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Commander, also called EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander), is a multiplayer format for Magic: the Gathering that mixes the joys of deckbuilding with the joy of social interplay. In contrast to different codecs, Commander means that you can play with distinctive legendary creatures as your leaders and encourages the creation of various and flavorful decks. With its fascinating gameplay and boundless prospects, Commander has change into one of the vital in style codecs in Magic, attracting gamers of all talent ranges and backgrounds. Whether or not you are a seasoned veteran or a curious newcomer, this information will offer you the important information and methods to embark in your Commander journey and expertise the unparalleled joys it has to supply.
Earlier than delving into the intricate world of Commander, it is essential to know the basic guidelines that govern this vibrant format. Commander is performed with a deck of precisely 100 playing cards, led by a legendary creature that serves as your commander. Your commander begins the sport within the “command zone,” a particular space exterior of your deck and battlefield. When solid, your commander enters the battlefield from the command zone and may be repeatedly solid all through the sport by paying its mana price plus a further two generic mana. Nevertheless, every time your commander dies, it returns to the command zone as a substitute of the graveyard. This distinctive mechanic provides a layer of technique and resilience to Commander, permitting you to constantly redeploy your commander and leverage its skills.
The selection of your commander is paramount in Commander, because it shapes the identification and playstyle of your deck. Commanders possess various skills, starting from mana technology to creature summoning to battlefield manipulation. When deciding on a commander, think about your most well-liked playstyle and the synergy between your commander’s skills and the playing cards in your deck. For instance, in case you take pleasure in controlling the battlefield and manipulating your opponents’ methods, a commander with skills that grant you card draw or countermagic could be an appropriate alternative. Alternatively, in case you favor aggressive methods that overwhelm your opponents with creatures, a commander with skills that enhance your creatures’ energy or grant them evasion could be more practical. The chances are countless, and a part of the allure of Commander lies in exploring the myriad combos of commanders and deck archetypes.
Gathering Your Commander Arsenal
The muse of any Commander sport lies in your arsenal of playing cards, rigorously curated to align along with your chosen commander and technique. Assembling this arsenal is a journey that requires each strategic planning and a contact of serendipity. Here is a complete information that can assist you collect the playing cards it is advisable to unleash your inside commander:
1. Select a Commander
Your commander is the guts of your deck, setting the tone for its gameplay and overarching technique. Take the time to discover the huge choice of legendary creatures and planeswalkers within the Commander format. Contemplate their skills, coloration identification, and potential synergies with different playing cards in your deck.
Listed here are some components to contemplate when selecting a commander:
- Colour Id: Decide the commander’s coloration identification, as it will limit the nonland playing cards you may embrace in your deck.
- Casting Price: Goal for a commander with an affordable casting price, making certain you may summon it reliably all through the sport.
- Skills: Analyze the commander’s skills and think about how they align along with your desired playstyle and technique.
- Reputation: Analysis the recognition of potential commanders. Excessive-demand commanders might drive up card costs or make it tougher to search out particular playing cards.
2. Construct a Deck Round Your Commander
As soon as you have chosen your commander, start crafting a deck that helps its strengths and compensates for its weaknesses. Contemplate the next ideas:
- Synergy: Choose playing cards that work together nicely with one another and your commander’s skills.
- Mana Base: Guarantee a constant mana base that may assist your commander’s casting price.
- Removing: Embody playing cards that may take away threats posed by opponents’ creatures or spells.
- Card Draw: Incorporate playing cards that assist you to draw extra playing cards, fueling your methods and sustaining hand dimension.
3. Purchase the Playing cards
Together with your decklist in hand, embark on the hunt to amass the playing cards you want. Make the most of varied platforms akin to on-line marketplaces, native sport shops, and buying and selling occasions. Be affected person and chronic, as discovering particular playing cards might take some effort and time.
The next desk supplies a snapshot of potential sources for buying Commander playing cards:
| Supply | Professionals | Cons |
|—|—|—|
| On-line Marketplaces (eBay, TCGPlayer, and so forth.) | Wide array, aggressive costs | Transport prices, availability points |
| Native Sport Shops | Bodily looking, group connections | Restricted choice, larger costs |
| Buying and selling Occasions | Alternative to barter, socialize | Availability depending on attendees |
Deciding on the Excellent Commander
Selecting the proper commander is essential in Commander because it units the tone in your deck and defines your playstyle. Listed here are some components to contemplate when deciding on your commander:
Mana Price
The mana price of your commander will decide how rapidly you may solid it and begin constructing your board presence. Decrease-cost commanders assist you to ramp sooner and deploy threats early, whereas higher-cost commanders present extra highly effective skills however require extra mana to solid.
