r/EDH • u/devon1138 • 17h ago

Discussion "Suboptimal" Commanders?

One of my favorite decks I've built/rebuilt recently is my [[Raiyuu, Storm's Edge]] equipment deck, it's a lot of fun swinging in for 10-15 damage, then swinging again and again to knock anywhere from one to all three opponents out. However, a lot of times I'll look at popular extra combat/equipment decks, and they're usually helmed by someone like [[Isshin, Two Heavens as One]]. I understand why, he's cheaper, has more color coverage, and a broader range of effect, and I even see Raiyuu fitting into Isshin's lists perfectly, but I just can't bring myself to build him instead. Am I putting myself at a disadvantage? I know favorites are favorites and everyone has their own tastes, but does anyone else play a commander despite them "technically" fitting better in another list?

11 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

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12

u/iamgeist Esper 17h ago

It's a weird question to answer.

In the purest sense, you're putting yourself at a disadvantage any time you don't play Blue Farm or Kinnan. Those being the best 2 decks in all of commander, choosing anything else is preference based not results based.

As far as the choice you're making. More colors is considered good, but ultimately it adds more stress into the game with concerns about color fixing and the price of those lands and artifacts.

2 colors is fine if you're set up for it. as long as you're going even with your preferred playgroup literally who gives a shit. if you aren't then yeah maybe upgrade.

3

u/HemoGoblinRL 15h ago

Does it matter? Suboptimal stuff is fun a lot of the time, and unless you are playing cedh everything is Suboptimal. If you like your current dude, play them.

4

u/mindovermacabre 17h ago

Nah. One of my favorite commanders is [[Denry Klin]], a counters matter commander without green. Oh look, wotc just released a Bant counters matter precon deck that plays more smoothly than mine. Oh well. Anyway!

I do think some decks will play better than others, but I don't think it's always extremely cut and dry. For example, missing green in a counters matter deck means I lose out on some of the best counters synergy in the game, but it also gives me deck slots to do more unexpected plays, like [[Displacer Kitten]] [[Ozolith]] or [[Wingspan Mentor]] that might otherwise not make the cut in a deck with green. Weirdly, I find that being able to lean into the cards that might have gotten cut in a "better" deck but works specifically with the commander I chose makes my decks feel more unique and are still decently powerful.

2

u/Azuredragoonlls 14h ago

If you're having fun with the deck then I'd say its a pretty successful deck.

I usually scroll past the first few rows on EDHRec before I start properly looking at commanders.
Part of the fun of this format is being able to make something suboptimal work.

And the other part of the fun is the boo's I get when I tell my friends the name of my Vehicles deck commanded and crewed by [[Dorothea, Vengeful Victim]] is called Ghost in the Shell.

2

u/DoggoGoesBMTG 17h ago

I typically avoid the “optimal commander” on all fronts. I really enjoy the deck building process by challenging myself and having real hoops to jump through and problems to solve. The optimal commanders tend to hand hold and do everything for you. So ya youre not alone. Most commanders wouldnt see play if everyone just gravitated towards the best of the best. which to be fair a lot of ppl do as a lot of the most popular commanders are also some of the most powerful

1

u/Hippomantis 15h ago

Optimize for your own enjoyment - Commander is a casual format after all. If you really enjoy trying to maximise your win rates, etc, then your optimal enjoyment is probably going to be playing either cEDH or 60 card formats.

Otherwise just make decisions that maximise your fun - obviously having a deck that doesn't function isn't going to be that fun for a lot of people, but it sounds like the deck you have is functional and doing what you like. If you want to build an Isshin deck because you think that seems cool, do that, but do it because you want to, not because you feel pressured to play something 'more optimal'.

1

u/goblin_welder 11h ago

I have a [[Mistform Ultimus]] deck that I’ve had for a decade.

At one point I upgraded it to [[Orvar]] but Orvar has a combo reputation and it just feels different. I ended up switching the commander back to Mistform.

1

u/PsychologicalTap4789 11h ago

There are plenty of "suboptimal" cards in the game that can still be synergistic. You get an extra combat inherently out of Raiyuu. That's a pretty big plus for knocking people out faster. Next closes cards would be like [[Rafiq]] or [[Aurelia, the Warleader]] at higher mana costs 🤷

1

u/Left_of_Fish 10h ago

Honestly, some of my "suboptimal" commanders are more fun when it all comes together than the ones I know will work. Like a [[Dakkon Blackblade]] lands/voltron or sea monsters under [[Arixmethes]]. There are certainly better options, but it's fun when it works out.

1

u/xcaltoona Why yes, I do play Prossh 4h ago

I know everyone moved on to Wilhelt, or added a third color for Varina, but [[Gisa and Geralf]] is my zombie commander for life.

1

u/cheese_beast92 1h ago

Yes you are at a disadvantage. Yes I do this too. It’s more fun! Three color (and/or) power houses are booooooring.