BREAKING BOROS | How to Win with Red/White l The Command Zone 158 | Magic: the Gathering Commander

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Show Notes:
It is well known that Boros (red/white) is the hardest color pair to have success with in Commander. On this episode, we discuss ways to make it viable and up that win percentage.
What We Mentioned on The End Step:
Magic: the Gathering Puzzle Quest
m.onelink.me/5318602
Use this code and receive a free rare card: 1e2ct
Other Things We Mentioned:
There’s only a few days left to purchase our "Aftermath" Playmat. Don’t miss out!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/1171224254/aftermath-limited-edition-playmat-from-the-command
Alex Kessler's Archangel Avacyn Decklist:
tappedout.net/mtg-decks/archangel-avacyn-alex-kessler/
Boros Card List:
High Priority:
Hedron Archive
Sol Ring
Mind Stone
Commander Sphere
Skull Clamp
Burnished Hart
Sword of the Animist
Vedalken Orrery
Expedition Map
Other Options to Think About:
Avacyn, Angel of Hope
Endbringer
Razia’s Purification
Cataclysm
Tragic Arrogance
Price of Progress
Terrain Generator
Sun Titan
Subterannean Tremors
Austere Command
Endless Horizons
Sunforger
Solemn Simulacrum
Boros Signet
Mana Vault
Emrakul’s Hatcher
Oracle’s Vault
Well of Lost Dreams
Smuggler’s Copter
Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
Mistveil Plains
Consulate Crackdown
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@JoshLeeKwai
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Huge thanks to Geoffrey Palmer for providing some of his amazing Living Cards animations for our videos. Follow him here:
livingcardsmtg
kzbin.info/door/IuqWt79_d0hUK-dRhzFtAQ
Check out our sister podcast - The Masters of Modern:
collected.company/category/the-masters-of-modern/
Commander/EDH Official Rules, Banlist, Forums, and more:
mtgcommander.net/rules.php

[@CommanderReplay]

I play RW more than most. Mistake #1 trying to combat U, G, or B decks on the same plane on which they are fighting, namely card draw and ramp. You will not reliably be able to out ramp or card draw those decks. The solution is to fight those decks on your terms. The most efficient way to do this is land destruction, Armageddon, Ravages of War, Cataclysm and Decree of Annilhilation. All you need to do is keep a reasonable threat on the board while they are trying to ramp and draw, blow the lands, and they wont have anything while you do.

[@oscarmunoz2315]

jacob blackman True, but if your meta do not involve combat damage the games would probably be lame

[@commandcast]

One awesome combo that we didn't mention on the show is Mistveil Plains (courtesy of Josh Kim). Combined with Sunforger, you can replay a card like Chaos Warp over and over again! Costs a bit of mana, but if that isn't recursion in RW, then I don't know what is ;)

[@Sorceress966]

Land Tax, ramp in white ;-)

[@vidarthorsby2052]

Sun forger can find tithe that find mistveil plains

[@SpartanLord99]

My favorite thing to do in Boros is use Sunforger to get reverberate to copy my green opponent's Boundless realms.

[@lostsoul9987]

The Command Zone Do Mono blue Aggro/Control/Ramp/Cantrip Meloku

[@Celith2]

You guys should of also talked about Scroll rack with land tax. Both are tutorable in white and probably is one of the best draw card engines you can get in boros.

[@stefanoaserrano]

In your draw step of the podcast you should pick a random card from a presorted list of yours and talk about the importance of that card in EDH

[@BringerOfBloood]

Vedalken Orrery every time? ;-)

[@TheMaddestHatter234]

like north 100's the best card you aren't playing?

[@fancyramen5868]

The way I've found success with Boros is running value equipment. Infiltration Lens, Mask of Memory, Sword of the Animist, Explorer's Scope, etc. really benefit this deck. Aggro is the name of the Boros game so might as well embrace it

[@Isheian]

Explorerers scope I feel doesn’t get enough credit. It’s either a free scry or a free land. And it’s cheap! Throw it on your solemn simulacrum. They block you draw a card. Perfect

[@Wargablarg]

48:48 "For Boros, it's more about the piloting than other decks" [slooooow pan over to Depala]

[@shogun452]

I ran a very fun and fairly powerful boros enchantment deck with Anax and Cymede that had a good amount of card draw via combos with stuff like Conviction and Kor Spiritdancer. With Sram recently printed, the deck got a bit more consistency, and is a sweet way to be aggressive without worrying about draw.

[@brandonr.2807]

So how did you guys cross paths? I am sure it has been mentioned in the past, but it would make for a cool segment in an episode.

[@commandcast]

We talk about our history in the city and how we met in depth on our Creative Process episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moOQeoCeppKZbbc

[@nik700]

That episode is so underrated

[@SFTortoise]

cards like rogue's gloves and mask of memory as well as other artifacts substitute for draw and ramp in Boros.

[@IQuarent]

Walking Atlas too!

[@engiebenjie]

Boros is my favorite color combination! So glad you guys covered this :)

[@slowlesaca48]

"graveyard recursion is surprisingly strong in boros" this aged like fine wine. I think wotc watched this video while designing lorehold

[@lunao17]

R/W also has some great miracle cards. Entreat the Angels and Bonfire of the Damned

[@ferdithetank7535]

Yeah, Terminus and Reforge the Soul as well.

