I disagree deciding combat randomly. Instead I prefer, and prefer it when others are decisive and state their reasons for the attack. "I'm attacking the black player because they are most likely to use their life total as a resource." Or "I'm attacking this player because they have ramped the most and are most likely to become a threat to the table." These are good reasons to attack players and if you state your reasoning you are less likely to be seen as a warmonger. When my opponent roll dice or attack in turn order, I am aware that I am likely to "be next" and I will be more likely to hold up interaction, and others will do the same.
This is amazing advice and I couldn't agree more. As I have moved through my EDH career I have noticed that more experienced players don't really care when a more aggressive deck starts coming after them. With more experience you will be able to see things like you have mentioned above like: "okay, the green player played 2 ramp spells and can cast their commander next turn. The blue player played a mana rock and has access to two blue mana. The Rakdos deck missed a land drop." And then making a very educated decision on who to attack. I don't prefer rolling dice to attack either but I notice that with newer players, who don't understand the power of the colors they are playing, will often get upset and feel targeted through combat. Thank you for your comment.
My top tip is to add in any burn effects that might be synergistic. Since you want everyone at zero, any way to get extra chip damage in is useful. If you're going wide then impact tremors and purphuros are a must.
Aggro is my favorite arc type in commander barely eeking out artifact synergy/prison decks. I think this is one of the better videos on aggro in commander on UA-cam
On the note of a player being helpless at the start of a game (~2:20), I remember one time I was playing a game of standard with three of friends. At the start, I was extremely managed screwed. Only two plains on turn 6 with a primarily black heal-burn deck (is that deck type called aristocrats or something?). But yeah, really rough start. Anyways, on like turn 10, one of my opponents had a like 10/10 on the field with a huge hand, and over 50 hp (in standard btw), another opponent had two huge fliers on the field, and the third was a control deck. On turn ten. I draw. And FINALLY draw a swamp. Lay it down. And play a vampire. Then it immediately gets countered. 😶 His reasoning was that it was a threat cause it had lifelink. 😶
My heart goes out to you BravetheIdiot. I am sorry to hear that your first spell got countered. Sounds like your friends just wanted to keep it a 3 player game to close it out faster. I hope you got in a second game and it went better for you!
Iroas also really enables your beatdown since blocking becomes so hard and suddenly doesn't kill the attackers. He's also a 3 Turn Clock by himself (if devotion requirement is met). Also Boros is just a neat color combination with lots of double strikers :>
I started my commander journey was a control mage. Once the pandemic was in full swing and I was playing exclusively on MTGA I realized the value of going to combat. After the pandemic started to lessen and my playgroup started meeting in person I noticed I would usually be the only one to throw a creature around and try and get combat rolling! Aggro can be super fun when you know what you are doing in a 4 player match. Thank you for your comment!
Radha is seriously one of my favorite creatures. She is not super OP must be killed on sight but you ignore her, she will be able to snow ball your deck.
I liked the "using combat as a political tool" tip, it's very effective to make deals, but I really dislike using dice to decide attacks, it's a very coward move.
Combat is just as effective as control in the realm of making deals. People don't like losing life as much as they don't like getting their spells countered. I have been in a few games where there is no clear person I want to attack first and I don't want any hate to start toward me, so I let the dice god's decide until a more clear threat arises.
I like Gruul. I'd like to recommend 1. Xenagos: Ramp, play Xenagos (try to never get devotion), play creature with Trample go to combat double +X+X equal to Power gets haste Attack! Play Draw spells equal to Power easily draw 10+ cards. 2. Raggadragga Goreguts Boss: Play lots of cheap Mana tapping creatures, ie: Llanowar Elf and combo out massive X spells 7cmc spells with creatures that can tap mana X equal to their power untapping each time and getting +7+7 from Raggadragga. Totally agree that key to aggro is don't over play the board :P
A mistake I have made too many times. Is getting caught up in the fun of dumping my hand and then getting hit with removal and being reset to nothing. I like Raggadragga but any time I have ever played Xenegos, not even as the commander, I become threat #1.
Mono green agro is my favorite, I feel green can be any style if deck ranging from agro to control. Just something about using mono green elves just stomps people out
I always talk up Mono Green when I can. Green is such a power house, especially in EDH! Green ramps, it can draw cards, play big monsters and big spells, it has removal for the hard to reach items (artifacts and enchantments) and then it uses its big creatures as player removal!
@MTG - Commander Claw no that's to easy, just play rampaging baloths, and ashaya. Baloths creates beasts on land etb and ashaya makes creatures lands so its just inf creatures and if you add in a sac you win outlet, or haste enabler then gg
If you also want some cheeky plays use quirion ranger and scryb ranges to bounce forests to hand to untap something but I'm certain interactions this can be used to bounce a creature ti hand since ashaya will turn creatures into forests in addition to their type. Just so much junk it's great
Unfortunately, depending on the table you end up at, you may need to hyperfixate on one player. I have dealt with a bunch of whiney power gamers who get upset when they get focused down, even though they are the clear archenemy. If someone is playing a more powerful deck than everyone else at the table, and whine about being targeted, then they deserve to feel bad.
