Introduction
Commander is a lot like cooking: you need the right ingredients to make something truly special. And what’s more special than a deck all about food? Forget your typical goblins and elves; it’s time to serve up a heaping helping of flavorful gameplay with a food-themed Commander deck! From humble Gingerbread tokens to the ravenous Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar, Magic: The Gathering offers a surprising array of cards that celebrate the culinary arts, or at least, the consumption of various delicious and sometimes not-so-delicious treats.
The food theme in Magic revolves around the “Food” token, an artifact token that can be sacrificed for two life. While seemingly simple, the Food token acts as a hub for various synergistic effects, enabling lifegain strategies, sacrifice synergies, and unique token interactions. First appearing prominently in *Throne of Eldraine*, the Food theme continues to receive support in newer sets, allowing players to continually improve and refine their delectable strategies.
To navigate the vast landscape of Commander deckbuilding, we turn to EDHREC. This invaluable resource aggregates data from countless Commander decks online, providing insights into popular commanders, frequently played cards, and common strategies. EDHREC allows us to find the best possible “ingredients” for our deck. It is your culinary companion in the world of Commander, ensuring you only use the most flavourful and impactful cards.
This article will delve into the surprisingly potent food theme in Commander, using EDHREC to uncover the most effective commanders, strategies, and essential cards for creating a truly delicious and competitive deck. Prepare your taste buds for a journey into the world of flavorful Commander gameplay!
Why a Food Theme in Commander?
Beyond the initial novelty, a food theme offers several compelling reasons to take it to your Commander table. First and foremost: it’s incredibly fun! The flavor is undeniable. You get to play cards with charming names like “Gingerbrute” and “Savvy Hunter,” creating a lighthearted and enjoyable experience for you and your opponents. Who can stay mad when you’re throwing around animated Gingerbread men?
But don’t mistake flavor for weakness. A food-themed deck can pack a surprising punch. The Food token provides a constant stream of life, allowing you to outlast opponents in long, grindy games. The sacrifice element opens up numerous avenues for card advantage and value.
Furthermore, the food theme allows for the creation of powerful synergies. Many cards reward you for sacrificing artifacts, gaining life, or generating tokens. Food tokens conveniently fulfill all three of these requirements. This synergistic potential makes it more than just a gimmick deck; it can be a legitimate contender in your Commander pod.
Finally, the unexpected nature of a food deck can give you a strategic advantage. Opponents may underestimate the power of seemingly harmless Food tokens, leaving them unprepared for your carefully crafted combinations and surprising burst of power. It’s a deck that can catch people off guard and leave them wondering how they lost to a bunch of pastries.
Key Commanders for a Food Theme (Powered by EDHREC)
Let’s dive into some of the top commanders for a food-themed deck, drawing insights directly from EDHREC data. We will be focusing on commanders who have a decent representation in the EDHREC database, indicating established popularity and support.
Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar, The Culinary Queen
Few cards encapsulate the food theme better than Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar, the ridiculously named chef from *Modern Horizons 2*. She requires a specific setup, needing both The Underworld Cookbook and some way to discard cards to get onto the battlefield, but once she is there, she unlocks incredible potential.
According to EDHREC, Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar decks overwhelmingly include the Underworld Cookbook, a cornerstone of any strategy built around her. Players use the cookbook to make food tokens, and use Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar to sacrifice them, which deals three damage to any target, so food tokens become removal and burn damage.
Top cards found on her EDHREC page are cards that make discard outlets like “Cathartic Reunion” and token generators that include “Academy Manufactor”. These top played cards help to make a complete recipe in a food deck.
Consider focusing on discard synergies to make a complete Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar deck, maximizing the value from each food sacrificed.
Gyome, Master Chef: The Generous Host
Another strong choice is Gyome, Master Chef, from *Throne of Eldraine*. Gyome turns your food tokens into a political tool. Not only does he make food tokens, but he also gives your creatures shroud when you tap an untapped Food you control.
EDHREC highlights the prevalence of token doublers like “Anointed Procession” and “Parallel Lives” in Gyome decks, showing the importance of maximizing the food production. It also highlights cards like “Peregrin Took” and “Feasting Hobbit”. These halflings help Gyome synergise food even more by making it fuel other cards on the battlefield.
When building around Gyome, explore ways to create multiple food tokens in a turn, enhancing his shroud ability and making it harder for your opponents to target your creatures. Consider focusing on a go-wide strategy with small creatures, protecting them with Gyome’s shroud effect.
Alela, Artful Provocateur: A Banquet of Fairies
While not solely focused on food, Alela, Artful Provocateur offers a unique approach. She creates Fairy tokens whenever you cast an artifact or enchantment spell. She also buffs all of your flying creatures, and gains you life whenever an artifact enters the battlefield under your control. Because food tokens are artifacts, they trigger all of Alela’s abilities.
