Philosophy Represented

Gleeock says... #2

Heartwood Storyteller I love punishers. This "punisher" is about as bizarre as can be. Punishing by rewarding & usually working against control objectives is right up my alley.
Oath of Druids Big, fun, splashy. Everyone at the table typically sees unusual events with this. I enjoy giving one controlling leader fits. I enjoy big damage games where everyone gets to be involved.
Thieves' Auction Splashy with great ability to break status quo, particularly when one player is running the table too much & I still get to choose first!
I play to radically alter & advance the game, this does not always mean I win. I usually make damage matter. I will usually be the player to break table lockdowns & one-sided affairs. Predictable decks can be built against, I am unpredictable, I will play parallel bomb effects. I enjoy the challenge of trying to win with these less-proven strategies. I avoid controlling (when I can) & avoid setting the game back (when I can). I play more incremental damage & group slug than the average bear.

February 17, 2020 8:51 a.m.

IMMG54 says... #3

Force of Will I enjoy having the answers to everything, and I especially enjoy being able to play a game of "Does he have a force of will?" where my greatest resource may or may not be in my hand. This will force players to play around force or play into it, baiting out my other removal. I enjoy playing modern-jund-like decks, where there's a lot of 1-for-1 trades and I can grind out value while controlling the biggest threats.
Time Warp I enjoy playing solitaire, and while many of my decks are combo decks that do this in other ways, nothing quite says "solitaire" like baiting out a counterspell then chaining extra turn spell into extra turn spell. Even my mono-green deck plays a fair amount of solitaire.
Cyclonic Rift Nothing says "hopeless case" like an overloaded cyclonic rift at the end of someone's turn or in response to an attack the table is eager to take me out after a stressful grindy game of me out-resourcing and out-valuing them. I enjoy winning with Isochron Scepter on the next turn when suddenly nobody has open mana rocks or dorks.

I see fun as a zero-sum game that I intend to win. My decks either play solitaire by preventing anyone else from landing anything useful, so decks that are Blue and Black, and if I know I can't play the long game, like my Selvala deck, I focus on winning as soon as possible and playing solitaire on turn 4. My only deck that isn't ridiculously unfun to play against is my Erebos deck. My decks are extremely predictable and have a single end-game in sight, and unopposed will win very quickly. I'm not proud of this, but this is how I build decks and pilot them.

February 17, 2020 9:16 a.m.

GhostChieftain says... #4

Assassin's Trophy because I like having cheap answers to problematic permanents. Makes it so I can win turn 4 despite opponents playing Linvala, Keeper of Silence and Collector Ouphe

Viscera Seer because it is such amazing utility. I would play it even if it didn't say scry 1 because it allows infinite sacs and counterplay to some of my opponents spells for the low low price of .

Collector Ouphe because when this bad boy is on my side of the field I can just sac him and go off when I need, while still dunking on the storm player with a single 2/2 green boi.

I look to be highly interactive despite my distaste for blue in general, and plan to force my opponents into positions where they need to interact or lose and even then I recur what I lost and just go for it again. I play things that are my own brew so my fast wins fly under the radar while there are fish hulk, opus theif, and najeela decks that people are rightfully more worried about. Cheap and efficient is my mantra.

February 17, 2020 9:51 a.m.

LordBlackblade says... #5

Talisman of Hierarchy - It's not always about what is big and flashy, but little cards like the talismans, signets, etc. that help smooth out your gameplay are crucial. I really appreciate the practicality of cards like this. When I see these in a list, it lets me know the creator thought about the "nuts and bolts" concerns of the deck.
Plaxmanta - This card is very niche in my opinion, which is why I love it! In the deck I run it in, it does everything the deck wants to do, nothing on it is wasted. While staple cards have their place, I very much appreciate when players take the time to include more unique, specific cards that fit their game plan. In short, I really appreciate synergistic strategies over general "good stuff."
Smothering Tithe - This card is one of a hundred (probably more) examples that I could name of cards that scale. As someone who plays Commander, cards that scale with the number of players are just dynamite. I'm much more likely to run something like this than anything that only affects one opponent. I think the bottom line for me here is value.

In summary, I appreciate practical, synergistic, high-value (effect, not cost) cards and the deck builders that run them! To me, the constant tweaking and comparing new cards to existing ones are what make the deck building side of the game probably my favorite part.

February 17, 2020 10:05 a.m.

seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #6

Panglacial Wurm: I really appreciate unique and weird cards. The wurm is the only kind of its ability, and if you get to flash it out off of a simple fetchland nobody isn't surprised.

Sensei's Divining Top: It's powerful and it helps any deck to be more consistent, no matter how janky it is.

