Brewing Decks like Batman: How to get the most out of your commander deck.
A quick caveat before we dive in here. This article is not considering cEDH or the cEDH meta as we are only looking into the casual commander space today.
The older I get, the more I appreciate Batman as a character. His ability to consistently go toe-to-toe with powerful heroes and villains alike, holding his own, is quite impressive. While training with the League of Shadows would undoubtedly contribute, Batman's prowess in battle ultimately boils down to preparation. Rarely does he enter a fight without learning everything possible about his enemy beforehand. In addition to his extensive preparation, his utility belt, originally conceived as a writer's rationale or gimmick, has evolved into an integral part of his character. Today, we’ll explore the design space of utility cards so you too can deckbuild like Batman and always have an answer.
Let’s start by defining what a utility card is. A perfect example is Aether Channeler, a staple in my famous (or infamous) Brago, King Eternal deck. For three mana, you have the option to bounce a threat, earning tempo, create a flying blocker (useful for stalling against dragons), and generate card advantage. As this card gets blinked in the deck over multiple turns, it becomes an absolute powerhouse that often won't get targeted because it appears less threatening than a Pakko might. These utility cards wear multiple hats for your deck. In the case of Aether Channeler, it serves as removal, card draw, and token production, adaptable to your needs in the moment.
It’s crucial not to confuse utility cards with a toolbox deck. While toolbox decks use tutors to grab specific cards at a given time, utility cards are more versatile, proving useful in various situations. When building a deck, there's generally a ratio of ramp, draw, removal, etc., that we aim to hit. Utility cards can fit into multiple slots, allowing you to hit your ratios more easily or increase them even further. However, be cautious not to use utility as an excuse to run fewer ramps and removal overall. While you may have the numbers you need, the lower draw rate may lead to challenging games.
Now, let's delve into one of my favorite cards in all of MTG, Rakdos Charm. This two-mana instant provides different effects, making it versatile for various situations. Universal damage per creature is nice, but it might hurt you more than your opponents in some games. The artifact removal is a safe and effective option, but a naturalize could cover enchantments as well. The graveyard exiling can be crucial in some matchups but might be irrelevant in others. Having a two-mana instant that can adapt to any of these situations without holding the deck back is a considerable advantage.
In Magic, a card that you draw and does nothing for you is often referred to as a "brick." For example, Doom Blade, which destroys a target non-black creature, is a great removal spell unless faced with a mono-black control deck, a creature with protection from black, or a hexproof commander. Vindicate, although costing one more mana and being sorcery speed, hits a broader range of cards than Doom Blade, making it a more useful card.
The primary reason utility cards are helpful is that they keep your deck active and responsive. They allow you to be the player who "always seems to have the answer," even if the more accurate statement is, "the answer they drew can also hit that planeswalker on the board that we haven’t been able to get combat damage to." Utility cards, when used in abundance, empower you to have a solution to your needs at any given time.
By leveraging versatility, you avoid brick cards, increase your efficiency ratios, have answers for diverse threats, and can incorporate more niche effects where you otherwise couldn't. It's not about making the game boring or lowering your ceiling; it's about getting the most out of your cards by managing worst-case scenarios more efficiently. And that’s how Batman wins in battle—not by being the biggest, fastest, strongest, or even the smartest, but through preparation and utilizing what he has at his disposal. In a world of Jokers, be Batman.
If you have a topic you'd like to see covered on the blog or our podcast "The Thought Vessel Show" on Spotify, send us an email at thoughtvesselshow@gmail.com.
Let’s start by defining what a utility card is. A perfect example is Aether Channeler, a staple in my famous (or infamous) Brago, King Eternal deck. For three mana, you have the option to bounce a threat, earning tempo, create a flying blocker (useful for stalling against dragons), and generate card advantage. As this card gets blinked in the deck over multiple turns, it becomes an absolute powerhouse that often won't get targeted because it appears less threatening than a Pakko might. These utility cards wear multiple hats for your deck. In the case of Aether Channeler, it serves as removal, card draw, and token production, adaptable to your needs in the moment.
It’s crucial not to confuse utility cards with a toolbox deck. While toolbox decks use tutors to grab specific cards at a given time, utility cards are more versatile, proving useful in various situations. When building a deck, there's generally a ratio of ramp, draw, removal, etc., that we aim to hit. Utility cards can fit into multiple slots, allowing you to hit your ratios more easily or increase them even further. However, be cautious not to use utility as an excuse to run fewer ramps and removal overall. While you may have the numbers you need, the lower draw rate may lead to challenging games.
Now, let's delve into one of my favorite cards in all of MTG, Rakdos Charm. This two-mana instant provides different effects, making it versatile for various situations. Universal damage per creature is nice, but it might hurt you more than your opponents in some games. The artifact removal is a safe and effective option, but a naturalize could cover enchantments as well. The graveyard exiling can be crucial in some matchups but might be irrelevant in others. Having a two-mana instant that can adapt to any of these situations without holding the deck back is a considerable advantage.
In Magic, a card that you draw and does nothing for you is often referred to as a "brick." For example, Doom Blade, which destroys a target non-black creature, is a great removal spell unless faced with a mono-black control deck, a creature with protection from black, or a hexproof commander. Vindicate, although costing one more mana and being sorcery speed, hits a broader range of cards than Doom Blade, making it a more useful card.
By leveraging versatility, you avoid brick cards, increase your efficiency ratios, have answers for diverse threats, and can incorporate more niche effects where you otherwise couldn't. It's not about making the game boring or lowering your ceiling; it's about getting the most out of your cards by managing worst-case scenarios more efficiently. And that’s how Batman wins in battle—not by being the biggest, fastest, strongest, or even the smartest, but through preparation and utilizing what he has at his disposal. In a world of Jokers, be Batman.
If you have a topic you'd like to see covered on the blog or our podcast "The Thought Vessel Show" on Spotify, send us an email at thoughtvesselshow@gmail.com.
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