The Command Zone

Deckbuilding may seem fun, but it’s also incredibly DANGEROUS! From unfocused gameplans to awkward mana curves, everywhere you look there are traps and pitfalls just waiting to kill your grand vision. Today, let us be your guides through the perilous world of brewing Commander decks. With our help, you can avoid these common missteps and make sure your decks are all ready for action!  -------...

Ready to step into a fresh new world of power? Reality Fracture has you covered with a multiverse’s worth of sweet new tools for your 99. This episode, we’ll lay out all the cards you don't want to miss from MTG’s latest in-universe set, and trust us, there’s some real staple potential going on with some of these picks. Jace’s Echoverse might not have lasted long, but these cards are here to stay,...

Bad news: Jace has broken the multiverse.  Good news: That means YOU get some broken new Commanders to play with!  That’s right, this episode we’re going over the most powerful new legends from MTG’s latest in-universe set, Reality Fracture. We’ll lay out everything you need to know to start crafting around these cool color-swapped characters, so you can turn YOUR universe into one where...

Behold Jace’s perfect world in the form of the four-color ”Multiverse Reforged” Reality Fracture precon! He may have “improved” the multiverse, but now it’s up to us to improve his deck with our $50 upgrade guide. We’ll lay out 10 cards to bring into existence, and 10 to banish into nothingness to make this deck a true masterpiece. Soon you’ll be reforging the reality of your next game night into...

Sometimes, you just like something. Even if it's overcosted or never pays off, a pet card holds a special place in your heart. This episode, we’re polling the Command Zone staff to find each of their most beloved pet cards. From old staples to new flavor pieces that just tickle their fancy, everyone has a different fun justification for their picks, so let's jump in! -------- SUPPORT US ON PATREON...

“In Response!” If you’ve never said those two fateful words, you’re not winning as many Commander games as you should. A solid gameplan needs a strong disruption package to back it up, so today we’re breaking down how to build a complete suite of interaction. We’re talking removal, counterspells, protection, and more essential tricks of the format. This is a level-up episode that you definitely do...

Sick of feeling like you need to take out a loan to afford the fancy staples in Commander? There’s a better way! This episode, we’re going over some affordable (but still very powerful) alternatives to some of the most expensive staples in the game. With these budget replacements for every color and archetype, you’ll save so much money you can go out and buy—okay, we’ll be realistic—it’s probably...

Collaborate and conquer! This episode we’ll prove two heads are better than one by upgrading each other’s decks. Rachel and Murph each take one of the other’s brews and make 10 changes to bring it up to snuff. How will Murph’s obscure old-school sensibilities mesh with Rachel’s efficient and analytical deckbuilding? Our guess is quite well, but tune in and find out! -------- Learn more about your...

Mystery Booster: Commander Edition is full of powerful, wacky, new legends to brew. But figuring out which are the best of the bunch doesn’t need to be a mystery! This episode, we’re breaking down our picks for the set’s strongest new Commanders and giving you all the info you need to optimize their builds. These cards were literally made for fans of the format like us, so don’t miss out! --------...

The Hobbit is here and full of precious and powerful new spells to slot into the 99 of your favorite Commander decks. Don’t miss the biggest hits (including some BUSTED new toys for white) as we break down the best cards this trip through Middle-earth has to offer. With these new includes, your brews will be honed and ready for battle! -------- SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Support the show and become a...

The Hobbit is finally here, but without any precious precons! Don’t worry! If you want a list you can pick up and play, we’ve brewed four exciting options for you using some of the set’s coolest legends. From Elves to Goblins to Dwarves to a brand new Bear Force, we’ve got decks with different punching powers for whichever bracket you like to play. Don’t miss them! -------- JOIN OUR PATREON! Suppo...

These commanders may be from Middle-earth, but their power level is anything but mid! We’re breaking down the best new legends to build around from Magic: The Gathering | The Hobbit. We’ll lay out all the synergies and strategies you need to make your enduring story tell the tale of endless Commander victories. So don’t miss out on any of this precious info. -------- SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Support...

So the dice have spoken and you’re going LAST! How much does your plan need to change? The answer may surprise you.  This episode, we’re going over the effect of turn order in Commander. We’ll discuss how your position at the table shifts your chances of winning, your relationship with removal, and how you might need to alter your gameplan for a better chance at victory. Let’s jump into it! -...

