I love all these precons and the art style wish we could get more sets like this 😅 maybe bloomburrow ravnica edition would be awesome, bloomburrow Meriden
I think Duelist's Heritage would be great in this deck. It's only 3 mana, it can let you get in a big attack out of nowhere (especially with a giant, flying, vigilant, double-striking Ms. Bumbleflower), and you can use it on your opponent's creatures to curry favor with them. And it's cheap!
Kinda surprised the Pheldagrifs weren't at least honorable mentions. Admittedly, at 4 mana they are a bit on the high end, but they can function so well as a political piece. Or a dumping spot for the counters and flying for massive damage.
I think Ms. Bumbleflower is a flavor/mechanic fail, she should have "spells you cast have gift a card: put a +1/+1 counter on target creature, it gains flying until the end of the turn" so she can make better use of the mechanic of the deck without giving so much advantage to your opponents. There are barely any cards that can make effective use of that ability right now.
My suggestion in here would be Proft's Eidetic Memory from MKM! Gives you no maximum hand-size which this deck wants with the amount of cards we can draw, and then turns our card draw into damage with a flood of +1/+1 counters!
It’s nice to see Group Hug decks adding wincons. I’ve always felt that a good Group Hug deck should still be trying to win the game. The way I would build them was to try and put in alternate win cons and sneak them out, but I like the “Hug them until they suffocate” approach of this deck.
30:52 I’m surprised that in the best cards list you didn’t include Bloodroot Apothecary. It’s a great hate piece against the overwhelming amount of Treasure decks people are making, and it basically shuts down Dockside Extortionist.
@@gzzussYeah, I just got to that part. Personally, I disagree with them. That card is basically the signpost of what this deck wants to do. Frankly I think they got so caught up in their narrow idea of what group hug should be that they missed what this deck was doing.
Pretty new to magic and I played this deck on TTS with some buddies and had a blast. First time ever playing group hug and I won the first game and came close on the second. It was very enjoyable to sort of enable all of the opponent's boards by giving them a bunch of value but then turn around and wipe their boards or force them to attack each other. I spent almost the entire 2nd game with just Ms. Bumbleflower on the board and even though I had the most life, no one would attack me because I was making everyone else a problem. Definitely going to pick this deck up to play at my LGS and have a good time spicing up the games.
In 2016 I bought Kynaios and Tiro and am in love with group hug strategies ever since, it feels like a very open to personalizition archetype that also helps you up the level of your gameplay while bringing something different and (mostly, at least in my experience) very positive to the social part of the game, you get to use cards in totally new ways, a simple Swords to Plowshares can become a whole new thing, personally one of my favorite is playing Forced Fruition at any given point as it will fit so well in the decks mechanics
I love this. I've struggled piloting group hug decks and this video opened my eyes to a lot of things. I love convincing opponents to use their resources to find solutions to my problems.
Sure big creatures seem like the obvious one i would say you want ETB effects maybe a few beaters but something like Bane of Progress or Gilded Drake style effects.
Mr. Foxglove is one of the most *interesting* commanders from the whole block to me. So far I've mostly seen people brew with the creature cheating in mind, but I'd like to try going the other way and try the empty my hand before combat with some kind of hyper aggro and/or Voltron plan.
I built Mr. Foxglove in a way most, if not all people wouldn't expect. People read him and automatically think that 9/10 they will be dropping bombs or drawing like 2 cards with him.... which honestly is a sound thought. I read him and thought about how I could get cards out of my hand the fastest. This led me into adding a few Spellshapers which allow me to discard cards to either bounce permanents or create Llanowar Elf tokens. I then added every creature card in Bant that creates a creature token whenever you draw your second card per turn; you'd be surprised at how many of those exist in these colors. I added cards that double the amount of tokens you create and other enchantments that buff them. I knew I needed to make sure I was always drawing when I attacked so I took advantage of being in White & Blue & included various cards that either give a spell convoke or have convoke on their own. When it was all said and done, I had made a pretty consistent Bant token deck. I enjoy it a lot more than I would've if it was just draw spells & threats but that is just my opinion.
Josh had to do some work on this deck. This was not an easy upgrade. I was ready to scrap the precon when I got it with the others but yall have helped a lot.
Rachel, your hair looks great! This was the one precon in the lot I was most interested in investing the time to build out having never played group hug before. Thank you and Josh for your insights.
I’m building Ms. Bumbleflower both in a +1/+1 counter theme and a “deck my opponents out” theme and built her with the restriction of no humans/humanoids in the art of my cards. That last part was way more restrictive that I thought it would be when I started
I think you guys approached this deck wanting something very different from it than what it actually offers, but you've also played so much commander that you obviously can see through it's parlor tricks.
