I've seen a number of people talking about what they believe to be the best generals of each color combination, so I thought I would compile a list of the best generals in each category. The list will consist of: best mono color general for each color, best dual color general for each combination, best tri-color general for each combination, and the best 5 color general (since at present, there are no 4 color legends). I thought this list would give new players a good place to start when trying to decide on a general....always best to start with the best right?
So, as I get some opinions, I'll make up a list in this post with each of the best generals for the different categories.
The mono color list is coming together, so lets discuss some of the best 2-color generals.
There are 10 different combinations, and we're doing two categories (Duel&Multi), So this is going to be quite a long list.
Please indicate in your post which categories you're voting for and why.
Lets get some votes & opinions!
EDIT:
Since different generals are better depending on the format (Duel, or Multiplayer), I am going to create two lists - one for each.
Please submit your votes and opinions with that in mind.
I appreciate the quick responses guys, but let me reiterate what I'm looking for here: I'd like for everyone to submit a list of what they think are the best generals for each of the mono colored decks. That way I can better gauge what the consensus is for each color while at the same time discussing the arguments surrounding each choice. As we decide what the best mono colored generals are, we can move on to the various multicolored generals, and so on.
To keep things organized, lets begin with the mono colored generals. Please include your pick for best of each color in your post, along with some sort of explanation.
Mycosynth Lattice is what he is referring to as the 3rd card in that combo. It turns everything into an artifact, which allows the Disk to blow everything up except for your indestructible permanents.
I have to agree with Donald for Erayo monoblue. Teferi's okay, but he isn't nearly as gamebreaking in a control deck as "you have to pitch a spell each turn to play anything." As for white, I'd never pick Isamaru. I mean, Eight-and-a-Half Tails only costs one more, and he can be pretty crazy for protection purposes. Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant is also something that could be pretty good in a weenie/token EDH build. Also, Korlash, Heir to Blackblade, can be pretty insane at getting two-hit general swing on turns 10-11. Other than that Hidestsugu red and Rofellos green are pretty obvious.
We going for 1v1 or multi? Generals like Zur & Braids are a lot more manageable if you have multiple people gunning for them. In multiplayer I'd rather have Sharuum over Zur & Maga over Braids.
W: Eight-and-a-half Tails The general that likes to tell you "No". You can't touch this. Or that, nope. none of that either. B:Braids, Cabal Minion, Powerhouse general in black. Really wrecks havoc. U: Can't decide between teferi and erayo. So i'll go with fun- Kami of the crescent moon. R:Zirilan of the Claw, utter just fun dragon beatdown deck. G:Azusa, Lost but seeking. She's got the ramp, oh man she's got the ramp you need. Early fat beats for the win.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
-C.S. Lewis
Don asked earlier if this list was supposed to focus on best generals for multiplayer or 1v1. Well, honestly I hadn't considered that because I never play EDH 1v1 - to me this will always be a multiplayer format. Undoubtedly there are some generals that are far better depending on the matchups, but for the most part, I think the best generals are good no matter how you're playing - that's what makes them the best. So, I guess with that in mind, let's continue.
I think I have to agree that Eight-and-a-Half-Tails is the best monowhite general I've seen mentioned thus far. Lin-Sivvi is cool, but she doesn't allow for much freedom of deck construction....pretty much limits you to a rebel theme.
I am not sold on Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant because in my casual Playgroup we play with the rule that all life total based rulings on cards such as him are doubled for the purposes of EDH. So technically the Rune Tail would require 60 life in order for it to flip instead of 30. Thus making it much more reasonable in terms of EDH.
As for Eight-and-a-half-tails, that card I actually like as the so called "best General" for white
I personally don't think I would ever enjoy playing a mono colored general because you're just limiting yourself an unimaginable amount. With that said, my thoughts on the best are pretty subjective
White: Eight-and-a-half Tails - I think it's obvious. You pretty much control a very large portion of the game. Just gotta keep your mana open.
Blue: Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir - Limiting when your opponents can play spells and giving your more options when you can play yours just gives you the unfair advantage.
