Is Your Deck TOO Strong? THIS Is How to Find Out
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Your Commander decks might be too strong or too weak without you knowing! We have some cards that can sneakily increase or decrease your deck's power level.
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The smell after it rains is called petrichor. Nothing to do with anything, just thought someone would like to know.
@douglasdishman7992
Ай бұрын
Amy Pond {2}{R} Legendary Creature - Human Partner with Rory Williams (When this creature enters the battlefield, target player may put Rory into their hand from their library, then shuffle.) Whenever Amy Pond deals combat damage to a player, choose a suspended card you own and remove that many time counters from it. Doctor’s companion (You can have two commanders if the other is the Doctor.) 2/2 Illustrated by Greg Staples
@HellSpawnofDarkness
22 күн бұрын
This answered a question I didn't know I had. The planet in Risk of Rain is called Petrichor V. Now I know why.
No need for a power scale when the phrase "I'm not playing against that bullshit again" exists lol
@infinitedaryl2267
Ай бұрын
I wish I’d learnt that phrase when I first started playing!
@Snipfragueur
Ай бұрын
Well there are effects like that that are bad but just are too annyoing to resolve
@benjaminwileman4771
Ай бұрын
My question would be why did I play in that game in the first place...
My favourite example is the just you wait until I untap. The group I was with clearly didn’t bring enough interaction and I ended up with urborg, cabal coffers, crypt ghast and black market with 5+ counters. Then I just torment of hail fire for something stupid. The thing imo that lowers a decks power level the most is a lack of interaction
@zakbrooks7354
Ай бұрын
This right here. Most people will think synergy trunps all in a deck, but sometimes raw powerful removal is the thing you need most
I'm still convinced that there are people who just have to compensate for something in life. This leads to this strange behavior when you come running with Monogreen Selvala decks and sit down at a precon table and after 4 rounds you kill the 3 opponents and say: hey, I didn't know how strong the deck was. Or if you hide the fact that you have 5 tutors in it and your infinite combo only requires 2 cards or you don't even want to say anything about your deck. For me it's part of etiquette. The beautiful thing about magic is how it brings people's character to light. If you are at peace with yourself, you have no reason to lie about the power level of the deck, to beat other people at the table, or to get angry just because there is someone at the table who is less good at the game or is sitting at the wrong table . You can say goodbye in a friendly manner and go to another table that is more suitable. Like everything in life, other behaviors show what type of person you are. If you take out your cell phone during an opponent's move and start googling in boredom instead of following his move or possibly helping him complete the move. (because as I said: you have chosen the table with the people and then you shouldn't be surprised that you end up with beginners)
@zakbrooks7354
Ай бұрын
I mainly only play with my friends that i know and experiences like this are why. Id hate to go to a place for a night and have it ruined because some dude wants to always feel like the best player in the world, or decides to make fun of someone elses deck because its not super optimized and overpowered
Power level ie less relevant then determining what the desired game state is. Play to win, socialize, speed of play. Knowing what will make the game a better experience for the group, regardless of ‘power level’ is more pertinent and likely to be better communicated. Power level is so relative.
@fluffyfang4213
Ай бұрын
While true, power level can also help create desired game states. If my 7 mana sets me up to generate 15 tokens a round (plus whatever ETBs I have) and their 7 mana is spent on a "wait until I untap" effect, one of us will constantly pull off our cool thing and the other will so often be "one turn away" from doing it. And the reason might not be very obvious.
@benjaminwileman4771
Ай бұрын
@fluffyfang4213 I think that is why the original commenter said that power level is relative. If everybody is not on the same page then it is irrelevant. Everybody views it differently. It's not as effective when everybody views it differently.
If you have Thassa Oracle in your deck and any card that exile/mill your whole deck, it's automatically a 8. If said card has a cost inferior to 3, then it's automatically a 9.
@davidevans7477
22 күн бұрын
That wincon needs banning because of how cheap it is mana wise.
"Just you wait!" is King Macar crewing my vehicles. AKA King drive-my-car.
