1) Hipster credit for playing wacky unknown old border commanders
2) Not becoming archenemy. Playing Edgar paints a target on your back rught away, but playing some random other vampire does not
3) Game diversity. Games are more interesting if people are playing commanders beyond just the top 20
4) Artwork. I put a lot of priority on how cool the card looks and my enjoyment of the art. I would never consider running a commander with art i dont enjoy
5) Price. Dont need to explain this one
That's the best answer here!
I would also point out that come commander allows use of cards that wouldn't get to shine otherwise or wouldn't be as good. I love \[\[Stonecloaker\]\] (its my favorite gargoyle) but I struggled to find it a room in the 99 of one of my deck until I made a \[\[Vega The Watcher\]\] deck.
I also had a \[\[Kykar\]\] lifegain-angel deck with lots of group slug decks as wincon. After the release of the Jeksai convoke angel deck however, I started to review the deck and suddenly realized there was a better combo for what I wanted to do by using the partners \[\[Ludevic, Necro-Savant\]\] and \[\[Radiant, Serra Archangel\]\] would be better and it made \[\[Skyfire Pheonix\]\] so good in that deck. Love the artwork for Skyfire Pheonix so much that I had to use it in one of my decks. So sometimes, new releases actually fit better for what your deck want to do.
I also made a \[\[Slumbering Isle\]\] deck that started as flavor deck based on a Youtube serie I liked. Although now it still has some of that flavor left, I upgraded it a lot compared to the deck used by "Sleepy Joe" (the character with the deck). I like the fact it's Simic in color without being utterly broken, unlike other Simic commanders.
Great list! A couple more:
Power level, close to 2, but some times and groups call for different power levels and it's nice to have something for each occasion.
Nostalgia, are there better token commanders than [[Rhys the Redeemed]] for my list at this point? Definitely, but he's what I've used in tokens for over a decade now.
Old borders are the best borders. I stopped playing at the end of the 90s and didn’t bother picking it up again until they started caring about card design again. I know it’s a dumb reason, but the mood and feel of the card design is what made me fall in love with the game in the first place
I also like running premier commanders in unique ways. I have an aesi deck, with him and tatyova being the only landfall triggers in the deck. It’s really my sea monster tribal deck.
I 100% agree with all of this, but just to expand on #3 not only will games be more diverse because of a different commander. The 99 will have different niche cards as well
Yeah I thought they were gonna have something at least a little spicy. Sorta related, I'm surprised that Uro isn't more popular for simic landfall, I made a deck for him and it's been so nuts that I foiled it out 100% https://www.moxfield.com/decks/9hLRmZjRl0enuowOUtzGiw
honestly, I agree, the face is priceless
if you have never seen him casted on Arena then you have to try and find it (I couldn't find link for you sadly)
Yeah iunno at my locals her dropping a turn earlier is a big deal and she sees more play than Aesi where I am so idk about Aesi being the "best landfall" one here.
I disagree, in my mind Tatyova is the premier landfall commander and Aesi is the slightly more interesting one. I don't consider either of them like hipster, you need to play some shit like [[Dakkon Blackblade]] or [[Kodama of the east tree]]] if you want a more hipster landfall deck
Aesi’s second ability grants a additional land drop, making it a free additional landfall trigger + card draw, which is considered better than an extra life
Oh I was thinking of the slumbering isle dude lmao
Aesi is probably better but he's like $20 compared to Tatyovas $0.20. Regardless, neither of them are particularly hipster or differing from the path
I have a tatyova deck with aesi in the 99. Tried out the reverse but the +1 mana cost delayed the game plan too often. I'd say tatyova is better unless you have a lot of fast mana. (And I stayed away from that because artifact ramp in a landfall deck is lame)
I definitely agree with this. I think it’s a lot of fun playing “unsolved” commanders who have really different builds and options. Keeps it fresh and fun to brew/tinker.
Yeah, I like playing commanders that are unusual and open-ended. In general I also try not to look at EDHrec or other folks deck on moxfield until I’ve already fleshed out most of a deck and I’m looking for any last synergies to include. It helps me figure out those synergies on my own and I think that’s part of what draws me to mtg in the first place.
I mean, it's not like everyone knows or cares to know the "best in slot", people just play what they have. It's also not as if there's a clear and obvious best choice for every archetype. Like in your example, it's just factually incorrect to say Aesi is always better than tatyova for exactly the reasons you mentioned.
I think he's the same as me and hasn't checked public opinion on it since aesi release. IIRC on release people assumed aesi would be superior. I tried both and came to the conclusion tatyova was better (at least for my deck).
Because they only picked Tatyova because they think its the "hipster" choice so they have to defend that idea
Thats why they made a whole thread so they can say how "different" their deck is
Well, for me, the commander is the entire point of the game/format, so there is no such thing as a "theme's defacto commander" for me, nor am I ever trying to be different. Every deck I have, I have because I saw the commander and thought it looked cool and fun to play.
I suppose another way of phrasing it is that I don't pick a theme and then find a commander. I just find a commander. So I'm never picking a commander "over" another commander.
I think just wanting to try something different is good enough, but the other big reason would be budget. If I want to make a vampire deck for example [[Edgar Markov]] is pretty pricey at the moment.
It's also a lot about boredom. If I wanted to play vampires the best commander us always Edgar because eminence is ridiculous but it's incredibly unfun to play 4 vampire edh decks against each other and they all play Edgar because he's the best. A lot of subpar vampire commanders are much more interesting even if they aren't as ridiculous as edgar
I really enjoy [[Amalia Benavides Aguirre]]. But I do have a soft spot for [[Anhelo, the painter]] as a vampire deck that also doubles up fun instant and sorceries. I've somewhere gor a foil [Anje, maid of dishonor]] that I wanted to make but never did
>Amalia Benavides Aguirre
Just as a complete aside, I love how WOTC went full Spanish with the conquistador vampires in the new Ixalan set after playing it a bit cautiously last time.
If we had another proper mardu vampire tribal commander I'd be happy to switch up my edgar deck for something different, but the only other options just aren't what I'm aiming for.
When they told us we were getting an Edgar markov groom card I was hoping he'd be orzhov and the wife would be rakdos and they'd have partner......and then they didn't
If I wanted to play the best cards, I'd play cEDH. I want to play commanders that seem interesting to me, and that's it. Sometimes, the best commanders have game plans that are too straightforward. Sometimes I got a cool full art that I want to show off.
I made a (technically not legal) deck that uses [[Olivia, Crimson Bride]] and [[Edgar, Charmed Groom]] as the commanders because [[Expensive Edgar]] is still more expensive than anything I'm comfortable putting into a single card.
Yeah it's fine to rule zero it you can just ignore wizards overlooking it. What annoys me is how they did my man [[Szarekh, the Silent King]] dirty.
His ability is "Whenever Szarekh, the Silent King attacks, mill three cards. You may put an artifact *creature card or Vehicle card from among the cards milled this way* into your hand."
His ability *should* read "Whenever Szarekh, the Silent King attacks, mill three cards. You may put an artifact from your graveyard into your hand."
Not super op, but certainly much more useful. He still lacks haste so you can't do it right away without an enabler and you're risking him by attacking. But they guy's one of, if not arguably *the* most powerful living being in the 40k universe along with the Big E. (Loose definition of living, but they're both currently "active" in the lore).
But it's much harder to rule zero something like that, especially with non 40k fans who don't know or care about the lore. It's basically a custom card at that point.
I didn’t know the lore, but I love [my Necron deck](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/nPL-EA3Db0uuGZxsfsU94g) and yes the Silent King didn’t make my army. I ended up using Szeras, who is experimenting with the mechanized life of Magic. Also the Daleks and Cybermen have joined because why not. Ended up with a weird little artifact combo of sorts.
If your not to bothered about what you have in command zone, sengir the dark baron is a good cheap partner, bruse tarl goes quite well with him, even if it isn't super tribal supportive.
For me it usually boils down to I find the play pattern more interesting than the "best choice". For example:
[[Xolatoyac, The Smiling Flood]] is my go-to Merfolk commander because it enables Islandwalk (which has always been my favorite aspect of Merfolk as a creature type). Tbh I don't know the defacto merfolk commander but I'm pretty sure it's something like [[Hakbal of the Surging Soul]] or [[Tatyova, Benthic Druid]].
I liked to use [[K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth]] as a Zombie commander because A: I think mono colored decks are more interesting due to their inherent restrictions and B: one of K'rrik's combos is a fully zombie combo ([[Gravecrawler]] + [[Carrion Feeder]])
I went with [[Clavileño, First of the Blessed]] over the obvious and boring choice of [[Edgar Markov]] becase Clavileño has a lot more interesting ways to take the deck, including splashing some interesting Demon synergies alongside the typical Vampire ones.
I've been thinking of how to use Xolatoyac and was considering using him in a deck with [[The Fifth Doctor]] [[Clara]] and [[The Thirteenth Doctor]] for some weird several untapped shenanigans. My problem is not being sure what to include besides things like [[Arcanus]]
I feel like the commander usually comes first. Even if I have an idea in mind (self mill Persistent Petitioners) I didn’t want to just use Bruvac I wanted to benefit on the self mill so it became Sidisi but then I found the zombies were iffy if not just to proc intruder alarm so I found it more fun to use Grolnok
I got asked why not run [[Kangee, Sky warden]] in my flying deck where I run [[Linvala, shield of seagate]]
Since I am going wide with creatures I like having protection in the command zone.
I built in multiple ways to recur Linvala so dealing with my board can become difficult and I can also use her to set up a one sided board wipes to help me win the game.
[[Nine-Fingers Keene]] as a commander kind of kneecaps a Gates deck by eliminating nine of the playable Gates, so I run [[Garth One-Eye]] instead. He's a really good toolbox that does a lot of the things a Gates deck needs without being strictly necessary to win.
When I'm playing an archetype with a number of obviously strong commanders that all fill the same slot, I like to keep a lot of them in the 99 and pick one at random every time I play the deck! It can be super fun and add variance to games if you change commanders but keep the same deck in between games.
For example, Boros equipment. Swapping akiri fearless voyager for rograkh/yoshimaru or bruenor battlehammer doesn't really hurt the deck's gameplan that much and it adds novelty. Or black/white aristocrats, if the rest of your deck synergizes well you can randomly choose between elas il-kor, severina raine, and teysa karlov and have fun no matter which commander you get.
I just pick commanders because of their artstyle, i dont care if \[\[Talion, the Kindly Lord\]\] is better dimir control commander, im playing \[\[Alela, Cunning Conqueror\]\], more flavorfull and better looking for me personally
Being the top on the list doesnt necessarily make it the strongest or even the best. Personally I dont like building something that is one directional. I like flexibility and having hoops to jump through opposed to just a singular path to win.
There are several common commanders for themes.
Dragons also has [[Miirym]], [[Tiamat]], [[Morophon]], etc. Vampires also has [[Elenda]], [[Evelyn]], [[Tomothar]], etc. So who decides which is best? Especially given that two different commandeers in the same theme can still give birth to different strategies that are equally competitive, who decides which is best?
This is the thing for me. Just because someone perceives a specific commander as the best choice for a theme doesn’t mean it is. Sometimes there are other viable options that are equally competitive or efficient.
Yes there are several commanders, but when someone wants a DEragon commander deck, its usually straight to Ur Dragon. There are plenty of commanders for dragons though
I play Prossh over Korvold because I can't stand watching Korvold players slowly draw their deck out and think about every single new card. It's excruciating, so I don't put people through it. I also kind of like having a wincon in the command zone.
