Lathril, Blade of the Elves Commander Deck Guide – Go Wide, Go Green, Go Glory
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Lathril, Blade of the Elves is one of the most beloved commanders for fans of tribal synergy, tokens, and explosive green-black gameplay. She brings elvish might to the battlefield with incredible efficiency—tapping into both wide token strategies and life-draining power plays. Her ability to build a board quickly and convert that into direct impact makes her a favorite in casual pods and a strong presence in competitive metas.
Whether you’re interested in a flavorful Elfball deck, a tuned combo shell, or a budget-friendly green-black powerhouse, this guide will help you get the most out of Lathril’s blades.
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Why Choose Lathril, Blade of the Elves?
Lathril offers both aggressive and control elements that make her versatile and engaging.
She creates Elf tokens with every combat
Her tap ability scales with your board presence to drain life and swing the game
She rewards both wide board states and combo setups
The Golgari (green-black) color identity provides powerful ramp, recursion, and removal
Elf tribal has deep support across Magic's history
Lathril turns small creatures into overwhelming threats and scales incredibly well with the right support.
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Core Strategy
The primary game plan is to go wide with Elves and tokens, then use Lathril’s tap ability or mass pump effects to overwhelm opponents.
Cast Lathril early and start generating Elf tokens through combat
Flood the board with elves using token-makers and cheap creatures
Use her tap ability to drain opponents and gain massive life
Support the swarm with anthem effects and mana ramp from elves
Finish the game with overrun effects, drain combos, or tribal beatdowns
She’s a commander that rewards momentum, synergy, and planning.
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Supporting the Strategy
Elf tribal is rich in support, from ramp to card draw to win conditions.
Early mana dorks like Llanowar Elves and Elvish Mystic get the engine running fast
Token generators like Elvish Warmaster and Imperious Perfect multiply your army
Payoff cards like Craterhoof Behemoth or Shaman of the Pack close games quickly
Protection spells and recursion keep your board intact after removal
Black offers card draw through effects like Pact of the Serpent and Skullclamp
Lathril thrives in a deck that treats every creature like a resource toward victory.
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Win Conditions
Lathril decks have multiple ways to close out games, many of them hard to stop.
Tap Lathril with 10+ elves to drain all opponents for 10 and gain 30 life
Cast Craterhoof Behemoth or Ezuri, Renegade Leader and swing with a pumped board
Loop Shaman of the Pack with recursion effects to drain repeatedly
Use Beastmaster Ascension or Triumph of the Hordes to turn a wide board into lethal
Grind opponents out with recursion and value via cards like Genesis or Return Upon the Tide
The longer Lathril survives, the more dangerous she becomes.
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Keeping Lathril Alive
Like most commanders, Lathril needs help to stay on the board.
Protective gear like Swiftfoot Boots or Heroic Intervention is essential
Graveyard recursion allows you to recover quickly after board wipes
Cards like Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler let you tap Lathril the turn she comes in
Counter-removal tools like Golgari Charm or Veil of Summer add resilience
Draw engines like Sylvan Messenger or Beast Whisperer keep your hand full
You don’t need to go all-in to win—you just need to go wide and stay alive.
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Mana & Curve Tips
Lathril loves a low mana curve that gets you to a full board quickly.
Most creatures should cost 1–3 mana to maximize early plays
Include 10+ mana dorks and land ramp effects
Use a mix of utility lands, forests, and black-green duals for smooth fixing
Ensure you have a healthy number of token makers and overrun-style finishers
Curving out efficiently can turn turn 5 into a lethal threat.
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Final Thoughts
Lathril, Blade of the Elves is a classic choice for anyone who enjoys the synergy of tribal decks, the thrill of token strategies, and the grindy value of Golgari recursion. Whether you're looking for a casual Elfball deck or a tuned life-draining machine, she delivers fun, flavor, and frightening power.
If you love the idea of commanding a forest full of blades, Lathril is your perfect commander.
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Deck Lists
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1. Flavor-Focused Lathril Deck List
An Elven legion built on synergy, legends, and lore-rich tribal tools.
Commander: Lathril, Blade of the Elves
Creatures
Elvish Warmaster
Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen
Elvish Archdruid
Imperious Perfect
Elvish Mystic
Llanowar Elves
Marwyn, the Nurturer
Rhys the Exiled
Shaman of the Pack
Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Tyvar Kell
Beast Whisperer
Sylvan Messenger
Canopy Tactician
Wirewood Channeler
Spells
Heroic Intervention
Pact of the Serpent
Putrefy
Golgari Charm
Return Upon the Tide
Lead the Stampede
Collective Unconscious
Elven Ambush
Artifacts & Enablers
Skullclamp
Swiftfoot Boots
Heritage Druid
Arcane Signet
Sol Ring
Enchantments
Beastmaster Ascension
Harvest Season
Asceticism
Lands (36)
Command Tower
Gilt-Leaf Palace
Woodland Cemetery
Overgrown Tomb
Llanowar Wastes
Path of Ancestry
Blooming Marsh
Basic Forests and Swamps
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2. Competitive Lathril Deck List
A tuned tribal combo deck ready for fast mana, consistent draw, and lethal swings.
Commander: Lathril, Blade of the Elves
Creatures
Elvish Mystic
Llanowar Elves
Fyndhorn Elves
Wirewood Symbiote
Heritage Druid
Priest of Titania
Elvish Archdruid
Marwyn, the Nurturer
Circle of Dreams Druid
Shaman of the Pack
Beast Whisperer
Realmwalker
Allosaurus Shepherd
Craterhoof Behemoth
Reclamation Sage
Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler
Spells
Finale of Devastation
Natural Order
Demonic Tutor
Chord of Calling
Eldritch Evolution
Heroic Intervention
Veil of Summer
Abrupt Decay
Assassin’s Trophy
Artifacts
Jeweled Lotus
Mana Crypt
Chrome Mox
Sol Ring
Skullclamp
Birchlore Rangers
Swiftfoot Boots
Enchantments
Necropotence
Sylvan Library
Earthcraft
Growing Rites of Itlimoc
Lands (34)
Command Tower
Ancient Tomb
Gaea’s Cradle
Cabal Coffers
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Fetchlands and shocklands
Bojuka Bog
Basic Forests and Swamps
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3. Budget-Friendly Lathril Deck List
A casual powerhouse under $100, with tons of value and synergy.
Commander: Lathril, Blade of the Elves
Creatures
Elvish Mystic
Llanowar Elves
Elvish Visionary
Elvish Warmaster
Dwynen’s Elite
Imperious Perfect
Eyeblight Cullers
Winnower Patrol
Shaman of the Pack
Beast Whisperer
Marwyn, the Nurturer
Skemfar Shadowsage
Canopy Tactician
Wellwisher
Thornweald Archer
Spells
Lead the Stampede
Elven Ambush
Putrefy
Deadly Tempest
Return Upon the Tide
Reclaim
Unnatural Growth
Artifacts
Sol Ring
Arcane Signet
Swiftfoot Boots
Heritage Druid
Bonder’s Ornament
Skullclamp
Enchantments
Beastmaster Ascension
Poison-Tip Archer
Descendants’ Path
Lands (36)
Command Tower
Jungle Hollow
Golgari Guildgate
Path of Ancestry
Tainted Wood
Basic Forests and Swamps
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