I agree with the sentiment “unlimited free mulligans but be on the honor system.” If someone has Sol Ring into two drop mana rock on a regular basis… they aren’t being honest.
@ERBanmech
29 күн бұрын
Agreed, honor system with free mulligans is the way to go. my pod also plays without commander damage since it’s basically infect but way more reliable. Why make a system that means you only need to half damage to a player to out them from a game.
@jakecarlson3709
26 күн бұрын
Commander damage exists because lifegain control decks are incredibly oppressive without it, creating a rock-paper-scissors style that results in heavily reduced deck variety. I played in a pod with two guys who favored selesnya lifegain decks and would only ever lose to infinite combos or commander damage. If either one of them managed to stick an aetherflux it just turned into a lifegain race between them
@ERBanmech
26 күн бұрын
@@jakecarlson3709 you make a good point, none of us really do much with life gain in our group so I guess that’s why we feel it’s redundant or weird.
@NightOfCrystals
20 күн бұрын
Yeah, I think commander damage is fine. It’s a good failsafe for life gain/pillow fort decks who might be rough to take out otherwise.
I love this sort of content. I watch this channel to pick up tips on how to build better decks and/or become a better player. I’d love to see a series on which cards you think are “essential” for each color or color combo. Also are there any cards you feel fit in to any deck.
Ghiapur Aether Grid is one of my fave cards to have in an artifact deck. The much underrated Kyren Negotiations is a card that needs to be in more creature decks but people just don't know about.
I also love the weather after it rains
There are so many cards with optionality in thunder junction. Spree seems like such a strong mechanic that lets you do as much (or as little) with your cards as you need for your game/board state. The only thing the set needed was a new Krenko, but when he just came back in Karlov Manor I can do without.
I knew the Moxfield add would come before the 26 minute mark.
Would galaghrim ambush work in Voja. On my own turn would stop the voja damage but would the more elves be a good offset??? And on someone else's turn just makes my next turn even more explosive.
@JermanatorD12
Ай бұрын
Galaghrim Ambush is crazy in Voja. Can it potentially do nothing? Sure. But even getting 2-4 Elves is MASSIVE in Voja! You could potentially win off of it and also potentially take away someone else's chance to kill you.
The Big Spells, One Opponent point is why I'm not big on Attempted Murder.
Best win con for artifacts is Karn living legacy ult!! Get em!!! Also Amber playmat and nerd playmat came in! The quality is so good! Thanks guys!!
In my group we play with „infinite“ free mulligans if you have either 0, 1 or 7 lands in your starting hand. So you only have to keep hands with 2-6 lands so they are at least somewhat playable. Otherwise you can draw 3 legal hands and no matter what your last hand is (if it has 2 or more lands) you keep it but you always start with 7 cards in hand. We‘ve had a lot of fun with this rule and it keeps the starting hand as a tactical element because if I have a decent starting hand on the first hand I might go for a second but if thats only decent too I probably will keep it because there‘s a risk of getting an even worse hand and having to keep it
I play Obeka, so I need the upkeep cards lol
@NitpickingNerds
Ай бұрын
Yeah they're a little bit better in that deck lol
@archibaldtuttle9019
Ай бұрын
They're also massively cheaper because Obeka is the only true house for them
me and my boy Beezy criying about the "target opponent" text on Ishkanah
Its tricky. I normally evaluate it based on what turn can the deck consistently win on if not interrupted or against mild hate and how well it bounces back if targeted. Although I agree about cards like Sol ring and mana crypt being extremely powerful if the shell they're in can't win until turn 10 they're still going to struggle against a deck that wins turn 5 even if that turn 5 deck doesn't run those cards.
Wouldn’t Sunshot Militia be a good addition to an equipment deck? I don’t the the equipment artifacts technically tap when attacking
The best use I've had for those big single target spells is in my anhelo deck where I'm copying the spell multiple times and Hitting everyone
I just have temple in my blue and white deck were it’s spell slinger so am not worried because lot my spells are 4 mana and lower and discounts
I really wish I had a better idea how to build a voltron deck considering the variations with mana costs between playing and equipping.
