Hungry for victory? The Commander format in Magic: The Gathering is known for epic battles, complex strategies, and flavorful themes. If you’re looking to serve up a unique and resilient deck that will leave your opponents feeling famished, look no further than the delectable world of Food Commander MTG decks! Food tokens, those delightful little artifacts, offer a surprisingly powerful engine for life gain, value generation, and even surprising combo potential in the Commander arena.
Before diving into the feast, let’s quickly recap what makes Food, well, Food. Food tokens are colorless artifact tokens that enter the battlefield with the ability to be sacrificed for two mana to gain three life. On their own, they provide a small trickle of life, but when combined with the right synergies, these seemingly innocuous tokens become a powerful resource.
So, why should you consider building a Food Commander deck? The allure is multifaceted. First, the consistent life gain provides exceptional resilience against aggressive decks, making you a tougher target. Secondly, numerous cards reward you for creating and sacrificing Food tokens, leading to explosive value and powerful synergies. Thirdly, the theme is undeniably fun and flavorful, offering a refreshing departure from more serious archetypes. Finally, the Food Commander MTG archetype offers a surprising amount of flexibility. You can build aggressive decks that overwhelm opponents with creatures and token swarms, control decks that grind out value, or even combo decks that utilize Food as a key component.
This article will explore effective strategies, key cards, and recommended commanders for building a successful Food-themed deck in MTG Commander, helping you cook up a recipe for victory. Get ready to indulge in some serious culinary combat!
Culinary Commanders for Your Deck
The heart of any Commander deck lies with its commander. Choosing the right leader is crucial for dictating your strategy and maximizing synergy. Several commanders excel in the Food Commander MTG archetype, each offering a unique flavor profile.
Gyome Master Chef
Gyome, Master Chef is a fantastic choice for leading your culinary army. This Boros (Red/White) commander excels at generating Food tokens whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control. More than that, Gyome grants all your creatures indestructible until end of turn if you sacrifice a Food token. This protective ability allows you to attack with impunity or weather board wipes with ease, making your creatures remarkably difficult to remove.
Gyome thrives in decks that focus on generating tokens and overwhelming opponents with a swarm of creatures. Cards that create multiple tokens at once, like [[Hangarback Walker]] or [[Legion Warboss]], are especially potent, as they trigger Gyome’s Food creation ability multiple times. Token doublers, such as [[Anointed Procession]] or [[Parallel Lives]], further amplify your token generation, leading to a deluge of both creatures and Food. Giving your creatures added benefit and Indestructible lets you swing in with a wide board of creatures without fear of dying. This is what makes the combination of Boros colors perfect.
A sample deck idea for Gyome could center around a creature-heavy, go-wide strategy. Fill your deck with creatures that create tokens, cards that buff your creatures, and effects that protect your board. The constant stream of Food will keep your life total high and provide a crucial edge in combat.
Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar and the Oven
This name might be a mouthful, but “Asmor” brings a powerful and unique angle to Food Commander MTG strategies. Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar (we’ll just call her Asmor) is a Rakdos (Black/Red) commander who cares deeply about discarding cards and sacrificing Food. While she requires a specific set-up, her ability to deal three damage to any target when you discard a card and sacrifice a food makes her a fantastic enabler and payoff.
Asmor unlocks some truly unique Food Commander MTG strategies. The key to Asmor’s power lies in her interaction with The Underworld Cookbook, which allows you to create food tokens for free whenever you discard a card, and her cheap casting cost. Her gameplan involves setting up a free food token generation engine and then sacrificing those food tokens for incredible value. Using that engine, you can then either mill out opponents with Asmor, or gain incredible value off of cards such as [[Mayhem Devil]].
This is how a value-based, combo-centric deck can be built around Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar. This deck will be filled with cards that create food tokens as well as sacrifice food tokens for a variety of effects. These food tokens can then be used to control the board, draw cards, gain life, or even deal damage to your opponents.
Peregrin Took
For a more unique approach to Food Commander MTG, consider Peregrin Took. This Bant (Green/White/Blue) commander generates food tokens when other hobbits enter the battlefield, but more importantly, Peregrin has an activated ability to sacrifice a food for a card.
Peregrin Took allows you to turn your food tokens into card advantage, fueling your hand and ensuring you always have options. Building a strategy around Peregrin Took relies heavily on generating tokens and card draw. You will want to get a token engine online as quickly as possible, such as [[Second Harvest]] and then get Peregrin Took on the field to start drawing cards. These hobbits will generate you a lot of value and tempo.
