Gathering all Magic Players - The Magic: the Gathering Club!

[Kotone]

i havent been able to put a commander deck together before. im not sure how that works!

 

[Sonata]

I'm still stuck on using my B/G/U Damia deck. I think making a 5 color dragon deck would be fun, but I'm missing a few key cards to start making it work. Like a general and about half of the dragons necessary. I did help my friend make a scarecrow deck in March I think. It was pretty fun and ran smoothly.

 

[nightsmith97]

For those of us with little EDH/Commander experience, I went ahead and found a couple websites that offer some detailed information about EDH/Commander. It seems they go pretty in-depth, however I have only skimmed through them as of this posting. Anyways, here they are:

Article 1
Article 2

I also found an Introduction to Commander video, and another on How To Choose The Right Commander.

 

[Bidoof FTW]

Hey guys! Long post ahead so I'm putting it in spoilers :) There will be an important strawpoll at the end, so be sure to vote on it! I was already kinda ninja'd on this, but I've been making it for a while so I really want to just post it and continue on with the making of this deck. This should've been posted about a week ago but with school and distractions it's been heavily delayed. Sorry!

Spoiler:

It's important that everyone understands the basic concepts and rules of Commander. So I'm going to give a not-so-brief description of the format and some deck rules for the format.

Commander, sometimes called "Elder Dragon Highlander," starts with the rules for multiplayer Free-for-All games, in which any number of players compete against each other as individuals. It's played with the Singleton format (in other words, except for basic lands, each card in your deck must have a different name), and each player starts with a life total of 40 rather than the usual 20. Most importantly, the centerpiece of each deck is a legendary creature that serves as that deck's commander.

To build a deck, you first choose a legendary creature, called a "commander" or "general," then construct a Singleton deck around it containing exactly 99 other cards. Only cards of the commander's color(s) and colorless cards may be included in the deck. (Note that split cards and hybrid cards count as all of their colors.) In fact, if a card contains a mana symbol anywhere on it that's not one of your commander's colors, you can't include it in that deck! Within the game, if you would add mana to your mana pool that's a color not shared by your commander, you get colorless mana instead.

Appropriately enough for a format named after the legendary creature that's leading your team, your commander works differently from other cards in the game. Before the game begins, each player removes his or her commander from the game. You may play your commander from the command zone (no matter how it got there) for its normal costs plus an additional {2} for each previous time it has been played this way. If your commander would go to the graveyard or the exile zone from anywhere, you may put it into the command zone instead. In addition to the normal Magic loss conditions, if a player is dealt 21 points of combat damage from a single commander over the course of the game, that player loses the game!


__________________

I think that the best point to start with in our deck-building process is choosing playstyle. There are generally 3 main playstyles in EDH: Aggro, Control, and Combo. There are several other smaller playstyles, but they often fit into one of the main three styles, so we'll just refer to them as "sub-themes". EDIT: After careful thought and a while of thinking it over, I'm adding tokens to the main theme group. Unlike sub-themes, they have the ability to be many colors/styles while also being a unique presence that often will not fall under a main theme category. They also have a lot more development and support than most, if not all, sub-themes.

Aggro/Beatdown - Aggro decks put out threats quickly and keep it pouring on through the whole game. It keeps slower decks from ever getting "set up" and keeps combo decks too busy holding you at bay to get the combo pieces they need. It's shortcoming is that you need to stack your deck with threats rather than answers, so the possibility of not being able to deal with a problem always exists, and overextending yourself into a mass removal spell is something to be carefully avoided. Some commanders for Aggro/Beatdown are Rafiq of the Many, Thraximundar, Skullbriar, the Walking Grave, Edric, Spymaster of Trest, Gaddock Teeg, Geist of Saint Traft, Stonebrow, Krosan Hero, Wort, Boggart Auntie, and Wort, the Raidmother.

