Looking for a casual but quick strategy or commander
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on March 24, 2022, 2:54 p.m. by DrukenReaps
So I usually play pretty clunky commanders and decks but I feel like as I've gotten back with my friends to play again I get targeted. This in itself isn't an issue. I have 2 decks that keep up just fine. I just don't want to play my Ayara, First of Locthwain or Kozilek, the Great Distortion all the time.
I'm looking through some options but I'm curious what casual decks y'all have fun with that start off the game doing stuff. Decks where you don't spend the first 4 turns feeling like ok I need this and this and this then I can start playing xD Thanks.
So, I don't really like plugging my decks and stuff, but I do have one that uses low cMc creatures and Curiosity effects, and ideally starts attacking on turn 2 every game. I'll put it here, and yeah, the main game play is to use things like Bident of Thassa to gain attacks off small evasive creatures like Siren Stormtamer and then tech it up to double down with things like Duelist's Heritage and Clarion Spirit to make more evasive creatures, more instances of damage, and more card draw off Bident or something like it. It does a lot of damage while setting up combo, which is always nice : ) Part of what I enjoy about playing it is that it really punishes decks that want to sit back and ramp for a while, because that's a lot of decks : )
Also, the commander could definitely be swapped. I just really like cute things, so...
March 24, 2022 4:12 p.m.
I've been enjoying Feather, the Redeemed recently, as I usually focus more on graveyard decks. If you do want to play around in the yard, both Meren of Clan Nel Toth and Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver can get you some serious value pretty quickly
March 24, 2022 4:52 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #5
Since my decks are based primarily on theme, there’s a pretty significant chance that they are going to play differently from one game to the next. This has helped enormously in keeping me from getting bored with them. It may not always be what you want to do, but maybe try loosening up on the goal of the deck. That will make it a lot less efficient, but with a looser focus you can try to make win conditions out of what your opponents are doing. A Dingus Staff or Harsh Mentor never seem strong enough on their own to build a whole deck around, but when they pop in at the right time they can be devastating (read: amazing) and make for a lot of fun discussion for the day/evening. That’s been my experience, your mileage may vary.
March 24, 2022 6:51 p.m.
Any time I want to do something a bit more casual and fun I tend to gravitate toward Boros. Boros has a lot of options for strategies that "do things early" that are "generically powerful" without usually being busted op as there are often lots of ways for opponents to interact with your lines of play.
I haven't bothered to work on it yet, but I had a plan for a Zabaz, the Glimmerwasp + The Ozolith deck that seems like it might be loads of fun. Boros affinity? Sign me up daddy, that seems like it could be enjoyable to play.
March 24, 2022 8:07 p.m.
DrukenReaps says... #7
Thanks for the suggestions y'all! The pony is particularly funny to me, I might do that for the luls. I'm kinda eyeballing Olivia, Crimson Bride from my own perusing. Really interested in some of the other things mentioned here too. Lots of food for thought.
March 24, 2022 8:10 p.m.
DrukenReaps Best of luck with the Olivia deck : ) I could see it being fun and fast, and it's a really swingy card. Definitely one that could start swinging early and hit hard late.
And yep, the pony is very fun. My main idea was to use Rarity for the B-side ability of protection rather than mainly the cost reducer part. Giving a Mischievous Catgeist Flip evasion with a Reconnaissance Mission or Curious Obsession out is like a repeatable 1 mana draw 2. Or you can use protection to block removal on a biggie like phyrexian dreadnaught or save it for blocks to make Alaborn Zealot into an absolute menace.
One of my favorite pony tricks, and it's a little convoluted, but it's to get Rarity or Mother of Runes to give evasion to Taranika, Akroan Veteran who attacks with Daring Thief and it not only protects the thief but instantly untaps it for pre combat ridiculousness. No one ever expects Daring Thief to be a problem that they need to address : )
March 25, 2022 8:23 a.m.
Atla Palani, Nest Tender can be made casual (or not-casual). With a few 2cmc ramps you pretty much know what you want to immediately start doing: make eggs. For casual route I would make a subtheme like lifegain creatures Trostani, Selesnya's Voice, Angel of Destiny for wincon or something - that would be a unique & somewhat casual direction that still has an early game (
Massacar says... #2
I would suggest maybe using someone like Oloro, Ageless Ascetic or Inalla, Archmage Ritualist.
That way you're getting value from your commanders without having to have them on the field, but they're not necessarily as aggro as say Edgar Markov or The Ur-Dragon.
March 24, 2022 3:11 p.m.