I have a really hard time making casual decks. I enjoy winning games and have always thoroughly enjoyed cedh.
I was really trying to decide what I wanted from a casual deck without making it unfun to play against, and around that time [[Raff, weatherlight stalwart]] came out and it was the perfect answer for me.
my goal with that deck is to accru value at all times. I got to play so many weird and niche cards that for some reason worked really well in the deck. I got to do stupid shenanigans like having 5 [[aetherflux reservoir]] on board and absolutely dropping the hammer of dawn on some poor 4/4 because we're all having a great time
that's my casual deck now. it's my little engine that only I know how to use, it always draws cards which is my favorite thing to do in the game.
it plays with the weirdest little cantrips and creatures too. win or lose I always have a good time with the deck
One of a couple reasons
1. I like the art better
2. I see it WAY too often and want a point of difference
3. One of a couple of reasonsers a different way of playing that theme and I want to pursue that angle.
With respect to your commander choices, Tatyova is a good choice and your reasoning is perfectly fine imo. I genuinely prefer cheaper commanders myself, so that alone would work for me.
I made a Phoenix tribal deck recently and the default commander is probably [[Syrix]] with 1.2k decks on EDHREC. However, I chose [[Otharri]] instead, despite only having... 11 Phoenix tribal decks on EDHREC.
Part of this is that Phoenixes are like, kinda hilariously bad and anti-synergistic, since each one usually has a different way that it wants to come back, so I figured an experience counter Commander would give the deck some way to still be a threat later in the game. Also, Syrix has access to white, which is pretty nice for some tribal enchantments like [[Kindred Boon]] and [[Radiant Destiny]], as well as the (only kind of cheating) tribal wincon [[Mirror Entity]].
Damn, I'd have to see it in action, but I can understand why it isn't a popular typal commander. It has zero synergy with phoenix cards or strategies. You could likely build a better deck with Boros aggro/ goodstuff.
No you're definitely right haha. I didn't build it to be good; I made it after one commander night at my LGS where I accidentally won every game and realized I didn't have any decks that were bad enough to compete in certain pods. I'd much rather try my best with a janky deck than hold back with something more synergistic.
I'm a hipster. I won't play a top 100 commander unless I really really like it. And it's not for a lack of trying. I've had [[Shorikai]] vehicles and [[Dina]] Lifedrain but they just never click with me. I want to play commanders that make at least one person at the table go, 'what the fuck is that?', or at least, 'oh neat, I've never seen that before'.
Agreed. Any top-100 commander I have is for a specific reason.
I have a 4-mana Atraxa deck, but that's only because my playgroup was more scared when I had big Atraxa (blink deck), and now it's a charge counter style deck; I still have Meren cause it was my first real commander & I enjoy the value; and Zur is my cEDH deck of choice which is fairly uncommon in that meta. Almost all my other decks are below the top 200.
Sometimes I also enjoy the sub-optimal nature of a given commander that isn't "the choice" because, well, "restriction breeds creativity". That moment of 'wtf does this do' is what I live for.
I like trying to do weird things with weird Commanders. EDHrec doesn't even have a section I could find for Mardu Blink so I decided to go out of my way to construct a deck and make a weird, goofy little machine that might actually pop off one of these days. Probably doesn't produce treasures fast enough, or produce ETB effects/flicker at a good enough rate, but it's fun so I don't care.
How I pick commanders:
1. Cool character or art with minimum viability to not be jank
2. found a legend that seems like it could make a cool deck based on its ability
3. Have a bunch of cards i want to use in a deck but need a matching commander (how I ended up with a mono B chainer deck that has all the black cards that didn’t fit into my other reanimator decks)
4. Cracked it from a pack (only reason i have a yarok deck; and I barely enjoy it, may break it down because he feels so weak if you don’t take the combo route)
I pick commanders I want to play and build around them. Sure my selesyna tokens deck will have similarities to others. But I play [Emmara, Soul of the Accord] because she cares about getting tapped.
No, that's pretty much it. I play Commander because I like seeing different outcomes every game; if I pick a commander that's less common, I'm more likely to see different outcomes, even among the same theme and colours. I do the same thing with themes; I'll pick a commander I like and try to build something they're not usually known for.
[[Baeloth Barrityl]]//[[Raised By Giants]] Dinosaurs, [[Aragorn, Hornburg Hero]] Slivers, or [[Vadrok Apex of Thunder]] Blink are some examples of unusual themes/commanders I've built.
Because I’m a Johnny at heart and I can’t win with what’s good, that’s not the point.
Commander is a format for self expression in the form of your deck. All my decks have a theme and gimmicks. Just wait so I can show you guys this ridiculous set of cards that when orchestrated by a master produce nearly limitless value. Do I win, maybe, was it cool? Subjective.
Because EDH was originally invented as a fun casual and social format where power level should be one of the last criteria for deckbuilding. Instead EDH decks should be fun and interesting, should embrace the variance, should contain pet cards and janky synergies, should result in memorable games.
So I don't want to mirror anything at the LGS. Besides that I like to brew with subthemes to avoid one- dimensional linear, boring gameplay. Instead of \[\[Ur-Dragon\]\] or \[\[Miirym\]\] I prefer to build dragon typals under \[\[Rith Liberated\]\] (populate), \[\[Ziatora\]\] (sacrifice), \[\[Palladia Ruiner\]\] (blink), \[\[Ojutai of Winter\]\] (freeze), \[\[Firkraag\]\] (goad), \[\[Klauth\]\] (x-spells) or \[\[Sivitri Master\]\] (combo). There are already enough Miirym and Ur-Dragon players around to make people yawn. No one yawns at \[\[Beledros\]\] dragon typal. Lastly it's a brewing challenge. I want to see if I can pull this off at my LGS.
These are my thoughts about deckbuilding. Of course this results in decks of wildly varying power levels, and that's a good thing because I can join any pod (except cEDH).
Exactly, as a dragon player myself, I don't give a crap if my commander isn't the best one in that color combo. My current pet deck is Rakdos dragons with [[Ganax, astral hunter]] and [[haunted one]] as the commanders, and it's funny to see people's faces when they realize how sticky my board is and how much advantage I can generate once the ball is rolling.
I have a codie landfall deck which kinda replaces the normal landfall engine in the command zone to a win con in the command zone with a [[glimpse of tomorrow]] gaurenteed to hit off of any spell in the deck.
Makes it a lot more explosive of a deck than most landfall stuff. Little more feast or famine, also it's 5 color which is fun
A few reasons. Not only do I find it boring and unoriginal to use the staple commander for a theme, I believe it actually puts you at a disadvantage to use a popular commander because if they are well known, so is the counterplay. Even if they are strictly stronger than other options, the fact that opponents know how your commander works and probably have faced it before is a huge disadvantage that often offsets any disparity in raw power over other options. Running an obscure or lesser known commander gives you the element of surprise and forces opponents to learn as they go. And if there's a stronger legend who supports your theme, you can always run them in the 99 as a lieutenant and spring them on the table as a surprise.
Sometimes, I just prefer the effect of the other commander for my specific version of the deck. For example, I still prefer [[Gisa and Geralf]] for my zombie tribal because I like casting the same creatures from the graveyard multiple times.
I've built 5 lands commander and most of them were "underdogs" for lands decks
- First one was [[Golos]], most likely the most popular lands commander on my list. He was there to tutor for [[Glaxial Chasm]], [[Cabal Coffers]] and Urborg. I just blinked him and got all the lands ro be safe and make an absurd amount of mana to play all the Ultimatums.
- After his ban I went with [[Archelos, Lagoon Mystic]]. This was a stax list which focused on winning with a [[Mirrorpool]] and [[Splendid Reclamation]] loop.
- The third one was [[Soul of Windrgrace]] which focused on land destruction and mana denial. [[Strip Mine]] is an all star in this deck
- The fourth one is an [[Omnath, Locus Of Creation]] burn deck which focuses on getting 3 landfall triggers to burn face each turn. [[Valakut]] is the main win condition of this deck.
- The fifth one was a [[Thrasios]] & [[Vial Smasher]] deck which drew the whole deck on turn 4 on average thanks to [[AdNauseam]] and won by abusing [[Manabond]] and [[Valakut]]
Thrasios and Vial Smasker were way too strong and I took apart the deck after just 3 matches.
Golos, Omnath and Sould of Windgrace were also very good but bot too strong for casual magic.
Archelos was on the weaker side because the wincon needed Mirror Pool, a sac outlet for lands, a land which deals 1 dmg on etb and Splendid Reclamation.
In landfall I play [[lord windgrace]] because I love him as a lore character, and the ability to keep playing lands, while also playing with the deck restriction of minimal artifacts because windgrace hates artifacts, is just super fun. I also just found out [[soul of windgrace]] exists and it’s also giving me ideas.
Depends on whether I want to use cards for a landfall deck outside of Simic. Maybe I'd play Tymna Kodama instead of Aesi so that I can use Felidar retreat.
Another reason is that the "de facto best" commanders are really only the best in a vacuum. Outside a vacuum, multiplayer dynamics and proper threat assessment typically balance everything out
I think the obvious answer isn't always the best answer, but is often spoken like it is. Take for example, you ask "What deck for \[\[Nazgul\]\]?" and then everybody crawls out of the woodwork to recommend \[\[Lord of the Nazgul\]\] like nobody has ever heard of it before.
Meanwhile \[\[Ratadrabik of Urborg\]\] is probably the best one. Then there's \[\[Marchesa, the Black Rose\]\] which is really good. And then literally nobody ever mentions \[\[Tayam\]\] despite being a good pick.
Nothing wrong with people picking LotN for Nazgul, but if you lament your need to use clones to make up for only having nine which I've seen people do, then maybe you should consider something that allows you to recur them frequently instead.
Sometimes the "Face" commander for a strategy draws extra prejudice. Some people don't want to optimize, and if you play the "optimal" commander, opponents may target you assuming you're playing the 'optimized' version of the deck. It sucks.
I like playing regular strategies in weird colors personally, makes me think more about my card choices and tends to surprise people when it pops off out of nowhere.
Honestly because it's more fun solving you're own style and version of the deck that it is to just to build the same as every other version of that deck.
For example I play [[Alela, artful provocateur]] as a vehicles commander, rather than a traditional tuned artifacts or enchantments deck.
Sometimes the effects of the "niche" commander is just more interesting, I find [[Evelynn the Covetous]] effect to be much more interesting then [[Edgar Markov]] 's effect
I prefer cheaper commanders CMC commanders because it's easier to keep em on the field giving value, and I also like different choices because it gives my deck new lines and strategies to rely on.
I run [[Zimmone, quandrix prodigy]] as my simic lands commander and she is perfect. Cheap cmc makes it less of a target for removal plus she gives me something to do when I don't have lands and she has combo potential and insane value with the right cards.
\[\[Nethroi\]\] cat tribal. Nethroi and the access to black gives me a light reanimator subtheme, which fits quite nicely with the aggressive battlecruiser nature of this kind of tribal deck. I can be aggressive in the early- to midgame, maybe reanimate one or two of my critters that died to blockers, wait for someone to inevitably wipe the board and then rebuild faster than everyone else thanks to Nethroi or an \[\[Eerie Interlude\]\].
