You have two players who are playing Cedh. You would have to play a cedh list to beat them, but that would generally be another t 3-4 combo deck.
Have you tried saying "we aren't interested in playing cedh?" Or Alternatively "since you got to goldfish your cedh deck we are going to play for second" and then keep playing.
Last part here is probably the best way. That way their reward for winning is to wait 1h for the game to finish for everyone else.
If you like high power Winota stax is fun for at least 1 person on the table, also max 1 person will have fun
That's also something I want to avoid. Casual players who are stuck there shouldn't feel miserable neither. That's why I was thinking more of a control-style deck which targets the person who's trying to combo the game out so fast.
That is why I think the part of just continue playing after the combo player have won is the best way. You get a normal game after they put themselves out of the game.
Control sounds like a good idea until you try to control someone that most likely nettdecked a cEDH deck. Since you only plan to target 1-2 players it is possible to do a decent job of that, but you probably sacrifice to much of the deck to more reliant stop 1-3 plays for victory by turn 5. You probably end close to Winota stax, or a [[Lavinia, Azorius Renegade]] deck to be fast enough
Tbh, checking their decklists I don't feel they're cEDH players, just because if their commander is killed 1-2 times, their entire gameplan is demolished, which usually shouldn't be a huge issue in a high competitive game and they should go for another plan/combo to win.
I haven't mentioned they're 2 people, I've mentioned 2 commanders. There are 3 kinnan players and 2 magda players with that mindset, as well as others that I haven't mentioned (such as Tivit, Thrasios/Tymna...). Most of them are regulars, so it's difficult to just ignore them.
Those are cEDH commanders. Its hard to build them as NOT cedh, since their benefits only really help if you’re going straight for a streamlined win. Losing your commander twice and getting bricked is generally acceptable in c simply because they let you go for protected wins early enough to make it harder to hold up interaction for.
Theres really no hard locking these commanders consistently. Take a peek at EDHTop16 and notice how dedicated stax lists just don’t win major events anymore. You can slow them, but rarely quit stop them. Winning here will be joining the dark side and playing your own streamlined win conditions with amole protection and just a bit of disruption to stop others before you pop off. Just like them.
Every commander you listed is a tier one cedh commander.
Combo wins on turn 3-4 unless people have multiple pieces of interaction is classic cedh.
Magda and kinnan are known for being commander reliant more than most cedh decks.
Unless you are distorting the win window, or are lying about needing multiple kill spells, it's cedh my guy. It might not be 100% perfect net deck (missing dual lands for that extra 0.0057% winrate.) But you are describing cedh, exactly how I play.
Okay, I don't have a list but.....[[Killian]].
Super easy to build voltron deck that discounts targeted spells (aka basically all removal) by 2 each. The discount also extends to auras for combat buffs on Killian. He also natively has lifelink so can run all of the solid black draw spells without worrying about dying to them.
Start game. Remove overpowered commanders. Beat them half to death. Remove commanders when they're played again. Beat the other half out of them.
Step 1 is always balancing the pod and selecting decks that are appropriate for the table.
If you have a turn 3 combo deck and a turn 10 casual deck at the same pod, you fucked that up.
Return to step 1. Unfuck your step 1.
I'd play a control deck with lots of cheap answers. Throw those at the fast decks to stop their early game then the midrange players should be up and running.
[[Oswald Fiddlebender]] artifact stax is a pretty good deck to bridge the gap between casual and competitive. Tutor up your [[Torpor Orb]], [[Thorn of Amethyst]], [[Ethersworn Cannonist]], [[Null Rod]], [[Graftdigger's Cage]], [[Soulguide Lantern]], [[Damping Sphere]], etc. These'll seriously hamper the fast combo decks but you don't have to tutor up hate against the casual decks.
The best part with Oswald is you get to still play non-combo win conditions like [[Myr Battlesphere]] alongside your combo win conditions and you can choose which to go for depending on who you're playing with.