Black: Korlash, Heir to the Blackblade - Regenerators are difficult to kill and this guy just keeps getting bigger. Give him trample and you'll pretty much win every time.
Well, so far it looks like the most contention is over the Best for Blue and Black.
-- The big 2 for blue seems to be Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir vs. Erayo, Soratami Ascendant. Teferi seems like the best option to me; his ability to shut down everyone else is amazing, but people also forget how great it is to have a general with Flash (that also gives all of your other creatures Flash!).
-- The big 2 for black are Braids Cabal Minion vs. Maga, Traitor to Mortals ....with Korlash, Heir to Blackblade coming a somewhat distant third. I actually have to change my original vote here and say that Maga is the best. Braids is great for control, but Maga has the ability to kill someone in one turn, not to mention huge life gain with Drain Life effects.
-- Almost everyone so far agrees that Heartless Hidetsugu is the best red general, and for good reason. He's one of my favorite decks.
-- Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary is practically uncontested as the best green general.....duh. I think the only other creature to even have a *tiny* argument in her favor is Azusa, Lost but Seeking, but it's nearly unanimous that Rofellos is King of the Woods.
-- White is almost a consensus too - Eight-and-a-Half-Tails has a huge lead.....probably because she is so fun to type.
How about some discussion on the blue or black generals? (or any really)
Oona, Queen of the Fae - One of my favorite cards of all time. She's queen for a reason. RFGing a portion of your opponents library and getting some 1/1 fliers to boot, seems pretty ridic to me.
-- The big 2 for blue seems to be Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir vs. Erayo, Soratami Ascendant. Teferi seems like the best option to me; his ability to shut down everyone else is amazing, but people also forget how great it is to have a general with Flash (that also gives all of your other creatures Flash!).
The thing that puts Erayo over the top in my mind is that he comes online so much faster than Teferi. And in a Teferi vs. Erayo match what does Teferi do if Erayo is online? They both have lots of counters except Erayo gets a free one every turn.
-- The big 2 for black are Braids Cabal Minion vs. Maga, Traitor to Mortals ....with Korlash, Heir to Blackblade coming a somewhat distant third. I actually have to change my original vote here and say that Maga is the best. Braids is great for control, but Maga has the ability to kill someone in one turn, not to mention huge life gain with Drain Life effects.
For me this is completely dependant on 1v1 or multi, in 1v1 Braids is very hard to manage wheras Maga is fairly slow. In multi, Braids should get a lot of hate thrown at her while Maga has a chance to build up then start dropping huge bombs.
-- Almost everyone so far agrees that Heartless Hidetsugu is the best red general, and for good reason. He's one of my favorite decks.
No contest here, he is just so good at doing what red likes to do and he even scales to the higher life totals in EDH.
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary is practically uncontested as the best green general.....duh. I think the only other creature to even have a *tiny* argument in her favor is Azusa, Lost but Seeking, but it's nearly unanimous that Rofellos is King of the Woods.
They both accelerate mana, Rofellos just does so in a completely unfair way. No contest.
-- White is almost a consensus too - Eight-and-a-Half-Tails has a huge lead.....probably because she is so fun to type.
I'm still going with Lin-Sivvi here due to an excellent list I saw here but cannot seem to find now. Having your general be a tutor is pretty broken if you are just getting 3 mana or less casting cost enchantments. Even being limited to just rebels and changelings is very solid and can set up some pretty quick infinite life combos. Plus most of the creatures in your deck tutor for your general if she gets shuffled in or put on the bottom so she can be very difficult to deal with. Lastly, she is not only a tutor engine but a recursion engine as well.
How about some discussion on the blue/black generals? (or any really)
Oona, Queen of the Fae - One of my favorite cards of all time. She's queen for a reason. RFGing a portion of your opponents library and getting some 1/1 fliers to boot, seems pretty ridic to me.
OKnotOK was referring to blue and black generals, not hybrids/golds.
