Commander Etiquette: 10 Tips to Improve your Commander Experience

[@everythingisbizzaaaaaro3694]

Golden rule: Don't use a deck that you can't stand playing against.

[@faerie7dragon]

This is why I quietly shelved my Captain Sisay deck.

[@pauldyson8098]

Amen. It really is a version of the Golden Rule, too!

[@ArthurC7]

This is the reason why I didn't even bother building a Tergrid deck

[@everythingisbizzaaaaaro3694]

@@ArthurC7 Lol I actually built Tergrid... For like a day. I felt bad just looking at what I had created.

[@unpro-gaming230]

@@ArthurC7 I don’t know what you guys are talking about. Tergrid is one of the only budget-ish commanders that can even be viable in my meta😂

[@jackwehman6148]

Come for the commander tips, stay for the philosophical discussion on whether life is a story.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Lol 😆 Beezy is mr philosophy

[@Maezhughes]

"Complaining isn't politics" That goes for u too, Tomer!

[@DAsrada]

(Sad Tomer Noises)

[@oliver5732]

There is a "beginning of combat step" which is part of the combat phase and common shortcuts (outlined in the rules) say that if some one says he wants to interact before you attack, he does so in beginning of combat, which means you can't cast sorceries after.

[@NitpickingNerds]

That’s true, we worded it a little confusing

[@AlteCSwe1]

Really searched for this comment before posting myself, comming from a group of players who have all played a lot of 1 v 1 before Commander it's a really big difference with doing something in the precombat mainphase and the beggining of combat phase and if nothing else is said specifically, responding to combat always means beggining of combat, hence no sorceries 🙂

[@Murrdurrurr]

@@NitpickingNerds more like you gave the entirely wrong impression to anyone who doesn't know better. Sounds like Joe had a nitpicking point about getting someone who said "before combat/at the end of your main phase" instead of "at the beginning of combat step/before attackers" he wanted to make and then Beezy was just more wrong, and then Joe rolled with it.

[@zachk7305]

@@NitpickingNerds yeah, no, not confusing, just wrong. "you're either in your main phase or in the declare attackers step" is wrong...

[@gordonross3270]

@@NitpickingNerds You wearnt confusing, it was obvious. Obvious that you did not know about begining of combat. Just own up.

[@Dodexus]

Just getting into this video but the first tip is a big one for me. I love to sit down with my friends (or strangers!) and play a nice game, but if they aren’t mentally present I can find it exhausting to have to fill in the blanks for them.

[@jimbomctimbo1610]

Don't bother explaining lol should've said "should've been paying attention"

[@skillganon606]

I usually just ask "were you raised in a barn". It usually gets them to put it away and apologise to the table. That said sometimes you need to Oracle rules, so sometimes there are exceptions.

[@jonathantavitian7283]

@@skillganon606 lol that’s pretty far

[@skillganon606]

@@jonathantavitian7283 Not really, you're disrespecting the people you're playing with when you do that. I should know I did it in standard for years to piss off my opponents.

[@leobro6398]

Please bring the subtitles under your names back. Those always Made me laugh

[@alexmendoza9645]

💯 percent

[@aidankeyes5526]

The flavor text was fire

[@bustrecordsgaming9]

So true bring them back

[@dudesky2]

Yes plz

[@matthewlugo2417]

Subtitles? What u mean? Im failry new to this channel so i dont know

[@S373NS]

“Do not attack randomly” Ruhan of the Fomori: 👀👀👀

[@thrash208]

Pramikon smiles upon you

[@charleslegreatthegarbagemo7202]

@@thrash208 Is there an interaction with pramikon + Ruhan that I’m not aware of?

[@Ghamul]

@@charleslegreatthegarbagemo7202 Pramikon makes it so Ruhan can only attack the player in the chosen direction so no random attacking involved anymore

[@peterMolodecki]

I was about to type the golden rule my original playgroup gave me and it was "Always concede at sorcery speed" but I figured I'd let the whole part of that video play just incase you said the same thing and beezy took the words right from me. It really is the best way to make sure you don't screw anyone over.

[@zetsokuro2614]

when you're behind but the only board that gets interacted with is yours is the most frustrating thing in commander for me

[@sup3rdank694]

Kick em’ while their down, amirite?

[@ConcreteMars]

I do this sometimes in my close friend group, usually it's unintentional. When I'm playing against my friends' Muldrotha deck, or my other friends' Rashmi deck that is chalk full of counters, I usually initially refer to the previous games where I've absolutely gotten stomped by those decks. So my initial thought is like- "target the deck that constantly fucks my shit" and then I realize "oh wait, they're board state is nothing, they're missing land drops and aren't getting their ramp or key spells, I don't think I have to beat em down so much" hahaha

[@zetsokuro2614]

@@ConcreteMars In situations like that it's very understandable. But from my experiences, me and my friends were playing abit online sue to covid do we were trying out a bunch of new decks every other game and one of our friends would always play decks which the rest of us didn't enjoy playing against cause it was either staxs, cedh, or full of counters. It got so bad we had to put limits in for the decks but that still didn't fix anything. On top of that he'd always target me first for no reason and 99/100 I would always be the furthest back in board development cause my luck is dreadful. We asked him to stop and he nether did and if we played decks like his he'd sit there and say how little fun he was having which annoyed us more or if he was getting targeted for legitimate reasons he'd sit there and complain he was getting targeted. But hopefully now we can play in person again that will all stop

