The Command Zone

Here be dragons! Tarkir: Dragonstorm is raging through the world of MTG and, if you don’t want to get swept away, you’re gonna need some powerful cards. Never fear, stormchasers, this episode we’ll be going over the best cards for your 99 from the new set. These cards might not be legendary, but with the strategies and synergies we’ve got here for you, they might just help YOU become a legend! ---...

Do you yearn to mobilize an unstoppable horde of Tarkir: Dragonstorm warriors and tokens? You’re going to need our “Mardu Surge” (red/white/black) precon upgrade guide! We’ll show you 10 cards that mar-DO deserve a spot in the deck and 10 cards that, like all weaknesses, must be cast off. The next time your horde hits the board, victory will be inevitable! -------- Support the show and become a Pa...

Everyone knows the dragons from Tarkir: Dragonstorm are tough, but upgrading your deck can be even tougher! Well have no fear, because today we’re buffing the “Abzan Armor” (white/black/green) precon with our $50 upgrade guide! We’ll show you the 10 cards that will help suit up your deck so that the next time you hit your local game store, your strategy will be impenetrable! -------- Support the s...

Looking to take your Commander pod by Dragonstorm with a powerful new deck? Then join us as we break down the best legendary creature cards from Magic’s grand return to Tarkir.  Behold all the synergies, strategies, and hot tech you’ll need to stoke the flames behind these devastating Dragons and fearsome fighters. Who will rise above the pack? You’ll have to watch and find out! -------- Support t...

Worried your new Tarkir dragon deck might be more bark than bite? Then, it’s time to power up your “Temur Roar” (green/blue/red) precon with our $50 upgrade guide! We’ll lay out 10 cards to add as fuel for the flames and 10 you can burn—not literally!—to make room. With these quick swaps, you can take wing at your next Commander night and claw out some epic wins. -------- Support the show and beco...

Why stop at raising hordes of the undead when you could ALSO raise your precon deck’s power level? This episode, we’re laying out our upgrade guide for the “Sultai Arisen” (blue/black/green) Commander deck from Tarkir: Dragonstorm. We’ve got 10 cards to dig up and slot in, plus 10 cards you can toss into the bin, all for under $50. It’s time to turn all those Sul-ties and Sul-losses into Sul-wins....

We’re going back to Tarkir and it’s time to Dragonstorm off with the “Jeskai Striker” (white/blue/red) precon reveal! Check out this brand new spellslinger deck, including 10 never-before-seen cards! Then, just to add some fury to the flurry, we’ve also included our $50 budget upgrade guide so you can really show off your prowess at your next game night! -------- Link to Full ‘JESKAI STRIKER’ Deck...

Adding cards to a Commander deck is fun, easy, and exciting! But choosing which cards to CUT can feel basically impossible.  This episode, we’re laying out the complete guide to cutting cards. We’ll help you identify the pieces you can do without, whether it’s for strategic reasons, or because they don’t fit the power or style of your brew. It’s always hard to say goodbye, but what are you gonna d...

Can the Magic: the Gathering movie actually be… good?  If you find the right people for the job, maybe it could be great! This episode, we’re laying out who we think SHOULD be making the MTG movie. From actors to writers to directors, we’ll bring you our takes on the best fits for the roles, because no movie speculation would be complete without fancasting! Do you agree with our picks? Tune in and...

A player may concede at any time, but that doesn’t mean they should. OR SHOULD THEY?! This great debate has been held around many a game table, so this episode we’re bringing you our unfettered opinions on the intricacies of the scoop. Is conceding poor sportsmanship or just a way to get the most out of your time? Should concessions be used aggressively? Should we never concede? It’s a surprisingl...

We recently unveiled our new and improved Commander deckbuilding template. This episode, we’re here to tell you why it’s… WRONG!  Okay, well not “wrong” exactly, but over-simplified! Templates are a great place to start, but if you’re looking to take your deckbuilding to the next level, you can’t expect to paint-by-numbers. Let’s discuss when and why it’s often correct to bend the rules and, somet...