Mmm. Tip 1: Don't hyperfixate. Sure. I'm here to go smash the next strongest player. If I'm not poised to do that, then what am I doing? Tip 2: Fair enough, excepting when I have haste. Tip 3: I suppose, then again I'm rarely on combat tricks unless it's a Transformed Tovolar. So it's in the open. Tip 4: I'm not much for politics. If someone is trying to politic with me I should scrutinize them more. Tip 5: Can't fault. I like to diversify my threats at a point. A creature or two, and then a non-creature engine or other support, like a number of on the board haste effects. Then if a board wipe happens, Boom! Drop a creature and smite whoever wrathed.
Mmm, Got Rafiq in the 99 of my Pheldagrif Voltron deck. Heh heh heh. My Syr Gwyn is living equipment typal. So I can have two equipments out and draw cards on T5 or so when I cast Syr Gwyn. And Saskia on the right setup can burn people down so fast. Bonus points for including Cultist of the Absolute so she's +3/+3, flying, and can be easily retargeted should the chosen player die.
Heres a vid idea: how to play arch enemy? No matter how i play, it ends up being 3v1 and i lose. If i sit there and do nothing, my pod will also sit there and do nothing. Ive literally sat in a game with them turn 20 and everyone had 35-40 life. So i want to know the best way to play arch enemy without dying.
This is a great video idea! I have had this happen to myself as well. No one wants to be the first person to draw blood but then the game lasts forever. At the same time no one wants to be the try hard to goes for the W right away because then you get ganged up on, like you said. Something for me to think about!
Meh, find a play group that does not care about you playing an aggro deck... if your play group is just playing mid/late game trash backed up by bad combos... that is a toxic group. Slap down dudes, strip out their hands with creatures like Sire of Insanity or land D... it's not your fault they are playing trash.
agro is about making 1 dude wait 30 that other finish the game, realy unsocial playstyle, play stax pls and start to play the game with us and not try to not play as fast as possible
I disagree deciding combat randomly. Instead I prefer, and prefer it when others are decisive and state their reasons for the attack. "I'm attacking the black player because they are most likely to use their life total as a resource." Or "I'm attacking this player because they have ramped the most and are most likely to become a threat to the table." These are good reasons to attack players and if you state your reasoning you are less likely to be seen as a warmonger. When my opponent roll dice or attack in turn order, I am aware that I am likely to "be next" and I will be more likely to hold up interaction, and others will do the same.
This is amazing advice and I couldn't agree more. As I have moved through my EDH career I have noticed that more experienced players don't really care when a more aggressive deck starts coming after them. With more experience you will be able to see things like you have mentioned above like:
"okay, the green player played 2 ramp spells and can cast their commander next turn. The blue player played a mana rock and has access to two blue mana. The Rakdos deck missed a land drop." And then making a very educated decision on who to attack.
I don't prefer rolling dice to attack either but I notice that with newer players, who don't understand the power of the colors they are playing, will often get upset and feel targeted through combat.
Thank you for your comment.
My top tip is to add in any burn effects that might be synergistic. Since you want everyone at zero, any way to get extra chip damage in is useful. If you're going wide then impact tremors and purphuros are a must.
Aggro is my favorite arc type in commander barely eeking out artifact synergy/prison decks. I think this is one of the better videos on aggro in commander on UA-cam
On the note of a player being helpless at the start of a game (~2:20), I remember one time I was playing a game of standard with three of friends. At the start, I was extremely managed screwed. Only two plains on turn 6 with a primarily black heal-burn deck (is that deck type called aristocrats or something?). But yeah, really rough start. Anyways, on like turn 10, one of my opponents had a like 10/10 on the field with a huge hand, and over 50 hp (in standard btw), another opponent had two huge fliers on the field, and the third was a control deck. On turn ten. I draw. And FINALLY draw a swamp. Lay it down. And play a vampire. Then it immediately gets countered. 😶 His reasoning was that it was a threat cause it had lifelink. 😶
My heart goes out to you BravetheIdiot. I am sorry to hear that your first spell got countered. Sounds like your friends just wanted to keep it a 3 player game to close it out faster.
I hope you got in a second game and it went better for you!
Iroas also really enables your beatdown since blocking becomes so hard and suddenly doesn't kill the attackers. He's also a 3 Turn Clock by himself (if devotion requirement is met). Also Boros is just a neat color combination with lots of double strikers :>
I had always thought about how to bring my favourite deck type into commander, nice to see someone agrees. Good video!
I started my commander journey was a control mage. Once the pandemic was in full swing and I was playing exclusively on MTGA I realized the value of going to combat. After the pandemic started to lessen and my playgroup started meeting in person I noticed I would usually be the only one to throw a creature around and try and get combat rolling!
Aggro can be super fun when you know what you are doing in a 4 player match.
