The Best Commander Advice Tappedout Has To Offer.
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on June 2, 2016, 10:57 p.m. by Deckologist
The plan is simple. Think about advice you wish you had received when you first started playing Commander and post it.
If you came here for advice then I hope that you will take time to read through these players' experiences and knowledge to help you along your way in the format.
With all of this said we have to have some rules here.
- Only post one piece of advice at a time. You must post your advice and then when someone posts their piece of advice you may then add another bit of advice.
- No piece of advice is dumb. If you see a piece of BAD advice however please let the user know their error in a courteous fashion.
- This is not a place for questions but rather a compilation of knowledge from other users. If you have a question then please make a thread in the appropriate forum.
With all that said I guess I'll start off the post with this little nugget of knowledge:
A plane cannot fly if the pilot has no experience. What this means is that it doesn't matter if you spend 10,000 dollars for a deck or 30 dollars. If you don't know what you're doing you'll lose every game.
readerrw07 says... #3
NEVER underestimate the Commander Pre-Cons. It will not end well for you.
June 2, 2016 11:05 p.m.
Deckologist says... #4
Getting tired of beating everyone at your shop? Tone down your deck and spend time attempting to politely give them lessons in commander so that one day you'll have to deal with real threats.
June 2, 2016 11:09 p.m.
If someone is about to play an infinite win combo, try Counterspell. If they're gonna smack you for lethal with 3,0000 elves, try Cyclonic Rift. If they are super negative and aggressive and playing a super competitive deck against decks they know are absolutely no match for theirs, try lighting their deck on fire!
Any of these will make your opponents express several words of love and affection towards you. Happy gaming! :)
June 2, 2016 11:25 p.m.
Politics is a thing in "multiplayer". Figure out the rules and rulers the easy way or the hard way.
June 2, 2016 11:30 p.m.
UpperDeckerTaco says... #7
Synergy: make sure your deck does something and each card works well together. This is a common fault in newer players. They tend to cram the best cards in a deck and call it good. But if your deck has no synergy, you will have a lot of shortcomings.
Example: You don't want to put an Eidolon of Blossoms in your deck if you only run 3 other Enchantments, it's not worth it. If you run cards like Eidolon of Blossoms, you'll want more enchantments to benefit from it and you'll want more cards like the Eidolon to gain that advantage.
June 2, 2016 11:39 p.m.
Be wary of Bant. On one hand, you can have a very strong deck, and I've heard some even say Bant colors may be the best. On the other hand, if you're running a Bant commander, most notably either Derevi, Empyrial Tactician or Riku of Two Reflections, be prepared to become Public Enemy #1.
June 3, 2016 12:15 a.m.
Deckologist says... #9
GRCard125, Riku of Two Reflections is not Bant, he is Temur. Although I will agree both will gain hate before the game even starts. Very good advice though!
June 3, 2016 12:17 a.m.
Wow was that a Herp-a-derp moment... I even stared at the card for a five minutes, still thinking Bant. Probably because they're still both commanders that I want to run.
As a side note, another way to become Public Enemy #1- Zur the Enchanter. Fun (sometimes) to play, but you may lose your playgroup because of him.
June 3, 2016 12:22 a.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #11
Remember: Superfriends does not mean super-YOUR-friends. Group hug doesn't mean no wincons. Combo doesn't mean no Plan B (or C->).
June 3, 2016 2:18 a.m.
Deckologist says... #12
The guy/girl sitting there doing nothing but play lands every turn is up to something. Make them pay for their shifty ways.
June 3, 2016 2:20 a.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #13
The guy/girl sitting there not playing lands on time is up to something. Make them pay for their shifty ways.
June 3, 2016 2:25 a.m.
readerrw07 says... #15
Dont think of this like other formats where everything is 90% figured out and experimenting and brewing will only lead to you getting your ass handed to you on a silver platter (coughmodern*cough). If you think Commander X could be interesting, start brewing, make up a list and see where it goes. If I had stuck with community consensus, my Mishra decklist never wouldbve been a thing and that list alone has given me some of the best laughs Magic has given me yet (even if I cant really build it without some P3K reprints)
June 3, 2016 3:43 a.m.
readerrw07 says... #16
Dont think of this like other formats where everything is 90% figured out and experimenting and brewing will only lead to you getting your ass handed to you on a silver platter (coughmodern*cough). If you think Commander X could be interesting, start brewing, make up a list and see where it goes. If I had stuck with community consensus, my Mishra decklist never wouldbve been a thing and that list alone has given me some of the best laughs Magic has given me yet (even if I cant really build it without some P3K reprints)
June 3, 2016 3:43 a.m.
iBleedPunk says... #17
Always have a battle plan and never assume you have the upperhand. Games can and will flip on a dime if you aren't vigilant of what's going on around you
June 3, 2016 4:38 a.m.
