Most Popular C16 Deck?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Jan. 25, 2017, 9:04 p.m. by Phaetion
Later this year, Commander Anthology is coming out, and I have plans to acquire it. However, as everyone knows, C16 came out as well. Each deck in the Anthology seems to be the most popular decks from their respective years, so I ask:
What is the most popular (and most likely candidate for the Anthology) C16 deck? I'm sure it's either Atraxa, Praetors' Voice or Breya, Etherium Shaper, but I can't determine which one. I'll reconstruct one of the two so I'll have five decks when the time comes.
Blue_Flame says... #3
I would go with Atraxa fo sho. Some may disagree, but if you look at this page here (https://edhrec.com/commanders/#alltime) it's pretty evident by the raw amount of of Atraxa decks that she is literally the most popular commander. EVER.
January 25, 2017 10:38 p.m.
Atraxa. There's really no question. She's the only one that's sold out almost literally everywhere.
January 26, 2017 12:18 a.m.
Atraxa. One not need look farther than price. While Yidris and Breya are both sitting comfortably under $4.00 on Shop.TCGPlayer, Atraxa is nearly at 20.
January 26, 2017 1:16 a.m.
It's really odd to me actually. Atraxa is the most popular, but she is not the best.
Atraxa can be built in multiple ways, going Counters, Infect, or Superfriends, but for competitive, Breya and Yidris are better imo. It really goes to show that most players care little for competitive and more for fun.
You can still buy the complete set for about $150. I wouldn't go paying mark ups.
For myself personally, Commander Anthology isn't worth it. I'm missing like one deck from the whole thing, and it's the 2015 deck.
January 26, 2017 4:07 a.m.
Heavenly Inferno (2011) (Kaalia of the Vast)
Evasive Maneuvers (2013) (Derevi, Empyrial Tactician)
Guided by Nature (2014) (Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury)
Plunder the Graves (2015) (Meren of Clan Nel Toth)
They accounted for 2015 already. Going by the responses, I figured it would be Atraxa, so I'll go and rebuild her...if it's worth getting the Anthology.
January 26, 2017 8:54 a.m.
Atraxa was the Commander that most people were excited about in my EDH playgroup ... until we all played the decks and it became apparent how strong Breya, Etherium Shaper actually is.
Atraxa definitely wins the popular vote, but IMO is not the pick of the bunch from last year's offerings.
January 26, 2017 9:46 a.m.
LittleBlueHero says... #9
There is a lot of green in the anthology. I guess I wouldn't be surprised if it was Breya just to have a couple decks no running green.
However, anything to bring down Atraxa's Price would be much appreciated by many I'm sure.
January 26, 2017 11:49 a.m.
To me, and a lot of people I'm sure, EDH is far more about having fun in a casual format than high stakes tournament competitiveness. Atraxa gives me that perfect blend of fitting any role in the playgroup instead of just being oppressive. I play EDH for fun, so Atraxa takes my vote over many of the Tier 1 decks in commander just because of the fun factor.
January 26, 2017 12:16 p.m.
I wish my playgroup was like that.
Instead it's competitive and cutthroat.
January 26, 2017 12:38 p.m.
Well my old Commander playgroup taught me how to play Magic. There was 5 of us originally and we all bought the C14 Precons (I bought the Peer Through Time Deck starring Teferi, Temporal Archmage) and started out by just playing the precons so everything stayed balanced. Eventually we started getting more competitive, partly because I was getting better at playing, but for the most part we just play EDH for fun whenever we get back together.
I stopped hanging out with them as much after they graduated college, and I've disassembled most of my Commander decks for trade stock to build standard but I still have a janky Vorel of the Hull Clade deck I bring out to have a good time with whenever they visit.
January 26, 2017 12:56 p.m.
Just to clarify, everybody is aware that there won't be a Commander 2016 deck included in the Commander Anthology right?
We don't know if/when C16 will be included in an Anthology.
I believe buying all five C16 decks is probably more value than getting the Anthology. It all depends on what you want/need. If you were to buy all five C16 decks, you would get an extra deck, (Commander Anthology will have four), and you will save money, about $15.
