CommanderCast is back to running on schedule! The season’s fifth podcast begins a series where we’re putting mono-coloured decks in Commander under some scrutiny, with a strategy and technology segment centered on whatever colour we’ve chosen to discuss. Each week, we’ll also have a new guest with some experience and thoughts on that colour. This week, we’re doing the best installment in the series: MONO-RED.

00:00 to 05:07: Intro: Introducing the podcast, your hosts, and a brief rundown of podcast news for the week.

COMMUNITY

05:15 to 21:11: Card Design and Commander: Devon shares his thoughts on card design as it pertains to EDH, looking at what makes a card a success in Commander, a failure, stumbling blocks in design, and an overall look at the new product.

21:23 to 34:10: Too Mean for Commander:Have you ever won a game and felt like you needed to take a shower after? During deck construction, do you ever sit there staring at a few cards, having a flashback to tables flanked by slumping, silent, salty players? Maybe your deck is a bit too mean for a social game. In this segment, we examine how to diagnose something as antisocial, how to walk the line between powerful and mean, and some personal anecdotes about the topic.

STRATEGY

34:22 to 55:35: Mono-Red: We’re taking a good, hard look at mono-red strategies. What is red good and bad at? Why bother with a mono-red deck at all? How can you shore up the weaknesses, or play to the strengths? What roles does a mono-red deck assume in the natural ecology of a healthy metagame?

TECHNOLOGY

55:47 to 1:12:34: Mono-Red Technology: Following up the mono-red strategy, we’re putting some solid mono-red cards in the scope for your pleasure.

Andy’s Picks:
Ruination, Hellkite Igniter, Steel Hellkite 
Devon’s Picks:
Aftershock, Knollspine Dragon, Hoarding Dragon
Carlos’ Picks:
Spinerock Knoll, Goblin Marshal, Ichor Wellspring

1:12:47 to 1:27:24: Curving Out: CMC 2: Continuing up the mana curve, we find ourselves needing some two-mana favourites. Like the one-drops, these two-mana spells need to be pretty strong to be bothered with in EDH… but we’ve got some solid suggestions here.

Andy’s Picks:
Artificer’s Intuition, Reassembling Skeleton, Back to Nature
Devon’s Picks:
Spreading Seas, Knight of the White Orchard, Steely Resolve
Carlos’ Picks:

Sylvan Library, Stoneforge Mystic, Hatching Plans

1:27:34 to closing: Outtro.

• Season 3 Contest (in case you somehow missed the other links or something)
• Sir Derfington, Grand Imperial Archduke of Card Alterations and Boss Status Pimp Player
• Ken Nagle talking about Worldwake, including my main man Wrexial.
• Devon comes through in the clutch and provides me a link on Red and multiplayer politics by The Ferret!
• General’s Popularity List on MTGCommander
• Devon’s blog, Sharp Thoughts on Gaming