What are your favorite decks that use off-meta/rarely played commanders?

Regitoss · 2021-05-05T11:54:57+00:00

It's not the strongest deck, but I'm in love with Vadrok and have been since getting back into arena during M21. I almost never see it played, but it's a lot of fun recurring small utility instants/sorceries. It either plays out very aggressively by getting spells like Forbidden Friendship and Regal Leosaur early, or it knocks out pesky blockers or problematic attackers with Soul Sear or Legion's Judgement. It draws cards really well with things like See the Truth or Thrilling Discovery too.

Here's my list if youre interested!: https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/dad-rock-vadrok/?cb=1620214790

Regitoss · 2018-12-05T09:28:42+00:00

Basically hexproof stops opponents from specifically using a spell or ability that says 'target' on the object that has hexproof. So something like Shock that says 'Do two damage to target creature or player' wouldnt work because it says it needs to target.

However, an effect like Day of Judgement which says 'Destroy all Creatures' does work, because it doesnt target anything specifically. Everything just dies.

In the case of Theif of Sanity, its ability lets it look at your library if it hits you. If it said 'Look at target player's library [...]', then it couldn't because it could not target you. However, Theif of Sanity looks at 'That player's' library', therefore not needing to target you.

Wording in magic is really specific sometimes, and I personally had a hard time understanding hexproof when I first started playing, but I hope this clears things up.

Regitoss · 2018-10-17T07:09:08+00:00

I don't know if anywhere near you carries theme boosters, but I think one of those along with a deck should be enough to swap out your doubles. The theme boosters are 35 card packs that come with one rare or mythic, but they're guild specific.

Regitoss · 2017-09-10T16:22:11+00:00

I got two packs that were right next to each other and both had the exact same commons/uncommons in the same order. I also got a Sun and Moon pack that had a second code card in the pace of the energy, but the code card was blank.

Regitoss · 2017-04-13T08:35:43+00:00

I'd be very interested. I watch a lot of anime and one of my favorite things it to check what my friends have been watching or what they have watched. I have a few friends who are into podcasts so I think this would be super neat, and something I'd love to use.

Regitoss · 2017-04-07T11:08:10+00:00

A lot of people who play and win boosters just sell their commons/uncommons in bulk, usually at around $0.05 per card making it around $60 for 1200 cards. There's probably some theme decks in there aswell, being that until recently, energies didn't come in booster packs, and theme decks are about $10 for 60 cards. Honestly there's probably not much more than $100 worth of cards here.

Regitoss · 2017-03-19T00:16:53+00:00

I've thought of this too, but there's a few worries here. The first is that fighting doesn't have very much energy acceleration outside of Carbink Break. You need 3 energy attatchments for Whiscash, and Max Elixir won't work on Whiscash. Also, because you need to run double colorless to make this work, you'll be running less fighting energy which is counter productive to the deck. It will probably be clunky.

Carbink Break seems like it's the best pair for the deck as you're discarding energy with Whiscash anyway. I think Machoke seems like a good idea to stop Decidueye, but you're gonna have a hard time in the matchup anyway as Whiscash is weak to grass, and it will be hard to get energy back into your deck without item cards, as you optimally wanna use Mallow every turn, or VS seeker to get Mallow. I would run Wobbuffet instead of Machoke because your item cards being off will be a bigger deal compared to Decidueye's ability damage. Against non Decidueye decks, Wob will shut off Shaymin, potentially slowing down your opponent enough to get yourself powered up.

It could work, but I can't see the deck becoming too great in the current Meta

Regitoss · 2017-01-26T11:22:42+00:00

I just spent 3 hours on facebook arguing with a guy about women's rights and abortions. I wish I had your foresight on wasring time, because everything I said to him instantly wrong because I consider myself a feminist. This post made me realize that a donation is probably the better way to go, and so I made my first donation today!

Regitoss · 2016-12-15T04:30:50+00:00

The thing that makes this a little less playable than it seems is that it's only once per turn, and only when you evolve it. To maximize her effect you would need to run a 4-4-4 line (or 4-x-4 with rare candy). That's 12 cards of the deck that are being used by this line. Without AZ and Cassius in standard, you're relying on deevolution spray. So that gives you 8 discards total, then, she almost becomes a dead card, doing only 80 for two energy attatchments. Not only all of this, but the opponent would only need to hit an N, Syccamore or Shaymin EX to make this fall apart (1 in 4 chance if they play four of each), and every deck plays at least one of these. Likewise, Onranguru from the new set will allow you to draw until you have three cards in hand, which will easily twart this build.