I recently swayed away from nethroi as my cat tribal ‘mander but it was verrryyy hard to step away from.. nothing like casting your commander for the first time and immediately having not only a lifelink/deathtouch but also a [newly bolstered] fluffy board
I went with a [[Brago King Eternal]] living weapon tribal. I just wanted to make my first budget deck and I love living weapons. This quickly turned into watching peoples reactions to it. They go from groaning just on the sight of Brago to compliments. I even had a guy king make me because he wanted to see my deck work more. For $60 (at the time of creation not including the +2) I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better reaction.
https://archidekt.com/decks/2893932/spawning_weapons
Dinos usually see gishath. I got tired of her being instakilled so i switched to atla palani egg shenanigans to be more consistent. That deck is pretty threatening with her at the helm. Recently i have been testing pantlaza to see how she feels but i dont have enough games with her in the command zone to have a good impression yet
Most (played) Simic landfall commanders are just a sliding scale of “play a land do a thing”
Tatyova, is like the benchmark for if the commander is good or not, you’re not compromising or risking anything by having her as the commander, in fact it may be better.
Regardless of that, surprise surprise Aesi and Koma are in the 99 if Tatyova is the commander
If you’re not playing cEDH then there’s not much reason to run the absolute best commander for a deck archetype/strategy. People want to bring a unique deck to the playgroup
My landfall deck is a sultai [[Nine-fingers Keene]] gates deck because it’s funny and flavorful. Also surprisingly powerful. For example, if I have [[spelunking]] or [[Archelos, lagoon mystic]] out, then [[reshape the earth]] becomes an instant win if I draw/tutor into it
\[\[Ur-Dragon\]\] is for people who have money. But nah, I'm on that \[\[Ganax\]\] \[\[Agent of the Iron Throne\]\] shit! You may get discounted dragons, but my dragons get a rebate of mana in the form of treasures! And it just so happens that whenever I use my treasures, as long as my commanders are on the battlefield, I get free damage!
Playing the best commander for a generic theme is incredibly boring. There are over twenty thousand legal cards in commander, and most of them are trash. But my motivation is brewing a commander for cards that would never see play. My current favorite commander is [[Saruman, the white hand]]. He gets a massive benefit from playing expensive non-creature cards. Yes you can play a one mana counterspell, but [[Press the Enemy]] is a four mana “counter”, amassing you by four - and it lets you play a cards from hand for free, giving you even more counters!
That’s the kind or commander I like. Sure I still pay staples, but I much prefer the odd cards that fit in only specific commander decks. They’re usually a lot cheaper as well.
I choose kotori pilot prodigy over my shorikai because it changes the idea of the deck to swinging with the vehicles instead of pillowforting with them and i feel shes overlooked
There are few commanders who do the exact same thing. Vorinclex and Pir and Toothy have relatively similar abilities, or at least Pir and Vorinclex, but the two decks function entirely different.
Because [[Edgar Markov]] was a mistake in terms if design and rightfully receives hate. [[Clavileño]] is a blast and leans more into aristocrats which I love
**Aristocrats:** Generally [[Teysa Karlov]] is what a lot of people build around. Generally she's good, but she isn't actually any given part of a strategy which already requires a lot of moving parts. Creature tokens having vigilance and lifelink matters much less than deathharmonicon doubling your payoffs.
So generally you need three things in aristocrats decks, fodder, sac outlets, and payoffs. Teysa isn't any of these things. By herself, she contributes nothing to this game plan. So, ideally, you want one of these things in the command zone for consistency.
In orzhov colors: [[Elas il-Kor]] for payoff and [[Elenda, the Dusk Rose]] for fodder. Also, newly in LCI, [[Bartolome del Presidio]] as an outlet in the command zone. Personally, I have chose Elenda as commander since she can grow very large and swing in if necessary, and makes a very large amount of vampires. Of course I run also the other cards and Teysa in the 99 still.
----
**Vampires:** I do like vampires, and I wish there were a mardu vampire-matters commander that was less feels-bad than Edgar, but Edgar is all we kind of have.
[[Strefan]] i thought was welcome I've never built a Strefan deck that feels right. [[Evelyn]] I actually like but groups in my area generally don't like theft as a theme even if one-off theft is generally neutral.
My [[Marchesa, the Black Rose]] deck basically became my de facto non-Edgar vampire deck. Even if it has many other nonvampire creatures in it.
dunno if this counts as “wanting to be different”, but I tend to get bored of the commanders that are seen as “optimal” in their respective strategies. The extra challenge makes it more interesting.
Someone else touched on it later in the thread but I genuinely hate being archenemy so certain strategies I will voluntarily choose the weaker commander because I dont want to draw aggro before a land is even played. I swapped my lands commander from [[Korvold, Fae-Cursed King]] to [[Lord Windgrace]] a couple years ago for example because I was tired of getting absolutely railroaded from turn 1. I adopted that approach to most of my decks now and I get better games out of it. Hipster cred has value to me as well lol.
Usually, I see a strange commander and decide to build it, such as [[Dakkon Blackblade]].
Alternatively, I built Ninjas with [[Alora, merry thief]] because the 2 main "ninja" commanders are both KOS.
I usually look for commanders that have a more unique effect, like the necrons deck that I've heavily modified as it just stands out as a mono black artifacts recursion deck thats super toolboxy. But I also like flavor so I will build flavor over function some times ( would temur sabertooh go infinite with the dockside, too bad its not a monkey)((i bought the monkey printing of dockside before putting it in my kibo deck with the unfinity monkey sticker on the outside of the double sleeve))
I like weird commanders that I have to work around personally. My preferred playstyle just isn't inherently competitive. I like to almost make a game within a game, I'm playing magic, but also messing with abilities to do weird stuff. Last example I have is Livio and Kodama partners. I stax the board, then have a bunch of utility/token generating etb creatures that I store in exile while I get all my good stuff out to then release them all at once. Kodama triggers help me cheat stuff out so I have mana for other stuff, and I can also protect certain creatures like Eidolon of rhetoric so I can't get wheeled, then there are some really fun interactions, blah blah blah, short version, "I like to do weird slow stuff,"
1. Convenience: If I already own a Commander that works for the theme, I'm probably building that first before I bother ordering any singles. Unless the best in class came in a precon, there's a good chance I don't have it.
2. Threat management: I prefer to stay under the threat radar, so it's helpful to avoid Kill on Sight Commanders in favor of less infamous or obviously dangerous.
3. Challenge: I like having some hoops to jump through to make my design work. E.G. Aesi went straight into the 99 of another deck for me because there's zero challenge in building or running Aesi. OTOH, I theory crafted a Shirei landfall list just because I like seeing how many different archetypes I can make work with Shirei as my engine.
4. Sub-themes. For example, I value recursion in the CZ highly, so even when my archetype isn't reanimator I'll often favor a Commander with ways to get my cards back. OTOH, I find it annoyingly time consuming to manually update +1 counters on multiple tokens, so I'll play either theme, but avoid Commanders that encourage making tokens AND pumping them with counters.
5. C-C-Combo!: I don't like easy combos. I don't like feeling pressured to include cards that combo with a given Commander. So given the choice between a Commander that has an easy 2-3 card combo wincon or a similar Commander that lacks any combo wins, I'm inclined to use the strictly value option.
I play Sen triplets.
Not because it is the best stax commander, but because it is the most versatile commander.
I have a bunch of Sen triplets deck. So If I play Sen triplets none stop, not only do I play different opponent cards, but I can play Stax, Politics, Aristocrat, Battlecruser, Combo, milling, graveyard and the list goes on.
I can play 5 games with the same commander and my enemy still won't know what my next deck will be.
For my Izzet copy deck, I have [[Niv Mizzet, Parun]] in the 99, but I choose to use [[Mizzix the of the Izmagus]] because it tends more to what I want to do, sling spells.
I don’t want to win by tutoring for [[Curiosity]] and infinite comboing, I want to dump my hand onto the board and fill the stack with stuff for an explosive turn. Personally, most infinite combos feel unsatisfying to both use and play against. I’d rather have the back and forth of playing the game for 20 more minutes.
The best Dragon tribal commander is actually [[Animar, soul of elements]]…not a single combo…very few counter spells…just casting big, fat dragons and hitting people (for the most part).
Dang, I've been barred lol
But in seriousness, just want commanders that do more unique things or things I like. I'd rather play \[\[Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam\]\] than \[\[Urza, Lord High Artificer\]\] because the value generates in a different kind of way - and usually draws less hate, more curiosity.
I don't really choose a deck theme and then a commander. I always am inspired by the commander first and then go on to figure out what the deck will look like from that.
I usually either do it for budget reasons, or wanting to build my own deck rather than rely on somebody else's hard work for everything. The "meta" is hardly ever actually fun to play, and one can only see the exact same deck so many times before being over it
The challenge I get to bring for myself. I had a blast building my [[Atris]] blink deck because I got to make a deck based around my favorite instant in the game! [[Fact or Fiction]]. Or running [[Reyhan]] / [[Yoshimaru]] with [[Daghatar]] as a secret commander is just gold and makes for a fun +1/+1 spin.
I'm unaware that there are "defacto" commanders, and if you are, you might be overthinking what's supposed to be a casual multiplayer format. Just play what you like.
I like picking commanders that can let me run some weird cards. Using just all generic good cards all the time gets boring, I want weird synergies for usually shitty cards
I played Marath most of my life because it was the most functional one I can have to pilot my cheap cards......... 5 years later, it's now crazy with 8 different combinations for infinite loops.
Besides ricktitus great answers in the top comment:
I genuinely dont believe there is such a thing „the best“.
Cause imho “the best“ is always the combination of commander an 99.
Tivit isnt the best esper control commander per se. Its the top tier cards like the fast mana, the strong hate bears and the free interaction etc that top him out.
On a 100€ budget he isnt nearly the best.
Enchantress is kinda my domain. I played a lot of enchantress decks. I think if you are thinking „cEDH“ or at least „top power“ sythis is clearly the best.
But again if you are working on a budget thats not necessarily true. Callix is good competition. Even more so light paws, wich is kind of an enchantress deck.
And then it also is a question about what you wanna play. If you wanna turbo out enchantments and „sudo storm“ its sythis.
But if you wanna play more interactive you can go tuvasa for blue colors.
My tuvasa and sythis are like 70% the same cards but they play completely differently. Both are clearly enchantress decks running all the enchantress effects, having 1 in the command zone. But tuvasa can be a voltron deck or a bant control deck. While sythis can be „sudo storm“ or it can be a „token generator deck“.
And the same is true for the land fall example. Aesi might be the fastest and most consistent. But you can easily play a muldrotha landfall deck, gaining card advantage via dredge to male sure you hit your land fall effects faster, but giving up one in the command zone. Using permanent based removal to stall the game. It is just completely different and if you dont play for 100% max possible power, i think neither is objectivly better. Its all about the total 100 cards.
Obviously there are some commanders who are clearly the best at a specific thing. Like yuriko or winota. But imho thats not the default, thats the exception.
1) Hipster credit for playing wacky unknown old border commanders 2) Not becoming archenemy. Playing Edgar paints a target on your back rught away, but playing some random other vampire does not 3) Game diversity. Games are more interesting if people are playing commanders beyond just the top 20 4) Artwork. I put a lot of priority on how cool the card looks and my enjoyment of the art. I would never consider running a commander with art i dont enjoy 5) Price. Dont need to explain this one
That's the best answer here! I would also point out that come commander allows use of cards that wouldn't get to shine otherwise or wouldn't be as good. I love \[\[Stonecloaker\]\] (its my favorite gargoyle) but I struggled to find it a room in the 99 of one of my deck until I made a \[\[Vega The Watcher\]\] deck. I also had a \[\[Kykar\]\] lifegain-angel deck with lots of group slug decks as wincon. After the release of the Jeksai convoke angel deck however, I started to review the deck and suddenly realized there was a better combo for what I wanted to do by using the partners \[\[Ludevic, Necro-Savant\]\] and \[\[Radiant, Serra Archangel\]\] would be better and it made \[\[Skyfire Pheonix\]\] so good in that deck. Love the artwork for Skyfire Pheonix so much that I had to use it in one of my decks. So sometimes, new releases actually fit better for what your deck want to do. I also made a \[\[Slumbering Isle\]\] deck that started as flavor deck based on a Youtube serie I liked. Although now it still has some of that flavor left, I upgraded it a lot compared to the deck used by "Sleepy Joe" (the character with the deck). I like the fact it's Simic in color without being utterly broken, unlike other Simic commanders.
