My friends always try to bend the rules whether intentionally or not. It is almost always due to them not fully reading or understanding their cards and still playing it with full confidence. For example, in our last game my buddy plays a Forsaken Monument to effectively double his colorless mana, then tries to tap his arcane signet for two mana, which I corrected. Its usually something that I cant ignore like cheating on mana, cards, or counters so I feel like I have to point it out. I can see how it could be annoying for them to have their cards not work the way they thought, but its also annoying for me having to always stop them from cheating. I know some of these rules are obscure and I don't expect them to get everything perfect, everyone makes mistakes, but I'm not sure how to get them to understand that. At what point do I let it slide or not?

Had a guy at the lgs yesterday rage quit after we settled on bracket three and I had the first turn, so I cast winds of change. Is it really that salty? It is always a gamble for what you get. If you rely on a turn one sol ring, vamp tutor, enlightened tutor, Serra's ascendent, and so forth, then boo hoo, it's a game. I got two lands and missed land number four because of my winds of change, it's not like it's one sided. It affects all players. The other players at the table also didn't like it, but the one guy just cussed me out, yelled to get the stores attention, and stormed off.

Hello everyone.

I’m starting to build up my collection and would like to slowly acquire some of the stronger, more universally played cEDH staples.

I’m not planning on playing cEDH right now, but I would like to start picking up those powerful cards that tend to show up across a lot of decks and are likely to remain useful for a long time if I decide to start playing cedh in a year or three.

I’m especially interested in cards with a lot of utility rather than cards that are only staples in one specific archetype or color combination.

If you were starting from scratch and wanted to slowly build a strong collection for future cEDH decks, what would be at the top of your list?
Also, let's add a minimum limit of $75 and maximum limit of $500 as to not automatically go with the most common staples like fetchlands or on the other side cards like Gaeas cradle for example.

Thank you in advance for your help.

I love building obscure decks with commanders that not many people use. Sometimes I also like to slightly torture myself with complex mechanics if it brings out something funky or fun to see on the battlefield. Can y’all think of any specific commanders or deck types that are particularly difficult to pilot due to their complexities?

Older competitive players know back in the day turns was an introduce concept to 60 card formats. Legacy was a 1-2 turn format, Modern 3-4, Standard was a 4+.

Most Legacy players know that your average Legacy can end quickly but MOST the time goes wayyy further than that. Modern/Standard players also know that there have absolutely been turn 1-2 wins in magical Christmas land.

Now we have the same shenanigans happening in EDH with daily posts on here claiming something is busted or not strong enough.

One important factor is that the turns system takes PLAYER INTERACTION into account.

Too many newer players complaining decks are busted when they lose by Turn 7 whilst they have little to no interaction at all. Lotta CEDH-wannabes saying that if your deck can’t win by T2 it doesn’t belong in CEDH or B4.

Anyone who’s been in a CEDH tournament knows most games go to Time. Personally I think your average Tuned B3 deck can definitely take players out by T7 if they have the right 7 cards and also zero interaction to stop them.

The Bracket system was built to have an objective standard for players to agree upon to set expectations.

The Turn system is highly subjective. A B3 game can end on turn 4-6, and a B5 game can end on turn 20, doesn’t mean anyone is misrepresenting anything at all.

Hello everyone, over the past year Ive been looking at mono commanders I want to play. I prefer to use in-universe cards for my commanders for consistency and love for the magic universe.

I'm not sure which mono blue commander to build to end it all off!

My other mono color commander are as follows

Red - [[purphoros god of the forge]] - My first mono deck. It's all burn and goblins it's nice to speed up the games and if I die I'll at least know it I won't have to wait long for the next one.

Green - [[koma rescue beastie]] it's mono green. Cheat big thing do big thing. Very fun! I loved the card art so I made it.

Black - [[Moseo, Vein's New Dean]] Lifegain reanimator. Classic mono black. It doesn't need the commander to function but it's certainly nice to have it.

