Stop Playing These Cards! Alternatives To Commander Staples | MTG 

An alternative to commander staples. Commander paperclips... I'll see myself out now.

This man's ad reads are on another level.

Hot tip: Sol ring is an excellent alternative to the high priced mana crypt!

"Thank you Raycon for sponsoring this video..... about commander" killed me, so funny

I swear this ad is almost as good as "raycons are coolio, and I ain't foolin' yo!"

"The cheerful melodies of Snoop doggy Dogg" that was a good one

The Professor, Master of Segways.

For blue, you forgot rivers rebuke. One of the most underrated blue comparisons to cyc rift

The Professor getting surprised by his own camera running every single time is my favorite running gag that gets undernoticed.

Aetherize has won way more games for me than cyclonic rift.

I appreciate videos like these, where you are giving affordable alternatives to cards that see heavy play. I really dislike when big EDH youtubers make videos giving their opinions on cards you shouldn't play anymore. Like edh is a casual format, people should be able to run any type of cards they want...

I mean the budget option for something like smothering tithe is to just print proxies that's pretty cheap

Seige behemoth is another budget alternative to craterhoof behemoth and more people need to play it!

Noooooo. You’re telling the internet about all my secret budget cards!!

Smothering Tithe... no alternatives, while all other color staples have weaker but doable alternatives. Maybe a card that could create X treasure tokens whenever opponents draw more than one card a turn? Wait, that sounds familiar...

I mean this in the best way prof, when you pretend to be young it’s how people pretended to be young 15 years ago haha. It’s so dated that it’s imitating even more dated stuff. 😂

"Webster's defines ME as 'over it.'" I am stealing this, Prof 😂

You really did do a stellar job with the RayCon commercial/advert short. I really laughed out loud, literally, and then bothered my significant other with an out-of-context (and very poor) retelling of the finer points of the bit. It did not go as well as I had hoped, but not to worry, that was my delivery and her genuine disinterest, not a reflection of the quality clearly present in your work. Thank you, I really was tickled, something I've been needing. Not literally, this time.

one of my absolute favorite replacements for Rhystic study is the card "Insight" also to replace cyc rift, flood of tears

“Webster’s dictionary defines (x) as (y)” in at least one paper per semester.

The transition was quite masterful. With that said continue please!!!!!

Solid video Prof! I have to say the way you guzzled your drink at the end was awesome!

Pestilence and pyrohemia are great in monocolor or if you have maximal 2 colors. Broughtback is esp good with fetschlands, lotusfield, sad-robot, burnish heart and other "white ramps" esp if you use it to also bring one creature back and fetsch at the same time.

Tbh, that was the best slide in for an ad the prof. has ever given. Give this man a standing ovation.

Thanks Prof! Even though I may still run the staples, I will definitely look at these alternatives for more consistent gameplay

"As a *former* english proffesor"

Massacre is a great black "wrath" that should see more play.

"Webster's dictionary defines 'me' as over it." If I could somehow double subscribe to your channel, this is the reason why.

For blue, there's Whelming Wave, and Scourge of Fleets, which us a personal favourite of mine.

The ad killed me - it really made my day. Especially when he wonders why they are sponsoring a commander video :D

Instead of doubling season, I run parallel lives and anointed procession in my naya token edh

That is the most compelling and genuine ad for raycon earbuds I have ever seen.

love it. great video. i'm also a big proponent of people trying to use different cards. there's just becoming way too many "auto-includes" in the format and everyone's deck is starting to look the same.

You just talked about most of my commander decks. Loved it!

I like how that middle shelf on Prof’s bookshelf is a low key billboard to promote ideas.

Great topic and choices. Love hearing about people playing non-staples. Thanks!

Reins of Power is my hidden blue gem. It steals games when played at the right time!

Some more not so commonly run white cards that I love to run are Settle the Wreckage and Comeuppance. They work as pretty sneaky wraths and comeuppance can also turn someones damage combo against them. Edit: also end raze forerunners and lifecrafters beastiary are two of,my favorites! Glad u mentioned them.