EDHREC suggests that artifact synergies are crucial for Alela decks, including cards like “Tezzeret, Master of the Bridge” and “Sai, Master Thopterist.” Cards that generate artifact tokens, like clues and treasures, are also welcome in this deck.
When building an Alela food deck, focus on artifact ramp and card draw to maximize her token generation and anthem effects. The fairy creatures give you an easy-to-assemble army.
Honorable Mentions
While the above commanders offer the most direct synergy with the food theme, other commanders can also be incorporated. Commanders that focus on token generation or lifegain can benefit from the presence of Food tokens. Keep these options in mind as you explore different deckbuilding directions.
Staple Cards for a Food-Themed Deck (EDHREC Focused)
Beyond specific commanders, certain cards consistently appear in successful food-themed decks, as evidenced by EDHREC data. These staples form the foundation of any culinary Commander creation.
Food Token Generators: The Ingredients
The first step in creating a delectable food-themed deck is to generate Food tokens. Cards like Oko, Thief of Crowns, Gilded Goose, Savvy Hunter, Trail of Crumbs, and Gingerbrute are the key ingredients. Oko creates a food token when he comes to the battlefield, then threatens to steal opposing artifacts and creatures. Gilded Goose generates both food and mana. Savvy Hunter makes food whenever your creatures die. Trail of Crumbs generates food whenever a non-token creature enters the battlefield. Gingerbrute is a cheap food card that has haste.
EDHREC confirms the popularity of these cards, highlighting their frequent appearance in food-related Commander decks. Their low mana cost and versatility make them essential components of any food-based strategy.
Sacrifice Outlets: The Flavors
Food tokens alone are not enough. You need ways to sacrifice them for value. Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar, Peregrin Took, Feasting Hobbit, and Witch’s Oven are all valuable sacrifice outlets. These cards allow you to turn your Food tokens into a variety of effects, from dealing damage to generating card advantage.
According to EDHREC, Witch’s Oven and Feasting Hobbit are particularly popular choices, appearing frequently in decks that focus on Food tokens. They’re both cheap and versatile.
Life Gain Synergies: The Health Benefits
The constant stream of lifegain provided by Food tokens can be leveraged to fuel other powerful effects. Aetherflux Reservoir, Authority of the Consuls, Heliod, Sun-Crowned, and Cleric Class are examples of cards that benefit from lifegain.
EDHREC data reveals that Aetherflux Reservoir is a common inclusion in lifegain-focused decks, providing a powerful win condition. Similarly, Authority of the Consuls offers both lifegain and a way to slow down aggressive opponents.
Generic Goodstuff/Ramp/Card Draw: The Balancing Act
While the food theme provides a unique identity, it’s important to remember the fundamentals of Commander deckbuilding. Ramp spells, removal spells, and card draw engines are essential for any successful deck, regardless of its theme. Include cards like Cultivate, Kodama’s Reach, Swords to Plowshares, and Fact or Fiction to ensure your deck runs smoothly and efficiently.
Sample Decklist (Featuring Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar)
Here’s a sample decklist showcasing how you can build around Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar, incorporating the staple cards and strategies discussed above. This decklist is inspired by the EDHREC data associated with this commander.
- Commander: Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar
- Creatures: Gingerbrute, Feasting Hobbit, Peregrin Took, Savvy Hunter
- Artifacts: The Underworld Cookbook, Witch’s Oven, Academy Manufactor, Arcane Signet, Sol Ring
- Enchantments: Anointed Procession, Parallel Lives
- Sorceries: Cathartic Reunion, Tormenting Voice, Wheel of Fortune, Vandalblast
- Instants: Lightning Bolt, Swords to Plowshares, Counterspell
- Lands: Command Tower, Blood Crypt, Rakdos Carnarium, Fetchlands, Shocklands, Basic Lands
This decklist focuses on generating Food tokens and sacrificing them to deal damage with Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar. The Academy Manufactor helps generate treasures and clues, which helps with card draw. The sac outlets allow you to control the board. The deck also includes some classic rakdos staples and ramp spells. This list is just a starting point; feel free to adjust it based on your budget, playstyle, and local meta.
Conclusion
The food theme in Commander offers a unique and flavorful way to experience the game. From the charming artwork to the surprisingly potent synergies, a food deck can provide a refreshing alternative to more traditional strategies. By leveraging EDHREC data, you can identify the most effective commanders, strategies, and staple cards for creating a truly delicious deck.
The possibilities are endless, and the flavor is undeniable. So, the next time you’re looking for a new Commander project, consider serving up a heaping helping of food-themed fun.
Explore the theme further on EDHREC: [Link to EDHREC’s Food Theme Page].
What are your favorite spicy food-themed cards? Let us know in the comments below!