One of these times you 2 should put the Moxfield add right at the point you say, "but not right there," to mess with all of us. 😂
Galadhrim ambush is insane in Elf ball or big stomp....you can hide a lot when you tap your creatures for mana lol.
I use Moon-Blessed Cleric as my enchantment tutor.
Awesome video!
I like that you changed the bit to "you can't guess because you are a liar!"
I see what you mean with Cruel Ultimatum but it's so funny when I drop it with Zevlor
On modal spells. Sapphire Charm, Vision Charm, Emerald Charm, Evolution Charm, and Izzet Charm are useful in commander too. Prismari Command is as good as Kolaghan’s Command. Source?? A Riku of Many Paths player. I also love Crosis’ Charm in Nekusar. Rakdos Charm is in and out of that deck depending on meta.
I feel like too much modal spell is actually lowering your deck power, at some point. Because, in order to be modla, those spells lose an edge in efficiency. But its probably because i often play at really high power table where efficiency is queen
@ERBanmech
29 күн бұрын
Exactly they are either higher cost to compensate or have dumbed down effects.
I have a “Marchesa, the Black Rose” deck that is built like a 6 (besides the mana base) but operates like an 8
phyrexian arena evades all removal nowadays, even druid of purification. draws me tons of cards. don't sleep on it.
Feels bad when I get excited about early Phyrexian Arena lol. Don't feel like swapping out Rystic Study
Certain Commanders automatically ramp your deck up a couple of points. I’m specifically thinking of Commanders with Eminence that do stuff just sitting in the Command Zone.😊
Black Dragon Gate just sounds cool
My group plays with unlimited mulligans but the unspoken rule is it’s only for land to spell ratios not the content of those spells. If you get a sol ring, cool, but you usually stop redrawing if you get at least 3 lands in a hand. No one so far in my group has abused it. As far as it goes when I build my decks I avoid tutors, because what’s more boring than using the same win strategy over and over again.
I play inkshield in a combat control deck that holds up mana all the time. No one knows what or when to expect something.
I use to care about power level. I just say play what you want but you just can't complain because so many times i sat down with an upgraded pre con and folks were like let me play my 7 that has all the fast mana and several tutors.
Woah! I guessed 11 min for the moxfield ad and i got it right! What are the odds! Thats probably why i like red!
I've never heard of infinite mulligans. That is bonkers.
ive noticed playing against randoms lately, a lot of people playing in PL 7 pods run a lot of cards/decks that I would consider a bit high for a 7, maybe not cEDH levels but higher than a 7 in my opinion and thats the problem, the number system just doesnt work in my opinion, for as specific as it tries to be its just too vague and easily has different interpretations. I feel like there is only 3 power levels in commander really, un-upgraded pre-cons, full blown cEDH decks and everything thats in between those two things.
20:01 disagree I had a Elspeth, Sun's Champion utrament on me twice
I still dont know where cherries is??
Unfortunately, the title of the film (and even more the thumbnail) is somewhat misleading. This is more of a DESCRIPTION of what type of cards weaken the deck and what type of cards strengthen it. There is nothing here about how it actually affects the PL of the deck, apart from individual inserts that it probably "strengthens" the deck by 0.5 etc. - but without any top-down rule, calculations or even "rules" that a deck with XYZ cards is immediately PL7 or 8 etc. We lack such a very permanent guideline in the format, which is superior and modified over time as the PL of decks changes. Currently we have an almost dead system. PL1-5
I have to disagree on Galadhrim Ambush. While it can be used as a fog to blank your opponent's combat, it can also be used proactively in an elf deck. You attack with all your elves and they all survive even if blocked, but they still deal damage themselves (only damage from non-Elf creatures is prevented). Then you double the number of creatures you have on the battlefield, setting yourself up for an Overrun effect on your following turn. This also has risks as you might leave yourself open for a crack back, or you could see a boardwipe, but I like the utility of this card as a defensive or a proactive play. So, I wouldn't say it's strictly a "gotcha" card.