[@jackstrawFW]

Exactly, most people don't understand the words "threat assessment"

[@firstandlast.1254]

This is an awesome topic for a video! Just went to tcgplayer and picked up an ancient tomb ONLY because a kickback was going to my guys here.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Ayyyy thanks so much! It really helps the channel :)

[@solbermartinez6657]

This was really helpful! Especially the thing about priority. I’ll admit, sometimes I feel like being a bit of a sore loser because I usually get targeted and taken out first as the control player, but I do deserve it

[@NitpickingNerds]

It’s hard not to get up sometimes but it’s about just not being a poopy baby

[@luka2507]

I watch lots of commander stuff and am going to make my first deck or sarluf and that’s what I’m going to expect to happen to me

[@alexflores75]

Great video! the only thing I would add is about priority and how you can maintain priority, not just passing it after a spell cast.

[@shamtactics4712]

If your playgroup doesn’t like conceding do what my friend does and run suicidal outlets like glorious end and just do it. I agree sorcery speed is better

[@zachariahpoltergeist4516]

Never concede! Win or go down in flames!

[@degomadletun1486]

On the topic of end of turn special, my play group usually will end of turn special but we let the next player take their turn as we search our library. It saves time and you can take your time for the most part

[@guyinthecorner0]

"I'm gonna crack this and go search for ________, pass turn" is something I've already heard or said almost every game. And I've only been to the shop like 3 times to play

[@BornFromEmbers]

I was playing at my LGS. My friend swung into this guy with a bunch of lifelink creatures and the guy goes “Im gonna scoop so you don’t gain the life”. We just told him he was a bum and gave my friend the life anyway. Like don’t just be a dick head for no reason.🤣

[@somersetbassett4580]

Diddo. Imo its an illegal game action and we play on the right way.

[@BornFromEmbers]

@@somersetbassett4580 We just say scooping can only be done at sorcery speed.

[@somersetbassett4580]

@@BornFromEmbers for sure, but at GS if someone says they can quit and leaves . . . Thats when we play on, regulars all follow the rule np.

[@posajnejkwahb]

People can leave anytime they want, this is rule zero of Magic.

[@BornFromEmbers]

@@posajnejkwahb that’s true, but I don’t have to acknowledge you scooping just out of spite that’s also rule 0.🤣

[@joshuadempsey5281]

About the "End of Turn Special", (especially with sakura tribe elder) you really should NOT do it early if you're gonna chump block with it; it could change how people take their turns and what they do. They might say, "oh well then I wont attack you, even though I was going to, because we now know you're gonna sac it anyways and I didn't have trample, so i'll just keep my creature untapped." There's other reasons to actually wait as well, such a wheel effects and other order-of-operations things (like maybe someone was gonna wait for you to do it, and flash in Opposition agent, but its not their turn yet and they don't have the mana (but they would have it in time to use it, because their turn is next and you were "gonna do it just before you turn starts")). As soon as you crack your fetch, or activate your Sakura tribe Elder, or whatever else it may be, THAT is when it happens. *shrug* sorry but it does matter sometimes.

[@joshuadempsey5281]

(especially since you guys talked about understanding priority, your ideas for saving time literally destroy priority)

[@posajnejkwahb]

I agree with this, you are jumping over an important game element by doing this and you can mess up plays that are legit - don't try to speed up time lost from shuffling by messing up the game.

[@joshuadempsey5281]

@@posajnejkwahb exactly!

[@DaGraveCrowder]

I usually wait to shuffle until my turn is over unless there is further interaction with my library; that's usually the part that takes forever.

[@sandyjensen4896]

Proud of you guys for diminishing stigma of mental health. And being open. Where others may feel not alone.

[@mauriciomonsalvespino2214]

"be a decent person" you guys are f*cling awesome. More people need to know and apply this

[@NitpickingNerds]

It’s surprising how many people don’t know to be decent.

[@MirokuMonge]

Hello guys, first, *Please upvote this so other players won't understand the rules wrongly* at 10:10 there was somewhat a mis-information, there IS a moment at *Combat Phase* that you CAN respond *before* declare attackers, so the opponent won't be able to cast any sorcery speed spell because he will already be at the *Beginning of Combat Step* what i think they meant was that there is not a *Moving to Combat Step* or that a declaration to move to combat step is not implied that they already entered that phase. Let's use Goblin Rabblemaster as an example, it has a *beginning of combat trigger* that gives the player a 1/1 Goblin with Haste, if you don't want that player to get that 1/1 you have to destroy it before his combat step and still on his main phase, so, if you respond at his *declaration of moving to another phase* that implies that he is still on his main and has not moved to the combat step, giving him the opportunity to cast sorceries after that resolving. So, if you want to make your opponent not be able to cast sorceries, after he declare his changing steps you respond: *In your Combat Step, before you declare attackers, i cast this.*

[@somersetbassett4580]

An exception to the sorcery speed concsession imo is the group concession, where 3 players look around and go "yup, let's pick them up"

[@mtgjank1]

end of turn special - I think this really depends on your playgroup. Its a lot more convenient to search, cast spells, and activate abilities before the end step to save time in the game, but players should be okay waiting for players to resolve spells and abilities during the end step as it's part of the game and shouldn't be seen as disrespectful for playing the game during end steps. I do think this is a good suggestion for casual groups though and can make the game faster haha. interesting suggestion.

