The Command Zone

These days, knowing every single Magic card is basically impossible (unless you’re Gavin Verhey). Luckily for the rest of us, there’s Scryfall, the high-powered and versatile MTG search engine that can take your deck building to the next level… if you know how to use it.  This episode, we’re bringing you a crash course on the ins and outs of Scryfall, covering everything from the very basics, to s...

Math may be for blockers, but the rules are for everyone. Today we’re going to walk through everything you need to know to navigate your combat phase to perfection. Rules expert Murph joins Rachel to break it down step by step – literally. We’ll cover crazy keyword interactions (including BANDING) and give you all the tools you need to master the art of war! -------- Support the show and become a...

It’s not easy playing green – unless you’re two-time Pro Tour champion and Magic Hall of Famer Brian Kibler!  Let his wisdom be your guide as he discusses how to pilot green decks like a true beast. He’s laying out where green stomps the competition and where it has the most room for growth. So make like a tree and stay exactly where you are while you absorb the light of our special guest’s insigh...

Ever watched an episode of Game Knights and thought that it was so dynamic, so thrilling, and so focused that it must have been planned out ahead of time? Well… it isn’t, but that doesn’t mean there aren't tricks to help keep games as exciting as possible!  We’ve developed a ton of gameplay and deck building strategies to make Game Knights good television. Here’s the big secret though: YOU can use...

Want to know how the West was won? Well, obviously by running these super powerful cards from MTG’s newest set Outlaws of Thunder Junction! This episode, we’re wrangling up all the finest tech to play in the 99 of your favorite deck. It’s a brutal and lawless land out there, but with these strategies and synergies hidden in your boot you’ll be ready to hold your own when danger comes a knockin’! -...

It’s fun to be an outlaw, but if you want your ne’er-do-wells to do well at the table, you’ll need some upgrades. So today, for just a $50 bounty we present our upgrade guide for the “Most Wanted” (red/white/black) precon deck from Thunder Junction. We’ve got 10 dastardly additions and 10 cuts that aren’t worth their salt, so you can get the thing you truly want most: victory! -------- DUER: Upgra...

Feeling criminal? Tired of only piloting your own deck? Why not play your opponent's instead!? We’re here to tell you how, with our upgrade guide for the new Outlaws of Thunder Junction “Grand Larceny” (blue/black/green) precon deck. For only $50, we’ll show you which 10 cards to bring on the job, and which 10 to ditch so they don’t weigh you down. Soon, your opponent’s decks will look better than...

The desert can be merciless, empty, and unforgiving. But if you know where to look, there’s beauty to be found… in our mighty-fine Thunder Junction “Desert Bloom” (white/red/green) precon upgrade guide! As always we’ll bring you 10 cards to add to your travel pack, and 10 that you should desert in the desert, all for under $50. With these upgrades at your side, we reckon it’ll be your opponents wh...

In the Wild West, there are only two types of people: the quick and the dead. If you don’t want to be the latter, then you’re going to need a deck that can keep up!  Well don’t worry, today we’re bringing you the upgrade guide for the new Outlaws of Thunder Junction “Quick Draw” (red/blue) precon deck. We’ll lay out the 10 cards (for under $50) that you should have in your holster and 10 you can l...

It’s High Noon! And that means it’s time for some rootin’ tootin’ new commanders.  Luckily, Magic’s latest set Outlaws of Thunder Junction has rustled up all sorts of strong legends. So when you’re putting together your next 100-card posse and need a tough customer to lead it, look no further than these dastardly desperados. We’ve got the synergies and strategies that’ll help you get that big scor...

Thunder Junction previews have been full of tough characters: outlaws, varmints, ne'er-do-wells and more. But today, we’re bringing you the baddest of the bad, as we reveal the entire list for the Mardu (white, black, and red) “Most Wanted” precon deck from Outlaws of Thunder Junction! We’ll be covering the whole posse of new cards, including two never-before-seen legends. There’s trouble brewing,...

The comprehensive rules of Magic: The Gathering are almost 300 pages long. On top of all that, Commander has a whole set of UNWRITTEN rules that can be a lot less cut-and-dry.  Needless to say, this is a complicated thing to navigate. But have no fear! This episode we’re going over those unofficial rules and expectations of the format. From cards you aren’t supposed to play to game habits that are...

