I'm looking for the community's input on this topic:
I've recently realized that some cards have so much value, are just so good, they should probably be in every deck that plays the appropriate colors (if the deck isn't themed, obviously). This means that a card needs ZERO support to be good; it just rocks all on it's own.
Consecrated Sphinx, Serra Ascendant. I disagree with your choice of Huntmaster, he doesn't actually do that much in the realm of 40 life, though I guess he's fine if he flips. My experience with him is that he doesn't do enough. I also prefer Faith's Fetters over Oblivion Ring but that's an unusual view, I like shutting down opposing commanders without allowing them to be put back in the command zone.
I disagree with most of your choices, to be quite honest.
Personally, I think there are very, very few cards that are actual "auto-includes". I've made decks that have foregone the most obvious of staples - Primeval Titan-less green decks, Bribery-less blue decks, Cabal Coffers-less black decks, etc.
Gilded Lotus is also fantastic. I also disagree with Phyrexian Arena. Just not a big fan of that card. Also: if you are playing Oblivion Ring, there is ZERO excuse for not playing Journey to Nowhere. You are going to hit creatures with O-Ring anyway, so why not play the cheaper version?
Obviously deck context is important too but most of the above cards at least start in decks of appropriate color and then might get cut out depending on the deck. Generally they are going to stay in though.
Gilded Lotus is also fantastic. I also disagree with Phyrexian Arena. Just not a big fan of that card. Also: if you are playing Oblivion Ring, there is ZERO excuse for not playing Journey to Nowhere. You are going to hit creatures with O-Ring anyway, so why not play the cheaper version?
Because the reason people play O-ring is for catch-all removal. Planeswalkers, other enchantments, things that are just generally hard to remove. If you're looking for creature removal why don't you just play Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile?
I included Huntmaster because of his board presence. In our competitive play group, early game is relevant (unlike many people's EDH communities) and Huntmaster gives your immense bang for your buck
I'd go a step further than few - there are no auto includes. EDH is about experimentation. I've run decks without basics (which are arguably the most auto-include decks), and no, there was no hermit druid in it.
Exactly. Though if you are playing monored Stranglehold goes a long way to messing with the rest of the table.
Oftentimes, the way I'll build decks is to pick a color combo I like, look at the "staple" cards in that color, and then say to myself: "What kind of deck WOULDN'T want these cards?"
So I often end up looking at weird themes where not only do many of the staple cards not help, but they either actively hurt or just don't come anywhere close to being as good as on-theme cards.
For example, I have a blue deck that revolves around constantly bouncing everything to owner's hand - cards like Evacuation, Cowardice, and Devastating Tide and ways to recur them (usually with ETB creatures so I can cycle constantly). Obviously Bribery is no good in that deck - why do I want to get your best creature on the board if I'm going to play Evacuation?
So I definitely agree that there are no auto-includes. In fact, I think that the utility stuff (O-Ring, Eternal Witness, etc.) are more likely to find spots anyway than the big stuff like Consecrated Sphinx and Primeval Titan.
The problem with defining [EDH] by what is "fun" is that everyone seems to define fun as what they don't lose to. If you keep losing to easily answered cards, that means you should improve your deck. If you don't want to improve your deck, then you should come to peace with the idea that you are going to lose because you chose to not interact with better strategies.
I've recently realized that some cards have so much value, are just so good, they should probably be in every deck that plays the appropriate colors (if the deck isn't themed, obviously). This means that a card needs ZERO support to be good; it just rocks all on it's own.
Here are some obvious ones:
Obviously, the point of this thread is to uncover the not-so-blatant choices. Here's my recent discoveries:
Please share any obvious ones that I missed, but much more importantly tell us your discoveries of must have cards that people may not realize!
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
Level 1 Judge
Personally, I think there are very, very few cards that are actual "auto-includes". I've made decks that have foregone the most obvious of staples - Primeval Titan-less green decks, Bribery-less blue decks, Cabal Coffers-less black decks, etc.
The only cards I would play 100% of the time in decks that can run them are: Eternal Witness, Sol Ring, Mana Crypt.
Currently Playing:
Legacy: Something U/W Controlish
EDH Cube
Hypercube! A New EDH Deck Every Week(ish)!
BRGotta Get or Get GotRB
(Avatar courtesy of Heylookitsamoose)
Blue - Consecrated Sphinx
Black - Demonic Tutor
Red - Chaos Warp
Green - Primeval Titan
Colorless - Sensei's Divining Top, Sol Ring
Those are the only cards I consider in the format that if you're in the colors, I see no reason not to play if you're looking for optimization.
UWU/W BlinkUW
BMono-Black ControlB
Commander:
GWUJenaraGWU
BGeth MBCB
RGXenagosRG
WUBSharuumWUB (retired)
Modern:
xAffinityx (starting)
Standard:
Ha! That's a good one.
EDH is a CASUAL format. Get with the program, or GTFO.
B
W
G
B
Land
C
Obviously deck context is important too but most of the above cards at least start in decks of appropriate color and then might get cut out depending on the deck. Generally they are going to stay in though.
Rafiq of the Many UWG
Sedris, the Traitor King URB
Kaalia of the Vast RWB
Savra, Queen of Golgari GB
Trostani, Selesnya's Voice GW
Eight-and-a-Half-Tails EquipmentW
Because the reason people play O-ring is for catch-all removal. Planeswalkers, other enchantments, things that are just generally hard to remove. If you're looking for creature removal why don't you just play Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile?
Demonic Tutor, Consecrated Sphinx, Rhystic Study, and Bribery definitely count. Can't believe I missed those!
I included Huntmaster because of his board presence. In our competitive play group, early game is relevant (unlike many people's EDH communities) and Huntmaster gives your immense bang for your buck
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
Exactly. Though if you are playing monored Stranglehold goes a long way to messing with the rest of the table.
Building silly decks for silly games.
So I often end up looking at weird themes where not only do many of the staple cards not help, but they either actively hurt or just don't come anywhere close to being as good as on-theme cards.
For example, I have a blue deck that revolves around constantly bouncing everything to owner's hand - cards like Evacuation, Cowardice, and Devastating Tide and ways to recur them (usually with ETB creatures so I can cycle constantly). Obviously Bribery is no good in that deck - why do I want to get your best creature on the board if I'm going to play Evacuation?
So I definitely agree that there are no auto-includes. In fact, I think that the utility stuff (O-Ring, Eternal Witness, etc.) are more likely to find spots anyway than the big stuff like Consecrated Sphinx and Primeval Titan.
http://mtgcommander.net/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11023
Also:
Mulldrifter
Sakura-Tribe Elder
Darksteel Ingot
Counterspell