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- The Weekly Draw - Goated Decks, Weird House Rules, and $30 Glory
The Weekly Draw - Goated Decks, Weird House Rules, and $30 Glory
Vadrik mana storms, sneaky Dimir reanimation, and group hug win-cons—plus the tools to build your next sleeper hit.
Mark L
May 05, 2025
Welcome back!
This week felt like a perfect reminder of why Commander stays fresh — a mix of overlooked cards, offbeat strategies, and just enough chaos to keep us guessing. Between brewing around reanimation tricks and digging into bracket debates, there’s plenty to explore.
In this issue: off-meta commanders, budget gems, and news you might’ve missed.
Grab a coffee and jump in!
Commander Corner
Breaking the Meta with Vadrik
The Commander's Quarters showcases how Vadrik, Astral Archmage can generate absurd mana advantages through cost reduction. With the right setup, high-cost spells become cheap, and turn-five blowouts become the norm. A strong off-meta pick for spell-slingers. LINK
Start With Pet Cards, Find Your Commander Later
3/3 Elk flips the traditional brew order by starting with favorite cards first, then choosing the commander. This approach led to a synergy build around Emrakul and Vadrok that breaks the mold of “commander-first” construction. LINK
Illicit Masquerade's Sneaky Reanimation
EDHRECast breaks down how Illicit Masquerade reanimates multiple creatures in a single trigger cycle — without exiling your entire graveyard. A lesser-known interaction that opens up combo and value lines in Dimir builds. LINK
Underrated Equipment That Wins Games
Unpopular MTG highlights overlooked equipment like Neurok Stealthsuit and Trepanation Blade — cards that boost power, protect key threats, or mill double-digits in the right deck. A strong lineup for budget or Voltron players. LINK
Massacre Girl: The Board Wipe That Keeps on Giving
The Commander's Quarters dives into how Massacre Girl turns token-heavy tables into cascading board wipes. Paired with cards like Genesis Chamber or instant-speed creature makers, she consistently clears the board and leaves your threats untouched. LINK
Group Hug: More Than Just Friendly Fire
Reminder Text explains how a group hug deck went from casual chaos to a deceptive win engine. Cards like Dictate of Kruphix and Howling Mine start friendly — until the politics and payoff flip the game. LINK
Deck first or commander first?How do you usually build your decks |
Community Highlights
30 Commander Decks Under $30
u/SpiketailDrake shares 30 Commander decks, each under $30, proving that budget doesn't mean boring. These lists include creative builds that punch well above their price point. Great for new players or brewing on a budget. LINK
Reminder Text highlights how avoiding staples can unlock surprising synergies and more interactive gameplay. Sometimes the constraints of a tight budget force more creativity than high-powered builds. LINK
A Reddit thread compiles underrated card-commander combos that show up in less than 2% of EDHREC lists. Standouts include Anhelo, the Painter with Tragic Slip for massive removal at one mana. LINK
Underplayed Cards That Deserve More Love
This Reddit roundup highlights cards like Mimic Vat and Wight of the Reliquary — strong value engines that don’t see nearly enough play. A goldmine for players looking to go off-meta without sacrificing power. LINK
How to Beat Green Ramp Decks
The Trinket Mage explores how to manage ramp-heavy green decks without resorting to mass land destruction. Through politics and threat awareness, you can balance the game without ruining the fun. LINK
This Week in Magic
Braids, Cabal Minion Unbanned
The Command Zone covers the surprise unbanning of Braids, Cabal Minion. Once banned for stax potential, Braids is now free to brew with new tools that support both control and aristocrats-style builds. LINK
The Bracket System Debate Continues
Community conversation continues around the evolving Commander bracket system. Some love the structure, others parody it, but most agree it’s helped clarify power level discussions at LGS tables. LINK
Goating: The Planeswalker Protection Racket
EDHRECast highlights how goad effects like Disrupt Decorum can protect planeswalkers by redirecting combat. An underrated tactic for keeping Superfriends alive long enough to ultimate. LINK
Top 10 Tarkir Cards to Buy
Commander Crane flags Maelstrom of the Spirit Dragon and nine other singles released in Tarkir: Dragonstorm as hot picks that you’ll want to scoop up if you can. LINK
Sideboard
Strangest House Rules in Commander
From giving Henzie reach to rolling a natural 20 for 41 life, this Reddit thread showcases the weirdest house rules players have used. Worth a read if you like your Commander with a little chaos. LINK
Judge Tower: The Format That Breaks Brains
Judge Tower is a puzzle-like format designed to test your rules knowledge. Every misplay is a penalty. It’s bizarre, brutal, and surprisingly fun — if your group loves weird formats. LINK
Wrapping Up
That’s it for this week’s draw! Whether you’re refining your bracket-3 special or chasing a new deck idea from a Reddit rabbit hole, I hope something here sparks your next build.
If you enjoyed this issue, consider forwarding it to your playgroup’s arch-nemesis.
Got a cool list, brew, or thought piece you want shared? Just hit reply. I’d love to feature more community spotlights in future issues.
— Mark
EDHMatch & The Weekly Draw
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