Edgar Markov: The worst 'best' commander?
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- čas přidán 20. 04. 2022
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#MTG #EDH - Hry
![Who is Edgar Markov? [MTG Lore]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oiOFN9uyupI/mqdefault.jpg)
Jarvis take Edgar Markov and search for the 70 most played vampires on EDHREC and add them to my shopping cart and then order
Seriously though, I definitely agree here about creativity-stifling commanders, unfortunately Edgar Markov is really just the tip of the iceberg. A lot of the ‘EDHREC top 100 commanders’ tend to be the best-in-category choice for strategies: Atraxa Planeswalkers, Korvold Sacrifice and Arcades Walls instantly come to mind. The same issue is also there for other tribes - I noticed how you didn't mention Goblins or Ninjas when discussing tribes with multiple viable commanders, for example. This, of course, barely even touches upon the quantity of ‘staple’ cards in the format…
This is basically the main reason that I make the effort, at risk of sounding like a hipster, to steer clear of popular commanders (as well as some of the staple cards), because it just isn’t fun for me to play with, and against, what are essentially solved decks. Fortunately most in my playgroup are much the same.
despite how I really like korvold as a commander, I understand that some people see it as too good. I think that one comparable option for sacrifice jund decks are the combination of
Tana, the Bloodsower and three black partners: Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools; Sengir, the Dark Baron or Keskit, the Flesh Sculptor
Im building an edgar deck and I love everything about it. Art, mardu colours, abilities. Edgar is the card that got me interested in edh
Me too rn!
The real travesty was that the Innistrad vampire precon WASN'T Mardu.
Hot take: If Strefan had been Mardu, it would have IMMEDIATELY broken the death grip Edgar has on vampire by providing a powerful, but fair alternative while simultaneously making Strefan much more viable.
The criticism I have against Edgar isn't that it's overpowered or broken, it's that every vampire legend now has to answer the question "But why not Edgar instead?" From their own podcast, the creators of C17 basically admitted that eminence was a really troubling ability (citation below) granting uninteractable value, but for cats and dragons was balanced as a way to shore up too-expensive or subpar tribes. Vampires and Wizards didn't have that issue.
Stefan had a really cool ability that incentivizes bigger vampires whereas Edgar rewards small hordes for tons of eminence procs. If Strefan had white as well, it would instantly include all the Orzhov (That's Silverquill for you younguns') vampires while also crucially giving him access to the all-important extort mechanic and other Orzhov drain mechanics. This would allow you to play a more conservative game and more reliably generate blood to sneak out vampires on combat. This mistake is highlighted even more by the presence of comp-white vampires in that Innistrad set.
While I understand WHY Innistrad vampires were kept Rakdos for the commander deck, I really feel like this was a missed opportunity to solve the Edgar problem.
Source: czcams.com/video/4FZXkZKUTfw/video.html
I’ve been playing Magic for a while, but VERY casually. I’ve been playing Red since I first learned, but when I wanted to get into Commander and play a lot more, I picked up the Strefan deck.
Right now I’m switching over to Markov, so I’ll be able to say more when the card actually gets here, but from what I see of the Red/White/Black Vampires… your right, Strefan would be SO much better if he was a (1)Red/Black/White. So many good White/Black Vamps, and a lot of them work with his Blood Mechanic.
Unfortunately, if I wanna step up my game and play with the big boys in my game club, I’ve been having to upgrade to Edgar. However, in the CURRENT meta, he’s really not THAT game breaking. He’s atleast better then Shrine in my opinion-
Hey Goreclaw is a legendary bear sir
Yes, one that doesn't work with bears. At all.
Goreclaw is good in the 99 of bears tribe
I like that Edgar Markov is just screaming BUILD ME THIS WAY. I often get analysis paralysis when it comes to commander since there’s just so many cards. Sometimes when that’s there I just look at Edgar Markov and be glad that at least it’s simple to build
I've just discovered your channel today, and you just got a new subscriber! Keep the good work buddy!
As a janky player in a playgroup with fellow jank chasers, I'm afraid I can't relate to this.
It's really up to the individual and group culture to willingly power down.
I made it clear to my friends to not turn our decks into an arms race.
I have a Tuvasa merfolk tribal that focuses on token cloning my creatures and populating them.
My Syr Gwyn is filled only with lady knights (pun intended) and use equipments that only knights would use (swords, armors, shields). I also try to not equip more than what's flavorfully reasonable, so no cases of a single knight holding 5 swords.
But yeah, the option to use the strongest possible option does prevent people from playing the underdogs.
KNIGHTS!!!!!!!!
