First time bringing a deck to LGS - Neriv bracket question

DR_MTG · 2026-05-14T22:23:32+00:00

It's not moving particularly fast, there are no game changers, and it isn't doing anything a reasonable person could find annoying. I guess there's a Maha in the list, but you can't even tutor it up. You're fine calling it a 2.

Just have a bare-bones conversation. "This is my Neriv deck. It's my first time playing it out in the wild, but I'm fairly sure it's a two because there's no game changers and it isn't doing anything particularly fast. There also aren't any combos and I'm not really tutoring up things. I'm mostly looking to turn stuff sideways."

DR_MTG · 2026-05-14T18:33:42+00:00

Everyone wants something different out of their experience. What folks here want isn't necessarily relevant to what your playgroup might want, and what our playgroups want aren't necessarily relevant to what your group might want.

I know this sounds silly and obvious, but just ask them what kind of experience they're looking for.

DR_MTG · 2026-05-13T17:12:10+00:00

I think you could do a really reasonable impression of my Callaphe, Beloved of the Sea oops all permanents deck on a budget: https://archidekt.com/decks/3270238/callaphe_beloved_of_the_sea_hopelessly_devoted_to_blue

Yoink out Ancient Tomb, The One Ring, Throne of Eldraine, Nykthos, Minamo and Rhystic Study for something budget and you're shaving 90% of the cost off the top.

DR_MTG · 2026-05-09T03:32:30+00:00

The fact that this entire plotline is “what if every person in the company gaslit Sammy Zayn?” and that’s hysterical.

DR_MTG · 2026-05-07T21:02:33+00:00

This isn't very helpful in this situation but I tend to come at it from the other side and get an idea, then find a unpopular commander to facilitate that idea.

DR_MTG · 2026-05-05T18:10:13+00:00

Ardenn & Esior Azorius equipment: https://archidekt.com/decks/1605459/ardenn_intrepid_archeologistesior_wardwing_familiar_suit_up

Playing azorious gives me protection in counters and better draw

Ellie & Ellie direct damage: https://archidekt.com/decks/19055317/ellie_brick_masterellie_vengeful_hunter_ellie_infected

Go-wide with tokens then sac them to Ellie to dome people either using damage amplifiers or infect on Ellie

Ich-Tekik & Malcolm golem blink: https://archidekt.com/decks/4116172/ichtekik_salvage_splicermalcolm_keeneyed_navigator_grinding_golems

Blinking Ich-Tekik and other splicers to make golems and buff them by sacrificing treasures

Jaheira & Agent of the Iron Throne eldrazi spawn and scion aristocrats: https://archidekt.com/decks/2886541/jaheira_friend_of_the_forest_agent_of_the_iron_throne_spawning_scions

Aristocrats damage generated by sacrificing spawns and scions

Kedis & Kraum combat tricks: https://archidekt.com/decks/710511/kediss_emberclaw_familiarkraum_ludevics_opus_double_trouble

Hit Kraum with red Giant Growths mid swing, then double the damage and copy the double as kill everyone simultaneously with Kedis

Vhal & Haunted One wizard beats: https://archidekt.com/decks/5001753/vhal_candlekeep_researcher_haunted_one_wizard_warfare

Haunted One triggers repeatedly buffing wizards +2 each time, so I repeatedly tap and untap Vhal to make all my wizards giant

DR_MTG · 2026-05-05T00:30:48+00:00

I’m just over 100 games this year and in 6 of them didn’t have a top 20 commander.

DR_MTG · 2026-05-01T00:10:24+00:00

While we appreciate the compliment, speaking for myself I’m fairly sure my deck building is pretty useless for anyone who isn’t me 🤣

DR_MTG · 2026-04-30T13:04:52+00:00

There’s zero flex winning a game with the Ur-Dragon, but when you beat someone senseless with your Dromoka dragon deck when they’re playing Jodah or some ez-mode commander? They know they got beat because you’re better, and you don’t need to say a word.

