Introduction

Mission Statement

Restrictions Breed Creativity

Or at least that’s the theory. This DeckStats page represents my 2022 Commander Deck build challenge. The, albeit self-imposed, rules of which are that:

I can only use cards which I have opened in packs between 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022.

Background

This is my third year of building what I call my Deck of the Year. It’s a little challenge I like to do to make use of all of the cards I amass playing limited all year to build a Commander deck. Given it’s restrictions will be naturally quite low power but serves as a good way to use up some of the cards and in future years remind me of all of the good times!

Last year, the final build was Gruul Werewolves and 2020’s effort saw me pull together Temur Mutate Elementals, both under similar restrictions.

So why do this? As I said, I amass quite a few cards during the year and this gives some of them a home.

But more importantly, I love brewing, but find through a combination of perfect information; accessibility of cards; and my lack of self-control leaves me to building not necessarily powerful, but highly synergistic Commander decks. For most games, this isn’t a downside, but does lead to two important issues:

• My netdecking solves a deck for me far too quickly, and the lack of games I actually get to do means I don’t even get to enjoy the built deck. Instead, I want to have an ongoing brew throughout the year. One with a limited card pool expanding through sealed product to help keep things fresh.
• The few games I may get to have in person are likely not going to be with the more vested players at my Local Games Shop, rather friends who are more casual players with limited collections augmented with the occasional booster. These limitations emulate the same restrictions they have, which will hopefully result in more even games.

With New Capenna, Brother’s War and all sorts of supplementary product – 2022 should be great fun and if you’re interested in my available card pool you’ll find it here: 2022 Card Pool

Builds and Playstyle

As I learnt on previous years, it’s so important to start with three colours (or more) just to maximise the use of the card pool for build number one. My options where WUR (thanks to Hinata), UBG (with the Toad Rider) or WBR. I went with the latter and tried make use of as many artifacts as possible with Isshin heading it up. Not many cards make use of his ability but at least make it three colours!

For the Street of New Capenna update, sacked of the white manner to pivot into Jund with Ziatora heading up the deck. The deck build has a split strategy somewhere between sacrifice, modified and treasures. The end game being something like turning treasures into citizens, sac'ing them to build a very large Towashi Songshaper or Body Dropper and maybe feeding it to Ziatora?

The Commander Legends Baldur's Gate update gave me the chance to do two things - add decent (albeit standard) Commander options for ramp and add some 'fun' cards for the EDH context. Ziatora continues to head up the deck, update saw a general trim of focused, sub par cards for wacky and fun ones. To be honest, I also opened a Jan Janson, which means and given the archetypes in 2X2, I think I'll be going back to Mardu with the next update. I was also a little disappointment not to pick up and "blink" or 'flicker' cards as this could also be a fun build.

Following 2X2 and DMU - straight back to Mardu - a little more Aristocrats than I thought (figured it would be more artefacty). But Brothers War still has plenty of time to change that!

Final updates from Brother's War and we finish 2022 with an Artefact Aristocrats deck!