For a sample deck idea, you will want to construct a go-wide value deck that accrues value off of the many tokens and food tokens you generate. As your board expands with creatures and food, Peregrin Took provides a steady stream of card draw to fuel your strategy.
Honorable Mentions
Several other commanders can also support a Food Commander MTG theme. [[Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit]] works well in conjunction with Sam to gain incremental life advantage and card draw while [[Sam, Loyal Attendant]] helps generate even more food tokens. These commanders offer more subtle, value-oriented approaches to the archetype.
Essential Ingredients: Key Cards for Your Food Commander Deck
No matter which commander you choose, certain cards are essential for any successful Food-themed deck. These cards provide the building blocks for generating Food tokens, sacrificing them for value, and reaping the rewards.
Food Token Generators
Consistent Food generation is the foundation of any Food Commander MTG deck. Cards like [[Feasting Hobbit]], [[Gingerbrute]], [[Golden Goose]], and [[Trail of Crumbs]] provide a steady stream of Food tokens, ensuring you always have a resource to tap into. Prioritizing these cards in your opening hand is crucial for establishing a strong early game.
Food Sacrifice Outlets
Creating Food is only half the battle; you also need ways to sacrifice it for value. [[Academy Manufactor]] turns your Food tokens into a variety of resources. [[The Underworld Cookbook]] works in conjunction with Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar to create value whenever you discard a card. [[Oko, Thief of Crowns]] can use his -5 ability to turn Food into powerful 3/3 creatures. Versatility is key; look for sacrifice outlets that offer life gain, card draw, creature removal, or other useful effects.
Payoff Cards: Reap the Rewards
These cards reward you for creating and sacrificing Food tokens. [[Gyome, Master Chef]] buffs your creatures, [[Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar]] and [[Peregrin Took]] offer powerful and unique effects tied to food tokens. Other cards that benefit include [[Cauldron Familiar]] + [[Witch's Oven]] and [[Devilish Valet]].
Support Cards: Completing the Meal
While Food-specific cards are important, don’t neglect the need for general support. Ramp (mana acceleration), such as [[Rampant Growth]] and other green staples, is crucial for casting your commanders and deploying your threats. Card draw, beyond Food-related options, like [[Rhystic Study]] and [[Mystic Remora]], ensures you don’t run out of gas. Include board wipes, such as [[Wrath of God]], and targeted removal, like [[Swords to Plowshares]], to control the board. Protection spells, like [[Lightning Greaves]] and [[Swiftfoot Boots]], safeguard your commander and key creatures from removal.
Strategies and Tips for a Flavorful Victory
Playing a Food Commander MTG deck requires a strategic approach. Here’s a breakdown of key strategies and tips:
Early Game: Laying the Foundation
Focus on ramping and establishing a board presence. Prioritize playing Food token generators to ensure a consistent supply of resources. Consider playing smaller value cards such as [[Gingerbrute]] to get the ball rolling.
Mid Game: Cooking Up Synergies
Start leveraging Food synergies. Use sacrifice outlets to generate value, control the board with removal, and protect your key creatures. If playing Asmor, you’ll want to get your engine going as soon as possible. If playing Peregrin Took or Gyome, you will want to get your token generation online as quickly as possible to gain value from those food tokens.
Late Game: Serving Up the Finish
Close out the game with a big payoff card, an overwhelming board state, or a combo. Depending on your commander and deck build, this could involve flooding the board with creatures, draining your opponents with incremental damage, or assembling a game-winning combo.
Mana Management: A Balanced Diet
Carefully balance your mana usage between creating Food and using sacrifice outlets. Don’t overextend in one area; strive for a steady flow of both resources.
Political Considerations: Sweetening the Deal
Life gain can make you a less appealing target early on. Use this to your advantage by building alliances and offering assistance to other players.
Weaknesses: Avoiding Indigestion
Be aware of your weaknesses. Cards that punish life gain, artifact removal (targeting Food tokens or sacrifice outlets), and graveyard hate can be problematic. Prepare for these threats by including answers in your deck.
Conclusion: A Satisfying Feast
Building a Food Commander MTG deck offers a unique and rewarding experience. With its resilience, value generation, and flavorful theme, this archetype can surprise your opponents and leave them hungry for more. Remember to choose a commander that suits your play style, prioritize Food token generation and sacrifice outlets, and include plenty of support cards. Don’t be afraid to experiment and brew your own custom creations. Food Commander is a flavorful and resilient archetype with the potential to surprise your opponents. So, gather your ingredients, fire up the oven, and get ready to serve up a delicious victory!
