Building Around the Table: How to Make Your Deck More Fun for Everyone

Commander (EDH) is often described as the “kitchen table” format, not just because it’s casual, but because it’s communal. A good Commander game isn’t just about winning, it’s about storytelling, interaction, tension, and memorable moments. In this article, we’ll explore how to build decks that are fun to play with, not just to play.

Rethinking “Power” — It’s Not All About Winning

Too often, players optimise their decks for speed and power, but forget that they’re playing in a shared experience. A deck that wins on turn 4 with a combo isn’t just efficient; it can deny others a game. While powerful decks have a place, they’re not always a fit for every table.

How to Balance it:

• Aim for power parity. Tune your deck to your group, not just your best draws.
• Replace "must-answer or lose" cards with incremental threats. Think Grave Titan over Craterhoof Behemoth.
• Choose commanders that encourage long-term strategies rather than fast wins (e.g., Tatyova vs. Najeela combo).

Example Fun Commanders:

• Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer – explosive and unpredictable
• Marneus Calgar – powerful, but plays a fair token strategy
• Syr Konrad, the Grim – strong, interactive, and slow-burning

Add Political and Interactive Cards

The best Commander games include negotiation, shifting alliances, and subtle backstabbing. Politics isn’t just flavor, it’s fuel for engaging gameplay. Some cards make players talk, debate, or even temporarily ally.

Must-Try Cards for Table Dynamics:

• Humble Defector – Draw cards, then give it to someone.
• Tempt with Discovery – Forces each player to weigh personal gain against group benefit.
• Edric, Spymaster of Trest – Encourages players to attack each other.
• Spectacular Showdown – Distributes double strike, causing unexpected eliminations.

These cards create “mini-conflicts” within the game, moments where you aren’t the threat, but you’re definitely the spark.

Include “Mini-Games” or Unusual Win Conditions

It’s any card or mechanic that introduces a secondary goal or tension beyond just reducing life totals. It encourages specific plays, adds complexity, or introduces “clock” pressure without hard-locking the board.

• Maze’s End – Assemble 10 gates for the win. Slow, but it builds a subgame.
• Simic Ascendancy – Encourages spreading counters and protecting the board.
• Azor’s Elocutors – Ticking time bomb if you can protect them.
• Dead Man’s Chest – Attach it to an opponent’s creature for secret future value.

These cards are fantastic because they demand group response, offer delayed gratification, and often cause “panic plays.”

Why They're Fun:

• People remember them.
• They create pivot moments and funny misplays.
• They often let people engage with your board in ways other than removal.

Cards to Avoid If You Want Everyone to Have Fun

Some cards don't just win, they invalidate play. They create oppression, hopelessness, or helplessness, which makes players disengage. A strong deck should make people want to try harder, not scoop early.

🚫 Common Fun-Killers:

• Armageddon – Removing all lands ends the game for some, but not all.
• Winter Orb / Static Orb – Brutal unless your group loves stax.
• Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger – Soft-locks everyone else.
• Tergrid, God of Fright – Steals every sac’d or discarded piece.
• Hullbreacher / Opposition Agent – Punishes normal game actions.

✅ Better Alternatives:

• Ghostly Prison – Defensive, but still allows play.
  
• Archfield of Depravity – Limits board size without wiping it.
  
• Generous Gift – Clean answer, gives a creature back.
  
• Farewell – Board wipe with choices.
  

Embrace Group-Based Archetypes

These are strategies that naturally create shared experiences at the table. They often benefit others, encourage interaction, or rely on the actions of other players to function optimally.

Popular Group Archetypes:

• Group Hug - Use cards like Howling Mine, Rites of Flourishing, and Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis to speed up the game and support others — until you win with mill, alternate wincons, or surprise combos.
  
• Pillowfort Politics - Use Ghostly Prison, Sphere of Safety, and deterrents like Silent Arbiter to deflect aggression and force negotiation.
  
• Chaos - Cards like Warp World, Possibility Storm, or Thieves’ Auction keep games dynamic and hilarious.
  
• Damage Races - Neheb, the Eternal or Vial Smasher the Fierce can speed up games but leave everyone laughing if built with care.
  

Final Thoughts: Winning the Table vs. Winning the Game

Building fun decks is more than generosity, it’s a skill. Anyone can optimise for a turn 4 win. But making people want to play with you again? That’s a flex.

Build decks that:

• Tell a story
• Spark conversation
• Reward clever play
• Encourage a great time — win or lose

Whether you’re gifting cards with Kwain, stealing creatures with Bribery, or winning slowly with Simic Ascendancy, you’re doing more than playing Magic — you’re building the night.