Magic: The Gathering (MTG) – Commander is a format of Magic that has become one of the most popular ways to experience the game, and for good reason. It’s got a unique blend of strategy, creativity, and social interaction that makes every game a memorable experience. Here’s why Commander is my game of the month for October.
Commander, originally known as Elder Dragon Highlander (EDH), has players build a 100-card deck with a legendary creature as the commander. Generally, you can only have one copy of each card, with the a few exceptions, such as basic lands. With 30+ years of cards to draw on and over a thousand potential commanders to choose from, this means there are endless possibilities for deck building, and each game can be a completely different experience.
Commander is designed to be a social and fun experience. With games typically involving 3-6 players, it’s a great way to gather friends and have a good time. The format encourages interaction, both friendly and competitive, making it a perfect game night choice.
One of the most exciting aspects of Commander is the potential for epic stories. With powerful cards and unique interactions, each game can have moments that players will talk about for weeks. Whether it’s a massive combo, a clever play, or a surprising comeback, Commander games are full of memorable moments.
Commander is accessible to both new and experienced players. While there are powerful cards and complex strategies, the format is designed to be approachable. I speak as someone who is still quite new to the game, playing with most preconstructed decks and slightly modified or upgraded precons. New players can start with preconstructed Commander decks, which are easy to learn and usually themed around specific playstyles, and gradually build their own custom decks as they become more familiar with the game.
Once you do get into it, the customisation options in Commander are nearly limitless, especially if you’re not dead-set on presenting the most competitive of decks. Players can tailor their decks to their playstyle, whether they prefer aggressive, control, or combo-oriented strategies. This level of customization ensures that each player can find a deck or decks that suit(s) their preferences and keeps the game fresh and exciting.
My local Commander community has been welcoming and supportive, the wider online community seems really positive (recent incidents aside). There are countless resources available, from forums and websites to podcasts and YouTube channels, all dedicated to helping players improve their game and share their experiences.
So, what about my own experiences with the game so far? Well, I’m loving it. I’ve definitely gone down a rabbit hole and I bought too much, too quickly. My main decks that I enjoy playing are:
- An upgraded Zinnia precon. This stork can let me bring baby versions of non-legendary creatures, so I can quickly go wide with a whole bunch of creatures, with a big focus on stuff that triggers as creatures enter the battlefield.
- My meme-based Borborygmos Enraged deck that is just absolutely full of lands and is absolutely terrible unless my bullshit goes off, which it usually does not. Leaning into the stupidity and making a joke of it at the table is the way to go on this one! I don’t expect to win, but I can make a big show of deciding whether to play a forest or mountain that turn.
- I built out my Ygra deck, though it could still be better. It’s a lot of fun to turn everything into food and then feast upon the table. As Ygra gets bigger, so does my smile!
- I’m really enjoying playing my froggy self-mill deck. Grolnok is a lot of fun and the card advantage you get is absolutely insane. It also plays completely differently to any other deck I have.
- An energy deck that’s a mashup of the MH3 Satya-led energy deck and the Science deck from the Fallout release. The science deck is actually really terrible as a self-contained deck, but there are plenty of cards in it that fit well into this combined deck. I wonder how I can further upgrade it, as it is a very fun deck and I love having energy as a further resource to manage and exploit. Again, I like this because it feels different.
- The Duskmourn Miracle Worker precon is a lot of fun, with the focus on cool enchantments and getting them onto the board cheaply. I’ve recently upgraded this deck and need to get it back to the table to see how my changes have affected it.
My wife has also taken to the game, and she tends to play either a knight tribal precon that we’re looking to upgrade, or the hobbit-based, food-fuelled precon. Both are a lot of fun.
Over the past couple of months, I’ve had a ridiculous amount of fun with this game. I’ve gone wide with a fair few precons very quickly and have started to build my own decks. I think going forward, I’m more keen on refining my understanding of the game and improving what I have, rather than just acquiring more. That said, the upcoming Final Fantasy release is appealing.
Commander is a fantastic way to play Magic, and is a compelling, engaging, and fun game that I have loved over the past month.
If you’re looking for MTG singles, please consider using our Big Orbit Cards affiliate link to find your cards whilst also supporting our site.
No Rerolls 
16 Comments