Help picking a deck
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Feb. 11, 2021, 9:27 p.m. by Hardhitta7
I’m not new to Magic but I am new to commander. Gonna be playing with a guy and his kids that are around 15. So pretty casual, I think he plays elves and they play pre-cons. I would buy a pre-con but deck building is my favorite part of Magic. I came up with 2 decks so far but I’m having trouble picking between them.
I’m more used to playing Izzet decks but the Orzhov deck seems like it could be more fun. Anyways here’s the 2 lists I came up with.
Killer Bees! Err, Locusts?
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 2 | 5 COMMENTS | 48 VIEWS | IN 1 FOLDER
Spirit Detective!
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 1 | 1 VIEW | IN 1 FOLDER
Hardhitta7 says... #3
Thanks for the input, that sounds like good reasoning to me!
February 11, 2021 11:03 p.m.
Delete_Account says... #4
think they will hate you for both. depending on the dad's elf deck, he can deal with em, but the kids will feel cheated either way since they will struggle to wrap their minds around that izzet deck and that orzhov aristocrat deck will end up hitting them out of left field. may be better off with a good mid-range or aggro deck if you aren't trying to upset them.. otherwise you may as well be playing Zur (and the ensuing hate that comes with having to deal with em). the most fair is probably the Izzet deck.
February 12, 2021 9:20 a.m. Edited.
Hardhitta7 says... #5
Damn, definitely don’t want them to feel cheated. Do you have any recommendations? I really like Izzet decks, and I’m trying to stick to 2 color decks. Other than that I’m pretty open.
Maybe I should just buy a pre-con and upgrade it a little bit.
February 12, 2021 11:22 a.m.
You don't need to buy a pre-con. Just download the decklist of one you fancy. Examine the cards and see what's in your collection you can use to replace anything you don't on the list.
A Selesnya deck would be good. No overt combos, not too abusive. Big stompy with lifegain and good resources/removal.
February 12, 2021 11:39 a.m.
And might be an excuse to keep in an Anointed Procession . Though I feel that might lead to overpowering game states.
February 12, 2021 11:40 a.m.
Hardhitta7 says... #8
Would the Meren of Clan Nel Toth pre-con be okay? If I didn’t go too crazy with the upgrades?
February 12, 2021 11:45 a.m.
That is actually one of the better pre-cons, and retains a high value because of the card quality in it.
It's very strong out of the box. Even If you don't upgrade it, the relentless recursion may overwhelm more casual decks.
February 12, 2021 11:48 a.m.
ShaDoWz_6677 says... #10
My I suggest a different guild? Run Selesnya. You can make a casual token deck that can be more interactive for everyone!
Or you can do bant if you really want and make it group hugs, where the point isn't to win, but to help both of them out. If this is a casual group like you say it is, then you can have fun just doing these fun ideas.
Selesnya tokens really allows you to have fun playing the game, and allows the kid to have some fun interacting and watching what you are doing so he can learn the game.
Then you can also do Gruul/Naya beefy beats. Just play big creatures that you can really beat down on everyone with and it allows the kid to see the big creatures and really enjoy concepts.
My issues with Izzet and Orzhov:
Both of these are more "competitive" guilds honestly. Izzet is pretty spell and control heavy. You do not want that for a casual group.
Orzhov is basically a drain/aristocrats deck and that is no fun for casual players. I play games with casual groups and competitive groups. I don't run my Yawgmoth EDH with the casual group because of how fast I can aristocrat the game. Orzhov does Aristocrats so well, and does drain so well that it wont be fun for the kid. The dad may be able to stop you, but the kid won't have fun.
Selesnya and Gruul are both very fun medium level depending on how you build the decks and what you want to put into it.
Remember, that the goal of magic is for everyone to have fun. If one person isn't having fun, then you aren't having fun. Its why I stopped playing STAX
February 12, 2021 12:09 p.m.
ShaDoWz_6677 says... #11
hardhitta71194 Meren is too good even as a precon. If you only added $5-10 in cards to her, she's CRACKED.
February 12, 2021 12:10 p.m.
Hardhitta7 says... #12
Thanks for the advice. I’ll look into some selesnya and grul commanders.
How about the new pre cons? I like the look of the Jirina Kudro deck with a few upgrades.
February 12, 2021 12:12 p.m.
Hardhitta7 says... #13
I really just want an interesting deck but everything I pick is too competitive. I guess that’s cause I’m coming from playing Modern.
February 12, 2021 12:13 p.m.
ShaDoWz_6677 says... #14
I have not played any of the new commander decks from 2020.
Tuya Bearclaw is one deck that I am building for Gruul punchy face.
February 12, 2021 12:15 p.m.
The Ruthless Regiment deck which is the one you are asking about is a pretty good deck. If you get Nahiri or the skullclamp/commander card advantage engine online, it can be brutal.
It has a good mana base and good mana rock support.
February 12, 2021 1:16 p.m.
Hardhitta7 says... #16
Would a Pir and Toothy deck be too good? I guess it would depend how it’s built.
Sorry for all the questions, it’s hard to understand what is too good or un-fun in casual Magic.
February 12, 2021 7:39 p.m.
Delete_Account says... #17
or you can just build another tribal deck and have at it. Vamps are a good option. Mardu has the ability to fight pretty well and it rarely feels cheap. Edgar Markhov is great there. i have my own markhov deck you can look at if you want but just a thought. Omnath is also good. Izzit decks are gonna be spell decks, not sure if you wanna really go that route with newbies. do what you want and have fun, but with fairness factor that may be an issue. i personally favor elfball, but that's me. anything with blue is gonna run around control and nothing inspires newbie rage like neutering everything they do.
February 12, 2021 7:40 p.m. Edited.
Hardhitta7 says... #18
Edgar Markov
vampires actually sounds pretty cool. The only experience I have with edh I actually built a mono-black Drana vampire deck, played like 1 or 2 games at a store, it sucked really bad so I sold most of the cards. I should still have some of them left though!
February 12, 2021 7:48 p.m.
Delete_Account says... #19
this is my list, not a shameless promotion, but an idea of how you can do it. probably don't wanna copy it too much since once you learn it, it can kill fairly fast. I am an aggro player and my decks tend to bend towards that. Markhov tribal
the dad can certainly fend it off with elves if he built it right, the kids should have a decent chance but odds are you are gonna win
February 12, 2021 7:53 p.m. Edited.
Hardhitta7 says... #20
I’ll take some inspiration from your list. It looks fun!
When I came back to Magic around Kaladesh I had a kitchen table r/b vampire deck. So between that and the Drana deck I used to have I should have some of the cards already!
February 12, 2021 7:58 p.m.
Delete_Account says... #21
i wouldn't put the Sanguine Bond / Exquisite Blood combo in. they won't get it and if it goes off you can't stop it.. it will kill everyone at the table other than you
February 12, 2021 8:22 p.m.
Hardhitta7 says... #22
Yeah I’m not putting it in. I’m working out a list now, trying to not go too hard on aristocrat stuff or combos.
Thanks for the help everyone! Gonna build a
Edgar Markov
deck!
enpc says... #2
If the games are pretty casual, you're generally better going of more permanent heavy than you are running a spellslinger deck. Not only is it easier to follow, but it often feels more "fair" to newer/more casual players. Winning with spells can make people feel a bit robbed (even though it's a legitimate way to play) and you'll find that your opponents will have a more enjoyable game.
February 11, 2021 10:46 p.m.