Exactly! If they recommend to cut Rites of Flourishing or Coveted Jewel what's even the point of buying such a deck? I played a lot with Kynaios and Tiro back from 2016 and the plan was very similar - to ensure that everybody can deploy their biggest guns becoming a threat, wreak havoc and then finish the game almost in an instant. Playing a group hug means to endure - if at any point during the game such strategy takes the lead it simply means that something went quite wrong! Stay little behind, observe and wait for your chance ;)
@@tilleruez6869That's such hyperbole. They literally changed out 10 cards. It's also weird to assume there's only one way to play out a strategy in a casual format, especially one that's not commonly played like Group Hug.
I played this precon at our LGS game night last night - no upgrades and it was BROKEN. The other decks at my bod were solid 7-9 level decks (Slivers, flicker, burn) and I literally flew over them to commander them out. I have never played group hug before. It was SUPER confusing for me to keep up with, but this might be my new pet deck..
I really want to make this deck a "Draw til you die" deck, essentially just pillowfort and force my opponents to draw every card in their library, kinda like an alternative to mill!
Gift and Bumbleflowers’ ability targets an opponent, meaning it is a ‘crime’ so you could easily add cards to the deck that ramp from crimes. Thematically this also makes sense, if you consider the gift a form of tax evasion/bribery
I’m surprised they didn’t consider wilderness reclamation or seedborn muse for the topic of having enough mana on opponent’s turns to do all this stuff (though I’m keenly aware Seedborn in particular probably would’ve painted a target on the player). I like the solutions they ended up with though, even if it ended up being a bit too draw go for my tastes to follow to the letter
I often enjoy listening to the command zone while i'm driving or cleaning. all of which are times i don't readily have paper or pens available for note taking. I would love it if as part of the show notes you would include 10 and 10 so i can come back later and pick them up.
Shreiking drake + smothering tithe with your commander will typically be an instant win aslong as you have some kinda protection like grand abolisher or tidal barracuda
I wonder why Pollywog Prodigy isnt in this deck to offset the card advantage you give out a little bit, it even fits perfectly with the Counter-Subtheme. But i guess having the worst reprints and the absolute cheapest new cards is enough for the Peace Offering List. (my god, does this deck SUCK out of the box)
Ive never played a group hug deck, but this video almost sold me on the archetype. The fact that you described it as a somewhat control-ish style deck...I really am a control style player but that put a target on my back rather quickly in my playgroup, so I tried to get away from it since. I wonder if they would see it coming. Side note: I love how this commander is in bant, the most friendly and innocent looking 3-color combination. No "evil black" nor "aggressive red", just your friendly neighborhood bunny.
Yay! So glad you picked up on On the Trail. So bonkers in this deck. I also added in more "play more land" cards like Growth Spiral and Azusa, since you tend to accumulate lands in hand. Hardbristle Bandit also bonkers in this deck. Glademuse is also a really good draw card for this deck and pretty cheap. Your opponents will feel good about it being around, but chances are you are casting more often outside your turn than they are. Guardian of Faith is awesome protection. Phasing out is great for preserving your counters. Be sure to shout "ONE PUNCH!!" when knocking someone out with commander damage. Lastly, I really like Provoke in this deck, too. Get an opponent's monster to block another opponent's monster. "Sorry! I'll let you draw a card!" Great flavour, and is a cantrip.
I love it! I did end up changing the concept a smidgen from Group Hug to Hug Me B.... I wanted backups in case I had to play more or less than two. So I play trigger doubles like lithoform engine. And then I play some taxing cards like physical, smothering, and then like council of four, consecrated sphinx, faerie mastermind. So I still play a couple like the hydra for game enders.
This is the precon I bought as my first commander deck. With all the +1/+1 counter generation I added in branching evolution to boost that. I've been trying to make it more rabbit themed though, adding in what rabbits I can. and branching evolution is great with phinneas, chasm skulker and twenty-toed toad
Triskadedekaphile as a wincon Smugglers Share as a less threatening Sothering Tide Wedding Ring for Jank Hilariousness Consencrated Sphinx for draw advantage
I thought that your take on group hug was spot on. Jadzi, Oracle of Arcavios($.69) and Wilderness Reclamation($1.97) are great additions to this type of deck.
This could be a really great deck to include a Wedding Ring (especially if you speed it up with more instant/flash speed spells). You can time gifted cards to another player’s turns whom you may forge a temporary alliance that puts you on top. The more cards you draw on others players’ turns the better. Teferi’s Puzzle Box would be great too with ways benefit from your opponents’ draw more cards like the obvious Smothering Tithe, Wedding Ring, and/or Psychosis Crawler paring. Teferi’s Puzzle Box with Narset Parter of Veils is the combo you save for when you’re ready to push for a win, and take away much of what you had given before.