You guys should try to find a way to a "definitive" power level scale. Wouldent have to be official or anything but a way to make it so people can guage their decks. It would get a lot of attention as well possibly. I am sick of getting mispaired or dealing with pubstompers so a way to help differentiate decks would be really helpful.
@andrewsparkes6275
Ай бұрын
I like the recent Shuffle Up and Play, where the chat was about the worst thing a deck can do. Even if the chance to do it is low, that way you know anything else that happens would be less bad than that.
Some of cards you mentioned are completely budget. So unless you want to be tematic, like all fungi deck, there is no point in not buying and including them
"BIG SPELLS, ONE OPPONENT" *Laughs in Zevlor*
I remember I was playing in a pod, and I was tapped out. Everyone was doing their political shenanigans, and someone said, to attack me. The current player looked at him and said, "I have learned that just because Bob is tapped out, doesn't mean he doesn't have answers." I laughed because I was actually holding a Pyrokinesis and Snuff Out, ready to use on the first person to attack me while my shields were down. He did not attack me. Even though I had answers, that conversation made me smile :)
I actually would disagree with the thought that Unclaimed Territory slows your deck down or isn't worth playing. I'd reckon it's great for a tribal deck. I'm actually now considering putting this in my Gishath deck! Definitely understand how it may not work well for a non-tribal deck but even then, I wouldn't hate it in those decks either (if only to use for a multi-colored commander cost).
Inkshield has won me a few games. People have always swing full out and if they don’t you can bluff them in hitting you for 5 instead of 10 which is a win win.
About budget manafixing: I just completey revamped my Ur-Dragon mana base because it was basically hogging all of my expensive lands because it ran every single one of the 10 fetchlands, all 10 shockslands and a bunch of triomes plus a bunch of the slow-lands. While I have a couple of duplicates it's still complete and utter overkill even in an already expensive-ish Ur-Dragon deck because I really don't need access to the complete rainbow by turn 2 anyway. And instead of all these expensive lands (that I am now free to use in other 2-/3-color decks) I put in a bunch of basic lands, lands that fetch for basiclands and a couple of lands that ask you to have 2 basic lands in play. It's obviously slightly more janky than that earlier 300€+ manabase, but it stilll works completely fine, if you're also using a green ramp package (and tune the land numbers to ensure green mana on the first couple of mulligans)
@life_kluda
Ай бұрын
Reflecting pool ftw.
@davidhowell1415
Ай бұрын
Buy some og duels or just proxy cards.
@NightOfCrystals
Ай бұрын
I think proxying OG duals is totally fine. Also there are some decent budget options for 5-color, like a filter land or two, and the check lands. You can get high-quality proxies for $3-$5 usually.
@paulszki
Ай бұрын
@@davidhowell1415 "buy some OG duals" 😅sure, give me the money. "or proxy them" - I don't really want to proxy. Psychologically I'm uncomfortable having collected magic cards for twenty years, with many expensive cards in my collection to then just proxy cards, which in my head ends up "invalidating" my collection of cards, because "I could just print it all out, lulz". I realize that it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, becaue if it's just about the fun of the game, why WOUDN'T I simply proxy what I need? But I can't really bring myself to do that. I'm completely fine with other people using proxies though. (vtw it's *duals, not duels. dual from duality/two colors. Not duel as in a 1v1)
@paulszki
Ай бұрын
@@life_kluda Not sure how Reflecting pool would magically fix a 5-color deck. I guess you mean to say that it helps with paying double-pipped cards? But so do many other cards that just tap for any color of mana. (e.g. City of Brass, Command Tower etc.) with the additional upside that they can produce a color of mana by themselves. What specifically do you like about reflecting pool?
Moxfield at 26:48 it always hidden in the fine print.
The only "just you wait" card you gotta be playing is bonehoard dracosaur.
The problem with me is that i want to be able to use ALL the cards I own for decks. It sucks when you have to cherry pick cards and be extremely selective with which ones to use, because then you have heaps of duplicates and piles of useless cards in your room that literally just take up space😅
just put all your "wait until i untap" in your outlaw obeka deck and you'll be so happy :D
Infinite Mulligan enables either terrible deckbuilding or guaranteed combo degeneracy.
