Episodes
Want to give your next Commander deck a bit of a jumpstart? Why not build one of these new anime-style legends from the Foundations Jumpstart set? This episode, we’ll give you the rundown on the most powerful of these new commanders, laying out the best strategies and synergies to turn these beginner-friendly cards into full-on manga monsters! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more!...
Published 11/20/24
Don’t let the Standard focus fool you, Foundations is loaded with cool new toys for Commander players everywhere! So this episode we’re breaking down our list of the best non-legendary cards for your 99. From cool support pieces to potential format staples, we’ll lay out everything you can’t afford to miss, along with the synergies and strategies you’ll need to make them the foundation of your next favorite deck!  -------- GAME KNIGHTS DECK BOX: Get your hands on the new Game Knights Deck...
Published 11/12/24
Published 11/12/24
Want to assemble a new deck, but still need to find the right captain? Then, we’re about to be your heroes! We’re breaking down the commanders from Magic’s brand new Marvel Secret Lair! Come see how these comic book legends put the “POW!” in powerful as we lay out the synergies and combos that’ll elevate them from good to outright super. -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more!...
Published 11/07/24
You know what mana-ROCKS? Fantasy-drafting artifacts that ramp!  This episode, Jimmy, JLK, and Rachel are picking the best mana rocks (over 2 mana) in Commander. We all know that two-drop ramp pieces are great, but which cards demand an include on the upper end of the curve? Tune in and find out! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- ORGAIN: For delicious real nutrition,...
Published 10/30/24
With tons of counterspells, card draw, and instant-speed interaction, blue may be Magic’s most infamous color. With all that complexity, Blue can be just as tricky to pilot as it is to play against! Luckily, this episode we have master blue mage Josh Lee Kwai to break down the keys to playing the color successfully. If you’ve got some blue decks of your own (or want the inside scoop on how blue players think) you won’t want to miss it! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a...
Published 10/23/24
As the new stewards of Commander, Wizards of the Coast announced they’ll be reevaluating the ban list. In this episode, we decided to do the same! We’re going through every banned card to break down which we think could safely re-enter the format and which should stay locked away forever. There’s some super powerful stuff in there, and you won’t want to miss it! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more!...
Published 10/17/24
Would you make a deal with a demon? Now is your chance, because Duskmourn is here to offer you what every Magic player truly wants: POWER! This new set is chock full of powerful cards, and we’ll show you the best of the best as we go over the top cards from Duskmourn for your 99. We’ll guide you through all the hot new tech you’ll want to snap up for your next deck. Instead of being a scared survivor, you can become the terrifying monster at the table! Come check it out. -------- Support...
Published 10/11/24
JLK sits down with The Professor from Tolarian Community College to discuss the roles and responsibilities of content creators during periods of community crisis. -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- The Professor (Tolarian Community College): Twitter: @TolarianCollege Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/tolariancommunity -------- Follow us on...
Published 10/10/24
Further fallout from last week’s divisive new ban announcement: The Commander Rules Committee has decided to officially hand over control of the format to Wizards of the Coast. This shift in power brings the 13-year era of community management to an end. Needless to say, there’s a lot to talk about.  Join Jimmy, Rachel, and JLK as we sit down to discuss our takes on how we got here, what’s happening now, and what we think this means for the future of Commander. -------- Support the show...
Published 10/03/24
Ever been on the wrong side of a Commander game and thought, “I’d need a miracle to win!” We're here to make it happen with our 10-card, $50 upgrade guide for the new “Miracle Worker” (white/blue/black) precon deck! Come see what enchanting new includes will take this Duskmourn list to new heights, and soon you’ll have everything you need to make your next victory look like divine intervention! (Not the card, that one makes it a draw.) -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a...
Published 10/01/24
This is the episode you’ve been waiting for: We’re talking about the bans.  This week’s ban announcement – removing Dockside Extortionist, Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt, and Nadu from the format – took the Commander community by storm. Some people are ecstatic, others are furious, but if you engage with Magic on the Internet you know this is all anyone’s been talking about. So in this special episode, JLK and Rachel sit down to hash out their thoughts on these controversial bans (except Nadu,...
