Commander's Pod

In Episode 115 of Commanders Pod, Duncan and Jeff are diving into the ultimate flex in Magic: The Gathering—"Blinging" out your favorite deck. What drives a player to track down the absolute rarest, fanciest, and most premium printings of a card just to put it in a 99-card deck? This week, Jeff opens up his deck box to showcase his pride and joy: a fully customized, maxed-out Aloy deck....

Let’s talk about the elephant in the local game store. 🐘In Episode 114 of Commanders Pod, Duncan and Jeff tackle one of the most critical and debated questions in modern tabletop gaming: Does Wizards of the Coast actually care about what their players want? Lately, the conversation around Magic: The Gathering has shifted dramatically away from gameplay and directly onto the financial barrier to e...

The layout of the studio might look a little different this week, but the deep dives are just as intense. 🔍In Episode 113 of Commanders Pod, Duncan and Jeff hold down the fort to tackle the absolute weirdest corner cases, layers, and hidden interactions in Magic: The Gathering. Our main segment today is completely dedicated to those specific moments where a player drops a piece and the entire tab...

In Episode 112 of Commanders Pod, the full crew—Duncan, Jeff, and Sloan—are teaming up to look at another incredible deck list submitted by one of our Patron subscribers. Today, we are diving deep into the 99 to give our honest opinions on how to optimize this brew. From identifying underperforming cards to suggesting explosive hidden gems, we’re sharing our personal favorite upgrades to maximize...

Lock your doors and hide your decks—there are criminals at the Commander table. 🕵️‍♂️In Episode 111 of Commanders Pod, the full crew is back together as Jeff rejoins Duncan and Sloan to lay down the law. This week, we are breaking down the 11 Commander Crimes—the absolute worst legal maneuvers, etiquette violations, and social contract breaches a player can commit during a game of EDH.We go down t...

What happens in Vegas... ends up on the podcast! 🎰In Episode 110 of Commanders Pod, Duncan is back from an action-packed trip to MagicCon Las Vegas, and he’s bringing all the secrets back with him. While Jeff is still away, Duncan and Sloan sit down to comb through the massive announcements from the preview panels. We’re talking everything from the MTG x Marvel collaboration to our return to Midd...

Grab your water, because it’s about to get dehydrated in here. 🧂 In Episode 109 of Commanders Pod, Jeff is still away, leaving Duncan and Sloan to sift through the salt mine of the Commander format. Today, we are breaking down the "Social Contract" and identifying exactly what makes players scoop in frustration. From the cards that make the table groan to the playstyles that turn a frie...

In Episode 108 of Commanders Pod, Duncan and Sloan are heading into the lab to help one of our incredible Patrons optimize a true classic: Krenko, Mob Boss. Krenko is famous for creating an overwhelming board state in seconds, but in a world of board wipes and fast interaction, how do you ensure the Mob Boss actually finishes the job? Today, we analyze a listener’s current list and suggest the ess...

Order in the court! ⚖️In Episode 107 of Commanders Pod, we’re trading the playmat for the witness stand. Duncan dons the judge's robes as Jeff and Sloan go head-to-head in our first-ever "Commander Court."The rules are simple: Jeff and Sloan take turns acting as prosecutor and defendant for some of the most controversial topics in the Commander format today. From "social contrac...

In this episode of Commanders Pod, Duncan, Jeff, and Sloan sit down to dissect the highly anticipated release of Secrets of Strixhaven. As the MTG landscape continues to evolve, we’re looking at whether this return to the plane of Arcavios lives up to the prestige of the original. We break down the high-end collector's side of the set, including the rarity of the new Serialized cards and the a...

In Episode 105, we break down the latest developments in Secret Lairs and take a closer look at Secrets of Strixhaven, searching for hints that might point to something bigger. Our main focus turns to the upcoming Reality Fracture set, as we speculate on its possible themes and uncover potential clues hidden within Strixhaven’s lore and design. From wild theories to grounded predictions, we connec...

In Episode 104, we tackle one of the spiciest debates in Commander: what is the most broken color pairing in EDH? From raw power to synergy and consistency, we break down the top contenders and make our cases for which duo truly reigns supreme. We also dive into the latest April Pool’s Day Secret Lairs, sorting out what’s clever, what’s questionable, and what might actually be worth picking up. An...