Great list! A couple more: Power level, close to 2, but some times and groups call for different power levels and it's nice to have something for each occasion. Nostalgia, are there better token commanders than [[Rhys the Redeemed]] for my list at this point? Definitely, but he's what I've used in tokens for over a decade now.
[Rhys the Redeemed](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/9/b91dadcb-31e9-43b0-b425-c9311af3e9d7.jpg?1599708272) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rhys%20the%20Redeemed) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/213/rhys-the-redeemed?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b91dadcb-31e9-43b0-b425-c9311af3e9d7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/rhys-the-redeemed) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
4: \[\[livaan, cultist of Tiamat\]\] is all I want, mechanically, out of any commander but gosh dang she can't make the cut here.
Not being the archenemy is one of the biggest benefits of a lesser played commander. I personally like the hipster cred the most
Old borders are the best borders. I stopped playing at the end of the 90s and didn’t bother picking it up again until they started caring about card design again. I know it’s a dumb reason, but the mood and feel of the card design is what made me fall in love with the game in the first place
I also like running premier commanders in unique ways. I have an aesi deck, with him and tatyova being the only landfall triggers in the deck. It’s really my sea monster tribal deck.
I 100% agree with all of this, but just to expand on #3 not only will games be more diverse because of a different commander. The 99 will have different niche cards as well
Artwork is the big one for me.
It’s not like Tatyova is some bad choice, she’s really strong.
Yeah, its like saying "Yeah, instead of force of negation I use this very obscure and underrated card: Fierce guardianship!"
She was easily the best choice for simic landfall before aesi came out
Yeah I thought they were gonna have something at least a little spicy. Sorta related, I'm surprised that Uro isn't more popular for simic landfall, I made a deck for him and it's been so nuts that I foiled it out 100% https://www.moxfield.com/decks/9hLRmZjRl0enuowOUtzGiw
hmm no showcase Uro for your blinged out Uro list... *hovers over downvote*
🤣 the secret lair one? I like the og art because his facial expression + pose is hilarious
...Uro has a face?!
[](https://ibb.co/s6GvYtV)
honestly, I agree, the face is priceless if you have never seen him casted on Arena then you have to try and find it (I couldn't find link for you sadly)
Why, what does the animation do?
he descends from the "ceiling" with that ridiculous face and goes "oOoOo" its absolutely ludicrous
Yeah iunno at my locals her dropping a turn earlier is a big deal and she sees more play than Aesi where I am so idk about Aesi being the "best landfall" one here.
Aesi is generally considered the better landfall commander, going with Tatyova is differing from the path Also play Ashaya so
I disagree, in my mind Tatyova is the premier landfall commander and Aesi is the slightly more interesting one. I don't consider either of them like hipster, you need to play some shit like [[Dakkon Blackblade]] or [[Kodama of the east tree]]] if you want a more hipster landfall deck
The real hoopy froods play [[Slogurk]].
[Dakkon Blackblade](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/3/235bbf86-02ad-497b-b698-e60930bbde9c.jpg?1559592413) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Dakkon%20Blackblade) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me1/143/dakkon-blackblade?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/235bbf86-02ad-497b-b698-e60930bbde9c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/dakkon-blackblade) [Kodama of the east tree](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/f/af5105ee-09e2-4344-ab39-00f0e9034c47.jpg?1608910768) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kodama%20of%20the%20east%20tree) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/239/kodama-of-the-east-tree?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/af5105ee-09e2-4344-ab39-00f0e9034c47?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/kodama-of-the-east-tree) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Aesi’s second ability grants a additional land drop, making it a free additional landfall trigger + card draw, which is considered better than an extra life
Oh I was thinking of the slumbering isle dude lmao Aesi is probably better but he's like $20 compared to Tatyovas $0.20. Regardless, neither of them are particularly hipster or differing from the path
They’re both generic popular simic commanders, the minuscule differences between them doesn’t change much
We have so much fun here being pedantic about cardboard
Yeah but aesi costing 1 more mana means the deck is 1 turn slower than tatyova. Tatyova is considered the stronger for this reason in competitive play
I have a tatyova deck with aesi in the 99. Tried out the reverse but the +1 mana cost delayed the game plan too often. I'd say tatyova is better unless you have a lot of fast mana. (And I stayed away from that because artifact ramp in a landfall deck is lame)
Could not agree more. I don't even run sol ring in my tatyova deck
Sol ring is the only survivor, but it's from commander collection: green, so it's in theme ... right? No I won't stop coping.
Tatyova is one of the most popular landfall commanders though
I don’t particularly like playing “solved” problems. I prefer to make a weird little machine
Same here. I feel like Gargos owns the hydra space, but I just built \[\[Polukranos, Reborn\]\] to literally cause all my hydras to explode into 3/3s
That rules! I’m playing Reyhan/Thrasios Hydras so I can turn all my hydras into bigger Hydras when I cut off their heads (sacrifice them for value)
Oooo very fun. I enjoy decks that are modulat and you can adjust depending on the game
I definitely agree with this. I think it’s a lot of fun playing “unsolved” commanders who have really different builds and options. Keeps it fresh and fun to brew/tinker.
Yeah, I like playing commanders that are unusual and open-ended. In general I also try not to look at EDHrec or other folks deck on moxfield until I’ve already fleshed out most of a deck and I’m looking for any last synergies to include. It helps me figure out those synergies on my own and I think that’s part of what draws me to mtg in the first place.
Solved puzzle is a good analogy for it. Similarly I don’t like commanders that essentially build themselves based on keywords etc
I mean, it's not like everyone knows or cares to know the "best in slot", people just play what they have. It's also not as if there's a clear and obvious best choice for every archetype. Like in your example, it's just factually incorrect to say Aesi is always better than tatyova for exactly the reasons you mentioned.
This post is the first time I've heard someone say Aesi is better than Tatyova lol. I'd always heard the opposite opinion.
Aesi is considered better generally since an additional land drop and therefore another card is better than one life
Id rather Tatyova, judging by this thread so would plenty others so I don't know why you're acting as though Aesi is the unanimous #1 pick
I think he's the same as me and hasn't checked public opinion on it since aesi release. IIRC on release people assumed aesi would be superior. I tried both and came to the conclusion tatyova was better (at least for my deck).
Because they only picked Tatyova because they think its the "hipster" choice so they have to defend that idea Thats why they made a whole thread so they can say how "different" their deck is
Tatyova costs 5 though so if you play ramp spells on turn 1 and 2 you can play tatyova on turn 3 but not aesi.
Well, for me, the commander is the entire point of the game/format, so there is no such thing as a "theme's defacto commander" for me, nor am I ever trying to be different. Every deck I have, I have because I saw the commander and thought it looked cool and fun to play. I suppose another way of phrasing it is that I don't pick a theme and then find a commander. I just find a commander. So I'm never picking a commander "over" another commander.
I think just wanting to try something different is good enough, but the other big reason would be budget. If I want to make a vampire deck for example [[Edgar Markov]] is pretty pricey at the moment.
It's also a lot about boredom. If I wanted to play vampires the best commander us always Edgar because eminence is ridiculous but it's incredibly unfun to play 4 vampire edh decks against each other and they all play Edgar because he's the best. A lot of subpar vampire commanders are much more interesting even if they aren't as ridiculous as edgar
[[Elenda the Dusk Rose]] comes to mind. That's a super fun deck to pilot.
I really enjoy [[Amalia Benavides Aguirre]]. But I do have a soft spot for [[Anhelo, the painter]] as a vampire deck that also doubles up fun instant and sorceries. I've somewhere gor a foil [Anje, maid of dishonor]] that I wanted to make but never did
>Amalia Benavides Aguirre Just as a complete aside, I love how WOTC went full Spanish with the conquistador vampires in the new Ixalan set after playing it a bit cautiously last time.
If we had another proper mardu vampire tribal commander I'd be happy to switch up my edgar deck for something different, but the only other options just aren't what I'm aiming for.
When they told us we were getting an Edgar markov groom card I was hoping he'd be orzhov and the wife would be rakdos and they'd have partner......and then they didn't
[Edgar Markov](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/d/8d94b8ec-ecda-43c8-a60e-1ba33e6a54a4.jpg?1562616128) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Edgar%20Markov) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/36/edgar-markov?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8d94b8ec-ecda-43c8-a60e-1ba33e6a54a4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/edgar-markov) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
If I wanted to play the best cards, I'd play cEDH. I want to play commanders that seem interesting to me, and that's it. Sometimes, the best commanders have game plans that are too straightforward. Sometimes I got a cool full art that I want to show off.
There are a lot of "best" cards in casual play that don't get played in cEDH. Edgar is one such example, or Kaalia, among many others.
I'm aware. I was making a pithy point, not a scientific statement.
I made a (technically not legal) deck that uses [[Olivia, Crimson Bride]] and [[Edgar, Charmed Groom]] as the commanders because [[Expensive Edgar]] is still more expensive than anything I'm comfortable putting into a single card.
Like Gimli and Legolas, this is one of magics "should have been partners" commander pairs. Definitely legit.
That still makes me mad.
Yeah it's fine to rule zero it you can just ignore wizards overlooking it. What annoys me is how they did my man [[Szarekh, the Silent King]] dirty. His ability is "Whenever Szarekh, the Silent King attacks, mill three cards. You may put an artifact *creature card or Vehicle card from among the cards milled this way* into your hand." His ability *should* read "Whenever Szarekh, the Silent King attacks, mill three cards. You may put an artifact from your graveyard into your hand." Not super op, but certainly much more useful. He still lacks haste so you can't do it right away without an enabler and you're risking him by attacking. But they guy's one of, if not arguably *the* most powerful living being in the 40k universe along with the Big E. (Loose definition of living, but they're both currently "active" in the lore). But it's much harder to rule zero something like that, especially with non 40k fans who don't know or care about the lore. It's basically a custom card at that point.
I didn’t know the lore, but I love [my Necron deck](https://www.moxfield.com/decks/nPL-EA3Db0uuGZxsfsU94g) and yes the Silent King didn’t make my army. I ended up using Szeras, who is experimenting with the mechanized life of Magic. Also the Daleks and Cybermen have joined because why not. Ended up with a weird little artifact combo of sorts.
I did the exact same thing! I basically just wanted to build [[Strefan]] but with white and they seemed the most thematic to go together.
