For instance, I always try to have a piece of lifegain in every deck, and it almost always pays off when I need it! I also tend to build ramp around my commander - lots of 1 drop dorks for a 3 mv commander, for instance.
Let me know yours!
#(07/22/2025) What’s a deckbuilding quirk you take pride in?
frozen gust
pastel yarrow
I try way too hard to put one or more battles in my lists
drowsy swan
I like playing big splashy stuff like [[ardyn, usurper]]. I like my big mana bombs
flat coveBOT
frozen gust
I like playing big splashy stuff like [[ardyn, usurper]]. I like my big mana bom...
Big mana bombs are the goat, can’t beat dropping an 8 drop and being like “okay, deal with me now”
frozen gust
I try way too hard to put one or more battles in my lists
What battles in particular?
drowsy swan
Big mana bombs are the goat, can’t beat dropping an 8 drop and being like “okay,...
Sweet feeling.
pastel yarrow
What battles in particular?
Yes
I can give an actual answer in a second lol
@frozen gust Invasion fo Zendikar is a pet card of mine; I like Invasion of Gohbakan, Ergamon, Fiora, Arcavios, Ixalan, Ikoria, Moag, Alara, Kaldheim, Ravnica, New Phyrexia, and Shandalar a lot as well
the other ones I all like too, but the ones above hav ebeen at least heavily considered for decks
Basically I will always encourage putting battles into decks
zenith mango
I ignore 'staples' almost entirely.
If it doesn't fit my theme for the deck, it doesn't go in, be it removal, combos, draw, etc.
With almost no exceptions outside of a select few generic cards like Counterspell, Path/Swords, Lightning Greaves/Swiftfoot Boots, Heroic Intervention, Sol Ring, and Arcane Signet (in mutlicolor only), and a few other generic rocks like the talismans.
Even then, none of those are in all of my decks that can play them, just most.
Basically of something doesn't directly support theme, it's probably not even getting considered.
Like, smothering tithe is only in the deck that cares about metalcraft or just generally needs a critical mass of artifacts.
No rocks at all in the 3 color landfall deck.
Brainstorm is in only in Aminatou, that cares about topdeck manipulation a bit.
versed elk
I like to pick my commander last 😅 I come up with an idea for a deck, have a vague idea of what kind of effect could be nice to have in the CZ, build the 99, and then pick a commander
I don't do this every time, but most of the time it ends up being the case
bleak storm
i try to put a piece of nils hamm art into every deck
but more importantly, I always look to have two themes in a deck, to create additional restrictions and flavor. so mono-W angels is also a Wanderer deck (incl yoshimaru). often this means a "secret" commander: Chulane is a birds and beasts deck that wants to find Radagast
plush kayak
Does not having standards count?
I specifically mean that I try to not have a set minimum card quality for what I want in a deck
daring gyro
Basically of something doesn't directly support theme, it's probably not even ge...
I aspire to this level of theme purity. I'm very new to deckbuilding, but most of the ideas I'm working on don't have a strong mechanical payoff, just thematic resonance that pleases me.
cedar cloud
I like combat tricks
They’re almost universally considered bad in commander but I can’t help what I love
It’s very hard for me to not include at least one
zenith mango
I aspire to this level of theme purity. I'm very new to deckbuilding, but most o...
Here's a good example of one i built a couple weeks ago for someone (always paper first then decklist goes up). Humans for the overall theme, with a focus on attack and death triggers.
https://archidekt.com/decks/14221894/catradora
Like there's way more efficient, ramp/removal/draw/etc., that could be there, that I have the cards for, but I don't want them to be there arbitrarily because they're 'good'.
cedar cloud
I love building close to theme. I think it’s been occasionally frustrating for people trying to help me with decklists tho
plush kayak
They’re almost universally considered bad in commander but I can’t help what I l...
I still don't know why they got that reputation
plush kayak
Like, I can sort of see it based on early pacing
But there are so many modal tricks now
[[Go forth]] for example
flat coveBOT
zenith mango
I love building close to theme. I think it’s been occasionally frustrating for p...
Yeah, I just don't ask for asissts on decklists as a rule. I'm usually try to do an extremely focused thing, where any suggestions largely fall outside of that thing.
And I've been in the game for a hair over 30 years now, so between that and only building from what I have, there's not much room for folks to make suggestions to me anyway.
cedar cloud
Yeah, I just don't ask for asissts on decklists as a rule. I'm usually try to do...
I started in 2001 but I took long hiatuses from the game and only picked up commander deck building last year. So I’m still at a phase where advice and suggestions can be nice.
cedar cloud
I still don't know why they got that reputation
Usually people point to them not affecting enough opponents or not having a big enough impact compared to more ramp/draw/synargy
zenith mango
Sometimes if everyone around is focused on building for synergy, a one off is all you need to tilt things in your favor
bleak storm
I like an instant speed combat trick for folks thinking "he doesn't want to lose X, so won't block"