Ive played mulitplayer commander for several years and enjoyed it. Recently though I moved and my new LGS plays duel commander tournaments. I was hoping for some advice on possibly porting an existing decklist. I've already consulted the banlist and realize a few mana rocks will have to get changed.
I haven't played Duel and I am not aware of what the major deck strategies are. Note: I also do not know what the meta is like at this store so we are going in blind. Oh and Im playing tonight!
So jumping into it, my options are: Braids, Conjurer Adept
This is one of my favorites. The strategy is to blitz out anhilator 2+ eldrazi. Its got clones and theft to copy and steal their creatures. I also have good hexproof/ shroud and counterspells for protection. Its big weaknesses are that it relies on the general. Either I or my opponent should use her ability for me to get rolling. Also, she has the most mana rocks that need replacing. Is she viable?
The elfball will be your best bet in a competitive metagame. Teysa is terrible and I suspect Karlov and Ayli are as well - I've never had any problems against them but they don't quite have the history of suck that Teysa has. Braids is tough to make work well but I think less people have tried it than the BW commanders so at least maybe you can crack it open or surprise people.
I'm going into a tournament blind soon this month with Teysa. Can't wait to suck, ***** the bed and then sleep in it for a while. I think win or lose though, the experience is going to be valuable going forward and will give us a better idea of what direction we need to go as noobs to become more competitive. Maybe don't spend too much $ until you've rocked a few games and have a better feel for the format. Don't be ashamed of a few ***** stains on the ginch.
Even if you lose, just try to take from it as much as you can, as it's a lot to learn. I truthfully think the ezuri deck would be better. Unfortunately, for this format, B/W just isn't good enough. (From my experience of ~ four years playing this format)
Im kinda in the same situation as OP but i kinda know what decks im facing but no idea what type of deck i need to build because there are 2 decks that im most cautios to face agaisnt:Kaalia and the undefeated Vendilion Clique.
I was trying to build a deck against fully tuned Vendilion Clique but im not sure it can face agaisnt a Kaalia because the deck is mostly about ramp with cards resitent agaisnt counters. The deck i was making was Kruphix but i fear the deck lacks removal to stop Kaalia. Should i get even more counters?
Im kinda in the same situation as OP but i kinda know what decks im facing but no idea what type of deck i need to build because there are 2 decks that im most cautios to face agaisnt:Kaalia and the undefeated Vendilion Clique.
I was trying to build a deck against fully tuned Vendilion Clique but im not sure it can face agaisnt a Kaalia because the deck is mostly about ramp with cards resitent agaisnt counters. The deck i was making was Kruphix but i fear the deck lacks removal to stop Kaalia. Should i get even more counters?
Just build Thalia WW to stop Clique decks in their tracks. WW is made up of cheap cmc threats that enable you to swarm the board (i.e. slam more than one spell/turn, which is the hard counter deck's bane). Thalia should have a reasonable match vs Kaalia, or at least will with good threat assessment.
Im kinda in the same situation as OP but i kinda know what decks im facing but no idea what type of deck i need to build because there are 2 decks that im most cautios to face agaisnt:Kaalia and the undefeated Vendilion Clique.
I was trying to build a deck against fully tuned Vendilion Clique but im not sure it can face agaisnt a Kaalia because the deck is mostly about ramp with cards resitent agaisnt counters. The deck i was making was Kruphix but i fear the deck lacks removal to stop Kaalia. Should i get even more counters?
Just build Thalia WW to stop Clique decks in their tracks. WW is made up of cheap cmc threats that enable you to swarm the board (i.e. slam more than one spell/turn, which is the hard counter deck's bane). Thalia should have a reasonable match vs Kaalia, or at least will with good threat assessment.
hmmm i like that suggestion actually.I have a WW tiny leader i can convert that to a commander deck and get Thalia. Thanks
I think blue braids would end badly. Opponent waits until their upkeep, windmill slams the strongest thing they can into play for free, uses their mana to kill braids, and then passes the turn. Maybe you can bounce the thing they play? I don't know. It can just end badly for so many reasons. They don't even need a godlike hand or something. You just give them full control of the game if they have a removal spell and something to put into play for free.
If you want to try Teysa because Elfball isn't your cup of tea then go for it.
If it is your cup of tea then I agree with Magicmarvin91 that Titania is better then Ezuri. It's been putting up some fairly consistant results lately.
If you want to try Teysa because Elfball isn't your cup of tea then go for it.
