Since its implementation, Wizards's new policy of
"print cards for Commander" has made tweaking a deck like this one
harder than ever. With every new set, there's a number of cards that can make
it in, so deck space is at a premium. I'm constantly trying to juggle playing
the most powerful cards, the most fun cards, and giving some love to each color
(*cough* RED *cough*). Unfortunately, that means not every card that is
playable or powerful actually can make it in the deck. As I always try to tell
people at the shop, a Commander deck is a personal thing and should represent
how you like to play Magic and with which cards. Below are some recent, solid
cards that many people would play, but for one reason or another, aren't yet in
my deck list. This is the first part in what I hope is a continuing series of posts that will provide some insight into my thought processes when adding and cutting cards. Hope you can get something out of it!
Olivia is a creature that I desperately want to play.
Finding a spot for her is very difficult, though. She was on the list for
attempted inclusion in the Gatecrash update, but still hasn't found a place
yet. She should, though - she's a creature (!), she's cheap, she's Red (I try
to push to fit more Red in the deck as it is so criminally underrepresented) -
but the creatures making it in are so much more abusable in this format. Because
of her ability to kill things, steal things, and grow herself, she will remain
on the list for inclusion for a while, I'm sure, but she didn't quite make it
in this round simply because the Gatecrash update is too large.