As for blue, I'd say Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir would trump Erayo, Soratami Ascendant in least-threatening, since Erayo can shut down a table as fast as turn 2 (prolly less likely in highlander, but still possible). Id say for power from those two, Erayo takes it but Ive not seen a deck with her yet
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
-C.S. Lewis
I think this list shouldn't be too long. For mono colored...
U: This is tough. For the king of mono U control, Erayo and Teferi i think are the best 2. Their both excellent. Arcum Dagson is quite good too. Lattice+Disk+Forge isn't the only 3 card combo, for instance, Basalt Monolith, Rings of Brighthearth and any way to use infinite mana. There's just so many powerful options to win. I think it's between Teferi and Arcum. I really can't choose.
Arcum Dagson/Teferi
G: I really think Rofellos has no equal. He's just so good. Sure, Azusa with crucible and strip mine sure, thats a sweet combo! But... thats a 3 card combo. Rofellos is absolutely great in all situations.
Rofellos
W: Toughie. Isamaru is pretty good. I like Konda aswell. Fact is, mono white isn't as strong in EDH as other mono colors. I guess Isamaru? 8.5 tails is fine.
Isamaru?? (Not on par with the other mono colroed generals)
B: Sorry. Braids has no equal. Maga, sure he's great and all. I just don't think he can match Braid's power. Maga is just reusable black X spell. Braids can just blsiteringly win games.
Braids, Cabal Minion
R: Not sure. I dont know mono red very well, Jaya?
For multicolor, Rafiq and ESPECIALLY Zur stand out. I do think Zur is the best general in 1v1 EDH. For colorless, Karn has little competiion, and is quite a good general.
So, as I get some opinions, I'll make up a list in this post with each of the best generals for the different categories.
The mono color list is coming together, so lets discuss some of the best 2-color generals.
There are 10 different combinations, and we're doing two categories (Duel&Multi), So this is going to be quite a long list.
Please indicate in your post which categories you're voting for and why.
Lets get some votes & opinions!
EDIT:
Since different generals are better depending on the format (Duel, or Multiplayer), I am going to create two lists - one for each.
Please submit your votes and opinions with that in mind.
Multiplayer
1 Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
1 Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero
Multiplayer
1 Azami, Lady of Scrolls
1 Erayo, Soratami Ascendant
Multiplayer
1 Maga, Traitor to Mortals
1 Braids, Cabal Minion
Multiplayer & Duel
1 Heartless Hidetsugu
<--Green-->
Multiplayer & Duel
1 Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Something like this:
Awesome, Thanks!
Hopefully this way it will be easier to get votes for all of the mono color generals at once.
Interesting choice on white - I had forgotten about Lin-Sivvi. She probably is the best just because of her built-in tutoring ability.
Could you elaborate on the combo you were talking about with Arcum?
WBR: Oros, the Avenger
URG: Intet, the Dreamer
BGW: Teneb, the Harvester
RWU: Numot, the Devastator
GUB: Vorosh, the Hunter
The only one of the five that has competition is Teneb, and Teneb>>>Doran.
GX Tron XG
UR Phoenix RU
GG Freyalise High Tide GG
UR Parun Counterspells RU
BB Yawgmoth Token Storm BB
WB Pestilence BW
Blue: Arcum Dagsson
Black: Maga, Traitor to Mortals
Red: Heartless Hidetsugu
Green: Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Mycosynth Lattice is what he is referring to as the 3rd card in that combo. It turns everything into an artifact, which allows the Disk to blow everything up except for your indestructible permanents.
:symg::symu: Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
lol, Yea, I know that's going to be a quick vote! There's only one available for each of those combinations.
For now, lets stick with the mono colored generals....we'll work our way through the different color combinations as we go along.
Any input on the mono colors?
