List of EDH Staples and Power Cards

Commander / EDH* Epochalyptik

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alexsmith21 says... #1

gufymike helped explain what I meant. The 'Sort by' feature already allows users to sort the cards by how they please. Rather than make a bunch of separate lists, I'd suggest just adding a quick blurb to the description about how to leverage these features for newer players.

June 26, 2013 6:23 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... #2

Easy enough. I'll do that.

June 26, 2013 6:37 p.m.

TheCommonFig says... #3

These aren't all the best at what they do, but I'd argue they still see enough play to merit inclusion.

Aven Mindcensor
Mystifying Maze
Spin into Myth
Whispersilk Cloak

June 28, 2013 10 p.m.

rapha_seraph says... #4

Magister Sphinx , every Esper or 5-color deck should have this one. You were discussing about Sorin Markov right now, isn't it!?

Also Bitter Ordeal , a finish in all sort of BW combo decks (Karador, Sharuum, Teysa, etc.), and an awesome hate removal if used early game.

June 29, 2013 11:48 p.m.

Krayhaft says... #5

I think the entire "increasing" rare cycle from DKA should be here, save Increasing Savagery . They all have their uses in their respective decks.

June 29, 2013 11:51 p.m.

KingSorin says... #6

No Mana Leak ? Or Unmake ? They're both quite powerful cards. It may be a bit limited (since it's 2 colours) unlike Exsanguinate , but Debt to the Deathless X for even 3 can have large impacts on the game, since there are so many players to drain life from. Does Rancor deserve a spot? I think you missed Tarmogoyf also. Also, where's Dark Confidant . Is he a bit underwhelming in edh? I'm going by formats that i'm more familiar with (i'm fairly new to edh) but those two are powerful enough to deserve spots aren't they? Also, Eiganjo Castle is probably the best of them but the kamigawa legendary mono-coloured lands are quite powerful in EDH.

June 30, 2013 10:55 p.m.

FatFailKid says... #7

No Magus of the Library it is a Library of Alexandria for green that is not banned in EDH

July 1, 2013 5:11 p.m.

Bellock86 says... #8

Mana Leak is very underpowered in edh. U need hard counters in edh. Also Dark Confidant is potential suicide in edh because of how high cmc can run.

July 1, 2013 5:20 p.m.

Izzet says... #9

Omniscience should be on here.

July 2, 2013 3:47 a.m.

@rapha_seraph: Magister Sphinx is a bit underwhelming compared to Sorin Markov . Whereas Sorin has the flexibility to do several things, Magister Sphinx is kind of a hail mary play. It's a fun card, but I don't know if it really deserves a spot on the list.

Bitter Ordeal is questionable. I don't think it's flexible enough to be on the list. It's basically just a Memoricide effect, and I hesitate to include cards that serve as infinite combo finishers because the card itself isn't really what provides the power at that point.

@Krayhaft: I could tentatively see Increasing Vengeance being decent, but I'm unconvinced that Increasing Confusion and Increasing Devotion are really that powerful.

@KingSorin: Mana Leak is in a bit of an awkward spot when it comes to EDH. It can serve as a decent counterspell in the early game and when the opponent is running low on mana, but it isn't a guaranteed answer, especially in longer games. Thoughts?

Rancor is a bit underwhelming in EDH. It's alright in Voltron or fatty decks, but it's not fantastic. I may include it, though.

Tarmogoyf is bad in EDH. It's a phenomenal card in Modern and Legacy, but it doesn't do enough in EDH - it usually ends up being a dumb beatstick. Utility is the name of the game, so Tarmogoyf is, unfortunately, an underperformer in the format.

Dark Confidant isn't really something you want to play in EDH unless you have one of those Ad Nauseam combo decks and need the advantage. The ability is very risky in a format that likes to use high-cost cards, and you may end up killing yourself (or at least making you an easy target).

@FatFailKid: I haven't had any experience with Magus of the Library . Have you seen it perform well during games?

July 2, 2013 4:19 a.m.

FatFailKid says... #11

July 2, 2013 4:26 a.m.

Added. I suppose this opens the discussion for the RTR-block guild charms. Thoughts?

July 2, 2013 4:32 a.m.

rapha_seraph says... #13

I think they all could fit in some list, but I don't know if one of them could be considered a EDH staple. The 3 colored from Alara have a better power level, but maybe Rakdos Charm could be add here because of its versatility, its first and second effects are really important in commander, but I don't think the same about the other charms.

July 2, 2013 4:53 a.m.

ms says... #14

Lotus Vale is a great card in a mono coloured deck. Quicksilver Amulet and Quietus Spike are good for getting high cost creatures onto the battlefield early and just like abolishing opponents

July 2, 2013 4:30 p.m.

gufymike says... #15

On the rtr charms, I rarely use them in EDH builds and considering dropping the two I have in a grixis deck from it for better cards, but all in all, Dimir Charm has two useful abilities in any deck, the destroy creature power of 2 or less and counter target sorcery.

July 2, 2013 4:33 p.m.

Lotus Vale is strictly worse than a basic land in any mono-colored deck. Either would give you a third mana, but Lotus Vale forces you to sac two untapped lands, which means Strip Mine becomes a triple Time Walk .

July 2, 2013 4:39 p.m.

ms says... #17

Lotus Vale adds three though and how about Quicksilver Amulet and Quietus Spike

July 2, 2013 4:51 p.m.

TheCommonFig says... #18

I wouldn't consider the RTR charms to be EDH staples or power cards. Rakdos Charm might be worth adding, as rapha_seraph mentioned, but the rest seem underwhelming.

July 2, 2013 5 p.m.

You have two lands in play.

  1. You play a basic land. You can produce three mana, one from each of three different sources. You can tutor for the basic land with innumerous effects.
  2. You play Lotus Vale . You must sacrifice both lands without being able to tap them. You can produce three mana of only one color from one source. The nonbasic land is harder to tutor.

Clearly, #1 is the better situation because you can't get blown out by LD. A single LD effect, especially the prevalent Strip Mine , will set you back three lands if you play Lotus Vale , but only one if you play something else instead.

Quicksilver Amulet could be included. I don't usually see Quietus Spike in decks, though. It's a cute effect, but it seems unnecessary a lot of the time.

July 2, 2013 5:05 p.m.

ms says... #20

fair enough but at the start of a game you can do some major damage with Quicksilver Amulet and Quietus Spike out

July 2, 2013 5:20 p.m.

Any card can be good in an ideal situation. The test is whether it continues to be relevant in unideal situations. Quietus Spike costs 3 to play and 3 to equip, and the creature needs to connect for combat damage. It can be good, but there are other, better things you could do with your deck space.

July 2, 2013 5:40 p.m.

KingSorin says... #22

Forest , Swamp , Plains , Island and Mountain should all see mentions. They're used in pretty much every top-tier EDH deck. They're easily tutorable and almost every deck uses at least one of them.

July 3, 2013 3:17 a.m.

capriom85 says... #23

Is Geist of Saint Traft any good in EDH?

July 3, 2013 6:37 p.m.

gufymike says... #24

As a commander capriom85 and with the new rules coming into effect, he's expected to be a powerhouse, with only a few real ways to deal with him. Voltron him up and it gets scary.

July 3, 2013 6:39 p.m.

Geist of Saint Traft is playable as a general, but his effectiveness as a creature is kind of limited. You don't really want to play creatures that are only good as beatsticks, especially if they're small.

@KingSorin: I noticed that a lot of losing decks also play those cards. Maybe the GURU versions increase your chances?

July 3, 2013 6:41 p.m.

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