<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Barroom Brawl" href="#" target="_blank">Barroom Brawl</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://craigspearing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Craig J Spearing</a></em></p>
<p class="p1">With Commander being more complex and expensive than ever, players are searching for alternatives. As it turns out, some cards, despite being good enough to otherwise include in decks, get too annoying to track and just <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKZaLp-LDv0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aren't worth the hassle</a>.</p>
<p class="p1">But what happens when we take the mindset of "All these counters, tokens, dungeons, double-faced cards, and other stuff is too much to deal with" and expand it to a whole Commander variant? In other words, is there a version of the format available for people who just want to go to a local bar or restaurant and run some games for fun?</p>
<p class="p1">I enjoy playing <em>Magic </em>in public places. It's always great when people walk by and strike up a conversation about how they love to play too, or they know someone who does, or how they've always been interested in learning more about the game. But Commander, which usually requires tons of tokens, dice, sleeves, deck boxes, and expensive cards, isn't exactly the best format to bring out and about to a random location.</p>
<p class="p1">The idea of a "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/mhbU-u_J6HI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bar cube</a>" has been around for at least a few years, and it sounds like this concept is being brought to Commander as well. In this format, decks are specifically designed to be portable, simple, and cheap. After all, out in a bar or restaurant, there's always the risk of cards getting lost or having a drink spilled on them.</p>
<h2>What Are "Bar Decks"?</h2>
<p class="p1">The rules for bar decks are as follows:</p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">No counters</li>
<li class="li1">No tokens</li>
<li class="li1">No double-faced cards</li>
<li>No <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Marker#Designations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">designations</a> that require cards or reminders (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Monarch" href="#" target="_blank">The Monarch</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Initiative" href="#" target="_blank">The Initiative</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ring" href="#" target="_blank">The Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, etc.)</li>
<li class="li1">No searching for cards (except maybe basic lands)</li>
<li class="li1">Only cards you don’t mind falling on the floor or having a food/drink touching them</li>
</ul>
<p>As it turns out, these rules pretty much completely eliminate the hassle of Commander and offer a much-needed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Respite" href="#" target="_blank">Respite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from overly complex board states. These guidelines also set up fun new brewing opportunities.</p>
<p>As someone who absolutely loves building decks of all kinds, the idea of bar decks got my gears turning. Not only do these restrictions reduce the number of potential Commanders from over 2,900 down to <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=-fo%3Atoken+-fo%3Acounter+-is%3Adfc+legal%3Aedh+usd%3C.5+is%3Acommander&amp;unique=cards&amp;as=grid&amp;order=edhrec&amp;dir=asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around 850</a>, it also forces us to further examine which ones of these will be a good fit for the format.</p>
<p>For example, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obeka, Brute Chronologist" href="#" target="_blank">Obeka, Brute Chronologist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is nowhere near as impactful without cards that make token copies of permanents. And <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres" href="#" target="_blank">Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is pretty much useless without any counters to proliferate.</p>
<p class="p1">But which commanders <em>are </em>a good fit for this format?</p>
<h2>Small Elf, Big Mana</h2>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Belbe, Corrupted Observer"></div></div></p>
<p>Belbe decks usually follow a very simple formula: low-cost mass life loss enabler + this commander = mana for big payoff spells. As it turns out, none of this requires counters, tokens, searching libraries, or any special bells or whistles.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vicious Conquistador"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Risky Shortcut"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pathrazer of Ulamog"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Belbe Bar Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Belbe, Corrupted Observer
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Armaggon, Future Shark
*1 Artisan of Kozilek
*1 Bane of Bala Ged
*1 Bighorner Rancher
*1 Bladegriff Prototype
*1 Breaker of Armies
*1 Breaker of Creation
*1 Deceiver of Form
*1 Dread Defiler
*1 Endbringer
