball for a week or two, and I found with all the sweepers and fast boros decks the best/only way to really win was go all in on early elves. Turn 3 voja is possible with stalward/cultivator as 1 drops, gala greeters/loamspeaker/break out as 2 drops. Visionary feels great at drawing cards or building a board of power/toughness in the absence of voja, but boy does trying to build up a board with visionary get blown out by every sweeper. But a turn 3 voja wins just about every time, and Break Out actually digs deeper than storm the festival to find it and only 1 mana less to cast both

[@JonReid01]

60 card right?

[@goomshill]

Yeah in a standard list like this, just lower curve@@JonReid01

[@Bigd2k]

27:30 maybe thinking to small. But wouldn’t a first striker work good with treacherous greed? If it goes unblocked good if it’s block just cast greed in between first strike damage and the rest of damage step.

[@plantoth]

Treaturous greed could be super interesting with first strike, or double strike. You get in the first hit, have dealt damage so you can sacrifice it before regular combat takes place. Definitely an interesting card.

[@StevoM08]

We’re going back to Lorwyn in 2025. Voja’s definitely gonna get some love.

[@davidcrawford5324]

That triple monstrous rage draw was SUPER sus....What are the frigging odds they pull that many in 1 or 2 turns even when they have 4 in the deck??? That match was FILLED with jank on that red deck

[@JRBissett]

Again, Void Rend stock going WAAAAY Up - Crim has been right all along

[@Alexander-rk4cu]

the moment i saw the core card, i thought: Damn, this would work well with maskwood. but sadly that rotatet out :(

[@person3176]

i love fleetfoot dancer. when i was new to magic, 5c humans was the top deck in modern and i really liked the deck. never played it due to the cost but i always looked up to it and it inspired me. One of the best cards in the deck was mantis rider, and fleetfoot dancer reminds me of an elf variant of it. Easy to cast due to the tribal mana base and a powerful haste threat. love it.

[@evankraabel5415]

If youd blocked with upstart the first time in G2 vs mono red, youd have been at 7 on the turn you conceded, not 2. That is very likely enough to sur vive until dancer comes down.

[@logaf94]

I really feel like being able to consistently play removal is more important than vannifar lol

[@rosavanopheusden5211]

seth could've won the first boros game by having vannifar place counters instead of cloaking for no reason, and flipping the voja after that ability resolved

[@crapparc]

Voja is pretty good in Brawl. I enjoy playing him, especially since he lines up so well with elfball.

[@dede_art]

I see him a lot on historic brawl and he really hard to interact with, you need to kill it on sight or he take over the game in 2 turn. The ward 3 is really rough but turn it to a elk in one game.

[@123silverslash]

This video just convinced me that any control deck with black needs to be running Blot Out because my god

[@TheQualcunaltro]

I had totally missed Voja and company were legal in Standard.

[@jankspanking8836]

I versed a voja deck in a four player edh game, they did end up winning after we board wiped six times during the game

[@Shimatzu95]

I say they hit the sweetspot with ward 2, anything more is pretty much functional hexproof.

[@TheREALTheRealAdam]

Personally, I'd have tried to include at least a couple of Cemetery Prowlers: pseudo-mana dork if there's a creature to exile and makes Voja draw 2 cards per swing. And it's somewhat naturally beefy

[@ICantThinkOfAFunnyHandle]

Voja is my favorite craterhoof-lite

[@BeaglzRok1]

Yeah, and it's technically on-flavor so it doesn't feel weird to be like "yeah Elf tribal totally, just ignore this random beast that's just objectively good"

[@cuddlequeen3225]

Ive been thinking about this maybe as a commander/brawl deck. Glad to see you bring your spin on it

[@Kazooieandbanjo]

Missed Lethal at 23:29 by not using the Werefox to clear the blocker before going to declare blockers step

[@sapphiredraggytheflygon8521]

This meta is gonna burn when Thunder Junction comes out and mono- red becomes the best deck in the format

[@GandoTheBard]

Hillariously Ive been running my own domain voja deck in Standard yesterday and today and then I see this video and had to go watch this.

[@GandoTheBard]

My version does something a little different (really fairly different) running 3x each of Ossification and Buried in the Garden which are fetchable with Kellan, the Fae-blooded. I also added in case of the shattered pact and leyline of the guildpact plus leyline binding. And roccos for late game voja/werefox out of nowhere.

