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 find out! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 38 min
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 surprisingly complicated topic so come join us for the whole journey! -------- Support the show and become a Pa...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 12 min
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, sometimes, even outright break them! -------- Commander Deckbuilding Template for the New Era | The Comman...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 46 min
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 expertise. Whether you’re an experienced player or new to the art of the brew, this is an episode you won’t ...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 658
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 part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone --------...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 657
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 know right now about this milestone moment for Magic. -------- Relevant Links: Legendary Entertainme...
Feb 06, 2025•8 min
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! It’s going to be a hot one! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our communit...
Feb 06, 2025•2 hr 5 min•Ep. 656
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, and turbocharged tech each one brings to the track. Come see who will stall out early and who will...
Jan 31, 2025•2 hr 35 min•Ep. 655
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 Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/command...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 654
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 at your next game night! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, ...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 653
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 your biggest threats before they destroy you. So tune in and remember: we’re not the threat! -------- S...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 652
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 Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/command...
Jan 10, 2025•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 651
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, we’ve got a lot to talk about. This episode Jimmy, JLK, and Rachel discuss everything that made th...
Jan 03, 2025•2 hr 53 min•Ep. 650
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, understanding these rules isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. This time, we’re running back a classic episode ...
Dec 28, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 649
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 find out! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 648
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 the perfect gift this holiday season with an exclusive $35-off Aura’s Carver Mat frames when you use ...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 647
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 bringing us a whole new crop of players and intro products, now’s the time to brush up on how to welcome ...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 646
2024 had a TON of Commander precons hit the shelves - 24 in fact! But not all precons are created equal, and this year had its duds as well as its slam dunks. But which is which? Never fear! We’ve got Rachel, Murph, and Jordan here to break down every single preconstructed deck from the past 365 and rank each of them definitively from best to worst! Find out which ones slapped and which ones deserved a slap. It’s gonna be fun! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our commu...
Dec 10, 2024•2 hr 19 min•Ep. 645
The commander is often the most influential card in any EDH deck. In fact, some are SO powerful that they’ve had to be banned from the format entirely – even if they’d be perfectly fair as part of the 99! Couldn’t this problem be fixed by simply making a “Banned as Commander” List? This episode, we discuss the pros and cons of reinstating that controversial rule, going over the potential impact to the format, the cards and strategies that would be most affected, and asking the question: “Is it w...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 644
The Foundations Starter Collection was designed to help new players get into Standard, but it’s also really great for new Commander players! In fact, with a little bit of care and creativity, we’ve come up with a variety of Commander decks you can build right out of the box! We’ll walk you through the builds, strategies, and potential upgrades so you can go from cracking packs to cracking skulls in no time! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesom...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 643
They haven’t played Magic since the 90’s but now they’re getting thrown into the deep end! In this episode, JLK reunites his long-lapsed original playgroup to show them the (extremely different) world of modern-day Magic. What will they make of the game’s current design and power level? What do they remember from their old school spellslinging days? And what insights do they have into the mysterious Josh Lee Kwai origin story? Watch and find out! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be...
Nov 27, 2024•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 642
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! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone --------...
Nov 20, 2024•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 641
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 Box and...
Nov 12, 2024•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 640
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! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- GAME ...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 639
The new legends from Foundations may be in Standard for a while, but they’re going to be in Commander FOREVER – so don’t miss out on seeing which ones are the most powerful! This episode, we’re breaking down the tricks, synergies, and combos these cards bring to the game table. Who will serve as the foundation for your next favorite deck, and who may be better suited for other formats? Watch and find out! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome ...
Nov 04, 2024•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 638
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, check out ...
Oct 30, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 637
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 part of ...
Oct 23, 2024•2 hr 6 min•Ep. 636
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! https://www.patreon.com/c...
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 635
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 the sho...
Oct 11, 2024•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 634
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 TikTok: @thecommandzone Follow us on In...
Oct 10, 2024•47 min