This deck is particularly interesting in that you can focus it on the direction is intended to be or take out the counter engine and make it more focus on group hug. I don't even buy the deck twice just for that reason alone that the first path is what I did and I'm thinking about doing the pure group hug route with the second copy😮😮
This is the next Bloomburrow precon im planning on getting. I already got the Animated Army one. This will be my first Group Hug deck, want to try it out. I plan to give the +1/+1 counters to my opponents to help them beat my other opponents. I do want to try out the cards from OTJ that gives me benefits whenever I commit a crime, since technically Ms. Bumbleflower helps trigger it. You're targeting them to draw a card which is still committing a crime
Also another interesting include if you wanted to use shrieking drake is Aluren. A bit pricey for an upgrade but cool if you want to build bumbleflower out of the box.
I dunno, giving your opponents cards works really well in those colors due to effects that benefit you when an opponent draws or cards that stop them from drawing and lets you draw instead. Smothering tithe giving you treasures when they draw, smugglers share, psychic posession gives you a card each time you give someone a card... theres lots of options out there where this is actually kind of a cracked ability.
I _love_ my Bunny Hugs - I removed the "big stompies" from the deck as it doesn't suit my play-style, plus I've added more "good for everyone" cards like Howling Mine & Heartbeat of Spring, plus more items that draw, like Jace, and "play more" spells like Braids, and advantages for me, like Wilderness Reclamation - the deck doesn't have any _actual_ win-cons, but I don't play to win, I play to make everyone else's game more enjoyable when they play more of their decks! I've also added more counterspells & protection, so when it gets down to the end of the game I can just "nope" out and let them deal with each other 😁
24:15 Oh Josh, oh no. It was designed by Ellieoftheveil, a well established Kwain stan.I get that you have a strong preference for hypertuned and optimized decks, but dropping a "this was designed by someone who hasn't really played group hug" is a wildly inflammatory take to offer without even bothering to check
I think you missed out the opportunity to add Freestrider Lookout for ramp or Oko for more draw since targeting your opponents with Card Draw is technically a crime.
I think born upon the wind can be a good win con for the deck cause it will give all your stuff flash and give you that ideal play a bunch of stuff on your opponents turn, and also I think you might to play some silence effects because you can have those pods where the majority of players are playing blue and giving blue player cards can hurt you when you want to win.
I leaned into the 1/1 counter side just because I had the cards sitting around. At one point I had communal brewing, tribute to the world tree, max lvl wizard class, branching evolution and fisher’s talent out. The next turn I played Simic ascendancy into forgotten ancient into chasm skulker and won because nobody had enchantment removal and my blocks were to big to die to combat
Hullbreacher is a really fun consideration! Same argument as narset making you a target but instead of giving your opponents cards you get treasure!!! 😛
Mr. Foxglove is my next big project commander, right now I'm thinking of the following little packages for the deck, removal that gives something back, ramp and card draw that affect the entire board positively and helps others get to those points, a small package of about 6 equipment, and 6 different tutors for those equipment for either unlockable, or any of the 3 good boots, a little bit of pillow fort taxes to attack, and then the bomb shell of eldrazi titans hitting the board for free, and there one sided board clears to keep my biggest threats out and alive with nothing to stop them. Winning by either titans smashing my opponents to pieces, value off crazy card draw, or throw in a couple X spells to capitalize on all the group hug mana ramping to then blow opponents out of the water, maybe run an instant win combo or two instead of the X spells. Lots of potential this card.
Another fun video, would of LOVE 2 different builds for the Group Hug deck. One that Josh focused on that is leaning towards the efficiency and the other would of been more angled towards the fun aspect of commander and just injected all the mana and value to the table and bring the chaos to games that Bant could do. Maybe its food for thought for other concepts in the future, I understand makes the editing and research longer but would love to see possibly for future precons.
You know Josh talking about Narset, Parter of Veils made him have flashbacks to Cassius Marsh doing it on the Game Knights episode: Jimmy: "Why didn't anyone say anything?" JLK: "ISAID, ISAID, ISAID, ISAID, ISAID, ISAID, ISAID, I SAID!!!!!!!"
Not cutting Realmcloak giant feels crazy. I think I'd rather keep one of those better removed cards or just replace the giant for a cheap board wipe like fumigate or even a farewell.
Too say “Take out Bloodroot apothecary “ is insane!! That card will go in every green deck! My buddy today literally bestow spring heart on his bloodroot and every land drop he was paying too make more! It got too a point too where we used ANY no creature token sacrifice we were dead.
I feel like Mr. Foxglove, Rites of Flourishing Communal Brewing and maybe Octomancer are nice flavor cards that I want to keep in the deck. I might eventually remove them. But right now their lower priority than others. One card I plan on adding is Gyre Sage. Tap for mana based on number of counters. Hell yea.
I've been wanting an interesting Bant deck for a while. The Doctor Who Bant deck was interesting, but felt too unfocused. This has my attention and of the 4 Bloomburrow decks, will likey be the one that doesn't get picked apart to go into other decks.
