The problem with combo tunnel vision

Commander has a combo addiction. Somewhere between “infinite mana” and “draw your deck,” the average EDH table forgot how fun it is to just vibe around a theme. You know, like “Haunted Library,” “Insect Cult,” or “Mutant Fight Club.” Decks that feel like a world — not a math problem.

Thematic deckbuilding isn’t about winning faster; it’s about storytelling through gameplay. When someone looks across the table and immediately gets your vibe — that’s the good stuff.

If you want to learn how to build a Commander deck that oozes flavor without folding to the first Cyclonic Rift, keep reading.

Step 1: Pick a theme, not a gimmick

The best themes come from concepts that make you smile before you even pick a commander. Maybe you love horror movies. Maybe you want your battlefield to look like Jurassic Park. Maybe your dream deck is full of creatures that could sue Marvel for trademark infringement.

Whatever you choose, make it specific enough to feel intentional but broad enough to build around. “Haunted Mansion” is a vibe. “Haunted Mirror Room with Two Specific Ghosts” is grounds for a restraining order.

You can draw inspiration from decks like the bizarre and surprisingly competitive Zask, Skittering Swarmlord EDH Deck Tech, which shows how a theme like “bugs doing bug things” can actually win games if you commit to it.

Step 2: Choose a commander that reinforces the story

Don’t pick your commander just because they’re powerful — pick one that *belongs* in your world. If your deck’s theme is “Insect Cult,” Zask is obvious. For “Haunted Library,” Teysa Karlov or Athreos, God of Passage work perfectly. “Mutant Fight Club”? Try Zimone and Dina, or something that looks like it should be wearing a lab coat and yelling about gene splicing.

The commander is your main character. Every card should feel like a supporting cast member, not a random celebrity cameo that steals the spotlight for efficiency’s sake.

Still, you want synergy — not irony. You’re making art, not a meme deck. Unless, of course, your theme *is* meme decks. In which case, Godspeed.

Step 3: Build your core like a movie set

Think of your 99 cards like props, lighting, and background characters. You want everything to serve the story.

If your deck is “Haunted Library,” your ramp might come from mana-producing ghosts or cursed artifacts. If it’s “Mutant Fight Club,” your draw engines should look like experiment notes and growth chambers. This is where you get creative.

Here’s a trick: build your card list in phases. First, pull every card that fits the theme visually or narratively — don’t worry about curve or function yet. Once you have your dream board of 150+ cards, *then* start tightening the list by asking: does this card push the story *and* advance the game plan?

You’ll find yourself making tough cuts — which is good. It means the story is getting clearer.

Step 4: Let flavor drive synergy

Here’s the sweet spot: find mechanical overlap that naturally fits your flavor. That’s where theme decks stop being cute and start being deadly.

Take “Insect Cult.” It’s not just bugs for bugs’ sake. It’s about death triggers, tokens, and recursive swarms. Suddenly, cards like Grist, the Hunger Tide or Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest become both flavorful *and* functional.

Or maybe you love decks that just feel alive — literally. You’ll probably relate to how Gruul Rage Therapy approaches primal expression through combat. It’s not “smash everything because red-green go brrr,” it’s emotional storytelling through violence. And that’s beautiful in its own barbaric way.

Step 5: Add Easter eggs and running gags

The best theme decks aren’t just cohesive — they’re funny. Slip in one or two cards that make your playgroup groan or laugh when they appear. If your “Haunted Library” deck includes *Book of Rass*, congratulations — you’re a genius. If your “Mutant Fight Club” runs Experiment Kraj just for the vibes, you’re doing this right.

These Easter eggs make your deck feel like a passion project, not a spreadsheet. They also give your games personality — even when you lose, people remember the deck that made them laugh.

Step 6: Accept imperfection

Thematic decks will never be the most efficient thing at the table, and that’s fine. You’re not trying to out-meta a cEDH player who treats every draw step like a chess clock. You’re here to tell a story.

Think of it like cooking: a combo deck is a recipe; a theme deck is a potluck where the mashed potatoes have a personality. Sure, someone else might bring something “better,” but yours has soul.

If you want proof that soul wins games, check out Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff – Orzhov Lifegain Value Engine Deck. That list isn’t just about lifegain — it’s about building a world of crooked deals and quiet power. Every card reinforces the same story: wealth, decay, and value at any cost.

Step 7: Make it playable, not perfect

A theme deck still needs to function. Your mana base should support your colors, and you still need ramp, draw, removal, and a win condition. But you can integrate all of that *within* the theme.

“Haunted Library” deck? Use enchantment ramp and artifact draw like Midnight Clock, Smothering Tithe, or Endless Atlas. “Insect Cult”? Rampant Growth, but make it gross — Sakura-Tribe Elder, Deathcap Cultivator, or Fertilid all fit the vibe.

It’s okay to bend the theme for playability — but if you find yourself justifying Rhystic Study with “well, technically it’s a wizard,” take a breath. The deck doesn’t need every staple to be good. It just needs enough synergy to keep your theme alive past turn six.

Step 8: Give your deck a personality test

Once your deck is built, imagine it as a person. Would you hang out with it? Is it chill, spooky, unhinged, or quietly judging everyone? Does it talk too much about fungus?

This is where your deck’s “voice” emerges. The more clearly you can describe its personality, the more your playgroup will connect with it.

It’s the same energy that makes people fall in love with decks like Arahbo or Zask. Those aren’t just strategies — they’re moods. “Cats that punch gods” or “bugs that worship rot” sound like jokes, but they’re surprisingly deep reflections of player personality.

Step 9: Embrace evolution

A theme deck should evolve like a good story arc. Maybe your Haunted Library gets a new cursed tome every few months. Maybe your Mutant Fight Club adds a new fighter from the latest set. Keep it fresh, but don’t break the story.

Adding random staples dilutes your identity. But finding on-theme upgrades — that’s how your deck ages like fine… embalming fluid.

Why theme decks hit differently

Here’s the real reason this works: people remember experiences, not outcomes. You might not top the pod, but when your “Insect Cult” floods the table in flavor and creepy synergy, you become everyone’s favorite loss.

Theme decks make Commander feel like a collaborative RPG again — not just multiplayer solitaire. And when your storylines collide? That’s where the best games happen.

If you’re craving a break from meta spreadsheets and want to rediscover why this format exists in the first place, go thematic. Build something that would make a flavor text writer proud.

You don’t need infinite combos to make infinite memories.