Innistrad isn’t just the horror plane of the Multiverse — it’s also home to many of the most iconic creature types in Magic. With Midnight Hunt in full swing and Crimson Vow on the horizon, players are busy updating their Werewolf, Vampire, and Zombie decks. Now is the perfect time for it, which is why I’m taking a closer look …
Anatomy of a Commander Deck: Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth
Brewing means very different things to different people. For some, it’s a means to an end; a necessary step between the player and the games they want to play. For others, it’s the journey from idea to final draft that forms the deck’s personality. While there’s no right or wrong way to view it, most Magic players respect those that …
Midnight Hunt Commander Upgrade Guide: Coven Counters
Innistrad: Midnight Hunt hit Arena last Thursday, and it’ll soon be available to pick up in paper. Many people were happy to see Wizards move away from the body horror vibes of Shadows Over Innistrad, and aim for more of a folk horror feel. This set focuses on Werewolves, Zombies, and Humans, and has a number of cards that will …
3 Budget Commander Decks with Innistrad: Midnight Hunt
Innistrad: Midnight Hunt will soon be upon us, and with it come a number of spooky legendary creatures with unusual abilities. As with all Innistrad sets, there’s a definite graveyard theme here — and if there’s one thing that inspires me to build wild decks, it’s new commanders that can use the graveyard! To keep on theme, I’m covering three …
Coping with Loss: The Key to Winning More in Commander
Winning feels great. Even in more social situations, like a friendly game of Commander, it can feel good to win. It’s one of the most direct forms of confirmation that you are a good player. Focusing on the win is perfectly fine in most 1v1 formats, but with four players in the average game of Commander, the typical win rate …
How Every Commander Deck Can Use the Graveyard
When many players think of graveyard strategies, they tend to think of commanders like Meren of Clan Nel Toth and Muldrotha, the Gravetide. While these are some of the most obvious choices for a graveyard deck, they’re certainly on the more extreme end of the scale. There’s so much more to the graveyard than total dedication, and most decks can …
The Best Tutor Packages for Budget Commander Decks
In case it wasn’t blatantly obvious, I love to build on a budget. There’s just something special about beating a pod whose decks cost more than your entire collection. For brewers, placing a price limit restricts access to a lot of the big players in the format, forcing you to get creative and search for alternatives (that will often end …
The Best Budget Versions of Commander Staples
Commander is probably the most budget-friendly format in Magic, where a well-built $100 deck can hold its own against decks with ten times the value. At the same time, that cost can be a huge barrier to entry; some of the most famous and popular cards in the format are simply out of reach for many players, and sometimes it …
The Secret to Better Commander Games is Intent
When you sit down to a game and shuffle up, what do you hope for? Personally, I hope that “this game is the best one yet.” The most foundational approach for this is to have clear and open Rule 0 conversations. These have had a healthy time in the spotlight lately, with more and more creators including these conversations in …
How to Brew Commander Decks on a Budget
For a lot of us, the best part of Commander is the process. Brainstorming ideas until you have a complex web of synergies (and 20 cuts to make) is one of the most enticing aspects of the format. Brewing is how many players show off their creativity, and there’s no greater compliment than telling someone their deck is amazing. Not …