In our group we keep some slightly tuned up versions of the 2014 precons around for folks that need to borrow a deck. We use one of the other legends in the deck as the commander and use the planeswalker in the 99. Folks seem to really like this and limiting the number of tutors in the deck, in addition to the fact that they're mono color, has proven to be helpful.
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EDH playing competitive Magic cast away
Current Decks GTitania midrange RGThromok tokens/goodstuff | UB Grimgrin zombie tribal GW Sigarda enchantress | R Godo voltron U Braids aggro | WR Kalemne punisher RU Mizzix storm | BUG Mimeoplasm competitive reanimator | UG Ezuri infect
Prime Speaker Zegana is a very good at this one. "Play dudes. Play Zegana. Play more dudes" makes for a very simple and basic beginners strategy. In general, basic Gx decks tend to work very well at this as they are most straightforward in EDH. Tolsimir Wolfsblood for example is also a great simple no-nonsense commander in that aspect.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
I have built a few of these over the years. Our group has some newer folks popping in/out from time to time. The best example i made was Nissa, Sage Animist which is a pretty straight forward green ramp deck. Lots of landfall interactions and classic big green stuff. It has 3 things going for it. 1st is due to the mana base and general it is very smooth and consistent. If you want then to like a format you should try and minimize the mana screw side of things. 2nd is the general is interesting and gets cast regularly. Even if you keep drawing blanks at least you can cast the general a bunch of times. 3rd is landfall synergy has loads of little interactions but its really simple to understand. Also outside the general herself the deck is really cheap to build.
I used to have a Molimo, Maro Sorcerer deck that I loaned out regularly. It's cheap to build, and easy to play. Ramp hard, play giant fatties, and you have an enormous trampling commander.
It will obviously depend on the people playing but for new to magic players I think you could add Trostani, Selesnya's Voice as make tokens, gain life, punch face quite reasonably. Also Aurelia, the Warleader as hyper aggressive angels seems like the right kind of cool EDH and simplicity to get many players interested. If you were willing to go to three colours then Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund dragons could be quite user friendly provided that you don't play it and the baby Atarka in the same game.
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EDH BRGKresh the BloodbraidedBRG, A box of lands and ideas.
Modern: RG Titanshift. A deck made of cards too stupid for EDH.
Retired: Lots. More than I feel you should suffer through or I should type out.
My purphorus deck is very basic. it's mass goblins and Purphy is easy to understand. You play your commander, you mass out goblins, to burn them and swing away with your horde. It is my loaner deck as it is not hard to get. (And in my playgroup it is a threat) It draws hate but not right way, its when you have 15-20 damage in a few turns that people are scared, and if you can hold out you win quickly. I have won with the deck in about 6 turns.
-Montain, sol ring
-Mountain, purphoros, god of the forge
-Mountain, krenko, mob boss (2 damage)
-Siege-gang commander, make 5 goblins with krenko (20 damage total)
-Beetleback chief, Make copies with Krenko (52 damage total, to ALL opponents)
if you have someone who somehow gained 13 life within the first 5 turns, swing away with goblins. Make another bunch the next turn with krenko.
This was a great article to read. I have lent out decks to others thinking that it is a good deck and they are able to compete with the rest at the table. The game came down to more of them trying to figure what the hell was going on and what do they search for? The deck was Marchesa, the Black Rose. Way too many triggers, ETB's, LTB's, searching, counters ect going on.
I really like the points they made at the end, make a deck that showcases commanders awesomeness. Limit tutors and enjoy variance has been my mantra for fun in a highlander format. Focusing more on big splashy spells instead of synergy, and I might add, eeek! efficiency. Alot of these ideas is what makes commander fun (for me) and I hope it inspires others to build decks more on the idea of making commander awesome.
So to answer the first question I would add: Dragonlord Dromoka for beginners.
Reasons: nobody likes their commander being countered, especially not a new player (whats the point of commander then without the commander?)
big flying beater and a cool dragon lord
keeps the table from playing disruptive spells on the new players turn
I've found clone/theft type decks (e.g. Sakashima the Impostor, Lazav, Dimir Mastermind or Yasova Dragonclaw) are great loaners. Lets people experience all the cool stuff found in EDH without them having to worry too much about what their deck is trying to do.