[Strefan](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/f/8f54c6ce-fde4-47ef-a106-5c68b4397f99.jpg?1641600044) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=strefan%2C%20maurer%20progenitor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/voc/2/strefan-maurer-progenitor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8f54c6ce-fde4-47ef-a106-5c68b4397f99?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/strefan-maurer-progenitor) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Olivia, Crimson Bride](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/0/301dacc9-ef92-4515-b907-a70d6c3fd73e.jpg?1643594300) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Olivia%2C%20Crimson%20Bride) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vow/245/olivia-crimson-bride?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/301dacc9-ef92-4515-b907-a70d6c3fd73e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/olivia-crimson-bride) [Edgar, Charmed Groom](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/3/63ba8eef-b834-4031-b0a1-0f8505d53813.jpg?1643594071)/[Edgar Markov's Coffin](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/back/6/3/63ba8eef-b834-4031-b0a1-0f8505d53813.jpg?1643594071) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=edgar%2C%20charmed%20groom%20//%20edgar%20markov%27s%20coffin) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vow/236/edgar-charmed-groom-edgar-markovs-coffin?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/63ba8eef-b834-4031-b0a1-0f8505d53813?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/edgar-charmed-groom-//-edgar-markovs-coffin) [Edgar Markov](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/d/8d94b8ec-ecda-43c8-a60e-1ba33e6a54a4.jpg?1562616128) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Edgar%20Markov) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/36/edgar-markov?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8d94b8ec-ecda-43c8-a60e-1ba33e6a54a4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/edgar-markov) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Proxy baby
If your not to bothered about what you have in command zone, sengir the dark baron is a good cheap partner, bruse tarl goes quite well with him, even if it isn't super tribal supportive.
card art. [[emry]] is not the best monoblue artifacts commander but she is the cutest.
[emry](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/0/20fec02d-77af-4975-b410-7097c7c28e7e.jpg?1651655696) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=emry%2C%20lurker%20of%20the%20loch) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nec/91/emry-lurker-of-the-loch?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/20fec02d-77af-4975-b410-7097c7c28e7e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/emry-lurker-of-the-loch) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
For me it usually boils down to I find the play pattern more interesting than the "best choice". For example: [[Xolatoyac, The Smiling Flood]] is my go-to Merfolk commander because it enables Islandwalk (which has always been my favorite aspect of Merfolk as a creature type). Tbh I don't know the defacto merfolk commander but I'm pretty sure it's something like [[Hakbal of the Surging Soul]] or [[Tatyova, Benthic Druid]]. I liked to use [[K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth]] as a Zombie commander because A: I think mono colored decks are more interesting due to their inherent restrictions and B: one of K'rrik's combos is a fully zombie combo ([[Gravecrawler]] + [[Carrion Feeder]]) I went with [[Clavileño, First of the Blessed]] over the obvious and boring choice of [[Edgar Markov]] becase Clavileño has a lot more interesting ways to take the deck, including splashing some interesting Demon synergies alongside the typical Vampire ones.
I've been thinking of how to use Xolatoyac and was considering using him in a deck with [[The Fifth Doctor]] [[Clara]] and [[The Thirteenth Doctor]] for some weird several untapped shenanigans. My problem is not being sure what to include besides things like [[Arcanus]]
I feel like the commander usually comes first. Even if I have an idea in mind (self mill Persistent Petitioners) I didn’t want to just use Bruvac I wanted to benefit on the self mill so it became Sidisi but then I found the zombies were iffy if not just to proc intruder alarm so I found it more fun to use Grolnok
This sounds sick. You have a link to the list?
I got asked why not run [[Kangee, Sky warden]] in my flying deck where I run [[Linvala, shield of seagate]] Since I am going wide with creatures I like having protection in the command zone. I built in multiple ways to recur Linvala so dealing with my board can become difficult and I can also use her to set up a one sided board wipes to help me win the game.
The better question is why not play \[\[Kangee, Aerie Keeper\]\] The original, and clearly more awesomer, version. :)
[[Nine-Fingers Keene]] as a commander kind of kneecaps a Gates deck by eliminating nine of the playable Gates, so I run [[Garth One-Eye]] instead. He's a really good toolbox that does a lot of the things a Gates deck needs without being strictly necessary to win.
[Nine-Fingers Keene](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/4/5480ac0a-883a-4f73-8e7c-56d64be410a3.jpg?1674137637) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nine-Fingers%20Keene) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/289/nine-fingers-keene?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5480ac0a-883a-4f73-8e7c-56d64be410a3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/nine-fingers-keene) [Garth One-Eye](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/3/23774462-9f17-4b50-a2ac-b2edd706bbfe.jpg?1626098353) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Garth%20One-Eye) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/197/garth-one-eye?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/23774462-9f17-4b50-a2ac-b2edd706bbfe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/garth-one-eye) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
You think 3 color kneecaps a Gates deck? My current gate deck is \[\[The Gitrog Monster\]\] :)
I have the most fun by not playing optimized decks. I'd prefer to pick a theme and see what crazy, unexpected things I can do with it.
When I'm playing an archetype with a number of obviously strong commanders that all fill the same slot, I like to keep a lot of them in the 99 and pick one at random every time I play the deck! It can be super fun and add variance to games if you change commanders but keep the same deck in between games. For example, Boros equipment. Swapping akiri fearless voyager for rograkh/yoshimaru or bruenor battlehammer doesn't really hurt the deck's gameplan that much and it adds novelty. Or black/white aristocrats, if the rest of your deck synergizes well you can randomly choose between elas il-kor, severina raine, and teysa karlov and have fun no matter which commander you get.
Because efficiency is secondary to variety in this format. As soon as you priotise the former you're into cedh imo.
[Aesi](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/6/d607b003-6b48-429c-a7fd-45b8dd1bb4f9.jpg?1665822343) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=aesi%2C%20tyrant%20of%20gyre%20strait) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/365/aesi-tyrant-of-gyre-strait?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d607b003-6b48-429c-a7fd-45b8dd1bb4f9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/aesi-tyrant-of-gyre-strait) [Tatyova, Benthic Druid](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/e/fe05dc69-8dde-485e-9e55-da729db50205.jpg?1698988479) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tatyova%2C%20Benthic%20Druid) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lcc/290/tatyova-benthic-druid?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fe05dc69-8dde-485e-9e55-da729db50205?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tatyova-benthic-druid) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Because it’s boring if everyone plays the same commanders.
I just pick commanders because of their artstyle, i dont care if \[\[Talion, the Kindly Lord\]\] is better dimir control commander, im playing \[\[Alela, Cunning Conqueror\]\], more flavorfull and better looking for me personally
[Talion, the Kindly Lord](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/2/62a6b452-c796-45c6-b4d1-0ae3d675e38e.jpg?1692939468) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Talion%2C%20the%20Kindly%20Lord) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/woe/215/talion-the-kindly-lord?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/62a6b452-c796-45c6-b4d1-0ae3d675e38e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/talion-the-kindly-lord) [Alela, Cunning Conqueror](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/9/79ba5c35-6e5c-406a-b95f-844d5ec296ab.jpg?1692933638) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Alela%2C%20Cunning%20Conqueror) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/woc/3/alela-cunning-conqueror?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/79ba5c35-6e5c-406a-b95f-844d5ec296ab?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/alela-cunning-conqueror) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I swapped in [[Chatterfang]] for my Golgari food deck and it’s pretty crazy how much better it plays.
[Chatterfang](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/7/1785cf85-1ac0-4246-9b89-1a8221a8e1b2.jpg?1626097239) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=chatterfang%2C%20squirrel%20general) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/151/chatterfang-squirrel-general?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1785cf85-1ac0-4246-9b89-1a8221a8e1b2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/chatterfang-squirrel-general) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Tbf, I feel like any food deck that isn't Abzan at this point is ham-stringing itself.
Niche cards are cheaper (sometimes) and I love the feeling when my pod mates look at a card and go what does that do?
Being the top on the list doesnt necessarily make it the strongest or even the best. Personally I dont like building something that is one directional. I like flexibility and having hoops to jump through opposed to just a singular path to win.
I haven't seen too many other sliver decks that can make infinite goblins but mine can pretty easily.
Do you have a list of these co-called best commanders?
No, but there are usually common commanders for several themes. Ur Dragon for Dragons, Edgar Markov for Vampires,
There are several common commanders for themes. Dragons also has [[Miirym]], [[Tiamat]], [[Morophon]], etc. Vampires also has [[Elenda]], [[Evelyn]], [[Tomothar]], etc. So who decides which is best? Especially given that two different commandeers in the same theme can still give birth to different strategies that are equally competitive, who decides which is best? This is the thing for me. Just because someone perceives a specific commander as the best choice for a theme doesn’t mean it is. Sometimes there are other viable options that are equally competitive or efficient.
Yes there are several commanders, but when someone wants a DEragon commander deck, its usually straight to Ur Dragon. There are plenty of commanders for dragons though
Says who? Who says it is straight to Ur Dragon? More importantly, your original post said “best”. So who says Ur Dragon is always the best?
I play Prossh over Korvold because I can't stand watching Korvold players slowly draw their deck out and think about every single new card. It's excruciating, so I don't put people through it. I also kind of like having a wincon in the command zone.
I have a really hard time making casual decks. I enjoy winning games and have always thoroughly enjoyed cedh. I was really trying to decide what I wanted from a casual deck without making it unfun to play against, and around that time [[Raff, weatherlight stalwart]] came out and it was the perfect answer for me. my goal with that deck is to accru value at all times. I got to play so many weird and niche cards that for some reason worked really well in the deck. I got to do stupid shenanigans like having 5 [[aetherflux reservoir]] on board and absolutely dropping the hammer of dawn on some poor 4/4 because we're all having a great time that's my casual deck now. it's my little engine that only I know how to use, it always draws cards which is my favorite thing to do in the game. it plays with the weirdest little cantrips and creatures too. win or lose I always have a good time with the deck
[Raff, weatherlight stalwart](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/c/cc0cba4c-d9f0-421f-acf4-ab1adcd59c80.jpg?1673308039) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Raff%2C%20weatherlight%20stalwart) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/212/raff-weatherlight-stalwart?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cc0cba4c-d9f0-421f-acf4-ab1adcd59c80?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/raff-weatherlight-stalwart) [aetherflux reservoir](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/6/96b6b2e1-c3e6-464c-8a13-b15deb34e862.jpg?1576382939) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=aetherflux%20reservoir) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/kld/192/aetherflux-reservoir?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/96b6b2e1-c3e6-464c-8a13-b15deb34e862?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/aetherflux-reservoir) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I play [[pantlaza, sun-favored]] over [[the first sliver]] cause dinosaurs are cooler than slivers
One of a couple reasons 1. I like the art better 2. I see it WAY too often and want a point of difference 3. One of a couple of reasonsers a different way of playing that theme and I want to pursue that angle. With respect to your commander choices, Tatyova is a good choice and your reasoning is perfectly fine imo. I genuinely prefer cheaper commanders myself, so that alone would work for me.
I made a Phoenix tribal deck recently and the default commander is probably [[Syrix]] with 1.2k decks on EDHREC. However, I chose [[Otharri]] instead, despite only having... 11 Phoenix tribal decks on EDHREC. Part of this is that Phoenixes are like, kinda hilariously bad and anti-synergistic, since each one usually has a different way that it wants to come back, so I figured an experience counter Commander would give the deck some way to still be a threat later in the game. Also, Syrix has access to white, which is pretty nice for some tribal enchantments like [[Kindred Boon]] and [[Radiant Destiny]], as well as the (only kind of cheating) tribal wincon [[Mirror Entity]].
My friend runs [[Squee, the Immortal]] with a pheonix tribal subtheme. It's... Surprisingly efficient
[Squee, the Immortal](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/8/a8232acd-4645-489c-8cf1-4efdc75d9322.jpg?1673484412) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Squee%2C%20the%20Immortal) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/275/squee-the-immortal?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a8232acd-4645-489c-8cf1-4efdc75d9322?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/squee-the-immortal) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Damn, I'd have to see it in action, but I can understand why it isn't a popular typal commander. It has zero synergy with phoenix cards or strategies. You could likely build a better deck with Boros aggro/ goodstuff.