U: Erayo, Soratami Ascendant
B: Braids, Cabal Minion
R: Heartless Hidetsugu
G: Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
GX Tron XG
UR Phoenix RU
GG Freyalise High Tide GG
UR Parun Counterspells RU
BB Yawgmoth Token Storm BB
WB Pestilence BW
U: Kira, Great glass spinner. Super protection
B: Maga, Traitor to mortals. Gradual build-up to doom
R: Ashling the Pilgrim. Cheap, very effective
G: Rofellos, Llanowar Emisary. Awesome
B:Braids, Cabal Minion, Powerhouse general in black. Really wrecks havoc.
U: Can't decide between teferi and erayo. So i'll go with fun- Kami of the crescent moon.
R:Zirilan of the Claw, utter just fun dragon beatdown deck.
G:Azusa, Lost but seeking. She's got the ramp, oh man she's got the ramp you need. Early fat beats for the win.
Anyway, my picks for each color:
W: Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero prolly, Crovax, Ascendant Hero puts up a fight though
U: Ertai, Wizard Adept, but I have yet to fight an Erayo deck that was fast. Might be biased here
B: My friends would force me to say Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni, as they HATE her worse than combo decks
R: Godo, Bandit Warlord = Jitte or SoFaI every game
G: Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary, he was banned for a reason:mad:
-C.S. Lewis
EDH
Obzedat - Still Alive
Retired - Nicol Bolas
Don asked earlier if this list was supposed to focus on best generals for multiplayer or 1v1. Well, honestly I hadn't considered that because I never play EDH 1v1 - to me this will always be a multiplayer format. Undoubtedly there are some generals that are far better depending on the matchups, but for the most part, I think the best generals are good no matter how you're playing - that's what makes them the best. So, I guess with that in mind, let's continue.
I think I have to agree that Eight-and-a-Half-Tails is the best monowhite general I've seen mentioned thus far. Lin-Sivvi is cool, but she doesn't allow for much freedom of deck construction....pretty much limits you to a rebel theme.
Thanks everyone, and keep the votes coming!
While I disagree with the Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero, I definitely agree with just about everything else on this list (esepcially the Erayo, Soratami Ascendant, that card is just sick).
I am not sold on Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant because in my casual Playgroup we play with the rule that all life total based rulings on cards such as him are doubled for the purposes of EDH. So technically the Rune Tail would require 60 life in order for it to flip instead of 30. Thus making it much more reasonable in terms of EDH.
As for Eight-and-a-half-tails, that card I actually like as the so called "best General" for white
:symu:: Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
:symb:: Braids, Cabal Minion
:symr:: Heartless Hidetsugu
:symg:: Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Gathering Magic
Goblin Artisans
Channel Fireball
Daily MTG Making Magic
Daily MTG Latest Developments
MTG Color Pie
W=Eight-and-a-Half Tails (protection and evasion, yes plz)
U=Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir (forces everybody else to play your game)
B=Braids, Cabal Minion (nigh unbeatable with a great hand, ability wrecks multiplayer)
R=Heartless Hidetsugu (deals lots of damage to everybody rather quickly)
G=Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary (the mana accel here is unparalleled)
Current EDH Decks:
G Multani, Maro-Sorcerer
B Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed
GU Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Blue: Azami
Black: Iname Death Aspect
Red: Kunamo
Green: Rofellos
White: Eight-and-a-half Tails - I think it's obvious. You pretty much control a very large portion of the game. Just gotta keep your mana open.
Blue: Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir - Limiting when your opponents can play spells and giving your more options when you can play yours just gives you the unfair advantage.
Black: Korlash, Heir to the Blackblade - Regenerators are difficult to kill and this guy just keeps getting bigger. Give him trample and you'll pretty much win every time.
Red: Heartles Hidetsugu - What hasn't already been said?
Green: Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary - This guy should never have been unbanned.
-- The big 2 for blue seems to be Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir vs. Erayo, Soratami Ascendant. Teferi seems like the best option to me; his ability to shut down everyone else is amazing, but people also forget how great it is to have a general with Flash (that also gives all of your other creatures Flash!).
-- The big 2 for black are Braids Cabal Minion vs. Maga, Traitor to Mortals ....with Korlash, Heir to Blackblade coming a somewhat distant third. I actually have to change my original vote here and say that Maga is the best. Braids is great for control, but Maga has the ability to kill someone in one turn, not to mention huge life gain with Drain Life effects.
