Treasure fundamentally changed Magic. Kristen muses on its current place in Limited and Commander, considering if it’s too powerful. When Treasure first arrived on the scene, it seemed innocent enough. “Sailor of Memes” was the standout, well, meme from Ixalan block, and our experience at that point showed it was new and interesting, provided fixing in a limited environment that …
Jumpstart 2022: Bottom-Up Commander Design
I don’t always have the energy to keep up with the flow of new spoilers from day to day, but I definitely made an exception for Jumpstart 2022. Not only do I look forward to the normal Jumpstart 2022 experience, but this sort of product represents a unique, creative opportunity for the team at Wizards of the Coast regarding Commander …
There’s no Such Thing as Free in Commander
There’s no such thing as a free lunch, and likewise, no such thing as “free” in Commander. Kristen is here to help us with some cost-benefit analysis. Everyone loves free, right? Free bonus cards in your Secret Lair; free door-prizes at the LGS, a free drink with your meal deal. But none of those things are ever truly free. The …
A Very Magic Thanksgiving: What we’re thankful for 2022
On Thanksgiving, most people go around the room and at least think about what they’re grateful for in life. Online, content creators use the idea as a launching pad to talk about the things they like. And as it turns out this Thanksgiving, everyone here at the Card Kingdom blog really likes Magic cards. So, while it might be a …
A Thanksgiving Commander Deck Tech
With Thanksgiving later this week, I thought it would be fun to take a break from my usual “This Day in Magic History” column and instead write a Thanksgiving-related article. In this post, I’m going to give you a deck tech for my Thanksgiving-inspired Commander deck! The Host A Thanksgiving Commander deck definitely has to be about Food, so who …
It’s Time to Optimize for Fun in Commander
Kristen poses a new resolution for Commander players: optimizing a deck for fun, rather than just raw power. Players get very invested in Commander — it must be said. This shows up whether it’s in crafting the ultimate Vorthos experience with a finely tuned and reasoned thematic deck, getting matching sleeves, playmat and cool basic lands or, more commonly, in …
Urza’s Iron Alliance Commander Precon Upgrade Guide
Commander is a more powerful, established format these days, and the average deck is simply much stronger than it was in the early years of Commander precons. While that may have pushed designers in the past to keep pace, The Brothers’ War features the perfect, powerful character from Magic’s 30-year history to lean on: Urza. And while Urza’s Iron Alliance …
Mishra’s Burnished Banner Commander Precon Upgrade Guide
The Brothers’ War is upon us! Prereleases have just passed, and the set drops this weekend. With it, we get the two themed Commander decks from the set, each helmed by one of the fabled brothers, Urza and Mishra. These decks feature old borders on every card, evoking the historic (in multiple senses of the word) nature of these decks. While …
The Brother’s War: Commander Set Review
It’s time to dig into The Brother’s War, a nostalgia-packed flashback to the struggles of Urza, Mishra and the Phyrexians. For older players it’s a treat, and newer players can finally experience a classic Magic story. But what does The Brothers’ War offer Commander players? BRO — and yes, that’s the set code — is a veritable smash hit for …
Getting Started with Starter Commander Decks
Starter Commander Decks are coming on Dec. 2, but what exactly are they? Are they any good? Let’s dive in and take a closer look — first at the product overall, then at each deck. What Are These? The Starter Commander Decks are five, standalone Commander decks, designed to come in at a lower price point (somewhere in the neighborhood …