*1 Garruk&#039;s Packleader
*1 Gigantomancer
*1 Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma
*1 Havoc Demon
*1 Loyal Subordinate
*1 Mardu Shadowspear
*1 Night Market Lookout
*1 Pathrazer of Ulamog
*1 Psychosis Crawler
*1 Pulse Tracker
*1 Sandstone Oracle
*1 Sanguine Syphoner
*1 Scuttling Doom Engine
*1 Shepherd of Rot
*1 Shigeki, Jukai Visionary
*1 Siege Zombie
*1 Soul of New Phyrexia
*1 Spearbreaker Behemoth
*1 Steel Hellkite
*1 Survey Mechan
*1 Thorn Mammoth
*1 Thornbow Archer
*1 Ulamog&#039;s Crusher
*1 Vicious Conquistador
*1 World Breaker
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Crushing Disappointment
*1 Lifestream&#039;s Blessing
*1 Return of the Wildspeaker
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cabal Conditioning
*1 Damnable Pact
*1 Exsanguinate
*1 Gaze of Granite
*1 Profane Command
*1 Risky Shortcut
*1 Selective Obliteration
*1 Vicious Rumors
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Dreamstone Hedron
*1 Drossclaw
*1 Fireshrieker
*1 Gilded Lotus
*1 Golgari Signet
*1 Hedron Archive
*1 Hedron Matrix
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Sinister Monolith
*1 Staff of Nin
*1 Sword of Vengeance
*1 The Dominion Bracelet
*1 Tower of Fortunes
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Garruk&#039;s Uprising
*1 Retreat to Hagra
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Bonders&#039; Enclave
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*13 Forest
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Sea Gate Wreckage
*15 Swamp
*1 Twilight Mire
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Flying Fish</h2>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders"></div></div></p>
<p>Next up is a fun "build around me" commander that pairs a high density of Equipment with creatures that benefit from having flying and haste. No frills needed, just put weapons on your team and attack!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Dalakos Bar Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Acquisition Octopus
*1 Akal Pakal, First Among Equals
*1 April, Reporter of the Weird
*1 Armory Automaton
*1 Bladegraft Aspirant
*1 Champion of the Flame
*1 Covert Technician
*1 Crackdown Construct
*1 Deepfathom Skulker
*1 Don &amp; Raph, Hard Science
*1 Enthusiastic Mechanaut
*1 Fear of Failed Tests
*1 Freya Crescent
*1 Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms
*1 Grenzo&#039;s Ruffians
*1 Hammerfist Giant
*1 Horned Loch-Whale // Lagoon Breach
*1 Kazuul&#039;s Toll Collector
*1 Mm&#039;menon, the Right Hand
*1 Prophetic Flamespeaker
*1 Quicksmith Rebel
*1 Quicksmith Spy
*1 Raubahn, Bull of Ala Mhigo
*1 Reckless Fireweaver
*1 Shao Jun
*1 Shimmer Dragon
*1 Traxos, Scourge of Kroog
*1 Two-Headed Hunter // Twice the Rage
*1 Unctus, Grand Metatect
*1 Vedalken Engineer
*1 Vedalken Humiliator
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Giantfall
*1 Magmaquake
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Rebel Salvo
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Earthquake
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Assassin Gauntlet
*1 Bearded Axe
*1 Bespoke Bō
*1 Bonesplitter
*1 Brotherhood Vertibird
*1 Darksteel Axe
*1 Fireshrieker
*1 Forebear&#039;s Blade
*1 Goggles of Night
*1 Golem-Skin Gauntlets
*1 Hard-Won Jitte
*1 Hero&#039;s Blade
*1 Illvoi Light Jammer
*1 Mask of Memory
*1 Masterwork of Ingenuity
*1 Moonsnare Prototype
*1 Mystery Key
*1 Rogue&#039;s Gloves
*1 Skyblinder Staff
*1 The Irencrag
*1 Thran Power Suit
*1 Wrecking Ball Arm
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Ghirapur Aether Grid
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Cascade Bluffs
*1 Command Tower
*1 Daily Bugle Building
*1 Desolate Lighthouse
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Frostboil Snarl
*12 Island
*12 Mountain
*1 Restless Spire
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Shivan Reef
*1 Silverbluff Bridge
*1 Sulfur Falls
*1 Temple of Epiphany
*1 Wandering Fumarole
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Peak Gruul</h2>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nikya of the Old Ways"></div></div></p>
<p>What's a better fit for a simplicity-first format than an <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> commander that takes noncreature spells out of the equation entirely?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Nikya Bar Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Nikya of the Old Ways
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Acidic Slime
*1 Aggressive Mammoth
*1 Angrath&#039;s Marauders
*1 Annoyed Altisaur
*1 Arashi, the Sky Asunder
*1 Arbor Elf
*1 Augur of Autumn
*1 Battle Mammoth
*1 Borborygmos Enraged
*1 Boundary Lands Ranger
*1 Clifftop Lookout
*1 Combustible Gearhulk
*1 Combustion Man
*1 Conclave Naturalists
*1 Druid of Purification
*1 Drumhunter
*1 Elvish Rejuvenator
*1 End-Raze Forerunners
*1 Garruk&#039;s Horde
*1 Garruk&#039;s Packleader
*1 Ghor-Clan Rampager
*1 Glorybringer
*1 Gruul Ragebeast
*1 Hoard-Smelter Dragon
*1 Ilysian Caryatid
*1 Insidious Fungus
*1 Jiwari, the Earth Aflame
*1 Lavaleaper
*1 Leafkin Druid
*1 Magmatic Force
*1 Meteor Golem
*1 Molder Slug
*1 Moldgraf Monstrosity
*1 Mordant Dragon
*1 Muerra, Trash Tactician
*1 Nullhide Ferox
*1 Nullmage Shepherd
*1 Pelakka Wurm
*1 Pyrewild Shaman
*1 Rampaging War Mammoth