The Kaalia precon isn't great. I've built Kaalia multiple times, and I don't include the vast majority of cards from the precon. She was clearly the most popular based on secondary market pricing alone.
Derevi might be good, I don't know about now, but for a long time the deck was worth the most. I find it odd that it was Derevi that was included. This deck can be found most places for MSRP, and that's it's 2013 MSRP. This deck is almost always one of the cheapest for 2013.
The Mono deck is packed full of value, especially if you like playing Elves. I expect this wasn't the most popular as both the and the decks typically cost more unopened. I was personally a big fan of the 2014 decks though.
The 2015 deck I can't comment on. I don't own one as I gifted mine to a friend. I'm sure there are good cards in it as every Commander deck has something good in it. It is currently the most expensive C15 deck but is like $5 above MSRP. The rest are typically under MSRP.
It seems to me that the Anthology is you are buying the 2011 deck, and getting some others for free. It is worth it to note, while the expansion symbols will be the same, all of the decks will be printed with the new M15 card borders. It will still be really easy to tell old 2011 and 2013 decks from the Anthology decks. C14 and past it were all printed with the M15 borders anyway. If you're looking to make a profit off of Commander Anthology, it is unlikely.
I personally believe purchasing a set of C16 is the better deal. The decks come with good value, you will receive 20 foil cards from the set, and the value will probably go up over time. You will have fun decks, and competitive decks to build from what you got. All in all, I believe $150 for a full set of C16 is more value than $165 for Commander Anthology.
How bad do you want Kaalia?
January 26, 2017 1:14 p.m.
iAzire: I already have the full C16 set. In fact, the only precon I never bought was Jeleva's one because of the TNN fiasco. Now that you mention elves (and I hate elves...), I guess I won't bother with the plan then. I was planning on getting the Anthology for casual purposes, but I guess I may as well not bother.
January 26, 2017 1:26 p.m.
Phaetion Your comment makes me laugh. If you own all but one precon, and that precon isn't even included in the Anthology.....WHY WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT BUYING IT!?
It's odd actually, the only 2011 precon I own is Kaalia. Had they included a different deck I might think about buying the Anthology.
I still need to pick up the rest of the 2011 decks, and the and from C15. Those two were gifted.
That is all I'm missing. I wish they had made another Commander's Arsenal instead, to get some good foil staples, and Commanders that didn't have foil printings.
January 26, 2017 1:41 p.m.
iAzire: There's one reason: The ability to have multiple decks. It's very difficult for me to stick to one deck for long, let alone 5. I hate being a deck nomad, and I want to end that charade. Getting the Anthology was a plan to do exactly that.
January 26, 2017 3:45 p.m.
I bought the Kaalia deck recently and it very UP compared with the others in that Anthology.
I basically had to change a third of it to make it competitive.
In that form, if you play in a group that is also competitive, you will become a target as soon as you whip Kaalia out.
My friend has the Elves deck and loves it. He has only tweaked it a bit and that has made it extremely strong.
If anyone desperately wants the Kaalia deck this is the way to buy it as it's insanely expensive to purchase now.
January 26, 2017 11:58 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #18
Atraxa! Lots of people want to play the third best commander in the set, because they think it's the first.
@Argeaux: I'd be interested in seeing your Kaalia list. I've seen a few people try to make competitive Kaalia, but it's hard to do; she usually just isn't strong enough.
January 31, 2017 3:55 p.m.
I love Kaalia, I have a Kaalia deck, I have tried making her work time and time again.
I feel Kaalia is in a weird spot. She isn't good enough to be competitive, yet she is too powerful to really be casual.
I have tried her in Duel Commander as well, but she is just a little too slow for the format.
January 31, 2017 5:34 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #20
I agree with your assessment of Kaalia, iAzire. She's solidly type 4. I have seen a few builds running Worldgorger Dragon or Karmic Guide combos, but they're pretty fragile and on the slow side.
January 31, 2017 5:52 p.m.
I may be using the word "competitive" different from how you are.
Kaalia can be strong in a fairly casual environment. That's all I meant.
Gleeock says... #2
Not that I have any sort of debate backing here... but my guess is Atraxa... I just go by average price reflecting demand, but that is not an amazing indicator
January 25, 2017 9:28 p.m.