The Command Zone

2024 had a TON of Commander precons hit the shelves - 24 in fact! But not all precons are created equal, and this year had its duds as well as its slam dunks. But which is which? Never fear! We’ve got Rachel, Murph, and Jordan here to break down every single preconstructed deck from the past 365 and rank each of them definitively from best to worst! Find out which ones slapped and which ones deser...

The commander is often the most influential card in any EDH deck. In fact, some are SO powerful that they’ve had to be banned from the format entirely – even if they’d be perfectly fair as part of the 99! Couldn’t this problem be fixed by simply making a “Banned as Commander” List?  This episode, we discuss the pros and cons of reinstating that controversial rule, going over the potential impact t...

The Foundations Starter Collection was designed to help new players get into Standard, but it’s also really great for new Commander players! In fact, with a little bit of care and creativity, we’ve come up with a variety of Commander decks you can build right out of the box! We’ll walk you through the builds, strategies, and potential upgrades so you can go from cracking packs to cracking skulls i...

They haven’t played Magic since the 90’s but now they’re getting thrown into the deep end!  In this episode, JLK reunites his long-lapsed original playgroup to show them the (extremely different) world of modern-day Magic. What will they make of the game’s current design and power level? What do they remember from their old school spellslinging days? And what insights do they have into the mysteri...

Want to give your next Commander deck a bit of a jumpstart? Why not build one of these new anime-style legends from the Foundations Jumpstart set? This episode, we’ll give you the rundown on the most powerful of these new commanders, laying out the best strategies and synergies to turn these beginner-friendly cards into full-on manga monsters! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a pa...

Don’t let the Standard focus fool you, Foundations is loaded with cool new toys for Commander players everywhere! So this episode we’re breaking down our list of the best non-legendary cards for your 99. From cool support pieces to potential format staples, we’ll lay out everything you can’t afford to miss, along with the synergies and strategies you’ll need to make them the foundation of your nex...

Want to assemble a new deck, but still need to find the right captain? Then, we’re about to be your heroes! We’re breaking down the commanders from Magic’s brand new Marvel Secret Lair! Come see how these comic book legends put the “POW!” in powerful as we lay out the synergies and combos that’ll elevate them from good to outright super. -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of...

The new legends from Foundations may be in Standard for a while, but they’re going to be in Commander FOREVER – so don’t miss out on seeing which ones are the most powerful!  This episode, we’re breaking down the tricks, synergies, and combos these cards bring to the game table. Who will serve as the foundation for your next favorite deck, and who may be better suited for other formats? Watch and...

You know what mana-ROCKS? Fantasy-drafting artifacts that ramp!  This episode, Jimmy, JLK, and Rachel are picking the best mana rocks (over 2 mana) in Commander. We all know that two-drop ramp pieces are great, but which cards demand an include on the upper end of the curve? Tune in and find out! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, an...

With tons of counterspells, card draw, and instant-speed interaction, blue may be Magic’s most infamous color. With all that complexity, Blue can be just as tricky to pilot as it is to play against! Luckily, this episode we have master blue mage Josh Lee Kwai to break down the keys to playing the color successfully. If you’ve got some blue decks of your own (or want the inside scoop on how blue pl...

As the new stewards of Commander, Wizards of the Coast announced they’ll be reevaluating the ban list. In this episode, we decided to do the same! We’re going through every banned card to break down which we think could safely re-enter the format and which should stay locked away forever. There’s some super powerful stuff in there, and you won’t want to miss it! -------- Support the show and becom...

Would you make a deal with a demon? Now is your chance, because Duskmourn is here to offer you what every Magic player truly wants: POWER! This new set is chock full of powerful cards, and we’ll show you the best of the best as we go over the top cards from Duskmourn for your 99. We’ll guide you through all the hot new tech you’ll want to snap up for your next deck. Instead of being a scared survi...

JLK sits down with The Professor from Tolarian Community College to discuss the roles and responsibilities of content creators during periods of community crisis. -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- The Professor (Tolarian Community College): Twitter: @TolarianCollege Youtube: htt...

