I was digging through some rare bins at my LGS last night and started joking with my buddy about making EDH decks with terrible commanders (we were digging through the kamigawa block rares) - sort of like "Oh man best commander GG" looking at some crappy legend that needs arcane spells and spirits.
Anyways, after a while, I found one legendary creature which is quite possibly the worst commander in the game: Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked
The way I look at it, it's a legendary wood elemental with a few bonuses (actually a lot compared to wood elemental). Discovering this amazingly bad creature, I HAD to build it. It forces you into mono-red, arguably one of the worst mono colours, and its ability is really, really weak (often making him uncastable).
What do you think is the worst general in the game? It's important to note that colour access is important when considering a bad general. Atogatog is pretty damn bad, but you could build a pretty good 5-colour goodstuff deck since you have access to all colours (actually you could just play 99 singleton with any colour combination you want lol).
There is no "worst commander" just a lot of useless cards. Kawigama had a lot of useless cards that exemplified that Vorthos taken too far is just as bad as taking the other personalities too far in Magic. The block itself had multiple parasitic mechanics that were never carried on, making the block totally incestuous. To name the "worst" is a waste of time, rather there just seems to be a lot of really bad design that has become more and more improved over time.
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Still a bad general. If I end up playing against a phage player it's obvious what they're trying to do. That's when I save my wear/tear for their lame little trick.
Myojin of Seeing Winds is pretty bad as far as generals go. Actually, all the Myojin are pretty eh generals, but Seeing Winds is really the worst thanks to its lackluster stats (a 10 mana 3/3 with no abilities from the command zone? No thank you).
LOL I like some of these. Poor Haakon, can't even be played. I think mono black is a really strong colour though so the deck would probably still be okay. He's still 100% useless to the deck though lol
And wow. Myojin of seeing winds is terrible as a commander! It actually makes my commander look okay ><
I plan to build my deck as a super aggro deck with things like malignus and furnace of rath and use some cards that work well with him like young pyromancer. He'll basically be a finisher with a COUPLE uses like with threaten (7 mana removal too strong) and a few card choices will keep in mind what he does - like the wellsprings from mirrodin block.
Normally this would be an unanswerable question, but seeing as Haakon provides no value (as opposed to even Myojin of Seeing Winds, who can be a 10-mana 3/3 at worst), he is the worst general (barring arguments that go an opponent casting Mindslaver and forcing you to cast your Phage).
And then there are also the arguments that rely on certain colors being weaker than others, but going off strictly unplayability of the actual general, it definitely goes to Haakon.
Still a bad general. If I end up playing against a phage player it's obvious what they're trying to do. That's when I save my wear/tear for their lame little trick.
Insert Withering Boon countering phage then getting her back to your hand through any of many black effects.
There's a lot of stuff from the Legends set (and some from earlier) that are vanilla creatures that just happened to have the Legendary tag put on them. I'm really glad they don't design like that anymore.
There's a lot of stuff from the Legends set (and some from earlier) that are vanilla creatures that just happened to have the Legendary tag put on them. I'm really glad they don't design like that anymore.
What about Vorthos and attitude? If you believe in the heart of the cards, you can make anything work. If they see Hakaan outside in the CZ then you have to come towards a single generative point; he's a cheerleader. That charisma transfers over to the heart of the cards and they will fight better and you will draw better cards.
This is a different game, but if you just believe...
But then you wake up and realize that the card still sucks anyway. Unless if you're Vorthos and trying to roleplay YGO.
The only time where a bad general is good is to act as a decoy towards a deck that is ultimately extremely powerful without the general and is played "just for the colors."
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Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
Ya those guys are all just terrible. A lot of them are multi-coloured though and that gives access to a lot more cards - which arguably makes them a little better than other options.
I suppose it's probably impossible to single out a "worst general" since a lot can come down to colours, and then it turns into a "which colours are the best" argument - which I really don't want.
Perhaps it will be easier if it is something like "favourite bad general". Which general do you think would be so bad, that when you flip it over at the table when people are checking the commanders, everyone starts laughing.
Still a bad general. If I end up playing against a phage player it's obvious what they're trying to do. That's when I save my wear/tear for their lame little trick.
there's alot of tricks up a phage player's sleeve.
