Shock Collar Commander

Deck Strategies

• 

  Narset, Enlightened Master

  Leverages exile triggers to cast multiple noncreature spells for free, generating value and controlling the board through spells and tempo plays.

• 

  Ephara, God of the Polis

  Focuses on creature-based triggers to draw cards and maintain board presence, capitalizing on incremental advantage from creatures entering the battlefield.

• 

  Ian Malcolm, Chaotician

  Allows players to cast spells from exile created by drawing extra cards, enabling unique and flexible spellcasting options during opponents' turns.

• 

  Oloro, Ageless Ascetic

  Utilizes life gain triggers to draw cards and drain opponents' life, aiming for a slow but steady attrition and card advantage game plan.

Gameplay Insights

• 1

  Players must meticulously track upkeep triggers and effects, especially for commanders like Ephara and Oloro, to avoid rule infractions under the shock collar conditions.

• 2

  Exiling cards and casting spells from exile (as seen with Narset and Ian Malcolm) introduces complex timing and priority decisions that can decisively impact board state.

• 3

  Utility lands that enter the battlefield tapped, such as Temple of Triumph and Aori Skillgate, play a subtle role in pacing the game and mana development.

• 4

  The shock collar mechanic heightens players' focus, causing more deliberate and cautious play, which slows the game but increases strategic depth.

• 5

  Managing the number of cards drawn and understanding the interaction of drawing triggers is critical, especially to maximize Ian Malcolm’s and Narset’s abilities without causing errors.

Notable Cards

• 

  Temple of Triumph

• 

  Rogue's Passage

• 

  Reliquary Tower

• 

  Island

• 

  Mountain

Summary

The game begins with four players piloting distinct commanders, each bringing a unique playstyle to the table. Early turns are focused on land drops, setting up mana bases, and cautiously developing board presence to avoid any missteps under the shock collar rules. Ephara, God of the Polis's player emphasizes creature deployment to trigger card draws, while Ian Malcolm, Chaotician enables players to cast spells from exile, adding a layer of complexity and choice. Narset, Enlightened Master focuses on leveraging noncreature spells from exile to generate value and tempo, and Oloro, Ageless Ascetic aims to stabilize life totals and generate incremental advantage through life gain and card draw effects. The threat of the shock collar enforces a high level of precision and adherence to rules, making every action deliberate and calculated. As the game progresses, players carefully manage triggers and board states, with key moments involving the deployment of utility lands like Temple of Triumph and strategic plays such as Rogue's Passage to enable commander attacks. The tension of avoiding mistakes while extracting maximum value from each turn creates a unique pacing that highlights the commanders' synergies and deck strategies. The game's win condition revolves around leveraging incremental advantages from card draw, life gain, and spellcasting from exile to outpace opponents, with the shock collar mechanic adding a psychological edge that influences decision-making and gameplay discipline.