The Command Zone

It’s time to see how much “Turtle Power” the TMNT precon is packing with our EXCLUSIVE reveal of this brand new Commander deck! We’ve got a shell-shockingly large number of never-before-seen cards to show off including a ton of cool new tech. Plus we’ll even lay out how to turtle soup-up the list with our expert upgrade guide. There’s a ton packed into this episode that you do not want to miss, so...

That’s right: TWO cards have come off the Commander ban list, but how will they shake up the game? This episode, we’re breaking down the latest Banned & Restricted announcements for the format, going over what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what’s on the horizon. Plus, which of your decks will have to say Farewell to Bracket 2 after the new game changer update? Tune in and find out! -------- JOIN OUR...

After the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crashed the party at Lorwyn Eclipsed prerelease, every rare and mythic from #MTGxTMT has been officially revealed. So we’re coming out of our shell to talk about them early! We’re laying out which cards are packing the most turtle power for Commander, and breaking down the bodacious synergies to really make them pop. Grab a slice and check it out! -------- JO...

Commander isn’t a singleton format. Okay. Well, technically it is, but when you can play 6 or 7 functional reprints of the same spell, does the spirit of singleton survive? In this episode, Rachel discusses the state of singleton in the face of modern Magic design. Is redundancy hurting the soul of our favorite format? Is consistency a boogeyman of the format, or does it just make decks more fun?...

How do you upgrade the new five-color Lorwyn Eclipsed precon? Elementally, my dear viewers! This episode, we’re giving the “Dance of the Elements” Commander deck some new moves with our $50 upgrade guide. We’ve got 10 new cards to stoke its flames and 10 cuts to extinguish from the list. Once your Ashling list is all souped-up, your winning streak will be Limitless! -------- SUPPORT OUR PATREON: S...

Don’t let Lorwyn’s cool new commanders Eclipse the amazing new cards for the 99! Magic’s return to this classic setting brings with it some powerful tech. Don’t miss our breakdown of which cards shine brightest! These definitely deserve a spot in your favorite brews, and we’ll tell you exactly how to use them best. Check it out! -------- SUPPORT OUR PATREON: Support the show and become a Patron! B...

Are you looking to blight with a little more might? The new Lorwyn Eclipsed “Blight Curse” (black/red/green) precon deck could be your perfect match. This episode, we’re heading over to Shadowmoor and bringing you our $50 upgrade guide, complete with 10 cards that you can count-er on to make the deck better, and 10 cards that you can subtract. Now at your next game night you can up the ante with y...

Wanna get Shadow-MORE Lor-WINS in Commander? Just build one of these powerful new legends from Lorwyn Eclipsed!  We’re back on an iconic Magic plane, breaking down the best this set has to offer. We’ll lay out the synergies and strategies that’ll make these commanders shine brightest, casting your opponents’ hopes and dreams into eternal night (in a fun way). This is an awesome set, so don’t miss...

It sucks getting trapped in a bad Commander game, but we’ve played with strangers to know there are some early warning signs you can use to avoid an unfun time. From basic rudeness to misleading Rule Zero conversations, in this episode we’re laying out the red flags that all Commander players should watch out for. We all want this community to be fun for everyone, so make sure you’re aware of thes...

2025: the year where Magic finally let you equip Doc Ock with Summon Materia so he could hop in a racecar and fly into outer space to fend off an attack from the Fire Nation. It’s been a crazy year. But now it’s time to look back over the cards, events, controversies, and changes from the last 365 days of MTG that made this one of the biggest (but also most polarizing) years in the game’s history....

Losing a Commander game is a lot like history—those who don’t learn from it are doomed to repeat it. But what if real-world historical conflicts could help you avoid suffering more losses at game night? This episode, we’re taking a look back at The Great War, dissecting its complexities for lessons you can use on your own MTG Commander battlefields.  -------- JOIN OUR PATREON: Support the show and...

It’s Commander’s biggest night of the year: The Zoney Awards!  We’re rolling out the red carpet to crown the best cards from 2025, as voted by our esteemed Academy of Command Zone staff and patrons. Which legendary nominees will win a golden trophy, and who will bring home the title of Best Card of 2025? Grab your popcorn, because it’s time to find out! -------- DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT (LESS THAN...

