Staple mono red EDH card.
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on June 28, 2012, 1:30 a.m. by citrusface
I thought I was a White player then I though I was a Blue player then I realized, those colors are all well and good But I am really a Red player. Ive also realized that EDH/Commander is the way to play magic. Its so much more fun than any standard MTG game can give you. It is not over in 3 -5 turns. There are politics. There is all out chaotic war. There are so many more awesome things that happen in EDH.
Since I am a Red player and I am an EDH player. I have Red EDH decks. I have 3 decks in total; 2 mono-red and 1 green/red deck and Im working on another mono-red deck. Did I mention that I really like Red? Anyway, I thought I would compile a list of essential cards that should go into ANY mono-red EDH deck.
Remember these are intended best use for mono-red deck, but these are still solid choice for multicolored decks. These are listed in no particular order. I will also let you know if there are cards similar to the cards listed, in case you really want to drive that point across.
Red Cards:
1: Fork. (Reverberate, Reiterate, & Wild Ricochet)
This card is amazing. Its a Counterspell if someone Counterspells. Its a free creature if someone Rite of Replications. Its a double anything you need it to be. Why wouldnt you put this in every deck that runs red?
2: Chaos Warp. (Wild Swing)
This card is Oblation for red. Its straight permanent removal. Red has land and artifact removal all day, but this allows you enchantment and planeswalker removal. Yes, I know that they get to flip a card and it MAY put something bigger on the board the point is youve dealt with that threat that WAS on the board and its now back in the deck. Chances are they are going to flip something that doesnt affect you at all. General tuck anyone?
3: Wheel of Fortune. (Wheel of Fate)
Down on cards and luck? Opponents look like they have great hands? Boom. Spin the wheel. Get a brand new fully stocked hand. Its that simple.
4: Gamble.
Its the red tutor for anything. I think that speaks for itself. Also, if your general ever gets tucked into the deck, this card will get her back in the game 100% of the time.
5: Price of Glory.
Oh, you wanted that card to drive control players absolutely insane? Here you go. Tap a land on another players turn and your land goes boom make that Counterspell cost a lot more.
6: Insurrection. (Twist Allegiance & Mass Mutiny)
Sure! Ill take all the creatures on the board and win the game! Thanks Insurrection!
Haste. Hasty haste. Hasty McHasterson. All the haste. Haste. This card gives your dudes haste. Make the opponent do something about it. Get all up in their grill. Fast with haste.
8: Word of Seizing. (Act of Treason, Mark of Mutiny, Traitorous Blood, & Act of Aggression)
This card is not to be overlooked or underestimated. Examples? Sure! You were swinging at me with the Blightsteel Colossus? Nah B, now Im blocking with your Blightsteel Colossus. You were going to use your planeswalkers final? Nah G, Im gonna use that final. You needed that card to complete that combo? Nah nah not this turn.
9: Shattering Pulse. (Shattering Spree & Shatterstorm)
Blow that up. Buy it back. Blow that up. Buy it back. Blow that up. Buy it back.
10: Blasphemous Act .
It is a red board wipe and it gets cheaper for each creature on the board... What more can you ask for?
Honorable Mentions: Jokulhaups, Apocalypse, Ruination, Decree of Annihilation, Worldfire, Obliterate, Boom/bust, Blood Moon & Impending Disaster.
Okay, so no one actually NEEDS these cards in their decks but for that griefing little troll that lives inside of us all, these cards are available. They are great for setting the board back to square one and balancing the game again. I do not condone single target land destruction its annoying but full on screw all the players land explosion is fine. These do that and more.
BONUS ROUND!
So other than just essential red cards, here are some essential land cards and artifacts that I feel are mandatory for any mono-red deck.
Land Cards:
1: Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle.
You are playing mono-red. Im not explaining this. Read the card. Put it in.
2: Scrying Sheets & snow-covered-mountains.
Okay. So I dont know how many people know about this, but it is super useful. Make all of your lands Snow-Covered and then use Scrying Sheets. Peek at the top card when you have extra mana, if the revealed card is Snow-Covered; put that junk in your hand. It is awesome. Great way to sneak in some draw advantage/mana ramp/whatever. Super great in mono-red.
Honorable Mentions: Madblind Mountain, Vesuva, & Mikokoro, Center of the Sea
Shuffle your deck, copy Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle, or draw a card... all very useful, not mandatory, but still worth mentioning.
Artifacts:
1: Mind's Eye.
Red suffers from not having steady card draw. This card is godsend. This card should be in every EDH deck, but it should DEFINITELY be in your mono-red EDH deck. If it isnt, you have failed as a builder of decks.
2: Planar Portal.
Red cant tutor but this baby can. Search your deck to your hearts delight. Yes, it costs a bit much, but it will pay for itself in no time when you search that card you need to win the game.
3: Caged Sun. (Gauntlet of Might, Gauntlet of Power, & Extraplanar Lens)
Guess what else red suffers from, thats right, mana ramp. All of these cards help fix that pesky mana issue also, the +1/+1 for red creatures is a nice bonus.
Pro tip: When Extraplanar Lens is used in conjunction with snow-covered-mountains, no one can profit from the extra mana unless they are running Snow-Covered Mountains too!
Honorable Mentions: Kill Switch, Winter Orb, & Sol Ring.
Kill Switch is great for artifact shut down. Winter Orb wins at global shut down. Sol Ring should have been the first card in your deck you know this.
There you have it, my opinion of mandatory red EDH cards. If you have better suggestions, throw them in the comments. Change my mind and I'll change the post. Be sure to check out my awesome mono-red decks Ashplosion!! and Wait, what?. Hope you all enjoyed.
Thanks.
T.S. Rhombus
Ohthenoises says... #3
I really like this. I'm definitely going to think about making a monored EDH deck. (hell my monored standard deck will be rotating out shortly.) What are your thoughts on generals?
Godo, Bandit Warlord , Krenko, Mob Boss , Urabrask the Hidden , and Heartless Hidetsugu seem like good choices but what would you say, in your opinion, is the best?
June 28, 2012 8:32 a.m.
Ohthenoises says... #4
Heartless Hidetsugu + Furnace of Rath + Loxodon Warhammer or a similar cards is an instant gib as well
June 28, 2012 8:36 a.m.
citrusface says... #5
Thank you for the comments guys.
I did kick around Memory Jar for a minute, don't me wrong. Its an awesome. I just don't think it falls in the staples category for mono red.
Generals for mono red? I play Norin the Wary and Ashling the Pilgrim . Krenko, Mob Boss is next for me. head good things about Heartless Hidetsugu , Godo, Bandit Warlord , and Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker . You could maaaaaybe use Rakka Mar , Squee, Goblin Nabob , or Starke of Rath for some interesting builds. Urabrask the Hidden is a cool one. That's all I can find at any rate!
June 28, 2012 11:27 a.m.
Yeah I occasionally play against a Heartless Hidetsugu deck. It can be powerful, as there are actually many ways to instantly win or overpower the game. Another option is to throw down Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker as your general. Zo-Zu the Punisher is fun, as well as that 3-drop general that has p/t equal to an opponent's hand size.
ameuser says... #2
Awesome post! Well-thought-out, thorough, fantastic. This one isn't so much, but I have one possible contribution--Memory Jar : I draw seven cards and use them, you draw seven and probably will do nothing and then discard them.
June 28, 2012 3:42 a.m.