A solution to the unavoidable scenario of playing 1v1
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Dec. 16, 2016, 11:46 a.m. by MagicalHacker
We have almost all been there. You get your decks to play some multiplayer commander at the local gaming store, and one of your friends is there while the rest are eating/late/trading/etc. So what do you do? You sit down and play some 1v1 commander, even though it's nowhere near as fun and is actually pretty boring and stale.
Solution:
Even though planechase was designed for a multiplayer environment, I posit that the randomness it adds to the game is perfect for making even 1v1 games of commander (non-french) interesting and vivacious!
Thoughts?
People hate 1v1 EDH because their decks weren't meant to be played outside of multiplayer. The experience of playing certain decks 1v1 vs in a pod can be radically different. Also, EDH players often dig the social nature of the format.
Real solution: Carry standard/modern/legacy decks with you and 1v1 with them.
December 16, 2016 12:29 p.m.
RedUndead40 says... #4
I usually play multiplayer and prefer it that way, but 1v1 is hardly boring amd stale.
You're still playing your deck. You're still interacting with opponents. You're still fully able to enjoy the game.
You're telling me you never played a 5 man game, survived to be one of the last two standing, then had an epic showdown for the win?
1v1 is jist like that except for the whole match.
December 16, 2016 12:56 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #5
EmblemMan, I can't say I've experienced that type of saltiness at every game, but I do know that I prefer multiplayer because playing brutal decks tends to get you targeted, and thus the best way to build a deck is to be sneaky with your power. In 1v1, being sneaky is actually bad, since being scary isnt.
TheDevicer, neither I nor the rest of my friends are interested in 1v1 formats, so that's hardly a good solution in my case, and i wouldn't be surprised if I am in the majority in that attitude among commander players.
RedUndead40, I can see what you mean, but in 1v1, there is no worry about appearing to be public enemy number one, and that is such an enjoyable part of the game for myself and my friends. I'm sure there are plenty of people who enjoy 1v1 commander as much a multiplayer, but I am leaning towards the idea that liking multiplayer a lot more is the more common opinion.
December 16, 2016 1:08 p.m.
DrukenReaps says... #6
you could build a duel commander deck... since duel commander is a thing... also great thing about casual mtg is no one can tell you that you are doing something wrong so do whatever you want to make games fun.
December 16, 2016 1:59 p.m.
Lol. People will tell you you're doing it wrong regardless of what you do.
December 16, 2016 2:24 p.m.
Dredge4life says... #8
Duel commander is great, so long as both decks are evenly matched.
December 16, 2016 6:39 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #9
I build my decks to be strong enough for a 75% meta, and I still find most of them to be very enjoyable to play 1v1. It's all what you put into the game. Planechase and Archenemy both add something significant to the game though, so if that's your bag...
December 16, 2016 11:03 p.m.
Don't want to come across as being snarky, but everyone enjoys playing magic a different way. If you want to play planechase 1v1, go ahead, you don't need approval from a random internet forum. Hell, planechase 1v1 is probably better than planechase multiplayer, as planechase multiplayer always turns into a shitshow, 100% of the time.
EmblemMan says... #2
Real solution: Learn to enjoy 1v1s the way magic was intended to be played? Why do people hate on 1v1 its a lot more interesting to me than multiplayer because someone always gets butthurt in multiplayer and everyone ends up in a bad mood.
December 16, 2016 12:25 p.m.