I have another general rule that if I can, I will always keep the card that will only fit in this deck vs the one that can go in every deck. Sure my hinata deck would be better with Mystic Remora and Generous Gift than Magma Opus and Volcanic Offering, but I won’t get to play the latter otherwise.
I wouldn't say I have it as a "hard" rule, but I tend to do the same thing when deckbuilding. Otherwise it feels like you're playing the same deck just with a different commander.
My problem is saying: "I think I have enough to make a deck here." And starting with a 360 card deck. Then spending 2 painstaking weeks agonizing over each card i remove lol.
so theres 36 cards you want to put in a deck and 10 variations of each of those. Just grab the best version of each, puts you at 72 cards. much easier to manage cuts
I've been in the format for almost seven years now, and over time I discovered that two-color decks with a narrow, but unique strategy - e.g. a Radha, Heir to Keld "Oops All Morphs" deck - provide the most fun for me and my playgroup. Limitation breeds creativity. Don't stick with the "staples", since more narrow - or should I say focused? - cards that synergize well with your commander will make your deck unique and provide more long-term gaming fun. However, there are effects you'll want to see in every game you play: mana acceleration, card advantage and removal. In my experience, the average deck should run at least 37 lands, 12 cards that put you ahead on the mana curve, 12 cards that provide card advantage of some sort, and 12 removal spells, of which between 3 and 5 should be mass removal spells (depending on the speed of your meta and the strategy of your deck). And it's always a good idea to add some political cards to your deck to bribe opponents, and some goofy cards just for the lols. 😊 Be creative, try to do unique stuff, brew decks with the maximum net amount of fun for all players in mind instead of focusing on winning the game, and you and your friends will have a great time.
Loved it. I'd love to see you guys do more overarching deckbuilding strategy videos. I've come to find that the numbers of types of cards I run in my decks, and the bar to "playability", depends a lot more on what my strategy is than what my commander does specifically, although the two do tend to play into each other. Love your content, keep up the great work!
Yes I have a vaevictus the dire all permanents deck and just discovered boompile a 4 mana artifact that you can tap to wipe the board... If you win a coin flip :) is it good ? Hell no. Does it fit my decks chaotic nature? Absolutely
This is really helpful! I finally reached a point where I can home brew some decks out of my bulk and I've been struggling to figure out a build that veers away from those standard templates. Gonna use this to reevaluate some cards.
Would love to see your thoughts in a Myrkul upping the average! I think the average decklist splits between hatebears and aristrocrats, so fun swaps can be made depending on the direction!
My favourite is just looking at cards I'd never get to use otherwise in any deck. Pet cards guarantee that there's at least one draw that always excites you in the deck.
I tend to pick commanders that have unique play patterns and mechanics, which then leads to a high degree of card uniqueness within the deck. At that point, the "good stuff" can all be the same because a high percentage of the other stuff is unique. I have sol ring, wild growth, utopia sprawl, and sylvan library copies in pretty much every green commander deck. But playing those decks still doesn't feel samey because of how many unique cards and strategies the commander promotes.
My problem is I make piles of this goes with this commander I am building. Then when I look at the pile why? Then there my lazy thing I do know I will text out a list on my phone then use a large store cut paste feature and just order the deck because I am too lazy to dig the cards out of my collection.
I often pull out typical or standard things to make sure I stay on theme. Older, less powerful or slower versions make it into my decks simply to take advantage of synergies or thematic jank. I've found the closer I've stuck to the average deck for a commander the more likely I push for higher power. That's just not as fun to me. Winning can be boring sometimes.
One thing I think this approach doesn't handle is Combo Pieces: 1. Universal? sometimes they are not mega useful except in the turn where they pop off 2. Scale? does having no impact early, but deciding the game instantly mean it scales 3. Endurance? combo pieces usually aren't draw engines So I have trouble favorably rating any combo pieces, even though I include them in my deck purely for the potential when played together, and they are either deadweight or middling in effectiveness. Should I cut these cards otherwise?
There is also a rule: dont play certain cards that make you a target in your playgroup Rhystic study or smothering tithe are perfekt examples, everyone is gonna try and remove it so you just wasted your mana
@@notveryoften mine is mostly an etb tribal with Duplicant, Obsidian Charmaw, Combustible Gearhulk, and Mindclaw Shaman being some of my favourites but I also really like Crested Craghorn as repeatable creature removal. Not to forget Combat Celebrant and Breath of Fury as game ending combos. Hopefully that'll be enough to help you get a good start.
@@notveryoften also finding a few ritual spells and a few Loot/rummage spells to get through the deck faster while also increasing the number of copies and etb triggers
@@SSolemn Jaxis is in my Rionya deck as a backup incase commander tax gets too high along with Kiki Jiki. Delina was also in there but she just never performed as well as any of the others
I have another general rule that if I can, I will always keep the card that will only fit in this deck vs the one that can go in every deck. Sure my hinata deck would be better with Mystic Remora and Generous Gift than Magma Opus and Volcanic Offering, but I won’t get to play the latter otherwise.
Love that rule. I do similar things when I build.
I wouldn't say I have it as a "hard" rule, but I tend to do the same thing when deckbuilding. Otherwise it feels like you're playing the same deck just with a different commander.
My problem is saying: "I think I have enough to make a deck here." And starting with a 360 card deck. Then spending 2 painstaking weeks agonizing over each card i remove lol.
