The Command Zone

Show Notes: The horn is sounded and the “Riders of Rohan” will answer! This episode, we’re revealing the full blue, red, and white preconstructed Commander deck from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth. Witness the power of humanity as we break down the brand new cards—including loads of legendary creatures—plus tons of great reprints with spectacular LoTR-themed art. Forth Eorlingas!  --...

Do you want to be a brilliant brewer like Rachel Weeks? Well this episode is a great place to start. Rachel is doing a mini deck-tech and ranking for every list in her collection. Come see the cornerstone cards that make them tick, plus the weird includes that make them a blast to play. Which decks will emerge as top tier and which are on the chopping block? Watch and find out. -------- Support th...

Show Notes: Do you want to make “Red Deck Wins” a reality at your next commander night? Well your brew is only half the battle! You also need to know how to play it! In this episode, our resident red deck expert, Jimmy Wong, walks you through taking advantage of red’s explosive potential and shoring up its shortcomings. Don’t get burned the next time you go aggro. -------- Support the show and bec...

The debate is on! Sol Ring may be the most played card in commander, but it’s also one of the most controversial! This episode, our panel of experts sits down to discuss the merits of Sol Ring in the commander format. Is it too good? Does it make games better or worse? What would Commander look like without it? And the greatest question of them all, should it be banned? Find out in this episode of...

Show Notes: No Phyrexian invasion would be complete without some legends becoming compleat. This episode, we’re breaking down these transforming terrors from March of the Machine. We’ll tell you how to make these two-faced Commanders tick, showing off the combos and synergies that’ll let you take over your next Commander night.  -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our commu...

Do you want to achieve god-like power in your next Commander deck without needing to pass around a collection plate? We’ve got you covered with our budget upgrade guide for the “Divine Convocation” March of the Machine (white, blue, and red) precon deck. We added ten cards in, took ten cards out, all for ten bucks. With this no-frills upgrade, you’ll be feeling all-powerful in no time! -------- Su...

Show Notes: Give your friends a knight to remember with some help from our “Cavalry Charge” super budget upgrade guide. We’ve taken the white, blue, & black Commander precon from March of the Machine and detailed 10 cards to saddle up (for under $10) and 10 to send back to the stables in order to get this deck in jousting shape for any level of competition. -------- Support the show and become a P...

In the wake of brutal war, the multiverse must rebuild. Kingdoms have been shattered, planeswalkers have been desparked, and sweet new cards have been released! March of the Machine: Aftermath might be a much smaller set than usual, but it’s still got plenty of new toys for Commander! In this episode, we’ll go over all the most notable legends and spells you won’t want to miss. Math may be for blo...

March of the Machine is full of legendary characters from across the multiverse, but what about the other spells and soldiers that are backing them up? Today, we’re going through Magic’s latest set to break down which cards are worthy of going in the 99. How will the all-new Battles stack up in battle? Will anything emerge as a must-have format staple? Tune in and find out. -------- Support the sh...

Do you find yourself alone on the budget battlefield, fighting to make a great deck without spending too much money? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back! We’re bringing you everything you need with our budget upgrade guide for the R/W/G “Call for Backup” preconstructed deck. We’ll show you our 10 card adjustment for only 10 bucks to move this deck from the back of your shelf to the front of your batt...

Love to tinker with your decks, but don’t love spending too much moolah? Well our $10 budget upgrade guide for the new green/blue/red “Tinker Time” March of the Machine preconstructed deck is made just for you! We’ll give you our 10-card tweak to start you on the path toward calibrating your deck into a well-oiled victory machine!  -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our co...

Good guys? Sure, they’re nice. But this episode isn’t for them. This one’s for the bad guys! Today we’re tackling the meanest of the mean from March of the Machine with the Phyrexian praetors! We’ll go over all five new praetor cards, covering both the front and back sides of these uniquely designed, powerful new legends. We’ll bring you the low-down on all the synergies and strategies you’ll need...