[@geofferiswheel]

This is super helpful for teaching my nephew how to play. Trying to get him to pay attention to the game and not complain when people attack him. These are definitely good things for myself as well to remind myself. Thanks Nerds

[@Jimmythehead]

I’ve very much enjoyed playing my new shadrix group hug deck since most of the group hug stuff target an opponent so I can help whoever is low on cards or is missing land drops and not just kingmaker the best deck. All the while burying in card advantage. Lots of fun! Great video guys!

[@redram9]

Timestamp 10:15 While you are correct, if you cast a spell/activate an ability in response to leaving pre-Combat main, the active player (AP) regains priority within their own main phase. However, there exists a "Start Combat" step, that exists after your main phase but before attackers are declared. When a trigger says "At the Start of Combat", as with Xenagos, God of Rebels, it happens before attackers are declared but after the main phase has been left. This is a good time to cast removal spells that aren't combat tricks. I just want to make sure that others are aware of the phase between main phase 1 and declare attackers.

[@blaze556922]

The pregame discussion is so important and the most overlooked in my experience. Sometimes people downplay their power level looking for an advantage as well. Only encountered that a few times but it wasn't fun.

[@costapr]

The Priority rule at 8:20 is wrong. 117.3b The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves. 117.3c If a player has priority when they cast a spell, activate an ability, or take a special action, that player receives priority afterward. If Player 1 is the Active, pass, and Player 2 casts a spell, the next player that could answer is Player 3. Then all players could answer, following the turn order, until priority go back to Player 2. Then if the spell resolves, the priority goes back to Player 1 (the Active). Also, nice video, as always 😊

[@OmegaMTG]

12:20 about conceding, always do as much damage on the way out as you can in a multi-player game. 1 v 1 it doesn't matter. Let's play another game. :)

[@dmoore4520]

3 player this can suck though, makes a king easily.

[@OmegaMTG]

@@dmoore4520 True but for me it's a crackback, always at the person taking me out so it's not kingmaking (at least in my eyes).

[@mong0038]

Something I always appreciate is shortcutting. E.g. It's turn 1. I play a windswept heath. I can crack it, search for a forest, put it into play, shuffle my deck and then tap it for a Llanowar elves. Alternatively I can say "I'm going to crack this for a forest and tap it for Llanowar Elves. Sound good?" Then I can pass the turn. Once the next player starts their turn then I can start searching and shuffling. They brought up another one just not shuffling between draws. That also saves time for everyone and saves your sleeves.

[@incogneat0901]

I will say for vampiric tutor I like to wait anyway to keep the playgroup off my scent for their turns. I find that when they know I'm going to tutor I tend to be targeted. In almost all other cases I timewarp, especially with land tax

[@incogneat0901]

I'm still watching the video but as a policy I try to make sure I know what I'm getting when I tutor. Some people like to wait to make sure that I don't get free information for tutoring or to see what land I get off of a fetch (or more likely to make me sweat)

[@somersetbassett4580]

Agree 👍

[@darthskidmarkz4570]

Great video guys but I take issue with number 3 and believe it can for sure leave to some awkward situations. For example if you attempt to tutor early but imply that you would do it on the last players endstep then if some omen has a opp agent or Aven mind censor that player would have to ether announce that they would have a response earlier or admit they have one of those cards and they might not even have the mana to do it yet cause they haven’t untapped yet since you did it ahead of time and if someone draws into one of these cards that could be extra awkward. It also gives info to other players and make them play differently.

[@jaredremedies8730]

I feel like the attacking randomly only works on the first few turns because it does welcome healthy combat because of a lot of newer players are afraid to make an enemy but later turns it should be clear who you should attack or politic it out

[@jackstrawFW]

Dice rolls combats for the first couple of turns are, in my opinion, the healthiest and most fair way to play. As you said, late game, when everyone's boards are being made and threats are being assessed is a great way to play commander and to ensure everyone is having fun.

[@Dark-Pikachu1]

What about speared attacks

[@chaseshadows566]

10:21 thank you for clarifying how the mechanics work when trying to change phases.

[@julianpeck1812]

This was super solid info for me!

[@markcooper4876]

I totally agree with the conceding at sorcery speed part, but with one caveat. If someone is playing solitaire with 10 minute turns, go for it.

[@MrRockguy84]

I was in this game Joe was talking about lol! Joe was totally in the right & handled it well :) All the love Joe

[@ivorymantis1026]

My personal Four: *Commit to Act* - I will hit the person that appears like the largest threat during my turn. I will anticipate being hit if I am the largest threat during someone else's turn. I will choose based on those facts, or if a particular commander is adept at destroying my own deck's synergy. I will anticipate the same from everyone else. *Clarity of Play* - I will say "I am attempting to cast . . ." instead of just tapping and dropping a card to move into the next card. I will allow people proper response of play during my turn and will assure that the other three players know exactly what I am doing. My taps are to 90 degrees (no less), my board will be organized per type, and my graveyard and deck and exile location will be clearly visible. *No Take Backs* - I will remember that I Commit to Act and my actions have repercussions in a multiplayer game. I will not do take-backs even if it loses me the game. I will not learn if I fix tiny mistakes and the element of surprise is no longer present. Taking back an action just slows gameplay and creates a slogging effect. *Casual Humility* - This is a casual format game. I will not let losses upset me. The point is to play, the winning side is of negligible importance. A loss can be from being hammered into the ground from turn 1 when you decide to drop the land > Sol > Rock combo right from the start. A victory can just be as simple as everyone else playing exhausted for resources. Winning is no big deal, and losing is no big deal, because of how random a victory can pop out of the dirt.