Determine, before hand, what game you will be playing: casual, competitive, 2-player game, multiplayer. Communicate this with your opponents: this can save frustration and disappointment for all involved, since -mostly- a casual deck against a super competitive deck just isn't fun.
June 3, 2016 5:13 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #20
If you are playing and people can tell that you consider your own position or draws or deck one that you like a lot, they will be scared. If you act pessimistic instead, they will show pity and/or feel bad trying to take you out of the game.
June 3, 2016 6:18 a.m.
Have a non-threatening board so you don't attract hate. Also, play at instant speed as much as possible (yay Leyline of Anticipation) so that people have less time to react to your plays.
And yes, the guy just playing lands is definitely up to something. If the commander is Maelstrom Wanderer then expect it to come out a turn earlier than you expected and wipe everybodies boards and lands.
June 3, 2016 6:32 a.m.
Just because it's a modern or legacy staple does not mean it's good in Commander.
June 3, 2016 7:54 a.m.
Build your deck in such a way that you DO NOT NEED your commander. Make sure that you can win reliably and consistently without casting your commander a single time. This gives you options, and also gives your commander multiple functions.
June 3, 2016 7:56 a.m. Edited.
Deckologist says... #25
Your Win/Loss rate does not define you as a person and never will.
June 3, 2016 9:22 a.m.
Deckologist: That is something I really need to keep in mind. I lose a lot and I feel disheartened at times for it. Especially when I as a casual player play in a league because there's nothing else out there.
If you don't like a color, don't use that color. Ever. Because it will be a disservice to yourself. Why use a color you hate so much? Even if it's blue, black, or green, it doesn't mean that you have to use them. Choose the color(s) you like and build that deck you always want to build.
Oh, and money is the least of your concerns. Building a good deck always has top priority.
June 3, 2016 9:33 a.m.
TheFoilAjani says... #27
Building Mono Red is challenging. You can do it, but it's either Purphoros, God of the Forge or Daretti, Scrap Savant. Other than that, it'll be very difficult to win. So if you go mono-red, do it right.
June 3, 2016 9:51 a.m.
Ohthenoises says... #28
TheFoilAjani Feldon of the Third Path would like a word... Lol
On that note, never write off a commander. If someone has a deck with a commander you haven't seen don't just immediately write it off. (Exceptions being vanilla legendary creatures.)
The guy who shows up with a janky looking commander could just be the one to kick your teeth in with a surprise haymaker.
June 3, 2016 10:10 a.m.
TheFoilAjani: I whole heartedly agree with Ohthenoises. Mono red has several great commanders, each colour has. Never write off on a commander.
June 3, 2016 10:18 a.m.
Karns_Pyromancer says... #30
Be wary of "Auto-Includes". Maybe they're just what you need, but far more often I find they twist your deck's synergy or are dead in hand.
A good example of this is Deadbridge Chant for Tasigur, the Golden Fang decks.
& if you want deck advice, find the guy who tells you about the cheap cards that maybe cost more mana, but save you money. He'll usually be the guy beating tuned decks.
June 3, 2016 10:24 a.m.
fadelightningmm says... #31
Always analyze the threat on the table. If you can't take care of the issue fly below the radar until you can or broker some deals either fore or against. Don't let vengeance cloud your judgment the threat is probably more important than your grievances
June 3, 2016 10:40 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #32
Have a range of decks of vastly different power levels so that you can create relatively even matched games. This means to not constantly play a competitive Zur the Enchanter deck against a guy who has changed like three cards from his Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath pre-con, a girl playing her angel tribal Avacyn, Angel of Hope deck, and a guy who is playing Arcades Sabboth for the colors. This also means to not constantly complain to the people playing Tasigur, the Golden Fang, Brago, King Eternal, and Daretti, Scrap Savant when they always demolish your Atogatog deck.
Simply put: Match your playgroups' power levels by choosing an array of commanders with different power levels rather than expect them to change to match your power level.
June 3, 2016 11:01 a.m.
There's very rarely such thing as a bad card, it's just not good in almost all situations.
June 3, 2016 11:17 a.m.
Regarding politics: Make a friend; keep them as close as possible.. especially as a shield between you and your rivals.
Most importantly, make losing amusing. Whether it's you or them, go with a grin and a chuckle.
June 3, 2016 11:18 a.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #35
Don't ever underestimate Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded. I've seen too many people go "Oh, Tibalt, he's a bad planeswalker," and then lose because they forgot about him.
June 3, 2016 12:22 p.m.
