Casual fun in 1 v 1?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Jan. 14, 2021, 10:57 a.m. by Sultai_Sir
I, unfortunately, do not have a playgroup. I can't play magic consistently, and I've played like 8 matches since my LGS stopped doing FNMs for a while. The only person I can play with often is with my cousin, but he's pretty casual, while I'm trying to make more powerful decks. So I want to try and make a deck that's pretty casual and fun to play against, but that feels good to play and not a one spell a turn durdlefest. I've heard great things about Zedruu the Greathearted, but he seems more multiplayer-focused. Does anyone have any suggestions? And if you know a way to play magic consistently, or find a virtual playgroup, let me know. Thanks!
i kinda got distracted while posting that
my point was take this opportunity to step out of your comfort zone build and play colors / decks you normally never would
since it doesn't matter if your deck is good or not why invest money into building it?
toy around with the jank you already have laying around
January 14, 2021 12:08 p.m.
Sultai_Sir says... #4
Thanks for the response, Ramble! I've never made a boros, dimir, simic, jeskai, or jund deck, so do you have any good ideas for fun commanders?
January 14, 2021 12:45 p.m.
what do you currently have to work with ?
and what would be out of the realm of normal that you could do with them ?
my inspiration for the two decks i mentioned was devour with out creatures and red/green creature control
i'm asking this way because i could make a 40 page list of commanders i think would be good to pilot boros, dimir, simic, jeskai, or jund
January 14, 2021 2:06 p.m.
here Feathered
i just uploaded one of my knucklehead decks for an example
my challange for this deck was to use Gideon's Sacrifice to win the game
Gideon's Sacrifice + Arcbond, + (Boros Charm, Fight as One, or Valorous Stance) is the combo
January 14, 2021 2:25 p.m. Edited.
Sultai_Sir says... #7
I have a pretty decent collection, nothing to crazy, but I have a couple of valuble edh staples (Vampiric Tutor, Dockside Extortionist, Kindred Dominance, etc.). I have a bunch of draft chaff, and a bunch of better cards. I can build whatever, but want to stay on a budget. Does this help?
January 14, 2021 2:52 p.m.
budget should be easy since you shouldn't have to buy any cards
the goal is to build around your cousin's play level (which only you know since you've played against him)
because if you just dominate every game you wont have anyone left to play with.
just skip threw what you already own and see if anything pops out at you or you could always just grab a pre con
i am a believer that learning to win with jank decks and precons are the best way to evolve as a player
most players have card dependency issues but in edh there is so more then just specific cards to get a win.
bluffing - just like poker
efficiency - maximizing your card per turn value (you would be shocked how just playing the same cards in a different order can change the outcome of the game).
pattern recognition - which will allow you to predict the cards in your opponents hands (also good for shocking players when you call it out)
Boardstate memorization - knowing and understanding the current board state and how it all interacts (it's shocking how many players only focus on there own board state clueless about what everyone else is doing)
Timing - not just casting because its in your hand (people often get upset with me for having the right card at the right time, ive even been accused of cheating because of it, but my secret is i had the card in my hand the whole time and i just waited to that moment to play it)
their is much much more but my post has gotten to long and its almost time for me to go home
so to wrap it up
when im in a game i don't think about my cards. i often don't even look at my hand until after my first draw. i know my cards and what they do and i know the balance of my decks to trust my opening hand.
i spend the entire time watching everyone else, figuring out what cards are in there hands and whats in there decks based on there plays and use that information to play 2-3 turns ahead of the current one much like playing chess
and its not because i'm special or different then anyone else. its because i've taken the time to focus theses areas and honed my skills
so build any jank deck just to have fun while attempting the impossible and use this time to hone all your other skill sets to evolve as a player
January 14, 2021 6:51 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #9
I feel like I could probably be replace with a FormOverFunction-bot, with my consistent responses... but oh well. I would take this opportunity to make decks focused entirely on fun combos, weird themes, and ignoring (to one extent or another) win conditions. Losing to a good friend is no big deal, and makes your random wins even better. Take the opportunity to just roll with the piles of cards you might have never even considered using because they’re not competitive enough. There’s a TON of neat stuff waiting to be given that chance!
RambIe says... #2
its opportunities like these that i was able to build and tune some of the most insane decks any one has ever seen
like Thromok the Insatiable deck. which focused on turning opponents permanents into creatures, taking control of them all and then devouring it (note Thromok was the only creature in the deck)
Nikya of the Old Ways stax / control deck. lol i still laugh when i think about the time i used Bazaar Trader to give nikya to a mono blue player
i could do a whole thread on stupid things ive pulled of in this game for laughs. but back to the point
try to build 3-4 card combos and see what you can pull them off, or challenge yourself with some game mechanics that you normally don't or cant use and just try to pull of as much insanity as possible
when you only have one person to play with having fun is a bigger priority then winning
January 14, 2021 12:03 p.m.