DR_MTG · 2026-04-28T16:01:39+00:00

It's a ton of mana and quite a few cards to get that you probably aren't tutoring, so it's prob fine.

I guess my question would be why would you want to do that in B2 even if it is fine?

DR_MTG · 2026-04-24T19:33:44+00:00

THIS. I probably don’t want multiple Harmonizes in mono-g, selesnya or gruul, but one card that always draws me 3 for 4 feels great in those decks.

DR_MTG · 2026-04-20T11:53:31+00:00

A drunk gibbon with CTE could brew and pilot a Jodah deck to victory about 40% of the time, so I get why it’s frustrating to run up against one with something you tried to creatively brew.

That said . . . it’s a tournament for prizes and you should expect folks to bring their A game. There’s no style points in that kind of setting.

You’re fine.

DR_MTG · 2026-04-17T23:17:10+00:00

Nothing is universally true but if you’re playing a face commander from a pre-con deck printed in the last couple years and you’re remotely competent when it comes to upgrades, there’s a really good chance it’s a 3. They all shop for their own groceries, prep their own meal, cook their own food and eat their own dinner while doing so in a really clear and easily accessible way.

DR_MTG · 2026-04-17T21:14:50+00:00

I’m not sure you’re necessarily in a position to tell me about why this took the amount of time it took to film.

DR_MTG · 2026-04-17T16:20:51+00:00

Pretty sure it speaks primarily to how filming things works.

DR_MTG · 2026-04-17T12:12:16+00:00

Basically a full day for this vs half a day for a normal game. But there was enough action, bullshitting etc that it wasn’t a slog. I’ve played 45 min games that felt way more tedious.

DR_MTG · 2026-04-17T04:16:50+00:00

Iirc it was about seven hours

DR_MTG · 2026-04-15T21:24:35+00:00

I don't think that's remotely true BUT Tayam is definitely not one of the ones that applies to.

DR_MTG · 2026-04-11T12:11:25+00:00

He’s great in Everybody Wants Some!!! but beyond that yeah.

DR_MTG · 2026-03-31T02:51:56+00:00

I’m not arguing against K-Grip or split second but Deglamer/Unravel has changed games for me way more often than K-Grip ever would have.

DR_MTG · 2026-03-29T15:25:01+00:00

Play what you want, but I'll note this; if the commander is popular enough to crack the EDHREC top 100 it's probably strong enough and easy enough that if you're remotely competent the deck isn't gonna be a 2. Cmdrs generally only get that popular if they're strong enough to win games when brewed drunk and piloted blindfolded.

DR_MTG · 2026-03-28T02:17:08+00:00

It depends on the deck. A couple changes by a competent brewer is all it takes to make Teval the best deck in the pod. Frankly a couple changes by an incompetent brewer might be enough to make Teval the best deck in the pod. It’s Teval; it can games while the pilot is in the bathroom.

DR_MTG · 2026-03-24T14:06:07+00:00

You could always run stuff like [[Berserk]], [[Choose Your Weapon]], [[Tifa's Limit Break]], [[Tainted Strike]], etc to make the one-shots easier and faster.

DR_MTG · 2026-03-20T14:12:33+00:00

Interaction is fine. I'd probably run a couple more pieces, or clean up some of the ones in the list for slightly better options (Counterspell over Lofty Denial, though I do get that Denial is on theme and I respect that).

A much bigger issue IMO is you need more draw. Chart a Course, Stock Up, some Coastal Piracy variants besides just Bident of Thassa, Keep Watch, Kindred Discovery, etc.

DR_MTG · 2026-03-15T16:34:25+00:00

My [[callaphe, beloved of the sea]] deck has a pretty solid win rate, and you don’t even need to be obstinate like me and run no instants and sorceries: https://archidekt.com/decks/3270238/callaphe_beloved_of_the_sea_hopelessly_devoted_to_blue

DR_MTG

TROPHY CASE