#New EDH/Commander player, where should I start?

27 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

obsidian pawn
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Hey there everyone, Im new to the Commander format, but somewhat familiar with standard MTG play. Short story on why I'm here - I have a coworker who has been bugging me to play Arenas with him. Ive played but playing a digital card game just doesn't do it for me. I been working on convincing him to play physical with me, ideally this new format I heard about (Commander). I got another player who is pretty unfamiliar with MTG overall but loves the idea, and his younger brother IS a Commander player and is familiar with the rules, and has a few decks already. Now I just need to pick a night, and oh, me and the coworker dont have physical cards!

So here I am today, trying to figure out the best and CHEAPEST way to start playing. Cheap is important at this time being. My coworker doesn't want to spend $40+ on a pre-constructed deck just for this to be a one night thing, but hes happy with closer to $25. I seen the Commander starter decks, two of the five are on Amazon for under $25 each, but everything Ive heard about these decks are pretty negative (except for the Dragon one I guess? which isn't one of the two).

My next option was checking eBay for Pre-con decks, and I found several options for under $30, even some built Commander decks for less than $20, and reviews were positive in the sense that they were a good base to build from like the Starter Deck pre-cons. I also seen bulk MTG cards, ~1000 cards for around $25, which claims to at least hold a couple rare cards (I assume rare and valuable are NOT interchangeable here).

I messaged my coworker on his thoughts, waiting on his response, in the mean time I figured Id ask seasoned Commander players which way they think I should go. Im leaning towards buying the 1000 card lot, and me and him making it a night of building decks together and playing a few standard games to test a few ideas. At the end of the day, were just looking to find something fun and relaxing. TIA everyone!

viscid parrot
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I'm sorry to say but the best and cheapest way to get started with commander is with a precon. You can absolutely build functional and fun budget decks for $25 or less, but jumping right into building a deck from scratch (while also strictly limiting your budget) can be extremely daunting for people unfamiliar with the format

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If your goal is to just hop into some games of commander, then I really don't think there's an issue with getting the cheap precons that you mentioned. They're rated poorly because they're underpowered compared to other normally priced precons, but they can still work (and will be fine when played with other budget precons). Plus, you can upgrade those cheap precons with other cheap cards

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As someone who got started with one of those bulk card lots, I'd say that they're really not good for much unfortunately 😅 they're fun in concept, but you'd be hard pressed to make even one working commander deck out of one of those lots, let alone several

obsidian pawn
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appreciate the response. Im just being kind of picky with my Commander/Deck colors. One of the starter decks is the Green/White, I usually play with Green in my decks so I guess I can make that work for a bit.

As for the decks being similar in strength, I know the 'seasoned' player already mentioned he planned to bring one of his 'lighter' decks, I think he said Thunder Junction? Saying the rest of his decks might be a little much for new and casual players

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Ill talk to the coworker again and see if I cant get him to divy up on the $25 lol I keep trying to explain to him that this wont be just a 1 time thing if he doesnt let it be. The way I understand it, Commander is really a social game, or at least, something you can have fun doing while socializing.

Grab a couple drinks, throw on some music, play some Magic. Sounds like a good way to wind down a couple times a month to me!

viscid parrot
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Yeah I think when you get the right group together it can be a good way to wind down!

Do you know how many decks your friend's brother has? Because he might be cool with just sharing them for a game so people can get a feel for the format

tender gust
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If you play at a store there's also a chance the owner or employees or other players at a store can lend you their commander decks for the day

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Just to try out the format

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The last 2 weeks of commander nights I have played 0 of my own decks. And I played 4 decks from complete strangers that I got to meet that night.

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If someone happens to have a precon you can also try them out before you choose to purchase your own as well

obsidian pawn
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Not sure how many, I know he at least also has the Hail Ceaser, Fallout deck that my friend has told me about. I havent thought about asking to use his because it wasn't offered yet, but tbf, ive never met the guy before, just friends with his brother and started a group chat to plan a night together. Im sure after a game/night or two, he could be open, but may want to see how we handle cards. I wouldnt wanna hand my cards to someone that twists them like a poker hand lol

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I been eyeing up plenty precons. Bloomburrow is the set that made me eye MTG again (havent played in a few years, on and off, sadly lost most my bulk)

fringe blaze
obsidian pawn
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but the one Bloomburrow precon I would have spent $40 on without thought, is all on the secondary marked up LOL (Squirreled away)

viscid parrot
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That happened to me with the precon I wanted 🥲 had to set a price alarm on Amazon so that I could snag it at a reasonable price

tender gust
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idk if this is also in ur field rn. But I do not buy any of my cards anymore. i j straight print 99% of my cards

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i spend 8 dollars printing a 400 dollar deck

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with my favorite art choices

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the only actual money i spend at game stores now is buying sleeves and occasional deck boxes

obsidian pawn
obsidian pawn
tender gust
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Nope I don't feel dirty at all. I mean look at the fiesta w the marvel drops recently

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I spend 2 minutes printing the marvel cards I want and 8 cents per card

obsidian pawn
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That's a WHOLE other fiasco, lol I totally say that's worth the proxy with the way it got handled. Like I mentioned to someone on FB who said people should be happy to build within their budget, I said $50 may have been perfectly in someone's budget but pay 3x that is ridiculous and easily understandable why people don't wanna pay

tender gust
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yea idk. illl spend money on card foil arts and the occasional pretty land art. and thats p much the extent of it now. my eyes have been oepened to the truth of proxies

obsidian pawn