Boros Player's Reaction to Command Zone's Breaking Boros Guide
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- I thought I would react to the Command Zone's Breaking Boros video from May of 2017, since reaction videos are all the rage now. There is some helpful information in the video, and a lot of topics worth expanding on. Also its interesting to see what cards have been printed since this video, but also which things existed at the time but werent really identified by the masses as solutions to Boros problems.
Think of this as my April Fool's video a day late. I had the idea late in the day, and couldnt get it all filmed and edited in time...so here it is.
Here is the link to their original video: • BREAKING BOROS | How t...
I wanna see you on the Command Zone with Aurelia and her Weapons of War, show them her wrath and beauty.
I have a love-hate relationship with this video.
I remember the first time watching it, the criticism helped me improve my Aurelia deck.
Looking back at it, and also seeing since then the inexperience the great guys at the Command Zone have with Boros makes me want people to not watch it anymore.
If people want to get into Boros, there are some more recent episodes that I think are quite excellent to better help people now. The EDHRECcast did a video "revisiting" Boros that I think did a really good job. The Command Zone did an episode with DJ on piloting aggresive decks, and I'm really glad DJ was on there because from that video I got the impression that DJ has a lot more experience with aggro in EDH than Jimmy and Josh do.
Lately though, the EDHRECcast brought up a really good point that you mentioned- for a long time, new Boros commanders were always just bad versions of Aurelia. I thought this was a really good point- there haven't been any generals since Aurelia that do what she does. We saw a lot of examples of "bad aurelia" commanders with stuff like Kalemne, Basandra, Anya, little Aurelia, etc. (Disclaimer- I love little Aurelia, as a card in the 99, not in the command zone)
I really do like the design space we've gotten into in recent years. You have a point that a lot of it isn't as powerful as just straight combat, but I've thought commanders like Firesong, Tiana, Feather, and Gerrard have been really cool designs. I wish people would play around with Gerrard more. I feel currently he has the potential to become the strongest Boros commander, but people haven't unlocked that yet.
Not gonna lie though, I totally felt when you said that you want the most combat focused Boros general ever. When Guilds of Ravnica was being released, I remember seeing Niv Mizzet, Parun and seeing that he was just a better Niv Mizzet than the last two in every way, just a much harder casting cost. I remember literally wanting that for Aurelia- give us an Aurelia that costs triple white and triple red but is way more broken than the Warleader. While I really like the Exemplar of Justice, I think it's absolutely awesome in the 99, Exemplar wasn't the broken Aurelia I thought of in my magical christmas-land.
Yeah, aurelia is sooooo hard to outclass. It's costed well and wins games when you drop her. They really need to innovate in another design space boros flavor-wise like Gerrard and other directions to get something that's playable
This is actually a very fun and interesting idea for a video, hope to see a part 2!
I just realized that if Wizards put the text "enter the battlefield OR attack" on more boros cards, we could actually have cards that could "possibly" be playable. I think they just limit this text because they think it will be too powerful. This would help cards that don't have an immediate impact on the board.
They just made a recent one. 4 cmc drop double red . 4/3 exile top 2 when attack. Don't remember the name. But I believe they are doing it slowly
Bruce Tarl
@@mylesbrown4648 tectonic giant but he is 3/4 you choose to exile the top 2 cards and can play one of them until your next turn, or deal 3 damage to each opponent.
Please do continue with these series of videos, as Boros fan, these videos are usually very enlightening and there's always a lesson or two that I can apply in my own Boros decks
I remember when this episode came out, as someone who entered the format playing boros and exclusively jammed Aurelia Voltron for a year and a half before building a new deck and eventually branching out, it was always my mission to figure out how to tune my deck to keep up with everyone else.
I think the strength of Boros was what you mentioned, being focused. I can focus my deck and force my strategy in hopes of winning and be ok with not always winning.
Awesome to see content from another long time Aurelia player, keep it up!
Thanks! Yeah I watched this one a number of times too and it was a such a mixed bag of feelings because on one hand they bash Boros multiple times in this video and often in their others, but on the other hand there is some useful information in here. Its not necessarily perfect information, but the general concepts are good that you do need to solve ramp and card draw somehow. In one of the later parts that I didnt show here for time, I talk about the main strenght really being, mix double strike, double damage, and double combats and a few mid size creatures will annihilate the table. Also tutoring equipments is a big deal and solves a lot of consistency issues. Im sure it took you a ton of trial and error back in the day to figure everything out, cause i know that it certainly did for me. Glad you enjoyed!
I very much want to see more reaction. Boros is my favorite color pair and your channel has been instrumental in learning how to play it
Love it all CR! I just built my own Aryel, Knight of Windgrace deck - I know she's orhov, but a lot of my card choices for the deck were made watching your Boros videos. Having Sword of the Animist and Mask of Memory both on board for multiple turn cycles is just beautiful. Thank you!
