Taking part in Magic: The ReunionCommander mode has develop into a hard and fast a part of my month-to-month routine lately, as I used to be solely formally launched to the sport and its multiplayer format in early 2024. Nevertheless, this rapidly grew to become a topic of my hyperfocus and inside days of taking part in my first recreation, I used to be already trying on the playing cards this is able to work properly with my Kykar deck to improve it and have a greater likelihood of beating my desk. Concurrently, I used to be additionally taking a look at a number of the greatest MTG Commander decks, attempting to grasp how they labored.
Inside a number of months, I upgraded my Kykar deck and bought two new decks, with out contemplating further equipment like mats and shields. I rapidly spent some huge cash on the sport, and a major a part of it didn't repay as I anticipated. Some improve playing cards for Kykar didn't work out in addition to I had hoped. My Captain N'ghathrod deck was additionally considerably disappointing, as I constructed it across the milling and horror theme, but it surely ended up being slower than anticipated. Nevertheless, I discovered an answer for my costly Magic: The Reunion bills.
The tabletop simulator helped me check out the brand new Magic: The Gathering Playing cards & Decks
The sport prices $19.99 on Steam
As a substitute of spending more cash on playing cards and decks I didn't know I'd click on on, I made a $20 funding in Tabletop simulatora Steam recreation that may run a wide range of video games, together with Commander mode for MTG. Whereas my group and I haven't sacrificed our month-to-month conferences to play playing cards in particular person, we have now been taking part in Commander nearly with some frequency, because of Tabletop simulator. By working the mode within the Steam recreation, we are able to add any Magic: The Reunion deck we would like primarily based on card lists from common itemizing websites like Archidekt, Scryfall, and Moxfield.
Successfully, this permits us to play with decks we don't personal in actual life, experimenting with lists constructed by different gamers – or ourselves, once we put within the effort to check how the deck would possibly work – and see if it fits our taking part in kinds. We are able to additionally run a number of video games with the identical decks and see if a loss was proof of not being in tune with the mechanics of the deck in query. Magic: The Reunionin Commander mode or if the earlier recreation was only a collection of unlucky occasions that resulted from a nasty beginning hand to unhealthy attracts.
I spent so much much less cash on Magic: The Gathering Commander due to Tabletop Simulator
The sport allowed me to really feel the decks and measure my pod's reactions
Due to my experiences with Tabletop simulatorI've spent much less cash on MTG than I used to be throughout my first few months. This isn't as a result of the sport is not a topic of my hyperfocus – it's – however as a result of I've been extra cautious concerning the forms of decks I put money into. I nonetheless love my Captain N'ghathrod deck, however I'm fearful of how tough it may be to run (due to the variety of triggers and excessive mana prices). The deck's errors would have been prevented if I had tried it in Tabletop simulator.
Now, earlier than I construct and purchase a brand new deck, I ensure that to actively play with it typically and see how I really feel working it. I lately tried out a Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign deck at my desk and it felt nice. The Esper deck is a good management deck that retains opponents at bay whereas meticulously attacking them. It helps you construct your board even when you could have unhealthy attracts, because of the Commander card's capacity, which in flip helps hold you protected from assaults out of your opponents. This robust MTG The Commander deck, nonetheless, has a deep-rooted drawback.
The Yennett deck is extraordinarily salty. As a lot as I loved it and received a recreation with it, I felt like my opponents had been sad with how my deck labored, as they all the time felt like they couldn't assault me or forged any elimination spells towards my playing cards. After all, that is a part of the deck's performance, but when I continually pester my buddies for the sake of victory and in flip instantly develop into “the issue“As soon as any match begins, nobody within the group could be glad – not even me. Tabletop simulator allowed me to see this nice MTG the deck's worst drawback.
Though I loved taking part in Yennett, the little experiment made me understand that this wouldn't be such an excellent deck to make use of towards my buddies, which ended up saving me round $300. Earlier than Tabletop simulatorI'd have presumably constructed and bought the deck, solely to strive it out later, leaving the sport with a sense of bitterness and disappointment at having invested in one thing that is perhaps off-putting to others. When attempting new Magic: The Reunion Commander decks are probably the most direct strategy to Tabletop simulatorSteam recreation can even assist with updates.
The tabletop simulator additionally helped me with MTG Commander updates
I take a look at card updates and removals earlier than making use of adjustments
I lately purchased Countless Punishment, the perfect Magic The Gathering: Duskmourn Commander's deck. The deck, which options Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls, is already an important precon to run, however it might get exponentially higher with upgrades. Similar to discovering new decks to play, researching deck upgrades generally is a tiring effort and it doesn't all the time repay. This can lead to a number of dozen and even lots of of {dollars} spent on playing cards which can be advisable however don't look that good throughout precise play, and that is the place Tabletop simulator enter.
Gamers can modify their decks on their most popular itemizing platform after which import them, permitting them to check out new playing cards they take into account buying. For instance, I used to be in a position to run my Valgavoth deck simulating an improve with Sulfuric Vortex, Roiling Vortex, and Fiery Emancipation. After a number of video games, I used to be certain these had been upgrades that made sense to purchase, not like Mana Barbs. As robust as Mana Barbs is, he turns into a goal for elimination as quickly as he enters the board, which might make him a wasted funding in Magic: The Reunion.
For an replace to be added, a card must be eliminated and Tabletop simulator it additionally gave me a greater likelihood of taking part in a number of the playing cards which can be advisable to be eliminated. Enchanter's Bane, for instance, is listed among the many playing cards that may be faraway from Valgavoth's deck, however I've had plenty of enjoyable taking part in with it for now, which implies I'll prioritize eradicating different suggestions to make room for upgrades.
Regardless that the gaming expertise supplied by Tabletop simulator pales compared to in-person Commander tables, Steam gaming presents an alternate for me to play with my buddies with out having to attend a complete month earlier than our schedules match up. Plus, this $20 funding has additionally helped me handle my cash higher with regards to buying new Magic: The Reunion decks and upgrades because it permits me to check them out and ensure I like them earlier than making a ultimate choice.