Introduction
Tired of facing the same relentless, hyper-competitive decks at your local Magic: The Gathering nights? Do you crave a different kind of game, one where laughter and camaraderie are as important as victory? Or perhaps you are new to the game and looking for something affordable and friendly to learn the ropes with? If so, the concept of “Food and Fellowship” in MTG might be exactly what you are searching for. This approach focuses on building a deck that’s not only budget-conscious but also encourages player interaction, promotes fun, and softens the usual cutthroat competition.
The idea is to create a deck that uses life gain, token generation, and cards that affect all players, leading to longer, more engaging games. Think less about optimized strategies designed to crush your opponents quickly, and more about creating memorable moments around the table. It’s about building a shared experience and fostering genuine fellowship.
This article will provide a detailed decklist for a Food and Fellowship deck, crafted for the Commander format, explain the core strategies, offer practical suggestions for budget alternatives, and provide gameplay tips to guide you to victory amidst the fellowship.
The Decklist: A Recipe for Fun
Below you’ll find the decklist itself, a meticulously curated collection of cards designed to work in harmony to create the desired game experience. This list is intended to be a starting point. Feel free to adapt it to your own preferences and available cards. The deck aims to utilize ramp, card draw, token generation, and life gain elements in order to overwhelm opponents with value.
(Note: For clarity and SEO friendliness, I’m avoiding a traditional table format here and will list the card names in categories. Adapt this to your preferred presentation in your final version.)
Commander
[[Insert Commander Name Here – Choose one that fits the theme, like a commander that generates tokens or cares about life gain. Examples: [[Oloro, Ageless Ascetic]], [[Atla Palani, Nest Tender]], [[Trostani, Selesnya’s Voice]].]
Creatures
[[Rhox Faithmender]]
[[Soul Warden]]
[[Soul’s Attendant]]
[[Suture Priest]]
[[Ajani’s Pridemate]]
[[Wellwisher]]
[[Leonin Warleader]]
[[Kitchen Finks]]
[[Avenger of Zendikar]]
[[Sprout Swarm]]
Instants
[[Swords to Plowshares]]
[[Path to Exile]]
[[Generous Gift]]
[[Teferi’s Protection]]
[[Fog]]
[[Rout]]
Sorceries
[[Cultivate]]
[[Kodama’s Reach]]
[[Rampant Growth]]
[[Austere Command]]
[[Hour of Reckoning]]
[[Increasing Devotion]]
Artifacts
[[Sol Ring]]
[[Arcane Signet]]
[[Commander’s Sphere]]
[[Cultivator’s Caravan]]
[[Lifecrafter’s Bestiary]]
[[Altar of the Brood]]
Enchantments
[[Growing Ranks]]
[[Rhystic Study]]
[[Smothering Tithe]]
[[Phyrexian Arena]]
[[Blind Obedience]]
[[Beastmaster Ascension]]
Lands
[Include a balanced mana base for your chosen commander’s color identity. Aim for a mix of basic lands, dual lands, and utility lands.]
(Example: Plains x10, Forest x10, Temple Garden, Scattered Groves, Command Tower, Exotic Orchard, etc.)
Core Strategy: Growing Strength Through Togetherness
The Food and Fellowship deck thrives on creating a board state that steadily grows in power while also providing small advantages to your opponents. This helps to avoid being perceived as a threat early on, allowing you to build your resources and position yourself for a strong mid-to-late game.
The primary win condition often revolves around overwhelming your opponents with a swarm of tokens. Cards like Avenger of Zendikar and Increasing Devotion can rapidly generate a large number of creatures, especially when combined with enchantments like Growing Ranks which helps create even more tokens at the end of your turns. Beastmaster Ascension can then pump these tokens into a formidable force, allowing you to close out the game swiftly.
Life gain is another essential component of the strategy. Soul Warden, Soul’s Attendant, and Suture Priest provide a steady stream of life whenever creatures enter the battlefield, giving you a buffer against aggressive decks and fueling abilities like Ajani’s Pridemate. Rhox Faithmender doubles your life gain, making it even more impactful.
While the deck aims to be friendly, it’s not entirely defenseless. Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile, and Generous Gift are efficient removal spells that can deal with problematic threats, while Fog and Rout provides a reset to stabilize when the board gets out of hand.
Key Cards: The Ingredients of a Great Game
Let’s take a closer look at some of the key cards that make this deck tick:
Rhox Faithmender
This creature is the cornerstone of the life gain strategy. Doubling your life gain effectively doubles the effectiveness of cards like Soul Warden and Suture Priest, quickly putting you out of reach of your opponents’ attacks. Its high toughness also makes it a decent blocker.
Avenger of Zendikar
This card is a powerhouse in any token-based strategy. It creates a large number of Plant tokens when it enters the battlefield, and these tokens grow larger with each land you play. It’s a game-ending threat that demands an immediate answer.