Zendikar Resurgent: It's big, it's splashy and if you ever untap with it, you'll escalate to tge moon and back.

I like green btw.

February 17, 2020 10:10 a.m.

griffstick says... #7

This is fun.

Rise of the Dark Realms. I love big spells and big one card finishers. I also love mass graveyard reanimation. It's so cool to cast as single spell that can change the game completely. It's so cool that this one spell can have so many different results. Especially since you are playing with your opponents creatures too. You never know what will happen in the next chance you get to cast this huge spell.
Void. I love board wipes. I'm am Mr. Boardwipe at my LGS. I really like board wipes that can be planned for. Ones that after the wreckage settles you stand alone as the new threat. The player that just turned the game completely on it's back and now you're the winning player. All because of a well timed board wipe.
Predatory Focus. I love swinging creatures for the win. I love chipping people down keeping everyone on even life total. Then bam surprise mutha fuckas. Didnt see that coming did ya. Slam down some card that gives great evasion to all my creatures for the win. Or slam down something that makes them trample for the win. I love flying creatures for this reason. This one could have also been Levitation or Archetype of Imagination. Swinging with creatures feels the most fun for me.

So me in a nutshell. Games that dont end quick or games that have lots of action. This is that type of game I strive to play. I tend to avoid combo wins even though I have one in half my decks. I hate using counterspells. They are just boring. Unless its Withering Boon or Imp's Mischief. I love those cards.

February 17, 2020 10:32 a.m. Edited.

griffstick says... #8

Excuse me Professor Gleeock (my hand rises), are with being graded on these. Because this feels like a written test.

February 17, 2020 10:49 a.m.

ZendikariWol says... #9

Roon of the Hidden Realm, because I prefer to win my grinding out consistent value.

Queen Marchesa, because I love playing with politics.

Emmara, Soul of the Accord, because I love building around wacky effects that work, whether they should or not.

Three really solid commanders that I think reflect my personality and playstyle.

February 17, 2020 11:13 a.m.

DrukenReaps says... #10

Mairsil, the Pretender- I love this card because it enables combos that normally are not and his effect is just narrow enough without being too restrictive to allow creative deck building. Even makes bad cards like Shauku, Endbringer into pretty awesome cards.

Stuffy Doll- Who doesn't like voodoo dolls? Weird interactions and punishments are my jam. I was tempted to put Manabarbs as another of my 3 but there might be Repercussions if I did that. These cards are all up side :) They also hurt my opponents without actually stopping them from doing their thing.

Vraska the Unseen- Could have put Liliana's Contract, Felidar Sovereign, Mortal Combat or any of those other similar cards. I'm sure you can see what these have in common. For me these serve a few purposes. First closing out the game needs to happen eventually. I enjoy long games where everyone gets to do something but someone has to win too. Second I've shut some people up after they complain about me winning with combo "all the time". These don't require any combo, they just synergize with the deck they are in.

I am very much a combo player but I enjoy weird things that shouldn't happen or happen rarely more than the typical combos that happen all the time. I also enjoy when something isn't a combo but has the same game ending capabilities. I love seeing what someone's deck will do too but don't expect to do it without some form of punishing effect going on.

February 17, 2020 2:30 p.m.

Rzepkanut says... #11

Sol Ring > Wheel of Fortune > Overwhelming Stampede

February 17, 2020 3:15 p.m.

Deadpoo111 says... #12

Hmmm this is a hard one!

Command the Dreadhorde: Wow, I think I run this card in three of my decks because it's so awesome. Never before has there been such a budget-friendly reanimator spell. This card is everything I love about magic.

Needle Specter: i just really vibe with this card, and it's sort of my favorite mtg card. It's pretty brutal if given time, which is sort of the strategy my decks stiuck to, the longer the game, the stronger they get. I just don't really include anything that slows the game down in my decks, which some may see a s a weakness, but I don't like to be overly oppressive with tax effects.

Chromatic Lantern: I hate five color mana bases, this takes away the stress of having the right mana and makes games more relaxed and easy for me. I've gone on record for saying this is the best card in commander before and I'll say it again

February 17, 2020 5:18 p.m.

Suns_Champion says... #13

Fun idea.

Humble Defector because I love politics.

Elenda, the Dusk Rose because I love playing unusual and underappreciated cards, cards not meant for commander, and intentionally held back decks.

Dimir Machinations because I only like limited tutors.

February 17, 2020 5:34 p.m.