[@silverfangmoonhunter]

lunao17 I call my deck, "Counterbalance 2: Sensei's Diving Top Boogaloo"

[@lukasstone5707]

Guys! Fork effects! You have a ramp spell? I HAVE A RAMP SPELL! You have a counterspell? I HAVE A COUNTER SPELL!

[@ivepesusic8792]

you dont need to break boros, boros will break you

[@shadowstalker321]

how to break boros Step 1 - Play Mardu

[@erubin100]

Alternate Step 1: Play Jeskai.

[@nicholasschonviesner2882]

I agree Mardu does the job.

[@mikelong2756]

Yes lmao. I have 2 edh decks. Mardu and Jeskai

[@dorianpaquette6338]

I break Boros by playing Sultai

[@audreymcgovern1345]

If I could help Boros I would make a 3 of any mana 1 red 1white for a 3/3 haste the effect would be whenever you attack with a creature with 5 power more draw that many cards

[@emdub9679]

you know what? I'm going to make a boros deck. And it'll be great.

[@free-mtg-stuff406]

Mr. Meesh Make boros great again lol

[@Lonehawk2k4]

two month player here Ive only used a boros deck and its been a fun experience while i learn cause i can see how everyone plays and goes against each other while i quietly build my board and swing for everything when i can lol

[@erubin100]

with black jack...and hookers!

[@kriscroft8788]

Ooooooooooooooooooo

[@14Blackspirit]

and ... did you? How is it going? XD

[@CommanderReplay]

Your points about being diligent about who you attack early is very spot on. Threat assessment is critical in Boros. Targeting the unfair deck first is key, they are often blue. Also high priority is the player with a ton of removal.

[@CommanderReplay]

Gift of Estates and Tithe are amazing at finding lands, and of course Land Tax. A lesser known card Ive been experimenting with is Oath of Lieges.

[@ninjafished]

oath of lieges = friendliest card in all over multiplayer magic

[@CommanderReplay]

Its awesome if you are behind.

[@ivepesusic8792]

if you are boros and there is at least 1 green player then oath of lieges would help you...and you can make some firends :)

[@TastySnackies]

How to break Boros: Step One- Add blue cards, make it a Jeskai build Step Two- Remove all the red and white cards Step Three- Add some green cards Step Four- Crush hopes and dreams with your broken Boros deck

[@joshleekwai8895]

Wait a minute - this is how I build Boros decks too!

[@TastySnackies]

Josh Lee Kwai Sounds like we share the same taste in Boros deckbuilding!

[@JoeGrzzly]

Why are you running all these Mountains and Plains in your UG Boros deck?

[@TastySnackies]

Joe Grzzly It works, trust me.

[@kryttercakes]

yknow, I wanna see if b I can make a u/g deck with mountains and plains

[@sirknightdude2587]

Why is there no section on white recursion? Sun Titan, Reveillark, Karmic Guide? And why would you mention Pyroblast when there's Reverberate, Wild Ricochet, Reiterate, and Fork? Not only can these copy counter spells and counter them, they can copy anything, even ramp! Ramp is still never as big of a problem as card draw is. You're going to have to rely heavily on red for those wheels, and don't forget Chandra, Flamecaller, the wheel and +1 extra card just for me.

[@IQuarent]

I run and keep reverberate in opening hand all the time, for exactly this reason; I copy Demonic Tutors and Cultivates regularly with this method. Copy spells, I feel, are highly underrated. Copy Banefire(or any game ending X spell, because yours resolves first and once they die the spell is exiled), copy Boundless Realms, copy Living Death, Rise of the Dark Realms, Debt to the Deathless, Insurrection, Praetors Council, Diabolic Revelation for x=5, Cryptic Command... The possibilities go on.

[@allanmenzies8668]

land destruction is totally fine. blowing up cabal coffers, maze of its, and the green weenie one I can't remember is just good to have, and Armageddon after early aggression is a great and fair win con. everyone has to counter tooth and nail, craterhoof, or cyclonic rift or they lose fair and sqaure. do the same thing with Armageddon and it's bad form.

[@allanmenzies8668]

I realize Armageddon is a awful panic button, but it's can be one of the most fun win cons because you need to establish a dominant presence to make it work, tooth and nail on the other hand takes almost no work and wins just as easily.

[@warwerewolf777]

Green creature land is called "Gaea's Cradle" fucking $300-700 card lol

[@XXXXStormbringerXXXX]

Armageddon destroys your own lands too. A 7 mana Cyclonic rift does not destroy lands but bounces everything else. I can not see how armageddon is worse? Armageddon is a Sorcery but Cyclonic Rift is instant! I do not understand how a card that hurts you as much as anybody else but the possibility to play it just in time can be accepted but Armageddon is not? Sunder is instant too but that also forces you to pick upp yoyr lands! Not just anybody else! Winter Orb affects you as much as anybody else! The same goes for Rising Waters and Dust Drinker. Why are those cards not really accepted? Spot removal for lands in a Commander Deck is tricky. Stripmine and Wasteland (if you can afford it) is cooler to leave out for bounce och strangeling affects if you ask me.

