Commander Discussion: What type of player are you and how is your threat assessment?

Title: Exploring Commander Archetypes & Threat Assessment | Magic: The Gathering Discussion
Description:
Welcome to our latest Magic: The Gathering discussion video, where we delve deep into the diverse world of Commander archetypes and the intricate art of threat assessment in the format. Whether you're a seasoned commander veteran or a newcomer to the scene, understanding the various player types and strategies prevalent in the format can significantly enhance your gameplay experience.
Join us as we explore a plethora of Commander archetypes, ranging from the ruthless stax and pillow fort players who aim to control the board and slow down their opponents, to the lightning-fast voltron commanders seeking to equip their creatures with lethal power and strike fear into the hearts of their adversaries. We'll also dive into the intricate world of combo-focused decks, where players meticulously assemble game-ending combinations of cards to secure victory, as well as mill-focused strategies designed to grind down opponents' libraries and leave them scrambling for answers.
But the Commander landscape doesn't stop there. We'll also shine a spotlight on precon/janky decks, showcasing the creative and sometimes unconventional builds that emerge from preconstructed decks or players' unique brews. Additionally, we'll explore the friendly embrace of group hug decks, where players foster an environment of cooperation and generosity, and the thunderous roar of battlecruiser stompy creatures, which dominate the battlefield with sheer brute force.
However, mastering the art of Commander goes beyond merely understanding different strategies; it involves keen observation and strategic decision-making. We'll discuss the crucial skill of threat assessment, where players must evaluate the relative power and potential threats posed by their opponents' board states, cards in hand, and available resources. Learning to accurately gauge the level of threat each player presents and adapting your gameplay accordingly is essential for success in the Commander format.
So whether you're a fan of control, aggression, or diplomacy, there's a Commander archetype for you. Join us as we unravel the mysteries of the format and delve into the fascinating world of threat assessment in Magic: The Gathering Commander. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful Magic content!

[@isaack8146]

If there “isn’t a combo Carl” in your playgroup, you are the combo Carl

[@MoMoVsMTG]

You either die as a battlecruiser Barry, or live long enough to become combo Carl

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Your profile Pic fits ominously well with you comment

[@ry7hym]

​@MoMoVsMTG all hail the big brask

[@daltooinewestwood6380]

You gotta have a proper fear and respect for the battlecruiser Barry at the table. Once they get that critical mass of mana they can become extremely dangerous

[@sanz50255]

I play battlecruiser Kozilek TGD and I second this message

[@Smokin_Choochang]

As a pureblood mono-green Timmy, I third this message. Once we get mana legit dripping out of our ears, it’s all over.

[@samglam2324]

when you're the threat (aka when your combo Carl) voltron is always the priority

[@MoMoVsMTG]

I love that threat assessment changes depending on which player "you" are at the table

[@caseylange7074]

As the grouphug player with minimal wincons in my group, i don't blame them when I'm considered the threat. Turns out fast decks don't like when the slow decks get free ramp from me.

[@DarthTUK]

exactly - in the first scenario (voltron, GH, battlecruiser) it's not wrong to target the GH cuz they make the other two pop off so much harder

[@benjackson4438]

I try not to remove Commanders unless it is ABSOLUTELY necessary. Reason: they ALWAYS come back. Being perfectly honest, Stax is the playstyle that has the most of my ire (especially Brago). Mill is bad to the extent that I now have to focus on recycling (which many of my decks do) instead of drawing into answers and removal. My own playstyle is more of a battlecruiser with group hug thrown in. I do admit that I love running a mill deck if I have to go against stax.

[@simonboucher5170]

I am combo carl and the biggest threats are the voltron victor and/or the stax stanley.