@Pandaman64
Ай бұрын
that's one of the problems with commander as a whole, is a lot of 'tips' are basically pod dependent. It's a silly way to play you bad magic cards with your friends that morphed into a supported competitive format.
@557deadpool
Ай бұрын
Commander isn't a competitive format also no, the tips aren't pod dependent, at all @@Pandaman64
Imo There's nothing more cheesy than tricking the table with a free spell. I would rather it not happen. Board awareness is a big part of the game and freebies just crap on it.
@RC-yr2oo
Ай бұрын
I agree. What’s the counterplay to free spells? More free spells? Free spells just feel cheap.
Ne tor of the meek slaps if you play otharri.
Inkshield isnt a "gotcha spell" ; its a wincon.
I've never heard of unlimited Free mulligans... at that point let me dig my deck for 7 cards and start of that... Never seen this in any LGS i've played. Maybe i'm lucky??
the only time infinite mulligans works is if everyone is honest and everyone mulligans to playable, not perfect. like 3 lands 4 affordable spells, its a good hand and thats it.
@NitpickingNerds
Ай бұрын
Yeah Sol Ring makes that so awkward sometimes
@darrylbass4630
Ай бұрын
@@NitpickingNerds hence honest, it really depends on the people.
Literally everything they said was wrong about phyrexian arena was the pro they gave to most of the passive card draw.
Gotcha cards are great in draw go style of decks
Imo infinite mulls are okay but only with close friends. We don’t care who wins so it’s just mulligan until keepable. ie. everyone gets to play the game, no one has to keep a 5 card or 1 land hand. Don’t abuse it and if you mulligan 10 times then you are being a bad sport
@RC-yr2oo
Ай бұрын
I agree with mulliganing until you have a playable hand, and “playable” doesn’t necessarily include mana crypt and/or ancient tomb.
@crashka5860
Ай бұрын
@@RC-yr2oo exactly, enough to actually play the game and not have to go to 5 or even 4 but no one likes a try hard who abuses trust among friends to win a casual game
The video where I mostly disagree XD But that's fine ofc, I understand most people aim to play high/optimised most of the times.
black market is great
yes
I love that the moxfield ad in the intro has just become "You're a liar!" lol
@NitpickingNerds
Ай бұрын
We're devolving slowly lol
I want to play a few games of commander with yall just to absolutely shit on you with phyrexiqn arena. Having a semi guaranteed extra draw per turn increases your draw by 100% and shouldn’t be frowned upon. So what the effect doesn’t kick in till my next upkeep? Drawing is the most powerfull mechanic in the game(black can do it well, but with conditions), and I don’t think that power creep has hit hard enough to start tossing Phyrexian Arena.
I simply avoid this problem of deck power all together by making the decks i love and play the most as good as they can be without going into cEDH territory, aka 8s across the board! That means NOT filling it up with instant win combos that grant me victory on the spot. Not putting in things like crypt or vault or other 0 costed artifacts or spells, and restricting my tutors to very specific fetches. Fetchlands are in there to help mana fix as are the shock lands and triomes to fix it. As are things that fetch up specific permanents be they creatures, creature types, etc. I try and avoid things like diabolic tutor, demonic tutor, vampiric tutor, as those are too wide ranging to allow me to go find anything that i need on the spot but i dont see a problem running tutors that are more limited or specific in functionality and scope. If my friends or play group are looking to play something a little lower on the power scale then i simply crack out an unaltered Precon or only slightly altered precon to play at a 6 or a 7.
@podrekreinhard
20 күн бұрын
If you think thats describes an 8 you should probably look into what actually makes a CEDH deck. You are setting incredibly arbitrary restrictions and a lack of infinite combos of any kind automatically puts your deck somewhere around a 6 or low 7 at best
Personally when it comes to mulligans me and those I play with go with the rule you get three free mulligans. If you do not have a working hand after that you either have some deck building issues or the universe is just hating you and nothing we can do about that.
