Commander Theory

In this episode, Nick and Zak discuss the newly-spoiled legendary creatures from Ravnica Allegiance and predict which nonlegendary cards are likely to have an impact on Commander. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the sho...

In this episode, Nick and Zak discuss the new Commander-playable cards and legendary creatures released in 2018, give a broad overview of the year as a whole, and share their hopes and predictions for 2019. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlay...

In this episode, Nick and Zak discuss the new guild mechanics in Ravnica Allegiance and predict which of the first cards spoiled are likely to have an impact on Commander. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by usi...

In this episode, Nick and Zak review fan-submitted custom commanders and offer ideas for how to build around them. Our listeners sent in some really interesting designs that have the potential to create fun new play experiences and open up new archetypes, including Curses, Shaman Tribal, manifest tricks, and a meaner version of Zedruu. If you'd like to see the cards as we discuss them, please...

Nick and Zak continue their deep dive into EDHREC data by moving on to the five shards, three-color groupings composed of a color and its two allies. Using data on popular commanders, staple cards, and the associations between them, Nick and Zak analyze the state of the shards. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now...

The Command Zone recently released data from hundreds of Commander games, which included variables such as deck color identity, who got an early Sol Ring, deck archetype, and most importantly, who won the game. In this episode, Nick and Zak explore that data and explain some of the most interesting associations between deck characteristic and win percentage. Support the show You can reach me on Tw...

Nick and Zak continue their deep dive into EDHREC data by moving on to the five wedges, three-color groupings composed of a color and its two enemies. Using data on popular commanders, staple cards, and the associations between them, Nick and Zak analyze the state of the wedges. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! No...

Nick and Zak continue their deep dive into EDHREC data by moving on to the five remaining two-color pairs. Using data on popular commanders, staple cards, and the associations between them, Nick and Zak analyze the state of these pairs and discuss what opportunities exist for new commanders to open up archetypes in these colors. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you...

In this episode, Nick and Zak respond to Sheldon Menery's most recent article for StarCityGames. The article, "Commander Cards You Shouldn't Play," highlights several cards Menery considers to be against the spirit of the format, including Armageddon, Paradox Engine, and Mindslaver. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please su...

After finishing up the monocolor identities in their previous deep dive into EDHREC data, Nick and Zak move onto the two-color pairs, starting with the five pairs from Guilds of Ravnica. Using data on popular commanders, staple cards, and the associations between them, Nick and Zak analyze the state of the format and what new opportunities exist for new commanders to open up archetypes. Support th...

Nick and Zak discuss the new cards spoiled in the final week of Guilds of Ravnica previews, sharing ideas for how to build around the new commanders and analyzing what decks could make use of the new nonlegendary cards. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping...

It wouldn't be a Ravnica set without guild leaders, guild champions, and powerful multicolor cards. Nick and Zak suggest ways to build around the new legendary creatures and identify which nonlegendary cards are likely to become format staples and which have more narrow applications. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Pa...

Nick and Zak discuss the mechanics of Guilds of Ravnica, GRN Mythic Edition, guild basics, and (spoilers!) how to build around the new Emmara. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link . It co...

In this new series, Nick and Zak will use data from the popular decklist aggregator EDHREC to gain insight into the most popular decks in the format, how typical builds differ from optimal lists, and what opportunities might exist for new commanders to add archetypes to the format. In the inaugural deep dive, they will explore monocolor and colorless identities. Support the show You can reach me o...

Recently, Magic has had a run of sets that have been great for Commander. However, this string of successes could not begin until we left the jungles of Ixalan behind. In this episode, Nick and Zak discuss the mistakes (and successes!) of Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan, as seen through the lens of Commander. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please...

Nick and Zak discuss which of the new nonlegendary cards from the 2018 Commander precons are likely to make their way into decks and which are better left in the trade binder. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by...

Nick and Zak discuss the successes and opportunities for improvement present in the 2018 Commander precons. They also share their thoughts on the new commanders: their impact on the format, their design, and how to build around them. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planni...

In this episode, Nick and Zak discuss which nonlegendary cards in M19 will have an impact on Commander. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link . It costs you nothing and earns money for the...

Last week, Wizards told us about the themes and color identities of the Commander 2018 precons. In this episode, Nick and Zak share their predictions for Commander 2018, critique the choice of color identities, and analyze what C18's themes need to be viable in Commander Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now w...

Core Set 2019 has more legendary creatures than a typical Core Set, which makes it a boon for Commander deckbuilders. Nick and Zak discuss the new archetypes created by M19 commanders, as well as which existing archetypes might benefit from adopting one of the new legends. Later on, they discuss the applications of M19's planeswalkers in Commander. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter...

In this episode, we evaluate the new legendary creatures (and planeswalkers) released in Battlebond and suggest ways to build around them. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link . It costs...

In this episode, Nick and Zak discuss which cards in Battlebond are going to make an impact on Commander. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link . It costs you nothing and earns money for t...

In this episode, we discuss the information revealed on Announcement Day 2018. Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link . It costs you nothing and earns money for the show! The opening theme...

In this episode, Nick and Zak share ideas for how to build around several commanders from Dominaria, including Jhoira, Teshar, Firesong & Sunspeaker, and more! Support the show You can reach me on Twitter or email me here If you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon ! Now with ad-free episodes! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our a...