[@egyptcraze]

Allan Menzies the issue is armageddon 'just becaise'. if its an actual, literal part of your win-con (ex: narset, kaalia) and you're playing it to ensure that win, then fine. but playing it as a board reset (such as the admittedly cavalier way other wraths are used in this format) then that's whats truly bad form. playing MLD is fine, but then dont take 20 turns to win after it

[@silverfangmoonhunter]

Allan Menzies Craterhoof and Tooth and Nail are usually cards that end the game as soon as they're played. Cyclonic Rift if the answer to the problem of everyone else having huge established boards. Taking care of a problem land or too and blowing up all the lands on the table are in no way the same thing. Targeted land destruction is fine and is a good thing to have, playing a mass land destruction spell and dragging the game out for three more hours if you didn't just win that turn is not.

[@Jose-wq4zr]

Expectation: boros can be viable Reality: entire video is just explaining why boros isnt viable

[@ssjAnnaPaquin]

I feel like land destruction is really underrated as one of Boros strengths. Boros running out of cards when other decks get up to speed isn't an issue if other decks never get up to speed.

[@nathanmarcano3171]

I'm running a Tajic, Blade of the Legion Voltron deck that is all about killing lands. I only bring it out when the "I'm going to win, because I spent X dollar amount on the deck."shows up.

[@jacobyspurnger8488]

dinosaurzez ajani goldmaine. that is all.

[@christopherstoeffel4811]

Thank you so much for sort of catching yourself after name-dropping a card and then going back to explain it a little (happened with Vedalken Orrery and something else a bit later in the episode and with I think Kor Cartographer earlier on). It's really, really helpful!! Sometimes I listen while driving to work and I remember one episode I had no clue what you guys were talking about--I know you were talking about Rishkar and while i totally know the card, his effect was on the tip of my mind the entire episode but I couldn't quite grasp it. It's super helpful when you give a lil description (even like, oh Rishkar is a creature that deals with +1/+1 counters and ramp kinda thing) to jog our memories.

[@xmulligans1426]

I actually use a Boros Deck for EDH using DePala/Vehicles and it has been quite successful

[@slymaster9]

Dang right Depala is great! Am so happy with her myself. Finally Dwarves in MTG. Dwarven Recruiter, Dwarven Bloodboiler, Scroll Rack to synergize with Depala herself. And the new Gideon, Marial Paragon's first ability is hilarious in this deck.

[@Ravarshi]

the deck gideon too, crew your vehicles, Gideon +1 untap your board and give them +!/+!

[@slymaster9]

Exactly, it's quite funny when you pull it off. And if you'd ever get to the ult, it could be a finisher (if you don't just prefer the +2)

[@PaulGaither]

I am working on Depala now as well. I love the flavor.

[@notter636]

about two weeks ago I put up a decklist for depala. the deck is based around hatebears and early aggression, but with mass amounts of recursion. This video really helped me get soms new ideas. Keep on making this great show

[@ehallam08]

I have a Depala paper deck I sometimes play with. It started off as a dwarf/vehicle deck then through playing and tuning towards my meta, it quickly became a r/w vehicle deck with value creatures for crewing. I did keep a few dwarves in, won't go through them all but Depala is an extremely important part getting this deck rolling. The advantages that she brings to the color combination is great! My friends ended up naming it aptly: r/w junkyard Also, throne of the god pharaoh, does WORK in this deck.

[@tokertalk9648]

the mana rocks that all got banned in 1v1 are super cheap right now on mtgo and will be legal again in like 7 weeks for multiplayer edh. Its a good time to pick em up dirt cheap. mana crypt is like 75 cents mana vault is like 30 cents and top is 13 cents.

[@jellysandjamz250]

I’d love to see this series redone now that it’s been a few years

[@CommanderReplay]

Mask of Memory is an absolute workhorse in my Aurelia deck. Tutor for it early, and keep your hand full. Also its not as threating as the swords, so its not usually going to eat single target removal like the swords.

[@zackpumpkinhead8882]

25:01 If you have the extra colorless mana, you can stack the Knight triggers so they happen additional times, but don't resolve so you still have less lands than an opponent before all your triggers resolve. You could, quite possibly, churn out all your lands this way.

[@jackthemayor2518]

Red has Mana Flare which is a pretty powerful ramp enchantment. Whenever a player taps a land for mana that land produces another mana of the same type. Red also has "fork effects" which let you copy spells on the stack, and choose new targets.

[@Miztickow]

I don't have a Boros deck, but I have a Mono-White Rune-Tail life gain deck and a Mono-Red Grenzo menace deck. My white deck uses Emeria Shepherd and Druidic Satchel for draw and ramp and a few other more obvious things. My red deck uses Rapacious One, Sword of the Animist, and Sword of Feast and Famine for ramp. The draw is already built into Grenzo.

