If you could pick a non-legendary commander, WHO?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on April 22, 2015, 1:03 p.m. by Dreno33
If you could pick a non-legendary commander, WHO would you pick and WHY?
All rarities, doesn't matter. Who would be your commander and why?
(banned edh creatures not an option)
P.S. Reason why I ask is because some friends and I are going to start playing around with this rule for fun and are now looking into potential non-legendary commanders.
Thanks!- Dreno33
Sparda1127 says... #3
Sweet vampire utility that just gets worse every turn. Not to mention the DOTP art and flavor.
April 22, 2015 1:13 p.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #4
(If I had to pick one, I'd pick Soulfire Grand Master because it obviously has tons of combotastic potential. You get big damage spells in Commander like Blasphemous Act and Impact Resonance, and they can easily be returned to hand. Over the course of a long game you are likely to return multiple Aether Gales or Chars or whatever spell you fancy. Plus, it's a two-mana commander!
April 22, 2015 1:13 p.m.
nobu_the_bard says... #5
Nothing but stupid one-drops that are better than him because it's funny.
April 22, 2015 1:16 p.m.
JohnnyBaggins says... #6
Easily the Phyrexian Obliterator.
I mean, holy shit, that thing.
April 22, 2015 1:17 p.m.
BlindJoker says... #8
A deck based on Ink-Treader Nephilim seems fun to pilot, but I don't play commander so I'm not sure on how effective it would be.
April 22, 2015 1:22 p.m.
libraryjoy says... #9
I would try an unblockable/exalted/enchantment deck with Sovereigns of Lost Alara. That would be fun.
April 22, 2015 1:32 p.m.
Knowing me, I would probably run one of these:
- Prophet of Kruphix- because I'm a disgusting human-being
- Havengul Lich- because this guy just feels legendary, and I want to build U/B reanimator.
- Spellheart Chimera- I guess spellslinger is fun. Maybe even storm.
- Shaman of the Great Hunt- He just feels fun.
- Torrent Elemental- Because Food Chain.
April 22, 2015 1:35 p.m.
Forgive me, I just remembered that Soulfire Grand Master is a thing. Omit Spellheart Chimera and apply the Soulfire Grand Master.
While I'm double posting, I'd also like to add Charmbreaker Devils, Snapcaster Mage, and Eternal Witness.
April 22, 2015 1:39 p.m.
lemmingllama says... #12
Probably either Gilded Drake, Humble Defector, or Perplexing Chimera. The Nephalim would also be cool.
Also if I wanted to be competitive, Snapcaster Mage and Deadeye Navigator would be the two I'd look into.
April 22, 2015 1:48 p.m.
Too many to name, but off the top of my head, Monastery Mentor would be hilarious to build an almost entirely non-creature EDH deck around. Skullclamp turns monks into cards, and those cards turn into more monks (and bigger monks, thanks to prowess). Run a lot of cheap spells, draw engines, protection, etc. Swarm the board with an army of monks.
April 22, 2015 2:08 p.m.
We just had a conversation like this the other night! Specifically that Prophet of Kruphix would make an insane commander!
Vigor, Guile, Dread cycle
Lightning Reaver, Mother of Runes, Craterhoof Behemoth, Consecrated Sphinx, etc. Just my 2cents
April 22, 2015 2:20 p.m.
KalvinHobbez says... #19
Diamond Faerie was a creature I wish was a legend when I found her. Triple color rare creature just felt so fitting for snow themed EDH. All we got for now is Heidar, Rimewind Master.
Guttersnipe I imagined as being a pretty crazy commander, too, due to his EACH opponent damage. Duskmantle Seer would be a pretty neat and fun commander, too. Arcbound Overseer would be neat to see artifact aggro. A lot of the characters made for Vanguard cards that aren't legends would usually be good commanders.
April 22, 2015 2:37 p.m.
Unforgivn_II says... #21
No, you didn't.