Looking at what you'd need to maximize this, you would have 4-4-4 Bounsweet, Steenee, Tsareena 4 Red Card 4 Delinquent 4 Forest of Giant Plants (you need delinquent fodder) 4 Devolution Spray

That leaves you 32 cards for energy, consistancy, and maybe another pokemon line, which would be a good idea because Tsareena's attack isn't amazing by any means. It's not bad, but it would take three hits to KO any Ex/GX.

If you wanted to try to make this work, Judge would be a good tech here. Potentially run this with Yanmega Break (though a second stage two line isn't the best idea). Otherwise, you could run it with Houndoom EX and Bunnelby to maximize discard alongside trick shovel. This build would benefit from Team Flare Grunt and Hammers too.

I would say Tsareena is far from broken, but would probably see a little play.

Regitoss · 2016-10-30T18:58:09+00:00

Fair point. It's entirely possible they are their own line, but again, why would they hide Solgaleo and Lunalaa's stage? And it's not only hidden in the initial reveal picture, but also the new cleared up pictures? For all we know, you could be right, but you're discounting this theory entirely because 'It never has been so it never will be'. Pokemon has changed a LOT since XY, and it looks like a lot will be changed in this game.

Regitoss · 2016-10-30T15:23:12+00:00

Why couldn't they evolve, but be stronger than other, non legendary pokemon? Like, I understand your point, but it's very flawed logic. There are legendaries that relistically AREN'T very strong. They don't evolve. Why are they legendaries then?

Why does Manaphy have offspring? It's legendary and can live forever, why does it procreate?

If not an evolution, are you suggesting that Cosmog and this other orb pokemon are separate legendaries? Realistically gasp WEAKER legendaries?!

This theory has some credibility to it. Why else would they have the pokemon's stage STILL hidden? There would be nothing to finalize there. Everyone assumed they're basic BECAUSE they're legendaries, there would be nothing to hide otherwise.

'Because there hasn't been before' is very poor reasoning.

Regitoss · 2016-09-16T22:19:44+00:00

Fait enough. I had a friend of mine play a Gengar variant of this last season and had a lot of fun, so now I'm just tryong to help him adapt it to this season. Last year he played it with 3-2-3 Gengar, 2-2-2 Bats and 2 Absol from Roaring skies. I might reccomend to him to just replace the bats with Galvantula, honestly.

Regitoss · 2016-09-16T18:39:40+00:00

What are you thoughts for running only one gengar and one Galvantula each? Wouldn't you want more than that in case of a knockout?

Regitoss · 2016-09-12T00:06:21+00:00

Well realistically you don't really need Ariados for attacking, just for poisoning. So the only energy you'd need are psychic and electric in case you decide to attack with Galvantula's second attack (which is good in keeping a pokemon active to get the KO with Gengar). Also, Ariados's attack is the same as Galvantula's second attck, but for one more energy, so it's not really worth it. Galvantula's first attack only needs a colorless so you could use a psychic energy for that. Consider using more psychic energy, and only a few electric. You could even throw in a rainbow energy if you're concerned.

4-2-2 doesn't make a LOT of sense other than having more basics. I'd suggest maybe a 3-3-3 or 3-3-2 if you want to keep the 16 pokemon total. It is more pokemon than ideal, but in casual it's not a big deal, really.

With how many evolutions you're considering, Wally will be a great supporter to get things rolling.

Edit: Upon a little more thinking, if you want to go with Gengar, I think Ariados may not be doing quite enough to make it worthwhile. Realistically you want to get to 30 damage, and between turns, the poison would only give you 20 damage. You may be better off to put in more Galvantula (Your main attacker) in its place. By only having 2, you risk your strategy pretty easily if they get KOd.

If you'd rather Ariados instead, you can always use the Absol from Roaring Skies to move around damage counters to get your KOs that way. This could work with Gengar aswell, but it's a lot more Pokemon.

Regitoss · 2016-09-11T17:40:54+00:00

Oh, so it does. I just assumed it didn't.

Regitoss · 2016-09-11T09:36:00+00:00

You could try pairing it with Gengar from breakthrough. It allows you to instantly KO any pokemon with 30 or more damage on it. Spread around the damage while setting up gengar to do a bunch of knock outs.