[@justsomeguy66]

I made this boros deck a while back, it's kinda based of modern rw prison and its pretty darn good: //Commander 1 Basandra, Battle Seraph //Lands 1 Abandoned Outpost 1 Arid Mesa 1 Boros Garrison 1 Clifftop Retreat 1 Command Tower 1 Homeward Path 1 Kor Haven 1 Maze of Ith 1 Mistveil Plains 4 Mountain 1 Needle Spires 15 Plains 1 Plateau 1 Rugged Prairie 1 Sacred Foundry 1 Slayers' Stronghold 1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion 1 Temple of Triumph 1 Thawing Glaciers 1 Wasteland //Spells 1 Ajani Steadfast 1 Aurification 1 Austere Command 1 Blasphemous Act 1 Blood Moon 1 Boros Cluestone 1 Boros Signet 1 Cast Out 1 Chandra, Flamecaller 1 Chandra, Torch of Defiance 1 Chaos Warp 1 Crawlspace 1 Day of Judgment 1 Duelist's Heritage 1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion 1 Enlightened Tutor 1 Farsight Mask 1 Ghostly Prison 1 Gideon Jura 1 Gilded Lotus 1 Greater Auramancy 1 Idyllic Tutor 1 Karmic Justice 1 Land Tax 1 Master Warcraft 1 Nahiri, the Harbinger 1 Norn's Annex 1 Oblivion Ring 1 Open the Vaults 1 Powerstone Minefield 1 Protection of the Hekma 1 Pursuit of Knowledge 1 Quarantine Field 1 Reverence 1 Righteous Cause 1 Sol Ring 1 Sphere of Safety 1 Story Circle 1 Swiftfoot Boots 1 Thunderstaff 1 Vedalken Orrery 1 War's Toll 1 Wrath of God //Creatures 1 Academy Rector 1 Archangel of Tithes 1 Archon of Justice 1 Blazing Archon 1 Boros Guildmage 1 Bruna, the Fading Light 1 Gisela, Blade of Goldnight 1 Gisela, the Broken Blade 1 Goblin Diplomats 1 Guardian Seraph 1 Hedron-Field Purists 1 Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs 1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence 1 Lost Auramancers 1 Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker 1 Mother of Runes 1 Resolute Archangel 1 Sunblast Angel 1 Windborn Muse

[@ninjafished]

wow that IS a very different take on Boros. Well done!

[@aktonkulous821]

Wow, nice!

[@DonovanPresents]

justsomeguy66 I've thought of a similar deck. I remember playing against a player who played with Boros Control. I want to play with Basandra control EDH deck as well

[@sethpeters7362]

justsomeguy66 Good stuff, thank you for mentioning Basandra. I was disappointed they didn't include her. Have you thought about Goblin Spymaster and/or Assault Suit?

[@sebastianahrens2385]

Basandra's artwork is so damn cool.

[@bryanbonar]

Someone has probably already mentioned this to you guys but Josh, on your comment about the quality of your Siracha sleeves - they also use the Eclipse material! That would explain their durability.

[@0kapi]

Hey Jimmy and Josh, I play a Boros EDH deck with Brion Stoutarm leading the charge. Instead of being a straight aggro deck I tend to play it more conservative and don't try to put a target on myself swinging around a lot. I prefer to hold back and set-up combo turns where I kill multiple players at once. For example: Serra Avatar + Brion + Flameshadow Conjouring + Magewrithe's Stone/Thousand-Year Elixir. Play Avatar, Make a Copy, Swing and kill one player, throw token at another player with Brion, untap Brion with stone/elixir and throw the last avatar at another player. I'm not going to claim this happens a lot or consistently, but it's super fun to pull off.

[@Scopesightzx]

One of my favorite decks is Anax and Cymede. It's a unique take on voltron, as I have focused on the heroic mechanic. In my search for this deck, I really took to heart the fact that instants and sorceries provide the highest boost in power in relation to mana cost (things like brute strength are very critical), and that heroic is basicaly a proto-prowess. Since the deck doesn't need to attach most things during the main phase, the deck can be more political, bluffing when I have a lot of mana open to make deals, and it can quickly close out games with double strike and one shot damage doublers

[@tristanshutter7560]

I built a Gisela edh to be a basic "double damage, kill you quickly" deck, but it soon evolved into more hate bear, with mana barbs, zozu, tectonic instability, and I found a sick combo against token strategies with Blasphemous act(or similar mass creature damage) and repercussions

[@bytorgaming3796]

My first commander deck was Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas and I found that one of the best ways to play is to use evasive techniques. I enjoyed beating a mono-blue deck with a buffed Jareth, Leonine Titan with protection from Blue, or Unquestioned Authority (Which also offers card draw :D) My Kalemne deck has since evolved to an Aurelia build, but I still maintain a high level of evasive techniques to over come my opponents. Love the show guys. Thanks for the insight into Boros!

[@Lonehawk2k4]

Hey i started with kalemne two months ago high five!

[@mr_godofredo2298]

i normally don't play commander, but this not only help commander players but casual player to get better in deck building. thank you guys keep the great work.

[@admanios]

I have a Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas deck, and I've built it to be fairly versatile. It straddles a few strategies: there's enough equipment in the deck to assemble a voltron, and enough creatures that boost Kalemne's experience AND impact the board, e.g. Godo, Bandit Warlord, Angel of Serenity, etc., but I'm not completely reliant on either strategy. It's not my most powerful deck, but it's still fun to play, and wins often enough that I don't feel like I'm wasting my time.

