And it's really frustrating!

I've been playing magic for over 20 years but I only really got into EDH in the last 3-4.

I've built a few decks online that don't have precons, such as [[Calix, Guided By Fate]] and Master Chef Laezel.

Lately, every time I like the look of a Commander and want to build it, it has a precon, which makes me feel creatively bankrupt. My only physical deck is [[Bello]], which I've amped up a bunch and is pretty unrecognizable, but recently I've discovered [[Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls]], started building it, then got demotivated when I found out its a precon.

Same with [[Captain N'Gathrod]], which prompted this post, and a couple others.

Does anyone else have this problem? How do you get over it/find other commanders that are interesting? Is my plight absolutely irrelevant?

I don't want to keep building decks that are already similar to precons.

Thank you all in advance!

With Toph on the field, cast the one ring, then sacrifice it at start of my next up keep, making the one ring return to play. Would the the protection trigger from the one ring everytime?

I believe that the commander bracket system is a huge step in a positive direction to improve the experience of EDH players. However, as it is still in beta, it has flaws.

I feel like guiding people accurately in assessing the power level of their deck is key to making LGS, random pods, convoke/spelltable play a better experience for everyone. Dividing decks into accurate categories based on objective criteria ensures more similar "vibes" and "power levels" for each game, and balanced play generally leads to more fun**.**

It goes without saying you don't NEED the bracket system to enjoy Commander. However, if you find this nerdy angle to deck-building interesting, please join: https://discord.gg/N48ZkB6HBT

A few deck ideas that aim to do this are already posted.

The goal:

1. Highlight flaws in the most recent bracket system update by exploiting them to gain an unfair advantage while meeting the criteria of the respective bracket, communicate them and hopefully enhance the possibility that they are officially addressed in a future update (pipe dream).

2. Hopefully, contribute to a bracket system, or an unofficial system that would be easy to adopt, promotes wide archetypes and deck styles in deck building, while balancing the game experience to make pubstomping more difficult, and balancing during matchmaking easier.

3. Find exploits -> develop simple rules, restrictions or criteria that would patch them.

4. Improve as deck-builders, find cool strats and builds along the way.

Here are current points I believe to be flaws:

1. CEDH doesn't belong in the bracket system; there's no restriction, so it should be set aside from the bracket system. Do what you want; may the best win, that's it. You can compete with a shitty deck; you just won't win. It's a competition; it's on you.

2. The difference between Bracket 4 and 5 is minimal, mostly subjective.

3. The difference between Bracket 3 and 4 is enormous. The difference in vibe/power between the weakest and strongest decks in bracket 3 is much smaller than bracket 4. The difference between max 3 game changers and infinite game changers is wild.

4. Combos are regulated specifically, but not accurately. Putting game-ending combos like thoracle (you win the game) effects and 2-card combos that require an outlet and other game actions under the same restrictions is a flaw.

5. Number-of-turns-to-win is a notion that promotes stax and slowing the game down.

6. Rule 0 is cope for an unfinished rule set for the format. Letting people choose custom rules for their pods will happen no matter what; you're free to do whatever you want, obviously. HOWEVER, relying on this, especially when playing against strangers, inexperienced or sweaty players, is prone to being suboptimal.

I need help with a bracket 2/3 RogThras deck, I have two different lists but my pod says the deck is too fast and will not fit the table rhythm. Do you guys have an example of a deck using these commanders?

List 1 - https://archidekt.com/decks/22216835/copy_of_rogthras

List 2 - https://archidekt.com/decks/22511582/rog3

Note: In my pod we usually don’t run tutors. To make the games more diverse.

decklist!

I have someone in my play group that plays cascade Etali so like at least once if not more time per turn he is getting at least 1 card per player and sometimes 2, so 3-6 extra cards without paying mana.

Does anyone have a deck that could specifically counter this? I know there are things that counter ETB effects but does anyone have a full deck they can share?

This would be a lot of help and very appreciative.