I dont really like the unlimitted free mulligan rule. One free mulligan is great, going to 6 is not that bad. If you have to go to 5 because you did not get a hand with enough lands MAYBE we can allow some extra free mulligans. But I think it's just akward when you choose to keep an OK hand and someone takes 4 free mulligans...
I find all these channels fun to watch. Everyone of them have their ideas on how everyone should play the game. Kids that are younger than the time I’ve been playing telling me how to play is hilarious to me. This channel just like all the others make some good points but they also have some hilariously bad takes.
@SWAT6809
Ай бұрын
just because someone is younger doesnt detract from their points, the argument stands in absence of the person
@davidhowell1415
Ай бұрын
@@SWAT6809 you obviously stopped reading and just posted your thoughts without knowing the full statement.
@SWAT6809
Ай бұрын
@@davidhowell1415 no, I read everything you wrote. :)
@davidhowell1415
Ай бұрын
@@SWAT6809 oh, okay. So reading comprehension is where you are lacking.
@SWAT6809
Ай бұрын
No, Im good.
Big spells need bug ramp... or it ends the game.
The moment you prefer night's whisper to arena (when they're completely different cards for completely different decks) you clearly have no idea.
Me with a play Group of 1
Tri lands are not budget cards. They go for $10-$16
How are triomes low power
@zacharyjoy8724
Ай бұрын
They explained it: good for color fixing, but slow because they enter tapped.
Having a few good cards in your deck does not make it better! It just makes it inconsistent. If your playing casual all your decks are bad. So it doesn't matter.
If you don't stand up to power creep, you're causing the problem you're complaining about. We all hate what Hasbro's done to our game, and y'all are saying "Well, guess we have no choice. Better stop playing cards we already have and spend money on cards we disapprove of, enriching a company we despise. Because the only alternative is to NOT do that and keep playing what was already working." This isn't Modern, and it isn't cEDH. You don't have to keep spending money on cards you don't want in order to have fun.
I play with a pod of at least 6 players these cards are even worse with that lol😅
id argue that my villainous wealth that i pump 10 mana into with my zaxara deck is totally worth it for a single target spell. hehe xD. edit: my mono green deck only had 32 lands and it was super consistent :)
@Hagrites
Ай бұрын
Do you have a bunch of ramp, rocks, and dorks though? If that's the case, you'll be fine. Always.
Moxfield ad 14:35
@NitpickingNerds
Ай бұрын
Quality guess
13:43
Love your video guys, but the first tip is just trash loll. PLaying to many tap land is just unfun.
What ever happened with the other host?
@sarahbuck2506
Ай бұрын
They have their own channel now, Joe Cherries MTG
Commander is so jank that people can't even play a card and wait 1 single turn for it to work.
Hi
@NitpickingNerds
Ай бұрын
hello
@timmyd.8737
Ай бұрын
@@NitpickingNerds lovely weather we’re having
I just want everyone to know that I voted for DJT.
Giving your opponents card draw should lower your level. Why would you give your opponent such an advantage. Every card could be a threat that can't be taken lightly.
@NitpickingNerds
Ай бұрын
Definitely agree
"Name another tapland" MYRIAD LANDSCAPE. Please for the love of all puppies & kitties, can we all please recognize that myriad landscape isn't good.
Comon guys inksheild is busted xD stop acting like holding 5 mana is telegraphing inksheild loll
if you don't want to be wrong about the moxfield ad, it's at 11:02
@NitpickingNerds
Ай бұрын
Feels like potential cheating
Card kingdom sucks. Prices are always like 30% more than TcG player.
Your deck power level is a 10 but your luck is horrible a 1 😂❤
Boo hoo
Card Kingdom ain't that good. They always send me the incomplete order.
@BattleAxeRX
Ай бұрын
I've never used them. I bet they don't send off center cards though based on how much money they seem to be vs tcgplayer
@Vidious808
Ай бұрын
I don't like them their prices are always so inflated.
@chaserevstuning9271
Ай бұрын
Never had that happen.
@gregory3499
Ай бұрын
@@Vidious808lmao they are actually one of the cheapest online game stores around.
@Oz__MTG
Ай бұрын
That’s BS.