Control - Control decks focus on controlling the early game and slowing the board development of the opponent while building up their own board, then dropping big threats that can't be dealt with. "Controlling" the early game can be done in several ways including countermagic, heavy removal, hand disruption, and land destruction. Blue is the "go to" color for most control decks, and Black is best at the "disruptive" style of control. Some control commanders are Dralnu, Lich Lord, Azami, Lady of Scrolls, Grand Arbiter Augustin IV, Gisela, Blade of Goldnight, Medomai the Ageless, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic, Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker, Isperia, Supreme Judge, and Damia, Sage of Stone.

Combo - Combo decks focus on holding off the opponent while getting combo pieces assembled in hand or on the board to "combo out" and win all of a sudden. You'll see a lot of tutors (search cards) in these decks. Combos weaknesses are against decks that put on lots of early pressure, never letting them assemble combo pieces, or heavy countermagic that disrupts their combo. It should be noted that most every deck packs a couple of possible game winning combos among their 100 cards that they don't necessarily actively seek to pull off, but will use if it happens to conveniently pop-up. Some of the popular Combo Commanders are Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind, Kaervek the Merciless, Omnath, Locus of Mana, Kresh the Bloodbraided, Ambassador Laquatus, and Szadek, Lord of Secrets

Tokens - Make lots of tokens and then use them to your advantage. They can be used for chump blockers, pumped up and used as attackers, as sacrifice fodder for Grave Pact effects or cards like Victimize, Time Sieve, or Natural Order, card draw with Skullclamp, the list is endless. Pump effects like Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite are better in tokens than in most edh decks and Eldrazi Monument can easily win games. Among the myriad of commonly seen token producers are Ant Queen, Mitotic Slime, Creakwood Liege, Imperious Perfect, Avenger of Zendikar, Bitterblossom, Siege-Gang Commander, Knight-Captain of Eos, Sacred Mesa, Garruk Wildspeaker, Elspeth, Knight-Errant. Weaknesses are against lots of mass removal spells. Most Token decks will be running either Green or White (or both). Popular Token Commanders are Teysa, Orzhov Scion, Nath of the Gilt-Leaf, Savra, Queen of the Golgari, Ezuri, Renegade Leader, Rhys the Redeemed, Ghave, Guru of Spores, and Ulasht, the Hate Seed.

Hey look! Sub-themes!!!

Spoiler:

Voltron/Auras - Voltron decks try to put a commander on the field and equip him and/or enchant him with cards that make him hard to deal with to do a quick 21 points of general damage. Some commonly seen cards are Lightning Greaves, Whispersilk Cloak, Sword of Body and Mind, Shield of the Oversoul, Argentum Armor, Steel of the Godhead, Stoneforge Mystic, and Stonehewer Giant. This archetypes weakness is against really heavy and varied removal suites. Having your Voltron Commander killed or tucked when he's carrying multiple enchantments/equipments can be a devastating setback. Some popular Voltron Commanders are Zur the Enchanter, Uril, the Miststalker, Sigarda, Host of Herons, Eight-and-a-Half-Tails, Kemba, Kha Regent

Lifegain - A somewhat defensive style, getting and keeping your life total up while chipping away at your opponents defenses. The lifegain is used as "padding" for the late game beatdown race, or as a resource for cards like Hatred and Necropotence, or as an auto-win with cards like Felidar Sovereignor Test of Endurance. A good lifegain deck can win a game without ever dealing damage or even attacking anyone. The weakness of lifegain decks is that life total often doesn't matter in edh due to combos, general damage, and poison. Some other common cards are Reverse the Sands, Ivory Mask, True Believer, Leyline of Sanctity, Recumbent Bliss, and Beacon of Immortality. White is the king of colors when you're talking about lifegain. Popular Lifegain Commanders are Atalya, Samite Master, Treva, the Renewer, Ghost Council of Orzhova, Eight-and-a-Half-Tails, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic, and Gerrard Capashen.