And I'm a fan of Imperious Perfect whether she's stronger than other elf lords or not
April 22, 2015 3:05 p.m.
My friend back in my hometown thinks Lightning Angel / Mantis Rider would be the most ideal Jeskai General. I like those a lot, too.
Thoughts?
April 22, 2015 3:05 p.m.
Programmer_112 says... #24
Uncle Istvan, because there is no reason for him not to be legendary.
April 22, 2015 3:37 p.m.
EndStepTop says... #25
Programmer_112 just ended the thread. We're done now.
April 22, 2015 3:43 p.m.
My girlfriend desperately wants a legendary version of the Village Cannibals. She loves that card.
April 22, 2015 3:46 p.m.
Angelic Skirmisher would definitely be one. So would Mercurial Chemister. Nivix Guildmage wouldn't be a bad choice, either.
April 22, 2015 4:16 p.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #29
A lot of people do run the Nephilim as Commanders anyway, often as a house ruling but often out and about. I faced a Ink-Treader Nephilim deck and yes, it is a terrifying Commander.
I would also like to add Abyssal Persecutor, Elderscale Wurm and Phyrexian Swarmlord as ideas because they are weird and rather silly.
April 22, 2015 4:31 p.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #30
Here's some more I'd like: Djinn Illuminatus for an Izzet "replicate all the spells" deck, Gleancrawler for creature sacrifice shenanigans, and Boros Battleshaper for combat step weirdness. All expensive to cast generals, mind.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Spawnwrithe or Reef Worm.
April 22, 2015 4:41 p.m.
LittleBlueHero says... #31
Archangel of Thune Beautiful art, an ability thats easy to build around... I may build this anyway...
April 22, 2015 5:01 p.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #32
@LittleBlueHero: Yeah, any of the kind of lifegain cards would be a fun buildaround. Rhox Faithmender would be pretty awesome.
Someone has to make a Commander deck out of Azor's Elocutors.
April 22, 2015 5:06 p.m.
nobu_the_bard says... #33
Why Spawnwrithe when you could have Giant Adephage? The latter is an insect!
April 22, 2015 5:06 p.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #35
nobu_the_bard: That is true. 7 mana and expensive, but true.
April 22, 2015 6:06 p.m.
laughingman123 says... #40
Some planeswalkers that'd make fun/strong commanders in my opinion
April 22, 2015 7:45 p.m.
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver, Chandra, Pyromaster, any of the Elspeths, Jace, Architect of Thought, and Xenagos, the Reveler would all make relatively balanced commanders.
April 22, 2015 8:16 p.m.
Huntmaster of the Fells Flip would be awesome to build a tribal werewolf deck around (I really love the werewolf flip cards).
April 23, 2015 12:12 a.m.
Can't believe he hasn't been mentioned, but Gray Merchant of Asphodel. Completely filthy ability in Mono B.
April 23, 2015 12:15 a.m.
Valentine35 says... #45
Reaper from the Abyss Not because he's really good or anything, but just because i thought this was a legendary card for a really long time lol, until i realized i couldn't use him as a commander. I thought to myself "Damn!, so in the lore of the magic world, their are more than one of these big ass things flyin around!"
April 23, 2015 7:09 a.m.
LittleBlueHero says... #46
Foe-Razer Regent would also make a fun commander to build around :)
April 23, 2015 11:24 a.m.
Vigor. Juice up your creatures by making them take hits. Lovely.
April 23, 2015 5:47 p.m.
Torrent Elemental combo and Prophet of Kruphix lock down (Stasis, Static Orb, etc.).
pookypuppy6 says... #2
Loads! Living Lore, Corpsejack Menace, Ankle Shanker, Pristine Skywise, Soulfire Grand Master, Pontiff of Blight... there's tons more.
If you want to go really weird, try uncommons like Carnage Gladiator, Skyward Eye Prophets, etc.
April 22, 2015 1:11 p.m.