It may be hard to convince people you’re not the threat when you break out the “Growing Threat” Commander precon from March of the Machine. So to help you keep up against the rest of the table, we’ve got a budget upgrade guide for this black and white Phyrexian—and artifact-themed—deck. See the 10 cards to splice in (for under $10) and 10 to remove to make this deck a mechanical masterpiece. -----...

The war for the multiverse rages on, and some truly legendary pairings are staunchly defending their planes. This episode, we finish breaking down the team-up Commanders from March of the Machine.  Now, when all these beloved characters get mashed up and mixed together, the cards can get pretty complicated. So don’t miss a single detail as we delve into the combos and synergies you’ll need to make...

In March of the Machine, the multiverse’s most beloved legends must team up to take down the Phyrexians. This episode, we start to break down the two-in-one Commanders they’ve become. Which pairings will rise to the top of the pile? And which will show that two heads aren’t always better than one? Tune in and find the dynamic duo you want to build around next! -------- Support the show and become...

Are you ready to rally your allies, band together, and fight the March of the Machine? Today, we’re revealing a whole new Commander deck that’s perfect for you! We go through all the new cards in this Jeskai (RWB) “Divine Convocation” preconstructed deck, including 5 brand new Planechase cards! Then we break down the contents of the deck. Enjoy some fresh tech, convoke synergies, and never-before-...

Magic is a complicated game. “How complicated?” you ask. With over 265 pages in the comprehensive rules, it’s safe to say it’s more complex than most people ever realize. So it’s no surprise there are some rules Commander players get wrong all the time.  This episode, we enlisted the help of Murph to go over the most common mistakes to prepare you for the next time a tricky situation pops up at yo...

Some legends are truly terrifying to see in your opponent’s command zone. But they get a little less scary once you have a gameplan to stop them. Today, we’re breaking down the modern-day Commander boogiemen, why they’re so powerful, and what you can do to hold your own against them. Are our nightmare foes the same as yours? Or did we miss the legendary creature who haunts your game nights? Come s...

It’s good to be king, but is it good to be the kingmaker? So often in Commander, a player on the brink of death has the power to choose which remaining opponent will get the crown or who will take the loss. But what’s the right thing to do in that situation? Do you spite the player who wronged you?? Flip a coin? Or simply go quietly into the knight and let the game take its course? Today we ask th...

Building a powerful deck can be a lot easier than building one you actually love to pilot, especially after repetitive play. Today, we’re breaking down the steps you can take to make sure your final brew is just as fun as the brewing process. From effective playtesting to identifying pain points, this episode is all about listening to your gameplay, playing what you love, and building the deck of...

Commander can be expensive, especially when you’re starting to build your collection! When you’re trading your cash for cardboard, take a moment to optimize your spending. This episode, we’re breaking down some of the format’s priciest staples to determine whether they’re actually worth the price tag. Be sure to check it out before you hit “Checkout!” -------- Support the show and become a Patron!...

MagicCons are Wizards’ latest attempt at cracking “The Gathering.” But are these big live events actually worth attending? We’re breaking down our experiences from Vegas and Philly to determine just how much bang you’re getting for your buck. Is Command Zone access worth the extra charge? How about the VIP passes? Most important of all, are Magic Cons actually fun? Tune in and find out! -------- S...

Can any Magic card truly be called “bad?” Yes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun playing them! This episode, Rachel polls the Command Zone crew on cards they love to play even though they aren’t exactly optimized. Commander is a casual format! Play more bad cards! From 9-drops to draft chaff, come see if your pet card is on our list. -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part...

Do you love Commander but hate counting past 10? Then we have a strategy for you! This episode, Craig “Mr. Infect” Blanchette is here to teach you about–you guessed it–playing infect in Commander! With Phyrexia: All Will Be One bringing the new “Toxic” mechanic into the format, poison counters are all the rage once again. So today we’ll go over the ins-and-outs of this controversial strategy and g...

Show Notes: Just because a card can’t be your commander, doesn’t mean it's not the piece you need to turn your deck into a perfect, mechanical abomination! This episode we’re going over the cards that matter for your 99 from Phyrexia: All Will Be One. We’ll cover the cards we think could be the newest staples, cards that fill niche roles, and cards that get your engine oiled up and firing on all c...