Hamletic doubt...

Commander (EDH) forum

Posted on Dec. 21, 2011, 1:45 p.m. by Noloic

My Commander deck,deck:time-controller is nearly finished. There's only one thing i was wondering recently : should i use the blue cards in the deck as card drawers or as counters?

I'm pretty new in this format,so i don't know which way is better using the blue in. Any help? :(

Epochalyptik says... #2

I am generally opposed to counter-heavy EDH decks, since there's a point where your deck can stop being a good deck and start being a stall-the-game-out one that doesn't let anyone play anything.

Also, card draw will be more useful in more situations than counterspells. Counters like Voidslime , Hinder , and Spell Crumple are good for utility, but I wouldn't run more than a handful.

December 21, 2011 3:30 p.m.

Mr_Nate says... #3

I agree generally with what Epochalyptik is saying. You don't want to have a hand filled with counters that makes the game unfun for everyone, but you want to have enough that when the inevitable Insurrection comes down so you can stop it. Don't forget Capsize , Spell Burst or Forbid as recurring counters/preventers. Forbid can be really good if you are using your blue to get lots of draw.

December 21, 2011 4:40 p.m.

Noloic says... #4

Hmm Capsize is good enought i must admit,essentialy for its Buyback cost. Forbid is a fail i'm afraid because i need cards in my hand,and i really can't discard them. Spell Crumple and Hinder are also good counters,and i was thinking about replacing Negate and Psychic Barrier with them.

Alright,i'll do a fifty-fifty for now,then maybe i'll make some modifies to the deck where and if possible.

December 22, 2011 8:50 a.m.

StlwllAngl says... #5

Playtest, playtest, playtest.

I don't feel like there is a simple answer to your question, because blue is good in so many ways. In my own decks, I have found that the trick is to find the right balance between spell-based control, (i.e. permission) reactive board control, (i.e. Vindicate, Chaos Warp, Capsize) and card draw to keep your hand flush with answers. Too much of one, and you suffer for lack of the others.

Cards with multiple-use clauses (Capsize, Forbid, etc.) are invaluable, in my experience, because they are not a one-shot effect. Blue is amazing in its potential to stop the vast majority of strategies cold, but hurts in the fact that each "no" often costs you a card, in a 1-for-1 exchange. Card draw and reusable effects help to break this symmetry and maximize your ability to have answers ready at all times. Mass removal effects are also valuable in this respect, as they can net you 2-for-1 (or better) exchanges.

I'm totally going to download your list and play some games with it - looks like fun!

December 23, 2011 10:05 a.m.

Noloic says... #6

True indeed. I like your comment StlwllAngl,and i'm probably gonna considerate adding Capsize in there. Still,i don't know what to replace it with...

December 23, 2011 11:21 a.m.

This discussion has been closed