[@taylorious1693]

Excellent philosophy.

[@Krunschy]

8:15 Nope. Anytime a spell is cast priority goes to the player that cast it. But priority does go back to the player whose turn it is, once anything resolves. You might've meant that, but imo it's best to be unabigious, when it comes to a confusing topic like this. 10:45 This is also somewhat wrong. Yes, when someone casts an instant when you pass to combat it's back to your mainphase, but there absolutely is a time to cast instants inbetween declaring attackers and mainphase 1. It's called the beginning of combat step. Check 507. in the comprehensive rules for more info.

[@hermodnitter3902]

Yes, their rules "explanation" was the worst... Priority was wrong, and also the transition from pre-combat main phase directly into declared attackers. They shouldn't complain about people not understanding priority when they can't explain it properly. For example, they also say that when you cast a spell, priority passes to the next person, which is completely wrong. You regain priority (after state based checks and triggers are put on the stack) and priority isn't passed until you actually pass.

[@JohnWick-qz7us]

Upvote for visibility

[@harrisonheppelmann7938]

Well, as a marisi player, it’s actually pass priority for step change to combat, then: Beginning of combat Declare attacks Attacks triggers Declare blocks Blocks triggers First strike damage First strike damage triggers Damage Damage triggers End of combat And you pass priority before each applicable phase. Your opponents won’t do anything, because they can’t cast spells, but it’s still nice to know.

[@greatbrandini3967]

A key point when talking about priority is playing a spell, passing priority, then trying to take an action before your spell resolves. I see so many players screw this up when the other players having a response at all would've affected their actions. Notably trying to copy overrun and only being able to win if both copies resolve. Cards like Whirlwind Denial are underrated due to people not understanding priority.

[@RobMedellin]

3. End of turn special. I think it's acceptable to wait until just before it's your turn to search because a lot can happen. Examples. 1) keep the fetch until EoT because your decision may change or you can bluff that you can bring and untap Island to use a counter. 2) vampiric tutor (or other such tutors) You can be thinking of 1 card but then the last player on mp2 may cast something that may change your mind, maybe even mill you? 3) Sensei's top or brainstorm, etc. You leave mana open to bluff.

[@selkokieli843]

I search my card to wait for the the action and and shuffle it right back if I need to use that mana for something else. doesn't work for diving top if course

[@RobMedellin]

@@selkokieli843 what if vampiric tutor is the only card in hand? For sure you prefer to bluff in may be some interaction. Also what if someone makes you draw and discard (e.g. Burning Inquiry or Geier Reach Sanitarium) and you say "OK, let me get back my tutor into my hand, shuffle the searched card and I'll draw a random one (and likely discard that one instead of the tutor)" then you discard a great card (which you can't get back) because by reshuffling you put it on top and you remember that before tutoring on top was a bad card. So you can't complain of course, but you know that the there may be some impact and by jumping up ahead you changed how the game was going to play out. I know it's not a big deal at all, but personally like to do things in order and that others do the same.

[@gordonross3270]

@@selkokieli843 but then you get a free shuffle for no reason.

[@markgaudy]

Thanks for sharing how multiplayer priority works :)

[@WinterChicken]

There is a phase between main phase and declare attackers! It's called "beginning of combat phase". So if you say "before combat, I..." then you let the active player cast sorceries once your play resolves. If you want to catch someone you have to say "ok at the beginning of combat I..."

[@Volttikoira]

This comment needs to be highlighted.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Well that is a part of combat.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Well that is a part of combat.

[@oliver5732]

@@NitpickingNerds MTR 4.2 outlines the following: If the active player passes priority with an empty stack during their first main phase, the non-activeplayer is assumed to be acting in beginning of combat unless they are affecting whether a beginning of combat ability triggers.Then, after those actions resolve or no actions took place, the active player receives priority at the beginning of combat. Beginning of combat triggered abilities (even ones that target) may be announced at this time.

[@WinterChicken]

@@NitpickingNerds Totally! At one point though it was implied that there is no way to gotcha someone between their main phase and when attackers are declared. Super tiny thing but since this is a channel about nitpicking..... 🐒

[@thesenate918]

I remember playing with this dude who was playing a Yarok deck( that was they made obvious that it was more powerful then the other decks in play and kept doing the whole "ill play nice for a while instead of trying to win" song and dance which i hate) and when i stopped his infinite combo with Jodah and Galecaster Collosus ON BOARD, he freaked out and said he was just tryna play magic and then bitterly rage quit, the entire table remaining burst into applause and laughter after that😂

[@elipetrou9308]

Ooooof.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Sounds like a... poopy baby

[@guyinthecorner0]

@@NitpickingNerds Löded Dïper

[@thesenate918]

@@NitpickingNerds truly a self indulgent infant

[@JohnDoe-vc5qb]

There’s Yarok in Commander question mark

[@LTJ]

End of Turn Special: I used to try and avoid this by doing the whole "I'll execute this Vamp/World Tutor to save time" routine... Then some bastard milled me. Never again. They can all sit there and wait. Once bitten twice shy.

