So someone asked me what I thought was the worst commander to play. Worst, as in the commander is so bad as to be virtually unplayable, not worst as in the most degenerate. So all I could think of at that moment was a vanilla creature like Isamaru, Hound of Konda, but nope, can't be vanilla or French.
So.... what is the worst commander(s) you can think of?
After browsing the list of eligible commanders, the worst I can find isis Haakon, Stromgald Scourge since I cant think of any way to get it from the command zone to the graveyard.
Seriously though, I would probably go with one of the vanillas from Legends. Even Isamaru has good uses as a low curve beater. Since your friend seems to have applied the stipulation that it can't be vanilla or french vanilla, maybe Axelrod Gunnarson, Gosta Dirk, Ur-Drago, Lord Magnus (you get the idea), Riven Turnbull, or any number of Legends from the really old sets.
On a sheer technical level it's probably one of the Legends from Legends. But people enjoy the challenge of building around them for color identity alone. I enjoy Sivitri Scarzam for Pauper, The Lady of The Mountain for Giant Tribal and Ramirez DePietro for Dimir Pirate Tribal. No point mentioning Soraya The Falconer or other Homelands Legends by the same logic.
I'm guessing my vote for worst could be Syr Alin, The Lion's Claw since he's on the same low power level of the above mentioned cards but from a recent set.
On a flipside something like Animar, Soul of Elements or Narset, Enlightened Master could be the worst commander depending on the table because if you play them you will surely be the first target from the other players to be taken out.
Aside from vanilla legends from Legend, I find abusable legends like Narset and overused ones like Atraxa to be fairly annoying. WotC should strive to make more legends like Xantcha, Sleeper Agent.
If you want to get meta you could play something like Kaalia of the Vast in a deck that contains no angels, demons, or dragons.
Effectively a vanilla 2/2 flyer for 4 that draws tremendous hate to you from the very start of the game in a way that none of the 'worthless' commanders ever will.
Otherwise any bad monowhite commander probably has a leg up just on account of monowhite being an infamously bad commander color relative to the sultai colors.
It's been 5+ years but I've made him a functional combo commander using scythe of the wretched, thornbite staff and various pinging red damage auras and another equipment. The deck had a few lines and played as a bad aristocrats deck.
I'm sure with newer cards it could be made easier, but with the plethora of aristocrat style commanders now (even with judith in the same colors) old Axelrod is far from ideal. But since he has combo potential I wouldn't consider him amongst the worst possible commanders.
Both became much better (though that's a relative term, especially when it comes to Iname) with the printing of Command Beacon. Phage could also use things like Torpor Orb or Platinum Angel already.
Ishi-Ishi, Akki Crackshot basically does nothing except weakly hate on a tribe that isn't overly common.
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Whether its blue players countering your spells, red players burning you out, or combo, if you have a problem with an aspect of Magic's gameplay, you can fix it!
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
TIL that there are only 8 actual Goat creature cards, and 6 of them are red. 3 of those 6 are 1/1s with Mountainwalk (1 of those 3 is cmc 3 with firebreathing, the other two are cmc 1).
Edit: right after posting this I inadvertently stumbled into a Mishra deck thread. Not only is he playable, it’s something I would run.
So I stand corrected.
Even though there are no other samurai's in green I disagree that Isao, Enlightened Bushi is completely useless, you could use him as a Voltron commander that can never equip lightning greaves, but I have no idea why you would choose him over Thrun, the last troll.
I would say Hope of Ghirapur. I think it is the worst colorless legendary creature (i.e. worst color). The two other artifact legends with a colorless identity are better in an artifact deck and the eldrazi are atleast bombs.
alternately, Emrakul, the Aeons Torn (or some other banned card) since you wont be allowed to play it...
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"Hail to the speaker, hail to the knower; joy to he who has understood, delight to they who have listened." - Odin
I don't agree with many of the professors opinions in that video. Some of the legendaries he commented on used to be playable before newer/better cards were printed (unspeakable and isao). Anthousa is a very playable commander for anti-sorcery speed removal boards, notably making an army out of coat of arms or beastmaster ascension, and is nearly immune to cyclonic rifts. Also, while rare, grandeur does work in edh and can be made into a very fun esper shell combo deck. Also more personally he pokes fun at two of my favorite commanders (rorix, who is a very playable voltron beater, and latulla who is an infinite mana win-con commander).