Growing Ranks
At the beginning of your upkeep, populate. This ability allows you to copy a creature token you control, which can quickly create an overwhelming board presence, especially if combined with cards like Leonin Warleader or Avenger of Zendikar.
Beastmaster Ascension
This enchantment turns your tokens into formidable attackers. Once you have seven quest counters, each of your creatures gets plus five, plus five until end of turn. This enchantment can often close out a game in a single turn.
Teferi’s Protection
While not a “friendly” card in the traditional sense, this instant can protect you from board wipes and other devastating effects. Phasing out and gaining protection from everything gives you a crucial edge in tight situations. This helps to maintain the friendly game in a more long-term view.
Smothering Tithe
This enchantment generates treasure tokens when your opponents draw a card, providing you with a steady stream of mana. This ramps your mana, helping you cast bigger spells and generate even more value.
Generous Gift
This removal is not only versatile, but also friendly. It lets you destroy any permanent, then it creates a little creature for your opponent. It is helpful and friendly in a pinch.
Budget Considerations and Affordable Substitutions
Magic: The Gathering can be an expensive hobby, but this deck is designed to be budget-friendly. However, some cards, like Smothering Tithe or Teferi’s Protection, can be pricey. Here are some affordable alternatives:
Smothering Tithe Alternative
[[Prosperity]]: While it doesn’t generate mana, it is a great source of card draw for everyone.
Teferi’s Protection Alternative
[[Ghostly Prison]]: This enchantment makes it more difficult for opponents to attack you, giving you some protection from aggressive strategies.
Replace fetch lands and shock lands with budget-friendly options like gain lands (e.g., [[Tranquil Cove]]) or tapped dual lands (e.g., [[Blossoming Sands]]). These lands may slow you down slightly, but they won’t break the bank.
You can further reduce the cost of the deck by using more common and uncommon cards instead of rares and mythics. Focus on the core strategy of token generation and life gain, and you can build a powerful and fun deck on a budget.
If your budget allows, consider adding cards like [[Land Tax]] for additional ramp, [[Craterhoof Behemoth]] for a more explosive win condition, or [[Parallel Lives]] to further enhance your token generation.
Gameplay Tips: Mastering the Art of Fellowship
To pilot this deck effectively, keep the following tips in mind:
Early Game
Focus on ramping your mana and establishing a solid mana base. Cultivate, Kodama’s Reach, and Rampant Growth are essential for getting ahead. Deploy early life gain creatures like Soul Warden and Soul’s Attendant to start generating value.
Mid Game
Begin developing your token strategy. Cast Avenger of Zendikar or Increasing Devotion to create a board presence. Use Growing Ranks to further multiply your tokens.
Late Game
Close out the game with Beastmaster Ascension or by overwhelming your opponents with a massive swarm of creatures. Use your removal spells to deal with any remaining threats.
Be mindful of your opponents’ decks and adjust your strategy accordingly. If you’re facing a creature-heavy deck, prioritize removal. If you’re facing a control deck, focus on building a resilient board presence.
Clever card interactions abound in this deck. For example, combining Rhox Faithmender with Soul Warden creates an absurd amount of life gain. Using Sprout Swarm repeatedly with buyback lets you create a large number of tokens while also gaining life.
Customization and Future Improvements
This deck is highly customizable and can be adapted to suit your play style and local meta.
Consider adding cards that synergize with your commander’s abilities. For example, if you’re using Oloro, Ageless Ascetic as your commander, you could add more life gain-themed cards like [[Aetherflux Reservoir]] or [[Felidar Sovereign]].
Future upgrades could include adding more powerful removal spells, more efficient ramp spells, or more impactful token generators. Look for cards that provide long-term value and synergize with the deck’s overall strategy.
Consider sideboard options for dealing with specific threats, such as [[Rest in Peace]] for graveyard strategies or [[Stony Silence]] for artifact-heavy decks.
Other cards that didn’t make the initial cut but are worth considering include [[Mentor of the Meek]], [[Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite]], and [[Akroma’s Will]].
Conclusion: A Deck for Gathering, Not Just Winning
The Food and Fellowship deck is all about affordability, fun, and social interaction. It’s a deck that encourages laughter, promotes camaraderie, and creates memorable moments around the table. While it may not be the most competitive deck in the format, it’s a deck that embodies the spirit of Magic: The Gathering: bringing people together through a shared love of the game.
The key strengths of this deck are its resilience, its ability to generate value over time, and its focus on player interaction. Its weaknesses are its vulnerability to board wipes and its reliance on building a board presence.
So, build this deck, gather your friends, and enjoy a night of fun and fellowship! Experiment with different card combinations, adapt the deck to your own preferences, and most importantly, have a good time. May your games be filled with laughter, friendship, and maybe even a little bit of victory.