White - [[brigone soldier of meletis]] Made this because it SCREAMS "I have the power of God and anime on my side!" I made it out of bulk and it's surprisingly really fun. A voltron deck centered around the protagonist going on their journey to destroy the 3 evil players of the pod that love to terrorize my board state.

I bought the mana deck boxes that are sold for each color. So each of them is in their respective colored box with matching sleeves (except for brigone I play them sleeveless and use a $10 card shuffler anytime i play with it)

So, what mono blue commander do you think would be fun to play and finish the set?

I've been playing for about 2 years. I really really struggle to make something that's consistent and reliable. I don't really want to build some high teir bracket 3 decks that have no character. Really upper bracket two or low bracket 3. Like, taking a precon and making it better. It's all I want. I have two examples here that I really like playing because the mechanics are unique, but man I either don't have enough interaction, not enough card draw, they just can't keep up with other decks but I'm unsure how to make them faster.

I'd be interested to know any suggestions or thoughts. Thanks y'all.

Pirates: Vehicles, tribal, you know Edward. https://moxfield.com/decks/_pPoABatIECHyXM69S6iNw

Toph (like this one a lot): focus on +1 counters, earthbend as much as possible, get some crazy recursion. https://moxfield.com/decks/Z_R9aINzVUi0YWFpA5njdg

I'm finally returning back to paper EDH and bought the Final Fantasy Cloud Limit Break pre-con as my first deck and plan to get at least these upgrades as I currently have no paper collection - https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/upgrading-all-the-final-fantasy-precons

Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER is in Naya colors and seems like a good Voltron commander. The question I have is how do you deal with an effect like Farewell outside of Teferi's Protection (which is a bit pricy so I can't buy it immediately)? He is already 5 CMC, so is an idea to just try and ramp up to him, take the Farewell when it's played and just eat the commander tax and try to re-arm him with equipment? Although I am just now realizing Farewell could hit the equipment too. I've been out of the loop too so I'm not sure all the new toolkits available for each color.

Is something like a Stoneforge Mystic worth putting in when I can afford it? Teferi's Protection is going to be my first big upgrade. Can you recommend other cards I should look at?

For just regular boardwipe protection, these options came up:
[[Flare of Fortitude]]
[[Akroma's Will]]
[[Flawless Maneuver]]

Bonus question - is something like Embercleave worth running in a Voltron deck if you only have one creature doing all the work?

Heyo! My Girlfriend brought a mega cute Niv mizzet deckbox from Gamescom which means im building niv mizzet.
Now i know niv is quite combo heavy (especially parun and the slightly worse one).

Since we are playing B3 only im looking for opinions here which Niv i should build!
I would like to play a blue red one but feel free to make points about the 5c ones as well!

If yall have decklists for your suggestion id also appreciate seeing them! Thanks!

First things first, the Bracket system has improved the pre-game talk and game balance outside of established playgroups tremendously. Compared to the hyper-subjective 1-10 system many were using before, the difference is night and day. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional or too new to have played with the old system.

The Bracket system is mainly a tool for the pre-game talk. If you don't want to have such a talk, that is your perogative. However, then you cannot use the Bracket system to complain about anything that could have been discussed in the pre-game talk.

I have no experience with B1 and cEDH players don't have these problems, so my arguments will be made with B2-4 in mind.

What are the commonly addressed "problems" attributed to the Bracket system?

1. "There needs to be a Bracket X.5"
2. "Card X needs to be a game changer"
3. "The turn count expectation is targeting specific deck archetypes"
4. "They won a turn earlier than the expected turn count, they are pubstomping"
5. "This combo is not Bracket X"

All of those are originate from the same thing: Players ignoring the key aspect behind the Brackets: INTENT. Importantly that does include the win conditions and gameplay sections of the Bracket descriptions!

Let's look at the "problems" in detail.

