Can you use Valki as a Commander?

Can You Use Valki as a Commander?

In the world of Commander, the possibilities are endless, and the creativity of players knows no bounds. One of the most debated topics among players is the use of Valki, God of Lies as a Commander. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Commander and explore the possibilities of using Valki as a Commander.

Direct Answer

Yes, you can use Valki, God of Lies as a Commander in Commander. However, before we dive into the specifics, let’s understand what makes Valki a viable Commander option.

Commander Tax

In Commander, the Commander tax refers to the additional cost associated with casting a Commander card. This tax is determined by the Commander’s color identity and can range from 2 to 7 mana. Valki’s color identity is BR (Black and Red), which means that when you cast him, you’ll have to pay an additional 2 mana.

Rules and Restrictions

Before we can explore the possibilities of using Valki as a Commander, let’s review the rules and restrictions surrounding him. According to the Magic: The Gathering official website, Valki’s official text reads:

"Creature – God, Spirit | 4BB"

"Whenever Valki, God of Lies deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card."

This text creates a few restrictions that affect how we can use Valki as a Commander.

Restrictions

• Valki’s Color Identity: As mentioned earlier, Valki’s color identity is BR, which means that you’ll need to have a minimum of 2 black and 1 red mana available to cast him.
• Combat Damage: Valki’s effect triggers when he deals combat damage to a player, which means that you’ll need to have a deck that can generate combat damage consistently.
• Card Draw: Valki’s effect forces opponents to discard a card when he deals combat damage, which means that you’ll need to have a deck that can take advantage of this effect.

Benefits

Despite the restrictions, Valki offers a few benefits that make him a viable Commander option:

• Card Advantage: Valki’s effect creates a potential card advantage by forcing opponents to discard cards, which can give you an advantage in the long run.
• Combat Damage: Valki’s ability to deal combat damage consistently means that you can generate board presence and pressure opponents consistently.
• Flexibility: Valki’s ability to be cast from either side of the card allows for flexibility in terms of deckbuilding and strategy.

Deckbuilding Strategies

When building a deck around Valki, there are a few strategies you can employ:

• Black-Red Aggro: Focus on building an aggro deck that can deal damage quickly and consistently using Valki’s combat damage ability.
• Combo: Build a combo-oriented deck that uses Valki’s ability to generate card advantage and create a explosive turn.
• Midrange: Build a midrange deck that uses Valki’s ability to control the board and generate card advantage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Valki, God of Lies is a viable Commander option that offers a few benefits despite the restrictions. By building a deck around his color identity, combat damage, and card draw abilities, you can create a unique and powerful Commander deck that can take on any opponent. Whether you choose to build an aggro, combo, or midrange deck, Valki offers a lot of potential and flexibility.

Table

References

• Magic: The Gathering Official Website
• EDHREC
• The Commander’s Quarters
• Card Kingdom