Exploring Commander: Worlds of Possibilty

Having recently enjoyed my first games of Commander, a multiplayer, 100-card format of the long-established card game, Magic: The Gathering, I worry that I’m in danger of diving in head first. I do have form on this, and I often come to regret it. The prospect of trying out different heroes and seeing how they play is why I like games like League of Legends and Heroes of the Storm.

Legendary creatures serve as the heart and soul of the Commander format. These unique beings, often steeped in lore and mythos, can take centre stage as your commander, leading your deck to victory. Let’s delve into the sheer variety of legendary creatures and the exciting decks they inspire. Generally, they can be divided thusly:

1. The Iconic Legends: These are the household names; the Jaces, the Lilianas, and the Avacyns. They come with powerful abilities and rich backstories. Consider building a deck around Jhoira of the Ghitu, who manipulates time and suspends massive spells, or Yawgmoth, Thran Physician, whose sinister experiments fuel your victory.
2. The Uncommon Heroes: Don’t overlook uncommon legendary creatures that can offer interesting and unique gameplay.
3. The Tribal Leaders: Many legendary creatures champion specific tribes. Slivers, dragons, elves, vampires; the list goes on. Edgar Markov, the vampire lord, rallies his bloodsucking kin, while Ur-Dragon commands a dragon horde that soars across the battlefield.
4. The Underdogs: Lesser-known legends can be hidden gems. Try building around Tatyova, Benthic Druid, who rewards you for playing lands, or Sram, Senior Edificer, who turns every artifact into a card-drawing engine.
5. The Partners in Crime: Some commanders come in pairs! Partner commanders allow you to combine two distinct strategies. Thrasios, Triton Hero, and Tymna the Weaver, for instance, offer a potent mix of card advantage and ramp.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading!

I’m also coming to understand different deck types. These can include:

1. Voltron: Equip your commander with powerful auras and equipment, turning them into an unstoppable force. Rafiq of the Many, with double strike and exalted, exemplifies this strategy.
2. Tokens and Tokens Everywhere: Populate the battlefield with tokens! Rhys the Redeemed, Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice, and Krenko, Mob Boss thrive in token-heavy decks.
3. Control and Politics: Use your commander’s abilities to control the game. Queen Marchesa encourages political maneuvering, while Oloro, Ageless Ascetic gains life and draws cards passively.
4. Combo Masters: Some commanders enable game-ending combos. Zur the Enchanter tutors enchantments, while Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker pairs with creatures like Pestermite for infinite copies.
5. Lore-Driven Decks: Dive into the lore of your commander. Build a deck around Sisay, Weatherlight Captain, assembling a crew of legendary characters from Magic’s history.

Remember, Commander is about creativity, expression, and forging your own path. Whether you’re captivated by a dragon’s roar, a wizard’s spellbook, or a rogue’s cunning, there’s a legendary creature waiting to lead your next epic adventure. So, with that said, what have I been looking at? Well, I’ve been reading lots of cards, but these ones seem fun:

I picked up the preconstructed decks for Zinnia and Osgir. I had my first win with Zinnia last night, actually! I drew Ygra from a pack and I really like the idea. Haldan and Pako, I picked up, along with Legolas to try to build something around. The others are just cards that look interesting, and I’m tossing around some ideas about what I could do with them.

Of course, I’m still learning, but I’m definitely loving both the precons, and the prospect (as I have no really encountered really as yet) of building decks.