Hello everyone,
My LGS is very big on commander and I love the format it's the only one ill play because of rotations, but they will not allow proxies. Now this isn't something I am against I understand why, but as a high schooler with no real income (due to financial obligations) there's no way I can compete with the power level of duals and mana drains. I don't wanna stop playing because magics all I really have, but it's tough when u can't survive ten turns in every game. I was wondering if anyone else ever went through this, how did u handle it? I don't plan of switching to online magic it doesn't feel he same to me.
Thanks a million guys I love all of your advice.
Would a job be a viable option? That gives you an option to which you never would have had.
I have a job now, but a lot of the money Is going back into my family and general upkeep (like a car and gas).
I like the pack idea there are a lot of seasoned players but I bet I could pull something they need eventually.
Run decks that require two colors.
Use generals that combo well.
You should be able to still win on occasion.
Post your decklists here for help because you decks can still be strong without expensive cards.
Most importantly check the Commander Setion on this app!
Commander is supposed to be a fun and casual format. Some have take it to be more competitive but plenty play it for its original intention.
Find those people and not everyone trying to combo off and win in a couple turns.
I will totally post a deck list sometime this app always have great advice and the people are awesome, thanks everyone.
If they don't do french commander
Buy a bant deck,
Buy winter orb and a few other things that break devyri
Sit back and grin,
Now you have an annoying lock deck
There are plenty of ways to play commander on a budget!
My 5 color {Cromat} deck is very cheap yet competitive (ask Mattao!) and it only takes a few cards worth of changes to turn the Esper and Bant 2013 premade decks into fun, solid decks for little money.
Quote from: Gorzo on February 07, 2014, 12:35:41 PM
There are plenty of ways to play commander on a budget!
My 5 color {Cromat} deck is very cheap yet competitive (ask Mattao!) and it only takes a few cards worth of changes to turn the Esper and Bant 2013 premade decks into fun, solid decks for little money.
So true!!!!
But I recommend {Uril, the Miststalker} if you want to win! He's very cheap too!! He himself costs $3? And just get Jank Enchantments that cost under $1 include some ramp so you get him out soon and you can win rather easily!
But if you're looking for fun build Gorzos Chaos deck but make it {Karona, the False God} instead of {Kromar}
Quote from: Mattao19 on February 08, 2014, 04:02:05 AM
Quote from: Gorzo on February 07, 2014, 12:35:41 PM
There are plenty of ways to play commander on a budget!
My 5 color {Cromat} deck is very cheap yet competitive (ask Mattao!) and it only takes a few cards worth of changes to turn the Esper and Bant 2013 premade decks into fun, solid decks for little money.
So true!!!!
But I recommend {Uril, the Miststalker} if you want to win! He's very cheap too!! He himself costs $3? And just get Jank Enchantments that cost under $1 include some ramp so you get him out soon and you can win rather easily!
But if you're looking for fun build Gorzos Chaos deck but make it {Karona, the False God} instead of {Kromar}
I second this. Uril is great at smashing in for kills. Another good general is {Sigarda, Host of Herons} if you don't want to play 3 colors. It has the advantage of evasion and anti-sac, but on the other hand does not get extra buffs from auras. Plus red offers some nice auras, and of course {Boros Charm} for the inevitable sweeper, or to snag a win out of nowhere, giving your Uril double strike!
Quote from: Shadridium on February 07, 2014, 09:48:20 AM
Hello everyone,
My LGS is very big on commander and I love the format it's the only one ill play because of rotations, but they will not allow proxies. Now this isn't something I am against I understand why, but as a high schooler with no real income (due to financial obligations) there's no way I can compete with the power level of duals and mana drains. I don't wanna stop playing because magics all I really have, but it's tough when u can't survive ten turns in every game. I was wondering if anyone else ever went through this, how did u handle it? I don't plan of switching to online magic it doesn't feel he same to me.
Thanks a million guys I love all of your advice.
Build mono blue. {Azami, Lady of Scrolls} ... The deck is relatively cheap and is insanely good.
Haha someone gave neg karma because I suggested mono blue... Hahahahha!
These are all great suggestions! I run Uril myself. Also, the commander 2013 are going for $9 at some target stores. Pick up Bant or Jund, they are the best base decks to work with, and alter it as you get more cards! :)
You could also try and get your LGS into pauper EDH, it really levels out the playing field!
Esper is good too
Do you have friends with heaps of cards? If so, ask if you can build a deck with their borrowed cards, then slowly replace their cards with your own as you get them. That way you avoid the anti-proxy ruling, you get to build a great deck, and you have the ability to run it against the more seasoned players.