I've actually got a few favourites to share! Whelming Wave is a sorcery for 2 and UU to return all creatures to their owners hands except for Serpents, Octopuses, leviathans and Krakens. Great fit in a sea monster deck that you should be running or just a decent cheap board wipe that may hit all your own creatures. The Magic Mirror is a legendary Artifact for 6 and UUU, this is an insane draw engine in blue, offering to be cheaper for each instant or sorcery in your graveyard, perfect for blue (Or even simic and izzet, I've seen it do work in both) Spell slinger decks, also no maximum hand size! A couple of my friends started running this after I did Unified Will is a counter spell for 1 and a U. You running a token generating deck that has a splash of blue? Have yourself a very easy to cast counter spell which the downside is you have to have more creatures then the owner of the spell your countering. Works great in my simic deck, and works especially well with a creature like Nadar Kraken in play. Need a way to get your big spells? Grozoth is a 6 and UUU creature with defender that tutors for all your CMC 9 spells and brings them into your hand to get your Great Henges or the Magic Mirror I know you're gonna use now! Or you can just transmute for 1 and UU to replace it with one CMC 9 spell. Garruk's Uprising is an enchantment for 2 and G, holy another great draw engine for green, when it enters the battlefield if you control a creature with 4 power or greater draw a card, gives your creatures trample, then whenever you play a creature with 4 power draw a card. A card that I think more people should play in beat down decks. Masako the Humorless is a creature for 2 and W, has flash and has tapped creatures you control may block as though they were untapped. This comes out of nowhere and can really mess up your opponents plans. Super funny and I completely recommend Basri Ket is a super underrated planeswalker for 1 and WW, +1 put a +1/+1 counter on target creature, it gains indestructible until end of turn, -2 Whenever one or more nontoken creatures attack this turn, creature that many 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens that are tapped and attacking. -6 you gain an emblem with "At the beginning of combat on your turn, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token, then put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control". This planeswalker does incredible work, for me in my Boros deck it even has a semi-infinite combo with it's -2 and Breath of Fury, essentially as long as you had 3 creatures to start with, and someone can't block, you can keep creating a ton of 1/1 tokens and take as many combats as it takes for someone to block. Works especially well with Iroas. Force of Despair. I don't know how this card isn't work more, a free semi-board wipe for exiling a black card from your hand, or just 1 and BB which is not hard at all to come by. This card specifically destroys all creatures that entered the battlefield this turn. This shuts down the infinite token person that did it in one turn, or counters something simple like a Avenger of Zendikar. Highly recommend

That was the most depressing sponsored segment I've ever seen in my life. Are you still feeling okay, Prof?

Saw the raycon add comming, loved the transition. Very clever, is this why they call you the professor?

I use chain reaction in every red deck, everyone always expects blasphemous act when i start counting creatures.

I personally love casting Siren's Call on someone else's turn when my defenses are set. The sadistic glee you can get from making someone else go ballistic on a common enemy is priceless.

Planar Void. One black for an enchantment that exiles cards as they hit each players graveyard.

This is the first time I've ever heard of Living Death being referred to as removal and not a backbreaking combo piece.

Great vid. Keep it up Prof, drinking is hard, but you'll get it!

A favorite alternative to Cyclonic Rift for me is Whelming Wave, for 2 and two Blue you return all creatures to their owners hands except for Krakkens, Octopi, Serpents, and Leviathans. As long as your deck is those creatures, or even if you are just needing to control the board a bit, it is a card not many expect.

Love and missed this series. As a budget (mostly) player I enjoy learning from people who have been involved in the game for years more than me.

Prof! You should make a commander favorites video! Where you discuss your favorite commanders for each color combo :)

For Craterhoof, you can always substitute Overrun. It's a classic alpha-strike card that is plenty capable of winning games.

When i saw the alternative for Dockside Extortionist was Treasure Nabber i was like: "Why not run BOTH?". But yeah, great vid Prof! I must say i'm also running a new EDH with a Korlash, heir to Blackblade (wich is almost my fav deck by now) with a swamps matter theme and i must tell you that a good ol' mutilate is working wonders for me.

