I recently purchased a concretion that supposedly has a crab inside and I want to make sure I open it without ruining it. I’ve never done this before and the shape is odd, so I am unsure on where to strike it to get the best results. I am hoping you guys can help!
Sorry in advance for this novel. Most of the Commander decks I play at my local LGS fall somewhere between bracket 2 and the higher end of bracket 3.
Many of my bracket 2 decks are generally lightly modified precons, decks with a similar power level, or teaching decks that I can use with newer and younger players. Recently, however, more players at my store have started preferring bracket 4 games. I would like to participate in those games more often, but they happen less frequently than the lower-powered games I normally play.
I am looking for advice on either:
I am not looking for full cEDH, but I would like something that can function effectively in a faster, more interactive environment.
Infinite or pseudo-infinite combos:
I tend to prefer win conditions that are more clearly telegraphed. I enjoy navigating an opponent’s possible interaction and trying to sequence my plays successfully rather than unexpectedly presenting a compact combo. That said, I recognize that I may need to become more open to combos at bracket 4.
Frequent tutoring or deck searching:
I find repeated deck searching tedious, and it tends to make my turns take longer than I would like. I am not completely opposed to tutors and the like, but I would prefer not to build a deck that relies heavily on them.
Too many different triggers at once:
I am still improving at managing complicated board states. Decks with many unrelated triggers can slow me down and make me feel like I am holding up the table while I work through everything.
Based on those preferences, what commanders or archetypes would y'all recommend exploring for bracket 4?
I would also appreciate any advice on whether one of my existing decks might be a better upgrade candidate than starting from scratch. I am not opposed to starting from scratch either.
My Moxfield profile and decklists
Hey everyone,
I’m hitting a bit of a psychological wall with my local playgroup lately and wanted to see if anyone else ever intentionally takes a dive for the sake of the table's vibe.
Here’s the situation: Last night I brought out a deck that has just been firing on all cylinders lately. I'm talking perfect mana curves, early value engines, and answers for everything. By turn 5, my board state is absolutely popping off, and it's pretty clear to everyone that I’m holding all the cards (literally and figuratively).
The thing is, I’m not playing against budget precons or anything. The other guys at the table have solid, well-constructed, decent high-power decks. On paper, it should be a balanced, hard-fought match. But tonight, they just weren’t playing well. Missing optimal sequencing, holding back interaction at the wrong moments, or just misreading the threat assessment on the board.
On top of that, I had already won the last three games in a row.
I looked around the table and could just see the energy draining out of the room. Nobody wants to sit through a grueling, drawn-out 40-minute execution when they're already frustrated with their own misplays.
So, I threw the game.
I had the winning line ready to go, but instead, I purposely made a sub-optimal play, left myself completely exposed to a swing out from the next player, and let someone else take the crown. I played it off like a genuine misplay, but internally, I just wanted the table to have a good time and reset the mood for the next round.
Does anyone else do this when your deck is just performing too well, or do you always play to the absolute best of your ability and let the chips fall where they may? Are accidental pubstomps worth throwing a game over to save the pod's morale?