[@krisdaschwab912]

I love my Depala EDH deck. It builds itself, the card advantage is insane, and since it's a dwarven and vehichle tribal I can just camp on what I have until more comes along.

[@isaiahwelch8066]

Last comment: For your average Boros deck, two things (they build off of each other): 1) Run both Sword of Feast and Famine + Sword of the Animist. The synergy here is stupid obvious. 2) One of the most underrated tactics is to actually bypass the first main phase. Why? Because Boros wants combat. Cards like Reconnaissance are particularly good at playing both offense and defense, maybe even giving you the blue trick of untapping a value creature. Going through combat first also means that tricks used to deal with damage from creatures (such as Evacuation or Cyclonic Rift) may be forced out earlier than expected, which means you get the first chance to rebuild. Honorable mention for Boros tactics/abilities: 1) Copying spells and abilities -- Reverbrate and Zada, Hedron Grinder. Value Town. 2) Extra combat steps. Quite literally, I saw a Commander Replay episode where Feather took down Bolas, the Ravager, from 71 life to 0, through 8 or 10 extra combat steps (using Aggravated Assault and Neheb Who Generates Mana). Never underestimate what dealing double or triple combat damage can do when your opponents don't block or can't block (Iroas is good for menace).

[@dragonballtalk8527]

Red does direct damage and white gains life so u can't lose

[@braddtheodd3390]

I get what you guys mean. But my Kalemne deck most of the time beats the crap out of everyone I play with. It's really fast, I use a lot of artifact for draw/ramp, and of course, it's combat focused, but since it can be faster and harder to block than most decks, it gets the other players where they're not expecting. I love that you made this video, because it basically says all I've learned with all my years of Commander since one of my first decks was Brion Stoutarm. AND I use almost all of the things you guys said. And it works.

[@ryandowns6233]

I've been theorycrafting an Akiri light-stax deck. Since a lot of stax cards are artifacts, and boros requires a lot of artifacts for cards/ramp, Akiri synergizes really well. Some of the stuff I've been considering to help alleviate Boros' shortcomings: Seer's Sundial - lets you draw for a decent price Tamiyo's Journal - clues are great with Akiri, and this works even better if you're getting clues from other cards (like Bygone Bishop) Serum Tank - again, great with clues and the general theme of using artifacts and recurring them Reverberate & Reiterate & Dualcaster Mage - if an opponent casts a tutor/ramp/card draw spell, so can you! Key to the City - since Akiri is a voltron strategy, evasion is awesome and the potential card draw is pretty nice as well Magnifying Glass - it's inefficient ramp, but it does let you create clues to help with flooding Mana Web - forces your opponents into deciding whether they want to do stuff on their turn or hold up their mana for counterspells. Gives you valuable info since you can't counter their counters. Eerie Interlude - I put this in almost every white deck; it acts like a white Turn Aside, lets you dodge opponent's board wipes, and if you have the mana you can cast it in response to your own Wrath effect to be the only person left with a board. Ignorant Bliss - more cute than effective, but it's hilarious with Wheel effects Chandra's Ignition - once you get Akiri pumped high enough, youc an use this to potentially finish the game Lastly, I try to run one infinite combo just in case a game gets into a stalemate. Sword of Feast and Famine plus Aggravated Assault are great for an Akiri deck, since both can be tutored in Boros colors. I'm also considering Isochron scepter as re-casting the same spell over and over is a good way to net card advantage. Especially if it's a Pyretic Ritual or Reverberate. Tapped out Link: tappedout.net/mtg-decks/boros-staples/

[@itsamem4rio]

You know what would be fun to watch? A "mean deck" episode of Game Knights!

[@Unforgiven11]

in my play group land destruction is frowned upon if it's on a wide scale. Blowing up a special land like a Maze of Ith, or if someone is just dominating the board blowing up one of their bounce lands or duel lands to take out a color they need is acceptable to but I would never take out more than one land in a game

[@0xGRIDRUNR]

this actually gave me some really cool ideas about boros edh (which i never really liked) and how to play it to a more fun extent that isnt just turning cards sideways!

[@michaelortiz393]

glad you guys are on topic with guilds, I would really like if you talked about other combinations like azourius and simic. keep it up guys

[@NSeaBear]

If you are looking for help on your ramp/mana is the diamond artifacts (fire diamond/marble diamond)

[@thof4971]

Although it's mostly me-search my Jor Kadeen list has some really good results. Ive found that artifacts give the color combo the most potential. I use equipment based combos like Nim deathmantle+ashnods altar+Angel of Invention or Beetleback Chief and sword of feast+famine with aggravated assault etc. as both colors fetch/recur them naturally.