*1 Rhino, Barreling Brute
*1 Rubblehulk
*1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
*1 Shigeki, Jukai Visionary
*1 Skarrg Goliath
*1 Soul of Shandalar
*1 Stalking Vengeance
*1 Stone-Seeder Hierophant
*1 Surrak, Elusive Hunter
*1 Thorn Mammoth
*1 Trailtracker Scout
*1 Tyrant of Kher Ridges
*1 Ulvenwald Observer
*1 Ursapine
*1 Verdant Sun&#039;s Avatar
*1 Vizier of the Menagerie
*1 Voyaging Satyr
*1 Webstrike Elite
*1 Wrecking Ogre
*1 Zealous Conscripts
*1 Zhur-Taa Druid
[/Creatures]
[Lands]
*1 Bonders&#039; Enclave
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*16 Forest
*1 Game Trail
*1 Karplusan Forest
*1 Kessig Wolf Run
*1 Mosswort Bridge
*9 Mountain
*1 Restless Ridgeline
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Sheltered Thicket
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2 class="p1">More Bar Commander Ideas</h2>
<p>Here are some more commanders that look ripe for bar deck brewing.</p>
<h3 class="p1">Monocolored</h3>
<ul>
<li class="p1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beatrix, Loyal General" href="#" target="_blank">Beatrix, Loyal General</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li class="p1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Callaphe, Beloved of the Sea" href="#" target="_blank">Callaphe, Beloved of the Sea</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li class="p1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mistform Ultimus" href="#" target="_blank">Mistform Ultimus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Beatrix, Loyal General"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Callaphe, Beloved of the Sea"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mistform Ultimus"></div></div></p>
<ul>
<li class="p1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alpharael, Stonechosen" href="#" target="_blank">Alpharael, Stonechosen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li class="p1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Asmodeus the Archfiend" href="#" target="_blank">Asmodeus the Archfiend</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li class="p1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alpharael, Stonechosen"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Asmodeus the Archfiend"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms"></div></div></p>
<h3 class="p1">Two Colors</h3>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bruna, Light of Alabaster" href="#" target="_blank">Bruna, Light of Alabaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Black Waltz No. 3" href="#" target="_blank">Black Waltz No. 3</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Marhault Elsdragon" href="#" target="_blank">General Marhault Elsdragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bruna, Light of Alabaster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Waltz No. 3"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="General Marhault Elsdragon"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wylie Duke, Atiin Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Wylie Duke, Atiin Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elenda, Saint of Dusk" href="#" target="_blank">Elenda, Saint of Dusk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sanar, Innovative First-Year" href="#" target="_blank">Sanar, Innovative First-Year</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wylie Duke, Atiin Hero"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elenda, Saint of Dusk"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sanar, Innovative First-Year"></div></div></p>
<h3 class="p1">Three Colors</h3>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eriette, the Beguiler" href="#" target="_blank">Eriette, the Beguiler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obeka, Splitter of Seconds" href="#" target="_blank">Obeka, Splitter of Seconds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder" href="#" target="_blank">Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eriette, the Beguiler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obeka, Splitter of Seconds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mr. Orfeo, the Boulder"></div></div></p>
<ul>
<li class="p1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Annie Flash, the Veteran" href="#" target="_blank">Annie Flash, the Veteran</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li class="p1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mr. Foxglove" href="#" target="_blank">Mr. Foxglove</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li class="p1"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teval, Arbiter of Virtue" href="#" target="_blank">Teval, Arbiter of Virtue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Annie Flash, the Veteran"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mr. Foxglove"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teval, Arbiter of Virtue"></div></div></p>
<h2>Wrapping Up</h2>
<p>Do you have any Commander decks already built with a "no hassle" mindset? Are there any other commanders you think would be fun to start brewing around for this format? Let us know in the comments.</p>
<p>Thanks for reading, and see you next time.</p>


bar decks

Can Bar Decks Fix the Hassle and Complexity of Commander?