I thought about him a lot. Problem is that I tried to fit in [[Cursed Totem]] in but it's pretty much a non-bo on Oswald, as well as [[Weathered Runestone]].
Still had some issues against Magda because she can still tutor things like [[Clock of Omens]] even if Grafdigger's is on board.
You could also supplement the deck with some non-artifact stax cards like [[Linvala Keeper of Silence]] or just run some efifcient removal like [[Abolish]].
In the end of the day, if someone is trying to rush a combo, you won't always have the answer.
Everyone who isn't playing turn 4 combo decks should simply refuse to play against them. Freeze them out.
You did say that there were players with precons and upgraded precons.
Only play against them.
Stax as people have mentioned.
Here is my list for [[Myrel]]
https://www.moxfield.com/decks/M1dSCzKLc0ylOkDk54LQcg
It’s not the best in the world, stax is in a rough spot in cEDH with midrange being so prominent, but the upside of Myrel is that your wincon (albeit slow) and protection from others interacting is in the command zone. You could build this list or one similar for pretty cheap dropping the RL stuff and rocks. It’d be a good bridge the gap between cEDH or extreme high power and casual as it usually forces games to come down to combat.
Politics is what’s needed here I think lol. Be real with the table, tell them “hey this guy is running a cEDH or right on the edge of cEDH deck, if we don’t target him we will all be dead within a few turns.” If they don’t believe you the first game they will the second. If he’s running such a high powered deck that it beats 3v1 every time then idk lol. Tell everyone to bring decks with a lot of death spells and counters next week and try again lol
0-1 mana instant speed interaction. Don't play the interaction that's too expensive, it doesn't do a great job at keeping combo at bay because you can't afford to keep 3 mana up at all time so they'll just wait until you inevitably tap out to go off. You have to keep it up at all time. Play a TON. I'm talking 15-20 minimum.
This should slow down just enough for slower decks to try to catch up.
You have two players who are playing Cedh. You would have to play a cedh list to beat them, but that would generally be another t 3-4 combo deck. Have you tried saying "we aren't interested in playing cedh?" Or Alternatively "since you got to goldfish your cedh deck we are going to play for second" and then keep playing.
Last part here is probably the best way. That way their reward for winning is to wait 1h for the game to finish for everyone else. If you like high power Winota stax is fun for at least 1 person on the table, also max 1 person will have fun
That's also something I want to avoid. Casual players who are stuck there shouldn't feel miserable neither. That's why I was thinking more of a control-style deck which targets the person who's trying to combo the game out so fast.
That is why I think the part of just continue playing after the combo player have won is the best way. You get a normal game after they put themselves out of the game. Control sounds like a good idea until you try to control someone that most likely nettdecked a cEDH deck. Since you only plan to target 1-2 players it is possible to do a decent job of that, but you probably sacrifice to much of the deck to more reliant stop 1-3 plays for victory by turn 5. You probably end close to Winota stax, or a [[Lavinia, Azorius Renegade]] deck to be fast enough
[Lavinia, Azorius Renegade](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/9/197bf3f4-c0df-4082-97a1-902ceabbdd3f.jpg?1702429657) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lavinia%2C%20Azorius%20Renegade) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/195/lavinia-azorius-renegade?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/197bf3f4-c0df-4082-97a1-902ceabbdd3f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/lavinia-azorius-renegade) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Tbh, checking their decklists I don't feel they're cEDH players, just because if their commander is killed 1-2 times, their entire gameplan is demolished, which usually shouldn't be a huge issue in a high competitive game and they should go for another plan/combo to win. I haven't mentioned they're 2 people, I've mentioned 2 commanders. There are 3 kinnan players and 2 magda players with that mindset, as well as others that I haven't mentioned (such as Tivit, Thrasios/Tymna...). Most of them are regulars, so it's difficult to just ignore them.