[@user-tl4ze2vq9i]

maybe a bit late on this, but i play an archangel avacyn deck which is really value based, one card i think should be mentioned and i can't recall you guys doing it is mind's eye, totally slow and mana intensive but it's a very good way to keep up the pace with other decks. Also while i think that covering the color weaknesses is important, it's even more important to play to your strength, Boros can be really really fast without sacrificing card advantage with cards like stoneforge mystic, puresteel paladin, knight of the white orchid, bygone bishop and keeping a generally low curve, then rebuilding with reveillark, sun titan, karmic guide or just second sunrise /boros charm when they boarwipe, That's why i like Avacyn so much, she can keep your board intact, easily puts pressure on control player with the combination of flash and indestructible (especially if u can blink it with our favorite eldrazi) and while 3 dmgs are not much when she flips, she does take out all the utility creatures that infest the edh meta (at least mine), especially out of green decks (mulldaya, bloom tender anyone). Yosei is a good wincon if you run a sac and blink theme. Also the new teferi's protection , trove of temptation, and disrupt decorum are exceptional in the deck. Combat never happens in edh? you might as well make it happen and make it bad for your opps. oh and sunforger can even tutor for teferi's protection, that card is just bonker in every deck.

[@Kaiserland111]

What about a low mana cost, 3/3 Boros-colored Angel/Knight/Soldier with flying that allows you to pay X colorless and draw X cards, where X is less than or equal to the number of opponents you dealt combat damage to this turn. This would be a cheap (3 mana, any combo of Red/White) creature with evasion (flying) in one of the most popular Boros tribes that allows card draw based off of combat damage, incentivising Boros to do their thing. I know it's still an aggro commander, but it helps with card draw at an early stage in the game. It also encourages the philosophy which many commanders espouse, which is to hit all players throughout the game so it isn't just ganging up on one player. Lastly, the multiple card draw per turn for a pretty low mana cost (and flying) can help the aggro Boros commander get an early boost, even if he levels off later on.

[@markgriffiths2659]

I have an Anax & Cynamede deck for Boros that tries as much as possible to stick to what the colour pair wants to do. I haven't really counted it out, but it's probably 40% creatures, 40% land, and 20% pump spells. I use Battalion and Heroic to make things even bigger, and just go at it. I think a lot of its success comes from the fact that there is just so much redundancy in the deck - it doesn't actually matter what creatures I draw, the deck will still work, so I never need to go looking for specific stuff, and boardwipes almost don't matter. However, I think a large portion of this is down to the meta, which is true of all decks of course, but thought I'd mention it all the same!

[@S1l3nT8081]

When you were talking about mana base I couldn't help but think about putting in Sunglasses of Urza to help you get out your Red spells should you be short mountains and not have land tax in play. When you were talking about colour hate I was thinking cards like Boil, Boiling Seas, Scald

[@DarkRulerHaDes666]

IMO, the best way to play Boros is with a solid artifact equipment sub-theme. Interestingly, running both Boros partners as the commanders would aid this strategy.

[@SamusX10]

A bit surprised that Radiance didn't come up during the colour-hate portion of the conversation - Bathe in Light and Brightflame can be huge surprises :)

[@jasonb6860]

Study on Impulse Red Enchantment Whenever an opponent casts a spell, exile the top card of your library unless that player pays [1].. Until your next end step, you may play cards exiled this way. do it WotC

[@gond9166]

I also use all the Reflect damage spells. Such as Deflecting Palm, Comepuence , Boros Fury Shield, Reflect Damage, Stuffy Doll, Repercussion etc. Making the deck reactive and very dangerous.

[@commandcast]

Don't forget! We're giving away a free rare card if you download Magic Puzzle Quest here: m.onelink.me/5318602 SO GET TO IT! ;D

[@ilfurlano1228]

Feather, we welcome you!

[@SnowHermit89]

I've been piloting a Munda EDH deck where I abuse ETB on Allies. I could have used General Tazri, but I wanted the challenge of straight Boros. Works pretty well with Warstorm Surge, Flameshadow Conjuring. Conjurer's Closet, Mimic Vat, and etc.

[@apanapane]

Main topic starts at 09:06.

[@Spike-hl2mw]

No it's 6:42

[@GuardianAngelEatos]

Yes! I had a feeling when you said that it was kind of outside the world of Magic that it might have been MTG Puzzle Quest! Dudes It's awesome that you started to play MTG Puzzle Quest! I love Puzzle Quest! That is one of the two games that i have on my phone. I always get excited whenever I see or hear MTG Puzzle Quest come up!

[@snowcoveredplainswalker442]

My fiance actually runs a tuned Depala deck, it's actually capable of keeping up with 75% of the other decks in the meta, easily the best Boros general in my opinion.

[@matthewholst2376]

So there is 1 red mana dork that I know of, but it might help. It’s called sisters of the flame. It’s a 3 mana 2/2 tap for red mana

[@Starfury117]

I think with the amount of mana rocks that has been introduced, even Boros is able to get 10 ramp which definitely helps them catch up to the other colours An obscure red ramp is Sisters of the Flame though most people will probably just run the myrs since they are 2 mana ramp. Boros, I believe gets card draw from cards like Skull clamp Mentor of the Meek Infiltration Lens Basically find cards that rewards you for going wide or attacking. My boros deck is Jor Kadeen. Basically I go wide with tokens and artifact ramp, then on turn 4, I play my commander and swing with +3/0 boost for all my guys. Since the damage output is so high, many times, people will block my 8/4 first striking commander so infiltration lens draws me 2 cards. Mentor is really good because since Im prioritizing tokens, most tokens are 1/1 and trigger mentor (before my commander buff comes in). Skull clamp is just good. I am always looking for more card draw though. If anyone has any idea for Boros, please let me know ! Lastly, I definitely like running 1 red elemental blast if not both pyro as well. I always want to have a card that no one expects Red - Fire elemental blast White - Lapse of Certainty Black - Imp's Mischief Colourless - Warping Wail Green - Constant Mists Blue - Commandeer Great list, hopefully Boros will become stronger because it is really fun to play Boros, going wide then dealing massive damage.

