Introduction
Magic: The Gathering is known for its epic battles, intricate strategies, and, occasionally, its bizarre flavor. Amongst the many themes and archetypes present in the game, one stands out for its delicious appeal: Food! Food tokens, those delectable little artifacts that offer a bit of life gain and a whole lot of potential, have carved out a surprisingly strong niche in the Commander format. Forget the dragons and angels; sometimes, the most satisfying victory comes from a well-timed sacrifice of a gingerbrute!
But what makes Food such an intriguing theme for Commander? It’s the inherent fun and casual nature, coupled with some surprisingly potent synergies. It’s a theme that invites creativity, offers unique deck-building challenges, and ultimately allows you to serve your opponents a heaping helping of defeat.
This article will guide you through the world of Food Commanders MTG. We’ll explore some of the most effective and flavorful commanders, delve into the key strategies that make Food decks tick, and offer invaluable deck-building tips to help you cook up a winning strategy. Prepare your appetite; the feast is about to begin!
The Commanders: Food Chain Leaders
The heart of any Commander deck is, of course, the commander itself. When it comes to Food-themed decks, a select few cards stand out as the culinary masterminds leading the charge. These commanders offer unique ways to generate Food tokens, capitalize on their sacrifice, or otherwise build a strategy centered around the edible artifacts.
Master Chef of the Izzet League
First on the menu is [[Gyome, Master Chef]]. This Izzet (Blue/Red) commander is a master of token generation and artifact synergy. Gyome taps to create a food token at the end of your turn, and also creates one whenever another nontoken artifact enters the battlefield under your control. He’s a great choice if you want a more controlling and value-oriented Food deck.
Gyome’s strengths lie in his ability to consistently generate Food tokens. It may not seem like much, but those tokens add up over time, providing a steady stream of life gain and sacrifice fodder. His Izzet colors also grant access to powerful card draw and control spells, allowing you to dictate the pace of the game and protect your delicious creations. Key cards that synergize well with Gyome include artifact-centric cards like [[Saheeli, Sublime Artificer]], which makes more tokens off of your food production, and cards that care about artifacts entering and leaving the battlefield like [[Reckless Fireweaver]]. Cards that let you copy your artifacts, such as [[Mirage Mirror]], are also great.
However, Gyome can be mana-intensive, and his abilities are more suited to a slower, value-oriented strategy. He’s not the best choice if you want a fast, aggressive Food deck. His weakness also lies in how slow his ability to produce food is. A single food each turn won’t be enough to win a Commander game on its own.
The Culinary Queen of the Underworld
Next is [[Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar]]. Try saying that five times fast! This Rakdos (Black/Red) commander is a true powerhouse, turning Food tokens into a weapon of mass deliciousness. Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar becomes castable with the presence of [[The Underworld Cookbook]], and can then be used to deal damage to creatures based on the food you have sacrificed this turn.
Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar’s strengths lie in her high value. Her weakness is she needs the cookbook to work. She also enables a highly linear gameplan, which may get stale after a few games. Still, key cards for her deck are Food token generators like [[Gingerbrute]] and [[Golden Goose]], cards to sacrifice the food like [[Goblin Bombardment]], and cards to find these pieces like [[Gamble]].
Honorable Mentions in the Kitchen
No discussion of Food Commanders is complete without mentioning a few other notable chefs. [[Peregrin Took]] from the Lord of the Rings set allows for food token creation and card draw. Partnered commanders [[Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit]] and [[Sam, Loyal Attendant]] can also form the basis of a decent Food deck.
Core Strategies & Synergies: The Recipe for Success
Building a successful Food Commander deck isn’t just about throwing a bunch of Food tokens into a pile and hoping for the best. It requires understanding the core strategies and synergies that make the archetype truly shine.
The Importance of Token Generation
First and foremost, you need a reliable way to generate Food tokens. Without a steady supply of edible artifacts, your deck will quickly run out of steam. Cards like [[Savvy Hunter]] and [[Golden Goose]] provide consistent Food token generation, while others, like [[Oko, Thief of Crowns]], can transform your opponents’ creatures into delectable snacks. [[Gingerbrute]] may not look like much, but it makes an artifact for a single mana that can create a food for two.
Why is token generation so important? Food tokens serve multiple purposes. They provide life gain to keep you alive against aggressive strategies, they act as fodder for sacrifice outlets, and they contribute to a growing board presence. The more Food you have, the more options you have!