Megalomania says... #14

Paradox Engine - I like broken things. If I see a card, combo, deck that is so overpowered that it feels wrong to use it, I probably will.
Demonic Tutor - I play mostly Dimir and Sultai colors so tutors are practically auto-includes whenever I build decks. I like my decks to be fast and consistent. Tutors play a large part in accomplishing these goals.
Leovold, Emissary of Trest - I don't mind playing the villain. Win or lose, I like the attention I get for being a threat, the biggest one, whenever I play. I'm also not a fan of politics so it made sense to play the role of the worthy antagonist and everything that comes with it.

p.s. despite what my card choices suggest, i'm not a dick IRL. :)

February 17, 2020 8:07 p.m.

Suns_Champion says... #15

Megalomania philosophically, we are the exact opposite in every way possible. It's awesome that EDH is a format that can encompass both of us and that we can share. Cheers!

February 17, 2020 9:08 p.m.

Gleeock says... #16

This was kindof fun. I feel like it says more about personalities than bulky argument-fodder could.

griffstick no grades here. I'm not much of a teacher :) I love Void, used it a couple of times with Mathas, Fiend Seeker. You'd probably be a fan of me wacking a dinger with my Marisi deck using Lumbering Satyr to cause a cascade of forestwalking death. Personal opinion on countersells is they are nonproductive & time-wasting, LOVE redirects though Bolt Bend FTW! I put Narset's Reversal in a separate class as well since it limited-steals... Just feels more productive.
Deadpoo111 I should pick up a foily Command the Dreadhorde while it is so budget friendly. You ever Evolutionary Escalation a Needle Specter?
Suns_Champion limited tutors are cool, I'm a fan of political tutors. I've casted Thieves' Auction after Wishclaw Talisman did its' thing.
DrukenReaps punishment is one of the greatest things ever! Especially when it alters the opponent's decisions or timing of plays. I could rant forever on how many issues in EDH could be fixed with more creative punishers.

February 17, 2020 9:50 p.m.

Gidgetimer says... #17

Xenagos, God of Revels- I like commanders that make normally unplayable cards into powerhouses. Many of my commanders do this, but Xenagod best exemplifies this.
Felidar Sovereign- I feel that games should always be moving toward a conclusion. Turning a facet of the game that usually only serves to lengthen games into a way to win demonstrates this.
Vampiric Tutor- Singleton doesn't necessitate inconsistency. Gambling on getting your answers or win cons is not fun. Tutors allow you to consistently interact and pose a credible threat of winning.

Ultimately my approach to EDH, like any format, is dictated by my psychographics. I am a Timmy/Spike. Specifically Diversity Gamer Timmy and Nuts and Bolts Spike. I want to have fun by experiencing new and interesting things. However; I want the outcome of a game to be based on technical skill as much as is possible.

As anyone who has interacted with me on the topic of deck building will know, I play primarily combo. I am a combo player not to express things like Johnnies are. I play combo because it rewards flawless gameplay and offers a way to win that isn't just "swing for lethal".

(Link to the Timmy, Johnny, and Spike Revisited article where MaRo clarifies the categories as well as explaining the subcategories.)

February 17, 2020 11:38 p.m.

ZendikariWol says... #18

I wouldn't want to play against you, Gidgetimer, but still I like your style.

February 18, 2020 12:56 a.m.

Gleeock says... #19

Gidgetimer you have quite the opposed philosophy to mine, yet it arrives at the same conclusion. My motivation to Tutor is usually for some sort of disruption (instead of endgame mechanic) that allows me to keep clocking the game. Usually a majority of my deck clocks other players incrementally. Players don't argue that "I don't have a way to win" because most of the deck's bits and pieces progress to a win (at least an endgame). I could see how you don't like gambling as much if you are more setup-to-endgame. If you are more Timmy/Johnny Adrenalin+offbeat like me the gamble becomes your friend because you work with all those incremental bits & pieces; even better if you are forcing gambles onto less improvisational players. Depending on your meta though "Just swing for lethal" shouldn't be so readily dismissed as a small feat, in my meta this is the most challenging way to actually win despite the existence of Craterhoof Behemoth

LordBlackblade scaling cards rule. I played a Saskia "scaling tribal" deck that thrived in larger games, but 4/6 of my playgroup is more control-based though & they didn't like all the disruption :( ... Any other scaling cards you like? Selvala's Stampede seems like a good one.

February 18, 2020 8:45 a.m.

Gleeock says... #20

ZendikariWol Nice shoutout to Queen Marchesa, a most fantastic commander. I am crossing my fingers that we see more monarch mechanics when the flood of upcoming commander-oriented products hit. In what ways do you think Marchesa exemplifies your gameplay? Do you enjoy alot of "carrot on a stick" types of strategy?

February 18, 2020 8:52 a.m.

