Risking the Rewards: Playing Red in Magic: the Gathering Commander Format

Chaos — the term used to refer to or classify a Magic: the Gathering game if consisting three or more players. It is also what Red brings to the table in a multiplayer format like Commander or EDH. In this article, we will list down some of the red cards you can use or include in your decks for a more interesting and unique gaming experience.

First in our list is the card Possibility Storm. This enchantment ruins game play specially opponents with control decks. Every spell cast is replaced instead with the next card on top of library with the same type, so there's a little chance that those Counterspells could be useful. Cast that Imperial Recruiter for a possible Blightsteel Colossus, or a Tormenting Voice for an Obliterate. Everyone love surprises isn't it?

These red instant spells can always catch blue players off-guard. Counter that Mana Drain or destroy that Brago, King Eternal when they least expect it to ruin their turn.

With most players opting to use non-basic lands to cast their multicolored spells, Ruination is a must-have in a Red EDH Deck. If your opponents do not have enough mana-producing artifacts or basic lands in their decks, it could be an early landslide win for you as they will be choosing to concede instead. Watch as those Temple Gardens and Phyrexian Towers crumble.

The flavor text says it all — sometimes a little chaos is in order. A battlefield full of dragons, Eldrazis, precious stones and planeswalkers. Make the game more fun and interesting by switching commands over them.

In an EDH game, sometimes a little blow of wind could cause huge changes — strategies ruined, combos stopped, momentum switches. These things are at your hand for only one red mana.

With its Bloodrush ability, Wrecking Ogre pumps a creature with +3/+3 plus double strike, a lethal weapon you can have up your sleeve for that 21 points commander damage, or finish-off an opponent with the least amount of life. Add this card to your arsenal and you will find it very useful in more ways than one.

Yes, this legendary human Starke of Rath bows to no one. He can destroy creatures, artifacts and even himself. Protect him at least from committing suicide by using Darksteel Plate or Lightning Greaves. Call him to serve you again and again with Homeward Path. Everybody can love him, or hate him.

This legendary ogre shaman is indeed a heartless one. A quick death is what he brings for all players unless of course you brought in some life gainer cards for yourself or more pain for your opponents for them to succumb first.

Speaking of pain, the enchantment Ancient Runes never disappoint to bring some. With most EDH decks relying on artifacts for mana acceleration, this card can cause serious damage as the game goes on.

This piece of enchantment-aura spell is sort of Red's version of Blue's Control Magic, with the extra benefit of granting haste to the creature controlled as well as untapping it for other purposes like an activated ability and the like.

In an EDH game, one strategy to become the last man standing is to let your opponents beat one another while you wait for the perfect time to deal the killing blow. The enchantment Bitter Feud supports that type of strategy and can ignite that war between two of your opponents, leaving them vulnerable for you to finish them off in the later game. Red indeed never miss out to give entertainment, at least for the one playing it.

There you have it, some of the unique, risky and yet interesting red cards to have in your EDH decks. After all, Commander or EDH format was created for multiplayer (or chaos as initially referred to) fun and Red never disappoints. Happy gaming!