The Value of Sacrifice Outlets
Having Food tokens is great, but you need ways to actually use them. This is where sacrifice outlets come in. These cards allow you to sacrifice Food tokens for a variety of effects, such as drawing cards, dealing damage, or gaining even more life. [[Viscera Seer]] and [[Woe Strider]] are excellent, cheap sacrifice outlets that can provide valuable card advantage. [[Disciple of the Vault]] and [[Korvold, Fae-Cursed King]] offer even more potent payoffs for sacrificing Food tokens.
Sacrifice outlets are crucial for converting your Food tokens into tangible benefits. They allow you to trigger abilities that care about artifacts entering or leaving the battlefield, fuel graveyard strategies, and even combo off for the win!
Life Gain and the Sweet Taste of Victory
Food tokens provide inherent life gain, and this can be leveraged to your advantage. Cards like [[Aetherflux Reservoir]] can turn your life gain into a devastating laser beam, while [[Sanguine Bond]] and [[Exquisite Blood]] create a powerful combo that can quickly drain your opponents’ life totals. Even more straightforward life gain payoffs like [[Righteous Valkyrie]] can provide surprising value in a Food deck.
Life gain isn’t just about staying alive; it’s about building a resource that you can use to fuel other effects. It can allow you to pay life for card draw, activate powerful abilities, or even deter your opponents from attacking you.
Artifact Synergies: More Than Just a Snack
Remember, Food tokens are artifacts, and this opens up a whole new world of synergies. Cards that care about artifacts entering or leaving the battlefield, such as [[Academy Manufactor]], can generate even more value from your Food tokens. [[Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge]] and [[Urza, Lord High Artificer]] can turn your Food tokens into powerful creatures or mana sources.
Embracing artifact synergies is key to maximizing the potential of your Food deck. It allows you to create a complex and resilient engine that can grind out your opponents in the long game.
Unlocking the Combo Potential
Food decks can have surprising combo potential. A classic combo is Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar + Cookbook + Sac Outlet + Damage dealer. Sacrifice a food to deal damage with Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar. Repeat this process to deal a high amount of damage. While most food decks won’t be super competitive, this kind of combo can definitely win the game.
Deck-Building Tips and Considerations: The Chef’s Special
Building a Food Commander deck is a delicious challenge, but with the right ingredients, you can create a truly unforgettable culinary masterpiece.
A Foundation of Mana
A stable mana base is crucial for any Commander deck, but it’s especially important for multicolored Food decks. Invest in dual lands, mana rocks, and ramp spells to ensure you can cast your spells consistently.
Never Starve for Cards
Card draw is essential for maintaining momentum and preventing your deck from running out of steam. Include plenty of card draw options, such as [[Harmonize]], [[Beast Whisperer]], and [[Skullclamp]].
Removing the Unpleasant Flavors
You need removal spells to deal with your opponents’ threats. Include a mix of creature removal, artifact removal, and enchantment removal to handle a variety of situations.
Resilience in the Face of Disaster
Commander is a chaotic format, and board wipes are common. Build your deck to be resilient and able to recover from setbacks. Include recursion spells, protection spells, and ways to rebuild your board presence quickly.
Adapting to the Culinary Landscape
Finally, consider the power level and preferences of your local Commander group. Tailor your deck to fit the meta and ensure you’re playing at a level that’s enjoyable for everyone. Some playgroups prefer more casual decks, whereas others may value high-power and optimized decks.
Example Decklist: Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar: The Ultimate Food Fight
Here’s a sample decklist for an Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar Commander deck:
- Commander: Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar
- Key Cards: The Underworld Cookbook, Goblin Bombardment, Mayhem Devil, Viscera Seer, Gingerbrute, Golden Goose, Deadly Dispute, Bloodghast, Reanimate, Animate Dead, Dockside Extortionist, Vampiric Tutor, Demonic Tutor, Rakdos Signet, Fellwar Stone, Sol Ring.
This deck focuses on generating Food tokens, sacrificing them for value, and using Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar’s ability to deal damage to creatures and opponents. It also includes graveyard recursion to bring back key creatures and combo pieces. This deck can be upgraded with more expensive tutors and lands.
Conclusion: The End of the Feast (For Now)
Building a Food Commanders MTG deck offers a unique and flavorful experience. From the strategic token generation to the satisfying sacrifice synergies and the surprising combo potential, Food decks offer a rewarding and often hilarious way to play Commander. They’re a fantastic way to engage with the game on a more casual level, while still maintaining strategic depth and the potential for victory.
So, gather your ingredients, sharpen your knives, and prepare to serve your opponents a heaping helping of defeat! The world of Food Commanders awaits. Now, tell us in the comments: What is your favorite Food Commander? What are some of the best cards for a Food Commander deck that we missed?
(Disclaimer: Card prices and availability may vary. Always check the current market prices before purchasing cards.)