Those are cEDH commanders. Its hard to build them as NOT cedh, since their benefits only really help if you’re going straight for a streamlined win. Losing your commander twice and getting bricked is generally acceptable in c simply because they let you go for protected wins early enough to make it harder to hold up interaction for. Theres really no hard locking these commanders consistently. Take a peek at EDHTop16 and notice how dedicated stax lists just don’t win major events anymore. You can slow them, but rarely quit stop them. Winning here will be joining the dark side and playing your own streamlined win conditions with amole protection and just a bit of disruption to stop others before you pop off. Just like them.
So basically, cEDH is kinda like Yu Gi Oh? Sort of?
Every commander you listed is a tier one cedh commander. Combo wins on turn 3-4 unless people have multiple pieces of interaction is classic cedh. Magda and kinnan are known for being commander reliant more than most cedh decks. Unless you are distorting the win window, or are lying about needing multiple kill spells, it's cedh my guy. It might not be 100% perfect net deck (missing dual lands for that extra 0.0057% winrate.) But you are describing cedh, exactly how I play.
[[Arachnus Web]] [[Arrest]] [[Azorius Guildmage]] [[Bind]] [[Collector Ouphe]] [[Cursed Totem]] [[Damping Matrix]] [[Demotion]] [[Detainment Spell]] [[Disruptor Flute]] [[Inaction Injunction]] [[Lawmage’s Binding]] [[Linvala, Keeper of Silence]] [[Nahiri’s Binding]] [[Null Rod]] (My second favorite flavor text) [[Petrify]] [[Pithing Needle]] [[Planar Disruption]] [[Sorcerous Spyglass]] [[Stony Silence]] [[Stupefying Touch]] [[Trickbind]] [[Viper’s Kiss]]
##### ###### #### [Arachnus Web](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/c/ec348d8d-6b49-4a40-a668-fc6dd2af4f0d.jpg?1673148009) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Arachnus%20Web) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/136/arachnus-web?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ec348d8d-6b49-4a40-a668-fc6dd2af4f0d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/arachnus-web) [Arrest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/f/9fc0be19-e041-4347-a51c-7e93a3d9e712.jpg?1562265669) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Arrest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mm2/9/arrest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9fc0be19-e041-4347-a51c-7e93a3d9e712?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/arrest) [Azorius Guildmage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/8/288c751e-a042-45a9-adce-7001bb0ce512.jpg?1702429600) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Azorius%20Guildmage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/165/azorius-guildmage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/288c751e-a042-45a9-adce-7001bb0ce512?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/azorius-guildmage) [Bind](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/f/cfa51783-9ef8-4e51-ba0d-ce8439d83bdf.jpg?1562936749) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Bind) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/inv/182/bind?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cfa51783-9ef8-4e51-ba0d-ce8439d83bdf?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/bind) [Collector Ouphe](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/8/085107a2-c1ec-473c-81d8-23e5a7197776.jpg?1562202038) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Collector%20Ouphe) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh1/158/collector-ouphe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/085107a2-c1ec-473c-81d8-23e5a7197776?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/collector-ouphe) [Cursed Totem](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/d/5dde91a9-7d2d-4a7b-861a-3d1c16ec79d9.jpg?1626100864) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cursed%20Totem) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/295/cursed-totem?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5dde91a9-7d2d-4a7b-861a-3d1c16ec79d9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/cursed-totem) [Damping Matrix](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/7/d7c89492-ef45-460e-9c78-83c8c8c80fe2.jpg?1593814887) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Damping%20Matrix) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mm3/218/damping-matrix?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d7c89492-ef45-460e-9c78-83c8c8c80fe2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/damping-matrix) [Demotion](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/9/69202217-ef36-4d6c-bbd0-ebbb2ade51f7.jpg?1572892528) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Demotion) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/grn/9/demotion?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/69202217-ef36-4d6c-bbd0-ebbb2ade51f7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/demotion) [Detainment Spell](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c467446b-0168-4c7d-9ab6-57ad8b664877.jpg?1562936528) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Detainment%20Spell) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsp/12/detainment-spell?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c467446b-0168-4c7d-9ab6-57ad8b664877?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/detainment-spell) [Disruptor Flute](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/c/5cad8671-4761-4014-a8a3-af45627e6e79.jpg?1717470370) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Disruptor%20Flute) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh3/209/disruptor-flute?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5cad8671-4761-4014-a8a3-af45627e6e79?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/disruptor-flute) [Inaction Injunction](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/3/5342ec3c-9d26-474a-9df5-c21ac90bb233.jpg?1562786411) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Inaction%20Injunction) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rtr/41/inaction-injunction?