Further fallout from last week’s divisive new ban announcement: The Commander Rules Committee has decided to officially hand over control of the format to Wizards of the Coast. This shift in power brings the 13-year era of community management to an end. Needless to say, there’s a lot to talk about.  Join Jimmy, Rachel, and JLK as we sit down to discuss our takes on how we got here, what’s happeni...

Ever been on the wrong side of a Commander game and thought, “I’d need a miracle to win!” We're here to make it happen with our 10-card, $50 upgrade guide for the new “Miracle Worker” (white/blue/black) precon deck! Come see what enchanting new includes will take this Duskmourn list to new heights, and soon you’ll have everything you need to make your next victory look like divine intervention! (N...

This is the episode you’ve been waiting for: We’re talking about the bans.  This week’s ban announcement – removing Dockside Extortionist, Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt, and Nadu from the format – took the Commander community by storm. Some people are ecstatic, others are furious, but if you engage with Magic on the Internet you know this is all anyone’s been talking about. So in this special episode,...

To survive in the harrowed halls of Duskmourn, you’ve gotta be pretty scary yourself. It’s no surprise this set is loaded up with a bunch of frighteningly powerful new Commanders! This episode, we’ll be going over our picks for the best legends in the set, giving you a rundown of all the synergies and strategies you’ll need to put one of these monsters at the helm of your next deck. Don’t miss it!...

BOO! Did we make you jump? Or are you just leaping to get your hands on the new “Jump Scare” (blue/green) Commander precon from Duskmourn? Settle down, because we’re here to calm your nerves and raise your power level with our 10-card upgrade guide, all for under $50! We’ll tell you which cards to cut and which to hide in the deck so, at your next game night, you’ll have everything you need to spo...

Everybody hurts, sometimes… Especially when you’re playing against the new “Endless Punishment” (red/black) precon Commander deck from Duskmourn: House of Horrors! Today, we’re going to help you bring the pain with our 10 card upgrade, all for under $50! We’ll go over which cards to add and which ones to slash from the list for a power spike that will leave your opponents writhing in agony at your...

Have no fear, Duskmourn preview season isn’t quite over yet. We’ve got a terrifyingly cool new deck to show you, plus an upgrade guide that’s simply to die for. The time has come to reveal the new “Death Toll” (green/black) Commander precon, including 10 never-before-seen cards. Then, we’ll lay out our 10-card upgrade that won’t cost you an arm and a leg (under $50) so you can be the terror of the...

Every so often a Commander deck comes along that begs the question: Is this so stupid it’s brilliant, or just regular stupid? This episode, you can be the judge as master brewer Rachel Weeks presents the dumbest deck she’s ever built: Norin the Wary… with stickers! She’ll break down the sticking points she encountered along the way, as well as the tickets to its arguable success. Be very wary, bec...

You know what really ruffles our feathers? Grinds our gearhulks? Makes our Blood tokens boil? Well you’re about to!  This episode, we break down the most annoying cards in Commander. We got a bunch of submissions from our Patrons and staff, and now we’re laying out what makes these cards miserable and ranking which are the worst of the worst. There’s a lot to get riled up about. Come see if the ca...

Everyone loves hugs right? How about group hugs? Maybe in real life! But, in Commander, the group hug strategy can be pretty controversial, not to mention tricky to pilot. Fret not! This episode, we’ve got the best hugger we know, DJ (AKA “Jumbo Commander”), to bring you the complete guide to the archetype. He’ll teach you how to turn making friends into glorious victory, along with warning you ab...

Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- Show Notes: Sometimes big power comes in cute little packages, but how do you know which new woodland cards should land a spot in your next deck? We’re here to help with our review of the best cards from Bloomburrow for your 99! We’ll show you which of t...

Want to give the table a brood awakening at your next Commander night? This episode, we’re making some offspring spring into action with our upgrade for the “Family Matters” (red/white/blue) precon from Bloomburrow. We’ve got 10 new additions to adopt into the deck, and 10 cards to cut from the family reunion guest list, all for under $50. Get ready to win through the power of kin! -------- Suppor...