The Command Zone

Of all the legendary animals leaping around the valley of Bloomburrow, which is the wildest of the woodland? The fiercest of the forest? The thickest in the thicket? We’re about to find out, because this episode we’re breaking down the most powerful new Commanders from Magic’s latest set. Don’t miss the strategies and synergies that’ll turn these critters into real beasts on the battlefield! -----...

Show Notes: Trying to tune your Raccoons from trash pandas to treasure pandas? Look no further, because today we’re bringing you our upgrade guide for the brand new “Animated Army” (red/green) precon from Bloomburrow. Special guest upgrader Olivia Gobert-Hicks is here with 10 cards to make the deck sing, and 10 you can leave in the garbage, all for under $50. Don’t miss it! -------- Support the sh...

Are you looking to dole out some beats while you’re giving out treats? Bloomburrow has the perfect deck for you with the new “Peace Offering” (blue/white/green) precon! And we’re here to sweeten the deal with our upgrade guide: 10 gifted additions and 10 cards to leave back in your den, all for under $50! Soon you’ll be your whole pod’s favorite player to lose to! Don’t miss it. -------- Support t...

Are you going nuts for more Bloomburrow previews? Well you’re in luck! Not only do we have an entire new deck to show you, we’ve also got an upgrade guide ready to go! That’s right, it’s time to reveal the new “Squirreled Away” (green/black) precon, complete with 10 brand new cards. Then we’ll give you our take on a 10-card upgrade all for under $50, so you’ll have everything you need to bring a b...

Show Notes: The fantasy draft format is back and, this time, you should expect the unexpected! JLK, Jimmy, and Rachel are drafting the best “Gotcha!” spells in Commander. We’re talking about the tricks that catch your opponents totally off guard and turn the game on its head. But which of the format’s obscure surprise spells will take the top spot? And who will emerge victorious once the dust fina...

The Assassin Order has struck again, infiltrating Magic: the Gathering with a set full of powerful tricks from across time. This episode, we’ve got our eagle eyes locked on Assassin’s Creed as we look for cards with lethal potential. From historic legends to deadly equipment, there’s a ton of power waiting to be unlocked. So enter the Animus with us as we break down the cards you need to know from...

Show Notes: Upgrading decks can be tricky, but with the right cards, your lands can be even trickier – especially with this upgrade guide for the new “Tricky Terrain” (green/blue) precon deck from Modern Horizons 3! We’ll guide you through the valley of 10 cards you should add, and across a canyon where you can throw the 10 cards you’ll take out, all for under $50! Soon, you will be the master of...

With a set as pushed as Modern Horizons 3, we’re getting a ton of new toys and upgrades for Commander. But which cards will rise to staple status? Between the cycle of free spells, twists on powerful classics, and new support for colorless, there’s no shortage of strong contenders. We’ve got a LOT to talk about here, so strap in as we break down the best cards for the 99 from Magic’s totally buste...

Magic players are flipping out over the new MDFCs from Modern Horizons 3! Many MDFC lands are “auto-includes” in Commander, so we’re going to sit down and let you know which of these powerful new ones are the absolute best for your decks. We’ll rank each of them from must-buy to don’t-even-try, so you’ll know exactly what you need to pick up to get your land base into fighting shape! -------- Supp...

Would you kill for more info on the new Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed MTG set? Well you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got a sweet new exclusive preview card for you, and no one has to die to get it. All you have to do is watch and learn the ancient secrets of “Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass!” -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards,...

Remember when Tarmogoyf was the king of Modern? Those days may be over, but you can still get your fix of Goyf-y goodness in the new Modern Horizons 3 “Graveyard Overdrive” (black/red/green) precon deck! So to help you Jund ‘em out, we’re bringing you our $50 upgrade guide, featuring 10 cards to drive up the power level and 10 cards to leave in the dirt. Soon, the only thing on your opponents’ hor...

Want to annihilate your opponents, but not your wallet? Look no further than our upgrade guide for the five-color Modern Horizons 3 “Eldrazi Incursion” precon! Eldrazi aficionado Ashlen Rose is here to reshape this deck’s reality by adding 10 powerful new cards and sending 10 back to the void, all for under $50. With these swaps, you’ll be strong enough to scour your opponents from existence! ----...

Modern Horizons sets are full of notoriously strong cards from all throughout the multiverse. So it’s no surprise that Modern Horizons 3 brings super-pushed new legends featuring fan-favorite characters along with some exciting (and intimidating) new faces. Come see which Commanders are the cream of the power-crept crop, and learn the synergies and strategies you’ll need to break them wide open. T...

Does souping up your precon just take too much energy? Well don’t worry, because we’ve done the hard work for you in this upgrade guide for the “Creative Energy” (blue/red/white) Commander deck from Modern Horizons 3. We’re laying out 10 pieces of hot tech to supercharge it, and 10 cards to toss in the scrap pile, all on a $50 budget. Come see how to give this deck a jolt and turn it into a truly...

Thought Modern Horizons 3 couldn’t broaden your horizons any further? You thought WRONG! Today we’re revealing a brand new lands Commander deck for you to explore. That’s right, we’re bringing you the entire “Tricky Terrain” (green/blue) preconstructed deck, complete with 13 new cards and 2 brand new legends. Come and join us as we show you a world where lands are anything but basic! -------- Supp...

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...