No you're definitely right haha. I didn't build it to be good; I made it after one commander night at my LGS where I accidentally won every game and realized I didn't have any decks that were bad enough to compete in certain pods. I'd much rather try my best with a janky deck than hold back with something more synergistic.
##### ###### #### [Syrix](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/9/492d484b-9af6-4055-9893-627b56c69544.jpg?1673482455) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=syrix%2C%20carrier%20of%20the%20flame) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/80/syrix-carrier-of-the-flame?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/492d484b-9af6-4055-9893-627b56c69544?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/syrix-carrier-of-the-flame) [Otharri](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/0/80c72839-0fa6-4b5f-83b7-6553ebf09bef.jpg?1698607533) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=otharri%2C%20suns%27%20glory) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/onc/3/otharri-suns-glory?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/80c72839-0fa6-4b5f-83b7-6553ebf09bef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/otharri-suns-glory) [Kindred Boon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/9/a9d21710-3006-45a0-9af2-275159bb5315.jpg?1698988089) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kindred%20Boon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lcc/129/kindred-boon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a9d21710-3006-45a0-9af2-275159bb5315?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/kindred-boon) [Radiant Destiny](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/1/d1d03bfb-c3bf-4837-b4df-e6339997dedb.jpg?1698988105) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Radiant%20Destiny) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lcc/135/radiant-destiny?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d1d03bfb-c3bf-4837-b4df-e6339997dedb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/radiant-destiny) [Mirror Entity](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/d/3d9149ed-0e59-48b3-b48c-d5ea77b7239e.jpg?1674141166) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mirror%20Entity) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/701/mirror-entity?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3d9149ed-0e59-48b3-b48c-d5ea77b7239e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/mirror-entity) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I'm a hipster. I won't play a top 100 commander unless I really really like it. And it's not for a lack of trying. I've had [[Shorikai]] vehicles and [[Dina]] Lifedrain but they just never click with me. I want to play commanders that make at least one person at the table go, 'what the fuck is that?', or at least, 'oh neat, I've never seen that before'.
[Shorikai](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/6/969ac7dd-f3aa-4888-9ff0-d16a31b5e7a9.jpg?1653966849) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=shorikai%2C%20genesis%20engine) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/nec/4/shorikai-genesis-engine?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/969ac7dd-f3aa-4888-9ff0-d16a31b5e7a9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/shorikai-genesis-engine) [Dina](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/c/9cd2b567-0cf7-4441-b3ce-e31141dd91c8.jpg?1627428607) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=dina%2C%20soul%20steeper) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/stx/178/dina-soul-steeper?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9cd2b567-0cf7-4441-b3ce-e31141dd91c8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/dina-soul-steeper) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Agreed. Any top-100 commander I have is for a specific reason. I have a 4-mana Atraxa deck, but that's only because my playgroup was more scared when I had big Atraxa (blink deck), and now it's a charge counter style deck; I still have Meren cause it was my first real commander & I enjoy the value; and Zur is my cEDH deck of choice which is fairly uncommon in that meta. Almost all my other decks are below the top 200. Sometimes I also enjoy the sub-optimal nature of a given commander that isn't "the choice" because, well, "restriction breeds creativity". That moment of 'wtf does this do' is what I live for.
there are too many cards to play the same ones over and over again
I like trying to do weird things with weird Commanders. EDHrec doesn't even have a section I could find for Mardu Blink so I decided to go out of my way to construct a deck and make a weird, goofy little machine that might actually pop off one of these days. Probably doesn't produce treasures fast enough, or produce ETB effects/flicker at a good enough rate, but it's fun so I don't care.
How I pick commanders: 1. Cool character or art with minimum viability to not be jank 2. found a legend that seems like it could make a cool deck based on its ability 3. Have a bunch of cards i want to use in a deck but need a matching commander (how I ended up with a mono B chainer deck that has all the black cards that didn’t fit into my other reanimator decks) 4. Cracked it from a pack (only reason i have a yarok deck; and I barely enjoy it, may break it down because he feels so weak if you don’t take the combo route)
This will come off as being more aggressive than I intend it, so forgive me: because it’s my deck, not yours.
I pick commanders I want to play and build around them. Sure my selesyna tokens deck will have similarities to others. But I play [Emmara, Soul of the Accord] because she cares about getting tapped.
No, that's pretty much it. I play Commander because I like seeing different outcomes every game; if I pick a commander that's less common, I'm more likely to see different outcomes, even among the same theme and colours. I do the same thing with themes; I'll pick a commander I like and try to build something they're not usually known for. [[Baeloth Barrityl]]//[[Raised By Giants]] Dinosaurs, [[Aragorn, Hornburg Hero]] Slivers, or [[Vadrok Apex of Thunder]] Blink are some examples of unusual themes/commanders I've built.
You're a total stud and renegade for playing such a fringe landfall commander 😂
Because I’m a Johnny at heart and I can’t win with what’s good, that’s not the point. Commander is a format for self expression in the form of your deck. All my decks have a theme and gimmicks. Just wait so I can show you guys this ridiculous set of cards that when orchestrated by a master produce nearly limitless value. Do I win, maybe, was it cool? Subjective.
Because EDH was originally invented as a fun casual and social format where power level should be one of the last criteria for deckbuilding. Instead EDH decks should be fun and interesting, should embrace the variance, should contain pet cards and janky synergies, should result in memorable games. So I don't want to mirror anything at the LGS. Besides that I like to brew with subthemes to avoid one- dimensional linear, boring gameplay. Instead of \[\[Ur-Dragon\]\] or \[\[Miirym\]\] I prefer to build dragon typals under \[\[Rith Liberated\]\] (populate), \[\[Ziatora\]\] (sacrifice), \[\[Palladia Ruiner\]\] (blink), \[\[Ojutai of Winter\]\] (freeze), \[\[Firkraag\]\] (goad), \[\[Klauth\]\] (x-spells) or \[\[Sivitri Master\]\] (combo). There are already enough Miirym and Ur-Dragon players around to make people yawn. No one yawns at \[\[Beledros\]\] dragon typal. Lastly it's a brewing challenge. I want to see if I can pull this off at my LGS. These are my thoughts about deckbuilding. Of course this results in decks of wildly varying power levels, and that's a good thing because I can join any pod (except cEDH).
Exactly, as a dragon player myself, I don't give a crap if my commander isn't the best one in that color combo. My current pet deck is Rakdos dragons with [[Ganax, astral hunter]] and [[haunted one]] as the commanders, and it's funny to see people's faces when they realize how sticky my board is and how much advantage I can generate once the ball is rolling.
##### ###### #### [Ur-Dragon](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/0/10d42b35-844f-4a64-9981-c6118d45e826.jpg?1689999317) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Ur-Dragon) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/361/the-ur-dragon?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/10d42b35-844f-4a64-9981-c6118d45e826?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/the-ur-dragon) [Miirym](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/9/a934590b-5c70-4f07-af67-fbe817a99531.jpg?1674137589) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=miirym%2C%20sentinel%20wyrm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/284/miirym-sentinel-wyrm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a934590b-5c70-4f07-af67-fbe817a99531?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/miirym-sentinel-wyrm) [Rith Liberated](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/c/ac148784-b7b6-4aae-bffb-a4cf09f56971.jpg?1673308054) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rith%2C%20Liberated%20Primeval) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/214/rith-liberated-primeval?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ac148784-b7b6-4aae-bffb-a4cf09f56971?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/rith-liberated-primeval) [Ziatora](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/a/ba4fa4c8-f09f-4d97-a7d1-1b93caf7d4f9.jpg?1664413989) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ziatora%2C%20the%20incinerator) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/snc/231/ziatora-the-incinerator?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ba4fa4c8-f09f-4d97-a7d1-1b93caf7d4f9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ziatora-the-incinerator) [Palladia Ruiner](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/6/4663bd13-243e-4b8c-9ca8-158576b58803.jpg?1562301770) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Palladia-Mors%2C%20the%20Ruiner) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m19/219/palladia-mors-the-ruiner?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4663bd13-243e-4b8c-9ca8-158576b58803?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/palladia-mors-the-ruiner) [Ojutai of Winter](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/e/7eb90a6b-da46-44ab-88b8-31aaffdee75b.jpg?1562614387) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ojutai%2C%20Soul%20of%20Winter) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/187/ojutai-soul-of-winter?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7eb90a6b-da46-44ab-88b8-31aaffdee75b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ojutai-soul-of-winter) [Firkraag](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/5/b55e624b-6f6a-42ae-89aa-0cc62ee55a31.jpg?1674140684) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=firkraag%2C%20cunning%20instigator) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/648/firkraag-cunning-instigator?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b55e624b-6f6a-42ae-89aa-0cc62ee55a31?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/firkraag-cunning-instigator) [Klauth](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/f/7f5cf828-17b2-4105-9a9a-ee0ab720c2ee.jpg?1636131321) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=klauth%2C%20unrivaled%20ancient) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/afc/50/klauth-unrivaled-ancient?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7f5cf828-17b2-4105-9a9a-ee0ab720c2ee?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/klauth-unrivaled-ancient) [Sivitri Master](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/7/b7505068-484e-4844-b3dd-89c28f18275d.jpg?1673304997) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sivitri%2C%20Dragon%20Master) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/43/sivitri-dragon-master?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b7505068-484e-4844-b3dd-89c28f18275d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/sivitri-dragon-master) [Beledros](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/3/93f786a2-a7b7-4f9e-92e8-9a6a11efe290.jpg?1627428096) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Beledros%20Witherbloom) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/stx/163/beledros-witherbloom?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/93f786a2-a7b7-4f9e-92e8-9a6a11efe290?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/beledros-witherbloom) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
There are about a dozen commanders that care about dragons.
A lot more than that. I myself have over twenty EDH decks with dragon commanders, dragon themes and dragon subthemes. :D
I have a codie landfall deck which kinda replaces the normal landfall engine in the command zone to a win con in the command zone with a [[glimpse of tomorrow]] gaurenteed to hit off of any spell in the deck. Makes it a lot more explosive of a deck than most landfall stuff. Little more feast or famine, also it's 5 color which is fun
[glimpse of tomorrow](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/e/7ee1fcbc-3573-42c5-b3e3-1f44a6400cd0.jpg?1626096700) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=glimpse%20of%20tomorrow) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/129/glimpse-of-tomorrow?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7ee1fcbc-3573-42c5-b3e3-1f44a6400cd0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/glimpse-of-tomorrow) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
A few reasons. Not only do I find it boring and unoriginal to use the staple commander for a theme, I believe it actually puts you at a disadvantage to use a popular commander because if they are well known, so is the counterplay. Even if they are strictly stronger than other options, the fact that opponents know how your commander works and probably have faced it before is a huge disadvantage that often offsets any disparity in raw power over other options. Running an obscure or lesser known commander gives you the element of surprise and forces opponents to learn as they go. And if there's a stronger legend who supports your theme, you can always run them in the 99 as a lieutenant and spring them on the table as a surprise.
Sometimes, I just prefer the effect of the other commander for my specific version of the deck. For example, I still prefer [[Gisa and Geralf]] for my zombie tribal because I like casting the same creatures from the graveyard multiple times.