Are your games perfectly balanced, as all things should be? If you're playing Commander, the answer is probably no. While perfect power balance might be impossible, there are always ways to work toward leveling the field for your playgroup. In this episode, we're going over techniques and strategies to help address power disparities and make the experience more fun for everyone involved. Let's get...

MTG has a LOT of Commanders to choose from. In fact, in the game’s 30+ years, over 3,300 different commanders have been printed! But which ones are truly the best? This episode we’re doing the legwork, going year by year, release by release, and bringing you the very best Commander from every Magic set in history! We've got over 100 sets to cover, so strap in! -------- SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Suppo...

The Command Zone fantasy draft is back and, this time, our hosts are picking the best BANNED cards in Commander.  Plus, special guest Crim “TheAsianAvenger” (MTGGoldfish) joins us to take the degeneracy to the next level. Power Nine, Conspiracies, Ante…everything is up for grabs! And this time the stakes are real, because after the draft each player is incorporating their picks into an actual...

Do you have big Plans to Power-up your Commander decks? Then it’s time for some Teamwork as we help you pick out the best cards for the 99 from Magic’s latest set: Marvel Super Heroes. This new tech is so powerful it puts Stark Industries to shame, so don’t miss our favorites from among these hundreds of exciting options. After all, card assessment is our super power! -------- JOIN OUR PATREON: Su...

Want your new deck to be better at doing The Thing? Have no fear! In this upgrade guide we’ll tell you exactly which cards are fantastic for “Fantastic Four,” the new white, blue, red, and green Commander precon from Marvel Super Heroes. We’ll stretch your power to the limits with 10 new additions, then give you 10 cards to make invisible by cutting them from the deck. With these swaps, you’ll be...

After rigorous testing in Shuri’s lab, we’ve engineered the perfect upgrade guide for “Wakanda Forever,” the new artifact-focused green and white Commander precon from Magic’s latest set, Marvel Super Heroes. We’ve got 10 new cards that are as strong as Vibranium, plus 10 you can slash to make room, all for under $50. Follow these tips and you’ll be bringing the beatdown with Black Panther every g...

Marvel Super Heroes is full of legendary creatures, but which ones are Magic’s Mightiest New Commanders? Today we’ve delved through hundreds of contenders to assemble an elite team of cards that can take down any table you throw at them. Come find out which heroes and villains made the cut and learn all the synergies, strategies, and hot tech you’ll need to superpower their decks. -------- SUPPORT...

Sick of playing nice? Ready to make the “Doom Prevails” (blue/black/red) precon live up to its villainous name? Then you need our $50 upgrade guide for this conniving Commander deck from Marvel Super Heroes. We’ll bring you 10 evil additions to power up your pernicious deeds, and 10 cards to wipe off the face of the Earth, or at least cut from the deck. So next game night, your opponents will seek...

Don’t miss this EXCLUSIVE reveal of the “Avengers Assemble” (red/white/blue) precon from Marvel Super Heroes, featuring some of Magic’s mightiest new cards. We’ll be going through these exciting and powerful designs and breaking down the deck’s stats, synergies, and strategies. Then, stick around for our 10-card upgrade guide to make these heroes even mightier than they already are out-of-the-box!...

Are you a new player just getting into Magic: The Gathering? Heard about Commander and want to know more? Welcome to The Command Zone,  you’re in the right place! In this episode, we’re taking you through the basics of how to play MTG’s most popular and exciting format. We’ll give you the rundown on how the rules differ from normal Magic and lay out some of the social philosophies and gameplay con...

When sets come out, we do our best to predict precisely how good and/or powerful each new card will be. Unfortunately, card evaluation is hard and sometimes we get it WRONG. This episode, we’re looking back at all the cards we underestimated, overestimated, or just missed altogether. Through this process of analyzing our past analysis, we can (hopefully) get better at evaluating cards in the futur...

Ready to mix things up? You’ve definitely seen these Commanders before, but you’ve never seen them like this! Today we’re taking some of the most-played Legends in the game and building them in fresh new ways. Clones, counters, blink, mutate, Commander is never a solved format if you’re willing to get creative. Let’s jump right in! -------- SUPPORT US ON PATREON: Support the show and become a Patr...