Looking for more strategies
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on April 5, 2017, 6:25 p.m. by DrukenReaps
So I've got a decent number of decks now but I'm looking to build as many different strategies as I can. Right now I've got tokens, ninja slug, bug mana sinks and X-spells, pillow fort and colorless toolbox. Many of these are still in progress so lists on here may not be accurate.
I don't like oppressive strategies like Leovold, Emissary of Trest and other heavy control things. I love things that either win a bite at a time or all at once while either outright helping or doing very little to hinder the table. I have the most fun when everybody plays the game, so I was thinking of building a voltron and a group hug next.
However I want to come up with something weird for both. I've looked over a lot of hug lists and they seem to like to win with x-spells like my sultai list or try to be oppressive with things that say "as long as you control this you cant play creatures." Is there another way for a hug deck to win?
I've played several different versions of voltron one with yidris which I may revisit another was narset which was linear and boring. The average voltron strategy I know will bore me, so are there any odd ball ones that could be interesting?
Any other strategies which prove challenging to win with or play out in interesting or different ways every time?
If you want to play a group hug deck that goes against the grain, try looking at my Teen Titans (Group Hug Meren) deck. I took the normally hated, cEDH Meren of Clan Nel Toth and turned her into an eldrazi hug machine. To be fair, there isn't many win conditions as they kind of just fall into your lap and you make the choice to swing with infinite 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn and 1/1 Eldrazi Scion tokens or to simply pass the turn or even be a king-maker.
I'd honestly pick a multi-colored commander you've wanted to play for a while, didn't know how you might put your own perspective on it and see what you can do with a few group hug cards thrown into the mix. You don't have to go Hippos like everyone else.
April 5, 2017 8:28 p.m.
...TappedOut. I tried to edit and talk about voltron but I guess I'll do a double post. Silly me for trying thinking too fast and posting before writing everything...
As for voltron, I recommend looking at my Samurai Jack (Equipment Voltron Kataki, Wars Wage) deck. I took Kataki, War's Wage and threw in some artifacts to see what would happen. Surprisingly, I found out that it actually worked. Sure, it's almost like hatebearing myself, but it really didn't hurt me much and I could ultimately screw over some other Artifact decks later too.
What I recommend is picking which voltron style you want to play: Artifacts or Auras? Bludgeon Brawl is a thing. Once you know which one you want to play, then look for a commander who fits a few rough card ideas you want to play. Lastly, to avoid that 'bland' feeling, put in something along the lines of a hinderance. Nothing too bad, but something to shape the way you play and keep the game interesting as you are trying to constantly figure out what is happening at the same time as your opponents.
April 5, 2017 8:39 p.m.
chaosumbreon87 says... #5
any consideration into chaos slug (Norin, rakdos, jaleva)? its pretty decent and always pretty different each game
April 6, 2017 2:10 a.m.
griffstick says... #6
I once made a Basilisk Collar deck where almost every creature had either or both deathtouch and lifelink. It was a fun deck.
April 6, 2017 3:35 a.m.
landofMordor says... #7
I'm with a lot of users above who say Voltron is a boring and linear strategy (even if it's effective). However, there is a thrill in eliminating somebody in a single combat. If you're willing to broaden from simply "voltron" to "explosive wins", I'd go with Kresh the Bloodbraided (or Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest, or Ghave, Guru of Spores) and Fling-style effects as a win con. I've got a list called Blood-Braided Beatdown (Primer) of this type.
For the group hug, I'd try to combo your way to a win. Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis can make a good land-creatures control/combo deck, with Jeskai Ascendancy and Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper, and so on. Group hug keeps you alive until the combo comes online, and WG has plenty of tutors for enchantments. My list for them is Kynaios and Tiro EDH ($40 Budget).
Obviously, though, other lists can only take you so far. If you get a clearer idea of what you want, hit me up and I'll be glad to look at your list.
April 6, 2017 11:07 a.m.
DrukenReaps says... #8
Thanks for floating some ideas guys.
SageOfStone i like your name. jeleva seems pretty interesting.
Eiti3 teen titans gives me some things to think about.
landofMordor explosive wins seems like a better way to think about voltron and makes me wanna make Atogatog... he seems funny.
chaosumbreon87 im devolping my ninjas into a slug deck, though im not entirely sure they really are a slug deck. still working on it...
griffstick themes are always a good way to develop an idea.
April 6, 2017 5:45 p.m.
chaosumbreon87 says... #9
if you link the ninja slug deck ill try to help. Hopefully its not confused for stax (oppressive) rather than chaos (wtf is going on)
April 6, 2017 6:33 p.m.
DrukenReaps says... #10
chaosumbreon87 oh it isnt chaos, i saw slug and thought oh my ninjas is trying to do that kinda. Lets Play A Ninja Game the idea is to bleed everyone which i think fits group slug, maybe im wrong.
April 6, 2017 6:54 p.m.
chaosumbreon87 says... #11
sorry to say but the deck is more aggro/combo than anything group slug is like if you wanna play stax but youre not mean so your playing punishing group hug. stuff like seizan, forced fruition, general prison, burn, etc. if you want a reading article: Group Slug. good luck with ninjas though.
April 6, 2017 7:11 p.m.
DrukenReaps says... #12
chaosumbreon87 i was kinda thinking that.... thats fine though means i have room for a group slug deck :D
April 6, 2017 7:31 p.m.
chaosumbreon87 says... #13
I mean there is also the long forgotten aikido archetype where you literally use your opponents' resources and strength against them.
April 6, 2017 7:56 p.m.
scatteredsun says... #14
Red/Green Thromok the Insatiable Voltron. Add some fling effects and you can attack, taking one person out, then fling Thromok and take another one out.
April 7, 2017 8:07 p.m.
landofMordor says... #15
chaosumbreon87, do you know of a decklist that exemplifies the Akido Archetype? You piqued my interest(:
April 8, 2017 8:13 a.m.
chaosumbreon87 says... #16
I dont have a decklist off the top of my head but most marchesa grixis lists do the same with creatures. Steal creatures, sac them, you get the creature back (forever or until it or the owner dies) if it had a +1/+1 counter. ill try to find a list... eventually
April 8, 2017 9:13 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #17
I have a personal decklist for aikido if that's okay: Stop Hitting Yourself! (Silumgar Primer)
SageOfStone says... #2
You should build Jeleva with no wincons in your deck and just win with whatever you get from everybody else. That was good fun when I played it.
Try out Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief as a Voltron commander. She can be a bit oppressive to creature strats, but she is magnificent at laser beaming people off the field. And its surprisingly hard to block her. I think voltron is inherently linear and boring though. I remember my old Drana deck was fun to play with.
April 5, 2017 6:47 p.m.