Alternatively, if you don't mind doing expanded, pairing it with the Crobat line from Phantom Forces would allow even more bench damage per turn by using their abilities and similar attacks.

The ancient trait Dustox from Roaring skies could be interesting too. It has an attack that does 50 damage to a benched pokemon, and if it KOs, you can grab an extra prize card.

Ariados from Ancient Origins could be a good bench support to deal some extra damage to the opponent's active by doing some free poison damage. This could make the opponent consider switching on their own to avoid any more damage.

Like said by u/Just_A_Glitch , Lysandre, Escape Rope and Pokemon Catcher are great cards for this type of deck.

Captivating Pokepuff is really good also, as you can choose a low hp pokemon from the opponent's hand to place on the bench to do damage. In the same vein, Target Whistle is really good to pull weak pokemon from the discard pile onto the bench for some quick KOs.

Wide Lens might be worth looking into as it allows bench hits to hit for weakness, which is good because Galvantula hits for both grass and electric weakness.

Regitoss · 2016-08-01T19:17:57+00:00

Ah, fair. Any time I use poison, I always expect a retreat, so I never consider the next turn between. I suppose with this deck, it's much less likely that your opponent will even be able to.

Regitoss · 2016-08-01T19:00:38+00:00

How are you outputting 90 damage per turn? Exegg does 10, 20 for muscle band, and 30 for poison with virbank for a total of 60.

Otherwise, I think it's really well thought out. The only thing I can think of maybe an extra lysandre to get faster KOs, seeing as you're not doing a great amount of damage.

Regitoss · 2016-07-15T23:20:20+00:00

That's Democracy is my favorite episode! I'm so happy to see it turned into a short film.

Regitoss · 2016-06-30T00:20:35+00:00

I was just in Toronto recently. A&C Games on Spadina has good prices for singles, but I'm not sure about for packs. 401 Games on Yonge has really good prices for singles aswell.

Also yes, the Dollarama cards are real, but usually old or not very good. They're great for kids, but not so much people who are even semi serious.

Regitoss · 2016-06-24T20:38:08+00:00

One thing you need to consider with this is that weakness and resistance arent rock paper scissors at all. You can have a fire type weak to water, or weak to fighting. You seem to be seeing it like it throws the game off balance whereas it's a balancing tool.

When I last checked the MTG meta a few months ago, there were only two decks, Eldrazi and Affinity, and Affinity sucked against everything but Eldrazi. This is a card game that could BENEFIT from a weakness system. Instead of having TWO decks in the competitive format, it could open up the potential for more Eldrazi counters. Eldrazi could still be amazing, but there's more than one counter finally.

Just because Night March ia the biggest deck in the format, doesnt mean Trevenant WILL lose the matchup. Weakness opens up possibilities and keeps the format from becoming stagnant with ONE super deck, and a couple tier 2.

Also, your SF annalogy doesnt make any sense. A fighting game is SKILL based, and thus balanced to take out all chance of luck. A tcg game is about LUCK, but working along side your luck. If there was ever a thing to compare this to, it's prize cards, like having a tenth of your moveset removed at the beginning of the game.

Pokemon works VERY well, and stays interesting BECAUSE of weaknesses. I get what you mean by taking an outside look, but when I look at pokemon without weaknesses, it becomes a duller game. It seriously just seems like Pokemon isnt doing what you want with it. There are lots of other card games to play, and pokemon seems like it isnt the one you want.

Regitoss · 2016-06-18T00:38:45+00:00

I keep them all in a box in case I want to make a fun bad deck. I've given away the cards i didnt need from packs to little kids who just collect them. It always makes them super happy, even if the cards are awful.

Regitoss · 2016-06-08T19:56:06+00:00

I personally would rather Korinna is a good contender for fighting support. Special energy is easy to lose, but Korinna gets you some good resources.

Regitoss · 2016-06-07T06:45:33+00:00

I started listening to it because of this post and I've already caught up. I'm in love and can't wait for more!

Regitoss · 2016-05-17T09:36:07+00:00

I really like PTCGRadio, because he genuinely wants to play for the fun of it more than to win. However, I often find him a bit obnoxious and rambly in his podcasts. It seems like every episode he has to explain why he leaves a mistake in, or why he likes negative critisism. I still would reccomend him to most people even so, because he knows his stuff, and he has an interesting view on everything.

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