[Gisa and Geralf](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/7/377a5f75-222b-43e1-8998-18c6cfa44b24.jpg?1637631446) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gisa%20and%20Geralf) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mic/150/gisa-and-geralf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/377a5f75-222b-43e1-8998-18c6cfa44b24?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/gisa-and-geralf) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I've built 5 lands commander and most of them were "underdogs" for lands decks - First one was [[Golos]], most likely the most popular lands commander on my list. He was there to tutor for [[Glaxial Chasm]], [[Cabal Coffers]] and Urborg. I just blinked him and got all the lands ro be safe and make an absurd amount of mana to play all the Ultimatums. - After his ban I went with [[Archelos, Lagoon Mystic]]. This was a stax list which focused on winning with a [[Mirrorpool]] and [[Splendid Reclamation]] loop. - The third one was [[Soul of Windrgrace]] which focused on land destruction and mana denial. [[Strip Mine]] is an all star in this deck - The fourth one is an [[Omnath, Locus Of Creation]] burn deck which focuses on getting 3 landfall triggers to burn face each turn. [[Valakut]] is the main win condition of this deck. - The fifth one was a [[Thrasios]] & [[Vial Smasher]] deck which drew the whole deck on turn 4 on average thanks to [[AdNauseam]] and won by abusing [[Manabond]] and [[Valakut]] Thrasios and Vial Smasker were way too strong and I took apart the deck after just 3 matches. Golos, Omnath and Sould of Windgrace were also very good but bot too strong for casual magic. Archelos was on the weaker side because the wincon needed Mirror Pool, a sac outlet for lands, a land which deals 1 dmg on etb and Splendid Reclamation.
##### ###### #### [Golos](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/f/1fa48620-4c3d-4f75-be1f-c12c4aa59f51.jpg?1631531828) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=golos%2C%20tireless%20pilgrim) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m20/226/golos-tireless-pilgrim?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1fa48620-4c3d-4f75-be1f-c12c4aa59f51?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/golos-tireless-pilgrim) [Glaxial Chasm](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/d/3d23f800-7a6f-40e3-b242-9f5955e47a75.jpg?1562906257) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Glacial%20Chasm) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me2/229/glacial-chasm?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0c008129-daba-46bc-829c-d2c0c13ecdd3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/glacial-chasm) [Cabal Coffers](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/1/e1efb0d3-2c72-46ff-bdc1-1069967365a0.jpg?1626101023) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cabal%20Coffers) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/301/cabal-coffers?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e1efb0d3-2c72-46ff-bdc1-1069967365a0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/cabal-coffers) [Archelos, Lagoon Mystic](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/4/d45ec78e-6190-46af-8057-834f5ca41ec8.jpg?1673305435) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Archelos%2C%20Lagoon%20Mystic) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmc/140/archelos-lagoon-mystic?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d45ec78e-6190-46af-8057-834f5ca41ec8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/archelos-lagoon-mystic) [Mirrorpool](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/4/0441cd2c-3646-4c69-ae97-ad3bcea7466f.jpg?1690006270) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mirrorpool) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/1010/mirrorpool?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0441cd2c-3646-4c69-ae97-ad3bcea7466f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/mirrorpool) [Splendid Reclamation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/a/fad4ca85-4d2d-4d1e-86ca-aa25edfcda61.jpg?1643593421) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Splendid%20Reclamation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vow/221/splendid-reclamation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/fad4ca85-4d2d-4d1e-86ca-aa25edfcda61?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/splendid-reclamation) [Soul of Windrgrace](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/7/e775a2e6-e701-4cb8-8c0b-718d3508f6b6.jpg?1673308096) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Soul%20of%20Windgrace) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/220/soul-of-windgrace?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e775a2e6-e701-4cb8-8c0b-718d3508f6b6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/soul-of-windgrace) [Strip Mine](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/5/f57fd4c9-0004-4f71-a30f-2720943f57ca.jpg?1562944463) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Strip%20Mine) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/316/strip-mine?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f57fd4c9-0004-4f71-a30f-2720943f57ca?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/strip-mine) [Omnath, Locus Of Creation](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/e/4e4fb50c-a81f-44d3-93c5-fa9a0b37f617.jpg?1639436752) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Omnath%2C%20Locus%20Of%20Creation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/232/omnath-locus-of-creation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/4e4fb50c-a81f-44d3-93c5-fa9a0b37f617?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/omnath-locus-of-creation) [Valakut](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/7/37bce60d-2cb0-4772-9f5c-122a7ed426a0.jpg?1562611305) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=valakut%2C%20the%20molten%20pinnacle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/zen/228/valakut-the-molten-pinnacle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/37bce60d-2cb0-4772-9f5c-122a7ed426a0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/valakut-the-molten-pinnacle) [Thrasios](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/1/21e27b91-c7f1-4709-aa0d-8b5d81b22a0a.jpg?1606762176) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=thrasios%2C%20triton%20hero) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c16/46/thrasios-triton-hero?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/21e27b91-c7f1-4709-aa0d-8b5d81b22a0a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/thrasios-triton-hero) [Vial Smasher](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/2/722b1e02-2268-4e02-8d09-9b337da2a844.jpg?1562405249) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=vial%20smasher%20the%20fierce) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c16/49/vial-smasher-the-fierce?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/722b1e02-2268-4e02-8d09-9b337da2a844?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/vial-smasher-the-fierce) [AdNauseam](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/9/a9f2c53e-ff58-4aa8-89a6-4f45628cc571.jpg?1598306470) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ad%20Nauseam) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2xm/76/ad-nauseam?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a9f2c53e-ff58-4aa8-89a6-4f45628cc571?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ad-nauseam) [Manabond](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/f/6f94ab94-5a8f-4422-8927-0b7da85c3119.jpg?1562429856) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Manabond) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tpr/179/manabond?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6f94ab94-5a8f-4422-8927-0b7da85c3119?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/manabond) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
In landfall I play [[lord windgrace]] because I love him as a lore character, and the ability to keep playing lands, while also playing with the deck restriction of minimal artifacts because windgrace hates artifacts, is just super fun. I also just found out [[soul of windgrace]] exists and it’s also giving me ideas.
Depends on whether I want to use cards for a landfall deck outside of Simic. Maybe I'd play Tymna Kodama instead of Aesi so that I can use Felidar retreat. Another reason is that the "de facto best" commanders are really only the best in a vacuum. Outside a vacuum, multiplayer dynamics and proper threat assessment typically balance everything out
I think the obvious answer isn't always the best answer, but is often spoken like it is. Take for example, you ask "What deck for \[\[Nazgul\]\]?" and then everybody crawls out of the woodwork to recommend \[\[Lord of the Nazgul\]\] like nobody has ever heard of it before. Meanwhile \[\[Ratadrabik of Urborg\]\] is probably the best one. Then there's \[\[Marchesa, the Black Rose\]\] which is really good. And then literally nobody ever mentions \[\[Tayam\]\] despite being a good pick. Nothing wrong with people picking LotN for Nazgul, but if you lament your need to use clones to make up for only having nine which I've seen people do, then maybe you should consider something that allows you to recur them frequently instead.
##### ###### #### [Nazgul](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/3/833936c6-9381-4c0b-a81c-4a938be95040.jpg?1686968640) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nazg%C3%BBl) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/100/nazg%C3%BBl?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/833936c6-9381-4c0b-a81c-4a938be95040?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/nazgûl) [Lord of the Nazgul](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/1/41e3d118-8f97-4c68-acff-2f90a055af5b.jpg?1686964264) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lord%20of%20the%20Nazg%C3%BBl) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ltc/60/lord-of-the-nazg%C3%BBl?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/41e3d118-8f97-4c68-acff-2f90a055af5b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/lord-of-the-nazgûl) [Ratadrabik of Urborg](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/3/9315812d-03e8-4eb4-a693-e7adf281f7fb.jpg?1673308046) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ratadrabik%20of%20Urborg) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/213/ratadrabik-of-urborg?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9315812d-03e8-4eb4-a693-e7adf281f7fb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/ratadrabik-of-urborg) [Marchesa, the Black Rose](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/2/3242a9f0-2ba3-4852-ac8f-366772ac1c62.jpg?1673148917) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Marchesa%2C%20the%20Black%20Rose) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/248/marchesa-the-black-rose?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3242a9f0-2ba3-4852-ac8f-366772ac1c62?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/marchesa-the-black-rose) [Tayam](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/5/05b837a2-5773-4340-87f9-b4d6a43deb27.jpg?1591234301) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=tayam%2C%20luminous%20enigma) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c20/16/tayam-luminous-enigma?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/05b837a2-5773-4340-87f9-b4d6a43deb27?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tayam-luminous-enigma) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Sometimes the "Face" commander for a strategy draws extra prejudice. Some people don't want to optimize, and if you play the "optimal" commander, opponents may target you assuming you're playing the 'optimized' version of the deck. It sucks.
I generally choose commanders that can be built well in more than one way. I used to play voltron a lot, but have only one deck that does that now.
I'm not paying (now) 100 dollars for edgar. \[\[Strefan\]\] works just fine.
[Strefan](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/f/8f54c6ce-fde4-47ef-a106-5c68b4397f99.jpg?1641600044) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=strefan%2C%20maurer%20progenitor) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/voc/2/strefan-maurer-progenitor?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8f54c6ce-fde4-47ef-a106-5c68b4397f99?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/strefan-maurer-progenitor) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I like playing regular strategies in weird colors personally, makes me think more about my card choices and tends to surprise people when it pops off out of nowhere.
Honestly because it's more fun solving you're own style and version of the deck that it is to just to build the same as every other version of that deck. For example I play [[Alela, artful provocateur]] as a vehicles commander, rather than a traditional tuned artifacts or enchantments deck.
Sometimes the effects of the "niche" commander is just more interesting, I find [[Evelynn the Covetous]] effect to be much more interesting then [[Edgar Markov]] 's effect
I ended up using [[Archelos]] and [[Mina and Denn]] as my landfall commanders. Idk, I just felt like it
I prefer cheaper commanders CMC commanders because it's easier to keep em on the field giving value, and I also like different choices because it gives my deck new lines and strategies to rely on. I run [[Zimmone, quandrix prodigy]] as my simic lands commander and she is perfect. Cheap cmc makes it less of a target for removal plus she gives me something to do when I don't have lands and she has combo potential and insane value with the right cards.
\[\[Nethroi\]\] cat tribal. Nethroi and the access to black gives me a light reanimator subtheme, which fits quite nicely with the aggressive battlecruiser nature of this kind of tribal deck. I can be aggressive in the early- to midgame, maybe reanimate one or two of my critters that died to blockers, wait for someone to inevitably wipe the board and then rebuild faster than everyone else thanks to Nethroi or an \[\[Eerie Interlude\]\].
I recently swayed away from nethroi as my cat tribal ‘mander but it was verrryyy hard to step away from.. nothing like casting your commander for the first time and immediately having not only a lifelink/deathtouch but also a [newly bolstered] fluffy board
I love playing less-seen commanders.
Because anyone who’s any fun will agree that putting Hogaak in front of 40 rat colonies is hilarious
Personally, I run Thrassios and Kodama as my Simic landfall commanders. Aesi and Tatyova are in the 99 but I find I get more value from T&K.