Are your decks putting you to sleep? Tired of playing the same old lines over and over again? There’s GOT to be a better way! Today, we’re showing you how to take your decks and make them less boring. We’ll bring you deckbuilding tips that will breathe new life into your gameplay, with more diverse win conditions, more interesting decision points, and cards that won’t put you in the same position...

Just because a card is popular doesn’t mean it’s good in every deck. With power creep becoming power leap, a lot of Commander staples have been outclassed. So don’t miss our list of well known cards you could probably cut. They may seem fine on their face, but we’ll break down why they’re overrated, and how you can do better. -------- DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER: We’ve got not one but TWO...

Sometimes a Commander comes along that looks like the coolest legend ever printed—until you actually try to build it. This episode, the Command Zone crew tells tales of brews that never quite came together. From clunky plans to unfun play patterns, come find out which cards were too tricky to crack even for us, and we’re professionals! -------- DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER: We’ve got not on...

Another year, another batch of Commander precons. But how did 2025’s crop turn out? With four Final Fantasy decks and a whole slew from within the worlds of Magic, there’s a lot to evaluate, so this episode we’re going one by one through every precon this year. We’ll be grading them each for playability, value, and just plain old fun! Come find out which decks pass, and which you should pass on. -...

Want to upgrade a deck that’s multiple colors without spending multiple dollars? Look no further! This episode, we’re bringing you 10 powerful cards—one for each color pair—that cost under $10 TOTAL! This tech gives you a ton of bang for your buck, so don’t miss out on these underrated gems. -------- JOIN OUR PATREON: Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesom...

Does the lack of Avatar precons have you airbent out of shape? Don’t worry, we’ve brewed four awesome new decks for you with powerful Last Airbender legends! These lists are ready right out of the iceberg, so if you want to bring the beatdown in some cool new ways, do NOT miss this episode. -------- DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER: We’ve got not one but TWO amazing new Game Knights playmats –...

Looking for some powerful benders and badgermoles to upgrade your favorite Commander deck? Then this episode’ll quench ya, because we’re breaking down the best cards in the 99 from Magic’s latest set, Avatar: the Last Airbender. This set is packed with cool designs and potential new staples that’ll bring the four nations (and your three opponents) to their knees. So don’t miss out on our top picks...

Magic’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is finally emerging from the iceberg, ready to bring balance to Commander. But what if you don’t want balance? What if you want… POWER? Say no more! This episode, we’re laying out the most powerful legends from Avatar for your viewing pleasure. From humble cabbage merchants to mighty firelords, we’ll show you the strategies and synergies you need to brew a deck t...

From the format’s inception, color identity has been a core part of Commander, creating deck diversity by forcing players to work within restrictions. But should those limits be loosened for hybrid mana? In most formats, hybrid mana makes cards more versatile, but in Commander it actually holds them back. Lately, the Commander Format Panel has floated changing how hybrid mana works with color iden...

Yip yip! Previews for “Avatar: The Last Airbender” are taking off, and we’ve got two exclusive never-before-seen cards to reveal. So bend an ear as we reveal these exciting new airbenders, “Appa, Loyal Sky Bison” and “The Legend of Yangchen.” So if you’re thirsty for Avatar previews, don’t miss this video. It’ll quench ya! -------- JOIN OUR PATREON: Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part...

1v1 Magic is full of lessons and strategies you can use to up your EDH game. This episode, we’ve enlisted help from the best of the best including: pro players, competitive streamers, and hall of famers.  Get ready for a ton of level-up moments as we solicit sage advice from some of the top minds in all of Magic. ------- JOIN OUR PATREON: Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our comm...

That’s right, the Commander Bracket system has been updated! But do the new changes actually make the brackets more clear? How will the Game Changer cuts impact the health of the format? Is every deck still a 3? Don’t miss our hot takes as Commander Format Panel members Rachel and JLK break down what’s happened and what still needs to be done to make Rule 0 work. -------- Commander Brackets Update...

Want some high-impact, low-cost cards that you can run in ANY deck? You’ve come to the right place!  It’s time for another 10 for $10, where we bring you 10 cards you can pick up for a grand total of $10. This time, all those cards are colorless! But just because they don’t have any color doesn’t mean they won’t have a huge impact on the board. So come on in and bring a crisp 10 dollar bill! -----...