Ramp - Focuses on using various types of mana acceleration (artifacts, specialized lands, creatures and spells that put extra lands in play) to get lots of mana really quick and play huge, scary stuff. Commonly seen cards are Sakura-Tribe Elder, Yavimaya Elder, Gaea's Cradle, Rampant Growth, Solemn Simulacrum, Darksteel Ingot, Coalition Relic, The Signets (Orzhov Signet, Golgari Signet, Azorius Signet, etc). Green is the usual color for ramp, though most all good decks include at least a little bit of mana acceleration. Some popular Ramp Commanders are Azusa, Lost but Seeking, Omnath, Locus of Mana, Animar, Soul of Elements, and Mayael the Anima.

Artifacts - Taking advantage of large numbers of artifacts can be extremely effective in edh, and can be used to aid in beatdown strategies or combo. Sorry, Tolarian Academy is on the banned list. The mechanic "Metalcraft" can be of significant use in artifact heavy decks. Darksteel Citadel and the cycle of artifact lands from Mirrodin (Ancient Den, Seat of the Synod, Great Furnace, Tree of Tales, and Vault of Whispers) can be used to increase your artifact count. Some commonly seen and useful cards are Scourglass, Open the Vaults, Cranial Plating, Inkwell Leviathan, Master Transmuter, Steelshaper's Gift, Enlightened Tutor, Trinket Mage, Treasure Mage, and Tezzeret the Seeker. Weaknesses are mass artifact removal like Austere Command. Blue and White are the colors most synergistic with artifacts and popular commanders for the decks are Sharuum the Hegemon, Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer, Arcum Dagsson, and Memnarch.

And here are some of the several different types of tribal/cultural and some examples of commanders.

Spoiler:

Goblins - Arguably the strongest tribe in magic. Goblin tribal is definitely doable at a competitive level in EDH, mostly with an Aggro/Combo approach. Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker, Wort, Boggart Auntie, Wort, the Raidmother, and Krenko, Mob Boss.

Wizards - Another very powerful tribe in EDH. Very competitive as Control/Combo. Azami, Lady of Scrolls, Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir

Faeries - Oona, Queen of the Fae

Merfolk- Sygg, River Guide and Sygg, River Cutthroat

Zombies - Balthor the Defiled, Geth, Lord of the Vault, Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Dralnu, Lich Lord, Thraximundar, Grimgrin, Corpse-Born.

Elves - Nath of the Gilt-Leaf and Ezuri, Renegade Leader

Soldiers - Darien, King of Kjeldor, Captain Sisay

Vampires - Anowon, the Ruin Sage, Garza Zol, Plague Queen, Mirri the Cursed, Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief, Olivia Voldaren

Treefolk - Doran, the Siege Tower and Sapling of Colfenor

Dragons - Scion of the Ur-Dragon and Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund

Angels - Akroma, Angel of Wrath, Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Gisela, Blade of Goldnight, and Linvala, Keeper of Silence

Spirits - Ghost Council of Orzhova, Karador, Ghost Chieftain, and Iname, Death Aspect

Elementals - Horde of Notions and Animar, Soul of Elements

Slivers - Lot's of people love their Slivers. Sliver Queen and Sliver Overlord.

Rats - Marrow-Gnawer

Wow. This post has taken more than a week, but it's finally done and here!
Just going to give a BIG thanks to Ullion, Sonata, the hyperlink button in advanced mode, and mtgsalvation for helping to make this post possible :) I hope you guys liked it.

Here's the strawpoll! https://strawpoll.me/5298155

 

[Drayton]

Also basically, you can't have more than one copy (expect lands). is it correct?

 

[Sonata]

Right. Unless it's anything besides a basic land or says otherwise. Cards like Shadowborn Apostle you'd be able to have as many of as you want, and lands like rugged highlands or rakdos guildgate you'd only be able to have one of since they're not basic lands.

 

[Judge Mandolore Shepard]

I have never thought of making an EDH/Commander deck before. Course with the 285 cards I added to my Magic the Gathering collection, I could probably make four standard size decks with them.

 

[Nolafus]

I built an EDH deck with Niv Mizzet. Unfortunately, I don't have that many cards, so instead of me just drawing a bunch of cards, I have a bunch of burn, scry, cards that deal damage when I scry, and some control. I haven't tested it out yet, but on paper it could win pretty easily, and I don't completely rely on my commander.

