The Ultimate Deck Building MTG EDH Guide Strategies Archetypes and Card Choices

Embarking on the journey of creating a Commander (EDH) deck in Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is an exciting and rewarding experience. EDH, or Elder Dragon Highlander, is a popular MTG format that allows for unique, personalized decks and encourages strategic, interactive gameplay. With a focus on a single legendary creature, your Commander, this format offers endless possibilities for deck building and customization.

Before diving into the intricacies of EDH deck building, let's briefly explore the history and rules of this engaging format. EDH was introduced in 2011 as a variant of the Highlander format, where each player has a unique 100-card singleton deck, including one legendary creature as their Commander. The goal is to reduce your opponents' life total to 0, making it a fun and dynamic alternative to traditional MTG formats.

Choosing Your Commander

Selecting your Commander is the first and arguably the most crucial step in building your EDH deck. Your Commander serves as the cornerstone of your strategy, influencing the colors, mechanics, and overall theme of your deck. With thousands of legendary creatures to choose from, the possibilities are vast and varied.

When choosing your Commander, consider the following factors:

• Playstyle: Do you prefer aggressive, controlling, or combo-based strategies? Your Commander's abilities and power level should align with your preferred playstyle.
• Colors: MTG's five colors (White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green) each have unique strengths and weaknesses. Consider which colors complement your Commander's abilities and offer the support you need for your strategy.
• Theme and aesthetics: Choose a Commander that resonates with you on a personal level. Whether it's a favorite character, a unique art style, or an interesting flavor, your Commander should bring you joy and inspiration.

Commander Types and Abilities

Commanders come in various types and abilities, each offering unique advantages and playstyles. Some popular Commander types include:

• Creature-based: These Commanders focus on attacking and blocking, often with powerful abilities or high toughness. Examples include Atraxa, Praetors' Voice and Karador, Ghost Dad.
• Support-based: These Commanders provide utility and support to your team, often with abilities that benefit your allies or hinder your opponents. Examples include Edric, Spymaster of Trest and Selvala, Heart of the Wilds.
• Combo-based: These Commanders excel in combo strategies, often requiring specific pieces to create powerful synergies. Examples include Zur the Enchanter and Kess, Dissident Mage.

Commander Damage and Lifegain Abilities

Many Commanders possess damage or lifegain abilities, which can significantly impact your game plan. These abilities can be used to directly attack your opponents, protect your life total, or trigger other powerful effects in your deck. Some examples include:

• Damage-based: Commanders like Krenko, Mob Boss and Thrasios, Triton Hero deal direct damage to your opponents, often in combination with other effects.
• Lifegain-based: Commanders like Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim and Trostani, Selesnya's Voice gain life for you or your allies, often with additional benefits or synergies.

Deck Construction and Strategy

Once you've chosen your Commander, it's time to begin constructing your EDH deck. With a focus on synergy and interaction, EDH decks often prioritize utility and versatility over raw power. When building your deck, consider the following guidelines:

1. **Singleton format:** EDH is a singleton format, meaning you can only include one copy of each non-land card in your deck. This encourages diversity and interaction, as you'll need to rely on multiple cards and strategies to achieve victory.

2. **Curve and mana base:** Design your mana base and card selection to ensure a smooth and consistent mana curve. This will allow you to cast your spells on time and maintain pressure on your opponents throughout the game.

Card Selection and Synergy

When choosing cards for your EDH deck, focus on those that synergize with your Commander and support your strategy. Consider the following aspects of card selection:

• Card advantage: EDH games can be long and drawn out, so prioritize cards that generate advantage, such as draw spells, recursion, or card advantage engines.
• Removal and interaction: EDH is a multiplayer format, so expect to face a variety of threats. Include removal spells and interaction to deal with opposing creatures, artifacts, and enchantments.
• Win conditions: While EDH is a fun and interactive format, you'll still need a way to win the game. Consider including multiple win conditions, such as combat damage, direct damage, or alternative victory conditions.

Deck Size and Tuning

EDH decks are typically built to a 100-card singleton format, with a maximum of 15 cards in your sideboard (if using one). When tuning your deck, consider the following guidelines:

• Land ratio: Aim for a land ratio of around 36-38 lands in a 100-card deck, adjusting as needed based on your mana curve and the colors in your deck.
• Creatures vs. non-creatures: The ideal creature-to-non-creature ratio can vary depending on your strategy, but a common starting point is around 25-30 creatures and the rest as support spells, enchantments, and artifacts.
• Testing and iteration: Playtest your deck against a variety of opponents and strategies, making adjustments as needed. EDH is a dynamic format, so be prepared to adapt and fine-tune your deck over time.

Building a Commander (EDH) deck in Magic: The Gathering is an exciting and rewarding journey. By choosing a unique and powerful Commander, focusing on synergy and interaction, and refining your deck through playtesting, you'll create a personalized and engaging EDH experience. So gather your friends, shuffle up your deck, and embark on the adventure that is EDH – where strategy, interaction, and personal expression take center stage.