Draw Engine Commanders

Commander Deck Help forum

Posted on Jan. 17, 2018, 10:28 p.m. by scotchtapedsleeves

Thinking of making a deck based around drawing cards, but I have 3 commanders to choose from;

Selvala, Explorer Returned

Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind

Edric, Spymaster of Trest

Please comment which you think I should choose!

irishwrath says... #2

Prime Speaker Zegana, Edric, Spymaster of Trest, Nin, the Pain Artist, Damia, Sage of Stone, but straight up. If you want to draw the most cards out of any commander it's Azami.

January 17, 2018 10:41 p.m.

BabyK says... #3

Out of those 3, Edric is the most consistent. Selvala will live longer and gives board wipes. Niv gives a 2 card combo that, when paired with labman, wins the game without needing Guile, but having it means you don't need labman. However, Niv has a reputation and is a 6cmc commander. So you'll be in rough spot when you cast him.

January 17, 2018 10:53 p.m.

PookandPie says... #4

It depends on what you want to build. Edric is a low curve tempo deck that draws into multiple extra turn cards when optimized, so if you're wanting to reach the ceiling of how to play it, it'll be pretty expensive (Capture of Jingzhou and Temporal Manipulation are up there), as you attempt to cast and re-cast extra turn cards to kill three opponents with reasonable life totals in a quick and efficient manner.

He's the best of the three in the post, but he's expensive. I've played against Stax and combo Selvala lists, but Selvala, Explorer Returned just doesn't do stax or combo as well as Captain Sisay (she finds many stax pieces and can fire off combo under protection. That's remarkably decent), so if you're dipping into WG you may as well use her instead.

As far as Niv-Mizzet goes, he's just going to want to go for Mind Over Matter, Curiosity, Ophidian Eye, and Tandem Lookout. He's the slowest of the three and also the most vulnerable in more cases than either of the above (such is the nature of auras on a 6 mana creature with a tap ability- you need to spend time assembling haste, the combo card, and then getting your Commander in safely, which is oftentimes less flexible than Edric).

Azami is one that goes infinite with Mind Over Matter, as well, and she isn't restricted by summoning sickness. She also gets to use Dramatic Reversal and Isochron Scepter if you have at least 2 mana in rocks on board.

Of the ones mentioned, I think Edric is the best of them as he leads to flexible builds that enables higher consistency.

January 18, 2018 1:09 a.m.

BabyK says... #5

Edric for sure and even sub-optimal budget builds can be annoying to play against, if not overly competitive. A $50 edric deck beat my $600 Kaalia deck for instance. Counterspells, bounce effects and near endless card draw put that deck where it is.

Selvala is best used as a combo deck. Umbral Mantle can potential go infinite with her, or, if you have already generated infinite mana with a Priest of Titania and the mantle, you can attach the mantel to selvala and make everyone draw their decks. Of course you would want a safeguard here with (if looking for budget options) Elixir of Immortality or Loaming Shaman

January 18, 2018 1:32 a.m.

enpc says... #6

Selvala, Explorer Returned will be the least linear of the three. There are infinite combos that you can (and probably should) run in her however it's not just a weenie beats or dig for Curiosity/Ophidian Eye + control shell. You have a few different lines to victory.

January 18, 2018 2:07 a.m.

K34 says... #7

Edric would be my vote, good colors to use his ability. Make your stuff unblockable with blue or make them trample with green. Either way you'll draw a lot of cards.

Buuuuut, I'd go Thrasios, Triton Hero myself. He's insane.

January 18, 2018 7:12 a.m.

Rzepkanut says... #8

Wanna draw a ton of cards? I would try Tishana, Voice of Thunder. Otherwise I like Selvala personally, because winning with extra turn cards and Edric or comboing Niv-Mizzet feels dirty. Here's my personal lists:


Tishana Combo: The Card Advantalanche *Budget MTGO

1v1 Commander* Rzepkanut

SCORE: 5 | 7 COMMENTS | 714 VIEWS



Selesnya Selvala is my favorite mana dork ever.

Commander / EDH Rzepkanut

SCORE: 14 | 13 COMMENTS | 2090 VIEWS | IN 4 FOLDERS


January 18, 2018 7:28 a.m.

tpmains says... #9

The Locust God is another one to draw cards. You play all the wheels, make some insects, and even have an infinite combo with Ashnod's Altar and Skullclamp. It's what I play and I love it.

January 18, 2018 9:47 a.m.

SaltySpecula Aha! That's a great idea! I'll consider him too! Thanks!

January 22, 2018 10:46 p.m.

DerektheRed says... #11

Of the three you mentioned, Niv-Mizzet is pretty fun and Edric will immediately turn all hate your direction (in my experience). As others have said, tho - there are better draw commanders than any of those...

- Azami, Lady of Scrolls is nuts.

- For Izzet, The Locust God is super fun.

- I even like Zedruu the Greathearted (donate) better than the original three. Just my preference.

I run all three - here are the decks if you want to check 'em out:

I'd Tap That [Azami Wizards]

Fly, Fly, My Pretties!

No, no... I insist [Zedruu Donate]

January 24, 2018 5:45 a.m.

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