[@andrewturner7297]

I have a munda boros deck and it is not one of my best but winning with it is amazing. It is combat focus and usually the best way i win is exploding all at once. The hardest part is picking the best time to go all in. but i will say i have been leaning toward the "all things become indestructible" in my decks. I may go back and add some to the allies deck.

[@nomatyx5789]

uhhh... Ramp: Braid of Fire, seething song, and then artifact ramp like thran dynamo. Card draw: Fateful showdown, Desperate ravings, Cathartic reunion, etc. There's a lot of good cards, and then you could always run Gisela, blade of goldnight and do burn spells and stuff! Plus, to slow down your opponent, you could Ajani Vengeant, ajani steadfast, and other boros planceswalkers. I don't know; it sounds good in theory. Boros also gets sphere of safety and ghostly prison.

[@lourilin]

Braid of fire only good for things you can cast in your upkeep (only instant speed) right? Mana empties at end of every step now?

[@faerie7dragon]

A good way to skip the downsides on Final Fortune or Glorious End is to use "Can't Lose" effects like Platinum Angel or Gideon of the Trials Emblem.

[@dragonballtalk8527]

Red does direct damage and white gains life so u can't lose

[@khalidmubarak3879]

I have 2 boros decks one lead by adriana, its an aggro tokens deck with a metalcraft sub theme that has a plan on going big. I also have a Gisela angel tribal deck with a double damage effects also being a main theme of the deck to end the game faster because angel are expensive even with the ramp or cheat into play the deck has there is just so many creatures the deck can play a turn. the double damage effects really help the angels out in the deck with first strike, double strike or gisela helping the angels stay alive

[@deskgo]

I play the two boros partner commanders and basically play a ton of ramp and hate artifacts. I run Armageddon, ravages of war, winter orb, Mana web and blood moon. The deck does really well. I don't play it very often, but if you want to win in boros this is the way to do it. Eventually you just slam both commanders give the x/3 haste and double strike and one shot someone.

[@CragroAgg]

Something I like to do with my Boros deck is pull out my legendary creatures and assign each of them a number, then roll a dice to see which will be the commander for that game. Since the deck runs about the same no matter who the commander is, it's an easy way to change up the games. It's also a good way to cut cards from the 99 that initially seemed like they would do well, but fall short when the commander isn't there to prop them up.

[@EvanMMoon]

In my fun days of EDH, Brion was my Boros-colored Commander. Search for Sunforger, search for creature theft. Play your General, throw your opponents' creatures back at them. The deck ran around 18% ramp, and it still just SUUUUCKEDD. Red and White need some control over what other players do. Silence and Orim's Chant helped, but now we have the flail, which is searchable in White. The play style works better together with Blue counter spells or Black hand diggers (you choose or random due to your card draw options replenishing hands). Still very voltrony, despises mass Artifact removal, relies on playing scrappy. Naya is basically a 5-color Green deck minus Blue and Black. My bias is that 2-color play leads to a disadvantage in full on pod styled Commander. 3 & 4 color is must stronger... 5 is too splotchy. Oros, the Avenger is currently my strongest Commander.

[@hotsauce0606]

If I’m playing MLD, is it less synergistic to play land ramp cards and better to rely on rocks or other mana ramp sources? Also, how much MLD would be a good amount to run?

[@calebhurst2529]

I literally just built a Gisela angel tribal deck, and it's been working pretty well so far. (But you do need hecka manna rocks!) If I wasn't such a cheapskate, I'd work Keranos in there too. Boros is my favorite, even if it's not the best. Staff of Nin (or similar) is a must too.

[@williamprudhomme91]

Closest Boros got to a decent commander for a non-aggro strategy is Depala with utility cards (Cultivators' Caravan, Duergar Edgemage, Dwarven recruitors, smoggler copters), if I had to I'd play a staxy artifact-control deck with bunch of mana rocks, luminarch ascencion and LD or perhaps a bomberman combo but we'd miss a bunch of key pieces.

[@prost29javadoff66]

I think that Iroas is a fair commander where it prevents all damage dealt to ur attacking creatures and gives ur creatures menace, so its super fun and reliable.

[@derekwismer7602]

Adrianna humans has won me several games and i even went infinite once without knowing it was in the deck, love the videos guys

[@tzarl]

Sun titan is a pretty popular value engine card in monowhite that works pretty well in boros too.

[@fbolton4622]

when jimmy went "not for meeee" at the start I died with laughter!!!

[@austinhatzenbeler8491]

Listening to this in preparation for building Feather! Oops all spells in Boros seems fun!