[@brainyzombie]

i am battlecruiser barry each successive deck i build learns from the weak points of my previous decks to turn my engine on faster i will try to stomp the board on turn 4 i will get archenemy status immediately from my pod the instant i drop my commander i will never change

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Live free die hard 🗿

[@rioscardot]

You forgot mentioning cEDH Cesar. The guy who brings a tank to a knife fight. What about Proxy Roxy? (Edit)

[@MoMoVsMTG]

The family tree keeps on growing 😂

[@Ent229]

Consider a couple questions: Who is the soonest threat at this point in the game? and Who is your bad matchup late game? 1) Who is the soonest threat at this point in the game? Those decks are the ones that could eliminate you. Voltron and other Aggro strategies are often immediate early game threats while resources are low. As time goes on Voltron remains a threat but Combo and midranged decks (Battlecruiser Barry in the video) field faster clocks. At this point Combo is the fastest (0 turn clock) but might not have the threat in hand, the Voltron and midranged have a 2 turn clock on board. Late game soonest threat is Combo regardless of board state, and whoever between Voltron & midranged vs Control won control of the field. 2) Who is your bad matchup late game? If you ignore a deck, they might survive to the late game. Which of their late game positions are the hardest for you to deal with? This depends a lot on your deck. Usually it is the Combo deck and either the Control deck or the grinding midranged deck that is this late game threat to you specifically. Combo fears Control's greater ability to disrupt the combo. Control fears the midranged deck that survived the control attrition. You need to handle the imminent threats. You want to improve your odds vs your bad matchup with surplus resources not needed for handle the imminent threats. 3) Bonus question: Will the game even reach late game? That depends on the balance of interaction vs threat speed and on how much each players' threats contribute to the other players' win conditions.

[@MoMoVsMTG]

These are all great points. In a well balanced commander pod, regardless of what type of deck everyone is playing, the group dynamic of the table should keep each other's decks in check so that one player doesn't run off with the game. But then you have your personal match ups that might be worse for you, (for example), you are a graveyard based deck, and someone is running decent graveyard hate you gotta prioritize that player otherwise your deck can't function well regardless of others position at the table sometimes. Or vice versa, against a mill strategy, the graveyard based player usally isn't nearly as bothered with that and can turn his attention to the other 2 player. Needless to say, the main point I picked up is that threat assessment often times constantly chages turn by turn, and match up to match up. Great observations!

[@rodgersmith6593]

As a rat player I definitely a battle combo Barl.

[@MoMoVsMTG]

There's definitely a decent amount of Hybrid species out there

[@mad7monkey423]

What about Lil Bean Benny - they seem unassuming at first but become a threat because people think they're smol beans Side note - I need that jojo proxy of kynalos and tiro of meletis

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Mpcfill, has a lot of MTG Arts. I love this comment, smol bean Benny oftentimes tries to play the part of being just a little guy so that no one notices him and reassures everybody that he's not the threat

[@Aubsty]

I’m sometimes milling sometimes battlecruising but the one closer to what I do is combo carl I guess even tho I don’t ever play infinite combos but I do like to win out of nowhere with a OTK

[@MoMoVsMTG]

My favorite is the Syr Konrad, the Grim "technically isn't a infinite combo" lines 😅

[@Aubsty]

@@MoMoVsMTG for me its mostly things like " i cast this x damage spell then copy it x times and direct damage all your faces" for exemple 😂

[@MoMoVsMTG]

@@Aubsty the out of nowhere crackle with power hits different for sure 😂

[@Zenek_Rozenek]

Oh no, it's Vultron Victor what do I... I cast Baleful Strix

[@MoMoVsMTG]

In response, I rogue's passage my hexproof commander 💀

[@kush360ebola9]

Boardwipe Ben who runs 7 Boardwipes in every deck

[@MoMoVsMTG]

"I only run child of alara for the colors I swear"

[@Red_Mag3]

I'm a Group Hug Gary because when I play combo I'm instantly targeted. Vazi, Keen Negotiator Bjorna, Wernog, Lurrus Jon Irenicus Norin the Wary Are my gotos. When I want to win, it's Slicer, Hired Muscle Drafna, Founder of Lat-Nam Elenda and Azor

[@cannonballbrad9522]

Stax HAS to go first. Then we can play a game of commander with 3 people :)

[@cannonballbrad9522]

I’m not sure what I am. I play Kalamax, and Kykar, and I want to pick up Nadu.

