Upheaval's Ban in Commander

Why is Upheaval Banned in Commander?

Jacob LacknerCommander

While Commander’s grassroots origins make it different from many other Magic formats, it still has a ban list like the rest of them. However, since Commander is not a format with tons of tournament data to back up banning certain cards, some players are unsure why certain offenders end up on the list. Today, we’re going to look at Upheaval …

Playing with Non-Permanents in Commander

Playing with Non-Permanents in Commander

Tom AndersonCommander

Quick question for the Commander players in the audience: without checking, what percentage of cards in your deck non-permanents? Does 50% sound right? 75%? Even higher? I know there’s some blue/red spellslinger players or cEDH decks with tons of instant interaction helping keep the averages down, but I’d guess most other decks the number is closer to 80% than 50%. …

Erayo, Soratamai Ascendant's Ban in Commander

Why is Erayo, Soratami Ascendant Banned in Commander?

Jacob LacknerCommander

While Commander’s grassroots origins make it different from many other Magic formats, it still has a ban list like the rest of them. However, since Commander is not a format with tons of tournament data to back up banning certain cards, some players are unsure why certain offenders end up on the list. Today, we’re going to look at Erayo, …

Essential Blue Commander Cards

20 Essential Blue Commander Cards

Kristen GregoryCommander

Blue is one of the best control colors in Commander. If you’re looking for some tips on what blue cards will enhance your Commander collection, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our 20 essential blue cards — cards that will be great in any number of blue decks. Blue, more than any color, has an abundance of control and …

Streamlining Text-Heavy New Commanders

Streamlining Text-Heavy New Commanders

Tom AndersonCommander

Have you noticed popular commanders are getting more mechanically complex every year? Recent sets have set records for the amount of rules text on cards, but it’s definitely most apparent on the legendary creatures leading our Commander decks. WHY SO LOQUACIOUS? The trend is driven both by general power creep and an even more insistent push for novelty.  In 2023, …

The leading cause of mismatched games in Commander

The Leading Cause of Mismatched Games in Commander

Kristen GregoryCommander

Commander is a format that relies on a shared vision to succeed. Whether it’s having a narrative experience or striving for perfection with tight cEDH gameplay, Commander games rely on communicating expectations and hopefully finding people who want the same thing. Pre-game chats, or Rule 0 discussions (a misnomer, if you didn’t realize, because Rule 0 solely involves deciding whether …

Top 20 Mana Rituals in Magic

Top 20 Mana Rituals in Magic

Tom AndersonCommander, Legacy, Modern, Standard

Mana rituals! These distinctive, potent and strategically narrow cards are most often used to accelerate the endgame of combo decks. Perhaps due to that dangerous power, new rituals have become something of a rare sight in recent sets, no longer something Wizards of the Coast’s design team feels needs to feature prominently in Magic. However, they are an elemental building …