In Episode 103, we take a deeper look at how the Commander bracket system could be made more precise, focusing on the key metrics that actually drive deck power but are currently overlooked. From interaction density to combo potential, we explore what’s missing and how the system could better reflect real gameplay. We also revisit Secret Lairs, breaking down what’s been working lately, what hasn’t...

In Episode 102 , we dive into the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles MTG release , discussing the cards, flavor, and what they might mean for Commander tables. We also take a look at the newest Secret Lair offerings , weighing the value and the vibes as only the pod can. Duncan shares his thoughts on the previous episode featuring Jeff’s sons Jaden and Paxton , reflecting on the next generation o...

In Episode 101 , Sloan and Jeff take the reins while Duncan is away, but they’re far from alone at the table. Jeff is joined by his sons Jaden and Paxton , who bring the next generation of Commander players to the pod. The boys share their favorite cards, decks, and strategies , talk about how they approach the game, and give their honest opinions about playing against their dad. And maybe they wi...

For our landmark 100th episode , we don our finest suits and ties and take a most distinguished approach to one of Commander’s most important topics: etiquette . In proper gentlemanly fashion, we discuss table manners, sportsmanship, threat assessment diplomacy, scooping protocol, and the unwritten social contracts that make Commander the format we love. With exaggerated decorum and refined dictio...

In Episode 99 , we dig into the newest Dungeons & Dragons Secret Lair drop , breaking down the cards, themes, and overall value for Commander players. Aggro Jeff returns in peak form with one of his most on-point rants yet, bringing the passion where it’s actually warranted. But the centerpiece of the episode is our full breakdown of the latest Commander ban and unban announcements , along wit...

In Episode 98, the pod is without Jeff once again, giving us free rein to explore a big hypothetical: what we would change if we were put in charge of the Commander Rules Committee. We talk philosophy, problem cards, and the ripple effects of rules decisions on real tables. Along the way, we share a fresh Tales from the Table, break down another installment of “That Doesn’t Do What You Think It Do...

In Episode 97 , we’re back with another round of Commander Bites , tackling a wide range of MTG news and updates, including Lorwyn Eclipsed quality control issues , the latest Fallout Secret Lair , first looks and reactions to the Marvel Commander Precons , and Hasbro facing a lawsuit over MTG-related misinformation . Aggro Jeff returns with plenty to say, adding his trademark fire to the discussi...

In Episode 96 , the pod dives headfirst into Lorwyn Eclipsed , the upcoming return to one of Magic’s most beloved planes. We break down the new and returning mechanics , give our thoughts on the Commander precons , highlight cards that immediately caught our eye , and share our overall impressions of what this set brings to Commander and the broader MTG landscape. From nostalgic callbacks to fresh...

In Episode 95 , the pod rolls on without Jeff once again , but there’s no shortage of Commander talk as we dig into our Mystery Slab Commanders project , revealing what we’re building, why we’re doing it, and how much chaos it’s already caused. We spotlight a Card of the Day , break down and offer deck suggestions for a subscriber who sent in their list, and wrap things up with some pro tips that...

In Episode 94, the crew looks ahead to 2026, sharing their thoughts and predictions on upcoming MTG sets, Commander precons, Secret Lairs, and potential rules changes in the year to come. Aggro Jeff delivers a rant that’s actually earned this time, while the rest of the pod balances the chaos with some genuinely useful pro tips for navigating what’s ahead. And for listeners who stick around until...

🎙️ Commander’s Pod – Episode 93: “The Big 2025 Year in Review”In 2nd to last episode of the year, we take a sweeping look back at everything Magic: The Gathering brought us in 2025. From powerhouse sets and innovative precons, to surprising rules updates, spicy Secret Lairs, and shifts in product offerings, we break down what hit, what missed, and what absolutely confused us. Aggro Jeff returns on...

This week we’re back with another round of Command Bites — fast, fun updates and bite-sized commentary from across the world of MTG and EDH. There’s no Aggro Jeff again this week (we assume he’s saving his rage for a future Secret Lair announcement), but the pod still brings the heat. We introduce a brand-new Card of the Day , spotlighting a spicy pick that’s been making waves at our tables. And t...

It’s our Thanksgiving episode, and the table is set for a feast of cardboard gratitude! The hosts dig into what they’re truly thankful for in Magic: The Gathering and EDH — from favorite commanders to beloved mechanics, and even that one friend who always forgets their triggers (but tries so hard).We open up the viewer mailbag, answering questions, giving hot takes, and learning that some of our l...