Is sword of feast and famine really a good buy
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on Aug. 17, 2020, 6:56 p.m. by Monomanamaniac
So I'm wondering is Sword of Feast and Famine really worth the money to spend to put it into my Balan, Wandering Knight deck Balan, one-punch man. I could theoretically buy the card, but it's a LOT of money, pretty much could buy Land Tax and Teferi's Protection for the same price, give or take.
Omniscience_is_life says... #3
speaking as a fellow budget player: yes it's worth it-- but buy it now, quickly, before the prices raise a bunch again. If you wait for too long and it goes into the $60-70 range again, then don't... but right now is the time to do it.
August 17, 2020 7:04 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #4
Wait on Teferi's Protection, Commander Legends will probably reprint it.
August 17, 2020 7:24 p.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #5
griffstick but is it really? I've always heard that 1 card doesn't make much of a difference overall, but the sword is quite possibly the best equipment ever printed and it's for a voltron deck. Even still it's not a cheap card by any means and I don't want to have buyer's remorse lol.
Omniscience_is_life I'm glad you appreciate the art of buying a competitive deck on a budget. I can only afford at most like 50$ a month on cards so this is going to represent my whole month's budget. That being said it will certainly get back to being 60+ dollars in no time. The ironic part is that I've already spent about 40$ for cards this month due to double masters but I had to get Stoneforge Mystic while it was 17 before it creeps back up to 30+ and as well as Batterskull and Path to Exile while they're affordable too.
SynergyBuild that is a good suggestion. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the sword, and I'll keep my eye open for a reprint of teferi's protection. I do think I'm going to invest in Land Tax as soon as possible though, that card is a beast
August 17, 2020 7:30 p.m.
golgarigirl says... #6
My thought is: Is this a deck I enjoy and see myself keeping for the forseeable future? If yes, and a card is a good price, grab it. If the deck is something you see yourself growing tired of it, don't bother. Note on the swords: they're very versatile, so they can slot into most decks (in case you break down your deck and build some other deck later), but they're particularly valuable in Voltron as you have.
It's one card, but it's one you'll probably tutor for a lot for both offense and defense.
August 17, 2020 7:36 p.m.
griffstick says... #7
I am confident it's worth it. I have never made a deck where sword of feast and famine wasn't good in it. You can literally put it in every deck. And when it connects it's like taking an extra turn. Do you like taking extra turns?
August 17, 2020 7:53 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #8
griffstick nah that sucks. Taking extra turns just kills you obviously. I'd rather skip turns ;)
August 17, 2020 8:01 p.m.
Your deck doesn't have any of the swords of blank and blank you could get 2 or 3 of the other ones and put them in your deck. I think you should look at your meta and see if the pro green and pro black is the best color combo. The card isn't much lower then it's all time high right now.
August 17, 2020 8:12 p.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #10
golgarigirl thank you. Those are actually great points for why It's a decent buy. Balan is currently my main deck so I plan on keeping it going forward. The best part is that it would still slot into both the alternative versions of the deck, with Sram, Senior Artificer or Kemba, Kha Regent. I do have a few cards that can tutor for it too.
griffstick lol, I'm going to paint an even bigger target on my head. My play group is familiar with my Balan deck, they know if I drop it and it doesn't get countered I'm going to kill someone immediately. Still, you have a good point.
SynergyBuild dropping in Balan without haste feels exactly like skipping a turn lol
shadow63 I don't have any of the swords atm, I've thought about picking up a couple of the other decent ones instead, it would be about the same price.
August 17, 2020 8:38 p.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #11
DeinoStinkus I started the deck as a Kemba, Kha Regent tokens deck, then it evolved into a Sram, Senior Artificer combo deck, and finally into a Balan, Wandering Knight voltron deck. The reason I like this deck is because it's very adaptable, it starts off where a bunch of cards can use the equipment to hold their own, then Balan drops and instantly scoops up all the equipment on the board for 2 and alpha strikes an opponent each turn till dead. I like equipment over auras because if Balan or any of the creatures wielding the equipment dies the equipment is left behind, though tbh a Vandalblast hurts my deck A LOT. I'm considering the sword because Even if I get tired of the deck it'll still slot into a number of other decks
August 17, 2020 10:16 p.m.
StasisAbuser says... #12
SOFAF is the most expensive card in my collection and it is absolutely worth it (bought it right before LGSs closed down for the pandemic). I have it in my Syr Gwyn, Hero of Ashvale deck along with three other "Swords of Smash and Face". Since you already have Stoneforge Mystic (which I don't have because I prefer to not use tutors), you may as well go for it or look at the other swords as an alternative.
