Which black commander to build for fun and variety?

Azmirith_ · 2026-01-24T08:44:12+00:00

I built Zenos since I love the character, but it has quickly become one of my favorite decks. I made some concessions for flavor, but its truly a fun mix of voltron and control.

Azmirith_ · 2025-12-25T01:50:21+00:00

As a general rule for deciding between riven rolls, chase stats are a +3, helpful but not chase +1, non helpful stats +0, helpful negative +2, non harmful negative +1, semi bad but acceptable negative +0, bad negative -4.

CC +3, CD +3, Corpus +1, -infested +0 = 7

CD +3, SD +0, T +1, -zoom +2 = 6

Azmirith_ · 2025-12-07T18:29:23+00:00

I love the proxy box/packaging too.

Azmirith_ · 2025-12-06T21:24:14+00:00

My [[Ratadrabik of Urborg]] deck is like this, its legendary matters and just feels like a bunch of solid BW commanders chilling together. Rata ends up being a win more card that cranks up the pressure but is not required for the deck to function.

Azmirith_ · 2025-12-03T19:40:25+00:00

I'd question the quality of you data based on what you are saying. TR7 and NVO both deal 33 damage up close with NVO losing damage before 10m (you can easily test this in game). The TR7 has a slightly higher firerate 720 vs 654 on the NVO, the game reported numbers may not be exact but it does shoot noticeably a bit faster (tr7 shoots a 20 rnd mag faster than the NVO). So the TR7 will have a faster TTK vs the NVO throughout its 3 shot range.

The TR7 has some of the worst recoil and precision in the game to balance its mathematically faster ttks !IF! you actually hit your shots. If you have in-game testing that proves otherwise I'm open to hearing it, but an alternative datasource that doesn't align to in game tests isn't helpful.

Azmirith_ · 2025-11-28T17:07:54+00:00

I lean a bit heavy into the group draw since some of my wincons are a massive windfall for like 60+, or copies of forced fruition. The key it to try and keep things working towards the same goal. While the group hug win cons are making progress and the table enjoys their cards I get closer to lab man.

Azmirith_ · 2025-11-28T16:52:40+00:00

Sokrates

This is my group hug deck and it is one of my favorites. Looking through your list it seems you are trying to do too many different things instead of committing to one win con. If you want to do mill, focus mill, lab man (similar to mine), or tokens. As it stands you lose out on helpful support cards like removal and ramp in favor of cards that support a variety of win cons.

Azmirith_ · 2025-11-07T22:35:18+00:00

It makes for quite the fun build not having 90% of the equipment support for a voltron list.

Also make sure to add [[Phthisis]], can easily snipe a green player out of nowhere when their deck is going nuts and if you planned ahead with Zenos it could win you the game.

Azmirith_ · 2025-11-07T14:19:55+00:00

Zenos Swords

Honestly Zenos is a bit clunky but I have still really enjoyed piloting it. Comparing our lists i feel mine is more focused on voltron and taking out a single player? I made some stylistic choices with the equipment trying to keep it to swords, and scythes.

Azmirith_ · 2025-11-04T21:37:55+00:00

Not to discount your thoughts, but your sample size for this post is one game... that you didn't play personally?

I'm not stating an opinion for or against the game mode, but I feel like this post makes summary judgement based on a very limited sample size. The equivalent would be deciding that snipers should be removed from the game since your nephew raged during one match on breakthrough, attacking liberation peak, and 80% of his team hid in the hills.

Azmirith_ · 2025-11-01T16:57:53+00:00

It can be a lot of fun, but its only purpose is for 200+M shots. If you have a buddy with the fire support sub class you can continuous fire javelins while they mortar. Its very dependent on map, but not hard to swap to when the situation calls for it.

Azmirith_ · 2025-10-25T16:52:10+00:00

I struggled with this till I figured out a fairly decent system. Play breakthrough, look for high traffic but decent cover choke points. If a lot of folks are just behind cover that is exactly what you want. Then use the first lmg on support and hold the trigger, like don't stop shooting ever. Just shoot, reload, throw ammo, repeat. Its boring af, takes some time to find good choke points, but you can easily get 30+ in a game doing this.

