Should I not run Negan, the Cold-Blooded in my commander deck?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Oct. 2, 2020, 5:25 p.m. by StopShot
Hello, I don't watch the Walking Dead and I honestly think the Secret Lair: Walking Dead product is a very bad decision on Wizard's part. That being said, one of the cards being released provides a silver bullet to a problem I often encounter in certain games.
Card: Negan, The Cold-Blooded
I'm not planning to make him my commander, but I want to use him in the 99, because he is practically the best removal spell ever made when dealing with creatures that have both hexproof and indestructible.
Seriously, the next best cards are Council's Judgment, Crackling Doom Soul Shatter, Mythos of Snapdax, Slaughter the Strong, etc. These cards all have conditions where they can fail to remove the creature I want gone, but Negan has none of those same problems making him the most effective piece of spot removal printed to this date, effectively costing only 4 mana given the treasure token.
I know I could just run other sure-fire answers like Descend upon the Sinful or Apocalypse instead, but those cards can massively hurt my side of the table too which makes them not worth running and they can also make the rest of the table unhappy with me for playing exile-wipes.
Another thing to note is that Negan is a creature which means I can make him uncounterable with a Cavern of Souls rather than Boseiju, Who Shelters All, a land that's much more inflexible to play with than Cavern. I can also reanimate his effect too with Volrath's Stronghold and other reanimation effects which would make him so good at keeping commanders with hexproof and indestructible repeatedly in check unlike a lot of the other one-time use instants and sorceries I have available.
The only issue is I think most play-groups will tell me that their play group will have this card banned given all the controversy surrounding it which is a shame. My question is, do you think its worth the trouble acquiring this card? If I'm going to spend a lot of money to buy a single only for most people to tell me I can't play it then I don't want to spend that kind of money, but for now I'm unsure. Would you advise for or against buying it? Thanks!
RNR_Gaming says... #3
The card has a very cool mechanic and a neat design run it if you think it's cool:) I'm probably gunna throw it and Daryl into my poltics/king maker deck.
October 2, 2020 5:50 p.m.
We’re not your playgroup. We can speculate on whether or not it SHOULD be ok for you to have fun with a licensed WotC product in a format where it’s legality is suspect, but at the end of the day, your playgroup (and hopefully friends) are the ones who will need to be ok with it. Ask them.
Definitely don’t be afraid to ask, they SHOULD say it’s fine, but also please don’t take this forum’s words as gospel. Most, if not all, of us don’t play magic with you.
October 2, 2020 6:07 p.m.
Metroid_Hybrid says... #5
I'm going to be building a Negan deck myself..
On a side note: No one has seemed to point out the incredible flavor of the card. Negan's ETB ability is effectively what happened when the show first introduced us to Negan..
October 2, 2020 6:13 p.m.
A good card is a good card. But a deck list would be helpful
October 2, 2020 7 p.m.
Metroid_Hybrid both Negan and Michinne have absolutely excellent flavor with regards to the way they were introduced on the show. Really, pretty much all of them have excellent flavor for the chatacters they're portraying.
October 2, 2020 8:49 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #9
Ask your playgroup! Also, I’m not sure if this card will technically be legal in commander. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!
October 2, 2020 8:56 p.m.
RNR_Gaming says... #11
It's technically not banned. Rules committee isn't banning it as it doesnt break any of the criteria that would make it bannable. Also, it's super fun to build around I just brewed one up and theres a ton of options for him!
October 2, 2020 9:10 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #13
ThePerilousRealm What cards? O.o
jkjk, love the idea! I'll be running Glenn as my new cEDH commander for Azorius, it's really, really strong in the command zone, in testing it looks better than GAAIV or Brago, even with the new tech in Lithoform Engine!
October 2, 2020 10:53 p.m.
Colonel_Kink says... #14
just allow them as proxies due to the insane decision to create a second reserve list. heck, you can alter the art to negan bashing glenn if you verse a glenn deck ;)
October 3, 2020 2:29 a.m.
SynergyBuild says... #15
Colonel_Kink Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! Not my Glenn! XD
Great ideas though. My playgroup always allows proxies, and playing online sidesteps the problem altogether.
October 3, 2020 9:54 a.m.
RNR_Gaming says... #16
SynergyBuild I'm fully expecting you to make that Glen list public. Lots of people are comparing him to Tymna
October 3, 2020 3:29 p.m.
CastleSiege says... #17
Boycott the product and proxy the card instead. Tell WotC with your wallet that predatory tactics like this are not okay.
October 6, 2020 3:09 p.m.
^
Here Here! While I LOVE the card itself, the message behind it is a loaded barrel; WoTC already has a rough patch with me. (COUGH COUGH DOUBLE MASTERS). However, a good card is good. I have a list myself, and i think that it is gonna be a blast to play.
October 8, 2020 11:48 a.m.
Negan, The Cold Blooded / An American Treasure Here's the link if anyone's interested.
griffstick says... #2
Dont let the hype stop you from playing him. Totally do it.
October 2, 2020 5:44 p.m.