7/7, trample, phasing, for 3uu, and makes your lands unusable....
Actually Taniwha with every Time Walk card has the potential to be a hilarious troll deck. Screwing with you opponent's ability to cast a timely wrath/armageddon can be a very good ability. Don't rule her/him out so soon
Since no one has named him yet, tuktuk the explorer is pretty epically bad. He only gives you the token if he hits your grave...and then in mono-red you've got close to zero ways to get him back (and zero reliable ways to get him back). And his token doesn't count as general damage. Otherwise, he's just a 3 mana 1/1 that forces you into red. eww.
Shimatsu is really bad, granted, but it still has the potential to one-shot someone out of nowhere at the end, if they're tapped out/topdecking and don't have blockers.
I don't think people start laughing, per se, at tuktuk, because he's a decent card in general, he's just awful as a red commander. If you want maximum lulz, you probably want someone from legends or homelands.
Kentaro, the Smiling Cat is probably the worst, since he forces you into the worst monocolor in EDH. Hazduhr the Abbot might be even worse since you can't even play him in an aggressively-costed tempo weenie deck, and his ability is just as useless. Rashka the Slayer, also.
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2UURRniv mizzet, the firemind endless fiery mind wheels of death 3WRjor kadeen, the prevailer weenies and extra combat forever 3RRzirilan of the claw dragons and damage doublers 4:SymRG::SymRG:wort, the raidmother burn is now EDH viable 2WUkangee, aerie keeper birds 1UBRjeleva, nephalia's scourge spellslinger/storm
here are the mana costs of generals i no longer play: 2BR3BB3UBG4UB:SymUB::SymUB:2URRG3WWU2UU2GGUUBGG
You could actually combo him with scrabbling claws (and other graveyard hate effects) to keep pulling him out of your graveyard - you get to use it whenever you want and it is repeatable (target yourself and chose tuktuk for exile).
He would still be really bad though lol - you'd almost HAVE to kill him yourself because 1 commander damage per turn is not scary.
EDIT
Oh god Rashka the Slayer is epicly terrible! The best thing about it is that it has abilities, so people will read it, and then be like "that's it?" - it makes it more hilarious than vanilla commanders.
Anyways, after a while, I found one legendary creature which is quite possibly the worst commander in the game: Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked
The way I look at it, it's a legendary wood elemental with a few bonuses (actually a lot compared to wood elemental). Discovering this amazingly bad creature, I HAD to build it. It forces you into mono-red, arguably one of the worst mono colours, and its ability is really, really weak (often making him uncastable).
What do you think is the worst general in the game? It's important to note that colour access is important when considering a bad general. Atogatog is pretty damn bad, but you could build a pretty good 5-colour goodstuff deck since you have access to all colours (actually you could just play 99 singleton with any colour combination you want lol).
BBB Two Hundred Zombies BBB
Duel Commander
WR Tajic, Wrath of the Manlands RW
BGW Doran Destruction WGB
Commander
GUB Mimeoplasm, Screw Politics BUG
BR Mogis, God of Slaughter RB
RGW Marath, Ramp and Removal WGR
WUBRG Karona, Jank God GRBUW
I'd also want to defend the spirits, some well crafted spirit deck is quite a lot of fun bro!
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Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
Phage, the untouchable?
Numot - Retired
I'm pretty sure you can Torpor Orb it, so she's at least a LITTLE less useless.
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And sundial and a few other cards, Haakon is definitely the worst.
You should do goblins and tokens, like akki sacrificing themselves to a god to make him strong.
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Numot - Retired
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And wow. Myojin of seeing winds is terrible as a commander! It actually makes my commander look okay ><
I plan to build my deck as a super aggro deck with things like malignus and furnace of rath and use some cards that work well with him like young pyromancer. He'll basically be a finisher with a COUPLE uses like with threaten (7 mana removal too strong) and a few card choices will keep in mind what he does - like the wellsprings from mirrodin block.