I feel like the issue with group hug decks is that everyone knows what they do, and you're just giving your opponents resources to kill you faster. I see a lot of "This is why you kill the group hug deck first!" Comments. Edit: 34:24 "Guys!? Josh is Broken!"
I think it's a mistake to assume that your goal is to be able to consistently cast 2 spells each turn. The more your commander does, the more people are going to pay attention to it.
Im gonna build this deck by focussing on card draw. Punishing it by my enemies and rewarding card draw for myself. The more peacefull way of winning since i will only have 2 creature in my deck that trigger of attacking and everything else either protects me or has abilitys that help me passively. The counters and the flying are an extra plus. Its an odd way to victory, but im gonna figure it out 😅
Iam a GROUPHUG Lover, have 2-different and this will be my third, (1-with give and take) (1-flat out for chaos by making everyone draw 30+ cards and tap all their lands for 10000 mana) while playing several cards preventing them from attacking me like propagande and stuff,) that one is more to just have an enjoyable game and to be honest those games cover like 8.-of the top 10 nuts games i have played its insanely fun, ^^ ooouuff oouufff, i might or might not be that sometimes ppl have to draw like 300cards in a single turn XD so im hyped for this one,
What do you think of this precon? Any cards we missed? Any cards we suggested to take out or add that you disagree with?
Woo Rachel is back
I love all these precons and the art style wish we could get more sets like this 😅 maybe bloomburrow ravnica edition would be awesome, bloomburrow Meriden
I think Duelist's Heritage would be great in this deck. It's only 3 mana, it can let you get in a big attack out of nowhere (especially with a giant, flying, vigilant, double-striking Ms. Bumbleflower), and you can use it on your opponent's creatures to curry favor with them. And it's cheap!
Kinda surprised the Pheldagrifs weren't at least honorable mentions.
Admittedly, at 4 mana they are a bit on the high end, but they can function so well as a political piece. Or a dumping spot for the counters and flying for massive damage.
I think Ms. Bumbleflower is a flavor/mechanic fail, she should have "spells you cast have gift a card: put a +1/+1 counter on target creature, it gains flying until the end of the turn" so she can make better use of the mechanic of the deck without giving so much advantage to your opponents. There are barely any cards that can make effective use of that ability right now.
With both the front and back up commander, I feel like this might as well be a ZOOTOPIA deck. XD
someone hadn't looked at Bloomborough - ALL of them may as well be Zootopia decks as they're _all_ animals 🤷
@@THEMrFill I know that they're animals. I'm just saying the Rabbit and Fox reminds me of the Zootopia movie with them as the main cast. Just that.
My suggestion in here would be Proft's Eidetic Memory from MKM! Gives you no maximum hand-size which this deck wants with the amount of cards we can draw, and then turns our card draw into damage with a flood of +1/+1 counters!
Ooo nice idea, and I own it already lol
I completely forgot about that card! Would be a good spot for it
I expect stax, a whole Lotta stax
That's a great suggestion
Card is so underrated
PEM is a REALLY good card and I don't see alot of people playing it.
Hardened Scales and Wedding Ring are 2 cards I immediately plan to add!
Couldn't wedding ring go infinite with Psychic Posession? 😂
@@wildesage4172 Psychic possession says you may draw, but yes you can kill an opponent but you need more cards in library lol
It’s nice to see Group Hug decks adding wincons. I’ve always felt that a good Group Hug deck should still be trying to win the game. The way I would build them was to try and put in alternate win cons and sneak them out, but I like the “Hug them until they suffocate” approach of this deck.
I think that designing win conditions for a group hug deck is one of the most challenging things in the format.
30:52 I’m surprised that in the best cards list you didn’t include Bloodroot Apothecary. It’s a great hate piece against the overwhelming amount of Treasure decks people are making, and it basically shuts down Dockside Extortionist.
@@magnusprime962they give their reasoning in the cut portion as great card wrong deck kind.
@@magnusprime962 it would be better if it was printed in the golgari squirrel deck
@@gzzussYeah, I just got to that part. Personally, I disagree with them. That card is basically the signpost of what this deck wants to do. Frankly I think they got so caught up in their narrow idea of what group hug should be that they missed what this deck was doing.
Rachels hair is absolutely stunning, so pretty
JLK hair as well
@@ONKELREY 🤣
Ms. Bumbleflower has the best hair though or should I say hare
I feel like they forgot about the +1/+1 counters Ms Bumbleflower gives
Pretty new to magic and I played this deck on TTS with some buddies and had a blast. First time ever playing group hug and I won the first game and came close on the second. It was very enjoyable to sort of enable all of the opponent's boards by giving them a bunch of value but then turn around and wipe their boards or force them to attack each other. I spent almost the entire 2nd game with just Ms. Bumbleflower on the board and even though I had the most life, no one would attack me because I was making everyone else a problem. Definitely going to pick this deck up to play at my LGS and have a good time spicing up the games.