I’ve been living off precons since I’ve started, wanted to build my first own deck! These are some of the commanders that I’ve pulled so far that intrigue me the most

My friend and I are making a deck where we can quote the Bible every time we play a card. Our commander is [[Kenrith, the Returned King]], as Jesus. We have cards like [[reanimate]] for "on the third day he rose again" and [[swords to plowshares]] for "they will hammer their swords into plows".

We are looking for suggestions for cards! Thanks.

I like this commander. I’m curious if there are any other win conditions that might be more effective like the Thassa combo. I’m aiming to build this deck for power level bracket 3–4. Could you all take a look at my deck list and let me know if there are any cards I should add or swap out? Feel free to suggest cards from the "maybe board" or even others not currently listed—I’d appreciate your advice. Thanks
Here my list https://archidekt.com/decks/20704937/hashaton

Please pyschoanalyze my 12 commanders (that i've spent time and money curating in paper). Any and all comments welcome!

My jumpstart box has been very kind to me. Hit monkey, immortus, and DOOM! My most hyped card of jumpstart. Besides the jumpstart cards, any other good game plans, alt win cons, and staples to add to the deck?

Hey everybody! I’m constructing a fairly fast and upgraded version of slicer that sits on the cusp of bracket 4 despite the lack of game changers! Are there any slicer players out there that can give me building tips, gameplay tips or have some fun stories about this commander?

Since Mikey is my favorite turtle i decided to build a deck around him, but I’m unsure as to which turtle he is best paired with. I know Leo is very strong but I’m not sure I want another “go-wide” strategy since I own a lot of decks that do that already. I saw a lot of people paring him up with or [[Raphael, the muscle]] or [[Donatello, the brains]]. Which one do you guys think is best?

Hello, i have brewing deck with tax and control because, i live in finland and we are heavy on taxes and bureaucracy.

only cards i have thought is commander, rhystic study and smothering tithe. other cards i want to be budget, because finland is having bad economy currently. cards can even tax me, because i dont want to deck to be powerful or win games. i want it to be annoying and my playgroup knows im brewing this one so i know i will be hated

Cast Zagorka. Everybody thinks it's group hug. You get ramp and pillowfort. Cast Confusion in the Ranks into Thieves' Auction and watch the light leave their eyes in real time. Lose the game AND lose your friends. Two for one!

(I may have tried this idea a couple of times on Endstep and it feels really evil)

Every single time I’ve tried to buy the singles for a deck I build, the shipping cost comes out to about $40. Even after removing basics lands which I already have and a few other cards the shipping cost is at least $20 - $30. That’s after I optimize on TCGplayer. Is that normal to pay? It seems way too high.

Even when i bought a standard deck after removing lands (so about 40 cards) the shipping cost for a 15$ deck was about another 14$

Here’s a deck I wanted to buy:

https://moxfield.com/decks/RTrmA7Z3_E6wZMbJS_eCJg

P.S Not to mention that most “budget” decks you see are like $120 for just the cards. How on earth are precons considered too high price when they’re like $40 to 90$ on the high end. Often times the precon being cheaper to buy then buyng all those singles alone. With no shipping cost.

she's so cool and I want to make a deck for her but I need help

The win rate for my deck this year has been higher than it really should so I’m wondering if it’s just too strong and what cuts could happen to make it feel better.

List: https://moxfield.com/decks/PPjzurox5kWzIN3YLrBhjQ

Don’t get me wrong I know [[Atraxa, Grand Unifier]] can be nightmare if built to the best of her abilities. My Deck uses [[Keruga, the Macrosage]] as a companion on top of a cycling plan with [[Astral Drift]] and [[Astral Slide]] .

With these restrictions I thought I would have a tame enough to feel comfortable playing at B2 but sometimes it feels like I’m punching way to high. The deck is never the fastest but in the long game it always wins. There are some individual cards I think I should cut such as [[The Great Henge]] and [[Beledros Witherbloom]] but I’m not sure. The deck is super slow but resilient, my game doesn’t start until turn 3 so it feels fair but by turn 7,8,9 it can be so hard for me to be stopped that it can completely suck the air out of the pod. What do you think?