Same especially cutting the last 15 cards
Then finally playing it once only to go back and redo half of it again 🤣
@@razzlefrazzle69 I'm currently in the last 14 cuts and I hate it
change 2 weeks to 2 months and that's me with my veyran deck, still
so theres 36 cards you want to put in a deck and 10 variations of each of those. Just grab the best version of each, puts you at 72 cards. much easier to manage cuts
I've been in the format for almost seven years now, and over time I discovered that two-color decks with a narrow, but unique strategy - e.g. a Radha, Heir to Keld "Oops All Morphs" deck - provide the most fun for me and my playgroup. Limitation breeds creativity. Don't stick with the "staples", since more narrow - or should I say focused? - cards that synergize well with your commander will make your deck unique and provide more long-term gaming fun.
However, there are effects you'll want to see in every game you play: mana acceleration, card advantage and removal. In my experience, the average deck should run at least 37 lands, 12 cards that put you ahead on the mana curve, 12 cards that provide card advantage of some sort, and 12 removal spells, of which between 3 and 5 should be mass removal spells (depending on the speed of your meta and the strategy of your deck). And it's always a good idea to add some political cards to your deck to bribe opponents, and some goofy cards just for the lols. 😊
Be creative, try to do unique stuff, brew decks with the maximum net amount of fun for all players in mind instead of focusing on winning the game, and you and your friends will have a great time.
Loved it. I'd love to see you guys do more overarching deckbuilding strategy videos. I've come to find that the numbers of types of cards I run in my decks, and the bar to "playability", depends a lot more on what my strategy is than what my commander does specifically, although the two do tend to play into each other. Love your content, keep up the great work!
The fun ones. Always the fun ones. Then toss in some good ones.
NO ONE EXPECTS THE HIDETSUGU'S SECOND RITE
Yes I have a vaevictus the dire all permanents deck and just discovered boompile a 4 mana artifact that you can tap to wipe the board... If you win a coin flip :) is it good ? Hell no. Does it fit my decks chaotic nature? Absolutely
@@ShooterSF VAevectis is such a good deck!!
But Joey, Endurance exiles cards from your graveyard, and we all know how much you hate that! :P
This is really helpful! I finally reached a point where I can home brew some decks out of my bulk and I've been struggling to figure out a build that veers away from those standard templates. Gonna use this to reevaluate some cards.
Loving that intro music! Better than the bagpipes!
Great content Joey! Short and to the point!
Would love to see your thoughts in a Myrkul upping the average! I think the average decklist splits between hatebears and aristrocrats, so fun swaps can be made depending on the direction!
My favourite is just looking at cards I'd never get to use otherwise in any deck. Pet cards guarantee that there's at least one draw that always excites you in the deck.
I tend to pick commanders that have unique play patterns and mechanics, which then leads to a high degree of card uniqueness within the deck. At that point, the "good stuff" can all be the same because a high percentage of the other stuff is unique. I have sol ring, wild growth, utopia sprawl, and sylvan library copies in pretty much every green commander deck. But playing those decks still doesn't feel samey because of how many unique cards and strategies the commander promotes.
My problem is I make piles of this goes with this commander I am building. Then when I look at the pile why? Then there my lazy thing I do know I will text out a list on my phone then use a large store cut paste feature and just order the deck because I am too lazy to dig the cards out of my collection.
I often pull out typical or standard things to make sure I stay on theme. Older, less powerful or slower versions make it into my decks simply to take advantage of synergies or thematic jank.
I've found the closer I've stuck to the average deck for a commander the more likely I push for higher power. That's just not as fun to me. Winning can be boring sometimes.
I use the good ones then fill it out with any pet cards I have and synergize with my Commander
One thing I think this approach doesn't handle is Combo Pieces:
1. Universal? sometimes they are not mega useful except in the turn where they pop off
2. Scale? does having no impact early, but deciding the game instantly mean it scales
3. Endurance? combo pieces usually aren't draw engines
So I have trouble favorably rating any combo pieces, even though I include them in my deck purely for the potential when played together, and they are either deadweight or middling in effectiveness.
Should I cut these cards otherwise?
This is great advise! Thank you!
I like the breakdown, all critical things to keep in mind for EDH. My critique would be that endurance feels like a subset of scale
The sage the long reach of night is a good "S" card
I just make it easy, cut everything except the commander and 99 lands. Then I'll always cast my commander on curve #flawless
Go go Zacama lol
Tolle Folge
You forgot P: Pet cards
Indeed. Pet cards are the cherries on the cake. They express your personal preferences as a player and make your deck unique. 😊
You’re my commander guardian angel
There is also a rule: dont play certain cards that make you a target in your playgroup
Rhystic study or smothering tithe are perfekt examples, everyone is gonna try and remove it so you just wasted your mana
I Always advise my archfriendemy to Cut Lands and Put in big spells 😂
Cool 😎
It must be time for a Rionya upping the average.
fr, i wanna build her but i'm so lost on what to include. the upping the average videos always help with suggestions for me
@@notveryoften mine is mostly an etb tribal with
Duplicant, Obsidian Charmaw, Combustible Gearhulk, and Mindclaw Shaman being some of my favourites but I also really like Crested Craghorn as repeatable creature removal.
Not to forget Combat Celebrant and Breath of Fury as game ending combos.
Hopefully that'll be enough to help you get a good start.
@@notveryoften also finding a few ritual spells and a few Loot/rummage spells to get through the deck faster while also increasing the number of copies and etb triggers
I would love a Jaxis one xD
@@SSolemn Jaxis is in my Rionya deck as a backup incase commander tax gets too high along with Kiki Jiki. Delina was also in there but she just never performed as well as any of the others
TLDR: Play more charms in your EDH decks
A bunch of useful tips, but a little vague as a guide.