Colour Id
The colour identification of your commander restricts the playing cards you may embrace in your deck. Select a commander with colours that assist your required playstyle and assist you to entry particular playing cards and synergies. Contemplate the supply of mana fixing to assist your chosen coloration identification.
Skills
The skills of your commander will outline your deck’s capabilities. Some commanders deal with card draw, others on creature summoning, and others on disrupting your opponents. Consider the talents that greatest align along with your most well-liked playstyle and the technique you plan to pursue.
Capability Sort |
Description |
|---|---|
| Card Draw | Generates extra playing cards in hand, offering gasoline for spells and methods. |
| Creature Summoning | Lets you rapidly populate the battlefield with creatures, overwhelming your opponents with numbers. |
| Disruption | Interferes along with your opponents’ plans, countering spells, destroying creatures, or gaining management of their permanents. |
Mastering Land Administration
One of the crucial essential points of enjoying Commander is managing your mana base. With every participant beginning with solely 40 life, even a single flip of mana points can have devastating penalties. By understanding the ideas of land administration, you may guarantee that you’ve the assets it is advisable to solid your spells on time and dominate the sport.
1. Play the Proper Variety of Lands
The variety of lands you play is determined by a number of components, together with the mana curve of your deck, the variety of mana-producing creatures or artifacts you’ve gotten, and the common casting price of your spells. A very good rule of thumb is to start out with 36-38 lands and alter as wanted.
2. Select the Proper Lands
Not all lands are created equal. Some lands produce extra mana than others, whereas others present extra advantages, akin to card draw or life achieve. When constructing your mana base, think about the mana necessities of your deck and the varieties of results you wish to have entry to.
3. Use Land-Producing Spells and Artifacts
Along with enjoying lands, it’s also possible to use spells and artifacts that produce mana. These may be particularly useful within the early sport, when it’s possible you’ll not have sufficient lands to solid your spells. Some in style land-producing spells embrace Rampant Progress and Kodama’s Attain, whereas Sol Ring and Arcane Signet are frequent mana-producing artifacts.
4. Handle Your Land Drops Successfully
The way in which you handle your land drops can have a major influence in your sport. Listed here are some ideas for maximizing the effectiveness of your land drops:
| Flip | Motion |
|---|---|
| 1 | At all times play a land, if attainable. |
| 2 | You probably have a alternative, play a land that produces a number of colours of mana. |
| 3-4 | Begin ramping, if attainable. Play land-producing spells or artifacts to extend your mana manufacturing. |
| 5+ | Proceed to play lands as wanted, however watch out to not flood out. |
Fight Technique and Techniques
Positioning
Correct positioning is essential in Commander. Preserve your commander secure by shielding it with different creatures or enjoying defensive playing cards. Concurrently, place your attackers to maximise injury output and decrease losses.
Menace Evaluation
Determine essentially the most threatening threats on the board and prioritize them. Focus your assets on eliminating high-value targets that pose a major hazard to your sport plan.
Card Benefit
Gaining and sustaining card benefit is important in Commander. Play playing cards that generate extra playing cards, akin to card draw spells or creatures with enters-the-battlefield skills that assist you to draw. This lets you replenish your hand and reply to your opponents extra successfully.
Defending Your Commander
Your commander is your cornerstone. Shield it from elimination by equipping it with indestructible playing cards, counterspells, or creatures that may redirect injury. Avoiding commander injury can be essential, as a number of losses can result in defeat.
Board Management
Gaining and retaining management of the board is important. Use playing cards that sweep away opposing creatures, akin to board wipes or mass elimination spells. This lets you dominate the battleground and forestall your opponents from overwhelming you with their very own forces.
| Board Wipe Sorts |
|---|
| Creature-based wipes |
| Noncreature everlasting wipes |
| Mass land destruction |
| Graveyard wipes |
| Hand disruption |
Card Choice and Draw Mechanics
Filtering
When constructing a Commander deck, it is essential to incorporate playing cards that assist you to filter by way of your library and choose the particular playing cards you want. These playing cards can be utilized to search out lands, creatures, spells, and even particular playing cards with sure skills.
Card Draw
Card draw is important for retaining your hand full and growing your choices. There are a number of the way to attract playing cards in Commander, together with:
Spells
Many playing cards in Magic: The Gathering assist you to draw playing cards straight. These spells can be utilized to replenish your hand after enjoying a number of playing cards, or to search out particular playing cards you want.