I cracked a henge 2 days ago! Didn't know it was that expensive.

As soon as you said ''wired'' I knew where you were going and I loved every second of it.

I love the Bestiary! I think it’s a great include in pretty much any green creature deck. You’re never short on mana, so the extra payment doesn’t hurt much. I use it and the Forerunners in my Chulane elf-ball deck-bouncing the big pigs and replaying them once is usually enough to end the game.

I was just searching for black board wipes for my golgari slimefoot edh... thank you!

I’m glad you said end-raze. Mine does work in my deck. I always called him mini-craterhoof. 😂

Really enjoy these videos thank you!

Fantastic list, here's a few more i'd like to suggest: Devastation tide 1.54USD on tcgplayer right now. Can bounce everything for 3UU or for miracle cost 1U. Its another great budget option that can have some random upside, and gets way better with top deck manipulation like repeated scry effects. life//death: 1B for reanimate effect provided you have GB commander colors. It also is a fraction of the cost at 1.67USD at time of comment, a fraction of reanimate's price! Druid's repository: 1GG for an enchantment that builds up mana as you attack with creatures. Strong in many go-wide strategies and very budget acceleration for early/midgame commander. current price: 1.41USD on TCGPlayer Most transmute spells: This isn't a single card but more an often forgotten keyword ability more combo and control strategies should definitely be utilizing. Price range on these are between .25-6.00 with most falling under 1.00USD. While they only tutor for a card with a matching CMC, they are absolutely fantastic provided you build your deck with them in mind. Some often fill other roles like muddle the mixture (counter magic/tutor, who could ask for more?), shred memory (graveyard hate at instant speed for those pesky reanimator decks, or go tutor for a powerhouse 2 drop) Relic Seeker: This card is VERY underrated in EDH. This is a slower but consistent stoneforge mystic that only costs 0.25 USD. In most multiplayer games, you will definitely find the time to hit someone with it since its only a 2 drop, and can also offer diplomatic solutions if you need to get through with it later game. Don't sleep on this one, its great! open the armory: yet another slept on tutor weighing in at 0.45 USD. For 1W, you can tutor any equipment or aura. Its cheap and effective, and will often fill a niche. I'd love to hear other's thoughts and more budget commander options =D the format definitely needs more diversity like this.

I've had Ætherize in my Kess deck from the start. I absolutely love it and I'm almost gitty every time I cast it.

If you're in selesnya (pretty common for token decks) Jazal Goldmane is a great budget option for Craterhoof's ability.

Your video of you "working out" for the raycons is what got me to buy a pair :) And they are great! Oh ya... great video too btw Prof :)

1:40 that "not really, though" killed me 🤣

I love imprisoned in the moon, displacement wave and whelming wave for blue and resolute archangel in white (bounce away)

Necrologia is a cheap underrated stand in for Necropotence. It’s a one off but it instantly fills your hand and also your graveyard (unlike Necropotence). Shared Summons is a poor man’s Tooth and Nail because you cast it at instant speed to get your combo pieces and then play them on your turn. Matyr’s Bond a budget Dictate of Erabos/Grave Pact, if you happen to also be running white. Moment’s Peace a budget Constant Mists.

That may be the single best sponsored ad I've ever seen on RU-vid.

I’m surprised flood of tears wasn’t a suggestion for an alternative cyclonic rift, living death is incredible, pathbreaker ibex is great in green too, beast whisperer, guardian project or cards like elemental bond a good alternative to the great Henge

Finding ways to circumvent these is a personal goal of my Commander decks.

Even if I wasn't into MTG I would sub for the sponsorship reads alone. So good

I love all the “here are cards you aren’t running/never heard of” videos! Any more in the pipeline?

Thanks Professor that was super helpful!

I commented too soon. That message of hope was on point. Great content again.

Just pulled a smothering in my promo pack I won this week. Feels good.

dispatch is going on my next order list. thanks prof

6:43 They use that track on the Dead Meat Kill Count too!