In 2016 I bought Kynaios and Tiro and am in love with group hug strategies ever since, it feels like a very open to personalizition archetype that also helps you up the level of your gameplay while bringing something different and (mostly, at least in my experience) very positive to the social part of the game, you get to use cards in totally new ways, a simple Swords to Plowshares can become a whole new thing, personally one of my favorite is playing Forced Fruition at any given point as it will fit so well in the decks mechanics
I love this. I've struggled piloting group hug decks and this video opened my eyes to a lot of things. I love convincing opponents to use their resources to find solutions to my problems.
I think playing this deck as a +1+1 counter main theme instead of grouphug could be nice. Add cards that punish draw and use Ms B for evasion
Or go for some proliferate effects. Get those counters going to double digits.
Wich cards you recommend for punish draw?
@@cesa.calderonyou could play narset so each opponent can only draw one card per turn
Narset Parter of Veils @@cesa.calderon
I feel like Mr. Foxglove has a lot of subtle potential to go nuts.
He pairs very subtly with "Finest Hour"
I LOVE Mr. Foxglove
Sure big creatures seem like the obvious one i would say you want ETB effects maybe a few beaters but something like Bane of Progress or Gilded Drake style effects.
Mr. Foxglove is one of the most *interesting* commanders from the whole block to me. So far I've mostly seen people brew with the creature cheating in mind, but I'd like to try going the other way and try the empty my hand before combat with some kind of hyper aggro and/or Voltron plan.
I built Mr. Foxglove in a way most, if not all people wouldn't expect. People read him and automatically think that 9/10 they will be dropping bombs or drawing like 2 cards with him.... which honestly is a sound thought. I read him and thought about how I could get cards out of my hand the fastest. This led me into adding a few Spellshapers which allow me to discard cards to either bounce permanents or create Llanowar Elf tokens. I then added every creature card in Bant that creates a creature token whenever you draw your second card per turn; you'd be surprised at how many of those exist in these colors. I added cards that double the amount of tokens you create and other enchantments that buff them. I knew I needed to make sure I was always drawing when I attacked so I took advantage of being in White & Blue & included various cards that either give a spell convoke or have convoke on their own. When it was all said and done, I had made a pretty consistent Bant token deck. I enjoy it a lot more than I would've if it was just draw spells & threats but that is just my opinion.
Josh had to do some work on this deck. This was not an easy upgrade. I was ready to scrap the precon when I got it with the others but yall have helped a lot.
As Ms. Bumbleflower gives out criminal hugs I'd include Hardbristle Bandit to help you cast spells on other peoples turn!
I didn't think about that at all, but you're technically comiting a crime by giving people cards.
I'm not sure pumping you opponents creatures is worth it, unless you can take advantage of it with a willbreaker or some other method
@@mrstizzle9049 You give yourself the +1/+1 counters. You give target opponent a card. Gifting them a card is a crime.
@@mrstizzle9049 You don't need to pump their creatures since the card draw targets
@@mrstizzle9049 ms bumbleflower targets opponents for them to draw cards, which is a crime
This is the precon I pre-ordered at my LGS! So stoked to see this up first!🐇🐇❤
Rachel, your hair looks great!
This was the one precon in the lot I was most interested in investing the time to build out having never played group hug before. Thank you and Josh for your insights.
I’m building Ms. Bumbleflower both in a +1/+1 counter theme and a “deck my opponents out” theme and built her with the restriction of no humans/humanoids in the art of my cards. That last part was way more restrictive that I thought it would be when I started
'and put new art on it...' - Love the shade.
i was already planning on unsubscribing when i thought they wouldnt say anything about it
I think you guys approached this deck wanting something very different from it than what it actually offers, but you've also played so much commander that you obviously can see through it's parlor tricks.
Exactly! If they recommend to cut Rites of Flourishing or Coveted Jewel what's even the point of buying such a deck?
I played a lot with Kynaios and Tiro back from 2016 and the plan was very similar - to ensure that everybody can deploy their biggest guns becoming a threat, wreak havoc and then finish the game almost in an instant.
Playing a group hug means to endure - if at any point during the game such strategy takes the lead it simply means that something went quite wrong!
Stay little behind, observe and wait for your chance ;)
Agreed. I wonder if they'd feel the same if they played the precon list more.
@@tilleruez6869That's such hyperbole. They literally changed out 10 cards. It's also weird to assume there's only one way to play out a strategy in a casual format, especially one that's not commonly played like Group Hug.
I played this precon at our LGS game night last night - no upgrades and it was BROKEN. The other decks at my bod were solid 7-9 level decks (Slivers, flicker, burn) and I literally flew over them to commander them out. I have never played group hug before. It was SUPER confusing for me to keep up with, but this might be my new pet deck..
Honestly when I looked at the deck list it seems pretty good to me, think some people might be sleeping on it because it's "group hug" lol
I really want to make this deck a "Draw til you die" deck, essentially just pillowfort and force my opponents to draw every card in their library, kinda like an alternative to mill!