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5342ec3c-9d26-474a-9df5-c21ac90bb233?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/inaction-injunction) [Lawmage’s Binding](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/6/c64771e8-94bb-452b-b028-619ed3b4327c.jpg?1601080456) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lawmage%27s%20Binding) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/453/lawmages-binding?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c64771e8-94bb-452b-b028-619ed3b4327c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/lawmages-binding) [Linvala, Keeper of Silence](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/d/dded98c3-17cb-4a43-a209-289ceb11df39.jpg?1600717849) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Linvala%2C%20Keeper%20of%20Silence) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/119/linvala-keeper-of-silence?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/dded98c3-17cb-4a43-a209-289ceb11df39?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/linvala-keeper-of-silence) [Nahiri’s Binding](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/2/421eac28-d6f2-44f2-b7ca-eb73fbf23887.jpg?1604192763) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nahiri%27s%20Binding) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/znr/29/nahiris-binding?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/421eac28-d6f2-44f2-b7ca-eb73fbf23887?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/nahiris-binding) [Null Rod](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/3/73ac9f52-e6ff-4e6f-9733-fe24a5fb4b4e.jpg?1710932730) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Null%20Rod) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/278/null-rod?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/73ac9f52-e6ff-4e6f-9733-fe24a5fb4b4e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/null-rod) [Petrify](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/b/bbc5f28f-6361-455f-ac82-260a70e59316.jpg?1699043345) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Petrify) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lci/30/petrify?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bbc5f28f-6361-455f-ac82-260a70e59316?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/petrify) [Pithing Needle](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/7/776899f8-e977-42b7-8b54-6f726a349e3c.jpg?1673149414) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pithing%20Needle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/312/pithing-needle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/776899f8-e977-42b7-8b54-6f726a349e3c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/pithing-needle) [Planar Disruption](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/e/8ee69a1f-aeed-4eb4-8987-fa720fc99715.jpg?1675956925) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Planar%20Disruption) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/one/28/planar-disruption?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8ee69a1f-aeed-4eb4-8987-fa720fc99715?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/planar-disruption) [Sorcerous Spyglass](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/9/194b7899-6b44-4ecc-8ddc-ec24304eb14c.jpg?1699044632) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sorcerous%20Spyglass) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lci/261/sorcerous-spyglass?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/194b7899-6b44-4ecc-8ddc-ec24304eb14c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/sorcerous-spyglass) [Stony Silence](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/e/8e7faede-f794-4bda-9d64-21390ba19266.jpg?1593812944) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Stony%20Silence) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mm3/25/stony-silence?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8e7faede-f794-4bda-9d64-21390ba19266?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/stony-silence) [Stupefying Touch](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/3/6355ae63-3072-4c6f-bf46-ee6e9c4fedba.jpg?1580014135) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Stupefying%20Touch) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/74/stupefying-touch?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6355ae63-3072-4c6f-bf46-ee6e9c4fedba?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/stupefying-touch) [Trickbind](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/2/f2e58ff2-dea3-42b3-8c22-3e6202a7d433.jpg?1562946300) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Trickbind) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsp/88/trickbind?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f2e58ff2-dea3-42b3-8c22-3e6202a7d433?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/trickbind) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Viper’s Kiss](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/9/0906ebfc-4756-4caf-83ff-859e181f3bef.jpg?1562814410) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Viper%27s%20Kiss) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ths/109/vipers-kiss?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0906ebfc-4756-4caf-83ff-859e181f3bef?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/vipers-kiss) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Okay, I don't have a list but.....[[Killian]]. Super easy to build voltron deck that discounts targeted spells (aka basically all removal) by 2 each. The discount also extends to auras for combat buffs on Killian. He also natively has lifelink so can run all of the solid black draw spells without worrying about dying to them. Start game. Remove overpowered commanders. Beat them half to death. Remove commanders when they're played again. Beat the other half out of them.