August 18, 2020 1:54 a.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #13
StasisAbuser I've spent a lot of time thinking about changing over to Syr Gwyn, Hero of Ashvale so I could run Embercleave. I'm almost certainly going to go for the SOFAF I'm pretty convinced it's going to be the beat card in the deck (also the most expensive). I got the Stoneforge Mystic for a steal 16.99 for a card that was over 40 at one point. It's not just a tutor though, it's also a way to cheat equipment into play, reducing the cost and making them neigh impossible to counter.
August 18, 2020 3:01 a.m.
EleshNornsFs says... #14
It's worth it. It makes a huge difference a ton of games and even if one day, you decide to dismantle the Balan deck, the sword can fit in just about any other deck. It's just such a huge resource swing.
August 18, 2020 8:45 a.m.
plakjekaas says... #15
Hammer of Nazahn is the only equipment I've tutored for more often than Sword of Feast and Famine. I honestly like indestructible better as a keyword than protection in commander, and the free equips on every equipment when it enters play, are truly amazing. If you don't have that one yet, I'd suggest it over Feast and Famine.
Having said that, I don't think you'll ever regret having the Sword of Feast and Famine, it really is that good, also outside of Voltron strategies. If your budget allows it, definitely go for it!
August 18, 2020 8:51 a.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #16
EleshNornsFs the fact that it's reusable is the biggest selling point for me. It still will be the most I've ever spent on 1 card. You could buy an entire precon For the same price.
plakjekaas I love my Hammer of Nazahn it's an amazing equipment that functions as a Darksteel Plate mixed with a Sigarda's Aid. Tbh I mostly tutor for boots, Lightning Greaves Swiftfoot Boots or Trailblazer's Boots not because they're more powerful but because they're more powerful but because of haste or pseudo unblockable. Not saying the hammer isn't absolutely op, I almost always tutor it with Stoneforge Mystic because she can drop it in for half the cost a turn later. Basically I wouldn't really be after the protection aspect so much as the untap all my lands and make the player I hit discard aspect
August 18, 2020 12:39 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #17
Ngl, mana never seemed to be the problem, draw always feels like the issue for this deck, and while it has a ton of possibilities for tutors, true card advantage feels like a rarer effect. Sword of Fire and Ice seems to be the best choice, imo for that, as it also kills a hate bear or dork, but if you need a lot of mana, hard to go wrong with a white Seedborn Muse- esque effect that works with the voltron themes
August 18, 2020 1:22 p.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #18
SynergyBuild Sword of Fire and Ice is very decent and I'm seriously debating between the two for my deck. I agree that card draw draw is a must in a mono-white deck, mono white struggles with both of those aspects severely and they're essential to commander. My deck runs around 10 card draw cards, all of which are repeatable effects, 3 of them are equipment based. I'll honestly have to consider which of the swords I want to go with
August 18, 2020 2:22 p.m.
One of that cards best plays is with Hellkite Charger , infinite combat phases if that's something that peaks your interest
August 18, 2020 10:17 p.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #20
Vash13 if I switch to Syr Gwyn, Hero of Ashvale I'll definitely throw that in there. As is I don't have any red decks I'd be excited enough to throw SOFAF in there . if I'm getting the sword it's going in my best deck
August 19, 2020 2:20 a.m.
DragonSliver9001 says... #21
i dont think its worth $50 for a commander deck. it's really not at all the same as an extra turn, and i can't figure out why someone would say that.
August 20, 2020 12:45 p.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #22
DragonSliver9001 and that is why I don't currently have any cards in my deck that were more than 20$. I'm thinking about SOFAF mainly because my commander deck is an equipment voltron deck, but I'm hesitant because I could basically get a bunch of cards for all my commander decks for the same price.
August 20, 2020 2:53 p.m.
DragonSliver9001 says... #23
Monomanamaniac: i bought a playset when they were about $13 and later traded them. i now very much regret it.
August 20, 2020 11:25 p.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #24
DragonSliver9001 that would truly hurt. I did the same thing with a Chrome Mox I got from a garage sale. I've made some dumb trades along the way for things I've wanted. I once traded a set of 4 of those foil sliver decks for something so stupid I don't even remember.
August 21, 2020 1:07 a.m.
DragonSliver9001 says... #25
Monomanamaniac: the trade was equal in value, i just didnt expect the sword to quadruple in price.