I've found clone/theft type decks (e.g. Sakashima the Impostor, Lazav, Dimir Mastermind or Yasova Dragonclaw) are great loaners. Lets people experience all the cool stuff found in EDH without them having to worry too much about what their deck is trying to do.
thats essentially what my lazav loaner deck does. somewhat aikido-esque, but a bit less oppressive in terms of controlling-ness. thats generally a good way to go, especially since people tend to think of clones as like the greatest wildcard ever (since it can be a darksteel colossus or a squire).
I have a Vish Kal reanimator deck that works well as a loaner because even late game a single well timed Animate Dead can swing the game and it feels a little more crafty than just herp a derp ramp to fatties. Though my Intet dragon tribal deck would be a good loaner.
On a side note, somehow it's more satisfying when someone else wins with a deck that I built than it is when I win with it.
My deck to borrow used to be one led by Ruhan of the Fomori that essentially just contained cards in those colors that I thought were fun to play but hadn't been able to fit into other decks I had at the time like Djinn of Infinite Deceits. I took it apart just to save space, but I think having a deck to give newer players a smooth introduction into the format is a great idea for any veteran commander player in order to make the format more inclusive and to help it grow
Usually i loan out Omnath, Locus of Rage or Ezuri, Renegade Leader as they are really easy to manouver. I always sense, that newcomers to the format/game feel rewarded if they are the ones keeping up the tempo. Vice versa i like handling the pressure against aggro decks.
I just read this article http://www.starcitygames.com/article/32817_Getting-Friends-To-Play-Commander.html on SCG. I really like the idea of loaner commander decks for beginning players designed to showcase the craziness/joy of commander without the overly complicated stress.
I can see the draw of Atarka, World Render, my question is which other legends do you think would make for excellent beginning commanders?
Thanks!
Current Decks
GTitania midrange
RGThromok tokens/goodstuff | UB Grimgrin zombie tribal
GW Sigarda enchantress | R Godo voltron
U Braids aggro | WR Kalemne punisher
RU Mizzix storm | BUG Mimeoplasm competitive reanimator | UG Ezuri infect
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
In Progress
GBIshkanah, Grafwidow ~ BWGRTymna the Weaver & Tana, the Bloodsower ~ UGRashmi, Eternities Crafter ~ RGAtarka, World Render
BRGKresh the BloodbraidedBRG, A box of lands and ideas.
Modern:
RG Titanshift. A deck made of cards too stupid for EDH.
Retired: Lots. More than I feel you should suffer through or I should type out.
edit: here is the deck in all its broken goodstuff glory
Knowledge is power, money is power, time is money, you are actually gaining time by reading my posts
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check out my EDH and Pauper EDH decks here
-Montain, sol ring
-Mountain, purphoros, god of the forge
-Mountain, krenko, mob boss (2 damage)
-Siege-gang commander, make 5 goblins with krenko (20 damage total)
-Beetleback chief, Make copies with Krenko (52 damage total, to ALL opponents)
if you have someone who somehow gained 13 life within the first 5 turns, swing away with goblins. Make another bunch the next turn with krenko.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
I really like the points they made at the end, make a deck that showcases commanders awesomeness. Limit tutors and enjoy variance has been my mantra for fun in a highlander format. Focusing more on big splashy spells instead of synergy, and I might add, eeek! efficiency. Alot of these ideas is what makes commander fun (for me) and I hope it inspires others to build decks more on the idea of making commander awesome.
So to answer the first question I would add: Dragonlord Dromoka for beginners.
Reasons: nobody likes their commander being countered, especially not a new player (whats the point of commander then without the commander?)
big flying beater and a cool dragon lord
keeps the table from playing disruptive spells on the new players turn
amazingly, the aurelia deck has armageddon, catastrophe, and ive never seen people who borrow the decks play it 'wrong' or just to troll the table.
Legacy - Solidarity - mono U aggro - burn - Imperial Painter - Strawberry Shortcake - Bluuzards - bom
thats essentially what my lazav loaner deck does. somewhat aikido-esque, but a bit less oppressive in terms of controlling-ness. thats generally a good way to go, especially since people tend to think of clones as like the greatest wildcard ever (since it can be a darksteel colossus or a squire).
Legacy - Solidarity - mono U aggro - burn - Imperial Painter - Strawberry Shortcake - Bluuzards - bom
On a side note, somehow it's more satisfying when someone else wins with a deck that I built than it is when I win with it.
WUBRG Some of these decks can actually win games...WUBRG
How I know I should build a deck:
U Azami, Lady of Scrolls - Knowledge is Power U [Primer]
R Heartless Hidetsugu - The Art of Ending Games R
GB Ishkanah, Grafwidow - The Cluster HungersBG