[@docterfantazmo]

I'm making a Kalemne Tron deck with colourless ramp/big beasties, add in some combat tricks and BAM! Getting the giant boot in could be fun.

[@jeanmarais337]

Glorious End...are there cards that make you skip your turn or your next end step?

[@jeanmarais337]

The temple of the false god topic is such. If you need mana accelleration after your 4th land drop, then play it.

[@mikelong2756]

Ravnica allegiance is here. I'm actually from the future. Smothering Tithe, Divine Visitation. There's some pretty new stuff since this aired

[@RookedWithElodin]

I have an Aurelia deck and it is very different from my other edh decks. I was actually inspired by Game Knights! Basically all my other edh decks can get a little masturbatory and I wanted to make a deck that was more interactive than just keeping my opponents from doing things. It is definitely beat down style with a fair number of cheaper creatures with the goal of just killing one person after another and it has probably ended up as my 'best' deck. I totally hadn't thought about some of the cards you'd mentioned like Avacyn or selfless spirit and I even have a sunforger in my Ruhan deck that I totally hadn't thought about putting in Aurelia. Great episode guys!

[@anthonyhofbauer4270]

Feel dumb saying this 2 years later...but... Does eldrazi displacer's diamond identity disallow it currently in commander? New-ish to commander and i have already seen the kruphix ban video, and so am aware of color rule change 👍

[@christopherstoeffel4811]

What are your thoughts on using customized commanders (like the ones people can make on MTG Cardsmith)? For instance, since today's episode was about Boros deckbuilding, do you think there's any value in somebody making their own custom Boros commander? Someone that has an ability other than synergizing with having a whole bunch of small-ish creatures attack, and instead has some other Boros-y color philosophies/playstyles going on? Would you guys ever think about making a custom commander and building a whole deck on it?

[@christopheracea5835]

My play group actually plays around with custom commanders and I've been using a Boros commander that focuses on the impulse draw effects that red has and utilizing exile as a resource.

[@adamgardels1709]

No

[@snakeman830]

I'm surprised you didn't mention Giaphur Orrery, since it helps Boros decks both draw cards and ramp. It does require being more aggressive to get full use out of it, though.

[@anarchond]

You guys should go back and re do this subject again now that its been a few blocks. Im trying to build a boros edh deck with the new ravnica release either aurelia or tajic

[@drianfrost2712]

Tajic, blade of the legion + worldslayer ( if you can, get unblockable) and pretty mutch GG

[@MetalSnakeBoogy]

i would believe you would need more board wipe and single targeting cards. gain some control and then voltron swing with boros as your commander. adding disks would help too or even a cataclysm if you are holding back.

[@Zenondikar]

I think a great aspect of red that's a little underused outside of mizzix decks is actually copy spells! Someone tapping out for a stroke of genius? Fork it! If the green players want to spend their first few turns with rampant growths/cultivate/kodama's reach then copy it and get your game going quick too. Opponents trying to kill your commander with single target removal? Wild ricochet and throw it over their way! Spending 2-5 mana for copy/redirect effects are a great way to make boros "play" like the other colours, literally, and I think they're actually very viable and diverse... in most edh games people cast big instant/sorceries for card draw and ramp. Great episode as always guys

[@karfsma778]

Sundial DOES work with the You lose at the beginning of your next end step cards. Use the 'Dial in response to the game loss trigger going on the stack.

[@seanmachlan3282]

Cool episode. Please do Rakdos next. I've wanted to build a Rakdos deck for a long time, but I can't wrap my head around it.

[@hex1289]

i think having infect in every deck is a good idea as a second win condition. if you have the mana ramp Blightsteel is always good and Triumph of the horde. if you have blue blighted Agent is also nice since its unblockable. other then that full out infect is risky. but heeeeeeeeeeeeey infect is pretty easy to stop early.

[@oliverhenneberger6054]

My favorite red ramp is the enchantment "Frenzied Fugue". Steal the same land now and every of your upkeeps. Sharing is caring. xD On top off that you have a lot of utility for other situations too. ^^

[@joshleekwai8895]

Oh - this is a good one. I like it!

[@gond9166]

I made a successful Boros-Burning Bridge deck with Gisela as the commander. I use board wipes and cards that take control of all creatures to keep people at bay. Then set up enchantments to stop combo players. Proceeding to use artifacts and enchantments to fuel my mana and then deal insane amount of damage to the entire board and all players at the same time. Example: Gisela in play, caged Sun or any other big mana producing permanent like Manaflare, Extraplanar Lens. Then Something like Rolling earthquake x20 dealing 40 to all creatures and players (exept you cuz Gisela)

[@shayliakara]

Red and White are my favorite colors. I love Chandra and Elspeth as my favorite Planeswalkers, and I love angles and humans. I feel like red and white is the best way to have that.

[@aidan.rochet]

My playgroup has agreed that mono white, mono red, and boros have significant consistency issues and are thrown far behind when a board wipe gets their ramp or creatures. because of this, we allow mass land destruction for those colours as a game winning strategy. If they are ahead then we say it's fine to use MLD, it's also not to their advantage to use it otherwise since other decks can rebuild a board faster than the Boros deck. I highly suggest playgroups to allow it as a game winning strategy for those colours.