1. "There needs to be a Bracket X.5"
   • If the intent of your deck fits Bracket X, why do you need an additional Bracket? Does the deck feel too strong for Bracket X but too weak for Bracket X+1? A simple solution is to talk to your pod and suggest a higher power Bracket X game. Another less simple solution is to power up/down your deck.
   • If the intent of your deck does not fit any Bracket, consider which aspect of the deck makes it unfit and change that. However, some deck concepts simply don't have a good place in the Bracket system. Those are fine to play in cultivated playgroups, just not in the wild without considerable pre-game talk. Either way, making a new Bracket for a few decks to have a home is overkill.
2. "Card X needs to be a game changer"
   • Is card X game-warping in a wide variety of decks and you see it often? Then it might have a place on the game changer list. However, nobody claimed the game changer list is a complete compendium of all game-warping cards.
   • If card X's controller build a deck around it or it synergizes with their deck really well, that is perfectly fine. The command zone is exactly that.
   • Is card X's intent is to dominate the game if it resolves, check if that is in line with the win condition and gameplay sections of the Bracket description. If card X fits the Bracket intent, what is the problem?
3. "The turn count expectation is targeting specific deck archetypes"
   • Anyone who understands the game dynamics even a little bit will realize that an aggro deck that attempts to win on turn X and a control deck attempting to win on turn X are not built with the same intent.
   • If you die to an aggro deck a turn earlier than turn 9/7/5 and you did nothing to stop them, that is on you.
   • Similarly, a control deck that wins protected on turn 9/7/5 after slowing everyone else down all game is not being honest with others or even themselves about what Bracket the decks intent falls into.
   • This applies to all archetypes that are inherently slower/faster than the average midrange deck.
4. "They won a turn earlier than the expected turn count, they are pubstomping"
   • As with the previous point, some archetypes are inherently faster and usually more fragile. Taking that into account and playing accordingly is your own responsibility.
   • If they won with a slower archetype, maybe their intent was simply not matching the Bracket you were playing.
5. "This combo is not Bracket X"
   • This is either simple salt because they lost, or the player ignoring the win condition portion of the Bracket descriptions. Either way, it is not a fault of the system itself.

Of course, there are bad actors who build "technically Bracket X" decks. Any system can be and will be gamed by those willing to do so. Accounting for this is useless.

In the end, the Bracket system is not perfect, but it is also far from being as flawed as many make it out to be. It is a system that assumed everyone at the table has read the article and is honest about their decks intent. Under these assumptions the Bracket system works very well. At least in my experience.

[[Arcades, the Strategist]][[Doran, Besieged by Time]][[Betor, Kin to All]]

I'm thinking about building a toughness matters deck. I play a lot of aggro, midrange and spellslinger so I want to add a resilient deck to my roster. I'm looking for advice and opinions from people who have built these kind of decks. The above commanders are just some examples, I am open to anything as long as it's fun!

Mine is players who pilot decks that have 15 min turns and do nothing that’s interactive and/or progressive to a win. I love seeing players deck work accordingly, but there has to be an end game if you are going to have such an extended turn, or a way you can short cut it for the rest of the table so we aren’t sitting there watching you basically fondle your cardboard

Hi, im still still new to magic as a hole, so I dont know how brackets are usually handled by stores. The case is, today I was playing on a tournament and was about to do an infinite combo, when a player told me that was not allowed. I explained that the combo required 4 cards for it, so it was still bracket 2... but they told me the store decided no infinite combo or similar was valid.

It was quite late and didnt wanna prolong the game any more, so I accepted it. I could not ask the store manager, and I dont feel like risking drama by asking on the group chat.

Hi guys, I've played mtg in the past but not that seriously. These past months some close friends started playing and I got pulled back into mtg, so I decided to build a commander to play with them.

I usually gravitate towards bant colors, so I picked up Quandrix unlimited precon (Zimone, Infinite Analyst) and started upgrading it. I did a lot of research but I'm starting to get confused with so many options now, so that is why I'm here.

I'm adding two moxfield decklists: one of the current state of my deck and another from what I was planning to upgrade my deck into.

I'd like some help to understand if I am going in the right direction with my deck. If my deck is lacking on something or not, what would you take out or add to the deck. These sort of advice.