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Nadu looks super sick, there's definitely some fun stuff you can do with that commnder

[@daltooinewestwood6380]

Seems to me like those commander lend pretty well towards being combo Carl or control Connor

[@jamesoakley9333]

Sounds like you may be a terrible person....

[@thelongboardguru_i.t.6096]

If a combo player has 2 cards in hand and someone else has 10 cards in hand and CANT interact with simple creature combo in ANY way, then they shouldnt be playing in a pod with combos.

[@linguinibros.productions]

Deck issue

[@jorgesandoval4466]

combo carlos ain't living

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Combo Carlos isn't long for my commander pods 💀

[@somegamer4071]

I'm mostly battle cruiser myself, endless value engines and armies. I hate combo carls and stax

[@thered1s276]

hey guys, I think I know what kind of player made this video

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Shh, don't tell em about my secret

[@Hakaze]

Comboplayers are allways the biggest threath, since you have too little information. They could win from nowhere, at sny time

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Those are the players a give a little extra love to when spreading out some damages

[@maximillianhallett3055]

Combat is boring for me. I just want to try for combos that result in big burn numbers. You’ll see me coming, just not precisely how.

[@MoMoVsMTG]

@@maximillianhallett3055 the jankier the better, Jank Jenkins are my favorite decks to play

[@Aystogono]

Where is dirdly Dan ?😭

[@MoMoVsMTG]

I'm the real durdle Dan

[@FatstaxMTG]

Me I’m the threat.

[@MoMoVsMTG]

It's in the name 😱

[@JuggerToad]

I'm a textbook Battlecruiser Barry

[@asmith587]

I feel ya. Go big or fuck off.

[@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299]

My battlecruiser deck is the Sixth Doctor/Romana2. Last time I played I made 4 Komas... ;p

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Copy all the things!

[@DragoSmash]

and then there's Tergrid Terry, ready to ruin everybody's day

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Tergrid Terry sits down and everybody else proceeds to stand up. By Coincidence of course.

[@WladcaPodziemia]

Always Stax. I can lose, but at least I want to play in game, which stax guy is making hard

[@MoMoVsMTG]

More magic vs moar magic, a philosophical debate I constantly have with my playgroup

[@DarthTUK]

Where would you slot a politics focused deck?

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Politician Patrick

[@DarthTUK]

@@MoMoVsMTG you get to be my Secret Rendezvous buddy if you hit Carl in the face real hard for me. ** wink ** ** wink **

[@DarthTUK]

@@MoMoVsMTG you'll be my Secret Rendezvous buddy if you hit Carl for me ** wink ** ** wink**

[@DarthTUK]

In fact, here have some Hunted Phantasm tokens to get the job done.

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Somewhere between neutral evil and true neutral for sure. Politician are definitely corrupt 😅

[@themecha47]

Im a solitaire Sara

[@MoMoVsMTG]

I've heard of your kind but never seen your species in person. Further investigation required.

[@themecha47]

@@MoMoVsMTG izzet extra turns

[@MoMoVsMTG]

@@themecha47 I pass the turn to myself kinda player, understood 😂

[@DarthTUK]

@@themecha47 so combo with extra steps

[@BAAWAKnight]

Then there's me: the infect player. Sneaky aggro with proliferate.

[@mrWade101]

Me playing voltron infect with skittles

[@BAAWAKnight]

@@mrWade101 I have one of those, too, but it's only partly voltron. My other infect is Atraxa--and she's pretty terrifying now that I have Radstorm.

[@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299]

Agent Horrigan approves ;p

[@thas4250]

I’d stay stax Stanley and combo Carlos mix a lot, and if your pulling up to a lower powered game of commander with a stac deck, you suck dude

[@neruba2173]

You missed your girlfriend's ex, Toxic Tony.

[@MoMoVsMTG]

Always brings up bad memories, I try to leave her forgotten

[@user-kg2ml5wo1i]

Im non of these players and it cant be copied based on how i do things irl. Which is scorched earth and i counter everything possible without counter spells