Gift and Bumbleflowers’ ability targets an opponent, meaning it is a ‘crime’ so you could easily add cards to the deck that ramp from crimes.
Thematically this also makes sense, if you consider the gift a form of tax evasion/bribery
I’m surprised they didn’t consider wilderness reclamation or seedborn muse for the topic of having enough mana on opponent’s turns to do all this stuff (though I’m keenly aware Seedborn in particular probably would’ve painted a target on the player). I like the solutions they ended up with though, even if it ended up being a bit too draw go for my tastes to follow to the letter
I was thinking the same thing! I think I’ll be slotting in both!
I’m adding psychic corrosion to mine as well
I often enjoy listening to the command zone while i'm driving or cleaning. all of which are times i don't readily have paper or pens available for note taking. I would love it if as part of the show notes you would include 10 and 10 so i can come back later and pick them up.
You've got the upgraded list on archidekt in the video description.
@@guico33 thank you!
Shreiking drake + smothering tithe with your commander will typically be an instant win aslong as you have some kinda protection like grand abolisher or tidal barracuda
Aluren would work instead of Smothering Tithe too
Why is the toxic squirrel in the peace offering deck but not in squirreld away😂😂
so you have to buy each two
How come it’s not in the precon i bought?
Nevermind i’m an idiot it’s just that i didn’t draw him yet
I wonder why Pollywog Prodigy isnt in this deck to offset the card advantage you give out a little bit, it even fits perfectly with the Counter-Subtheme.
But i guess having the worst reprints and the absolute cheapest new cards is enough for the Peace Offering List.
(my god, does this deck SUCK out of the box)
I played it out the box yesterday.. and unfortunately it wasnt super group huggy, but i did enjoy playing it@mofomiko
Rachel's hair is the real gift here
Ive never played a group hug deck, but this video almost sold me on the archetype. The fact that you described it as a somewhat control-ish style deck...I really am a control style player but that put a target on my back rather quickly in my playgroup, so I tried to get away from it since. I wonder if they would see it coming.
Side note: I love how this commander is in bant, the most friendly and innocent looking 3-color combination. No "evil black" nor "aggressive red", just your friendly neighborhood bunny.
Smothering tithe with Mrs bumbleflower is great, I feel like with the amount of cuddly creatures and hydras, that the goose mother has a home here.
This is the deck I'm most excited for from this set! I don't have a group hug deck and am definitely thinking about picking this one up.
Holy smokes, the choices you guys made to upgrade this deck are so smart. I need to start thinking about my own decks more creatively now...
Can't wait to play with this deck!! 😁
Also, Rachel's hair looks great!! 🤩
My Peace Offering Precon comes in the mail tomorrow! Thanks guys for the tips!
Rachel your hair is looking great! digging the highlights
On the Trail doing the heavy lifting of Green representation in the upgrades. Josh just loves White/Blue too much 😅
Yay! So glad you picked up on On the Trail. So bonkers in this deck. I also added in more "play more land" cards like Growth Spiral and Azusa, since you tend to accumulate lands in hand. Hardbristle Bandit also bonkers in this deck.
Glademuse is also a really good draw card for this deck and pretty cheap. Your opponents will feel good about it being around, but chances are you are casting more often outside your turn than they are.
Guardian of Faith is awesome protection. Phasing out is great for preserving your counters. Be sure to shout "ONE PUNCH!!" when knocking someone out with commander damage.
Lastly, I really like Provoke in this deck, too. Get an opponent's monster to block another opponent's monster. "Sorry! I'll let you draw a card!" Great flavour, and is a cantrip.
Excited to watch this one!
I would love to see a fully upgraded deck! Nice vid
"It doesn't use cards to protect its life total, it uses FEELINGS." XD
I love it! I did end up changing the concept a smidgen from Group Hug to Hug Me B....
I wanted backups in case I had to play more or less than two. So I play trigger doubles like lithoform engine. And then I play some taxing cards like physical, smothering, and then like council of four, consecrated sphinx, faerie mastermind. So I still play a couple like the hydra for game enders.
This is the precon I bought as my first commander deck. With all the +1/+1 counter generation I added in branching evolution to boost that. I've been trying to make it more rabbit themed though, adding in what rabbits I can. and branching evolution is great with phinneas, chasm skulker and twenty-toed toad
Triskadedekaphile as a wincon
Smugglers Share as a less threatening Sothering Tide
Wedding Ring for Jank Hilariousness
Consencrated Sphinx for draw advantage
I just put down an order on this as my first commander deck and first mtg in ages
I thought that your take on group hug was spot on.
Jadzi, Oracle of Arcavios($.69) and Wilderness Reclamation($1.97) are great additions to this type of deck.
I love how the how to play section is about how to socialize and not be annoying.
