I was wondering what the general consensus is within the pauper commander community about the best starting life total amongst players and the amount of commander combat damage necessary to eliminate a player? In some circles players follow regular rules of 40 life and 21 comm damage and some go with 30 life and 16 comm damage. The 30/16 is my group's preference but what is the best way to proceed? Thanks in advance.
Ha you can definitely still play combo in pauper. You can just play green blue and go crazy. And I play pauper because it takes all the money cards out of the game. The most expensive useful card is about $3 for rhystic study and even then it's arguable exactly how useful it is. Giving everyone access to the best of the best I feel makes the game much more dynamic and interesting instead of just losing to the guy who can afford crucible/strip mine combo.
But I digress. I've seen nothing wrong with the 40/21 starting totals, since the only thing 30/16 does is empower aggro decks, which I don't feel need to be empowered like in normal edh since combo is far less powerful and prevalent (as previously posted) and because the shortage of board wipes can lead to unstable boards if someone gets an early resource lead. I'd argue the 40/21 totals actually ENABLE decks in pauper to either combo off or restabilize instead of regular edh where it disables aggro decks.
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Combo will happen, just needs to be green for creatures/mana and blue for endless recursion. White also helps with green, but I'm not familiar with every combo there is.
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Weiss Schwarz Sets
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
My group does 40/21 for constructed and 30/18 for PDH cube. 40/21 can feel a little stifling sometimes, but I think that's more a function of the decks, especially if there's 2 or more control at the table.
Thanks to everyone who responded. I wish there was a more concrete starting point because when building a deck it's relevant to know how much life you're beginning with. Our group uses 30/16 which gives aggro a sporting chance. Starting at 40/21 makes aggro a distant underdog. Even beginning 30/18 as opposed to 30/16 has relevant ramifications when constructing a deck. It's kind of frustrating that the Pauper Community is sort of divided on this topic. It would be GREAT if there was a specific number to abide by.
Thanks to everyone who responded. I wish there was a more concrete starting point because when building a deck it's relevant to know how much life you're beginning with. Our group uses 30/16 which gives aggro a sporting chance. Starting at 40/21 makes aggro a distant underdog. Even beginning 30/18 as opposed to 30/16 has relevant ramifications when constructing a deck. It's kind of frustrating that the Pauper Community is sort of divided on this topic. It would be GREAT if there was a specific number to abide by.
I know the feeling. I mostly play 1v1 though so it's a lot less of a burden on aggro.
I think 21 commander damage regardless is fine. I've suggested 35 life/21 general to my playgroup and we've been trying it out.
Thanks to everyone who responded. I wish there was a more concrete starting point because when building a deck it's relevant to know how much life you're beginning with. Our group uses 30/16 which gives aggro a sporting chance. Starting at 40/21 makes aggro a distant underdog. Even beginning 30/18 as opposed to 30/16 has relevant ramifications when constructing a deck. It's kind of frustrating that the Pauper Community is sort of divided on this topic. It would be GREAT if there was a specific number to abide by.
In 1v1 lower life makes sense, but in multiplayer aggro will rarely be a legit strategy, thus the higher life total to make commander damage a compelling goal to work towards. Aggro is notably possible, but requires better deck construction than any control deck due to the more limit tools at your disposal. I do think it is possible though.
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Weiss Schwarz Sets
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
Thanks to Heroes of the Plane for the awesome Sig.
Currently Playing- EDH
GGGOmnath, Locus of the LifestreamGGG
BBBShirei, Lord of PoniesBBB
UWRasputin Dreamweaver, Russia's Greatest Love MachineUW
UBWZur, Killer of FunUBW
UGWTreva, Princess of CanterlotUGW
RWTajic, Master of the Reverse BladeRW
RRRZirilan, How to Train Your DragonRRR
PDH Decks
Gelectrode
Ascended Lawmage
Blaze Commando
But I digress. I've seen nothing wrong with the 40/21 starting totals, since the only thing 30/16 does is empower aggro decks, which I don't feel need to be empowered like in normal edh since combo is far less powerful and prevalent (as previously posted) and because the shortage of board wipes can lead to unstable boards if someone gets an early resource lead. I'd argue the 40/21 totals actually ENABLE decks in pauper to either combo off or restabilize instead of regular edh where it disables aggro decks.
BPauper Glissa EDHG
WMaw of the Obzedat PDHB
Combo will happen, just needs to be green for creatures/mana and blue for endless recursion. White also helps with green, but I'm not familiar with every combo there is.
Main Decks
Diaochan, Iroas, God of Victory, Kaalia, Marton, Ulasht, Volrath,
Kaervek, Prossh, Titania
Amusing or Themed
Progenitus
Pauper Guildmages
Azorius Boros Dimir Golgari Gruul Izzet Korozda
Orzhov Rakdos Rix Maadi Selesyna Simic Skarrg Zameck
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
Wixoss - Just trial decks for now!
"Personally I love high-riak, low-reqars gambles. Life's best with a decent amount of riak. And f*** reqars."
I know the feeling. I mostly play 1v1 though so it's a lot less of a burden on aggro.
I think 21 commander damage regardless is fine. I've suggested 35 life/21 general to my playgroup and we've been trying it out.
In 1v1 lower life makes sense, but in multiplayer aggro will rarely be a legit strategy, thus the higher life total to make commander damage a compelling goal to work towards. Aggro is notably possible, but requires better deck construction than any control deck due to the more limit tools at your disposal. I do think it is possible though.
Main Decks
Diaochan, Iroas, God of Victory, Kaalia, Marton, Ulasht, Volrath,
Kaervek, Prossh, Titania
Amusing or Themed
Progenitus
Pauper Guildmages
Azorius Boros Dimir Golgari Gruul Izzet Korozda
Orzhov Rakdos Rix Maadi Selesyna Simic Skarrg Zameck
I also play Weiss Schwarz, Chaos, Vanguard and Wixoss.
Accel World, Angel Beats, Familiar of Zero, Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet, Guilty Crown, Kill La Kill, Robotics;Notes, Sword Art Online.
Chaos Partners
Arpeggio of Blue Steel: Iona, Kirishima, Kongou.
Dangan Ronpa: Asahina, Togami.
Freezing: Vibration: Chiffon, Satelizer.
Vanguard Clans Favoured
Angel Feather, Dark Irregulars, Genesis, Neonecter, Pale Moon, Shadow Paladins, Tachikaze.
Wixoss - Just trial decks for now!
UBRJeleva, Nephalia's Scourge
BWTeysa,Orzhov Scion
GWKarametra, God of Harvests
UW Dragonlord Ojutai
R Daretti, Scrap Savant
Modern
GB Tron
UW UW Control