If it is your cup of tea then I agree with Magicmarvin91 that Titania is better then Ezuri. It's been putting up some fairly consistant results lately.
Nah, I think any of those can be a good deck, not a tier 1, but yes they can be competitive.
Just Blue Braids would be really hard to make, since before you drop a fattie, he will have the chance to drop one and get rid of her. Playing against a Reanimator/Emrakul Based deck can get you killed on the spot playing Braids on your turn, and trying to give flash to her before takes a too big setup for 1v1, give flash, play commander, respond between turn threats, play fattie.
Any of those BW commanders can get good tournament reports, if you don't expect to have a cutthroat deck, but a competitive and different deck, then Teysa can do the trick. Just don't expect to have a good match against everyone and get consistent "top8".
Thanks for all the feedback. I didn't know BW was that bad. I figured elfball would be one of the easiest and most competitive. I just find it boring since it is noninteractive and repetitive. WW Thalia would seem fun. Is that better than Kataki?
I just played my first tournament with Teysa and wasn't horrendous. Pretty grindy, but she can win games. Contamination+Bitterblossom lock is pretty brutal on opponent.
Thanks for all the feedback. I didn't know BW was that bad. I figured elfball would be one of the easiest and most competitive. I just find it boring since it is noninteractive and repetitive. WW Thalia would seem fun. Is that better than Kataki?
Absolutely. I'd actually go with Thalia and rock Kataki inside the Thalia shell.
Ive played mulitplayer commander for several years and enjoyed it. Recently though I moved and my new LGS plays duel commander tournaments. I was hoping for some advice on possibly porting an existing decklist. I've already consulted the banlist and realize a few mana rocks will have to get changed.
I haven't played Duel and I am not aware of what the major deck strategies are. Note: I also do not know what the meta is like at this store so we are going in blind. Oh and Im playing tonight!
So jumping into it, my options are:
Braids, Conjurer Adept
This is one of my favorites. The strategy is to blitz out anhilator 2+ eldrazi. Its got clones and theft to copy and steal their creatures. I also have good hexproof/ shroud and counterspells for protection. Its big weaknesses are that it relies on the general. Either I or my opponent should use her ability for me to get rolling. Also, she has the most mana rocks that need replacing. Is she viable?
My next choic would be BW token Teysa, Orzhov Scion. I could probably adapt this to a lifegain Karlov of the Ghost Council or Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim. I like to combo out with Darkest Hour. The curve is low and the generals are rattlesnakes.
I also have a good Ezuri, Renegade Leader elfball deck. Would this be the best choice in a blind meta?
Is an aggro strategy viable. I have mono white weenie as an option too.
Thoughts?
I was trying to build a deck against fully tuned Vendilion Clique but im not sure it can face agaisnt a Kaalia because the deck is mostly about ramp with cards resitent agaisnt counters. The deck i was making was Kruphix but i fear the deck lacks removal to stop Kaalia. Should i get even more counters?
Just build Thalia WW to stop Clique decks in their tracks. WW is made up of cheap cmc threats that enable you to swarm the board (i.e. slam more than one spell/turn, which is the hard counter deck's bane). Thalia should have a reasonable match vs Kaalia, or at least will with good threat assessment.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
hmmm i like that suggestion actually.I have a WW tiny leader i can convert that to a commander deck and get Thalia. Thanks
If you want to try Teysa because Elfball isn't your cup of tea then go for it.
If it is your cup of tea then I agree with Magicmarvin91 that Titania is better then Ezuri. It's been putting up some fairly consistant results lately.
BChainer, Dementia Master(Big Mana/Reanimator)
BRRakdos, The Showstopper (Mass Life Loss/Ramp)
BUThe Scarab God (Zombie Tribal/Control)
BWKarlov of the Ghost Council (Life Gain)
BGJarad, Golgari Lich Lord (Stompy/Dredge)
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher (Tokens/Non-infinite Combo)
Titania legit AF.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.
Just Blue Braids would be really hard to make, since before you drop a fattie, he will have the chance to drop one and get rid of her. Playing against a Reanimator/Emrakul Based deck can get you killed on the spot playing Braids on your turn, and trying to give flash to her before takes a too big setup for 1v1, give flash, play commander, respond between turn threats, play fattie.
Any of those BW commanders can get good tournament reports, if you don't expect to have a cutthroat deck, but a competitive and different deck, then Teysa can do the trick. Just don't expect to have a good match against everyone and get consistent "top8".
Absolutely. I'd actually go with Thalia and rock Kataki inside the Thalia shell.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.