ZendikariWol says... #21

Actually my favorite politics deck is piloted by Sisay, Weatherlight Captain. It is... admittedly, not anything extraordinary, but I like it cuz it's quirky and it's a deck that can group hug in the early game and really punch through in the late game (with Sygg, River Cutthroat, Arvad the Cursed, and Basandra, Battle Seraph to push opponents into awfully inopportune attacks).

That said, I think that Marchesa excels at turning opponents against one another and accelerating the game with attacks and I really like that. I play it in a hypothetical Zurgo Helmsmasher politics deck. I was considering putting Zurgo in its place, as he really exemplifies how I take something that's pretty lame, honestly, and makes puts an unexpected spin on it.

February 18, 2020 11:08 a.m.

DragonOfTheWest says... #22

Timesifter - Based on the article linked above, I definitely qualify as a Timmy (Adrenaline Gamer). I want to see crazy things happen and keep everyone on their toes. This is also why a play EDH and eschew tutors. I don't want my games to be too predictable.
Deadeye Navigator - I like repeatable value, late-game mana sinks, and a resilient board state. This card's open-ended flexibility is a good representation of my philosophy. I don't know what I'll combo it with, but I know it'll be fun and powerful.
Lurking Predators - Big splashy spell that makes everyone take notice? Ongoing effect that changes how people play? Powerful yet unpredictable continuous stream of value? This is everything I want in a card.

February 18, 2020 2:40 p.m.

Gidgetimer says... #23

Gleeock- I think you may have misunderstood my "just 'swing for lethal'". I wasn't trying to trivialize it. I was saying that combos appeal to my Diversity Gamer Timmy psychographic because they offer alternate ways to end the game. Xenagod is one of my commanders (or well was) and he is only win via swinging for lethal. My combo decks let me win via other avenues besides combat though.

I was trying to make a point about how I view myself as 0% Johnny, but that a combination of flavors of Timmy and Spike still lead me to be a combo player.

February 18, 2020 8:27 p.m.

Gleeock says... #24

DragonOfTheWest Timesifter its so beautiful. It's the great savior sent from Timmy Valhalla. I knew it existed, but I forgot about it. Have you had many crazy experiences with it? I would spitball using it if it has panned out in fun ways according to another Adrenaline Gamer.

ZendikariWol Using opponents as a resource is great, if not quite challenging to avoid the lethal backfire :) I was a big fan of how some of those new curses worked, Curse of Opulence, hope we see more similar mechanics to that soon.

February 18, 2020 9:36 p.m.

Gleeock says... #25

Gidgetimer ah, sure, I see: you were trying emphasis on the JUST part of the comment, as in not winning with swinging EXCLUSIVELY. I didn't actually truly think you were making a marginalizing statement especially since I noticed you had a Xenagos, God of Revels deck. My meta is so full of griffsticks ... at least in terms of loving boardwipes, that if you want to win with eventual beatdown; you either need an incredibly resilient, opportunistic, or competitive beats deck. Although philosophically (besides the boardwipes) my playgroup is radically different from griffstick

February 18, 2020 10 p.m.

Gidgetimer says... #26

That is why Xenagos is so great. You can pose a credible combat threat without overextending. Wrath of God kill your Malignus? No worries, just cast Atarka, World Render on your next turn and swing for 24. Some meany path Atarka away? Looks like they want to get to know everyone's favorite 6 mana 3/3, Pathbreaker Ibex. If he sticks around for a turn cycle they get to marvel at the synergy he has with Kessig Wolf Run.

February 18, 2020 10:54 p.m.

DragonOfTheWest says... #27

Gleeock, yes, Timesifter's been great. I run it in my Jhoira of the Ghitu chaos deck (average CMC: 5.17). I end up taking about half of the extra turns, which helps with suspend hopefully without feeling too oppressive to the rest of the table.

Instead of playing all the extra turn spells and MLD you'd expect to see in Jhoira, I run Perplexing Chimera, Omen Machine, Possibility Storm, and Wild Evocation. My ultimate goal is to cast Eternal Dominion, preferably with Hive Mind in play.

February 19, 2020 8:04 a.m.

Gleeock says... #28

DragonOfTheWest I'm a fan of Pyxis of Pandemonium. Due to it being more like a big red button you can press when it looks like a game-lockdown may happen... It has been nice for those Ugin sweep/lockdown plays. That is another way to turn the tables on the efficiency/control players of the world.

February 19, 2020 8:22 a.m.

Gleeock says... #29

ZendikariWol are you a fan of Bloodthirsty Blade? I really like it. The vows are cool, but so fragile. At least the blade sticks around after creature removal. It is one of my alternative slotted cards to targeted creature removal.