Personally, I disagree with anti-proxying rules. It makes EDH pay to win. But that's not going to help you here.
I agree with {Uril}. He was my first general, and even though I proxied the poop out of him (we're talking fetches and ABU duals here), I still managed to get most of the cards for him over time. Here are some cards I recommend that are on the budget side:
— {Boar Umbra}, {Bear Umbra}, {Snake Umbra}, {Umbra Mystic} and {Indrik Umbra}. Totem Armor is a really important thing for Voltron generals using auras. You need your general to survive, and Totem Armor is how you do that. Plus, they're all relatively cheap. But why Indrik Umbra? Well, give him deathtouch and trample, and Uril becomes the ultimate attacker. Deal one damage to each blocking creature and the rest to your opponent's face.
— {Bow of Nylea}. This gives Uril deathtouch. Give him trample with something like {Rancor} (which I also highly recommend}, and suddenly all your opponent's blockers become moot. Also, it has recursion built in, and that's needed to get the auras you want back in the deck.
— {Plea for Guidance}. Yes, this card is crap. But a double tutor in Uril is really really good. Run it.
— {Verduran Enchantress} and {Mesa Enchantress}. Drawing cards is good, and this is probably the cheapest way for Uril to do it.
— {Armadillo Cloak}. You shouldn't have to think about this one. +2/+2, trample, pseudo-lifelink? Yes, yes, and yes. Also, it stacks with regular lifelink, so you gain double life. Similar to this is {Unflinching Courage}, which is another budget card.
— {Ancestral Mask}. Holy poop, {Ancestral Mask}. Just read it. It'll probably be hard to find, but it's so worth it. Similar to this is {Ethereal Armor}, which is also good to run. Also, there's {Eidolon of Countless Battles}, which is also amazing and budget, IIRC.
— {True Conviction}. This card wins games. I love it. It is expensive, but I'd run it.
— {Gift of Immortality}. Sometimes Uril dies. That happens. This at least lets him come back as a 7/7. I'm trying to find room for it in my deck, and you should find room for it in yours.
— {Three Dreams}. This is even better than {Plea for Guidance}, but it is restricted to Auras. At least Plea can fetch you {True Conviction} and {Bow of Nylea}, among other enchantments. But the more, the better.
— {Runes of the Deus}, {Scourge of the Nobilis}, and most importantly, {Shield of the Oversoul}. Find them. Run them.
— {Retether}. This wins games.
— {Spirit Mantle}, and similarly {Holy Mantle}. Pro creatures is HUGE.
— {Nomad Mythmaker}. Recursion is king. This one lets you steal opponent's Auras as well. This guy is worth finding.
— {Sterling Grove}. This is a $5 card, but it's worth it. It's yet another tutor that prevents your opponents from {Return to Dust}ing your crap. Use it if you can afford it.
— {Jungle Shrine}. It's a shard land. It's cheap. Use it.
— {Creeping Renaissance}. Imagine this declaring enchantments, and having {Reliquary Tower} out. Yes.
— {Hero of Iroas}. He makes your stuff cheaper. I'm trying to run him.
That should give you a very good start. Good luck!
Thank you everyone, conveniently my uncle just quit magic and I found his old edh, ill put a list up its {hazezon Tamar} and it has the three duels (I still don't know that much when it comes to older cards but I like the deck ill be sure to put up a deck list.
Quote from: Shadridium on February 10, 2014, 09:36:15 AM
Thank you everyone, conveniently my uncle just quit magic and I found his old edh, ill put a list up its {hazezon Tamar} and it has the three duels (I still don't know that much when it comes to older cards but I like the deck ill be sure to put up a deck list.
That deck can get absurd so play a bunch of sac spells like {Food Chain} and just get a bunch of tokens!!
I posted the deck list in the commander section. Thanks for all your help.
Quote from: Shadridium on February 10, 2014, 09:52:02 AM
I posted the deck list in the commander section. Thanks for all your help.
Anytime bud that's what we are here for
Quote from: Brawler_1337 on February 09, 2014, 09:31:34 AM
— {Armadillo Cloak}. You shouldn't have to think about this one. +2/+2, trample, pseudo-lifelink? Yes, yes, and yes. Also, it stacks with regular lifelink, so you gain double life. Similar to this is {Unflinching Courage}, which is another budget card.
Is that right? How you gaining double life? Once a creature has lifelink.. A second source that gives it that doesn't double lifelink.