Boros will atleast get our new overlord in ikoria, MOTH MOTHER amazing value card in white which I'm excited for in my gerrard combo deck
Holy cow, I just looked back at it and realized how powerful it was. Thanks for pointing it out so I could double-take.
But it's not legendary 😞
@@Dragynstone1202 so it's great in the 99, sadly it is a 3/4 so not searchable with the white and red creature tutors but eh whatever still amazing value
@@Dragynstone1202 While that would have been really strong as a Mono-White commander, I'm at least glad to have it as a really solid 99 creature.
@@seandouglass9824 oh it's absolutely going in my oketra deck, but it would be so much better as a legendary!
I really like this type of content, you reacting to other popular podcasts/episodes on topics that need more than just 2 similar points of view. That said, figuring out the sound issue as well as maybe a cleaner way of transitioning from their vid to yours would make this easier to watch. But I know that stuff can be really difficult. Also, there was a few times I wished you would let them finish the full thought before commenting.
I would actual really enjoy a walk thru of when to play which spells and how to plan with your sunforger package. I see a lot of people put lists of sunforger packages and I have my own but you play with sunforger more than anyone I see online so I would love your walk thru of the different packages and their pro/cons.
Ive been thinking about doing that video for quite a while. I need to actually do a few game plays since I havent really done many this week in the traditional sense. But ill start working on it. Actually i have to wonder if ive already started this video at some point in the past and forgotten about it.
I have a Firesong and Sunspeaker deck, and because that's not a deck that really wants to be attacking, I had to find a different way to draw cards. I found something that seem to work for me (although I play in a 6 to 7 power level group, rather than 7 to 8, so you be the judge).
Since I have access to Smothering Tithe, Alhammarret's Archive and Alms collector, I decided to include a wheel package. I don't have the money for a wheel of fortune, so I opted for the following:
-Heartwarming Redemption
-Khorvath's fury
-Magus of the Wheel
-Molten Psyche
-Reforge the soul
-Winds of Change
-Teferi's Puzzle Box
All of these create great synergies and can be very swingy when they work. They also work pretty well with landtax, allowing me to tutor for basics and trade them for cards.
On your comment about not needing 10 card draw spells: every tutor that fetches mask of memory can count as card draw so maybe that's why you don't need to run as much
Great video! WOuld Love to see the rest of your commentary :)
On the topic of white an red card draw, I have largely found the looting cards like Wild Guess works quite rather well. The interesting part is in white: You have a large sum of cards that say Gain Life Draw a card in cantrip form or in enchantment form.
I have personally found the cantrip cards that say gain life or until end of turn effect with "draw a card" tagged on it works rather well. Think things like Revitilize: yes its not the best card draw, but its card draw in white.
NOW IF WERE TALKING FEATHER, THE READEEMED! Its pretty easy to find card draw. I personally have a base deck design that I only swap creatures out to change from example Blink Theme to Prowess Theme. Feather is a good example of a great Boro: it can be combo based, attack based, value based, and or even storm based. The ability to hone in on the theme you want an focus on what type of win you want.
You need to try more boros commanders. I would say that you have to try more of the lesser used ones to truly experience boros.
Ive actually played most of them at some point in time, just that i havent done videos on them. Ive been thinking about going down that road. ive been tinkering with Adrianna recently in paper
Commander Replay thank you! I know I seem negative all the time but your content really is good. Could I recommend a commander? Perhaps Tajic, Blade of the Legion?
I’d just like to mention that I run recruiter of the guard in every single white deck I play. I am a huge fan of the smaller, lower to the ground green decks that utilize extra lands, like ramunap excavator and lotus cobra, and that card is busted in those decks. It’s just colorshifted imperial recruiter, and is super underrated.
Now, hear me out.
What if they made a Boros commander, that is like Yarok, but for On Attack or On Hit triggers rather than On ETBs?
Yeah doubling up triggers/spells/something is a pretty easy design for commanders and it almost never is bad, as long as it is reasonably costed and has enough targets. (sevinne is kinda bad still :/)
That would be good so there’s no way it’ll happen.
Enter Winota
Great dialogue ! Sometimes I wish I lived in an alternate universe where you were a Gruul player. I feel like we also get flak for wanting to turn sideways every time .
Thanks! Interesting, I was not aware that Gruul faced similar challenges. Are these combo players that are just talking down on the combat step? Or is there some other issue? Similar to Boros with Gruul if you mix double damage and double combats, people will die fast. And the nice part is you have the ramp and card draw, and much less reliance on artifacts. Try out Subterranean Tremors if you havent already...my new favorite card that usually needs to be in a Gruul or a Jund deck. Ruric Thar is a card too, should the combo players be getting out of line.
