Commander "Ethics", what would you do in this situation?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Sept. 20, 2016, 10:14 a.m. by Bovine073
So I'm working a Grand Arbiter Augustin IV deck that uses a Hive Mind combo with pact of intervention (among a few other kill one player-per untap sort of combos.
All of this to say, what about running Pact of Negation with Hive Mind? I have given it some thought, but can't really seem to figure out what would happen (table-wise, not rules-wise). The way it would work (for those of you wondering) is each other player in clockwise order would get their copy of my spell, and may choose any spell on the stack (including other players' copies of Pact of Negation). Do you think generally would you counter the pact of the player "in front of you" (meaning on your right) even though it means the player on the right side of me (who originally casted the first pact, and has mana for it on my upkeep) or would everyone just snap-concede? Is this completely dependent on who I am playing with?
Thanks!
In most cases, almost everyone at the table with either counter other people's pacts to save them or counter the original spell that was targeted by pact.
All in all, this combo is pretty terrible and you should probably reconsider running it if you want consistency. Even if you're looking for a less standard and somewhat jankier combo, there are better options available.
September 20, 2016 10:21 a.m.
Shane.Allen says... #5
I say if your going combo, work with ones you know will work, hive mind can back fire, I like combo decks and I believe even in commander as with every other format, winning is all that matter's, The amount of fun I have is equal to the amount of pain and suffering my enemies are having.
September 20, 2016 10:25 a.m.
TheDevicer I'm gonna tag you on my deck, hope that's okay with you. Nice GIF too (as are all of yours).
September 20, 2016 10:50 a.m.
My personal opinion is that every EDH deck should have some form of combo kill, just to get through stalled, grueling boardstates and games that have gone on far too long. That said, Pact of Negation + Hive Mind is really easily interrupted and will likely just result in a pact of foes trying to Liam Neeson you.
September 20, 2016 10:56 a.m.
Shane.Allen says... #9
Bovine073 Check out my decks if you really want to see some great combos and ways to make people not have fun while you win :)
September 20, 2016 11:53 a.m.
Thanks everyone for commenting, I will not be running Pact of Negation as a combo piece.
September 20, 2016 2:15 p.m.
CastleSiege says... #11
Instead you should play a commander that lets you add red to the deck and run Final Fortune with Hive Mind.
September 20, 2016 2:35 p.m.
Sim_Will_CMcantfindmehopefully says... #12
I think the combos merits was not the topic but the politics involved
September 20, 2016 2:38 p.m.
I would Pact on whatever would help me most when it resolved. I am an extremely selfish player and will often allow my opponents to gain some small benefit if it allows me to win a turn earlier.
I save all Counterspells to counter anything that messes with MY gameplan. As for the rest of the table, I couldn't care less as long as I am still in a good position.
September 20, 2016 3:50 p.m.
Final Fortune kills you first, though....
Hive Mind copies Final Fortune on cast. Trigger. It puts copies of Final Fortune onto the stack in turn order, which resolve, and THEN your Final Fortune resolves. As a result, you take your extra turn first which, unless you have Sundial of the Infinite, Day's Undoing or Time Stop, kills you. Then play proceeds around the table as normal, with each player losing in turn succession unless they can win on the spot during their extra turn.
So, unless your best bud is sitting before you in turn order, it's really not a good idea to try to combo Final Fortune.
Sim_Will_CMcantfindmehopefully says... #2
I play casual politics and tables I'm in would typically work together to stop dumb combos like that and punish hard. We would counter each other's pact until we reached the player most likely to kill you.
September 20, 2016 10:19 a.m.