This could be a really great deck to include a Wedding Ring (especially if you speed it up with more instant/flash speed spells). You can time gifted cards to another player’s turns whom you may forge a temporary alliance that puts you on top. The more cards you draw on others players’ turns the better.
Teferi’s Puzzle Box would be great too with ways benefit from your opponents’ draw more cards like the obvious Smothering Tithe, Wedding Ring, and/or Psychosis Crawler paring. Teferi’s Puzzle Box with Narset Parter of Veils is the combo you save for when you’re ready to push for a win, and take away much of what you had given before.
This deck is particularly interesting in that you can focus it on the direction is intended to be or take out the counter engine and make it more focus on group hug. I don't even buy the deck twice just for that reason alone that the first path is what I did and I'm thinking about doing the pure group hug route with the second copy😮😮
Rachel, that style looks A M A Z I N G girl. You're bringing the W in white.
This is the next Bloomburrow precon im planning on getting. I already got the Animated Army one. This will be my first Group Hug deck, want to try it out. I plan to give the +1/+1 counters to my opponents to help them beat my other opponents. I do want to try out the cards from OTJ that gives me benefits whenever I commit a crime, since technically Ms. Bumbleflower helps trigger it. You're targeting them to draw a card which is still committing a crime
Really good point actually you've given me some ideas now 😂
Pretty cool to see a group hug precon, never seen one before
Also another interesting include if you wanted to use shrieking drake is Aluren. A bit pricey for an upgrade but cool if you want to build bumbleflower out of the box.
Or you just use Smothering Tithe? I mean, that also goes infinite with the Drake and is quite a bit cheaper.
I dunno, giving your opponents cards works really well in those colors due to effects that benefit you when an opponent draws or cards that stop them from drawing and lets you draw instead. Smothering tithe giving you treasures when they draw, smugglers share, psychic posession gives you a card each time you give someone a card... theres lots of options out there where this is actually kind of a cracked ability.
Rachel’s new hair is a slay ✨
Not a hug fan but I love yalls videos. My son and I look forward to them all week.
Excited for Bello!
Ms. Bumbleflower might be nice as a cauldron commander.
Who was really surprised Josh chose the deck based on card draw? I think this looks to be the coolest of the four Bloomburrow command decks.
gotta love Wachel's dedication to the bit
I _love_ my Bunny Hugs - I removed the "big stompies" from the deck as it doesn't suit my play-style, plus I've added more "good for everyone" cards like Howling Mine & Heartbeat of Spring, plus more items that draw, like Jace, and "play more" spells like Braids, and advantages for me, like Wilderness Reclamation - the deck doesn't have any _actual_ win-cons, but I don't play to win, I play to make everyone else's game more enjoyable when they play more of their decks! I've also added more counterspells & protection, so when it gets down to the end of the game I can just "nope" out and let them deal with each other 😁
24:15 Oh Josh, oh no. It was designed by Ellieoftheveil, a well established Kwain stan.I get that you have a strong preference for hypertuned and optimized decks, but dropping a "this was designed by someone who hasn't really played group hug" is a wildly inflammatory take to offer without even bothering to check
Sounds like 2 things can be true here. She can be well know with this type of deck and still create shit.
@@xaxscratchxax926 but it isn’t shit though. It’s actually pretty well constructed
I think you missed out the opportunity to add Freestrider Lookout for ramp or Oko for more draw since targeting your opponents with Card Draw is technically a crime.
I think born upon the wind can be a good win con for the deck cause it will give all your stuff flash and give you that ideal play a bunch of stuff on your opponents turn, and also I think you might to play some silence effects because you can have those pods where the majority of players are playing blue and giving blue player cards can hurt you when you want to win.
I leaned into the 1/1 counter side just because I had the cards sitting around. At one point I had communal brewing, tribute to the world tree, max lvl wizard class, branching evolution and fisher’s talent out. The next turn I played Simic ascendancy into forgotten ancient into chasm skulker and won because nobody had enchantment removal and my blocks were to big to die to combat
I knew this would be Rachel’s Deck to upgrade. Can’t wait to see what decks come from Command zone over the next while with Bloomburrow
Hullbreacher is a really fun consideration! Same argument as narset making you a target but instead of giving your opponents cards you get treasure!!! 😛
Hullbreacher is banned, so you sadly wouldn't be able to add it.
I feel like gluntch would be a fun sleeper pick, the options are so good and it can do group hug without too much advantage for your opponent
These bunnies are nutz! I love em!
Oh glory glory, happy this is the precon. I'm psyched to upgrading my hugs
This will be my first Group Hug, but I am definitely looking forward to piloting one
Mr. Foxglove is my next big project commander, right now I'm thinking of the following little packages for the deck, removal that gives something back, ramp and card draw that affect the entire board positively and helps others get to those points, a small package of about 6 equipment, and 6 different tutors for those equipment for either unlockable, or any of the 3 good boots, a little bit of pillow fort taxes to attack, and then the bomb shell of eldrazi titans hitting the board for free, and there one sided board clears to keep my biggest threats out and alive with nothing to stop them. Winning by either titans smashing my opponents to pieces, value off crazy card draw, or throw in a couple X spells to capitalize on all the group hug mana ramping to then blow opponents out of the water, maybe run an instant win combo or two instead of the X spells. Lots of potential this card.
