How to play aggro?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Jan. 20, 2021, 7:39 a.m. by 3devils
So, I have an issue that I'm working on, I have a hard time playing an aggro deck and deciding when and how to attack. I only play multiplayer. My fav deck I play revolves around stax and taxes to inflict damage but I draw aggro for that. I have a lot of fun playing but I feel I stall on my attack phase. Any advice on how to choose who to attack or how to improve on my issue.
If you want to play aggro, you need a commander designed to do it, first off. If you're having trouble finding favorable attacks, you're not deck building well enough. You need to only play cards that lean into your win condition and help you win early, if that is your goal.
You shouldn't run many 5+ drops because they will be dead cards during the time you want to press advantage. Any high cmc cards included need to have immediate effect and be tools to immediately close out a game such a Overwhelming Stampede
January 20, 2021 8:51 a.m.
So, if am reading this correctly, you like to play stax, or a more control based strategy, yes? I know of two ways of handling it:
The first treatment I know of is something my group calls "Pillowfort"; essentially, you use tax like effects to make your opponents pay mana for each time they want to attack you, making them have to spend mana on something other than the spells they can cast. See Ghostly Prison for example.
The another method We call "Winter" or "Stasis". Named partly due to the card of the same name: Stasis and Winter Orb. These already play heavily into a more Stax playstyle, although, this is fair warning: most players in your play group will defintely target you more. It is almost fact. When you as a player affect everyone, versus a single player, you earn everyone's ire.
The last method I know of is what we call "Nope Magic" or, lockout. You simply tell people what they can, or cannot cast. For example, by using Ethersworn Canonist.
Now, in regards to the whole "picking who to attack" part of your question, I always recommend, as a control player, to focus or keep an eye on the player that disrupts you most, or can evade your control. I typically look at a player whose deck or playstyle directly affects my means of winning the game. As with most things, certain decks tend to perform better than others. just find out who in your group tends to get the W, and why. Kit your deck around that a little, and hopefully that should help.
Hope this info helps, and let me know if there's anything else you'd like help with!
January 20, 2021 10:03 a.m.
Last_Laugh says... #5
Ghostly Prison and Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker can help deter attacks.
Reconnaissance will allow you to attack with EVERY creature safely, still deal combat damage in most situations, and you'll have EVERY one of those creatures untapped by the end of combat. (Check my decks description for more details of how to abuse this card Edgar's Dega Vampires)
January 20, 2021 10:44 a.m.
griffstick says... #6
You got to take advantage of what boros gives you to be aggressive. The biggest thing boros gives you that no other color pairing gives you is extra combats. Take advantage of that with cards like Combat Celebrant, Aurelia, the Warleader, World at War, Scourge of the Throne, Seize the Day, Savage Beating, Relentless Assault, Moraug, Fury of Akoum, Waves of Aggression, Response / Resurgence, Breath of Fury Hellkite Charger, Aggravated Assault, Fury of the Horde and Port Razer. Along with that you need to speed up the damage output. Boros gives you damage doublers, with cards like Fiendish Duo
, Goblin Goliath, Gisela, Blade of Goldnight, Insult, Furnace of Rath, Gratuitous Violence, Dictate of the Twin Gods, Curse of Bloodletting, Bitter Feud, Angrath's Marauders, Overblaze, Inquisitor's Flail, and Fiery Emancipation.
Also consider other things boros gives you that will speed up damage like double strike. Boros gives you haste, trample, and evasion. You need to consider all of those. All while staying low on curve and fast in ramp. If you do this you'll have a good aggro deck.
January 20, 2021 11:02 a.m.
Last_Laugh says... #7
Board protection also makes a huge difference. Teferi's Protection, Flawless Maneuver, Boros Charm, etc. can help you overextend safely so you don't become irrelevant and end up in topdeck mode after the first boardwipe.
January 20, 2021 11:19 a.m.
griffstick says... #8
Yea that's a good point. Eerie Interlude and Ghostway
January 20, 2021 11:51 a.m. Edited.
Xianling69 says... #9
technically every game is multiplayer. but which deck are you playing? aggro or stax? they're not the same deck. choosing who to attack and when, is actually really simple. can they safely block? then don't attack. is someone open and vulnerable? attack them. the only real dilemma would be if they can trade their creatures for yours and both would die. at that point simply ask yourself who needs their creature more.
January 20, 2021 1:35 p.m.
griffstick says... #10
Theres always Iroas, God of Victory, Dolmen Gate, Loyal Unicorn and many more ways to make combat in your favor every time.
January 20, 2021 2:26 p.m.
griffstick says... #11
Btw if you build an aggro stax deck with Iroas, God of Victory as the cmdr you'll never have to worry about who to attack. Just attack without worry. Click here if you want to see how I built iraos
January 20, 2021 2:38 p.m. Edited.
Last_Laugh says... #12
Oh, and on the subject of board protection... Scapegoat is VERY underrated.
It works really good in a meta with lots of wraths that don't destroy (i.e. exile, tuck, -X-X, Sac, etc.) as it'll allow you to redeploy with a full grip of cards. It only costs which is easy to leave open to bait boardwipes. Also, if you run Purphoros, God of the Forge it doubles as a finisher (especially with Edgar Markov eminence triggers).
January 20, 2021 3:27 p.m.
DoomNoodle says... #13
I second the Iroas, God of Victory suggestion. hes my favorite boros to pilot and makes every attack favorable and you can do what ever you want with him. I use him for angels. some use him for wide tokens. have fun! indestructible menace creatures are deadly addictive to play!
January 20, 2021 4:14 p.m.
battle_jelly says... #14
Hehe, multiplayer edh is all about the political factor. Choose an opponent and say, hey if I don't attack you, you won't attack me. Go aggro, and attack the others and leave your guy last. Or break truce with them when they are getting too dangerous.
January 23, 2021 11:51 a.m.
Good stuff and thanks to all the good feedback. I am building an Uril, the Miststalker commander deck. This is just swing with big commander damage and swing often.
battle_jelly
, I agree, the politic side of it is fun.
January 24, 2021 12:41 a.m.
Uril, the Miststalker was a premier commander back when he was released in 2009, but the power creep in commander over the past 12 years has been a lot.
The reason why you're finding it hard to succeed with aggro Uril, the Miststalker deck is because it is hard to succeed with any Uril, the Miststalker deck in 2021.
That said, I respect anyone who is playing a commander which is inherently disadvantaged, especially if they manage to put on a good show anyway.
3devils says... #2
I have a mono red Krenko, Mob Boss deck i play that uses Purphoros, God of the Forge to ping damage. It works in a similar way to use creatures entering the battlefield for damage rather that attacking.
January 20, 2021 7:43 a.m.