Hello everyone, I'm getting my toes wet in Commander again, since it's the FNM event at my new local store. I played for the first time last week and noticed there was a significant gulf between what I was expecting and what I received.
Six of us showed up, me with a fun huggy Zedruu deck, one guy with the 2017 Cat deck fresh out of the box, another guy with what looked like a serious-ish Vish Kal good stuff deck, and three players curb-stompy duel decks. I naively believed that our six person game would be fun, lengthy, and would give me the opportunity to do a little politicking with Zedruu. Nope. Turn four, one of the curbstomp players busts a combo that picks up 30 cards off the top of her deck and she then Brain Freezes all of us for 156 cards off the top. Before I even got the chance to cast a third spell.
Game 2 saw the player who won previously wandering off to play Pokemon and the five-man game that remained being longer but not much more fun. The other two curbstompy players largely ignored the three of us at the table who did not show up with curbstomp decks, apart from to throw out a board wipe whenever we had the gall to attack either of them. Essentially, they played a duel with three flies buzzing around their heads.
Now that I have the acme of what Commander is going to be like at my new store, I am desirous of something more brutal and competitive than my current fun decks. What's the vilest, most anti-fun commander? I'm talking someone like Baral. Just a complete fun police build.
I naively believed that our six person game would be fun
Six player games are rarely fun in my experience. Most of my group prefers to break into two games of three at that point. Four is sorta the ideal number, and five is doable, but six sucks.
I tend to be a little trigger-happy recommending this, but as a great balancing commander I'll recommend my phelddagrif build. The actual build is incredibly simple - just nothing but counters, removal, and board wipes, with a little draw to keep the wheels turning. Give hippos and life to the weaker players, and give hate hate and more hate to the powerful players. Once you've helped the weak players kill the stronger ones, use your remaining gas to try to win against the weak players with nothing but phelddagrif to beat down with. It's challenging but fun to play against almost any level of competition, and with a strong control suite it can be very good at stopping combos and out-of-control board states. Best of all, it never really completely stomps a game, even if all the decks are low power level, because an answer is an answer whether it's trading for a doomsday or a craw wurm.
I naively believed that our six person game would be fun
Six player games are rarely fun in my experience. Most of my group prefers to break into two games of three at that point. Four is sorta the ideal number, and five is doable, but six sucks.
I've done three-way 2HG (three teams of two), which is a very different dynamic, but nothing like the awfulness that is six player.
I've also done Grand Melee, but that format is designed around having a huge number of players (8+ required), and the way it's set up, it's more like having a bunch of 3 player games than having one 8 player game.
That being said, I should say that I wouldn't build this way unless it's an area you actively want to explore for your own reasons. If it's just retaliation, well, it's probably not the right thing to do. I know this doesn't necessarily solve your conundrum of how to be more competitive in your meta, but there may be better ways to approach the situation. There's plenty of commanders out there you can build pretty competitive without having to lock everyone else down.
If it's just retaliation, well, it's probably not the right thing to do.
Yeah, probably not, but I'm apparently playing against guys with decks named '1,001 Board Wipes' and 'Turn 3 Marit Lage,' so if that's the meta, then that's what we're gonna play.
That sucks. I don't see the point in that level of competition. But then, with access to the strongest cards in MTG's history, there is a place for that within EDH.
I get where you come from here; all I'm saying is maybe don't spend too much money proving a point. My suggestion is build Derevi, Empyrial Tactician, Arcum Dagsson or Ghave, Guru of Spores. All can be quite competitive for reasonably cheap. Ghave probably most so. All can end a game quickly, or in the case of Derevi, lock everyone out of a game quickly.
Ideally, these guys are the sort of people you can talk to about the issue though. I'd just say 'look guys, this isn't fun for me, do you have any lower powered decks you can play while I get up to speed?' or something along those lines. If they dont, or show little interest, then find another playgroup.
In a similar vein to toctheyounger77, might I suggest you build a very competitive deck while keeping the budget very low - no need to blow a bunch of cash to make a point.
Just play a bunch of Flying Men type of cards, counter spells, and time magic (the time magic probably isn't NEEDED). Build a strong presence early, have counter's for wrath effects, and win with pure card advantage.
The deck is incredibly effective while remaining extremely cheap to build.
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Six of us showed up, me with a fun huggy Zedruu deck, one guy with the 2017 Cat deck fresh out of the box, another guy with what looked like a serious-ish Vish Kal good stuff deck, and three players curb-stompy duel decks. I naively believed that our six person game would be fun, lengthy, and would give me the opportunity to do a little politicking with Zedruu. Nope. Turn four, one of the curbstomp players busts a combo that picks up 30 cards off the top of her deck and she then Brain Freezes all of us for 156 cards off the top. Before I even got the chance to cast a third spell.
Game 2 saw the player who won previously wandering off to play Pokemon and the five-man game that remained being longer but not much more fun. The other two curbstompy players largely ignored the three of us at the table who did not show up with curbstomp decks, apart from to throw out a board wipe whenever we had the gall to attack either of them. Essentially, they played a duel with three flies buzzing around their heads.
Now that I have the acme of what Commander is going to be like at my new store, I am desirous of something more brutal and competitive than my current fun decks. What's the vilest, most anti-fun commander? I'm talking someone like Baral. Just a complete fun police build.
As for your question - Gaddock Teeg tends to shut down a lot of stuff people want to play. He also comes down early enough to make a difference. You can run Linvala, Keeper of Silence, Void Winnower, Brisela, Voice of Nightmares, Aven Mindcensor, Torpor Orb, etc. to shut down all the things they plan on doing.
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Because I have more decks than fit in a signature
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EDH Primers
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
I've also done Grand Melee, but that format is designed around having a huge number of players (8+ required), and the way it's set up, it's more like having a bunch of 3 player games than having one 8 player game.
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That being said, I should say that I wouldn't build this way unless it's an area you actively want to explore for your own reasons. If it's just retaliation, well, it's probably not the right thing to do. I know this doesn't necessarily solve your conundrum of how to be more competitive in your meta, but there may be better ways to approach the situation. There's plenty of commanders out there you can build pretty competitive without having to lock everyone else down.
Yeah, probably not, but I'm apparently playing against guys with decks named '1,001 Board Wipes' and 'Turn 3 Marit Lage,' so if that's the meta, then that's what we're gonna play.
I miss Tiny Leaders so much.
I get where you come from here; all I'm saying is maybe don't spend too much money proving a point. My suggestion is build Derevi, Empyrial Tactician, Arcum Dagsson or Ghave, Guru of Spores. All can be quite competitive for reasonably cheap. Ghave probably most so. All can end a game quickly, or in the case of Derevi, lock everyone out of a game quickly.
Ideally, these guys are the sort of people you can talk to about the issue though. I'd just say 'look guys, this isn't fun for me, do you have any lower powered decks you can play while I get up to speed?' or something along those lines. If they dont, or show little interest, then find another playgroup.
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Just play a bunch of Flying Men type of cards, counter spells, and time magic (the time magic probably isn't NEEDED). Build a strong presence early, have counter's for wrath effects, and win with pure card advantage.
The deck is incredibly effective while remaining extremely cheap to build.