Another fun video, would of LOVE 2 different builds for the Group Hug deck. One that Josh focused on that is leaning towards the efficiency and the other would of been more angled towards the fun aspect of commander and just injected all the mana and value to the table and bring the chaos to games that Bant could do. Maybe its food for thought for other concepts in the future, I understand makes the editing and research longer but would love to see possibly for future precons.
You know Josh talking about Narset, Parter of Veils made him have flashbacks to Cassius Marsh doing it on the Game Knights episode:
Jimmy: "Why didn't anyone say anything?"
JLK: "ISAID, ISAID, ISAID, ISAID, ISAID, ISAID, ISAID, I SAID!!!!!!!"
Not cutting Realmcloak giant feels crazy. I think I'd rather keep one of those better removed cards or just replace the giant for a cheap board wipe like fumigate or even a farewell.
Smothering tithe and teferi ageless insight might be good to add
Too say “Take out Bloodroot apothecary “ is insane!! That card will go in every green deck!
My buddy today literally bestow spring heart on his bloodroot and every land drop he was paying too make more!
It got too a point too where we used ANY no creature token sacrifice we were dead.
Bloodroot apothecary does nothing to advance this deck's game plan.
It's a very easy cut in this deck.
I would add sergeant John Benton. Fits the card draw theme and allows you to swing in for damage without getting too much hate
Doing a Bloomburrow only upgrade of Ms. Bumbleflower! Makes it different from my other bant deck
I feel like Mr. Foxglove, Rites of Flourishing Communal Brewing and maybe Octomancer are nice flavor cards that I want to keep in the deck. I might eventually remove them. But right now their lower priority than others.
One card I plan on adding is Gyre Sage. Tap for mana based on number of counters. Hell yea.
Quick click on my part...
Let's Go!!!! So excited for a group hug precon! Seems lit
Trouble in pairs out with that new teferi’s pro with the gift a turn is pretty funny
some of my friends run sheoldred and this seems like i could be some friendly evil playing this
I put the second doctor in the deck. Of course for some its a no go terms of flavour, but his effect fits so good in my opinion
I've been wanting an interesting Bant deck for a while. The Doctor Who Bant deck was interesting, but felt too unfocused. This has my attention and of the 4 Bloomburrow decks, will likey be the one that doesn't get picked apart to go into other decks.
I feel like the issue with group hug decks is that everyone knows what they do, and you're just giving your opponents resources to kill you faster. I see a lot of "This is why you kill the group hug deck first!" Comments.
Edit: 34:24 "Guys!? Josh is Broken!"
Bloodroot apothecary going into my Fynn the fangbearer deck for sure.
Blopdroot Appthecary goes PUUURRRFECTLY in my Ygra! 👌🔥🤤
I thought I wanted the squirrel deck but I like this gift idea I've never had a group hug deck ❤
I think it's a mistake to assume that your goal is to be able to consistently cast 2 spells each turn.
The more your commander does, the more people are going to pay attention to it.
Im gonna build this deck by focussing on card draw. Punishing it by my enemies and rewarding card draw for myself. The more peacefull way of winning since i will only have 2 creature in my deck that trigger of attacking and everything else either protects me or has abilitys that help me passively. The counters and the flying are an extra plus. Its an odd way to victory, but im gonna figure it out 😅
I love psychic possession soooo much.
18:19 still my favorite part of the show
Glad I'm not alone in thinking Group Hug is the most difficult archetype to pilot.
Nice hair Rachel. You look great.
Iam a GROUPHUG Lover,
have 2-different and this will be my third, (1-with give and take) (1-flat out for chaos by making everyone draw 30+ cards and tap all their lands for 10000 mana) while playing several cards preventing them from attacking me like propagande and stuff,) that one is more to just have an enjoyable game and to be honest those games cover like 8.-of the top 10 nuts games i have played
its insanely fun, ^^ ooouuff oouufff, i might or might not be that sometimes ppl have to draw like 300cards in a single turn XD
so im hyped for this one,
Kros, Defense Contractor is insane with this precon.
I'm surprised Nadu, Winged Wisdom wasn't mentioned. Target him twice per turn with Ms. Bumbleflower's ability and you're off to the races.
08:05 it's Miss, Mr. Foxglove tries to court Ms. Bumbleflower (they are the best couple that magic ever had)
My wife has that deck and without upgrades it’s still nuts it has a shitload of prevent damage cards very similar like teferis protection
Gluntch, my beloved deserves a slot in this deck 🥰