[@Loren_Law]

Yeah, I kind of disagree with this rule too. it's important to tutor up the card before any other game actions happen that could influence what someone tutors up. I think a better rule is just to be patient, these games take a while and everyone should be accepting of that by now.

[@N1ghthavvk]

You obviously didn't do it as they suggested. The shortcut is to pre-tutor and still play it as if you did it on the end step before your turn. So, if they don't have instant speed mill - there's still no way to interact for them. And if they try it -> they're a jerk who purposefully misunderstood

[@ma9ical1]

Even if the priority explanation was a bit lite, this was one of your better videos. Enjoy watching those, keep going

[@ptp1999]

I've definitely been guilty of scooping to specific plays before, will not be doing that again. Top content as always!!

[@jaycebyman4746]

You are a cool guy simply by being able to own up to that :) Hope ur livin a good life random stranger

[@somersetbassett4580]

I enlightened tutored once and did it early to save time. During my upkeep my friend chaos warped my enchantress shuffling my tutored card another enchantress back. Imo he used knowledge that he shouldn't have had bc I would have tutored after he made his plays. It turned my game off, but I didn't argue. Since then I've been more strategic with time saving measures. Good rule to be efficient and save time for the group, but I suggest caution when it's an important move.

[@skillganon606]

Using a tutor should take 10 seconds max, if you don't know exactly what you need when you cast a tutor you don't know your deck well enough to be playing them.

[@somersetbassett4580]

@@skillganon606 This is why content creators feel the need to create etiquette videos for mtg players, lol. I'll play the deck I want and shuffle it however I prefer.

[@skillganon606]

@@somersetbassett4580 well they should do some videos on reading comprehension. You do you honeydew.

[@DoublePhilip]

10:20 There is a step in between main phase and declare attackers step, it's called begin combat step and if they kill your creature in this step you can't cast sorcery speed spells because you are in combat and if you want to cast them you have to move to main phase 2. I don't know if you ever played against Legion Warboss that is basically the interaction. Kill it at begin combat step.

[@PureSolace]

Wow... 0:15 Beezy doesn't really gel well with Joe Cherries. "Don't steal my thumb thing." That was my favorite part.

[@johnkubiak1154]

In terms of the phone rule I think you can do it if an opponent has been thinking or just waiting and trying to figure out what do for a while its ok to go look at some memes or some shit

[@benjaminberol307]

Just a small nitpick (badum tss) starting 10:20 you guys talk about how when you say "move to combat" and a player responds, you're still in your main phase. This is technically true, but it's usually assumed that they are casting their spells at the beginning of combat step, which is actually a phase after your main phase but before declare attackers in which you can no longer take sorcery speed actions. So you might be able to rules lawyer your way into saying that you were still in main phase because of the wording of "move to combat", but it's almost always strictly better to cast instants at beginning of combat step to stop your opponent from taking sorcery speed actions. Because of this it's often assumed that you are in the beginning of combat phase instead of your 1st main if somebody responds, otherwise they would have to specify, "yes move to combat but before declare attackers."

[@benjaminberol307]

Ended up being not so small oops, tried to make it more clear and it got pretty long.

[@MrAdog123456]

My group rules concession as a sorcery speed effect, this has helped the issue a lot

[@selkokieli843]

My playgroup usually agrees to act as if the conceding player is still in the game until their their next turn even if they had to go home nd pick up their cards. Works really well!

[@devinrichardson9751]

Just want to say you guys and your team do an amazing job with Magic the Gathering. I enjoy all your videos. This video I can hear how frustrating it is to deal with people. Please keep up the videos, sharing your card play experiences, and Magic rulings. You guys have helped my small group enjoy the game even more. Trust me I stopped playing Phyrexian Arena bc of Beezy lol. What he said makes so much sense "waiting a turn...drawing a random card...only good at the beginning of the match" Thanks guys. Just keep up the amazing good work.

[@DogWould]

Tip #1 is the biggest thing I try to get my kids to do when we play. They're young, so it's tough as the game goes on, but we're working on it.

[@JustforKikX]

I have Sakura tribe in my Meren deck and when I resolve it twice, I'll say, "I'm going to look for 2 basics now. I end my turn and you can go". Just saves time.

[@Timmsh88]

For me (still a beginner) the goldfishing and 'know your deck' part is pretty confronting. It's hard to really know your deck (100 cards, 10.000's of possibilities) and I try to play new decks (experiment a lot). I always talk about it with my veteran friends and they help me, but for me the advice would be 'get gut', but that takes lots of time man.

[@NitpickingNerds]

It isn't gt good but rather take time to understand the deck and the cards in it. Everyone makes mistakes but if you are making the same mistakes over and over that is not ok.

[@87seanroon]

I think this is where MTG players are either cool or gatekeeping. I think making an honest attempt to understand it and being open to learning is huge. Also playing with people who know you are still trying to get into the game. Like you said, there are 1,000's of cards in existence and all of them but like 45 or 46 are legal for Commander. For those of us who didn't start playing when there were 9 or 10, that's a lot of catch-up learning expected on new players. Not to mention all the nuance to the rules and how cards interact with other cards. Just find cool people to play with that are willing to help you out.

[@sandyjensen4896]

I kinda took that as a given. I’ve heard mtg players are helpful. I met two guys today. First time at a place. And very nice. I think an explanation that your brand new for most would suffice. I think the guys were talking more about experienced players that weren’t making an effort? Right guys?