My main point of disappointed in the video is due to the amount of time he spends advertising. 16 minutes is not a short video, and it doesn't actually start until 5 minutes in, and has another 60 seconds of outro. With the quality of information he talks about in the video it makes me wonder just how much research he invested. There are obviously better "worse" options as we've all talked about here. It feels like a generic video he needed to post just to keep his numbers going.
My second main point of disappointment is the absolute lack of commentary on the potential of using sub-optimal commanders for a more fun environment and experience. A video like that can nudge a newer player into the "must play optimal 100% of the time" headspace, and limit experimental and more fun designs lest they become judged by peers.
Another comment that needed to be made was the actual use of a commander to a decks function. One of my first competitive decks ran sivitri scarzam in a time sieve combo. The deck didn't need a commander, just a color identity, yet my playgroup still talks about how strong Sivitri can be. While not overly important, it is worth noting that a commander can be completely useless trash but a deck can still dominate.
He clearly limited himself to 1 of each mono colour (idk why though). I agree that Isao isn’t terrible, but he’s actually not a crazy pick for worst in mono-green. Mono-green doesn’t really have any truly trash commanders.
Mono-white I might have gone rashida scalebane or Zhao zilong. The “one per set” rule is tricky because p3k and champions have a lot of the worst options. Oriss is pretty bland but she’s not worse than telim tor by a long shot.
I definitely think it’s worth it to build subpar commanders (I built pang tong ffs) but to be fair, outside of isao and maybe the unspeakable, the others would be really bad and hard to make non-useless.
I was surprised to see him throw shade at latulla. It’s not really a worse fireball if you can pay for it by discarding lands. Or squee for that matter. Plus it’s repeatable, reliable, and instant speed. Sure she’s not great but she’s not awful.
So.... what is the worst commander(s) you can think of?
After browsing the list of eligible commanders, the worst I can find isis Haakon, Stromgald Scourge since I cant think of any way to get it from the command zone to the graveyard.
The answer is Xenagos Ascended which is literally unplayable
Seriously though, I would probably go with one of the vanillas from Legends. Even Isamaru has good uses as a low curve beater. Since your friend seems to have applied the stipulation that it can't be vanilla or french vanilla, maybe Axelrod Gunnarson, Gosta Dirk, Ur-Drago, Lord Magnus (you get the idea), Riven Turnbull, or any number of Legends from the really old sets.
I'm guessing my vote for worst could be Syr Alin, The Lion's Claw since he's on the same low power level of the above mentioned cards but from a recent set.
On a flipside something like Animar, Soul of Elements or Narset, Enlightened Master could be the worst commander depending on the table because if you play them you will surely be the first target from the other players to be taken out.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Effectively a vanilla 2/2 flyer for 4 that draws tremendous hate to you from the very start of the game in a way that none of the 'worthless' commanders ever will.
Otherwise any bad monowhite commander probably has a leg up just on account of monowhite being an infamously bad commander color relative to the sultai colors.
- Rabid Wombat
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
It's been 5+ years but I've made him a functional combo commander using scythe of the wretched, thornbite staff and various pinging red damage auras and another equipment. The deck had a few lines and played as a bad aristocrats deck.
I'm sure with newer cards it could be made easier, but with the plethora of aristocrat style commanders now (even with judith in the same colors) old Axelrod is far from ideal. But since he has combo potential I wouldn't consider him amongst the worst possible commanders.
Links to my most current deck lists;
Primary EDH; Rakka Mar Token Perfection, Crosis Mnemonic Betrayal, Cromat Villainous, Judith Gravestorm, Rakdos Empty Storm, Exava Artifacts, Bant Trash, & Fumiko Voltron!
EDH kept at home; Ruzzian Isset & Rakdos LoR!
