Wait no longer, Commander fans: Commander 2019 is here! The new set includes four preconstructed Commander decks, each built around a classic Magic game mechanic. These decks include reprints of Commander staples, from Sol Ring to Solemn Simulacrum, along with a cast of new characters ready to command your next deck.
If you’re still on the fence about which new Commander 2019 cards to try out, we have a few exciting suggestions. Here are our top selling new cards from Commander 2019 (excluding reprints), after 30 days of customer preorders*.
10. Elsha of the Infinite
When Jimmy and Josh of The Command Zone previewed the “Mystic Intellect” deck, they were big fans of Elsha of the Infinite. Clearly, our customers agree: we received more preorders for Elsha than any of the other legends in “Mystic Intellect.”
A commander with prowess is good for a “spells matter” deck, but Elsha’s other abilities really make her a blast to build around. Combine Elsha with cards that allow you to manipulate the top of your library, such as Sensei’s Divining Top, and you’ll effectively be up a card every turn. Plus, Elsha allows you to cast those cards with flash, even if they aren’t instants – surprise prowess triggers, anyone?
9. Bone Miser
Back in the day, Wizards of the Coast used to run a contest called “You Make the Card.” It was an opportunity for Magic fans to come together and design a card as a community that would appear in an upcoming Magic set. This led to some creative card designs, including Commander favorites Crucible of Worlds, Forgotten Ancient, and Waste Not.
While “You Make the Card” is on indefinite hiatus, the resulting cards have clearly served as inspiration for Magic’s design team. Waste Not, the peculiar enchantment that rewards you when your opponents discard cards, has spawned Bone Miser, a creature with all the same abilities. Though creatures are easier to destroy than enchantments, Bone Miser is already finding its way into Commander decks. If your commander is Nekusar or you just like Wheel of Fortune effects, consider adding Bone Miser to your arsenal.
8. Scroll of Fate
The manifest mechanic, introduced in Fate Reforged, presented players with some interesting challenges. Most cards with manifest instructed players to manifest the top card of their library, which was often a gamble. Was it worth it to turn your next card into a 2/2 creature when it could be a crucial land card or removal spell?
Scroll of Fate allows you to control your own manifest destiny by putting a card from your hand onto the battlefield face-down. You can also activate Scroll at instant speed, so it’s handy for those turns when you may or may not want to use an instant. Plus, sneaking another creature onto the board after your opponent has cast a board-wipe is always fun. Take control of your fate today!
7. Ohran Frostfang
A 2/6 creature for five mana may not be the most exciting in Commander, but Ohran Frostfang can be a key role-player in green decks. With Frostfang on the battlefield, even your smallest creatures can attack profitably, and they just might net you some card advantage. (It’s also a snow permanent, if that’s relevant.) Green doesn’t have a ton of access to card-draw, so give this frosty friend a try.
6. Empowered Autogenerator
Mana rocks are always useful in Commander, but why settle for just one or two extra mana per turn? Empowered Autogenerator generates more mana every time you tap it! There’s no either/or here, by the way – the Autogenerator gains an extra counter when it’s tapped for mana, not as an alternate ability. Ramp into your biggest spells, or go infinite by combining Autogenerator with artifact-untappers like Filigree Sages.
5. Leadership Vacuum
Leadership Vacuum doesn’t just have an on-the-nose name – it’s also quite effective. Vacuum is a great fail-safe when an opponent is about to combo off with their commander – or when they’ve stolen yours! If this card doesn’t answer the problem at hand, you can always just send a commander back to the command zone and draw a new card. Value.
4. Sanctum of Eternity
Of course, there will inevitably be times when you want to get your own commander off the battlefield. Sanctum of Eternity protects your commander from board-wipes or pesky enchantments (and potentially gives you an extra “enters the battlefield” or “leaves the battlefield” effect, if your commander has one). Most importantly, it returns your commander to your hand instead of the command zone, so you don’t have to pay any additional commander tax. Utility lands are must-haves for Commander, and Sanctum of Eternity is the best that Commander 2019 has to offer.
3. Atla Palani, Nest Tender
Atla Palani’s dinosaur eggs may seem harmless, but you never know what’s inside! Disturb the eggs and Atla Palani will bring enormous creatures to the battlefield. Fans of Mayael the Anima will love Atla, and the more eggs you crack, the more creatures you’ll get.
2. Dockside Extortionist
Artifact-based Commander decks with Urza are all the rage these days, and enchantment-based decks have been around for ages. These decks are among some of the most powerful in the Commander format: the “enchantress” decks can accrue massive card advantage, while the artifact decks can generate untold amounts of mana.
Thankfully, there are ways to fight back against these types of strategies, including a little goblin called Dockside Extortionist. If your opponents have a ton of artifacts or enchantments, you can create enough treasure tokens to play some impactful spells. You might even be able to take advantage of some artifact synergies yourself!
1. K’rikk, Son of Yawgmoth
Any card with “Yawgmoth” in its name tends to be powerful, and K’rikk is no exception. If any spell or ability you control costs black mana, you can choose to pay two life instead. And in a format where players start with forty life, that’s not the tallest order. K’rikk will even help you gain those precious life points back: he has lifelink, and he gets +1/+1 counters whenever you cast black spells.
K’rikk is perhaps the most powerful legendary creature printed in Commander 2019, and our customers can’t wait to try him out. Will you be next? Order these Commander 2019 singles and more today!
*Based on data from August 22, 2019.