Hello everyone and welcome to CommanderCast Episode 344! This week Mark and Adam are back and eat to talk about some topics sent in by a fan of the show. Starting with their view on what a good win rate would be in Commander, followed by some fun to play against commanders, and ended with a discussion on what cards are so good you don’t play them.

So lets stop waiting and Click the IB!!!

CommanderCast Episode 344

Posted: January 21, 2018

Intros:

Adam

Mark

Keep up with the conversation on Facebook & Twitter.

Community

From Stephen’s email: (also be sure to check out his work at CoolStuffInc.)

What win rate is a reasonable target in multiplayer Commander?

• How does it affect a playgroup when one player is seriously dedicated to maximizing their winrate?
• How important is it to assemble a playgroup with a common approach to the game and how valuable is it to bring in players with different approaches to the game?
• Is there ever a situation where you throw a game and if so – what might prompt you to do so?
• Is there a way to play in a competitive manner, dominating play and having a win rate that is higher than average but also be the kind of player that folks really enjoy having at the table?
• Are there ways to be able to have your cake and eat it too, by which I mean have and play a cEDH deck in a meta that might not really be up to that level of play, and yet still have a healthy playgroup with folks who enjoy playing with you and look forward to your play sessions?

Strategy

Most fun commanders to play against?  What constitutes a “fun” play experience for your opponents but still gives you a fighting chance to win?

• What role does “fun” play in relation to how you approach maintaining a competitive balance in your playgroup?
• Why would you ever tone down a deck and make it less competitive if the goal of the game is to win?
• Is the goal of the game actually to win, is it really something else or can it be something different for different players?

Examples of fun commanders to play against: (And what makes these commanders “fun” to play against?)

• Group Hug
  • Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis
  • Phelddagrif
  • Edric, Spymaster of Trest

• Novelty
  • Dakkon Blackblade
  • Experiment Kraj
  • Blind Seer
  • Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer
  • Grothama, All-Devouring
  • Dralnu, Lich Lord

• Chaos decks
  • Vial Smasher the Fierce

• “Fast”
  • Heartless Hidetsugu

Technology

Are there cards you simply won’t play because the competitive advantage they might give you is too great?

Adam

• none

Mark

• Serra Ascendant, Mycosynth Lattice, Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger

Outtro/Contacts:

CommanderCast  – Email: commandercast(at)gmail(dot)com // twitter: (at)CommanderCast

Calvin – Email: captainredzone(at)gmail(dot)com  // twitter: (at)CaptainRedZone

Mark – Email: mahlerma(at)gmail(dot)com

Adam – (at)squire9999 // (at)thetrinisphere

Be sure to check out our CommanderCast Facebook page.

And a big thanks to everyone here at the CommanderCast Network. We’ll see you next week with more community, strategy, and technology. Until then, LET’S GET IT!