EDH (nostalgic/pimp/retired) in storage;
Latulla Burns, Akroma Smash, Jeska Voltron, Rakdos Storm, Bladewing Darghans, Lyzolda Worldgorger, Xantcha Steals your Heart, Jori Storm, Wydwen Permission, Gwendlyn Paradox, Jeleva Warps, & Sigarda Brick!
Legacy Showanimator and High Tide!
JundBGR
RW Blood MoonRW
Pauper
Delver U
Elves G
Control B
Commander
Edgar Markov BRW
Captain Sisay GW
Niv-Mizzet, Parun UR
Tymna and Ravos WB
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Ishi-Ishi, Akki Crackshot basically does nothing except weakly hate on a tribe that isn't overly common.
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
Hmmn how about goat tribal.
Savra, Queen of the Golgari (Green Black Control with Graveyard Advantages)
Standard
Probably Mono Red Sligh
Modern
Dredge
Legacy
Dredge
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Simply because its only red. If it was like izzet or grixis it would be fantastic.
Edit: right after posting this I inadvertently stumbled into a Mishra deck thread. Not only is he playable, it’s something I would run.
So I stand corrected.
----
Almost all the "bad" legends from old sets at least deliver some semi-efficient body or just a large body.
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
👮👮👮 #BlueLivesMatter 👮👮👮
Legacy - Solidarity - mono U aggro - burn - Imperial Painter - Strawberry Shortcake - Bluuzards - bom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0wA9FVQY1w&t=0s
Even though there are no other samurai's in green I disagree that Isao, Enlightened Bushi is completely useless, you could use him as a Voltron commander that can never equip lightning greaves, but I have no idea why you would choose him over Thrun, the last troll.
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
alternately, Emrakul, the Aeons Torn (or some other banned card) since you wont be allowed to play it...
My main point of disappointed in the video is due to the amount of time he spends advertising. 16 minutes is not a short video, and it doesn't actually start until 5 minutes in, and has another 60 seconds of outro. With the quality of information he talks about in the video it makes me wonder just how much research he invested. There are obviously better "worse" options as we've all talked about here. It feels like a generic video he needed to post just to keep his numbers going.
My second main point of disappointment is the absolute lack of commentary on the potential of using sub-optimal commanders for a more fun environment and experience. A video like that can nudge a newer player into the "must play optimal 100% of the time" headspace, and limit experimental and more fun designs lest they become judged by peers.
Another comment that needed to be made was the actual use of a commander to a decks function. One of my first competitive decks ran sivitri scarzam in a time sieve combo. The deck didn't need a commander, just a color identity, yet my playgroup still talks about how strong Sivitri can be. While not overly important, it is worth noting that a commander can be completely useless trash but a deck can still dominate.
Links to my most current deck lists;
Primary EDH; Rakka Mar Token Perfection, Crosis Mnemonic Betrayal, Cromat Villainous, Judith Gravestorm, Rakdos Empty Storm, Exava Artifacts, Bant Trash, & Fumiko Voltron!
EDH kept at home; Ruzzian Isset & Rakdos LoR!
EDH (nostalgic/pimp/retired) in storage;
Latulla Burns, Akroma Smash, Jeska Voltron, Rakdos Storm, Bladewing Darghans, Lyzolda Worldgorger, Xantcha Steals your Heart, Jori Storm, Wydwen Permission, Gwendlyn Paradox, Jeleva Warps, & Sigarda Brick!
Legacy Showanimator and High Tide!
Mono-white I might have gone rashida scalebane or Zhao zilong. The “one per set” rule is tricky because p3k and champions have a lot of the worst options. Oriss is pretty bland but she’s not worse than telim tor by a long shot.
I definitely think it’s worth it to build subpar commanders (I built pang tong ffs) but to be fair, outside of isao and maybe the unspeakable, the others would be really bad and hard to make non-useless.
I was surprised to see him throw shade at latulla. It’s not really a worse fireball if you can pay for it by discarding lands. Or squee for that matter. Plus it’s repeatable, reliable, and instant speed. Sure she’s not great but she’s not awful.
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