@@user-ko8pu5wu4l Girls Knight Out~
Great video, I like that it is just a nice well spoken opinion piece, and although it has been said before, it is still bice to see, I have a vampire tribal, but didn't want to fork up for the old man, so I went with the black red white partners from Ikoria, because I had them. Good for sac.
Best line: "He costs six mana, but that may as well be flavor text".
" ayula is the only legendary bear"
Goreclaw: am I a joke to you
Goreclow literally doesn't work with bears though
@@MatthewCJoy but was in fact a bear commander just like how we have multiple rhino commanders but none that care about rhinos
I love Edgar Markov. 😊
I love tribal decks. My favorite happens to be Gishath, Sun's Avatar for Dinosaurs.
As a struggling commander deck builder. Can’t agree more. I wanted to build a certain kind of Mardu deck for years. But couldn’t compete because Vampires were too strong.
Lol what? There is plenty of mardu decks stronger than vampires. How does Edgar prevent you from making a mardu deck when your mardu deck isn't even vampire tribal?
Honestly I feel like a huge issue with edgar is that he's just good with any vampires where say the other mardu vampire legends are taken in totally different directions with licia being life gain and mathas being its own thing. And if the newest edgar was actually mardu his usage would probably be fairly higher than the other 2 precon mardu vampires.
That said though Evelynn the Covetous is really good tribal commander with 3 colors and actually cares about the tribe as well with its own spin, while doubtful she will ever manage to surpass edgar in usage I'd expect her to be pretty high up there because her ability to draw 4 cards every vampire cast is pretty insane (and the ability to bank instant speed interaction as your exile casts once a turn is pretty scary)
[Insert relevant comment here.]
Mmm Edgar make my neurons go brrrr
Ther other bears ruxa who is great if your bears have no abilities
While I agree that Edgar does beat out other options for Vampire Tribal Commanders, having had this commander for years, sometimes it is just fun to turn off your brain and “Vampire deck go: bbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr”. Not all the time, as it is a repetitive play pattern, but to have a little change from what I normally play, that being grindy, midrange Commanders like Nekusar, Koma or The Scarab God, Edgar fits the bill.
Good thing now Ruxa exist for my tribal vanilla bear
And its a crime how a 2 2/2 vanilla Forest Bear cost like 30$
I don't disagree with you, in fact quite the opposite and you also presented your point in a very eloquent way. However, pretty much everyone agrees that eminence was a mistake and making a video pointing out edgar is bad isn't very constructive. Especially since edgar markov is about 5 years old at this point. That's about the difference of scars of mirrodin and battle for zendikar. A video that would be more constructive and that I would genuinely be interested in you making, is a sort of "How to fix eminence" type vid that includes things like using eminence as a downside or giving it to tribes with 0 current commanders like kavu.
A bit of a side note also, Edgar Markov was for his time the only realistic "closer to 60 card format style aggro" aggro commander. We've got a few more since them but for his time if you wanted to smash face with a bunch of dudes and didn't want to just lose to a board wipe then Edgar was the only real option.
Being constructive would have certainly been a better use of my time, maybe could even generate some positive discourse or get the ball rolling for community input aimed at WotC.
But I _wanted to whine_
@@dickkickem4238 bruh, this hit my soul HARD! Creature Aggro has been AWFUL in EDH forever. I picked up Edgar when he came out BECAUSE he made Aggro almost playable. Even after making upgrades to the deck, I still have to position myself well to beat sweepers.
Ya plus Gavin literally said Eminence was the worst commander design they've ever made and Edgar specifically as the worst card they ever made for commander.
Edgar is in the same class of cards as Cyclonic Rift, and Sol Ring. Everyone knows they need to be banned, but nobody really wants them to be banned, either.
Why does cyclonic rift need a ban?
@@MatthewCJoy Cycrift I can understand, Sol Ring I really cannot lol
I disagree.
I won a lot of games with licia aka roman vampure cause my vampire were legendary with lifelink
Don't worry I'm sure as soon as someone on the rules committee loses to it they'll suddenly decide it's "unhealthy" for the game. The moment they don't make a decision based on their own bias I'll be shocked. I do agree that he does stifle creativity when you are building a vampire deck you're trying to legitimately run. Though I did have a bit of fun with the latest set by adding the different cards related to the wedding. Including wedding ring. I did try to make a mono black vampire deck that actually was a lot more fun to use in the group I play with since it was not really as powerful as Edgar Markov. I definitely think the Eminence ability is a bit too overpowered especially when I'm more or less have to purposely make the card part of the 99 just to feel like it's more fair. Besides as much fun as it is to have the Ur-Dragon out Bahamut is cooler imo.
By the way a lot of your videos and insight are really interesting. My two favorites are your coverage of the war of the spark lore and the little short about chainsaws in innistrad.