August 21, 2020 2:19 a.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #26
Well guys I did it, I bought a copy of the sword of feast and famine for 46$. SynergyBuild I also bought weathered wayfarer for a reasonable 2$ so thanks for that suggestion
August 21, 2020 2:13 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #28
I've been pretty lucky but did give away two in-the-box precons of Edgar Markov
, which had a ton of value and even at the time the only way to get Teferi's Protection to some friends. They loved it, and I thought it was one of the better precons that year, but in hindsight could have given them the cat one (same power level out of the deck, poor wizards and dragons deck just couldn't compete) and while I don't really mind since they were happy, it's funny that I gave what I think is 200 dollars of cards out now lol.
Congrats on the sword! I'll toss you any other suggestions so feel free to ask if you want more!
August 21, 2020 3:35 p.m. Edited.
DragonSliver9001 says... #29
Monomanamaniac: nice job on the $46 and $2 purchases.
August 21, 2020 11:40 p.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #30
Omniscience_is_life proud that I overcame my cheapness and actually spent some real money on it.
SynergyBuild I was a homeless shifter when those decks were out lol, definitely pulled a 180 from there but I missed out lol. I had a friend make an absolute God tier deck out of the dragon precon, but she is an avid collector of dragons so the deck looked not much like the precon. Still, teferi's protection is worth more than what the deck was new and Edgar Markov is not a slouch in value either, there's a lot of gold in that deck lol. I am always interested in suggestions, especially the ones that only cost me a few dollars and make a huge difference.
DragonSliver9001 that weathered wayfarer was 15$ before getting a reprint in mystery boosters, and the SOFAF was pushing 70, so it's a great deal all around. I also bought Inquisitor's Flail for 39 cents, but didn't mention it because that card has never been worth more than a dollar, but it's still really good because it means Balan only has to get to 6 power and get in unblocked to be lethal
August 22, 2020 2:36 a.m.
DragonSliver9001 says... #31
Monomanamaniac: just fyi, the dollar sign goes before the number. i was trying to be subtle up to this point.
August 22, 2020 2:43 a.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #32
DragonSliver9001 lol my dollar signs are gentleman and let the dainty numbers come first. Jk, I goes I've not thought about that in a long time, you don't say it like that so it looks strange to me, but I'll reign it in.
DeinoStinkus I greatly dislike dragons myself, I think they're either over costed or underwhelming, but I've seen enough decent dragon decks that I shouldn't feel that way lol Scion of the Ur-Dragon is one of the most op commanders I've ever seen. Void Winnower I've never personally encountered but it would straight up shut most of my decks down. The Ur-Dragon looks a bit too high costed to me, I've Swords to Plowshares later and you're paying 11 to cast it again, creating a 19 mana disparity
August 22, 2020 5:43 a.m.
DragonSliver9001 says... #33
dragons probably won't be a "competitive" commander deck, but i definitely think they're at the stronger end of the casual spectrum. oh you didn't block my Scion of the Ur-Dragon? activate effect twice, transform it into Moltensteel Dragon, pump, transform into Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon. dead.
August 22, 2020 8:43 a.m.
DragonSliver9001 says... #34
DeinoStinkus: it does work. the +1 from the pump effect of Moltensteel Dragon stays when transforming to another creature. its the same object staying in the same zone, so it doesn't just lose its buffs. only the base p/t change, same as your example. the buff does not change or go away. pay 12 life to get +6, and knock out an opponent.
August 22, 2020 9:02 a.m.
SynergyBuild says... #35
Actually DragonSliver9001 is really right here, because effects on an object don't discriminate by the object's name but it's timestamp. Also Spark Double SUUUPER doesn't work like that DeinoStinkus xD
Basically it's an effect layered on the creature, and so if another effect layered on the creature changes it's name later, nothing would change about the additional effect, unless the original effect cannot apply (we'll get to that). A good example would be like equipping a Sword of Feast and Famine to a Shapesharer, it can copy another creature, and the equipment still applies. Auras, equipment, and abilities work that way. If it be came a non-dragon however, and you had an effect that only affected dragons, like Crucible of Fire out, it would no longer apply.
However, as the effect of Moltensteel Dragon is just an effect that references itself, rather than all cards named Moltensteel Dragon, changing it's name to Skittles doesn't affect his ability, layering each instance of activating the dragon onto the power and toughness of Skittles.
Side note, the reason that Spark Double doesn't die as it enters is that it does. Assuming you decide not to copy a creature, the part of it that could change power and toughness as well as the part that gives a +1/+1 counter doesn't come into play (it has to copy a creature/Walker and be a creature to get the +1/+1 counter), and it will go to the yard as a state-based action.
All clones excluding a few (think Altered Ego with an X payed) have worked that way, they die without a target. The reason they don't die with a target is because they don't enter until you can choose one, as they enter AS a copy of a creature, and there is no ETB effect, so there is no point for state-based actions to apply.