[@justinmorsch3208]

To add: 1. Pass turn while searching if possible, you can search for your tapped basic while the next player starts their turn 2. Hygiene - please wash your hands 3. Ask permission to look at or read someone’s cards, don’t just grab them. These cards are worth hundreds of dollars total and being gentle and respectful with others cards is important

[@CubanThund3r]

10:30 Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is still a beginning of combat step once you enter combat right? Like you can still swords something at the beginning of combat phase and they can't play sorceries after that because they already in combat (before attackers). But I see your point if an opponent does something at the end of your main phase. For example, I can reequip helm of the host after my creature gets swords at the end of my main phase, right? I would still get the at the beginning of combat trigger on the newly equipped creature, but not the 1st one.

[@CubanThund3r]

10:47 So is Beezy wrong here?

[@oliver5732]

@@CubanThund3r Yes

[@NitpickingNerds]

Yes we worded it a little wrong. Beginning of combat is a part of combat. Once that starts you are in combat.

[@NitpickingNerds]

So if combat starts you get the trigger of not you can reequip

[@1Shayz1]

I had a game where I knew there was no way I could survive the next turns so I conceded and the other players acted as if I wasn't allowed to because it meant that they would have to attack each other instead of me I get that it "changes the game" but I also want the freedom to stop playing when I want to (maybe a habit from playing Arena so much)

[@posajnejkwahb]

Yeah I think it's important that you are allowed to not have to play if you don't want to. I strongly dislike this take.

[@ChoptheSuey1]

I'm glad this was in my recommended. I am just getting back into magic after... 11 years or so. These are all pretty good to know. Thank you for this

[@BeauV495]

Conceding drives me absolutely insane when it gets weaponized. I've played with people who frequently concede if they get goaded and just scoop. 🤯

[@AfroAtze]

I actually had the reverse rule argument situation at a LGS: I played Zirilan of the Claw and had a Sundial of the Infinite in play. So I tried to end my turn with the exile trigger on the stack and everyone (especially a player that was complaining about every play someone else made and won in the end) started going off on how it would not work and that the combo was bullshit. I didn't have internet access on my phone to search up the dozens of threads on the issue and the annoying guy actually looked it up with his phone and said "nope doesn't work". I just conceded the point knowing better and left after the game. That was first and last experience of playing with strangers at an LGS.

[@Ash-Bun]

Yeah, I've saved a lot of time on shuffling by explaining what my deck does. I have a not-infinite not always lethal combo involving my commander Archelos, bloodghast, and perilous forays, every play group I've been with just say 'go ahead and drop em all, don't bother shuffling till the end.'

[@jamesgratz4771]

Tcgplayer is solid. Gotten some grave titans for pennies on the dollar #discount

[@NitpickingNerds]

You're welcome for driving the price down! 😂

[@TylerCrompton]

First I've heard of you guys. Great video. I'd recommend displaying a card on screen when mentioned. For example, near the end of the video, you mentioned three cards: Polyraptor, Burning Sun's Avatar, and Searing Blaze. As someone with a Marath deck, I personally happen to already be familiar with Polyraptor. Thankfully, I felt that Polyraptor was explained sufficiently. However, the other two weren't sufficiently explained. Now, the Searing Blaze mention didn't really warrant a card display. But Burning Sun's Avatar did.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Thank you for the constructive feedback!

[@namdoolb]

My preferred solution to salty concessions (I didn't come up with it, I've seen it used in a few places) is just to let the player concede, & then run the game as if they were still there until the next time they could make a sorcery speed concession. I like it, because it defeats the objective of spite concessions, & is enough of a (figurative) punch in the gut for the person who just conceded that it usually course corrects them & stops them doing it again.

[@Zackeus1992]

Coming from a magic player who lived in southern KY for the longest time, with minimum options of paper magic groups, conceding to spite a player who plays timetwister, moat, and land equilibrium(grand Augustin IV deck), against casual budget decks- conceding to allow the other budget deck to win is a valid move.

[@VitorJTekkRodrigues]

10:48 Actually, Beginning of Combat Phase is exactly that. I know because I use a lot of creatures with attack triggers and they often get removed on BC Phase because of that.

[@thrashermaster4656]

Today I lost to my dad I haven’t lost to my dad since august of 2019

[@NitpickingNerds]

I'm sorry for your loss

[@thrash208]

The fact you remember the month and year 🤣

[@poofypeanut0221]

I love the conversation. I will say the thing I DIAGONALLY disagree with is the random attacks thing. While I do agree with your statement, I also think attacking someone for 2 or 3 or even 5 should not be a "you're my enemy now" action. Were all enemies in a game of commander. Its when someone attacks me twice in a row that I start taking it as "im point my stuff at.you.now" trigger. I think people take 1 attack too personal, which then leads to people WANTING to do the random attack thing because swinging for 2 is not a big deal but people treat.it that way. As you guys said, the game is progressing. How often to we read a card that says pay X life: blank, and we react "oh X life is nothing, its commander". Well I think we should treat our first combat damage this way.

[@ChtulhuFathgn]

EDH for gentlemen, I love it. A good vid for the whole community!

[@backtosquarefun]

Well said, friend!

[@davidm.corbin4643]

Also if you're going to concede to lethal do it inresposne to the lethal damage. "Oh that hits for 36, I'm dead. In response to losing I concede :/."

