Commander Damage vs Life Total
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Aug. 28, 2013, 6:49 p.m. by EvenDryke
So I am brand new to EDH (I have a deck built, but I have yet to play it) and I just learned about Commander Damage.
I think I understand what it is, but can someone explain to me why the rule exists, and how one keeps track of all of those... Almost separate life totals in multiplayer games?
To be honest, the idea of having to keep track of commander damage from each player AND a life total is really off putting to me as a new player to the format. Seems really clunky and inefficient.
ItchiUchiha117 says... #3
Just grab 20d's equal to the number of opponents. Or really anything that can count up to 20. Like a piece of paper. The paper would be the easiest. Just write down the name of each commander you're facing in a column and do some addition for it. And yeah, as long as you're facing a lot of people, you're rarely going to need to worry about commander damage being your undoing. Unless you're playing a deck that can blitz everyone at once.
August 28, 2013 7:07 p.m.
brokendwarf says... #4
If the format was designed to where you had to lose all your life to lose, games would take way too long, especially with 4 or more people.
August 28, 2013 7:10 p.m.
NobodyPicksBulbasaur says... #5
I've got a Trostani, Selesnya's Voice deck that once got me up to about 850 life over the course of 3 turns or so. Whoever came up with the rules for EDH figured that would happen, and put in rules to prevent it from making games take literally forever.
It also helps make the Commander more special by not just making it a recurring creature. You literally have to be more careful of the Commanders than you do of any other creatures (in general) on the board.
August 28, 2013 7:32 p.m.
A bunch of 20 sideds is the way to go. I usually bring a small box of d6's to most magic games anyways to keep track of counters. So, it's no big deal.
There are a lot of phone and tablet apps that will do it for you though. Which is great to avoid some book keeping.
Honestly though, there are just some commanders that will never swing for that amount of damage. And there are some that will do so quickly. (I often can get commander damage with Sliver Overlord.) In any given game you're not likely to have to worry about it from every commander.
If you're got a regular friendly play group then it's even less of a headache since the trust is there to can do the accounting as a group.
August 28, 2013 7:37 p.m.
Ok, I understand. Thanks for being patient and explaining it everybody. =]
A whole bunch of d20s it is, since that's what I have right now.
My deck has a handful of pillow fort elements, and is indeed a Phelddagrif group hug deck, so here's hoping I won't have to worry about commander damage all that often.
August 28, 2013 9:22 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #8
The 21 general damage rule is what makes voltron a viable strategy in EDH.
I normally use a pen and pad to keep track of all life totals. It works better because it can't be reset if the table shakes (spindowns can roll around) and you can track everything in a short, organized space. It also gives you a convenient way to take notes.
August 28, 2013 10:36 p.m.
MTG Tracker is a decent Magic app (android) that has a life counter with the option to set it up for an EDH game. It easily tracks all commander damage and life totals for each player. Poison counters too.
JWiley129 says... #2
I'm a new player to EDH too, and I've only lost due to commander damage when it's down to me and another player. The other times were just from losing all my life from combat damage. Also it depends on what commanders you are facing. For example, my deck uses Vorel of the Hull Clade , who won't win games by getting in for 21 commander damage. But a few decks I have played against had Doran, the Siege Tower or Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief as commanders which can, and will, hit you for 21 easy. Especially Drana...
August 28, 2013 7 p.m.