Need help again with picking a commander (again)
Commander Deck Help forum
Posted on May 27, 2019, 4:10 p.m. by blackfox4893
I'm having a hard time settling on another commander to build a deck around but some of the ones I do like I'm afraid of getting hated out early or they just take forever to get going that is just not fun to play. Feel free to make any suggestion not just base on my list. (Currently have Maren nel toth)
Commanders I like so far Aminatou, Ur-dragon/Scion, Brago, Xena-God, Nekusar, Selvala-wilds, Omnath Rage/Mana, Yenette, Alesha, Neheb(Eternal), Mayeal, Yuriko, Kaalia, Oloro, Atraxa,
sorry for the long list.
achilles777 says... #3
You may like Roon of the Hidden Realm since he does some blinky shenanigans. He is a very reactive commander that allows for plenty of interaction and generating value.
May 27, 2019 5:08 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #4
Aminatou is an extremely versatile commander.
Flickering nonlands, miracles, or using effects that trade cards just to take your own back are all impressive effects. Think Gilded Drake , every turn you steal a new creature, flicker it back to your side, then steal another. Rinse+repeat.
Flicking other walkers to use their abilities again or reset their loyalty is strong, combos to high heaven, etc!
May 27, 2019 5:08 p.m.
I would go with Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow , Omnath, Locus of Mana or Neheb, the Eternal . All of these strife far from typical Meren decks.
I'd build Yuriko with lots of ninjas and shenanigans. Omnath is an interesting concept when combined with mono green mana doublers. Neheb is a powerhouse combo commander, but at least it's kind of balanced.
May 27, 2019 6:01 p.m.
blackfox4893 says... #6
K1ngMars but wouldn't Yuriko get hated out kinda early in the game though? just wondering because I think this commander is pretty awesome.
May 27, 2019 7:16 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #7
I've never played Yuriko, and so didn't offer an opinion on it one way or another initially. I think it looks pretty fun too. I don't think it will draw too much ire. You are not a voltron threat because her power is so low. The average CMC of non-lands in most commander decks is 3-4. Assuming 35 lands that is an average of 1.95-2.60 damage per trigger. No ninja has native evasion, so you are looking at probably 2 triggers per turn. Yuriko doesn't seem to lend herself to degenerate combo, and so you will not inspire immediate aggression to prevent an untelegraphed win. I don't see any reason that you would be assessed as a higher threat just because of your commander.
May 27, 2019 8:14 p.m.
blackfox4893 says... #8
@Gidetimer I see that makes sense, also out of the other commanders why did you suggest Oloro,The Ageless Ascetic and Xenagos, God of Revels? I was just curious on your take on them.
May 27, 2019 8:44 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #9
The four I commented about are the only ones I have played. My Oloro deck was my oldest and favorite commander deck. I had it together from the week he released until all my decks and my binder were stolen last week. The way I had him built was Esper Combo/Control deck while slowly building life advantage. A small number of pillow fort cards along with wipes and targeted removal kept my life going up. The life was used for either the win cons of Test of Endurance and Felidar Sovereign ; for card advantage from Necropotence or Bolas's Citadel ; or just winning if you have both Necro and Citadel. Plenty of tutors make combos more consistent and a small counter package protected the combos. The constant life engine allows you to explore alternate win conditions to what most Esper Control decks use. If you enjoy every decision you make mattering and novel win conditions that are decidedly not cEDH he is a blast. If you have something against combo or want to be high tier competitive he probably isn't the best choice.
Xenagod is again not highly competitive, but from your list of commanders I got the feeling you were more interested in functional and interesting not turn 3 combo or heavy stax. He was my second favorite. There are a number of cards that work exquisitely with Xenagos, God of Revels that are neigh unplayable elsewhere. I had someone ask me "isn't Malignus banned" because of how powerful it is with Xenagod even though the card is mediocre at best in any other deck. Good aggro cards become seriously busted. Pathbreaker Ibex with just your commander out is 12 trample for 6 mana. If you have say Hydra Omnivore out you are swinging 32 trample that will reflect any damage that gets through to all other opponents and also a 19/19 trample. A Theros block God that isn't a creature is very annoying to deal with. So you can consistently count on having the ability each combat. Your big dumb beaters will routinely get killed, but Xenagos grants haste along with the buff so you can get at least one hit in most of the time. The deck isn't for people who feel bad about swinging for half of someone's life in a single hit early. But if you have ever wanted to swing lethal on turn 4 because you got the perfect acceleration hand Xenagod is your man. (ask PookandPie about how much he loves Heroes' Bane , he ended up stopping it but what was a $60 deck at the time had no right to swing lethal that early.)
May 27, 2019 9:34 p.m.
PookandPie says... #10
I believe you swung at me for 48 damage on turn 4?
I dunno, it was a random 1v1 game while we waited for people to show up and I was taken aback by how much damage was sent my way so quickly. I was into the 20s because I took a good chunk of 12-16 the turn previous, far more life loss than I usually take from cracking one fetch and using a shock, lol.
If it draws the right cards, you can just toss things out and go, "Thassa lotta damage!" like you're trying to sell Flex Seal.
lol I don't know who thought Malignus was banned, but I don't think I was told that story, you should tell me who it was so I can give 'em some snark next time I come to town.
May 28, 2019 12:40 a.m.
blackfox4893 says... #11
Gidgetimer lol.. yeah.. I think you guys just sold me on XenaGod. um my budget that I'm working with is about +$100 price range hopefully I can make a decent XenaGod deck with that! lol thank you guys that story was funny btw.
May 28, 2019 1:07 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #12
Xenagos, God of "You're Swinging with a HOW BIG?" is my build. Azusa, Lost but Seeking doesn't really perform exceptionally well, so dropping her for literally any other mana dork can bring the price down to $114 for how I had it. Though I was trying out Finale of Devastation so that would add a little more to the price. But you can at least get a general idea of how the deck I was describing functioned.
Gidgetimer says... #2
From your list I suggest Xenagos, God of Revels and Oloro, Ageless Ascetic and suggest you not on Mayael the Anima and Kaalia of the Vast .
May 27, 2019 5:04 p.m.