Strong Non-Infinite builds
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on April 21, 2019, 4:29 p.m. by MizzMizz
I was wondering if anyone could list some fun and strong commanders that can be built to do some nasty stuff without winning with Infinite combos.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #3
Fun, and strong, enough to give tiered decks a run for their money. We use a toolbox of fliers findable by our commander, and enough disruption to throw off the combos your opponents try to set up. More on my profile that's higher in the budget range, but still fun. Enjoy!
Isperia's Flying Circus of Tools
Commander / EDH
SCORE: 59 | 68 COMMENTS | 6687 VIEWS | IN 20 FOLDERS
April 21, 2019 5:29 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #4
What kinds of deck archetypes do you like to play? For example, I prefer +1 counters, aristocrats, politics, or build-around. I have several decks under several generals for each of these strategies. So what kinds of archetypes do you enjoy?
April 21, 2019 6:09 p.m.
Thanks for the responses! I've wanted to build around Ghost Council of Orzhova is there any way to make a deck like that powerful enough to win some games? I'm really into aristocrats.
April 21, 2019 6:41 p.m.
I also really like control builds. I think Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir seems really fun
April 21, 2019 6:47 p.m.
There are a lot of valuable aristocratic cards to help for a deck like that. Teysa Karlov helps double up on all your Zulaport Cutthroat and Grave Pact effects. Get yourself both a Phyrexian Altar and an Ashnod's Altar if your budget allows for it. Don't skimp on card draw effects and token generators, and it's always worth including removal for opponents' things - don't cut all the removal in favour of move combo pieces. Include a Return to Dust or something. It never hurts to include a few board wipes.
April 21, 2019 6:57 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #8
Okay. Well with control and aristocrats I can do some work.
Okay so for aristocrats, Meren of Clan Nel Toth is obviously the “tierest” of them all. But for more casual folks like me there are good options too. Queen Marchesa , Sedris, the Traitor King , Prossh, Skyraider of Kher , Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper , Karador, Ghost Chieftain , Ghave, Guru of Spores , some other guy + Ravos, Soultender (my pick goes to Reyhan, Last of the Abzan ), and as was pointed out prior, Teysa Karlov (along with the many other good aristocrat legends in those colors- my Teysa deck runs 7 potential commanders), but if you want something a lil more out there, Judith, the Scourge Diva , Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker , or a few listed up there (especially the grixis picks) will do ya well.
Now for control? I play this deck with Karlov of the Ghost Council that SLAPS- it basically just puts “drops in the bucket”, casting a bunch of permanents that gain consistent, small bundles of life, and basically exiles anything of consequence that an opponent plays.
Sedris, the Traitor King could actually be a really fun sort of “2-for-1.deck”, focusing on getting a lot of value out of the cards in your grave? Good blockers with death triggers that you can recur, flashback spells, self-mill? Though I suppose that could be said for a few of the above aristocrat generals...
Maybe an aristocrat deck that focuses on wasting enemies’ resources until they peter out? Seems kinda fun in Abzan, Grixis, ... maybe a four-color combo?
April 21, 2019 7:17 p.m.
griffstick says... #9
@MizzMizz, God-Eternal Oketra , when it's done. I'll tag you in it
April 21, 2019 7:18 p.m. Edited.
twostarturtle says... #10
Have a good grip of cards and a decent board state then play Gisela, Blade of Goldnight and let the clowns kill themselves. Pick off the survivors.
April 21, 2019 10:34 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #11
Easy, go with something like Kess Consultation, a Laboratory Maniac list that goes:
Kess, Dissident Mage + tutor.
Tutor for Demonic Consultation , cast Consultation and name Laboratory Maniac , recast consultation from the graveyard with Kess, naming something you don't have in your deck. Exile deck, draw a card, win the game.
Tier 1.
April 22, 2019 10:45 a.m.
DrukenReaps says... #12
Mairsil, the Pretender tends towards combos but some of them are more like wicked interactions and are not infinite.
Spikeshot Elder // Hateflayer + Tree of Perdition + a way to reset Mairsil's toughness like AEtherling , this allows you to kill 1 player each turn.
Laboratory Maniac + Mirror-Mad Phantasm , empty library with a caged mirror mad and win.
And using Pestilent Souleater or Vector Asp with AEtherling is sneakier than most people realize.
April 22, 2019 10:56 a.m.
ZendikariWol says... #13
That's essentially infinite, SynergyBuild. Not to mention disgusting.
April 22, 2019 10:56 a.m.
SynergyBuild says... #14
ZendikariWol and I think the art on Stasis is disgusting. Matter of opinion. Love the card. It is a valid way to play and I find fun. Get over yourself.
Also, it isn't a loop. Can't be repeated forever, etc. Not infinite at all. Nor would Oblivion Ring on Barren Glory then casting Apocalypse . Incredibly fun, not infinite, just great.
April 22, 2019 11:03 a.m.
ZendikariWol says... #15
SynergyBuild, I mean that it's essentially infinite as it relates to your deck- that is to say, whether your deck was one million cards or two, it would always mill the entirety of your deck. So no, technically, unless you find a way to have infinite cards in your deck, it is not infinite, but it's also always exactly as infinite as it has to be.
We have discussed at length my disdain for combo, but let's just lay it down to rest here. End the bickering. Totally my fault for the crack at your style, my bad. Let's let the fight stop here.
April 22, 2019 11:52 a.m.
SynergyBuild says... #16
ZendikariWol Rule 100.5 is the rule you refer to, yet that ruling isn't effective in real magic, as if your deck cannot shuffle, it isn't legal.
For a comment to start with how I am wrong, and say 'let's stop bickering', you need to start with example. You started this, and want to end it, and want to seem like the bigger man about it. Stop trying.
April 22, 2019 12:46 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #17
Well anyway, moving on from that whole shit, if you want a fun, wacky control commander that doesn't break the bank, Aminatou, the Fateshifter is an honest-to-God BLAST to play. She's incredibly interactive and she can do a ton of different things! Super friends, general value, miracles, exchanging control of permanents only to get them back through cute shenanigans. This little gal has it all, and with a price tag of just over three dollars! She's a steal, in gameplay as well as in the store.
April 22, 2019 1:14 p.m.
Yea I have an Aminatou, the Fateshifter deck, it's one of my favorites. I also love my The Scarab God reanimator deck, it's so much fun. Anyone have a cool list for maybe a zombie tribal deck with Varina, Lich Queen ?
April 22, 2019 4:25 p.m.
Damn, Stasis is a nasty card. That would be sick in a Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir deck
April 22, 2019 4:28 p.m.
Stasis would be sweet in and aminatou deck too if you already have perigrine drake and Panharmonicon out or something
April 22, 2019 4:33 p.m.
Thanks, I use that site to build my decks all the time. Great site.
Yesterday says... #2
Riku of Two Reflections
Jodah, Archmage Eternal
Animar, Soul of Elements
Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder
Just shooting in the dark here.
Unless you're a little more specific, I'm not sure exactly how to help. What sort of commanders and decks and strategies to you already like?
April 21, 2019 4:44 p.m.