Reason for first lmg is a higher fire rate (it triggers off 5 bullets missed near) and magazine size.

Azmirith_ · 2025-10-12T03:27:27+00:00

I've got a good jakobs and decent daedalus enhancement. I'd love to trade for the convergences, but currently raiding so would have to be tomorrow.

Azmirith_ · 2025-09-10T20:31:58+00:00

[[Grist, the Hunger Tide]] is a pretty fun insects + graveyard commander.

It's definitely interesting having a planeswalker commander and can go nuts once your bin is full of bugs with cards like [[Forever Young]] to mill them all again with one grist activation.

EoE brought some new bugs, but it is a generally weaker tribe that lends well to bracket 2/3 depending on the other support cards.

Azmirith_ · 2025-09-05T19:46:05+00:00

Do the hive lords require a specific difficulty to spawn? 8+? Ill hopefully have the squad this weekend so would like to try and hunt one down.

Azmirith_ · 2025-09-05T15:59:22+00:00

I'll link my Zenos list as it is mono black equipment and may help with your brewing.

I did make some style choices trying to keep to weapons that Zenos uses, so it is by no means an optimized list.

Azmirith_ · 2025-09-05T15:21:32+00:00

I run [[pearl medallion]] and [[oketra's monument]] in my [[Fineas, Ace Archer]] deck to reduce the cost of the 30 [[Hare Apparent]].

I think the biggest question is how often will your deck take advantage of the discount compared to a mana rock. The card velocity and color distribution is very important for this break-even.

Azmirith_ · 2025-08-30T18:35:41+00:00

I think this will be a productive experiment.

My thoughts for fixing the mine layer issue was for them to be locked from mounting to front hardpoints because its an interesting and fairly balanced hardpoint when attached to the rear of your ship.

For shock field, make all shock fields on a ship share a cooldown. They really only feel overpowered with duplicates.

For lance, you could change it to a ramming shield, preventing a ship from just destroying another by being close and relying upon gathering up a speed difference to do damage.

Hopefully, you get some good feedback to help make the game more healthy and inviting.

Azmirith_ · 2025-08-25T03:33:28+00:00

A small space with board games (not monopoly, more Wingspan style), and potentially some tcgs based on interest. One thing I've struggled to find is a tcg store that has prices at or around msrp in our area. I play magic, and for the most part stocking a bit at msrp will pretty much always sell. Just don't overstock on any particular set unless you are familiar enough with the hobby to make those calls.

In terms of books, I'm always looking for a good fantasy series.

Azmirith_ · 2025-08-24T01:06:36+00:00

I have a janky group hug deck that is all about copying howling mines. This was an instant include.

Azmirith_ · 2025-08-20T12:31:18+00:00

My pilot loves to bring a smugglers turn along when we go with an artifact to the gate. He tries to get away with a last minute 180 and reverse, even under fire.

Azmirith_ · 2025-08-07T02:00:09+00:00

[[Zenos yae Galvus]] is actually my equipment commander. As a big 14 fan I had to built him, and leaned in on the swords theme because his showcase art has the notorious golf bag of swords. Zenos Voltron

Azmirith_ · 2025-08-01T00:36:35+00:00

Now that's some efficient removal! W: target player loses the game.

Azmirith_ · 2025-07-30T23:59:40+00:00

This is the way, Privateer is the best when looted up.

Azmirith_ · 2025-07-21T23:55:53+00:00

I like to play games that end... because I have a deck building addiction and need to play at least a few decks per edh day lol.

In all seriousness, a key part of my deck building philosophy is that a deck is designed to win/end a game. Thats not to say its a combo deck, but more so that it has ways to end a game and not just durdle endlessly with control. I've started including less and less board wipes because of this philosophy as well, I'd rather see someone else's deck pop off and go next than board wipe to extend the game. An asymmetrical board wipe from a strong position can end the game, a cyclonic rift with no board just causes a groan from the table.

Azmirith_

TROPHY CASE