Overwhelming Stampede is a nice alternative to Craterhoof Behemoth. It's based on greatest power rather than number of creatures so doesn't fit all decks. Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse also gives your creature base power and toughness X/X until end of turn for 4GG, where X is the number of cards in hand, so again situational. Planar Cleansing is a nice 5-cost alternative to Wrath of God. Flood of Tears is a 6-cost alternative to Cyclonic Rift, but only at Sorcery speed.

Thunderfoot Baloth and Pathbreaker Ibex are my go to Hoof replacements when I'm in a red haste-granting deck

Great video! In terms of Kaldheim, is it worth buying a box or box booster in hopes of turning around and selling stuff that's not needed right away for a return?

I would add "Beastmasters Acension" as green game ending card, to buff up your team.

That raycon sponsorship is a HUGE come up!!

A great replacement for a Rhystic Study in blue for me is Verity Circle. You don't realize just how many creatures tap for abilities until you play one out and start drawing a bunch. Even better if a friend has an Elf deck, or EVEN better if you play a Derevi deck.

That transition into the Raycon plug was glorious.

Those segues were top notch 😂

Nice H.P Lovecraft book, Prof. !! Which one is that? The cover is very enticing

I often add Prying blade as a Smothering Tithe sub in my combat dependant decks. It doesn't grab as many treasures as ST but is still a handy boost. Liked the Dockside sub. It appeals to the magpie in me. 😁 Great vid Prof!

Nezahal, Primal Tide is also sort of similar to Rhystic Study

Hey Prof! I just started the Pokemon TCG and I predominantly play through the online client. I have been watching your Pokemon playlist but I noticed you do not have a video detailing how the online client works. Do you think you could create a guide on the Pokemon TCG Online client describing the basics and how the economy works? That would be amazing if you could. Thanks for the quality content over the years, be safe and healthy!

I genuinely appreciate this video! I've been playing for 2 months and am playing with 5 players who have been with the game on and off pretty hardcore for 20 years. I'm addicted. I just spent $22 on a bunch of these cards instead of spending... $200+. Thank you!

For board wipes in blue I also really like Wash Out, and in black I'm a big fan of Killing Wave and Black Sun's Zenith.

I ran a Ceta Sanctuary in a Temur deck with a lot of creatures in place of Rhystic Study just to have something different. It wasn’t too bad and drew less removal than Rhystic.

I'm surprised Rising Miasma made the list when there are other budget cards that do more for less or more for the same cost. Yahenni's Expertise at the same cmc and $0.24 gives all creatures -3/-3 and lets you cast a 3cmc or less spell for free. Cry of the Carnarium & Flaying Tendrils exile creatures that die the turn you cast the spell and are 3cmc and $0.14/$0.07 respectively. Golden Demise is also 3cmc and has the ability to only affect your opponents if you have the city's blessing at $0.10.

You may also run impact tremors as well for a cheap purphoros like effect for 1R

Thanks for the vid prof!

Spelltwine is a massively underrated spell imo. You can flash back some truly heinous stuff from your bin every time and you'll get something good from an opponent as well. The floor is usually 6 mana to wrath+rampant growth, in a single card. My choice for budget hoof is Overwhelming stampede. Even in my elf deck, I'll usually end up with at least 1 thing with 4, 5, 6 power and that effect really doesn't need to be repeatable. For black wraths, its less universal, but I really like crux of fate in decks where the commander is a dragon.

The "former" english proffessor bit got me. Upvote!

Funny thing that I thought about as I was rewatching this is that for the most part my friends and I couldn't afford these powerful cards until recently so they aren't really that boring to us.

I use Mob Rule as a game ender in My Rakdos deck 👌🏼. Definitely an overlooked carf

The 'former' underneath your breath killed me lmao xD

As alternatives for the Craterhoof, I often use the Dragon Throne of Tarkir or Overwhelming Stampede. Stampeding Elk Herd can also be a really good budget option if you just want that repeatable trample on your whole board. And for board wipes in white, consider Terminus and the new Ondu inversion. Regna's Sanction can also be a nice finisher in white.

I like Echoing Truth as a bounce spell. Does a number on tokens and also hits people all playing the same card

I was actually just looking for these! My cart will now stop inducing guilt and financial self reflection. Thanks Prof!