Thank you for your comment!
My favorite aggro is Marisi... get a few creatures with Shadow and suddenly everybody is playing aggro. :^)
Thantis is also pretty cool.
Now I am tempted to build a Gruul rofl-stompy deck with that Radha as the commander.
Radha is seriously one of my favorite creatures. She is not super OP must be killed on sight but you ignore her, she will be able to snow ball your deck.
I liked the "using combat as a political tool" tip, it's very effective to make deals, but I really dislike using dice to decide attacks, it's a very coward move.
Combat is just as effective as control in the realm of making deals. People don't like losing life as much as they don't like getting their spells countered. I have been in a few games where there is no clear person I want to attack first and I don't want any hate to start toward me, so I let the dice god's decide until a more clear threat arises.
Love these tips videos please do more!
I certainly have plans! So many videos but so little time!
I like Gruul. I'd like to recommend
1. Xenagos: Ramp, play Xenagos (try to never get devotion), play creature with Trample go to combat double +X+X equal to Power gets haste Attack! Play Draw spells equal to Power easily draw 10+ cards.
2. Raggadragga Goreguts Boss: Play lots of cheap Mana tapping creatures, ie: Llanowar Elf and combo out massive X spells 7cmc spells with creatures that can tap mana X equal to their power untapping each time and getting +7+7 from Raggadragga.
Totally agree that key to aggro is don't over play the board :P
A mistake I have made too many times. Is getting caught up in the fun of dumping my hand and then getting hit with removal and being reset to nothing.
I like Raggadragga but any time I have ever played Xenegos, not even as the commander, I become threat #1.
I had no idea Saskia existed. I think I need her for my banding deck :D
Mono green agro is my favorite, I feel green can be any style if deck ranging from agro to control. Just something about using mono green elves just stomps people out
I always talk up Mono Green when I can. Green is such a power house, especially in EDH! Green ramps, it can draw cards, play big monsters and big spells, it has removal for the hard to reach items (artifacts and enchantments) and then it uses its big creatures as player removal!
Is one of your win-con Craterhoof Behemoth?
@MTG - Commander Claw no that's to easy, just play rampaging baloths, and ashaya. Baloths creates beasts on land etb and ashaya makes creatures lands so its just inf creatures and if you add in a sac you win outlet, or haste enabler then gg
If you also want some cheeky plays use quirion ranger and scryb ranges to bounce forests to hand to untap something but I'm certain interactions this can be used to bounce a creature ti hand since ashaya will turn creatures into forests in addition to their type. Just so much junk it's great
@@foxfire6658 concordant crossroads lol risky
All 5 rules go out of the window if you play blue/black decks and start to annoy people with counters and return to hand cards tho 😂
Unfortunately, depending on the table you end up at, you may need to hyperfixate on one player. I have dealt with a bunch of whiney power gamers who get upset when they get focused down, even though they are the clear archenemy. If someone is playing a more powerful deck than everyone else at the table, and whine about being targeted, then they deserve to feel bad.
Good stuff
Mmm. Tip 1: Don't hyperfixate. Sure. I'm here to go smash the next strongest player. If I'm not poised to do that, then what am I doing? Tip 2: Fair enough, excepting when I have haste. Tip 3: I suppose, then again I'm rarely on combat tricks unless it's a Transformed Tovolar. So it's in the open. Tip 4: I'm not much for politics. If someone is trying to politic with me I should scrutinize them more. Tip 5: Can't fault. I like to diversify my threats at a point. A creature or two, and then a non-creature engine or other support, like a number of on the board haste effects. Then if a board wipe happens, Boom! Drop a creature and smite whoever wrathed.
Mmm, Got Rafiq in the 99 of my Pheldagrif Voltron deck. Heh heh heh. My Syr Gwyn is living equipment typal. So I can have two equipments out and draw cards on T5 or so when I cast Syr Gwyn. And Saskia on the right setup can burn people down so fast. Bonus points for including Cultist of the Absolute so she's +3/+3, flying, and can be easily retargeted should the chosen player die.
Heres a vid idea: how to play arch enemy?
No matter how i play, it ends up being 3v1 and i lose. If i sit there and do nothing, my pod will also sit there and do nothing. Ive literally sat in a game with them turn 20 and everyone had 35-40 life.
So i want to know the best way to play arch enemy without dying.
This is a great video idea! I have had this happen to myself as well. No one wants to be the first person to draw blood but then the game lasts forever. At the same time no one wants to be the try hard to goes for the W right away because then you get ganged up on, like you said.
Something for me to think about!
Meh, find a play group that does not care about you playing an aggro deck... if your play group is just playing mid/late game trash backed up by bad combos... that is a toxic group. Slap down dudes, strip out their hands with creatures like Sire of Insanity or land D... it's not your fault they are playing trash.
agro is about making 1 dude wait 30 that other finish the game, realy unsocial playstyle, play stax pls and start to play the game with us and not try to not play as fast as possible