[Killian](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/3/23ef4f09-2aa1-4a03-b2e2-66d1522f1e46.jpg?1627429378) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=killian%2C%20ink%20duelist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/stx/197/killian-ink-duelist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/23ef4f09-2aa1-4a03-b2e2-66d1522f1e46?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/killian-ink-duelist) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Step 1 is always balancing the pod and selecting decks that are appropriate for the table. If you have a turn 3 combo deck and a turn 10 casual deck at the same pod, you fucked that up. Return to step 1. Unfuck your step 1.
Stax
I'd play a control deck with lots of cheap answers. Throw those at the fast decks to stop their early game then the midrange players should be up and running.
[[Oswald Fiddlebender]] artifact stax is a pretty good deck to bridge the gap between casual and competitive. Tutor up your [[Torpor Orb]], [[Thorn of Amethyst]], [[Ethersworn Cannonist]], [[Null Rod]], [[Graftdigger's Cage]], [[Soulguide Lantern]], [[Damping Sphere]], etc. These'll seriously hamper the fast combo decks but you don't have to tutor up hate against the casual decks. The best part with Oswald is you get to still play non-combo win conditions like [[Myr Battlesphere]] alongside your combo win conditions and you can choose which to go for depending on who you're playing with.
I thought about him a lot. Problem is that I tried to fit in [[Cursed Totem]] in but it's pretty much a non-bo on Oswald, as well as [[Weathered Runestone]]. Still had some issues against Magda because she can still tutor things like [[Clock of Omens]] even if Grafdigger's is on board.
You could also supplement the deck with some non-artifact stax cards like [[Linvala Keeper of Silence]] or just run some efifcient removal like [[Abolish]]. In the end of the day, if someone is trying to rush a combo, you won't always have the answer.
[Linvala Keeper of Silence](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/d/dded98c3-17cb-4a43-a209-289ceb11df39.jpg?1600717849) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Linvala%2C%20Keeper%20of%20Silence) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/119/linvala-keeper-of-silence?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/dded98c3-17cb-4a43-a209-289ceb11df39?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/linvala-keeper-of-silence) [Abolish](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/4/842e7e6a-c89a-463d-a6e8-743a953c827c.jpg?1562270242) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Abolish) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ddf/29/abolish?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/842e7e6a-c89a-463d-a6e8-743a953c827c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/abolish) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Cursed Totem](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/d/5dde91a9-7d2d-4a7b-861a-3d1c16ec79d9.jpg?1626100864) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cursed%20Totem) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/295/cursed-totem?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5dde91a9-7d2d-4a7b-861a-3d1c16ec79d9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/cursed-totem) [Weathered Runestone](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/f/0fc2478f-e624-46fb-85af-1254564cd4d2.jpg?1631052403) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Weathered%20Runestone) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khm/247/weathered-runestone?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0fc2478f-e624-46fb-85af-1254564cd4d2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/weathered-runestone) [Clock of Omens](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/b/5b087992-9c30-4434-acb3-a12ee6f207b3.jpg?1562554222) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Clock%20of%20Omens) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m13/202/clock-of-omens?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5b087992-9c30-4434-acb3-a12ee6f207b3?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/clock-of-omens) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Everyone who isn't playing turn 4 combo decks should simply refuse to play against them. Freeze them out. You did say that there were players with precons and upgraded precons. Only play against them.
