Discard in edh/multiplayer
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Oct. 13, 2018, 10:15 p.m. by shadow63
Is discarding good in multiplayer formats or is something you should avoid. Is it ok of its mass discard like Monomania how about group discard effects. The reason I'm looking for help with this is becuse my friend cousin is dead set on Blightning in his edgar deck and its helped him a few times but I keep telling him that it's bad in the format. I know you can make a discard deck in the format but I haven't found a list I like yet
Gidgetimer says... #3
Generally all 1-for-1 effects are worse in multiplayer formats. They are pure card disadvantage because you and one other player are going down a card and all the other players are not.
October 13, 2018 11:21 p.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #4
In order for discard to be good I would think you'd have to have it as a dedicated theme. Also using "each opponent discards" effects rather than a single opponent.
Thought about making one at one point with flip liliana at the helm. May still, who knows.
October 14, 2018 12:04 a.m.
Meg how is good relative? Or be? And thanks for having valuable input on the subject
October 14, 2018 12:47 a.m.
Megalomania says... #6
shadow63 define what is good? Some people think infinite combos or combo decks in general are good for EDH since they add variety to the format. There are those who feel combo decks are bad for because they make games unfun for others. I’m not sure if that’s what you were asking or if you’re question is more on the viability of discarder decks in commander.
October 14, 2018 1:21 a.m.
Megalomania says... #7
Read the original post. I thought you were asking if it was good “for” the format. My bad. Discard is good when used in conjuctiob with other strategies like stax. You just need to find the right cards like Burglar Rat.
October 14, 2018 1:24 a.m.
You would need to make everyone discard a mass amount for it to be worthwhile, and prob get alot of hate for it depending on your group. As mentioned above, mking a single person discard one or two cards basically helps out the other 2 opponents in the end.
October 14, 2018 1:44 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #9
As others have mentioned, one-off discard spells like Blightning aren't particularly powerful in multiplayer games. Discarding becomes powerful when you're able to either repetitively force your opponents discard or do it in mass. It becomes even more powerful when you translate the card advantage into damage or other value.
Nekusar, the Mindrazer is built around cycling through players hands with wheel effects (Wheel of Fortune, Wheel of Fate, Windfall, etc.) and gaining value / damage from Waste Not and Liliana's Caress-like abilities. While this isn't a top-tier strategy, it can certainly hold its own in most groups.
October 14, 2018 9:45 a.m.
I don't do competitive EDH, but discard-combo seems to work around the tables I play at; my personal favorite is Nath of the Gilt-Leaf with Sadistic Hypnotist or Mind Slash. Skull Rend is the multiplayer Blightning, and Waste Not should be a key piece. Just make sure your friend has a way to close out the game, unless he wants to be Enemy No. 1 in the next game.
October 14, 2018 10:45 a.m.
That is dirty with nath you must not like people lol
October 14, 2018 11:21 a.m.
I like people just fine. I just don't like when they try to stand in the way of my inevitable victory. If they do, they must be punished and have all thoughts of resistance stripped away.
...That's why it's important to close the game out quickly. Totally still talking about M:tG here.
October 14, 2018 11:33 a.m.
MindAblaze says... #14
Ok Machiavelli...
On topic...discard in multiplayer can be done, but beware of a couple things. People get annoyed when their resources are whittled away, so prepare to get hit a lot. I have a multiplayer discard deck that uses Recurring Nightmare to bring back stuff like Liliana's Specter, Thoughtrender Lamia and Rotting Rats. I’ve learned that you have to have a plan for the stuff that sticks, and you have to plan for the deck that can out draw your discard plan. Otherwise, like other posters have said, 1:1 discard is pure card disadvantage, so stuff like Skull Rend are pretty threatening. I once had an opponent Force of Will my Skull Rend because of the potential damage it could cause.
Megalomania says... #2
“Good” is such a relative term. It belongs with other BS criteria such as “fun” and “fair”. My group sticks with the existing banlist. It remains to be the most impartial rule we could think of.
October 13, 2018 11:14 p.m.