With almost 20 combined years of YouTube under their belts, The Professor and JLK are some of the most experienced veterans in the MTG content space. Both channels have grown enormously since they began, but it hasn’t always been a simple or easy journey. Today, the two friends sit down to give you a look behind the curtain, discussing the realities of content creation and the struggles that they’...

It happens to everyone: you sit down at the table with your brand new deck and it completely flops. NOTHING goes right. Your deck doesn’t do anything. All the cards seemed good on paper, but they just don’t work together like you thought they would. Well friend, what you need is some proper goldfishing!  This episode, we’re teaching you how to effectively test your decks so they will be stronger,...

It’s time for an all-new Command Zone fantasy draft featuring some of your favorite characters from Magic lore! This episode, Jimmy, JLK, and Rachel are making their picks for the top planeswalkers in Commander. Where will each of their loyalties lie? Which decisions will spark controversy among the group? And who will be the ultimate winner? To get these answers and more, tune in and see for your...

Want your Commander decks to really set the world on fire? Then you need the best cards from Magic’s rad new set! This episode, we crawl out through Universes Beyond: Fallout to find the strong new staples you’ll want for your deck lists. So crack open a Nuka Cola and join us as we show you which cards we think are truly S.P.E.C.I.A.L. -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of ou...

War never changes, but your precons probably should! This episode, we’re diving deep into the “SCIENCE!” (blue/red/white) artifact deck and the “Mutant Menace” (black/green/blue) radiation brew from Universes Beyond: Fallout. We’ve got upgrade guides for both, telling you which 10 cards to add (for under $50) and which 10 to cut. Then we’ll pit them against each other in the ultimate thought exerc...

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: The year is 2287, America has been devastated by radiation, and you have a decision to make: Which Fallout preconstructed deck to upgrade! Do you want the hearty tenacity of the “Scrappy Survivors” (white/red/green) precon, or the brutal mili...

Do you ever feel like you aren’t getting what you want out of Commander? Maybe you need to rethink how you’re thinking about the game. In fact, with the right mentality, you might even become a commander GENIUS! This episode, Jimmy and Rachel walk you through their thoughts on improving your mental relationship with EDH, helping you to find format fulfillment and hone-in on your (command) zone of...

Good news Fallout fans, the Vaults are open, and new cards are emerging into the wasteland! We’ve got an explosive preview card for you, so grab your power armor, because it’s time to reveal Elder Arthur Maxson from the new Universes Beyond: Fallout precon decks! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/co...

Wanna murder the table (in-game) at your next commander night? Well, Murders at Karlov Manor is loaded up with fancy new tech to spice up your deck! This episode we’re going over the new cards for your 99 from Magic’s latest killer set. We’ve done the detective work for you, so all you have to do is tune in and find out which cards might be new format staples in disguise. -------- Support the show...

Need a clue about which precon to upgrade from Murders at Karlov Manor? Don’t worry, we’re on the case!  This episode, we’re bringing you another back-to-back deck upgrade and comparison. We line up two suspects – the Deep Clue Sea (white/blue/green) and Blame Game (red/white) preconstructed decks – then tell you how to upgrade both of them with 10 cards for under $50. Once the evidence has been l...

What’s better than one precon upgrade? TWO PRECON UPGRADES! This episode, we’re premiering our new side-by-side upgrade and comparison format, where we bring you 10-card upgrades (at a $50 budget) for double the decks!  We’ll be comparing the new Murders at Karlov Manor precons “Deadly Disguise” (white/red/green) and “Revenant Recon” (blue/black). Come crack the case of how to make these decks kil...

WHO KILLED TEYSA KARLOV?! The culprit must have been quite a force to be reckoned with, so we’re reviewing all the most powerful Commander suspects from the new set, Murders at Karlov Manor. We’ll bring you the whole lineup of legends, and clue you in to the best synergies and strategies you need to really make them sing. Don’t let the mystery go unsolved, tune in and find who your next partner in...

Still investigating all of the new cards in Murders at Karlov Manor? Fear not! We have a major piece of the puzzle right here: an entire deck! Today, we reveal the “Deep Clue Sea” Bant (green, white, and blue) Commander precon. With 12 brand new cards and a whole dossier of reprints, this deck has everything you need to gather the clues and crack the case! -------- Support the show and become a Pa...