Best Commander cards for less than three mana?
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Whenever I'm building a new deck, I find that there's tons of staples I want to run that cost three mana, but I have a much harder time getting in enough good cards for one and two mana so the deck reliably does something the first few turns. There are some staples like Skullclamp or the humble Sakura-Tribe Elder, but not as many as for the crowded three mana slots - and quite a few aren't exactly budget-friendly (like Land Tax, Sylvan Library or Mana Vault). So I was wondering, what are your favorite cards at lower mana costs that help you keep the mana curve in check and can still do good work throughout a game of Commander?
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- darrenhabib
- Posts: 1812
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This is a very complicated question. I mean you'll find that the most competitive decks are made up of all 0-3 cmc cards. So to help you with this question, who is your commander and what are you wanting to achieve?
- PrimevalCommander
- Posts: 872
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- Deathrite Shaman
- Scavenging Ooze
- Swords to plowshares
- Path to exile
- Terminate
- Pongify
- Rapid hybridization
- viscera seer
- carrion feeder
- skullclamp
- withered wretch
- Signets
- Talismans
- Oreskos Explorer
- Sakura Tribe Elder
- Demonic Tutor
- Slaughter Pact
- Twincast
- Reverberate
- Fork
- Counterspell
- Rampant Growth
- Farseek
- Nature's Lore
- Knight of the White Orchid
- Qasali Pridemage
- Caustic Caterpillar
- Saffi Eriksdotter
- Regrowth
- Life from the Loam
- Dawntreader Elk
- Sylvan Ranger
- Survival of the Fittest
- Pact of Negation
- Brainstorm
- Ponder
- Preordain
- Serum Visions
- Into the Roil
- Arcane Denial
- Reality Shift
- Gilded Drake
- Snapcaster Mage
- Phantasmal Image
- Reanimate
- Nihil Spellbomb
- Bitterblossom
- Tormod's Crypt
- Goblin Bombardment
- Shattering Spree
- Weathered Wayfarer
- Stoneforge Mystic
- Mother of Runes
- Boros Charm
- Deflecting Palm
- Wear//Tear
- Eladmiri's Call
- Baleful Strix
- Coiling Oracle
- Rakdos Charm
- Dreadbore
- Expedition Map
- Everflowing Chalice
- Lightning Greaves
- Brittle Effigy
- Scroll Rack
- Relic of Proginitus
- Alter of Dementia
- Basilisk Collar
- Swiftfoot Boots
- Nim Deathmantle
Decklists
God-Eternal Oketra
Titania, Protector of Argoth
Karador, Ghost Chieftan
Kalamax, the Stormsire
Rocco WILD PAIR
Sefris of the Hidden Ways *Budget*(Page 4)
Zurzoth, Chaos RiderKalamax, the Stormsire
Rocco WILD PAIR
Sefris of the Hidden Ways *Budget*(Page 4)
God-Eternal Oketra
Titania, Protector of Argoth
It depends on what you want to do. This is something that came up for me recently when I built Niv-Mizzet Reborn as a midrange deck; Niv-Mizzet would flood my hand, and having cheap cards became kind of a priority.
Most of the time, ramp, and removal will fill these slots, but, I've developed a fondness for a few of the guild charms (namely, Rakdos Charm, Boros Charm, Golgari Charm and Simic Charm), narrow-ish counterspells (like Negate, Countersquall and now, Drown in the Loch), and 1-for-1 removal spells.
Some work better depending on the rest of the deck, but...
Night's Whisper
Sign in Blood
Hex Parasite
Careful Study
Faithless Looting
Incubation // Incongruity
Reason // Believe
Repudiate // Replicate
Selfless Spirit
Remorseful Cleric
Ash Barrens (or any landcycling)
Night's Whisper
Sign in Blood
Hex Parasite
Careful Study
Faithless Looting
Incubation // Incongruity
Reason // Believe
Repudiate // Replicate
Selfless Spirit
Remorseful Cleric
Ash Barrens (or any landcycling)
Last edited by Serenade 4 years ago, edited 2 times in total.
Mirri, Cat Warrior counts as a Cat Warrior.
Going over the one-mana card in each of my decks I most want to see in my opening hand (other than Sol Ring)....
Thada: Aquitect's Will
Sharuum: Codex Shredder
Tasigur: Exploration
Animar: Hardened Scales
Samut: Mother of Runes, but Quirion Ranger is close
Teysa: Skullclamp
Zedruu: Mystic Remora... or Meekstone
Kess: Mental Note / Thought Scour
Mizzix: Gitaxian Probe
....there are a lot of very good one mana cards, depending on what your deck wants to do.
Thada: Aquitect's Will
Sharuum: Codex Shredder
Tasigur: Exploration
Animar: Hardened Scales
Samut: Mother of Runes, but Quirion Ranger is close
Teysa: Skullclamp
Zedruu: Mystic Remora... or Meekstone
Kess: Mental Note / Thought Scour
Mizzix: Gitaxian Probe
....there are a lot of very good one mana cards, depending on what your deck wants to do.
Some nice lists. The longer ones might be more useful if they were sorted alphabetically. Happy to see Coiling Oracle on Primeval's list. Wonder why it's not followed up by bigger, better cousin Risen Reef.
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void_nothing Look On My Sash...
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- Location: Tal Terig, Zendikar
Most likely because it has CMC 3.
