What type of Commander deck should I build?

What Type of Commander Deck Should I Build?

Commander is an exciting format in Magic: The Gathering that offers immense creativity and replayability. With over 4,000 possible commanders to choose from, the options are endless. In this article, we’ll explore some popular types of Commander decks and provide guidance on selecting the perfect one for your playstyle.

Choosing the Right Commander

The Commander is the centerpiece of any Commander deck. Each one has a unique flavor, playstyle, and combo potential. Here are a few questions to consider when selecting a Commander:

• Do you want a aggressive deck or a slower, more controlling one?

• If you prefer aggressive play, choose a Commander with +1/+1 counters or tribal synergies.
• If you prefer controlling games, select a Commander with card draw, lifelink, or other control effects.
  • What role do you want to fulfill in the game?
• Do you want to be the aggressive token producer? (e.g., Zurgo Bellstriker, Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice)
• Do you want to provide card draw and board manipulation? (e.g., Estrid, the Masked, Krenko, Mob Boss)
  • Are you interested in building a tribal deck or a theme-based deck?
• Tribal decks focus on a specific creature type (e.g., Elves, Goblins, Merfolk).
• Theme-based decks center around a specific strategy or combination of cards (e.g., prison, token-producing, life gain).

Popular Commander Archetypes

Here are some popular Commander archetypes and examples:

• Token producers:

• Zurgo Bellstriker (Mono-red)
• Estrid, the Masked (Mono-white)
• Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice (Three-color)
• Benefits: generate tokens, pressure the board, and create threats.

• Life gain commanders:

• Jeskai Elder (One-color, life-gaining)
• Azrael, Bonded Protector (Mono-green)
• Benefits: generate lifelink, stay on the board, and eventually win.

• Board control commanders:

• Estrid, the Masked (Mono-white, card draw)
• Krenko, Mob Boss (Mono-red)
• Benefits: control the board, counter threats, and draw valuable cards.

• Sacrifice commanders:

• Xathron, Krallen-Venger (Mono-black)
• Tawnos, Isle-Venger (Three-color)
• Benefits: generate tokens and sacrifice effects, potentially lead to game-winning plays.

Creating Your First Commander Deck

Now that you know some popular Commander archetypes, let’s talk about building your first deck.

• Start with the basics:

• 100 cards, 1 commander, 18-20 lands, 20-25 creatures/playables.
• Chose 10-12 cards with synergies/combos related to the commander.

• Pillars of your strategy:

• Creature removal
• Board control (counters/destroy)
• Token generation (if applicable)

• Additional considerations:

• Life loss (e.g., +1/+1 counters or lifelink)
• Card draw (independent or triggered)
• Planeswalkers (for added flexibility)
• Artifacts/artifacts lands (for flexibility and fixing)

Budget-Friendly Options

Are you new to Commander and on a budget? Focus on more affordable cards in the early stages of development. You can also shop for bulk rare or vintage cards on online marketplaces.

Conclusion

There are numerous Commander decks, each with its unique charms and strategies. Take these guidelines and popular archetypes as inspiration to find your perfect match. Whether aggressive, controlling, or lifegaining, remember the core elements of any great Commander deck: card draws, removal, and versatile creatures.

Remember to ask yourself these questions:

What kind of deck want to build?

+ **Aggressive (token, sacrifice) or controlling (life gain, board control)?**
+ **Do I prefer a specific tribe ( Elves, Goblins, etc.) or theme?**
+ **Am I looking for a slower grind or faster, more exciting games?**

Experimenting with different Commander decks can lead to exciting new perspectives and deck-building ideas. Have fun exploring this infinite format and building the commander deck that suits you the best!