Ever wonder what the people behind the counter play after hours? We asked our fellow Card Kingdom employees to confess their favorite deck secrets. Forget the top tier meta; we’re talking about the jank, the joy, and the just plain silly decks that truly capture the spirit of Commander.
What we found was a treasure trove of personality and creativity. Here is a peek at what our staff builds when no one is watching.
The Nostalgic Builders
Some of our team members are driven by a powerful sense of nostalgia. They find beauty in the cards that are just kind of okay.
One employee proudly described their “big dumb nostalgia deck” as a sea of “Tier 2 Commander Cards.” This is the home for those cards that are the 110th pick in every list. This particular build is technically illegal, championing a nonlegendary Nephilim that “should have been a commander anyway.”
But the rules matter less than the fun. This employee shared stories of a Colossal Whale chomping a blocker to secure a surprise win. Another game saw an opponent accidentally power up the entire board by milling a ton of cards and granting everything flying, swampwalk, and haste. It is the perfect proof that a deck does not need to be optimized to create amazing memories.
The Timmy Storytellers
Every workplace has a Timmy, the player who lives for epic, explosive moments. One of our employees fondly remembers their Electrostatic Pummeler.
At a Kaladesh prerelease, they pulled multiple copies of the unassuming construct. They built a deck, ran with it, and, in their words, “lost horribly.” But in one legendary moment, they dealt a staggering 192 damage in a single swing. Word gets around quickly after a move like that.
They bought more copies after the tournament. Soon after, a famous professor featured the card in a deck tech, causing its value to soar. They have never felt so proud to have believed in a janky rare. Their deck, “The Very Stoppable Unstoppable Construct,” was a Red/Green energy machine focused on doubling ETB triggers with Panharmonicon.
The Thematic Innovators
We are lucky to have builders who are drawn to quirky and unconventional themes. One staffer specifically seeks out decks that spin conventional themes into oddball directions. They joked that their goofy themes have led to some laughs around their tables.
Their personal arsenal includes a Fallout inspired clue deck that purifies water, a chaos computer deck known for causing mental breakdowns, and a 5 color “Charms Tribal” deck where the real commander is a single, versatile card.
This approach is a fantastic reminder that Commander is packed with room for creativity. For many of our employees, the real win condition is a hilarious story.
The Playgroup Protagonists
Sometimes, the best stories are not about a single deck, but about the playgroup itself. One employee recalled when the Commander 2016 decks came out. They built a clunky, high cost Atraxa deck with a blink subtheme. However, they rarely got to keep their commander.
Another employee in the playgroup, piloting a well built Grixis pirate deck, made it his personal mission to steal Atraxa every single game. “No, that’s my Atraxa,” he would say.
The pirate captain was quick to defend his strategy. He clarified that most of those thefts were from his Jalira, Master Polymorphist deck. He would sacrifice the stolen Atraxa to polymorph her into “something more agreeable, like a Reef Worm.” This friendly rivalry is a perfect example of how our employees’ personal metas are filled with inside jokes and memorable interactions.
End Step
At Card Kingdom, our love for Magic goes far beyond the battlefield. It’s in the laughter around the table, the thrill of a ridiculous combo, and the personal stories woven into every deck we build. Whether it’s a nostalgic pile of forgotten favorites or a theme so weird it makes your friends sigh, we believe the best decks aren’t always the strongest, they’re the ones that remind us why we fell in love with the game in the first place. Now it’s your turn, what’s the story behind your favorite deck?
Haelee has been a dedicated Magic: The Gathering player since 2003, she enjoys Commander, and regularly plays with her friends. With 14 years of experience in marketing, creative writing, and a background in theater tech, she brings a unique perspective to both her gameplay and storytelling. Known for her creative mind and deep appreciation for Magic’s lore, Haelee resides in Washington state with her wife, and cats.