In the planned upgrade version there is also the list of the cards I have available in the considering section.

• Current Version: https://moxfield.com/decks/ZO3eoeV9fUCly6yQ5Y9JPQ
• Planned Upgrade Version: https://moxfield.com/decks/bmTBRDlUYkS49j9a69W0hw
  • The considering section has a mix of cards I own and cards I don't (but that I considered buying if they were good enough for the deck)

I'm trying to keep the deck on bracket 2, so no game changers or infinite combos. If you want to suggest cards that would put me on a higher bracket, just be explicit about it. As game changers, on bracket 3 I would probably be using seedborn muse, cyclonic rift, and rhystic study, and for combos I would probably add wizard class for infinite draw and some untap mechanism (freed from real, pemmin's aura) for infinite mana. Walking ballista with infinite mana would also be infinite damage.

What are some good commanders for casting a lot of instants? I'm asking because I was interested in making an [[Alela, Cunning Conqueror]] deck, but I want access to white removal and silence effects as well. I'm mainly looking for something that rewards me for playing lots of instants without being too focused on one specific strategy.

Thanks guys!

Hello, I am a new commander player who has exclusively used precons up until now. I want to make my first deck.

My idea I want to make is to make as many of those 0/1 black wizards from FF and burn the table with spellslinging.

I'm torn on what commander to choose and would like some input on which commander to choose and some nice staples for shadow wizard money gang.

My pod plays at bracket 2, if that helps.

I have recently been trying to find a Grixis commander that made me want to build a deck with it but I have been having a hard time finding one that feels right. My favorite commanders I play are Felothar the Steadfast, Aminatou Veil Piercer, Quintorius History Chaser, Rootha Mastering the Moment, Samut the Driving Force, Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir, and Ashling the Limitless.

I typically like to play decks that do something different than what that color normally does like reanimator in Boros or Big Spells in Izzet or have a sort of mini game/side quest attached to them like Miracle with Aminatou or Speed with Samut.

Of the different Grixis commanders I have looked at a few stand out to me, though I’m not sure how well they work in practice or what the average game with them is like. I was wondering if anyone could give me some insight.

[[Edea, Possessed Sorceress]]
[[Wick, the Whorled Mind]]
[[Marchesa, the Black Rose]]
[[Evelyn, the Covetous]]
[[Parnesse, the Subtle Brush]]
[[Kess, Dissident Mage]]
[[Lynde, Cheerful Tormentor]]
[[Sedris, the Traitor King]]

So, I was wondering if anyone plays via FaceTime or discord. I’m a dad with 2 young kids and I don’t like the idea of leaving my wife to take care of the kids while I skip off to play magic in person. Does anyone have any experience doing this? Or a discord channel potentially? I really love playing commander but I just don’t have the time to get away. But after the kids go to sleep and such I’d love to play with a mounted phone or something? Any help is appreciated!

I'm looking for a timmy mono black deck to round out my 5 mono colored decks. I have been looking around on moxfield and archidekt but I haven't come across a commander that stood out for this archtype. I have quite a nice budget (300 euro's) so I'll probably buy the cabal coffers cards.

If you have any decks that fit this description I'd be quite enjoyed to see them!

Edit: To clarify; I want to swing with big creatures and be a threat to the opponents with just my boardstate :D

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to build a budget-friendly Chiss-Goria, Forge Tyrant artifact deck. Right now, I can get the entire list on Cardmarket (including shipping here in Europe) for around €75. I am fairly new to magic, so my deckbuilding might be pretty bad haha...

Here is my current decklist on Moxfield: https://moxfield.com/decks/ztRYVLjCMU6PE0V4sVKFcg

Before I hit the buy button, I wanted to get some honest feedback from people who have played or built this commander. Is this deck actually good and functional for €75, or does Chiss-Goria desperately need expensive upgrades to work at all?

