Commander, also known as EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander), is a popular format in Magic: The Gathering that allows you to build a singleton deck around a legendary creature. The goal is to reduce your opponents' life total to 0, making it a unique and engaging way to play the game. If you're new to Commander or looking to spice up your existing deck, you've come to the right place. Let's explore some exciting Commander deck ideas.
Before we dive into specific deck ideas, let's discuss some key aspects of building a Commander deck. Firstly, choose a legendary creature that resonates with you. This will be the centerpiece of your deck and should reflect your playstyle. Secondly, consider the colors of your deck. Each color in Magic has its own strengths and weaknesses, so choose colors that complement your commander's abilities. Lastly, think about the strategy you want to employ. Do you want to go wide with lots of small creatures, or tall with powerful bombs? The possibilities are endless.
Tribal Decks
Tribal decks focus on a specific creature type, such as Humans, Elves, or Vampires. These decks aim to overwhelm your opponents with a swarm of creatures, often utilizing tribal synergies to boost their power and toughness. Tribal decks can be quite competitive, as they can quickly overrun your opponents with sheer numbers.
When building a tribal deck, consider the strengths and weaknesses of the chosen creature type. For example, Humans have access to powerful lord effects, while Elves can ramp quickly with their mana dorks. Additionally, look for tribal-specific cards that can help you cheat creatures onto the battlefield or protect them from removal.
Human Tribal
Human tribal decks are popular due to the powerful lords and tribal synergies available in white and red. Consider using a commander like Purphoros, God of the Forge or Athreos, God of Passage to capitalize on the Human theme. Your deck should include plenty of one-drop Humans to quickly establish a board presence, as well as powerful lords like Captain of the Watch and Adeline, Resplendent Cathar.
To make your Human tribal deck more competitive, consider adding cards like Trostani's Judgment and Intangible Virtue to boost your creatures' power and toughness. Additionally, include removal spells to deal with threats and board wipes to clear the way for your Human army.
Elf Tribal
Elf tribal decks are all about ramping quickly and overwhelming your opponents with a massive board presence. Green is the primary color for Elf tribal, but you can splash other colors for additional synergies. Consider using a commander like Ezuri, Renegade Leader or Selvala, Heart of the Wilds to lead your Elf horde.
Your Elf tribal deck should include plenty of mana dorks, like Elvish Mystic and Fyndhorn Elves, to ramp quickly. Additionally, look for cards like Beast Within and Overrun to take advantage of your massive board presence. To protect your Elves from removal, consider including cards like Greater Good and Shamanic Revelation.
Themes and Strategies
In addition to tribal decks, there are countless other themes and strategies you can explore in Commander. Some popular themes include graveyard hate, storm, and group hug. These themes often revolve around a specific mechanic or strategy, allowing you to build a unique and engaging deck.
When exploring a new theme or strategy, it's essential to understand the mechanics and synergies involved. For example, a storm deck aims to cast multiple spells in a single turn, often using spells like Brainstorm and Ponder to filter through your library. A group hug deck, on the other hand, focuses on sharing resources with your opponents, making it difficult for them to win the game.
![Commander Tier List - [cEDH] - None](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1f/97/b8/1f97b8e6f465e7009c6ad9a2ad06b487.webp)
Graveyard Hate
Graveyard hate decks aim to disrupt your opponents' graveyard strategies by exiling or milling their cards. These decks often use cards like Rest in Peace and Grafdigger's Cage to prevent your opponents from utilizing their graveyard. Consider using a commander like Erayo's Essence or Sheoldred, Whispering One to lead your graveyard hate deck.
Your graveyard hate deck should include plenty of exile effects, like Swords to Plowshares and Path to Exile, to deal with threats. Additionally, look for cards like Relic of Progenitus and Tormod's Crypt to disrupt your opponents' graveyard strategies. To protect your graveyard from hate, consider including cards like Unburial Rites and Living Death.
Storm
Storm decks aim to cast multiple spells in a single turn, often using spells like Brainstorm and Ponder to filter through your library. These decks can be quite powerful, as they can quickly overwhelm your opponents with a barrage of spells. Consider using a commander like Mizzix of the Izmagnus or Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind to lead your storm deck.
Your storm deck should include plenty of cantrips and rituals to generate mana and draw cards. Additionally, look for cards like Pyromancer Ascension and High Tide to boost your storm count. To protect your spells from counterspells, consider including cards like Force of Will and Counterspell.
Commander is a format that encourages creativity and innovation. Don't be afraid to experiment with new ideas and strategies, as you never know what might work until you try it. Whether you're a seasoned Commander player or just starting out, there's always something new to discover in this engaging format. So grab your legendary creature and start brewing your next Commander deck today!