TheFoilAjani: I don't know about that. I have a very scary Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh Flip deck in tow. But that's because I like to see the world...I mean the game burn.
Another piece of advice that I'm often the victim of: Do not act on impulse. Trust me; you'll regret it. Only a minority of EDH players can act on impulse and get away with it but they won't win every time.
June 3, 2016 12:44 p.m.
rockleemyhero says... #37
Just because a deck is featured, has a dozen+ up votes, and a very long written description with cool card art, doesn't mean it's actually a good deck to base yours on.
June 3, 2016 2:28 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #38
To add to that, in commander, sometimes good decks lose to bad decks because of politics and luck.
June 3, 2016 3:54 p.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #40
Don't ever ask the question, "Are you about to win?" It puts your opponent in the uncomfortable spot of having to lie or not be believed or openly admit "Yes, save your counter spells and removal to stop me." It's just not sporting.
If your opponent asks you if you're about to win, just say, "I'm not going to answer that because it is a question that shouldn't be asked."
June 3, 2016 4:10 p.m.
Just because a deck is good in 1v1 doesn't mean it will be good in multiplayer. Politics will always determine who wins in multiplayer.
June 3, 2016 4:37 p.m.
If there is no real threat on the table, kill the blue players first Unless you're a blue player (which means you have to eliminate yourself! Kidding).
June 3, 2016 4:54 p.m.
Deckologist says... #43
Everything else in the world should be more important to you than a single game of EDH. If your friends, relative, or significant other needs you for whatever reason then scoop the game and go tend to them.
June 3, 2016 6:13 p.m.
JohnnyBaggins says... #44
Figure out what your deck does and what your game plan is.
This advice doesn't refer to the actual game, but the deck construction. Can you tell what your deck does; respectively, how it wants to win? You should be able to. If you're unable to tell why exactly a card is in your deck or how it enforces you winning, the card should probably not be there. If you run a card, it should be a card you almost always want to draw. You can split your cards in two sections, namingly "Game plan" and "Backing up the game plan". If we assume that we are talking about Sidisi, Brood Tyrant and I make "Winning with a token swarm". If I run Diregraf Captain, this is towards my game plan. If I run Counterspell, it is to back up my game plan. But does Gnaw to the Bone really belong in the deck? Yeah, the effect sure is fantastic, but does it do anything towards your game plan? No. You can't profit off of that effect other than possibly staying alive longer, which is not something worth a slot in your deck. I know, 100 cards seem like a lot and what does it matter if there's a card that doesn't fit the strategy? It matters a whole lot. Nobody wants to mulligan and drawing these cards is an auto mulligan.
So here, in short, my thinking:
Figure out what your deck's game plan is and then evaluate each card in your deck ragarding its quality towards that plan. If it doesn't, find an effect that does. Find out what your game plan is. How do you want to win? Don't run too many subthemes. Make a plan, stick to the plan.
In computer programming, there's a saying that "A function should do one thing, one thing only and that thing really well." and I think that applies to EDH decks, too. Have a plan, build that plan, follow that plan. You'll be surprised how much more fluid your deck is once you figured out which are the nine cards in your deck that aren't coherent with the rest.
June 3, 2016 6:45 p.m.
Deckologist says... #45
The best deck in your shop is not the most expensive deck, nor the most fine tuned deck, it is the deck that you enjoy playing. If you enjoy playing a deck no matter what then you have already won.
June 4, 2016 1:23 a.m.
Most people give terrible advice and you should do what is most comfortable for you.
June 4, 2016 1:36 a.m.
izikdornob says... #47
vault: If i am to believe your advice then you would fall under the category of most people meaning I should not take your advice and assume that advice is good; however this means that your advice is good meaning all other advice is bad... It loops. Therefore you have given a paradox.
June 4, 2016 8:21 a.m.
Rule #1: Play Naya
Rule #2: See post 44 by Deckologist
:-)
June 4, 2016 8:41 a.m.
Deckologist says... #49
izikdornob While that was funny and I enjoyed reading it, it would have been nice to hear some words of wisdom concerning EDH from you as well. Please remember that this post is strictly for handing out advice.
Deckologist Rule #1: Websites like Tappedout or EDHrec are great to get a basic idea of things to include in your deck but don't make it a habit of copying decks card for card and calling it yours. This stunts your growth as a deck builder and is considered rude by a lot of players.
June 4, 2016 9:26 a.m.
izikdornob says... #50
As for wisdom all I have to offer is don't be afraid to confront one player who takes the games too seriously and remind them that it is supposed to be a fun game.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #2
Dont be afraid to experiment. Think that new card might be good, but you're not sure? Try it out. Worst case, you don't like it and you cut it back out.
June 2, 2016 11:05 p.m.