Great Video, you make a good point on generating value. I'm going to retry Etali and look for more creatures that trigger on attack.
The biggest question is where can I get a Commander Replay shirt?
Kiki and Zealous is a 9 mana Combo (or less depending on your mana sources). Play Conscripts first and target one of your own lands/mana rocks to untap it. Just a little trick I've used.
Ahh yes good point. Still a lot when your trying to do it turn 6 or 7. Not saying it cant work, but it certainly doesnt leave easy mana for protection on the combo.
upload the other 2 hours or else you are scared of progress
I would argue that Boros has always had some of the best creature removal in path of exile and swords to plowshares. Usually not super strong in cEDH because they have responses but in casual games these two always feel so good.
One of the most absurd cards I've added is 5 mana Neheb. Holy cow, you can ramp and it just goes insane with a wheel or an extra combat step.
Yeah Neheb the eternal is a card that I can't live without. It just does everything. In addition to the mana, it also has strangely high toughness for 5 cmc. So it attacks, it blocks, it makes mana, and every once in a long while afflict is also relevant.
There's nothing wrong with voltron, some of my best decks are Boros Voltron!
Josh is quite open about his distaste for Voltron. It's possible he's come around a bit recently because it sounds like he's done a Greven deck he's enjoyed but he's definitely down on Voltron and just combat in general.
I don't agree with the underdog theory. Since boros tends to be aggro players get scared aslo you are more likely to dump your hand while the simic player amasses value and cards.
Would love to see more videos over this!
Two things: 1) I love Boros and turning cards sideways, but that's why I play Najeela (not cedh but close). I get to attack, attack, attack.
2) I hope Boros gets a commander that etb " deal x damage to target player " like Breya type of effect.
P.s- keep representing Boros ☀️✊🏽
Josh Lee Kwai stomped the table in their Game Knights Episode with Firesong, he ended up having to allow people to catch up and not taking people out of the game when he could just to prolong the game and make a more interesting episode. Their dislike of Boros is odd.
If I recall right, that win was based almost entirely off smothering tithe being in play early. For me the distinction there is literally any deck other than mono white was probably going to win from that position. I love F&S but man they are definitely toward the bottom of the power rankings.
I think I said this before (not sure if it was on this channel, but whatever), the only decks who can play sort of like standart or modern aggro decks are tribal decks, Lords can be kinda broken if allowed to stack
Everyone is laughing until the mana elves are swinging for 11 damage each
Yeah thats a great point. Elves and Goblins can definitely do that 1 drop, 2 drop, 3 drop thing and then they all work together and people die fast. Maybe i should try that at some point, havent really tried out the high power tribes all that much.
"Boros is lacking card draw and mana ramp" they always say, but...
Draw: equipments (as you mentioned), impulsive drawing, rummaging, looting etc help a lot. Sure, Outpost Siege is not Phyrexian Arena, Rogue's Gloves is not Rhystic Study, but they work
Ramp: basically mana rocks. It is not very different from any nongreen combination of colors, plus Land Tax effects and more recently, treasures.
I run Iroas and it is fairly casual, but it is fun to play and this is what matters. Lots of mana rocks that can cantrip (locket, hedron archive etc) and all the card draw/pseudo card draw I could fit. If I find Just one of these I can keep the ball rolling
Also, everyone makes Fun of Boros until you enter the combat step 😆
PS. I embraced the meme that Boros is bad and that by playing It I am already starting behind. Then when I play Elesh Norn ir Gisela It does not seem so bad.
Nicely done! Ill expand on your points. Agree on the draw. On the ramp, I highly recommend sword of the animist if you arent running it. It sets up your later turns so well just by grabbing 2 or 3 lands during combat, and its subtle enough that it doesnt typically get shot. Feast and Famine is obviously insane but will eat removal if someone has it.
They make fun of you, until you go to the second combat....with double strike :)
Elesh Norn and Gisela are the most consistently powerful 7 drops for Boros. But there are few others that are highly impactful, Angelic Arbiter and Chancellor of the Annex are very serious and your opponents really need to interact with them. There are many others especially angels and dragons, but those 4 do nasty things to your opponents and require them to answer them.
Glad you enjoyed the video :)
Part 2 would be awesome
Have they seen your Aurelia angel savagery video? Like JEEZ. that is such a good example of how good Boros is and you shouldn't say a color pair is "bad because lack of ramp and draw" you go smothering tithe and wheel and destroy 2 players. How is it lacking in ramp and draw?
PS: also from watching game knights and extra turns quite a bit they kind of take the most plain-jane commanders and build the obvious versions. Which to do that and say this color is trash doesn't help much.
"i want like aurelia that gives my team triple strike and is gisela for like 4 mana" well considering the current power creep that is not impossible
Lol yeah its out of control. GOTTA SELL PACKS
Mask of memory will outdraw a blue deck?
