How many board wipes should you run in Commander?

How Many Board Wipes Should You Run in Commander?

When it comes to building a Commander deck, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll make is how many board wipes to include. Board wipes can be incredibly powerful, allowing you to clear the board of opposing creatures and gain a significant advantage. However, including too many board wipes can lead to an over-reliance on these cards, making your deck vulnerable to certain strategies and combinations.

In this article, we’ll explore the ideal number of board wipes to run in a Commander deck, as well as some tips for incorporating them effectively into your build.

The Traditional Approach: 5-7 Board Wipes

For many years, the conventional wisdom was to include 5-7 board wipes in a Commander deck. This allowed you to have a reliable way to clear the board, while also providing a good level of redundancy in case one or more of your wipes got countered or otherwise removed.

The Current Recommendation: 3-4 Board Wipes

However, in recent times, there has been a shift towards running fewer board wipes in Commander decks. Many players have found that 3-4 board wipes are enough to provide the necessary level of control without making the deck too reliant on these cards.

Why Fewer Board Wipes?

So, why has the recommended number of board wipes decreased? There are a few reasons for this:

• Increased focus on interaction: Modern Commander decks often focus more on interaction and disruption than on pure removal. By running fewer board wipes, you’re able to allocate more space in your deck to cards that can interact with your opponent’s creatures and disrupt their plans.
• Improved creature removal: Newer sets have introduced a wide range of creature removal spells that are more efficient and flexible than traditional board wipes. By running fewer board wipes, you can focus on including these more versatile removal spells in your deck.
• More emphasis on tempo: In many Commander matches, tempo is key. By running fewer board wipes, you’re able to focus on developing your board and generating card advantage more quickly, which can give you a significant advantage in terms of tempo.

When to Run More Board Wipes

While the current recommendation is to run 3-4 board wipes, there are certain situations where running more might be beneficial:

• Mono-colored decks: If you’re building a mono-colored deck, you may find that you need to run more board wipes to account for the lack of color-based removal options.
• Token decks: Token decks often rely heavily on swarming the board with small creatures, and board wipes can be a crucial tool for controlling the board.
• Sealed or limited format decks: In sealed or limited format play, you may need to run more board wipes to account for the lack of access to specific removal spells.

Incorporating Board Wipes Effectively

Regardless of how many board wipes you choose to run, there are a few tips for incorporating them effectively into your deck:

• Include a mix of permanence and instant removal: By including both permanence-based removal (such as Sorcery Creatures) and instant-based removal (such as Burn Spells), you can provide yourself with more flexibility and options for handling different types of threats.
• Consider running multiple copies of your board wipes: If you’re running fewer board wipes, it’s often a good idea to include multiple copies of each one to ensure that you have a reliable way to clear the board.
• Balance your removal with other removal options: Don’t rely too heavily on board wipes to provide removal – make sure to include a mix of other removal options, such as creature removal spells and combat tricks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the traditional approach to Commander decks was to include 5-7 board wipes, the current recommendation is to run 3-4 board wipes. This allows you to provide yourself with a reliable way to clear the board without making your deck too reliant on these cards. By incorporating board wipes effectively into your deck, you can gain a significant advantage in terms of tempo and control, and ultimately increase your chances of winning.

Here’s a summary of the key points to consider when building a Commander deck:

• Board wipes are not the only removal option: Don’t rely too heavily on board wipes to provide removal – make sure to include a mix of other removal options.
• A mix of permanence and instant removal is often effective: By including both permanence-based removal and instant-based removal, you can provide yourself with more flexibility and options for handling different types of threats.
• 3-4 board wipes is a good starting point: This allows you to provide yourself with a reliable way to clear the board without making your deck too reliant on these cards.
• Consider the format and strategy you’re playing: In some formats or strategies, you may need to run more or fewer board wipes than this general guideline suggests.

By following these tips and considering the specific needs and constraints of your deck, you can build a Commander deck that is well-equipped to handle a variety of threats and opponents.