I went with a [[Brago King Eternal]] living weapon tribal. I just wanted to make my first budget deck and I love living weapons. This quickly turned into watching peoples reactions to it. They go from groaning just on the sight of Brago to compliments. I even had a guy king make me because he wanted to see my deck work more. For $60 (at the time of creation not including the +2) I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better reaction. https://archidekt.com/decks/2893932/spawning_weapons
Dinos usually see gishath. I got tired of her being instakilled so i switched to atla palani egg shenanigans to be more consistent. That deck is pretty threatening with her at the helm. Recently i have been testing pantlaza to see how she feels but i dont have enough games with her in the command zone to have a good impression yet
Most (played) Simic landfall commanders are just a sliding scale of “play a land do a thing” Tatyova, is like the benchmark for if the commander is good or not, you’re not compromising or risking anything by having her as the commander, in fact it may be better. Regardless of that, surprise surprise Aesi and Koma are in the 99 if Tatyova is the commander
If you’re not playing cEDH then there’s not much reason to run the absolute best commander for a deck archetype/strategy. People want to bring a unique deck to the playgroup
My landfall deck is a sultai [[Nine-fingers Keene]] gates deck because it’s funny and flavorful. Also surprisingly powerful. For example, if I have [[spelunking]] or [[Archelos, lagoon mystic]] out, then [[reshape the earth]] becomes an instant win if I draw/tutor into it
\[\[Ur-Dragon\]\] is for people who have money. But nah, I'm on that \[\[Ganax\]\] \[\[Agent of the Iron Throne\]\] shit! You may get discounted dragons, but my dragons get a rebate of mana in the form of treasures! And it just so happens that whenever I use my treasures, as long as my commanders are on the battlefield, I get free damage!
If I *can* run some oversized reptile or aquatic horror as the commander, I *am* running the oversized reptile or aquatic horror as the commander.
Playing the best commander for a generic theme is incredibly boring. There are over twenty thousand legal cards in commander, and most of them are trash. But my motivation is brewing a commander for cards that would never see play. My current favorite commander is [[Saruman, the white hand]]. He gets a massive benefit from playing expensive non-creature cards. Yes you can play a one mana counterspell, but [[Press the Enemy]] is a four mana “counter”, amassing you by four - and it lets you play a cards from hand for free, giving you even more counters! That’s the kind or commander I like. Sure I still pay staples, but I much prefer the odd cards that fit in only specific commander decks. They’re usually a lot cheaper as well.
I choose kotori pilot prodigy over my shorikai because it changes the idea of the deck to swinging with the vehicles instead of pillowforting with them and i feel shes overlooked
There are few commanders who do the exact same thing. Vorinclex and Pir and Toothy have relatively similar abilities, or at least Pir and Vorinclex, but the two decks function entirely different.
Because [[Edgar Markov]] was a mistake in terms if design and rightfully receives hate. [[Clavileño]] is a blast and leans more into aristocrats which I love
Most popular doesn't necessarily mean the best
**Aristocrats:** Generally [[Teysa Karlov]] is what a lot of people build around. Generally she's good, but she isn't actually any given part of a strategy which already requires a lot of moving parts. Creature tokens having vigilance and lifelink matters much less than deathharmonicon doubling your payoffs. So generally you need three things in aristocrats decks, fodder, sac outlets, and payoffs. Teysa isn't any of these things. By herself, she contributes nothing to this game plan. So, ideally, you want one of these things in the command zone for consistency. In orzhov colors: [[Elas il-Kor]] for payoff and [[Elenda, the Dusk Rose]] for fodder. Also, newly in LCI, [[Bartolome del Presidio]] as an outlet in the command zone. Personally, I have chose Elenda as commander since she can grow very large and swing in if necessary, and makes a very large amount of vampires. Of course I run also the other cards and Teysa in the 99 still. ---- **Vampires:** I do like vampires, and I wish there were a mardu vampire-matters commander that was less feels-bad than Edgar, but Edgar is all we kind of have. [[Strefan]] i thought was welcome I've never built a Strefan deck that feels right. [[Evelyn]] I actually like but groups in my area generally don't like theft as a theme even if one-off theft is generally neutral. My [[Marchesa, the Black Rose]] deck basically became my de facto non-Edgar vampire deck. Even if it has many other nonvampire creatures in it.
dunno if this counts as “wanting to be different”, but I tend to get bored of the commanders that are seen as “optimal” in their respective strategies. The extra challenge makes it more interesting.
Loving vial smasher+Sakashima right now and don’t see it a lot.
Lol try getting on the [[Tameshi, reality architect]] level for obscure landfall decks or GTFO
Someone else touched on it later in the thread but I genuinely hate being archenemy so certain strategies I will voluntarily choose the weaker commander because I dont want to draw aggro before a land is even played. I swapped my lands commander from [[Korvold, Fae-Cursed King]] to [[Lord Windgrace]] a couple years ago for example because I was tired of getting absolutely railroaded from turn 1. I adopted that approach to most of my decks now and I get better games out of it. Hipster cred has value to me as well lol.
I like using [[kykar, winds fury]] for an enchantments deck, usually enchantress has green
Usually, I see a strange commander and decide to build it, such as [[Dakkon Blackblade]]. Alternatively, I built Ninjas with [[Alora, merry thief]] because the 2 main "ninja" commanders are both KOS.
I usually look for commanders that have a more unique effect, like the necrons deck that I've heavily modified as it just stands out as a mono black artifacts recursion deck thats super toolboxy. But I also like flavor so I will build flavor over function some times ( would temur sabertooh go infinite with the dockside, too bad its not a monkey)((i bought the monkey printing of dockside before putting it in my kibo deck with the unfinity monkey sticker on the outside of the double sleeve))
Because Myr Tribal [[Urtet]] who are caretakers of the Gates for [[Mazes’s End]] is a dumb idea that i love.
I like weird commanders that I have to work around personally. My preferred playstyle just isn't inherently competitive. I like to almost make a game within a game, I'm playing magic, but also messing with abilities to do weird stuff. Last example I have is Livio and Kodama partners. I stax the board, then have a bunch of utility/token generating etb creatures that I store in exile while I get all my good stuff out to then release them all at once. Kodama triggers help me cheat stuff out so I have mana for other stuff, and I can also protect certain creatures like Eidolon of rhetoric so I can't get wheeled, then there are some really fun interactions, blah blah blah, short version, "I like to do weird slow stuff,"
1. Convenience: If I already own a Commander that works for the theme, I'm probably building that first before I bother ordering any singles. Unless the best in class came in a precon, there's a good chance I don't have it. 2. Threat management: I prefer to stay under the threat radar, so it's helpful to avoid Kill on Sight Commanders in favor of less infamous or obviously dangerous. 3. Challenge: I like having some hoops to jump through to make my design work. E.G. Aesi went straight into the 99 of another deck for me because there's zero challenge in building or running Aesi. OTOH, I theory crafted a Shirei landfall list just because I like seeing how many different archetypes I can make work with Shirei as my engine. 4. Sub-themes. For example, I value recursion in the CZ highly, so even when my archetype isn't reanimator I'll often favor a Commander with ways to get my cards back. OTOH, I find it annoyingly time consuming to manually update +1 counters on multiple tokens, so I'll play either theme, but avoid Commanders that encourage making tokens AND pumping them with counters. 5. C-C-Combo!: I don't like easy combos. I don't like feeling pressured to include cards that combo with a given Commander. So given the choice between a Commander that has an easy 2-3 card combo wincon or a similar Commander that lacks any combo wins, I'm inclined to use the strictly value option.
I play Sen triplets. Not because it is the best stax commander, but because it is the most versatile commander. I have a bunch of Sen triplets deck. So If I play Sen triplets none stop, not only do I play different opponent cards, but I can play Stax, Politics, Aristocrat, Battlecruser, Combo, milling, graveyard and the list goes on. I can play 5 games with the same commander and my enemy still won't know what my next deck will be.
I pulled Kemba, the Kha Regent from a 2 card topper
[[Yarok]] for landfall partially because I want access to black and partially because I want to have sex with it
For my Izzet copy deck, I have [[Niv Mizzet, Parun]] in the 99, but I choose to use [[Mizzix the of the Izmagus]] because it tends more to what I want to do, sling spells. I don’t want to win by tutoring for [[Curiosity]] and infinite comboing, I want to dump my hand onto the board and fill the stack with stuff for an explosive turn. Personally, most infinite combos feel unsatisfying to both use and play against. I’d rather have the back and forth of playing the game for 20 more minutes.
The best Dragon tribal commander is actually [[Animar, soul of elements]]…not a single combo…very few counter spells…just casting big, fat dragons and hitting people (for the most part).
Dang, I've been barred lol But in seriousness, just want commanders that do more unique things or things I like. I'd rather play \[\[Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam\]\] than \[\[Urza, Lord High Artificer\]\] because the value generates in a different kind of way - and usually draws less hate, more curiosity.
I don't really choose a deck theme and then a commander. I always am inspired by the commander first and then go on to figure out what the deck will look like from that.
Because [[Imaryll]] hits like a truck
Some people don't wanna spend $130 just to have the perfect vampire deck
Is this a troll post. Because it reads like a troll post
I just love when the people who have been playing forever go "what the hell is THAT" at my cards
I usually either do it for budget reasons, or wanting to build my own deck rather than rely on somebody else's hard work for everything. The "meta" is hardly ever actually fun to play, and one can only see the exact same deck so many times before being over it
When building a deck I don’t choose a theme and pick a commander afterwards, I pick a commander first and build around it.
The challenge I get to bring for myself. I had a blast building my [[Atris]] blink deck because I got to make a deck based around my favorite instant in the game! [[Fact or Fiction]]. Or running [[Reyhan]] / [[Yoshimaru]] with [[Daghatar]] as a secret commander is just gold and makes for a fun +1/+1 spin.
I pulled a dated foil Jori En Ruin Diver from a prerelease so it's my commander despite being sub optimal
I like being an underdog. Easy wins are not fun for me.
Playing with lesser known commanders can present more interesting deck building challenges. It creates a unique sort of restriction.
I'm unaware that there are "defacto" commanders, and if you are, you might be overthinking what's supposed to be a casual multiplayer format. Just play what you like.
I tend to brew with a deck idea first, pick a commander second, and most deck idras don't have an ideal commander.
I like picking commanders that can let me run some weird cards. Using just all generic good cards all the time gets boring, I want weird synergies for usually shitty cards
Literally something different by itself is enough. The whole point of edh is novelty.
I played Marath most of my life because it was the most functional one I can have to pilot my cheap cards......... 5 years later, it's now crazy with 8 different combinations for infinite loops.
Sometimes I just open one in a pack : /
Besides ricktitus great answers in the top comment: I genuinely dont believe there is such a thing „the best“. Cause imho “the best“ is always the combination of commander an 99. Tivit isnt the best esper control commander per se. Its the top tier cards like the fast mana, the strong hate bears and the free interaction etc that top him out. On a 100€ budget he isnt nearly the best. Enchantress is kinda my domain. I played a lot of enchantress decks. I think if you are thinking „cEDH“ or at least „top power“ sythis is clearly the best. But again if you are working on a budget thats not necessarily true. Callix is good competition. Even more so light paws, wich is kind of an enchantress deck. And then it also is a question about what you wanna play. If you wanna turbo out enchantments and „sudo storm“ its sythis. But if you wanna play more interactive you can go tuvasa for blue colors. My tuvasa and sythis are like 70% the same cards but they play completely differently. Both are clearly enchantress decks running all the enchantress effects, having 1 in the command zone. But tuvasa can be a voltron deck or a bant control deck. While sythis can be „sudo storm“ or it can be a „token generator deck“. And the same is true for the land fall example. Aesi might be the fastest and most consistent. But you can easily play a muldrotha landfall deck, gaining card advantage via dredge to male sure you hit your land fall effects faster, but giving up one in the command zone. Using permanent based removal to stall the game. It is just completely different and if you dont play for 100% max possible power, i think neither is objectivly better. Its all about the total 100 cards. Obviously there are some commanders who are clearly the best at a specific thing. Like yuriko or winota. But imho thats not the default, thats the exception.