[@GandoTheBard]

Deck 3 Buried in the Garden (MKM) 191 2 Kellan, the Fae-Blooded (WOE) 230 5 Forest (DMU) 281 3 Ossification (ONE) 26 3 Case of the Shattered Pact (MKM) 1 3 Leyline of the Guildpact (MKM) 217 2 The Kami War (NEO) 227 1 Mountain (DMU) 280 5 Plains (DMU) 277 4 Leyline Binding (DMU) 24 3 Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer (SNC) 218 2 Voja, Jaws of the Conclave (MKM) 432 1 Fleetfoot Dancer (SNC) 188 1 Yenna, Redtooth Regent (WOE) 219 3 Werefox Bodyguard (WOE) 39 3 Gala Greeters (SNC) 148 1 Nissa, Resurgent Animist (MAT) 22 1 Gwenna, Eyes of Gaea (BRO) 185 1 Meria's Outrider (DMU) 138 4 Jetmir's Garden (SNC) 250 1 Ziatora's Proving Ground (SNC) 261 1 Raffine's Tower (SNC) 254 1 Xander's Lounge (SNC) 260 1 Spara's Headquarters (SNC) 257 1 Hedge Maze (MKM) 262 1 Elegant Parlor (MKM) 260 1 Underground Mortuary (MKM) 271 1 Meticulous Archive (MKM) 264 1 Lush Portico (MKM) 263 1 Tolsimir, Midnight's Light (MKM) 236 for the curious. :D Yes I know the numbers are odd but this is for Play not Ranked.

[@JonReid01]

​@@GandoTheBard woah this sounds crazy do you have a list

[@swampybwoy]

ALWAYS keep attacking with the life linker against mono red

[@raynmanshorts9275]

5 color elves is one step closer to monored elves.

[@JonReid01]

Hopefully

[@thekornknownasme]

would love to see a Timeless or Pioneer version of this deck

[@David0906J]

I always know there's a new video once I run into the same deck 3 times on Arena 🤣.

[@SilverWolf340]

Unfortunate that werefox body guard isn’t a wolf lol

[@wilberthandreymora5270]

i really really REALLY RREEAALLYYY REEEEAAAAALLY REAAAAALLY REALLYYYYYYYY Want the miniature Voja image you used in this video :C

[@DOLOTread]

Does he actually run the best deck in standard lmao I’d love to see him running the meta His game knowledge is next level

[@donovanulrich348]

😅 elfs are over powered I used to run standard and modern in 2012 My buddy had to spend 200$ to counter my unlimited elf combos 😂😂 and only won. . . . If I decided to stall the game to long for fun 😂

[@Mulletdog1]

Voja’s got that Dog in em

[@DragonAttack515]

I think void rend is nescecarry with all those ward creatures in the format

[@rookermtg9321]

What the heck? Werefox Bodyguard is an Elf?

[@matushorvath]

Voja more expensive than Tarmogoyf, what a world we live in!

[@tacoriley5836]

Where’s the expedited inheritance combo deck from the short?

[@JonReid01]

Does he steam on twitch?

[@michaelburt9888]

I’ve been running into Voja lots in historic Brawl, turn 3 or 4 Voja is an absolute menace

[@Temurmemer]

Voldaren Epicure and Archangel of Wrath both technically work with Treacherous Greed. Not sure how good 4 mana deal 4 gain 3 draw 3 leave behind a blood token is for 2 cards lol. Or 9 mana deal 7 gain 7 draw 3 for 2 cards but those are possible scenarios.

[@ther3aper561]

36:30 Seth really forgets void rend exists, especially against the esper decks

[@SomeFreakingCactus]

16:52 Doesn’t Fleetfoot Dancer give us a reasonable chance to stabilize here?

[@hydra66]

and here I am, not aware that voja exists until Seth drops a vid

[@mattgraham9045]

Secretly every deck is the best deck in standard right now according to Seth

[@DavyMcWavy]

Deep-Cavern Bat should just be called Booger.

[@fredt1983]

Start: "Wouldn't this get *destroyed* vs the decks we see ad nauseam like mono red and counter everything...?" Finish: "Yup..."

[@kirbi200]

I think fauna shaman in this deck it is amazing

[@kristnicholson3401]

Voja in Pioneer??

[@koolaiddude7685894]

Pleaseee do against the odds with Trecherous Greed next!!

[@e4jasperi]

31:34 that boros matchup was so close!

[@lordmeep5803]

14:51 bro scooping early like he’s clocking out of a 9-5. Play it out! You’re close to dead yeah but come on dude you’re scooping against mono red while you’ve got a 4/4 life linker and 2 removal spells in hand

[@lordmeep5803]

That next scoop, very fair. Mono red is a little silly goofy sometimes

[@rupert7565]

Only 1 basic? Those greedy magic players.

[@JonReid01]

LOL

[@NightdrifterDK]

This deck looks sweet

[@crayyonnyadrav4055]

What happened to all these characters that had legendary companion tokens? Ragavan gets a broken card, Voja is kinda strong... What Companion Token do we get as strong card next?

[@ruudvanlaarhoven5776]

Karox Bladewing, the token you make when you kick Verix Bladewing Stangg Twin Guennhwyvar, companion of Drizzt Do'Urden (D&D) Cherubael, from Inquisitor Eisenhorn (Warhammer) Boo from Minsc and Boo (D&D) We did already get the powerful Ashaya too, from Nissa Tiny, from Sophia, Dogged Detective Ravage and Laserbeak, from Soundwave, Sonic Spy (transformers) Keimi, from Tatsunari, Toad Rider Are the possible next ones I can find

[@JonReid01]

​@@ruudvanlaarhoven5776 awesome research thanks for this

[@joebob7483]

How is this “against the odds”? These are some of the most pushed cards in recent sets.

