Player B is tapped out with 3 Islands in play and the only spell they can cast is a Pact of Negation in hand. They already have a Restoration Angel in play. Player A has placed Kiki Jiki, Mirror Breaker on the stack. Let’s go over some specific scenarios to help illustrate what I mean. The largest difference between… wait, did I already go over philosophy? Sure enough I did, I figured I would just reiterate here the importance of the distinction. Your opponents won’t give you an inch, so don’t give one to them.

In cEDH, you will want to stay up to date on what your friends and playgroups are playing and maintain proper deck configuration as well as optimized answers. Obviously, you will want to come prepared for the usual decks you will encounter no matter what format you play in Magic, but in casual the definition of preparation is a bit looser. Not to say that casual EDH doesn’t concern itself with metagames, but this aspect is far more crucial in Competitive Commander. When you look at a deck list you immediately know what the deck’s intentions are and what they are expecting. One of my favorite aspects about cEDH is the different vibe the format gives off. Frankly, if you are playing 5-6 mana spells and your opponent is playing 1-2 mana spells that counter yours, you are at a competitive disadvantage. This is a function of the format’s speed. For starters, you will see curves that are much leaner and interaction is primarily at instant speed. While you are bound by the same deck construction rules as traditional EDH, the cEDH deck list will often look much different. Everything in the format is and should be viewed through the lens of winning the game. But the focus and crux of the format is the competition and winning. Can there be cool plays? Yes! Can there be epic comebacks and interactions? Of course. Prevent your opponents from winning the game so you can win the game yourself.Where cEDH is concerned, the main principle of the format is to either: The list is almost endless and everyone enjoys EDH for different reasons. Enjoy the political side of Magic and live or die by your alliances and betrayals.Play your favorite cards as an extension of your personality.Create epic stories and sweet comebacks.Having fun with friends to play powerful and fun spells.Always keep an open mind, and you will find yourself a happier person.Īs far as traditional EDH is concerned, the main principles of the format include:

Many formats in Magic aren’t for me, but that doesn’t mean that I dislike their existence or those who enjoy them. If you aren’t having fun playing the game, you need to take a step back and find something that reignites your spark. The beautiful part about this game is that there are hundreds of avenues to reach that goal. The philosophy for Magic as a whole is to have fun. But, like most things in life, this format is defined by its differences, not similarities. It doesn’t seem like much, but cEDH actually has a lot in common with traditional, casual Commander. Well, I’ve reached the end of the similarities. Of course, there aren’t house rules either. There is no deviation whatsoever and this includes deck construction as well. cEDH adheres strictly to the mainstream Commander rules laid out by the Rules Committee. Other formats like French EDH/Duel Commander and 1v1 Magic Online Commander have their own rules and ban lists. More common ground between the formats are the rules and ban list. cEDH differs immensely from traditional EDH in its philosophies, but when it comes down to being a game for many players at once, the two are the same. If you only expect to have one other person to play against, I suggest building 1v1 Commander decks instead. Naturally, you can play with 2-3 players, but it really is encouraged to have 4 at the table. First, let’s address the similarities between the two formats.

Cedh database