August 22, 2020 11:21 a.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #36
DeinoStinkus I built my son a dinosaur deck for the same reason. It wasn't a commander deck and the whole deck was 8$, but it was tough as nails lol. And the ur-dragon does look beefy, but the scion looks like whatever it turns into lol
DragonSliver9001 I've fought that scion deck a few dozen times and I've never beat it lol, if course that was before I turned my voltron deck into Balan, but it's still hyper cancer. Her deck is about ramping hard, getting Scion out, protecting our, giving it haste, and wrecking face by manipulating its ability to put its ability on the stack multiple times, then using graveyard synergy to bring those dragons back, or shuffle effects to put them back into the deck. It sounds like a lot of directions to go into, but it somehow works lol
August 22, 2020 1:44 p.m.
Oh man you guys are hating on the dragons a little, I've beat atraxa/omnath/the ghost chieftain/muldrotha/meren/niv mizzet/marchesa/bolas/bruticlad/um that other elemental that gets +1s for cmc I cant remember/padeem/ and many others with my Zirilan of the Claw deck and I'll beat your decks too lol, that thing straight brings doom, that's my PSA to the dragon haters hahaha
August 22, 2020 4 p.m.
DragonSliver9001 says... #38
Vash13 why mono red? use scion, have access to all 5 colors, then just tutor up Zirilan. then use reanimation spells. or Teneb, the Harvester and Bladewing the Risen.
August 22, 2020 4:13 p.m.
Firstly cause tutoring for a tutor is a waste of of a perfectly good turn and Cause everyone doubts mono red and they think they can get away with shenanigans while my deck durdles away the fist couple turns then BAM! t5-t6 I'm swingin in for the kill on the most dangerous deck, then working my way down, you throw down an ur dragon all eyes are on you from the start, zirilan is about head games, cards like Chaos Moon and Mana Flare(not actually running the flare yet but will soon probly for fun) will mess with your opponents when they try to gain minor advantage off cards you can make lethal, set up a wall of enchantments and artifacts then swing threw with a whole slew of toolbox dragons ready for any situation. On top of all that mono red let's me ramp hard with cards like snow lands/extraplanar lens, the gauntlet, braid of fire, suns, and many more, hope that clears that up :)
August 22, 2020 5:43 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #40
DeinoStinkus If that's what you meant that would have nothing to do with layered abilities then, how would you possibly assume that had to do with the dragon then?
Just trying to figure out your logic here, as it made sense if you didn't know ability layering, but how it seems like you brought up cloning for no reason?
August 22, 2020 5:48 p.m.
DragonSliver9001 says... #41
Vash13: tutoring for a tutor is not a waste of a turn when you then end up with 2 on the field. sorry buddy but scion is the superior commander of the 2. 4 additional colors and sets up the grave for a Patriarch's Bidding. as for ramp, access to green is better than mono red. your toolbox of dragons isn't "ready for anything" when you only have access to 1/5 the colors. with scion, you can transform into things like Belltoll Dragon or Quicksilver Dragon to dodge removal. your decks "head games" would only work once at best. they'll still target the zirilan with removal on sight.
August 22, 2020 6:03 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #42
I mean I actually know how to play Zirilan in cEDH, and ran a Red Moon Dragon Stax deck, and I know the power level of Zirilan, however yes, WGD Scion lists are much better, despite being combo-variants.
In cEDH or Casual, I promise for various reasons that Scion is better, however chaos effects like you wrote on only work on new players, Scion works on anyone.
August 22, 2020 6:38 p.m.
DragonSliver9001 then by the time they remove zirilan I can cast the dragon naturally, the truth is neither is innately superior it's all about your personal playstyle and who's piloting the deck, I can out play 9 times outta 10 since I'm no whale so I dont pay for wins I play for wins, and the beauty of commanders singleton playstyle means miss direction tactics are different every time some one would have to play against my deck every day for a month to know everything up my sleeve and even then they would have to get the perfect cards and be more concerned with stopping me that helping them selves and in multiplayer many decks are more imidiatly threatening removing heat from me and in 1v1 I'm way more explosive that 90% of decks, so really as I said it's all opinion and play style thus the awesomeness of magic, your more than welcome to like the ur dragon better but I find him unnecessarily obtuse, I dont need 5 colors imo, I'll just grab another deck
SynergyBuild not sure if that was a slight but I'll assume you are just speaking yur mind, and in response, yes your right about those working better on newer players, but there is also something called a feint where you play a seemingly less superior card or set of cards to lull your opponent, yes experienced ones as well, into a false sense of security, but as I said above it's all about what your doing and what I'm doing is having fun because when you whoop ppls asses over and over again with cedh lvl decks people get burnt out quickly, so I often throw silly fun strategys into high lvl decks to make em fun to play against, but I'm sure your infallible so I guess I'd play a different deck against you...
