How to Shuffle...
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Sept. 3, 2016, 10:49 p.m. by Homura_Akemi
What is the best way to shuffle your commander deck? By best I mean most effective, quick, and easy. I am new to the format and just bought the Wade Into Battle Commander 2015 deck yesterday at FNM. Before I start playing or upgrading my deck, I was wondering how to shuffle all 99 cards. It seems like a lot compared to the limited 40 or standard/modern 60 I usually play, but I want to try this format out because it seems like a blast. Thanks guys!
Homura_Akemi says... #4
I sleeved my cards with Ultra Pro, so they don't have much friction.
September 3, 2016 11:13 p.m.
Raging_Squiggle says... #5
Well, my first suggestion, albeit not about shuffling, would be to grab some dragon shields. Preferably the matte ones. Ultra Pro's are good for a little while, but they start sticking and the corners get worn the more you shuffle and use them.
Now, on to my shuffling technique:
I usually double sleeve my cards, so you can imagine trying to shuffle 150~ card size deck is rather hard. I cut the deck into 2 or 3 smaller piles, then shuffle those 2 piles together like this. Then I cut that now 1 pile back into 2, and pick up another pile and repeat until I'm satisfied.
September 3, 2016 11:17 p.m.
I double sleeve my cards and I do a smash shuffle, without actual smashing.
Cut the deck in half, put one over the other with the top half at an angle, then push GENTLY together with the bottom corners first.
Be sure it's bottom corners first as if you go from the top you can get cards pushing into other cards sleeves which can damage them.
September 3, 2016 11:27 p.m.
I do what azire does but I also kind of bridge them in my hand its a lot faster becauase the cards fall in place quickly instead of trying to mash 100 double sleeved cards together. It is also easier to drop the bottoms to the table and push them together with the side of the cards facing you instead of actually mashing them because you just kind of jiggle them into place.
September 4, 2016 12:02 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #9
This thread was moved to a more appropriate forum (auto-generated comment)
September 4, 2016 12:31 a.m.
mathimus55 says... #10
I rifle shuffle my decks(which are always double sleeved) by taking the 100 card deck and cutting it into 2 50ish card stacks, shuffling them separating a few times, then cutting the top 25ish cards from each to make 2 new and different piles and shuffling them. That makes sure that I don't have the same general order for the cards every time. It's also easier to shuffle 50 cards at a time than 100, but I do shuffle the whole thing a couple times before we draw.
September 4, 2016 10:49 a.m.
Homura_Akemi says... #11
Thanks guys your suggestions are great. @Quiet says it all
September 4, 2016 11:28 a.m.
Tortuous_TG18 says... #12
All I do (and it is time consuming) is that I cut the deck into 2 approximately equal pieces, then shuffle each "half" like any other deck. Then I repeat 6 times to be sure.BTW The Wade Into Battle deck is a good choice for starting out, but I'd recommend the deck featuring Ezuri, Claw of Progress because that deck is utterly brutal.
Sim_Will_CMcantfindmehopefully says... #2
It depends on preference, I can riffle (bridge) shuffle a 200 card deck easy, some people prefer pile which I personally hate, some ugh... spread? there decks into an amorphous thing and out it together, and many just cut repeatedly. The only things that you should do is make it clear that you are not cheating (I enjoy magic tricks but can't do fancy cuts as they look shady), be time efficient, don't damage the cards, and have it be reasonably random.
September 3, 2016 10:58 p.m.