Commander Bad Habits: Not Playing YOUR Deck
When I first moved to North Carolina, I had a player in our playgroup, we’ll call him Alex. Alex liked to play with power, but he had a really bad habit that is quite common. He would find what was the most powerful list of the time was, order it, and not only not understand how to pilot it, but he wouldn’t like it at all. The reason for this didn’t actually have to do with his gameplay at all, he just didn’t enjoy how the decks were built and had no connection or understanding to the strategies of the commander or archetype. Because of this, he wasn’t feeling the same enjoyment as everyone else. This week we’re looking closer at this common issue, not building or playing YOUR deck.
One thing I should clarify here, I am not shaming net decking or borrowing decks. This is an age of information and there is definitely a valid argument for standing on the shoulders of giants and using it as a springboard into something greater. What I am referring to here is the building or playing just for the sake of the pressure to win/ keep up. These are some of the reasons that newer players play decks that are not their own.
The Local Meta- When you are at a new shop, it's really easy to look around and look to tech against what you see. For veteran players, this might be an uptick in counterspells if a player keeps using combos, board wipes against creature heavy decks, and sacrifice effects to stop that powerful voltron commander. The issue with this for newer players is they will shoehorn in an answer to a deck without understanding what needs to come out of the deck or if the new card will help or hurt the flow. When you look at a list that you didn’t make to pull cards, without rigorous playtesting, the odds you take out something essential is quite high.
Loss of Personal Connection- I am a control/midrange player. I want to find a way to throw my opponents off balance rather than going for the win right out of the gate. I learned this strategy from my local meta in Wisconsin that was in the midst of an arms race. I didn’t have the resources to keep up with the price tag of the cards, so the only shot I had was to find my window. Because of this, if I play a full stax deck, complete aggro, chaos, I wouldn’t be as connected to these decks because I don’t enjoy that style of play as much. Newer players have the tendency of building things off of suggestions from their friends of what their friends like instead of what they personally like.
The social effect- Commander is as much about the social experience as it is about the gameplay. When you play a deck you don’t enjoy simply to fit in or to match the power level of your playgroup, it can affect the social dynamics at the table. Your lack of enthusiasm can be palpable, making interactions less engaging and fun. On the other side, when you play a deck that you’re passionate about, your excitement and joy can be contagious. Sharing stories about your card choices and strategies can lead to richer, more enjoyable interactions. Playing what you love fosters a positive atmosphere, encouraging others to do the same and leading to more fulfilling games for everyone involved.
The other type of Burn- Playing decks that don’t resonate with you can lead to burnout. The constant grind to stay competitive without a genuine interest in the deck can make the game feel like a chore. This burnout can result in disengagement, causing you to lose interest in Commander and Magic: The Gathering altogether. A player who finds themselves in this situation might start skipping game nights or, worse, quitting the game. I was that person not too long ago. I almost quit because my decks had gotten boring to me and I needed something new. When you focus on what you enjoy, you’re more likely to stay engaged and passionate about the game. The joy of piloting a deck that reflects your interests can sustain your enthusiasm for Commander, even when the going gets tough.
Wrapping things up, while the allure of playing powerful or popular decks can be strong, it’s essential to remember that Commander is a format meant to be enjoyed. Explore your options and find what makes YOU happy first and everything else will fall into place. Thank you for reading. If you have a topic idea for the blog or our podcast, The Thought Vessel Show on Spotify, send us an email to thoughtvesselshow@gmail.com. Until next time, may your opening hand always be a keep.
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