Building your own Commander deck from scratch can be intimidating. It’s not just about finding powerful cards. A great brew needs to strike the perfect balance.  This episode, we’re here to make that task much easier with our new and improved Deckbuilding Template. We’ll lay out the ideal ratios of ramp, card draw, disruption, and more, all based on The Command Zone’s years of deckbuilding experti...

The new Commander [Brackets] system has been officially unveiled in all its 5-tiered glory! But what exactly does the system look like? And how is it different from the old ways? Most importantly, will [Brackets] solve Commander’s power level problem? This episode, we’re breaking it all down and bringing you our analysis. Let’s get bracketing! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a pa...

We are super excited to announce that Hasbro Entertainment has signed a deal with Legendary Entertainment to produce an official live-action Magic: the Gathering movie! Over the past 30+ years, MTG has become an entertainment icon with millions of fans all over the world, and we can’t wait to see it up on the big screen. So join us as we roll out the red carpet and tell you everything there is to...

Don’t blink, because Aetherdrift is coming in FAST! But have no fear, this episode will get you up to speed by going over the very best cards for your 99 from the new set. We’ll lay out all the high-octane tech so you can gas up your decks with these sweet new additions to the format, along with laying out the synergies and strategies you need to get the most mileage out of every spell. Strap in!...

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: Do you have the need for speed AND the need for a powerful new deck? Find out which of Aetherdrift’s racing legends is right for you, as we break down the most powerful Commanders from the new set. We’ll roll through the synergies, strategies...

Want to make the new “Eternal Might” (White/Blue/Black) precon even mightier? Never fear! We’re here to breathe new life into this deck of undeath with our $50 upgrade guide! We’ll give you 10 cards to exhume, and 10 to entomb so that next time you call forth your legions of mummies, everyone will know who the true god-pharoah is! (It’s you.) Come join us! -------- Support the show and become a Pa...

Can you feel that? The electricity in the air can only mean one thing: the Aetherdrift “Living Energy” (Red/Blue/Green) precon reveal is HERE! We’ve got a brand new Energy-themed deck to show you, including two new Commanders and 10 never-before-seen cards! Then just to amp things up a bit, we’ve also included our $50 10-card upgrade, so you’ll have everything you need for an electrifying victory...

Everyone will tell you they’re not the threat, but someone has to be! And figuring out exactly who it is can be the difference between victory and defeat.  This episode, we’re breaking down everything you need to become a master of threat assessment. From how to calibrate your thinking going into the game to how to assess the board states themselves, we’ll give you the tools you need to destroy yo...

It’s a mailbag episode! JLK and Rachel sit down to answer all your burning inquiries: Which Commanders do we REFUSE to play against? Which colors do we find the most powerful? What’s the best way to find a new playgroup? What do we think about Rule 0 commanders? And so much more! No question will go unanswered, so you’re not going to want to miss this one. -------- Support the show and become a Pa...

Hindsight is a 20/20 with Flying and Indestructible, so it’s time to look back at 2024 and all of the controversies, changes, events, and of course, cards from the last 365 days. From unprecedented bans that shook up the Commander world forever, to design choices that may have shifted the fabric of the game, plus the rise of Universes Beyond, and even a little bit of art theft thrown in for flavor...

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: Commander is famously a casual format, so it’s easy to handwave some of the more complicated rules when it comes to stuff like the stack and priority in a 4-player pod. But if you’re looking to take your gameplay to the next level, understand...

From gruesome murders to cute woodland critters, 2024 has brought a ton of new cards, styles, and settings to the game of Magic The Gathering. As always, everyone has their favorites and their flops, so this episode we’ll be going through every set of the year and laying out which we feel hit the nail on the head, and which ones whiffed completely. Will our top choices be the same as yours? Let’s...

This episode, we’re bringing in the members of our Command Zone team to answer the question: What are your favorite cards of the year? From powerful new format staples, to quirky pet cards, 2024 certainly had a lot to talk about! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- AURA:  Save on...

When you’ve been playing Magic for years, it can be hard to remember how difficult it is when you’re just starting out. Teaching new players can be a daunting task.  Fortunately here at the Command Zone, we’ve got a ton of experience introducing others to the game and we’re gonna share some of the best techniques and guidelines to make teaching Magic as fun as playing it. And with Foundations brin...