Staples?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Nov. 25, 2020, 2:55 p.m. by VampDemigod
Hey all! What cards do YOU define as EDH staples?
RNR_Gaming says... #3
Something that can slot into any deck/archetype and produce good results. Ramp and interaction are going to make up the majority of most of the suggestion but there are also commander dependent staples. For example; King Macar, the Gold-Cursed - things like Springleaf Drum and Smuggler's Copter should be in every list worth its weight in sleeves.
November 25, 2020 3:44 p.m.
griffstick says... #4
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth and Cabal Coffers and Expedition Map goes in every one of my mono black decks.
November 25, 2020 5:31 p.m.
Omniscience_is_life says... #5
Staple: (STAY-pull) noun
A card that is in consideration for all decks that can legally run it, e.g. Demonic Tutor, Rampant Growth, et cetera.
November 25, 2020 5:42 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #6
Omniscience_is_life really? You went Demonic Tutor over Vampiric Tutor?
November 25, 2020 6:49 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #7
Is it wrong for me to think that true staples are lands or colorless? Like, the TRUEST of true staples? Those can go in ANY deck...right? Like Copper Tablet? Just stirring the pot ;p
November 25, 2020 7:20 p.m.
A_box_of_waffles says... #10
FormOverFunction that’s actually so broken, I think that should be considered a staple
November 26, 2020 1:22 a.m.
plakjekaas says... #11
Staples aren't cards that CAN go in any deck though, staples are cards that SHOULD go in any deck that's allowed to play them by color identity.
There's plenty of decks that shouldn't run Copper Tablet :P
November 26, 2020 5:12 a.m.
GenericToaster says... #12
Part of my personal thoughts on what a staple is, is that it would be good on practically any budget. This means cards like Cabal Coffers belong in every mono black deck that can afford it, but the fact that its so out of price range for many makes it not so much a staple in my view. there isn't really a hard budget limit on what that is, but its usually less than $10
This list isn't exhaustive, but some of my staples are Command Tower, Exotic Orchard, any tri-tap from Alara block (Arcane Sanctum), Arcane Signet, any guild signet (Azorius Signet), Gilded Lotus, Everflowing Chalice, Astral Cornucopia
I might get flack for the last two, but they're perfect for the speed of my playgroup at least, but I imagine they'd scale in to cEDH quite poorly
November 26, 2020 8:36 a.m.
plakjekaas says... #13
An EDH staple is a card that will fit your deck without trying to. A card that you don't need to build around, that will perform well despite the plan of your deck.
Cultivate is considered a staple, since it provides a very efficient effect that will enhance any green deck, you don't need other cards for synergy. Ramping a land + ensuring your next land drop makes any deck more consistent and easier to play. You'd pretty much need a reason not to include it in a deck that's eligible to play it.
Hardened Scales is not really a staple, because it doesn't do anything on its own, you need other cards, a theme in your deck to make it work. There's plenty green decks that wouldn't want it, you'd need a reason to do include it into a deck that's eligible to play it.
That's how I'd define staples in magic, cards you'd need to defend not to include in your deck, if you're allowed to play them.
(Obviously, there's a lot of reasons not to include certain staples in your deck, inclusion of a card in a deck will always create a spectrum of opinions from all people you'd ask about it. But the less anyone would object to include the same card in multiple decks, the more that card could be considered a staple)
November 26, 2020 9:11 a.m.
SteelSentry says... #14
Do you guys consider pet cards that are goodstuff to be staples? For example, I try to jam Telepathy into every deck with blue that I brew, because I consider it a 'personal staple', even if nobody else I know runs it.
November 26, 2020 1:47 p.m.
Omniscience_is_life says... #15
I actually quite the idea of a personal staple SteelSentry. Not sure if I’d count it though
November 26, 2020 4:38 p.m.
VampDemigod says... #16
Oh, Ghirapur Orrery is 100% my personal staple. It goes in literally every deck I build in paper. I must have somewhere between 25 and 50 at this point in time (it used to be $0.25, and I bought a ton back then).
November 26, 2020 5:35 p.m.
Tropical_December says... #17
I think there are different types of staples:
Staples of the format which can go in every deck, think how Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth should be played in every deck and is thus a staple of the format itself, as well as Mana Crypt, the free to cast if you have your commander out instants of C2020, fetch lands, and duals.
Then we have staples of a color, take Thassa's Oracle + Demonic Consultation for any deck running blue and black, or Veil of Summer and dorks for green, white will always want to play Smothering Tithe, and the red Wheel of Fortune.
Certainly there are also staple commanders, the partnership of Thrasios and something else is always going to be strong, then theres Kraum, Kenrith, Najeela, Gitrog, and Skullbriar.
November 26, 2020 6:59 p.m.
Card draw spells like Sylvan Library Phyrexian Arena Necropotence Rhystic Study Mystic Remora
Turn 1 green ramp like Birds of Paradise Wild Growth Utopia Sprawl Llanowar Elves Fyndhorn Elves Deathrite Shaman
Extreme value plays like Defense of the Heart The Great Henge
Win conditions like Triumph of the Hordes Craterhoof Behemoth
These are all staples of the format.
FormOverFunction says... #2
Aside from basic lands, I usually try to steer clear of the staples. Generally rocks like Sol Ring and Fellwar Stone usually strike me as super fundamental, as do lands like Command Tower. When I’m trying to bullseye other people’s staples, like with Dwarven Shrine or Cabal Shrine, I usually think of counterspells like Cancel or Counterspell and land ramp like Cultivate and whatnot. Super utility stuff like that is what I think of when I think about staples.
November 25, 2020 3:27 p.m.