 

[Bidoof FTW]

(deleted)

in a 4-3-3-2-2 vote, control is the winner!

Post will be coming up shortly. Next we're deciding colors!

 

[Bidoof FTW]

Okay! So next we'll be picking colors :) We're probably going to go with 2 colors, since that'll be easiest for making an EDH deck. So read through the points of picking each color and vote in the new strawpoll! Keep in mind that although some colors are better at control than others, any color can be viable for the playstyle! :)

Here are some of the strong points and playstyles for each color:

Black - Using the graveyard and your life total as resources.
Creature Removal
Card Draw
Tutoring for anything
Creature Recursion
Hand Disruption
Sacrifice
Big Mana (in mono black)
Pre-emptive "gutting" of decks (ex. Sadistic Sacrament)
Zombies & Vampires

Blue - Control Strategies
Countermagic
Card Draw
Artifacts
Big Evasive Creatures
Mill
Stealing other peoples creatures
Copying Effects
Wizards, Merfolk, and Faeries

White - Defense
Lifegain
Equipments
Enchantments
Creature and Enchantment Recursion
Removal of just about anything
Tokens
Tutoring for enchantments and equipments
Angels

Green - Mana Ramp
Tokens
Aggro Builds
Creature and Non-Creature Recursion/Graveyard Shenanigans
Non-Creature Removal
Elves and Big Trampling Creatures

Red - Aggro Builds
Land Destruction
Direct Damage
Artifact Removal
Goblins and Big Flying Dragons


Here is the poll: https://strawpoll.me/5350145

 

[Drayton]

I kinda like combining white and black. It's best way to gain much life and pay life for things

 

[Bidoof FTW]

Battle for Zendikar spoilers woooot https://mythicspoiler.com/


What's your favorite card so far?

And for anyone who hasn't voted in the poll, or wants to vote for more colors, please do so! We're at a 4-way tie and we need to bring it down to 2 colors. Thanks! :)

 

[Ullion]

https://mythicspoiler.com/bfz/cards/omnathlocusofrage.html

My current limited/sealed deck is a G/R mass land drop deck with some aggro in it. This would be amazing in it ><"

 

[Sonata]

Oh boy. I've been meaning to make an Ally deck lately. This is perfect.

 

[Drayton]

What's good build for Aggro deck?

 

[Ullion]

What's good build for Aggro deck?

Generally you'll want red splashed with another colour of your choice. Low mana cost red creatures with some form of evasion (Menace being your most likely option) are very good, mixed in with some form of board control and removal via red burn spells (think lightning strike) as well as whatever colour you're using. Ie. blue can bounce creatures or counterspell to keep their board open for you to swing in constantly. Black is hard removal. Green could help with getting more mana out quickly or using fight mechanics to keep their board clean. And white can offer more evasion or battle tricks (flying, first strike, double strike, protection from colour).

Of course you don't need to use red, but it's your best option to main with.

 

[Bidoof FTW]

Red/black or Red/white are some pretty good aggro colors. Red/green was good for a while but I don't know if it is anymore, haven't played standard since Dragon's Maze XD

Omnath is really cool, I was hoping for opening him when I go to prerelease, or maybe I'll buy a fat pack... Idk.

Are any of you attending Prerelease or release for the new set?

 

[Ullion]

Red/black or Red/white are some pretty good aggro colors. Red/green was good for a while but I don't know if it is anymore, haven't played standard since Dragon's Maze XD

Omnath is really cool, I was hoping for opening him when I go to prerelease, or maybe I'll buy a fat pack... Idk.

Are any of you attending Prerelease or release for the new set?

If I can get a ride and a friend or two to go with me, I'd totally go. But it doesn't seem like that will be the case, ah well. :(

 

[Bidoof FTW]

If I can get a ride and a friend or two to go with me, I'd totally go. But it doesn't seem like that will be the case, ah well. :(

I don't think the prerelease date is out yet, so you might still have a chance?

 

[Ullion]

The prerelease has been announced as Oct 2nd I believe. Or Oct2nd was release date, in which PR will be the friday before that. I think?