When I build a constructed deck, I usually enter it into TappedOut and play it against another deck I have loaded there, too. (two screens, go through the motions kind of play, nothing particularly serious, just getting a feel for the deck)
But this approach is no good for multiplayer EDH decks.
How do you guys test your new EDH builds?
This is fairly big for me because I only get to play EDH about once every 2 months.
If my deck needs tuning, it's a while before I can real-world validate the changes.
Normally i'd brew an initial list i'm fond of, save it privately on TappedOut and then give it some rounds on Xmage.
All tweaks will get saved in said list until i feel it's time to finally get the cards in paper.
While every deck is a work in progress my deck building has gotten a lot better, so after 2-3 tweaks all future additions are down to cards i didn't get at first or newly released cards.
My EDH decks are on the extremely casual end of the casual spectrum and don't go back further than RtR block.
Do you think I would get any value out of playing against people on Xmage with decks like that? Are they running full bore EDH decks there?
I'm not certain I'll have the time to test against live players, but if it's a viable route, I'd be glad to set it up as an option.
I find it extremely helpful to just draw sample hands and play theoretically. See how often the deck "goes off". Accounting for normal things like turn 4 board wipes or counterspells after turns 3, ect. You cant account for the types of decks you'll be playing, but if you have an idea of what youre trying to do it is very helpful.
In my more tuned lists I have a test by how often I pitch a certain cards to Survival of the Fittest. In my reanimator deck it's normally "who do I find with Entomb?". By knowing which cards you want to have at certain points of the game to Stabilize, break parity, get ahead, protect yourself - you'll have a better instinct about which cards are good.
Do you think I would get any value out of playing against people on Xmage with decks like that? Are they running full bore EDH decks there?
I'm not certain I'll have the time to test against live players, but if it's a viable route, I'd be glad to set it up as an option.
Most decks i played against didn't use MLD, infinites or any other "i win" combo offs, so i think your casual brews would do just fine. I've seen a vast variety of commanders too, even though Breya, Atraxa, Meren and the usual do have their shares ofc.
Xmage allows to play against the AI, if you provide a deck list for your opponent as well and can live with somewhat basic intelligence. Idk if you play with a group of friends and/or in a store, but maybe your friends put their deck lists up on tappedout as well. If so you're able to import them and play test as realistically as possible.
Testing? What's that? I just mash 99 cards together and give it a try next EDH night.
Though when you've got no MLD and no infinite combos and everybody's pretty chill about having a good time, I guess the playability line is a bit less thin.
I've got a fair idea already about what is likely to work and what is not (two top things that "work" low casting cost, instant speed).
When I solitaire I'm looking at
mana base performance - are the tapped lands meaning I can't cast my spells, too many colourless lands so I can't cast spells on curve
Combos - knowing which piece of the combo I'm looking at so I can peice together the rest. Some three card combo decks are complicated. Knowing your path to victory is half the battle.
Unspent mana - If I'm leaving mana on the table turn after turn it's wasted. What changes can I make to maximise mana efficency. A good example of this would be having a counterspell heavy deck that has a lot of mana sinks. That way holding up mana is never a waste.
Opponents counter plays - getting a fair idea of what's going to wreck the deck. How vulnerable am I to common sweepers such as Oblivion Stone and Wrath of God.
I solitaire a deck 40 - 60 times before I take it to a game.
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But this approach is no good for multiplayer EDH decks.
How do you guys test your new EDH builds?
This is fairly big for me because I only get to play EDH about once every 2 months.
If my deck needs tuning, it's a while before I can real-world validate the changes.
All tweaks will get saved in said list until i feel it's time to finally get the cards in paper.
While every deck is a work in progress my deck building has gotten a lot better, so after 2-3 tweaks all future additions are down to cards i didn't get at first or newly released cards.
My EDH decks are on the extremely casual end of the casual spectrum and don't go back further than RtR block.
Do you think I would get any value out of playing against people on Xmage with decks like that? Are they running full bore EDH decks there?
I'm not certain I'll have the time to test against live players, but if it's a viable route, I'd be glad to set it up as an option.
In my more tuned lists I have a test by how often I pitch a certain cards to Survival of the Fittest. In my reanimator deck it's normally "who do I find with Entomb?". By knowing which cards you want to have at certain points of the game to Stabilize, break parity, get ahead, protect yourself - you'll have a better instinct about which cards are good.
Xmage allows to play against the AI, if you provide a deck list for your opponent as well and can live with somewhat basic intelligence. Idk if you play with a group of friends and/or in a store, but maybe your friends put their deck lists up on tappedout as well. If so you're able to import them and play test as realistically as possible.
I'll give it a try.
Thanks!
UW Ephara Hatebears [Primer], GB Gitrog Lands, BRU Inalla Combo-Control, URG Maelstrom Wanderer Landfall
Though when you've got no MLD and no infinite combos and everybody's pretty chill about having a good time, I guess the playability line is a bit less thin.
I've got a fair idea already about what is likely to work and what is not (two top things that "work" low casting cost, instant speed).
When I solitaire I'm looking at
mana base performance - are the tapped lands meaning I can't cast my spells, too many colourless lands so I can't cast spells on curve
Combos - knowing which piece of the combo I'm looking at so I can peice together the rest. Some three card combo decks are complicated. Knowing your path to victory is half the battle.
Unspent mana - If I'm leaving mana on the table turn after turn it's wasted. What changes can I make to maximise mana efficency. A good example of this would be having a counterspell heavy deck that has a lot of mana sinks. That way holding up mana is never a waste.
Opponents counter plays - getting a fair idea of what's going to wreck the deck. How vulnerable am I to common sweepers such as Oblivion Stone and Wrath of God.
I solitaire a deck 40 - 60 times before I take it to a game.