[@guilhermecumpadi5513]

Really nice tips for all levels of play, my group is kinda crazy on the priority order hahaha XD

[@ohwutdaheckin3846]

Hey here’s a fun story for you. I’m new to multiplayer commander and went to play on the edh discord server. I get into my first game. Don’t draw a land for 3 turns. (Kept my current hand because if I got another land besides my bounce land then I would’ve been golden) and then outa know where when each other player was laughing about my land situation. I just asked “anyone have a counter spell or interaction? Cause I can win the game.” As all the giggling stops. Then bam Alta combo with ashnods alter and Thornbite staff to get every creature in my deck and kill everyone. So umm yeah... hope you enjoyed that.

[@zzone121]

i feel really guilty about the “understanding your deck” one - i made a nethroi deck as my first commander deck, and someone at my LGS said that mutate didn’t have commander tax apply. sweet, that makes nethroi busted once i hit seven lands, so of course i ran with it. nobody at the store had played a mutate commander (and didn’t really care because they knew my janky low power deck couldn’t beat their level 8-9 ones), so i told everyone that’s how it worked, and everyone believed me and we just played like that. someone came to the store for the first time close to a month later, and i try to mutate without commander tax, he told me i couldn’t do that. like three people come to my defense, even when he pointed out that he’s quite literally a judge at another store, and we went to like five separate websites to look it up. obviously that’s not how the card works, but man…would’ve been cool.

[@NitpickingNerds]

We all make mistakes 😊😊😊

[@guillermoromero8041]

I sit down and say, I’m playing urza. My whole goal is to power out winters orb ASAP and protect it. Everyone gets up. Moves to the other Burger King booth. I sit at the table alone a lot

[@RecoveringSpartan]

There is literally a beginning of combat after main phase but before declare attackers. Beginning of combat triggers happen here and there's a round of priority

[@NitpickingNerds]

Yes that is true but it is part of combat so any combat triggers will happen. Like Helm of the Host

[@jafari6658]

@@NitpickingNerds ya but when you say...moving to combat...youre changing phases

[@NitpickingNerds]

@@jafari6658 yes but before changing phases everyone gets priority.

[@stevethegreatis]

From a time perspective playing with a lot of new players, kind of have an idea what you want to do on your turn by the time it gets to you. Excepting drawing a card throwing that off. Goes hand in hand with again know your cards.

[@plain6677]

For power scales it’s actually quite easy: - 10: do you play tons of moxes and expensive cards? - 9: do you have a thassa/jace wincon? Food chain? Godo? - 8: do you play infinite anything? -7: do you play thrasios/tymna, chulane, korvold…? -6: do you play simic or tax? - 5: probably your deck. -4/3/2/1: are you new to edh? is your deck a precon or a fun themed deck?

[@plain6677]

So 9-10 are a separate format whereas 7 and 8 are the decks to beat for casual players :) And group hugs, chaos and aggro are usually 4 but can be seen as 7-8 if they are lucky enough. Including cards like bilands, rhystic study or smothering tithe doesn’t change the power level much as they are dependent of your strategy.

[@RacGames]

Honestly, I feel like the worst Etiquette sin is not trying to win. Like instead of trying to win you play your turns to make other people win, not only does this increase the overall saltiness of the playgroup but it makes the playgroup worse for newcomers.

[@MrSamthefan]

One of the things that frustrates me is when the entire table says beforehand that they're all going to focus you regardless of boardstate. My first deck I built is an Izzet Spellslinger deck with Niv-Mizzet and after the first time I played it they immediately said they would all always focus me regardless of gamestate. I just started like a month ago, so I was really salty about it.

[@rayyanma1608]

I think you need to find a new playgroup.

[@davecollins7420]

Try playing a game where conceding as a spell an expected play with no salt. Watch how much more careful you are with your resources and your play style. Its a totally new dynamic. On of my play groups plays this way, and it is a lot of fun.

[@ericsalisbury3583]

If a player can go a full turn on there phone. Its more likely its 4 people playing solitaire. People need to be more interactive for it to be a game.

[@Jonzin4BeatzNYC]

True story. I was playing Mayael Stimpy and after an impressive game 1 win we played a game 2. I was behind and probably deadnext turn so I wanted to go out with a bang. I used a dice to decide who to attack and it backfired. You guys are so wise! Wiseguys Edit: Stimpy should read stompy but Auto correct actually made me laugh so I'm leaving it

[@coolemoji219]

would love to see a video or a short on good offers to make for deals. I never know what to offer when i need something.

[@navo6283]

I wish some people in my group would see this video. Side note, people have tried to tell me how my cards work, convinced the entire table that's how they work, then I get home and look it up to find out I was right. That's frustrating... I'm guilty of Goldfishing... I happen to like convoluted combos that take a long time to resolve. Here's a conversation from the last time I was at the LGS. The situation was that I was going into several cascade chains in my Imoti sea monsters deck. Me: I cast Apex of Devastation, I control 3 Imotis so it cascades a total of 7 times. The first cascade trigger goes into...Vorinclex, which now cascades 3 times- Player C: Can you even win on your turn? Me: No, but I'm trying to cascade into an extra turn spell which will allow me to attack. Player C: I'm definitely countering that. It's too bad you are going to do all this, and just lose when it's my turn. Funny thing is that he ended up eating those words. My Beacon of Tomorrows was countered, but I ended up cascading my entire deck into play on turn 8. By the time Player C's turn came around I had an infinite counter wall set up, and didn't allow him to cast anything. He folded, but I feel like that's what he gets for talking trash. I told the truth, had he asked me if he was going to be able to play on his turn I would have said no. He just asked the wrong question.