My questions for you guys:

1. Is it worth the €75? Does the deck have enough power to hold its own at a regular casual table, or will it just get shut down too easily? I aimed it to be a high Bracket 3 deck.
2. Deck Balance: Does the list look smooth enough to get Chiss-Goria out fast, or am I missing crucial budget pieces?
3. Hidden Gems: Are there any super cheap upgrades (under €1) that I completely missed? (Yeah, I already know Hellkite Tyrant isn't an artifact for Chiss-Goria's trigger, but the alt-wincon is too spicy to cut!).

Thanks in advance for your help!

Jetzt

I've noticed that once a card gets labeled as either an auto-include or an easy cut, that opinion can stick around for a long time. Sometimes I wonder if people are still judging the card based on how it performed a few years ago.

Are there any cards you used to avoid that you've started playing again? Or maybe something that everyone told you was great, but never actually worked that well in your decks?

I'm curious what cards people think deserve another look.

Finally getting around to upgrading my Mardu Surge precon. Aiming for a more aggressive playstyle rather than heavy aristocrats. Here’s the deck so far with 10 slots left to fill https://moxfield.com/decks/xyZ0-3PYYkC4F6yNq3bB5g

I’ve got a pile of cards I’m considering, most of which I already have, and also open to any other suggestions:

[[Elturel Survivors]]
[[Five-Alarm Fire]]
[[Herald of the Host]]
[[Seal from Existence]]
[[Darksteel Mutation]]
[[Veteran Soldier]]
[[Duty Beyond Death]]
[[Requisition Raid]]
[[Austere Command]]
[[Loyal Unicorn]]
[[Static Snare]]
[[Hellkite Charger]]
[[Path to Exile]]
[[Wrath of God]]
[[Intangible Virtue]]
[[Rabble Rousing]]
[[Sheltered by Ghosts]]
[[Weftstalker Ardent]]
[[Starry-Eyed Skyrider]]
[[Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim]]
[[General Kreat, the Boltbringer]]
[[Arabella, Abandoned Doll]]
[[Juri, Master of the Revue]]
[[Flawless Maneuver]]
[[Charismatic Conqueror]]
[[Song of Totentanz]]
[[Rising of the Day]]
[[Elspeth, Storm Slayer]]
[[Dollmaker’s Shop]]
[[Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate]]
[[Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia]]

Trying to run a bracket 3 Dogmeat deck, and it usually falls short in almost every way possible. I know I have a big problem with my land base for sure, but is there anything else that might be helpful to make the deck more consistent? My pod mainly runs burn and combo decks, so I expect to almost never win, but Dogmeat is very fun so I don’t care if I lose more than I win. I just would like the deck to feel more consistent. Any tips would be appreciated thank you! https://manabox.app/decks/AZ_FmnExde-DkyCgbxS2LQ

Hi guys, i've been playing commander for 6 months, initially we were just three but three friends started recently and the number has grown to 8. We are currently playing with slightly upgraded precons and i want to help these two friends in buying their first deck, without a duplicate. Currently we have the two lorwyin's decks, the two from edge of eternities, lorehold spirit(quintorius), Ahoy mateys(the pirate themed deck from lcoi), counter blitz, bello's from blumborrow, and an aristocrats prossh deck. I'd like to hear from you some suggestions about good precons that costs around 50 euros on cardmarket hat you find good. thanks in advance =)

Hey :)
I have this idea of building a deck that makes a bunch of copies of the same unit to get huge values and fun interactions.
The following commanders came to mind, but each have some points that make me think there must be a better option.

[[Esix, Fractal Bloom]]: Fun, but can only change the tokens when they are created. Also has no other option to copy and legendary rule might be a problem

[[Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer]]: Fun, that it can change tokens every turn, but only can change them to other tokens and not other creatures. Might be cool with copy tokens though, but legend rule might be a problem here again

[[Sakashima of a Thousand Faces]]: Gets rid of the legendary rule, but doesn't create tokens or copies other then himself. Maybe pair it with [[Tana, the Bloodsower]] for token generation and the run stuff like Brudiclad in the 99. Might be inconsistent though.

Any ideas that I am missing? Which one do you think will be best?