Psst, check the second page of Custom Card Contests & Games! Because of the daily contests, a lot of games fall down to there.
The greatest (fake) pro wrestling on the internet - Collaborative Create-A-Booster - My random creations (updated regularly)
Important Facts: Colorless is not a color, Wastes is not a land type, Changeling is not a creature type
The greatest (fake) pro wrestling on the internet - Collaborative Create-A-Booster - My random creations (updated regularly)
Important Facts: Colorless is not a color, Wastes is not a land type, Changeling is not a creature type
Sorry. I was thinking "three or less." Guess I should RTFP. I stand corrected.
Honestly, Sword of the Animist is one of the best. Then there is also a personal favorite of mine, Skirk Prospector.
On further thought:
Serra Ascendant
Phyrexian Reclamation
Sign in Blood
Young Pyromancer
Pact of Negation (slightly cheaty for this, but hey... it says 0)
Obviously all legal Moxen
Weathered Wayfarer
Land Tax
Winter Orb (just for you, Sheldon)
Static Orb
On further thought:
Serra Ascendant
Phyrexian Reclamation
Sign in Blood
Young Pyromancer
Pact of Negation (slightly cheaty for this, but hey... it says 0)
Obviously all legal Moxen
Weathered Wayfarer
Land Tax
Winter Orb (just for you, Sheldon)
Static Orb
EDH:
Krenko, Goblin Stampede
Nylea, God of Hydra Counters
Mahadi, Emporium Master
Feather, Catrips Redeemed
Ghired, The Tokened
Hakbal, Merfolk Massacre
Ten and Clara, Suspended
Krenko, Goblin Stampede
Nylea, God of Hydra Counters
Mahadi, Emporium Master
Feather, Catrips Redeemed
Ghired, The Tokened
Hakbal, Merfolk Massacre
Ten and Clara, Suspended
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Hawk Slayer of Threads
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- Pronoun: he / him
- Location: Salt Lake City, UT
I like the way you think. A similar list for my decks - what 1 and 2 CMC stuff am I super duper pumped to have in my opener other than The Ring? I'll also exlude mana ramp cards as it goes without saying that I am always super, super excited to see Birds of Paradise, Sakura-Tribe Elder, Farseek, Mind Stone, etc, in the opener.Mookie wrote: ↑4 years agoGoing over the one-mana card in each of my decks I most want to see in my opening hand (other than Sol Ring)....
Thada: Aquitect's Will
Sharuum: Codex Shredder
Tasigur: Exploration
Animar: Hardened Scales
Samut: Mother of Runes, but Quirion Ranger is close
Teysa: Skullclamp
Zedruu: Mystic Remora... or Meekstone
Kess: Mental Note / Thought Scour
Mizzix: Gitaxian Probe
....there are a lot of very good one mana cards, depending on what your deck wants to do.
Doran: Slagwurm Armor is a huge beating. Treefolk Harbinger is a nice enabler and modest beater. Deathrite Shaman is ridiculous.
Daretti: Codex Shredder and Faithless Looting are great for early filtering. Curse of Opulence is surprisingly effective. Dockside Extortionist and Goblin Welder are less surprisingly busted, and not necessarily budget-friendly.
The Gitrog Monster: Life from the Loam is the best card in the 99. I'm also thrilled to open on Exploration, Grisly Salvage, or Satyr Wayfinder as early enablers. Sylvan Safekeeper is a not-so-secret MVP. Deathrite Shaman does good work again.
Darigaaz: This is an "old school" deck so most of the lower curve is just ramp or cheap removal (a la Terminate and Terror and Naturalize), but Wall of Blossoms is also surprisingly crucial as a speedbump or repeated draw engine alongside graveyard shenanigans.
Yuriko: Is weird in that most of the deck is under 3 CMC - flying men are good when you have ninjas and Conspiracy.
Gahiji: Outside of removal and ramp, there isn't a ton here. This is a silly group huggy deck so I do run Forcemage Advocate and Howling Mine which are often quite funny.
Sufferer of EDHD
Commander: Current(ish) Arsenal
Daretti, Scrap Savant (Decklist) Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow Samut, Voice of Dissent The Gitrog Monster (Decklist)Quintorius, Field Historian
Volo, Guide to Monsters Sevinne, the Chronoclasm
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Heliod, Sun-crowned Mirri the Cursed Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist Sygg, River Guide Jeska, Thrice Reborn // Falthis, Shadowcat Familair // Obosh the Preypiercer
Miara, Thorn of the Glade//Numa, Joraga Chieftain Arcades, the Strategist Phelddagrif Varina, Lich Queen
Daretti, Scrap Savant (Decklist) Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow Samut, Voice of Dissent The Gitrog Monster (Decklist)Quintorius, Field Historian
Volo, Guide to Monsters Sevinne, the Chronoclasm
----
Heliod, Sun-crowned Mirri the Cursed Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist Sygg, River Guide Jeska, Thrice Reborn // Falthis, Shadowcat Familair // Obosh the Preypiercer
Miara, Thorn of the Glade//Numa, Joraga Chieftain Arcades, the Strategist Phelddagrif Varina, Lich Queen
I just wanted to throw one in: Abrade. It's cheap, and it will mess up a Hermit Druid or many early game commanders. Also crushes Sol Rings and other mana rocks.
As a 1-for-1 with only two modes, it does both pretty well.
As a 1-for-1 with only two modes, it does both pretty well.