WORST DECK FORMAT

Legend
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Post by Legend » 4 years ago

Any and all questions, comments, and criticisms for the sake of improving the format and its explanation are welcome.

WORST DECK FORMAT

HOW IT WORKS
1. Brew the worst deck in the history of Magic by following the 11 Commandments (below) to fill in the Master Checklist (attached sheet). The 11 Commandments are in place to ensure that an actual game of Magic occurs despite the dubious efficacy of the cards.
2. At the beginning of each game, you exchange decks with your opponent and try to win with their deck while they try to win with your deck.
3. Have fun!


THE 11 COMMANDMENTS

1. Only one copy of any nonbasic card may be in a Worst Deck.
EXAMPLE: Not even Relentless Rats can break this rule.

2. Every Worst Deck must contain exactly 60 cards. No more, no less.
EXAMPLE: Not 40 cards. Not 61 cards. Not 100 cards.

3. If a card is banned in any other format recognized by WotC, it's banned in the Worst Deck format, too. So are creature cards with defender, noncreature cards that are useless or virtually useless, and cards with colorless mana costs.
EXAMPLE: Noncreature cards like Battle of Wits, Assembly Hall, and Rolling Stones are banned because their rules text is meaningless.
Noncreature cards like Bifurcate are banned because their rules text that is virtually meaningless.
Cards like Deceiver of Form are banned because they have colorless mana costs.
Cards like Deepfathom Skulker are not banned despite having activated abilities that require colorless mana.

5. Every card in a Worst Deck must have the potential and means to be played at least once and every ability in the deck must likewise have the potential and means to be activated or triggered at least once.
EXAMPLE; If Gigantosaurus is in a deck, then the deck must be able to produce five green mana at least once. If Deepfathom Skulker is in the deck, then the deck must be able to produce one colorless mana at least once.

6. If a card in a Worst Deck references another object, then such an object must also be in the deck.
EXAMPLE: If Wanderwine Hub is in a deck, then a Merfolk card must also be in the deck.

7. Each Worst Deck may contain cards with more than one color identity, such as multicolored cards, but only up to one card of each color combination. However, such cards only count as one of their colors for the purpose of fulfilling the Master Checklist.
EXAMPLE: If Deft Duelist is in a deck, it only counts as either a white creature card OR a blue creature card but not both, and another card with a white AND blue color identity such as Deputy of Acquittals can't also be in the deck.

8. Each Worst Deck must contain exactly 3 of each basic land and 5 lands that each tap for more than two colors of mana without restriction.
EXAMPLE: Lands like School of the Unseen and Exotic Orchard qualify, but lands like Pillar of the Paruns and Primal Beyond do not.

9. Each Worst Deck must contain exactly 4 creatures of each color identity (for a total of 20 creatures). The total power of all creatures in a Worst Deck must equal exactly 60. The power of a creature card is considered to be its printed value adjusted by any inherent effects that increase or decrease the value of its printed power while it's on the battlefield. Variable powers such as those represented by X and * are considered to be 0.
EXAMPLE: Both Squire and Aegis Automaton have a white color identity. Thunder Brute has power 5. Both Simic Initiate and Chainbreaker count as having power 1. Both Feral Hydra and Scourge of the Skyclaves are considered to have power 0. Urborg Skeleton is considered to have power 1.

9. Each Worst Deck must contain exactly 5 cards with colorless color identities and purely generic mana costs; 1 enchantment per color (for a total of 5 enchantments); 1 instant per color (for a total of 5 instants); and 1 sorcery per color (for a total of 5 sorceries).

10. Each Worst Deck must have a Removal Suite that consists of exactly 1 card per color (for a total of 5 such cards) each of which must be able to permanently nullify an opposing threat. Tempo effects like Frost Lynx or Lapse of Certainty won't count as part of a Removal Suite. Cards like Hex, only count as one card of the Removal Suite, despite being able to remove more than one permanent. The 5 cards that compose the Removal Suite may be of any type and are distinct from those that compose the Combat Arsenal (below). Therefore, no card can fill a role in both categories.
EXAMPLE SUITE: Pacifism, Fall of the Gavel, Coercion, Crack the Earth, Affectionate Indrik

11. Each Worst Deck must have a Combat Arsenal that consists of exactly 1 card per color (for a total of 5 such cards) each of which must be relevant to combat. The 5 cards that compose the Combat Arsenal maybe be of any type and are distinct from those that compose the Removal Suite (above). Therefore, no card can fill a role in both categories.
EXAMPLE ARSENAL: Civic Stalwart, Befuddle, Unholy Strength, Legion's Initiative, Shrink

MASTER CHECKLIST

MANA BASE (20)
3 Plains
3 Island
3 Swamp
3 Mountain
3 Forest
5 Multimana Lands

CREATURE PACKAGE (20 w/ Total Power 60)
4 White Creatures
4 Blue Creatures
4 Black Creatures
4 Red Creatures
4 Green Creatures

NONCREATURE, NONLAND ARTIFACTS (5)
5 Noncreature, Nonland Artifacts

NONCREATURE ENCHANTMENTS (5)
1 White Enchantment
1 Blue Enchantment
1 Black Enchantment
1 Red Enchantment
1 Green Enchantment

INSTANTS (5)
1 White Instant
1 Blue Instant
1 Black Instant
1 Red Instant
1 Green Instant

SORCERIES (5)
1 White Sorcery
1 Blue Sorcery
1 Black Sorcery
1 Red Sorcery
1 Green Sorcery

REMOVAL SUITE
1. White
2. Blue
3. Black
4. Red
5. Green

COMBAT ARSENAL
1. White
2. Blue
3. Black
4. Red
5. Green
“Comboing in Commander is like dunking on a seven foot hoop.” – Dana Roach

“Making a deck that other people want to play against – that’s Commander.” – Gavin Duggan

"I want my brain to win games, not my cards." – Sheldon Menery

User avatar
Diz
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Post by Diz » 1 year ago

Got any example decks?

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