BBB Two Hundred Zombies BBB
Duel Commander
WR Tajic, Wrath of the Manlands RW
BGW Doran Destruction WGB
Commander
GUB Mimeoplasm, Screw Politics BUG
BR Mogis, God of Slaughter RB
RGW Marath, Ramp and Removal WGR
WUBRG Karona, Jank God GRBUW
And then there are also the arguments that rely on certain colors being weaker than others, but going off strictly unplayability of the actual general, it definitely goes to Haakon.
GX Tron XG
UR Phoenix RU
GG Freyalise High Tide GG
UR Parun Counterspells RU
BB Yawgmoth Token Storm BB
WB Pestilence BW
Insert Withering Boon countering phage then getting her back to your hand through any of many black effects.
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GRW Mayael the Anima WRG
Weird Triceratops hat. Green Red flyer? Taps to give a creature +2/+2... but you have to pay for it?
What about Vorthos and attitude? If you believe in the heart of the cards, you can make anything work. If they see Hakaan outside in the CZ then you have to come towards a single generative point; he's a cheerleader. That charisma transfers over to the heart of the cards and they will fight better and you will draw better cards.
This is a different game, but if you just believe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3HnM1HbsQ8
But then you wake up and realize that the card still sucks anyway. Unless if you're Vorthos and trying to roleplay YGO.
The only time where a bad general is good is to act as a decoy towards a deck that is ultimately extremely powerful without the general and is played "just for the colors."
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
I suppose it's probably impossible to single out a "worst general" since a lot can come down to colours, and then it turns into a "which colours are the best" argument - which I really don't want.
Perhaps it will be easier if it is something like "favourite bad general". Which general do you think would be so bad, that when you flip it over at the table when people are checking the commanders, everyone starts laughing.
BBB Two Hundred Zombies BBB
Duel Commander
WR Tajic, Wrath of the Manlands RW
BGW Doran Destruction WGB
Commander
GUB Mimeoplasm, Screw Politics BUG
BR Mogis, God of Slaughter RB
RGW Marath, Ramp and Removal WGR
WUBRG Karona, Jank God GRBUW
there's alot of tricks up a phage player's sleeve.
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5-color Eggs
7/7, trample, phasing, for 3uu, and makes your lands unusable....
Actually Taniwha with every Time Walk card has the potential to be a hilarious troll deck. Screwing with you opponent's ability to cast a timely wrath/armageddon can be a very good ability. Don't rule her/him out so soon
GWUBRDraft my Old Border Nostalgia Cube! and/or The Little Pauper Cube That Could!RBUWG
Modern:WDeath & TaxesW | RUGRUG DelverRUG
Shimatsu is really bad, granted, but it still has the potential to one-shot someone out of nowhere at the end, if they're tapped out/topdecking and don't have blockers.
I don't think people start laughing, per se, at tuktuk, because he's a decent card in general, he's just awful as a red commander. If you want maximum lulz, you probably want someone from legends or homelands.
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Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
3WR jor kadeen, the prevailer weenies and extra combat forever
3RR zirilan of the claw dragons and damage doublers
4:SymRG::SymRG: wort, the raidmother burn is now EDH viable
2WU kangee, aerie keeper birds
1UBR jeleva, nephalia's scourge spellslinger/storm
here are the mana costs of generals i no longer play: 2BR3BB3UBG4UB:SymUB::SymUB:2URRG3WWU2UU2GGUUBGG
3UWR numot, the devastator of [the spirit of edh]
You could actually combo him with scrabbling claws (and other graveyard hate effects) to keep pulling him out of your graveyard - you get to use it whenever you want and it is repeatable (target yourself and chose tuktuk for exile).
He would still be really bad though lol - you'd almost HAVE to kill him yourself because 1 commander damage per turn is not scary.
EDIT
Oh god Rashka the Slayer is epicly terrible! The best thing about it is that it has abilities, so people will read it, and then be like "that's it?" - it makes it more hilarious than vanilla commanders.
BBB Two Hundred Zombies BBB
Duel Commander
WR Tajic, Wrath of the Manlands RW
BGW Doran Destruction WGB
Commander
GUB Mimeoplasm, Screw Politics BUG
BR Mogis, God of Slaughter RB
RGW Marath, Ramp and Removal WGR
WUBRG Karona, Jank God GRBUW