I do play another vampire as my commander. I am intentionally handicapping myself. Not everyone is seeking a cedh or even a competitive casual environment. I had an Edgar deck. It wasn't fun. As you say, he's shamelessly powerful.
"Handicapping" yourself in commander is fine, it's a casual format FOR FUN and you should run the commander you want to run. Plus with Edgar he's so boring to run I'd hardly say him "being too good" means you wouldn't run another vampire commander. The real problem is the vampire tribe needs another mardu lord and they need to print more vampires that drain life or care about lifegain(you know like an actual vampire). The lifegain vampires they do make are dogshit and they seem strangely terrified of making a good Orzhov vampire legend because that would mean we get to use white vampires, which are some of the best vampires. Hell if Vito had white in his collar identity he'd be a way cooler vampire legend than Edgar.
Good video, only complaint is you're disrespecting Goreclaw, the other Mono Green legend bear. Good point how many tribes only have one or two good legends for them really. Ayula for Bears, Gishath for Dinos, etc. Another thing is Eminence and a lot of cards/ abilities designed for commander end up being too good and really warp the format, look at the C20 free w/ commander spells
Gideon tribal Best trybal
Edgar is strong but it's up to the individual how strong. You might not like eminence, but me getting an extra 1/1 when I cast a vampire is only gonna stop you from having fun if I'm just winning every game every time. EDH is about having fun and I have fun going wide with vampire tokens, but I also understand that it wouldn't even be fun for me if I was just stomping everyone all the time so I play with a higher curve, tap lands, more thematic cards rather than powerful ones, no sol ring, almost no ramp at all just to keep myself in line with my friends who mainly play precons. (The elven empires still goes crazy)
And you know what? It works just fine. I shouldn't be forced to stop using my commander, having him banned, just because you don't like that I don't need to cast him. Don't play EDH, then, and you won't have to worry about what my commander is doing anymore.
You could, with some serious ease, make a dozen decks in a dozen colors that would blow even the best Edgar deck out of the water. Even other tribal decks. If that doesn't tell you something, I don't know what will. Eminence is just cool and extremely thematic for the progenitor of all vampires. In fact I wish they'd make more eminence abilities just like the new precons that just came out. I bought the knight one recently and the eminence effect lets you cycle cards into your hand and graveyard when a knight attacks. That's badass and works super well. If anything eminence abilities are even more thematic for the idea of a commander/general anyway. It's just new and scary to older players
You know what else would work really well? Making vampire commanders that are actually good as opposed to the majority of what we have right now. Yes there are a ton of legendary vampires, but almost none of them are worth helming a deck. There's a couple for life gain, Olivia for graveyard play, most of the rest don't even care about vampires, but Edgar is the only way to go wide with tokens unless I wanna not be able to play Mardu at all. Elenda can kinda make tokens if I'm fine with her dying constantly, but even then I'd only be allowed Orzhov and there go all the Falkenrath clan. If they manage to make a legendary vampire that can flood the board, I'd be all over that, but as it stands, Edgar is the one that does what I want.
But that all said, you know what doesn't work? Telling me you don't like the way I enjoy playing and that I shouldn't be allowed to. In a casual card game. /rant
Licia is pretty good, though, if you want to go tall and focus on life gain. I'll give you that. A fine Voltron vampire, I guess
i ain't reading all that
i'm happy for u tho
or sorry that happened
We can all agree eminence is pretty stupid. That being said, you can’t really compare Edgar to the sliver commanders. You can use 5 different sliver commanders bc there are tons of slivers that are broken and pay off your tribe. Vampires were pretty trash up until Edgar and Ixilan. Elves are kinda in the same spot as vampires now. You could play Ezuri I guess, but for the most part if you aren’t playing Lathril you’re playing elves wrong. Only difference is vampires are a newer/less supported tribe, so they don’t have as many good back ups like elves do with Ezuri. The Golos comparison is also kinda a stretch. Golos stopped people from playing not just a tribe, but any other 5 color commanders. Some people were even playing mono colored Golos with just the 5 color mana base to be able to use his ability! 🤣
i don't think eminence as a whole is a mistake just the ur dragon and edgar, arabo and inalla are fine. nice uses and not really that oppresive because they upgrade the cards you already play, they give some tempo, instead edgar gives extra value and thats the problem
If not all eminence is a mistake then I'd say only Edgar was a mistake. The UR dragon was strong sure but he allowed dragon tribal to not be dogshit.
I have Edgar Markov, but I play Vish Kal for Vampire Tribal... Edgar is no fun to me, he is just too powerful
Yup
Proof in point: Edgar is Already banned in 1v1 commander because he’s too good. Although golos isn’t banned in 1v1 🤔