[@PawzBrownMTG]

Love to see those normal shirts Under Armor & American Eagle 👌😀. Great video guys

[@austinmairet1772]

My play group is actually okay with spiteful concessions lol. If the cost is they lose, then they get to have a little gravy at the end knowing that they had one last effect on the game

[@RoadDeerGames]

Weird thought about fetch lands or tutors… what if you had 2 copies of the card and so on the turn you say “ok and I would of searched my library for this card, but I have a copy… so I’ll search, remove, and shuffle after my turn?” Or even just have one of those write on magic cards as the place holder in your deck so you can keep your expensive card on the sidelines to be tutored or if the place holder is draw just substitute it then I front it’d everyone.

[@RiftShredemption]

Most of these rules seem like time-efficiency choices as opposed to play-efficiency choices, and can easily lead to misplays, or exploitative plays. Exceptions being the complaint rule and opening discussion (which consequentially will supercede a lot of these "house rule" guidelines you wasted a whole video for), and complaints don't belong in an EDH game at all, save it for an after-action style discussion. "Don't be a jerk" is entirely subjective, and makes no sense in a game where SOMEONE HAS TO WIN, and winning is a "jerk move".

[@NitpickingNerds]

We aren’t talking about an in game jerk move but being polite

[@RiftShredemption]

@@NitpickingNerds which is an entirely subjective term. A better way to classify it, would be to keep it "civil", and each person should be aware that it's still a game and to make sure and qualify their expectations in the pregame discussion.

[@nzephier]

For pregame discussion topic: the best rule of thumb is "what turns does your deck win by (or try to win by)?" On turn 5 do you have some set up or did you already win? By turn 10 are you confident you either have or can get your win con?

[@casually_lurking]

A case for Consession (in Commander): So, my friend has a "control deck"; it isn't, it's an a**hole Dimir deck centered on Xanathar what sets up loops to infinitly control everyone else absolutely. . . while he jokes about "us" playing suboptimally, being aggressive, and failing to deal with him when he lands a "flawless victory" as the last one standing dismantles their own board. . . It's hit table thrice in four years, died HARD the third time it dropped, and he knows if he even jokes about playing it the gloves come off. Consession is your ONLY out against it once the thing is going; it denighs his resources, shortens the match, and sends a signal that we aren't tolerating his s***.

[@TwistedNiQ]

My play group and I as a whole try to concede at sorcery speed but sometimes emotions etc. Get high and people quit in the heat of the moment it happens lol

[@anthonyafricano4651]

We have a guy in our playgroup who runs a mono blue counterspell tribal deck, and only pays attention (besides his turn) when he has a counter spell. Which is great for me because I know if he's not paying attention, it's clear for me to play my big threats. But eventually, that gets not so fun and I already know he's not even trying to win by turn 5.

[@JonLeitheusser]

Hey, good for you for talking about your meds! Seriously!

[@dee-wreck]

Rolling dice to attack randomly only happens at the beginning when people have creatures out fast and they don't want to make enemies for drawing first blood. What silly groups do you play in where people roll dice for every combat step?

[@Ezunit1991]

So this might be me as a different type of player, but I enjoy slower more funny games with good conversation. You guys mentioned speeding up games a lot. Seems like a lot of unnecessary pressure on a player that might be there to have fun. Just my take.

[@TheRetroViking]

3:16 - Funny story , my brother in law was running an angel deck and he had full control over what we could and coudln't play. (One of his cards is officially banned since it prevented us from playing cards of a certain color which of course we both had .... we noticed it was banned a few days after the game was over and he since removed it) .... But the game came to a halt for all other players except him and as he was pumping out 4/4 flying angel tokens after angel tokens and not attacking us (even tough he had flying and all we had were 1 creature that couldn't do squat to protect ourselves) .... So after 4 turns of drawing a card .... discarding a card because of the 7 card hand limit , and watching him build his 20+ Indestructible/flying/first strike 4/4 angel army without attacking I did a desperate attempt to bait him into attacking us and finishing the game .... I said ''Dude, you've been stalling the game and could've beaten us 10 turns ago ... this is just unfun and i hate playing against this angel deck ...'' .... My other friend that was locked out, just like me, slowly looked at me with a ''wtf are you saying'' expression on his face and I slowly gave him a glimpse of the 1 white card i could play that turn .... I could exile any attacking creature so that darn ''you can't play black spells'' would've been removed from the game and maybe my friend and I could team up to take him down ..... In my head this was a brilliant move as I saw the stunned look on the other players face ..... which turned to a sad face ....... followed by a ''Ohh man if i wouldv'e known you felt this way i wouldn't have played this deck ... i forfeit'' ........ Talk about going from ''Ahhh ahhhaa you'll fall into my trap'' to ''what a fu@#4ing asshole thing i just did ....'' .... I stopped him before he scooped up and showed him what i wanted to do and all went Ok and he crushed us that turn to end the game .... lol .....

[@jindo4849]

on conceding, even the sorcery speed house house rule dosent work sometimes. a friend of mine was mad we attacked him too much (he was playing Grand Arbiter Augustin) so he Wrathed then Armageddoned and scooped.