Episodes
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 ever… sitting on YOUR battlefield! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part...
Published 04/16/24
Published 04/16/24
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 who are left high and dry at your next game night. -------- Support the show and become a...
Published 04/11/24
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 leave in the dust. So at your next game night, take out your opponents before they know what hit...
Published 04/09/24
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 score at your next game night, so saddle up – it’s gonna be a wild ride! -------- Support the show...
Published 04/06/24
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, and you won’t want to be anywhere else! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a...
Published 04/04/24
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 bound to make your opponents a bit salty, we’ll be covering everything. We’ll even go over the...
Published 03/28/24
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’ve encountered along the path of building and running a business. You can’t get this perspective...
Published 03/21/24
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, smoother and more fun to play right out of the gate. We’ll give you tips on what to look for as...
Published 03/19/24
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 yourself! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive...
Published 03/14/24
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 our community, receive awesome rewards, and more!...
Published 03/05/24
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 exercise to determine which is post-apocalyptic precon is stronger. -------- Support the show and...
Published 02/29/24
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: 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 military might of the “Hail, Caesar” (white/black/red) deck? This episode, we’ll bring you our...
Published 02/27/24
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 genius! Don’t miss it. -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our...
Published 02/22/24
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/commandzone -------- MINT MOBILE: Get your new wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at Mint...
Published 02/21/24
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 and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more!...
Published 02/13/24
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 laid out, we’ll let you know which deck we think is guilty… of being the best! -------- Support...
Published 02/05/24
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 kill at your next game night, and get our take on which one is the smoother...
Published 01/31/24
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 crime will be! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community,...
Published 01/26/24
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 Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more!...
Published 01/24/24
When it comes to power, not all cards are created equal. Synergy is important but there are plenty of cards out there that can take a deck to the next level all on their own. This episode, we’re going over some of the most impactful cards in the format, giving you the rundown on spells to look out for which can take a deck from “Kitchen Casual” to “Bane of the Board” in an instant. Don’t miss it! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome...
Published 01/17/24
Commanders don’t need modern borders to be playable in the modern era. There are plenty of forgotten legends that still slap! This episode, we’re going over our favorite old school Commanders. We’ll lay out how to build these OG EDH stars, including all the new tricks they picked up in recent sets. Come join us! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- GAME KNIGHTS LIVE w/ The...
Published 01/10/24
New year, new you, new strategies and brews! This episode, the Command Zone Team breaks down our Commander resolutions for 2024. From how we build decks to how we play the game itself, there’s always something to improve. So come see what we’re working on for the next 365 and let us know how YOU are gonna up your game too! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- WHATNOT: The...
Published 01/04/24
2023 will forever be remembered as the year Wizards censored the Pinkertons. Or wait, did the Pinkertons take down the MTG Ambassador Program? There were so many controversies these past 365 days that it’s hard to keep them straight! Well don’t worry, we’re going to cover all of it! This episode Jimmy, JLK and Rachel convene to break down the entire year of highlights, missteps, and controversies in the MTG community. With MagicCons, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, loads of Secret Lairs and...
Published 12/28/23
2023 had more Commander preconstructed decks than any year in MTG’s history, so you might have missed some of the very best ones. Well don’t worry! Rachel, Damen, and Murph are here to go over every single precon and see you how they stack up. Find out which were duds, and which were slam dunks right out of the box. It’s gonna be a good time! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more!...
Published 12/19/23