Published 09/26/24
To survive in the harrowed halls of Duskmourn, you’ve gotta be pretty scary yourself. It’s no surprise this set is loaded up with a bunch of frighteningly powerful new Commanders! This episode, we’ll be going over our picks for the best legends in the set, giving you a rundown of all the synergies and strategies you’ll need to put one of these monsters at the helm of your next deck. Don’t miss it! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome...
Published 09/24/24
BOO! Did we make you jump? Or are you just leaping to get your hands on the new “Jump Scare” (blue/green) Commander precon from Duskmourn? Settle down, because we’re here to calm your nerves and raise your power level with our 10-card upgrade guide, all for under $50! We’ll tell you which cards to cut and which to hide in the deck so, at your next game night, you’ll have everything you need to spook your opponents… TO DEATH! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our...
Published 09/20/24
Everybody hurts, sometimes… Especially when you’re playing against the new “Endless Punishment” (red/black) precon Commander deck from Duskmourn: House of Horrors! Today, we’re going to help you bring the pain with our 10 card upgrade, all for under $50! We’ll go over which cards to add and which ones to slash from the list for a power spike that will leave your opponents writhing in agony at your next game night! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community,...
Published 09/17/24
Have no fear, Duskmourn preview season isn’t quite over yet. We’ve got a terrifyingly cool new deck to show you, plus an upgrade guide that’s simply to die for. The time has come to reveal the new “Death Toll” (green/black) Commander precon, including 10 never-before-seen cards. Then, we’ll lay out our 10-card upgrade that won’t cost you an arm and a leg (under $50) so you can be the terror of the table at your next game night! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our...
Published 09/12/24
Every so often a Commander deck comes along that begs the question: Is this so stupid it’s brilliant, or just regular stupid? This episode, you can be the judge as master brewer Rachel Weeks presents the dumbest deck she’s ever built: Norin the Wary… with stickers! She’ll break down the sticking points she encountered along the way, as well as the tickets to its arguable success. Be very wary, because things are about to get weird! -------- Thanks to our sponsors: SHOPIFY: Power your...
Published 09/04/24
You know what really ruffles our feathers? Grinds our gearhulks? Makes our Blood tokens boil? Well you’re about to!  This episode, we break down the most annoying cards in Commander. We got a bunch of submissions from our Patrons and staff, and now we’re laying out what makes these cards miserable and ranking which are the worst of the worst. There’s a lot to get riled up about. Come see if the card of your nightmares made the short list! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a...
Published 08/29/24
Everyone loves hugs right? How about group hugs? Maybe in real life! But, in Commander, the group hug strategy can be pretty controversial, not to mention tricky to pilot. Fret not! This episode, we’ve got the best hugger we know, DJ (AKA “Jumbo Commander”), to bring you the complete guide to the archetype. He’ll teach you how to turn making friends into glorious victory, along with warning you about some of the biggest pitfalls to avoid. You don’t want to miss it! -------- Support the show...
Published 08/22/24
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: Sometimes big power comes in cute little packages, but how do you know which new woodland cards should land a spot in your next deck? We’re here to help with our review of the best cards from Bloomburrow for your 99! We’ll show you which of these cards are not just adorable, but also unignorable, along with the synergies and...
Published 08/15/24
Want to give the table a brood awakening at your next Commander night? This episode, we’re making some offspring spring into action with our upgrade for the “Family Matters” (red/white/blue) precon from Bloomburrow. We’ve got 10 new additions to adopt into the deck, and 10 cards to cut from the family reunion guest list, all for under $50. Get ready to win through the power of kin! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more!...
Published 08/06/24
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! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards,...
Published 07/30/24
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 show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more!...
Published 07/30/24
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 the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more!...
Published 07/23/24
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 bushy-tailed beatdown to your next game night! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be...
Published 07/18/24