Skills
Some playing cards have skills that assist you to draw playing cards when sure situations are met. These skills may be triggered by enjoying playing cards, casting spells, or attacking with creatures.
Card Results
Many playing cards have results that may draw you playing cards. These results may be discovered on creatures, enchantments, artifacts, and lands.
Desk: Examples of Card Choice and Draw Mechanics
| Card Sort | Instance | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Creature | Phyrexian Area | Draw a card at first of your repairs. |
| Enchantment | Rhystic Examine | Each time an opponent casts a noncreature spell, draw a card. |
| Artifact | Skullclamp | Everytime you sacrifice a creature, draw two playing cards. |
| Land | Temple of Epiphany | Faucet: Add 1 mana of any coloration. Draw a card in case you solid a spell this flip. |
Political Alliances and Diplomacy
Collaboration and Negotiation
In Commander, forming alliances with different gamers is essential. Talk about methods, negotiate trades, and help one another to realize benefits. Communication and belief are important for profitable alliances.
Threats and Deterrents
Recognizing potential threats and using deterrents is equally essential. Threatening to assault or disrupt an opponent’s technique can deter them from focusing on you. Preserve your opponents in test, however keep away from pointless aggression.
Worth Evaluation
Assess the worth of various targets. Contemplate the playing cards in your opponents’ decks, their board positions, and the potential influence of attacking or leaving them alone. Prioritize and select targets correctly.
Strains of Communication
Establishing open channels of communication is important. Have interaction with different gamers, ask questions, and convey your intentions. This fosters understanding and minimizes misunderstandings.
Desk Manners
Respect the social norms of the sport. Keep away from extreme gloating, poor sportsmanship, and pointless distractions. Keep a optimistic and respectful environment.
Political Networking
Construct relationships with different gamers past the sport. Attend native tournaments, take part in on-line boards, and have interaction in discussions. Broaden your community to collect info, share methods, and discover potential allies.
Endgame Methods and Win Circumstances
Commander Injury
Commander injury represents a direct menace to every opponent. As soon as a participant has taken 21 factors of injury from the identical Commander, they lose the sport. This technique requires persistently casting the Commander and defending It for a number of fight phases as the sport progresses.
Infinite Combos
Some card combos can create a loop that generates infinite mana, injury, or card draw. These combos can finish the sport instantly for the participant who executes it.
Mill
Mill methods intention to exile all of a participant’s playing cards from their library. When a participant has no playing cards left to attract, they lose the sport.
Management
Management decks deal with stopping opponents from executing their sport plans. They use counterspells, elimination spells, and board wipes to neutralize threats and disrupt the movement of the sport.
Aggro
Aggro decks intention to overwhelm opponents with a speedy stream of creatures. They deal with dealing injury rapidly and persistently to cut back opponents’ life totals.
Group Hug
Group hug decks share assets and advantages with opponents. By offering worth to all gamers, they create a posh political panorama that may result in surprising alliances and alternatives.
Stax
Stax decks intention to lock down opponents’ assets and forestall them from enjoying the sport successfully. They use playing cards akin to Humility, Armageddon, and Grand Abolisher to disrupt mana bases, board states, and card draw.
Different Win Circumstances
| Card Title | Win Situation |
|---|---|
| Thassa’s Oracle | Haven’t any playing cards in hand and library. |
| Strategy of the Second Solar | Forged the spell twice. |
| Helix Pinnacle | Pay 1 life for every card you draw. |
Navigating the Commander Meta
The Commander meta is continually evolving, with new decks and methods rising on a regular basis. It may be troublesome to maintain up, however there are some things you are able to do to remain forward of the curve:
1. Learn Up
There are a variety of nice assets out there on-line that may make it easier to study in regards to the Commander meta. Some in style web sites embrace EDHREC, Commander Central, and MTG Salvation. These web sites present decklists, ideas, and articles from skilled Commander gamers.
2. Watch Movies
One other nice technique to study in regards to the Commander meta is to look at movies of individuals enjoying the sport. There are a variety of in style Commander content material creators on YouTube, Twitch, and different platforms. Watching these movies can provide you a good suggestion of what is good and what’s not within the present meta.
3. Play On-line
Among the finest methods to study in regards to the Commander meta is to play on-line. There are a variety of on-line platforms that assist you to play Commander with individuals from everywhere in the world. This can be a nice technique to check out new decks and methods, and to get suggestions from different gamers.