-- Almost everyone so far agrees that Heartless Hidetsugu is the best red general, and for good reason. He's one of my favorite decks.
-- Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary is practically uncontested as the best green general.....duh. I think the only other creature to even have a *tiny* argument in her favor is Azusa, Lost but Seeking, but it's nearly unanimous that Rofellos is King of the Woods.
-- White is almost a consensus too - Eight-and-a-Half-Tails has a huge lead.....probably because she is so fun to type.
How about some discussion on the blue or black generals? (or any really)
Keep those votes coming!
The thing that puts Erayo over the top in my mind is that he comes online so much faster than Teferi. And in a Teferi vs. Erayo match what does Teferi do if Erayo is online? They both have lots of counters except Erayo gets a free one every turn.
For me this is completely dependant on 1v1 or multi, in 1v1 Braids is very hard to manage wheras Maga is fairly slow. In multi, Braids should get a lot of hate thrown at her while Maga has a chance to build up then start dropping huge bombs.
No contest here, he is just so good at doing what red likes to do and he even scales to the higher life totals in EDH.
They both accelerate mana, Rofellos just does so in a completely unfair way. No contest.
I'm still going with Lin-Sivvi here due to an excellent list I saw here but cannot seem to find now. Having your general be a tutor is pretty broken if you are just getting 3 mana or less casting cost enchantments. Even being limited to just rebels and changelings is very solid and can set up some pretty quick infinite life combos. Plus most of the creatures in your deck tutor for your general if she gets shuffled in or put on the bottom so she can be very difficult to deal with. Lastly, she is not only a tutor engine but a recursion engine as well.
How about some discussion on the blue/black generals? (or any really)
Keep those votes coming![/quote]
OKnotOK was referring to blue and black generals, not hybrids/golds.
As for blue, I'd say Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir would trump Erayo, Soratami Ascendant in least-threatening, since Erayo can shut down a table as fast as turn 2 (prolly less likely in highlander, but still possible). Id say for power from those two, Erayo takes it but Ive not seen a deck with her yet
Black: I still will fight for Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni for multi, b/c it can reanimate any opponents' creatures to your side like Teneb, the Harvester, but it REGENERATES! It becomes a problem for ppl who cannot draw a wrath fast. Maga, Traitor to Mortals has proven mediocre for me i multi, but OMG AMAZING 1v1. Braids, Cabal Minion is just a bit too attention-grabbing.
-C.S. Lewis
EDH
Obzedat - Still Alive
Retired - Nicol Bolas
U: This is tough. For the king of mono U control, Erayo and Teferi i think are the best 2. Their both excellent. Arcum Dagson is quite good too. Lattice+Disk+Forge isn't the only 3 card combo, for instance, Basalt Monolith, Rings of Brighthearth and any way to use infinite mana. There's just so many powerful options to win. I think it's between Teferi and Arcum. I really can't choose.
Arcum Dagson/Teferi
G: I really think Rofellos has no equal. He's just so good. Sure, Azusa with crucible and strip mine sure, thats a sweet combo! But... thats a 3 card combo. Rofellos is absolutely great in all situations.
Rofellos
W: Toughie. Isamaru is pretty good. I like Konda aswell. Fact is, mono white isn't as strong in EDH as other mono colors. I guess Isamaru? 8.5 tails is fine.
Isamaru?? (Not on par with the other mono colroed generals)
B: Sorry. Braids has no equal. Maga, sure he's great and all. I just don't think he can match Braid's power. Maga is just reusable black X spell. Braids can just blsiteringly win games.
Braids, Cabal Minion
R: Not sure. I dont know mono red very well, Jaya?
For multicolor, Rafiq and ESPECIALLY Zur stand out. I do think Zur is the best general in 1v1 EDH. For colorless, Karn has little competiion, and is quite a good general.
Thanks to Spiderboy4 of High~Light Studios!