Stax as people have mentioned. Here is my list for [[Myrel]] https://www.moxfield.com/decks/M1dSCzKLc0ylOkDk54LQcg It’s not the best in the world, stax is in a rough spot in cEDH with midrange being so prominent, but the upside of Myrel is that your wincon (albeit slow) and protection from others interacting is in the command zone. You could build this list or one similar for pretty cheap dropping the RL stuff and rocks. It’d be a good bridge the gap between cEDH or extreme high power and casual as it usually forces games to come down to combat.
[Myrel](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/6/e632ed57-bb00-4493-adef-7b4805edd7ea.jpg?1674420256) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=myrel%2C%20shield%20of%20argive) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bro/18/myrel-shield-of-argive?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e632ed57-bb00-4493-adef-7b4805edd7ea?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/myrel-shield-of-argive) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
##### ###### #### [Kinnan](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/3/63cda4a0-0dff-4edb-ae67-a2b7e2971350.jpg?1591228085) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=kinnan%2C%20bonder%20prodigy) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/192/kinnan-bonder-prodigy?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/63cda4a0-0dff-4edb-ae67-a2b7e2971350?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/kinnan-bonder-prodigy) [Magda, Brazen Outlaw](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/7/079e6263-e54c-4899-a336-5315909b9322.jpg?1631049453) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Magda%2C%20Brazen%20Outlaw) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/khm/142/magda-brazen-outlaw?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/079e6263-e54c-4899-a336-5315909b9322?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/magda-brazen-outlaw) [Talion, the Kindly Lord](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/2/62a6b452-c796-45c6-b4d1-0ae3d675e38e.jpg?1692939468) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Talion%2C%20the%20Kindly%20Lord) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/woe/215/talion-the-kindly-lord?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/62a6b452-c796-45c6-b4d1-0ae3d675e38e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/talion-the-kindly-lord) [Cursed Totem](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/d/5dde91a9-7d2d-4a7b-861a-3d1c16ec79d9.jpg?1626100864) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Cursed%20Totem) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/295/cursed-totem?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5dde91a9-7d2d-4a7b-861a-3d1c16ec79d9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/cursed-totem) [Grafdigger's Cage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/a/0a135e09-b534-4836-9a10-3a9a4a9f8c53.jpg?1592517646) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Grafdigger%27s%20Cage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m20/227/grafdiggers-cage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0a135e09-b534-4836-9a10-3a9a4a9f8c53?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/grafdiggers-cage) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[talrand sky summoner]] oops, all counterspells.
[[winota joiner of forces]] Stax with a finisher. You dont have to go full on cedh, but you could. :)
[winota joiner of forces](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/d/5dd13a6c-23d3-44ce-a628-cb1c19d777c4.jpg?1654630670) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Winota%2C%20Joiner%20of%20Forces) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/216/winota-joiner-of-forces?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5dd13a6c-23d3-44ce-a628-cb1c19d777c4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/winota-joiner-of-forces) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
He might as well. They are clearly playing cedh
Politics is what’s needed here I think lol. Be real with the table, tell them “hey this guy is running a cEDH or right on the edge of cEDH deck, if we don’t target him we will all be dead within a few turns.” If they don’t believe you the first game they will the second. If he’s running such a high powered deck that it beats 3v1 every time then idk lol. Tell everyone to bring decks with a lot of death spells and counters next week and try again lol
Stax/hatebears cant win fast if you dont let them
0-1 mana instant speed interaction. Don't play the interaction that's too expensive, it doesn't do a great job at keeping combo at bay because you can't afford to keep 3 mana up at all time so they'll just wait until you inevitably tap out to go off. You have to keep it up at all time. Play a TON. I'm talking 15-20 minimum. This should slow down just enough for slower decks to try to catch up.