[@JonReid01]

Because it's 5 colors

[@micalwarren9820]

When I play MTG Arena on phone, tablet, laptop, or my desktop, I disconnect on them all, no matter what. I think it’s just MTG Arena

[@reggiejarvis4814]

Please brew an explorer version

[@davidcochran6974]

Someone who has voja or the wildcards: citinal stalwart on 1, courier briefcase on 2, voja on 3. Seems decent?

[@luizaugustopaivabatista3468]

Could you try it on Pioneer or Explorer, pls? :)

[@logaf94]

dang its too bad that guy was playing the best deck in standard

[@Gizmosurfin]

As a mobile player, my game crashes alot.

[@quintenhaire1037]

Getting stomped my mono red isn't fun to play against, let alone watch you play against. At least the matches don't last long.

[@SACH13L]

Any reason not to play crown-leaf visionary?

[@Oceanz08]

the one thing seth does that annoying is when he plays against a common meta deck, he claim its the best deck in standard lol. Esper Midrange is not, cause last video he played against Boro Convoke and said the same thing.

[@enmanuelrondon9700]

Seth is predicting the most likely thing seth would say next to say

[@crazyvikingboy2856]

23:23 missed lethal by not using the fox on the Tomik. Though, OP could’ve had removal but you always make them have it!

[@the_gentleman_crow9772]

Tolsimir is better than u think is u can make them have to block the voja token with their biggest or scariest creatures and it has lifelink

[@the_gentleman_crow9772]

Also I like rocco that fetches a creature

[@Tyranzor64]

This deck is super annoying to play against. Thanks MTG Goldfish

[@evilmonkey2184]

Seth consistently mispronouncing cards is got to be a meme at this point. At least this one is understandable, however Voja should be pronounced like Voe-Ya

[@JonReid01]

It's too bait engagement in the comments

[@evilmonkey2184]

@JonReid01 everytime he does it my hackles raise up in discomfort, it's the confidence he does it with that kills me inside. truly a master baiter

[@alaraplatt8104]

lol, boo and hiss at you

[@adamtobiasz8793]

I can diabolic edict Voja or sword it for 4 or just void rend it. There Voja caca.

[@princememphis7726]

I killed a voja in command i think. Jyst make you sacrifice

[@MWTan-nr6zl]

Seth doesnt believe in void rend

[@robertk1834]

Ward is way overused lately imo. Anything Ward 3 and above is effectively Hexproof in terms of tempo/gameplay. Ward 1 should be baseline, requiring a resource investment to interact with, Ward 2 for things you want to have an impact as a Designer. Ward 3 is such a huge resource investment (most removal is 2-3 cmc) that as a player, you're effectively Time Walking yourself to spend 5-6 mana interacting with a single permanent. Oh and if you miss a land drop, you could be sitting there with 4 mana sources, a removal spell, unable to interact because of Ward 3. Fun. edit: Hilarious to see Seth come to the same conclusion at around 10:18

[@ICantThinkOfAFunnyHandle]

Counterpoint: void rend

[@robertk1834]

@@ICantThinkOfAFunnyHandle lol that's.....one card, of a specific deck, with triple pip requirement That would also validate how meta warping Ward can be, if you require specific deck construction methods to counteract it.

[@ashtonwestfall4777]

@@robertk1834to be fair in this case 5mana to remove a five mana creature is still a lot more balanced than hexproof or even shroud

[@ICantThinkOfAFunnyHandle]

@@robertk1834 Esper control is a pretty popular archetype that would probably play void rend even without ward. Vindicate that doesn't hit lands is still pretty darn helpful

[@kaedox]

wards formula seems to be generally cost-2 on big legends, which makes sense when the idea is to make the mana investment to remove it more closely match the mana invested in it

[@dero4378]

good boy

[@rykx0r]

I liked it better when Arin Hanson did it.

[@averymorley2398]

Sunfall dot format 🙄

[@Tiax776]

Red aggro is so well balanced. Truly magnificent. When Richard Garfield developed the game, he knew there was a reason for summoning sickness and giving players proper dual lands. It's so fun when opponent goes first and you can play two tapped lands and you're down to 10 or 11 life on turn three.

[@yomomma1885]

Bait used to be believable

[@JonReid01]

Skill issue

[@rubensmith776]

Voja is only good in casual commander. It's nothing short of terrible in cEDH, just play Rocco, Minsc or Pantlaza.

[@ColossusBall]

plz saff my wildcards, think of the wildcards

[@TrackMouse34]

Always love when Seth builds a deck around a card and then doesn’t play the card when he has the chance. I get it might not be optimal but Voja is why I’m watching the video, play the Voja. This happened with the slime against humanity video against the rat colony and persistent petitioners decks

[@TheBlackGears]

woof

[@dieguitopp]

Seth I love you