August 22, 2020 7:01 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #44
Vash13 Hey! I don't mean to sound conceited, however at a competitive table I'm sure you are aware that feints don't work and dont focus table energies as they can in casual tables, as well Zirilan is much more threatening as a card, as Scion is much more budget, has been printed into precons, and often is run more casually. Remember Scion and Zirilan are non-factors in the cEDH metagame, so against players that are new to the format still won't get fainted by Zirilan more than Scion, as both are generally very weak commander options.
Don't misunderstand though. I think both can be dreadfully powerful options, in fact I wrote up the popular primer on this site discussing that: Why Every Commander is Competitive and enjoy discussions on it, I'm just saying for competitive viability neither are considered the best, and though I believe 0 decks in the metagame are as "perfect" as you make yours out to be, even my list: Blooming Onion － The Best Deck in EDH [Primer] has bad matchups, and so will Zirilan. The key is playing what is fun or what is competitive, and not saying you are unstoppable or anything silly!
August 22, 2020 7:36 p.m.
DragonSliver9001 says... #45
Vash13: look man the simple fact of the matter is that scion has access to everything zirilan does and then some. zirilan provides no advantage over scion whatsoever. an opponent doesn't need to know "every" card you have, but they'll get a general idea of your threats after just a few games. anything zirilan can do, scion does objectively better. you lack mana ramp from green, card draw from blue, and removal from white and black. this "misdirection" and "mind games" you speak of for zirilan just doesn't exist. how could you possibly have more of either of those with only access to 1/5 the card pool?
August 22, 2020 7:47 p.m.
SynergyBuild I know I was just talking sh*t but I'm defensive of my zirilan so many haters, and I know of your article and think I commented on it I enjoyed that one a lot, your absolutly right 9 outta 10 time commanders dont even matter in cedh it's more just a singleton match, your good bro.
DragonSliver9001 I know of all the stereo types for colors you speak of but as SynergyBuild has said "any commander deck can be competitive" you just need to think outside the box and build creatively, but I guess the point is(blacknwhite) I have enough removal in red, (blue)I dont want card draw with zirilan very much as I dont want to draw a huge dragon t2,(green) if you aren't aware of how well any mono color can ramp I dont really feel like a lengthy explanation, suffice it to say I can come up with more than enough mana though creative means I mentioned in earlier comments.
DeinoStinkus yeah sorry probly my bad got way off track lol
August 22, 2020 9:11 p.m.
DragonSliver9001 says... #47
Vash13 if you wanna be inefficient then you do you.
August 23, 2020 12:15 a.m.
Monomanamaniac says... #48
Vash13 I might not like dragons on a Percival level, but I did acknowledge that there's a good dragon deck that stomps me every time I play it. I think I have to say that scion is the best dragon commander just like SynergyBuild. I like combat tricks, and I think scion does great combat tricks, attack in and then activate in responce to blocks. I do agree that combat tricks aren't utilized enough in commander , but in a 4 person match you're missing resources most of the time, unless you can one shot that player ( and I have yet to sit at a table and one shot an opponent on turn 4 and not have the table just take a minute to take in the fact that they just got put on a clock lol). But seriously if your tools don't affect all the players they're going up 2 and you're going down 1, so you're essentially losing 1-2 over the table.
SynergyBuild I agree that scion is the best dragon commander lol.
DragonSliver9001 I love playing inefficient, I play mono-white lmao
August 23, 2020 1:35 a.m.
SynergyBuild says... #49
Monomanamaniac Mono white may have gotten a lot more efficient. Keeper of the Accord looks stupid good.
With some metagames it could get you 3 lands a turn, that's Burgeoning + Land Tax level good, with Ophiomancer dropping deathtouch but getting you more dudes tacked on.
Imagine Sword of Feast and Famine with those lands
August 23, 2020 1:45 a.m. Edited.
Monomanamaniac says... #50
SynergyBuild I've seen that it's amazing, and I Will definitely be investing in that and Mangara, the Diplomat asap. Honestly though, I think mono-white will never be good enough in card draw or mana ramp to get taken seriously. It absolutely sucks that white can't draw unless your opponent is going off, and it can't ramp unless your opponent is already ahead. Artifacts make up some of the short fall, but it's all inefficient. Could you imagine if that card was green? It would be unplayable. Could you imagine if mangara was blue, same thing.
griffstick says... #2
Yea it's worth it.
August 17, 2020 6:58 p.m.