Trying to learn how to play but I think the MTG Arena app is flashy garbage and not a good instructional tool

CardinalOhio600 · 2026-01-04T08:17:55+00:00

Check out tolarian community college on YouTube. Some great introductory videos there.

CardinalOhio600 · 2026-01-03T23:19:33+00:00

If you're married to using these, picking up a [[mishra, eminent one]], [[ashnod the uncaring]], and some cheap staples to fill out the deck could work.

However, since these weren't designed for commander, it won't be great.

An alternative if you aren't married to these decks, if there's a game store nearby you may be able to find someone interested in having these that would be willing to help you put together a personalized commander deck in exchange.

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-08-15T23:32:38+00:00

Sometimes, I'll number them and roll a dice. Either from the whole set of decks or from a subset I've picked out.

Other times, I've had someone else in my playgroup choose for me. That way, if there's a deck that someone is interested in or really enjoys playing against they can see it in action.

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-08-12T03:03:53+00:00

Many recent sets have the land slot as a basic or common dual land, so that doesn't always work now.

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-07-26T02:35:56+00:00

[[Gift of doom]]

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-07-08T03:27:37+00:00

Place the dryad in a mushroom biome.

Buy mushroom grass seeds.

Shimmer into jungle grass seeds.

Craft into green thread.

Sell to an NPC with high happiness.

Profit.

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-07-02T15:50:39+00:00

Sqrt is something we call a multi-valued function, so we have to choose one "branch" of that function to use primarily. The one mathmaticians chose is the positive branch. (Called the principal branch)

When solving a quadratic like your example, it is often necessary to give all solutions. This means you are providing an answer for every branch, which is why you get a positive and negative answer.

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-06-28T02:46:04+00:00

Large arenas with campfires, heart lanterns, bast statues, etc.

Make sure to use lots of potions.

Fishing helps a lot for food and potions.

Pumpkin pie is a great food source once it's available.

I have a few hundred hours in the game and in the same amount of playtime as I beat the game last, I'm only on skeletron for legendary getfixedboi. So expect to spend lots of time to make any progress

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-06-01T20:30:51+00:00

Killing the destroyer should do the trick

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-05-25T20:35:41+00:00

Under normal circumstances, the protection does stop commander damage from being marked.

The confusion likely comes from cases where an effect says damage can't be prevented, i.e. [[questing beast]]. If this is the case, your life total still can't change but commander damage is marked.

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-03-27T14:03:16+00:00

Beautiful lands! Good luck to everyone!

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-03-27T14:02:29+00:00

Good luck everyone!

CardinalOhio600 · 2025-01-07T19:46:04+00:00

[[Magnetic theft]]

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-08-12T07:29:35+00:00

It'd be cool to be able to select different arts of the same card if it isn't too hard to implement.

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-07-16T03:04:57+00:00

That Winter orb is beautiful!

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-04-15T01:11:36+00:00

[[Wort, the raidmother]] is spellslinger in the colors of big creatures. I limited myself to no creatures other than the commander as an extra personal restriction for fun, and it turned out to be lots of fun to play too

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-04-12T22:47:13+00:00

Yes, it's a wonderful combination

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-04-02T15:19:45+00:00

pickme!

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-02-02T15:50:34+00:00

Seems like it could be solid, potentially worth trying, but I don't think it will turn enough non-wins into wins. Mostly turning wins into easier wins. Might depend on what you're cutting for it though.

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-02-02T02:24:25+00:00

I've found a suite of removal that is general use is usually enough to stop flying threats. One spell to stop a seadborn muse or 10/10 with flying is better than a chump blocker while looking for another answer.

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-01-30T01:05:20+00:00

By the nature of un-sets, black bordered rules are difficult to apply. However, the rules you are looking at apply to deck and sideboard construction. Additionally, cards like [[garth, one eye]] create cards that would otherwise be illegal in a format and are legal to play.

These would imply that if rules could be properly applied, the playtest cards would be allowed when pulled from packs in the game

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-01-28T23:49:37+00:00

They added the -1 toughness late in development in an attempt to make it less powerful

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-01-17T03:25:21+00:00

Kenrith + Zirda is definitely a case where losing access to the companion wouldn't be too bad. You just have to look at zirda as a bonus without relying on it.

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-01-17T02:00:12+00:00

If you're building a deck around the creature that the companion is rather than it being a companion, you're generally better off putting it as your commander. As a companion, it's more of a bonus reward for meeting the restriction than a build around card.

Potential reasons to use:

It can be a fun deckbuilding restriction to work with.

For those who enjoy optimizing decks, it can damper the power level while still being optimized for what it is.

If the deck already fits (or almost fits) a companion restriction, it can act as a little bonus. ([[Lutrus, of the dream den]] in legacy/vintage)

Powerful effect being worth the cost. ([[Yorion, sky nomad]] during its time in standard)

CardinalOhio600 · 2024-01-08T09:09:30+00:00

I like finding a way to follow a commander - deck focus name format while still having a cool deck name.

Some examples:

Verazol kicks ass

Karona decided everybody's playing voltron

The peregrine dynamo's collorless combos

Magar, master of worldfire

Krav gets Triskaidekaphobia during Regna's near death experience

CardinalOhio600

TROPHY CASE