When you trigger it 4 times a turn you will. Even early hitting one or 2 triggers, before other people will get you ahead. It’s a highly underestimated card.
The list has changed a little
Tier 3: Only has 1 Boros commander, which is Feather.
Every other boros is Tier 4 or lower :/
tappedout.net/mtg-decks/list-multiplayer-edh-generals-by-tier/
Yeah the list on the video was quite old. Akiri and Bruse can be around a 2.5 or so. Ive killed Najeela, flash hulks, narset and decks in that company with akiri bruse. Feather is interesting. Powerful but glassy.
@@CommanderReplay Hey PJ, I'm curious to hear why you think Feather is glassy. I know the deck relies 100% on having Feather in play, but in my experience, she's one of the most reliable and resilient commanders out there. Granted, I run over 15 protection spells of all types (protection, indestructible, and flicker effects) in my deck to protect against all forms of removal, but I think that's the strongest way to build it. I've had lots of success against some really powerful, near cEDH level decks with my build - the only problem is if Feather gets countered, but Pyroblast/Red Elemental Blast help with that. I run very few pump spells and creatures so I can focus on removal, protection, and card draw which tends to work well even when I become the arch enemy. There's something to be said about having a virtually unkillable 3/4 flier attacking every turn, sometimes for big damage with pump spells/double strike lol
@@CommanderReplay Haha, I don't disagree! Was just saying what was on the list :P
Although, feather can be incredibly resilient... However I've found I either end up choosing resiliency or power with feather.
I'm thinking of trying Balancing Act in my boros decks (and Syr Gwyn)
Boros forever!!!💪💪💪
I want to see more
The command zone, mostly Josh, has a problem of bringing the simic mentality to every deck. He cares too much about ramp and card draw and value in every deck he plays. They’re good to have, but definitely don’t need 10 of each for every deck you play.
Yeah, they're not really as open minded as they would make you think, it gets kinda annoying sometimes
If you play in an Environment where efficient combos are frowned upon and big flashy creatures/spells are the game deciders, yes card draw and ramp/mana cost cheating is absolute king.
Not to mention even when you go more efficient, drawing more and making more mana quicker is always good. Mana allows for bigger/more spells to be cast and card draw allows to have those cards to play.
Why are there Boros players?
They keep the combo players honest. If they didnt have to run board wipes, theyd run 20 counters to protect their combo :)
Take my like and keep talking.
Like received. Thank you :)
I think the tutor argument is bullshit. There's good equipment tutors. There's good enchantment and general artifact tutors. Gamble is awesome. There's legendary tutors. Isn't there planeswalkers tutors.
It is, and it isnt. Yes white equipment tutors solve a lot of problems, enlightened is very solid. But when compared to vampiric tutor everything else just becomes trash. Being able to turn 1 search mana crypt, or turns 6-10 search for your win condition on mana is just absurd. I think the real question is whether vampiric tutor should be legal or not, its probably fine for casual but at stronger power levels is pretty problematic.
I used to follow the command zone, but I find that they are just out of date or wrong. There are so many better content craters now.
I think they are victims of their own success. With all of the new products they have to promote and the massive amount of work that goes into their content, I doubt that they really get to play a ton of commander. WHen they do I think its within their group which seems to have a fairly inbred meta. So yes I agree with you, many of their view points are out dated. I definitnely had an "what are you talking about" moment when they were saying that eternal witness is over played and people should consider regrowth for the mana efficiency. Eternal witness is one of the most abusable cards in this format.
Everything good about boros isnt boros, it's artifacts which is sad. Waiting for the day when the boros colours arent about combat
Disagree. The artifacts do great things sure, but there are plenty of powerful and interesting things to do without the artifacts. Take 2 combats with a Sun Titan, Inferno Titan, or Etali that should make the value player in you very happy. Add a Kiki Jikki to the mix and things will get wild. Firesong and sunspeaker is a perfect example of non combat boros, it has support problems because 90% of the boros cards printed care about attacking...you might be waiting a very long time on that.
Reaction videos from other people's videos are boring. Especially 'command zone.'
First
Instead a ragging on Boros like I'd prefer to do, I'll just say this: rarely do I see Boros combo and even more rarely do I "protect" for it. Teferi's Protection buys a turn. Boros Charm just changes math. I will always be happy to see the Boros players across from me. I usually start the match with "hey Boros player, if you're on a turn sideways strategy and don't abuse it toward me, I'll leave your stuff alone as long as I can." Even if I have zero interaction with their deck, I usually turn the game to two headed giant with a meat shield in place. I'm the guy that uses Shizo on someone else's Aurelia to get her through flyers. When the other opponent asks why, I'm playing black, gotta be evil.
Funnily enough I really only play boros combo, gerrard and all is a great value/combo commander