4. Speak to Different Gamers
Among the finest methods to study in regards to the Commander meta is to speak to different gamers. Attend native tournaments and sport nights, and strike up conversations with different Commander fans. Sharing ideas and concepts might help you all enhance your understanding of the sport.
5. Experiment
One of the simplest ways to search out out what works and what does not within the Commander meta is to experiment. Do not be afraid to check out new decks and methods. The extra you play, the extra you will study in regards to the sport and the meta.
6. Do not Be Afraid to Lose
Shedding is part of Commander. Do not get discouraged in case you lose a number of video games. Simply use every loss as a chance to study and enhance.
7. Have Enjoyable
Commander is a sport, so be sure you’re having enjoyable. Do not take it too critically, and remember to benefit from the social side of the sport.
8. Be a part of a Commander League
Many native sport shops have Commander leagues. These leagues are a good way to play Commander frequently and to fulfill different gamers in your space.
9. Keep Up-to-Date on the Banned Listing
The Commander Guidelines Committee (RC) maintains a banned listing for Commander. This listing contains playing cards which might be thought-about to be too highly effective or disruptive for the format. The banned listing is up to date periodically, so it is essential to remain up-to-date on the newest modifications.
| Banned Playing cards |
|---|
| Ancestral Recall |
| Black Lotus |
| Time Stroll |
Suggestions for Enhanced Gameplay
1. Select a Commander that Enhances Your Playstyle
The fitting commander can elevate your gameplay expertise. Contemplate your most well-liked methods, colours, and card sorts when deciding on one.
2. Construct a Cohesive Deck
Guarantee your deck synergizes along with your commander’s skills. Select playing cards that assist its technique and decrease weaknesses.
3. Leverage Card Draw and Ramp
Acquire entry to extra playing cards and mana to maintain your methods flowing. Embody playing cards that draw extra playing cards or speed up your mana manufacturing.
4. Prioritize Interplay
Management the battlefield with elimination, counterspells, or disruptive results. Shield your threats and hinder your opponents’ plans.
5. Plan for the Lengthy Sport
Commander is a marathon, not a dash. Pack late-game threats, resilience, and methods to get better from setbacks.
6. Handle Your Commander Injury
Be conscious of how typically you solid your commander. Every time you do, you enhance its “commander tax,” making it extra pricey to recast.
7. Do not Neglect Fundamental Land
Guarantee you’ve gotten a stable mana base to assist your deck’s casting prices. Embody a mixture of fundamental lands and mana-fixing results.
8. Be Diplomatic
Commander is a social format. Construct relationships, make alliances, and negotiate when attainable. Diplomacy can result in surprising outcomes.
9. Experiment with Variations
Do not be afraid to tweak your deck and check out completely different methods. Experiment with completely different commanders, colours, or card combos to maintain gameplay recent.
10. Understanding the Commander’s Tax:
| Variety of Occasions Commander Forged | Mana Price Enhance |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 6 |
| 4+ | 8 |
If you solid your commander from the command zone, it enters the battlefield with a “commander tax.” This tax will increase every time you solid it from the command zone.
How To Play Commander
Commander is a multiplayer format for Magic: The Gathering that makes use of a 100-card singleton deck and a legendary creature as your commander. The objective of the sport is to be the final participant standing by both dealing 21 fight injury to every of your opponents or by casting a spell that wins the sport outright.
To play Commander, you will have a deck of 100 playing cards, a legendary creature to be your commander, and a technique to observe your life complete. You may also use quite a lot of different playing cards, akin to creatures, spells, and artifacts, that can assist you win the sport.
The sport begins by every participant shuffling their deck and drawing seven playing cards. Gamers then take turns enjoying playing cards from their palms, casting spells, and attacking their opponents. The sport ends when one participant is defeated or when a participant casts a spell that wins the sport.
Folks Additionally Ask
What number of gamers can play Commander?
Commander may be performed with 2-6 gamers.
What’s one of the simplest ways to construct a Commander deck?
There are various alternative ways to construct a Commander deck, however an important factor is to decide on a commander that you just like and that matches your playstyle. After getting chosen a commander, you can begin constructing your deck round it by including playing cards that synergize with it.
What are among the greatest playing cards to play in Commander?
There are various nice playing cards to play in Commander, however among the hottest embrace:
- Sol Ring
- Mana Crypt
- Command Tower
- Cyclonic Rift
- Swords to Plowshares
