Commander Precons, or Commander pre-constructed decks, are among the most popular MTG products released each year.
Ever since 2012, new themed precons enable fans to upgrade their collection of cards and playing style with the newest tailor-made Magic the Gathering decks.
In this article, we cover EVERY Commander Precon deck ever released from Wizards! Read on below, and discover the complete list of pre-constructed Commander decks.
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Commander Decks
The Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Decks haven’t actually made it to the market yet. They’ll be available in early 2022, so we don’t know much about them yet except what we can read between the lines.
For now, what we do know for sure is that the set is made up of two decks, Buckle Up and Upgrades Unleashed:
63. Buckle Up
One of the newest precon commander decks, Buckle Up is set for release from online retailers on Feb 18th, 2022. Until then, we don’t know much other than what we can guess from the clues Wizards of the Coast llc has dropped for us recently.
However, based on the name of this new deck, we may speculate that it has something to do with vehicles.
Commander: Unknown
Theme: Unknown (possibly vehicles/tribal)
Color(s): Red and white
Best Cards: Unknown yet
62. Upgrades Unleashed
Another Commander deck that hasn’t been released yet, it hits virtual shelves of online retailers on Feb 18th, 2022, alongside Buckle Up and other nnew Magic the Gathering Commander products. Of course, until we get our hands on these new cards, we can only speculate what the deck represents, or even who the main commander is.
One thing we are guessing about, based on the name, is the possibility of a new “upgrade” mechanic being released with the new set.
Commander: Unknown
Theme: Unknown (possibly artifacts/auras)
Color(s): Blue (and possibly another color)
Best Cards: Unknown yet
Innistrad: Crimson Vow Commander Decks
The second Innistrad set from 2021 saw two tribal-themed Commander decks released. One revolving around vampire bloodlines, the other around squads of spirits.
61. Vampiric Bloodline
Headed by the main commanders Strefan and Maurer Progenitor, the Vampiric Bloodline packs more bite (literally!) than most preconstructed decks (including other vampire tribal decks).
If you love vampire commanders, or MTG vampire decks in general, you need to play decks like Vampiric Bloodline, period.
Commander: Strefan and Maurer Progenitor
Theme: Vampire/Tribal with Blood tokens
Color(s): Black and Red
Best Cards: Unknown yet
60. Spirit Squadron
For those into the spiritual and paranormal type cards, the Spirit Squadron Commander Deck is one for the books. The deck features a tribal spirit them, with the very best spirit colors (blue and white).
The deck’s main commanders are Millicent and Restless Revenant. These spirits may be etheral but they hit the opponent and their creature cards REALLY hard.
Commander(s): Millicent and Restless Revenant
Theme: Spirit/Tribal
Color(s): White and Blue
Best Cards: Unknown yet
Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Decks
The Midnight Hunt Commander preconstructed decks are centered around two of the most popular Innistrad tribes, hence the tribal them in both sets of cards. One of the decks consists of Zombies, the other around Coven and counters.
59. Undead Unleashed
The Undead Unleased Commander deck is one of the newest four decks in the Magic universe. Not only does this black and blue deck come with the newest Zombie type cards, it also has classic legendary creatures like Lilliana and allows for casting spells like Endless Ranks of the Dead at the same time.
Commander: Wilhelt and the Rotcleaver
Theme: Zombie/Tribal
Color(s): Black and Blue
Best Cards: Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth, Ghoul’s Night Out, Curse of the Restless Dead
58. Coven Counters
Coven Counters is another of the newest four decks recently released by Wizards of the Coast. This Coven Theme deck comes with a stock main commander you don’t want to miss out on (especially if you love white and green cards), Autumn Soverign and Leinore.
This deck introduces new white human cards and a Coven ability. It has a main focus on adding +1/+1 counters onto your creatures.
Commander: Autumn Sovereign and Leinore
Theme: Coven/Counters
Color(s): White and Green
Best Cards: Kurbis, Harvest Celebrant, Wall of Mourning, Curse of Conformity
Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Commander Decks
The Adventures in the Forgeotten Realms Commander cards his the stores back in the summer of 2021. The new set included four decks, all suitable counter-parts to the previous sets released in early 2021.
These decks, as well as the previous four decks released that year, have a D&D vibe to them. The cards focus on things classic D&D aspects like weilding powerful weapons and looting.
57. Aura of Courage
The main focus of the precon Aura of Courage deck is to build a single creature or two up into something so hideous and powerful that your opponents can’t stop it.
For example, stacking a few auras ontop of a well-equipped main commander like Galea and Kindler of Hope, is practically unstoppable.
Because, unlike some decks, this one uses both equiptment and auras to pump up creatures rather than counters.
Commander: Galea and Kindler of Hope
Theme: Equiptment/Auras
Color(s): Blue, Green, and White
Best Cards: Robe of Stars, Mantle of the Ancients, Holy Avenger
56. Draconic Rage
A classic powerhouse MTG deck if ever there was one, Draconic Rage is exactly what it sounds like: a deck full of powerful creatures ready to turn your opponents to ashes! This deck is full of great big creatures, as well as the impressive main commander, Rage of Ancients and Vrondriss.
The main strategy of these cards is to produce as many large creatures (many with the flying ability) and relentlessly slaughter everything on the battlefield (including each opponent’s life-counter).
Commander: Rage of Ancients and Vrondiss
Theme: Enrage/Dragons
Color(s): Green and Red
Best Cards: Klauth, Unrivaled Ancient, Wulfgar of Icewind Dale, Klauth’s Will
55. Dungeons of Death
The Dungeouns of Death release saw a diverse set of new cards into the hands of Magic and D&D fans alike. This deck is the perfect addition to those enjoy playing with D&D like card styles, including the uber cool main commander, Sefris of the Hidden Ways.
Even if you don’t play Magic the Gathering, if you love table top dungeon crawling action, you might be surprised how much you’d enjoy having your own deck.
Commander: Sefris of the Hidden Ways
Theme: Venture into the Dungeon
Color(s): Blue, Black, and White
Best Cards: Midnight Pathlighter, Minn, Wily Illusionist, Radiant Solar
54. Planar Portal
Planar Portal is a Commander deck that allows for wicked amounts of card play, compared to similar black and red decks in the past. The fun and games begin with the deck’s main commander, Prosper and Tome-Bound.
Just how much fun, you may ask? Lots of fun: you get to play cards from exile (and have several ways to exile them yourself) as well as from the top of your deck (and graveyard).
Commander: Prosper and Tome-Bound
Theme: Exile play
Color(s): Black and Red
Best Cards: Grim Hireling, Hurl Through Hell, Fevered Suspicion
Commander 2021 / Strixhaven Commander Decks
These five decks from 2021 are all centered around dual-colored Strixhaven factions from the world of Magic the Gathering. Each deck offers a wide-variety of versatile and sophisticated card styles, aside from simply mustering brute force and attacking as quickly as possible.
53. Lorehold Legacies
Wizards of the Coast truly pleased Magic the Gathering fans with the release of Lorehold Legacies. Formerly the Boros set, this revised precon classic is more powerful than ever before.
Besides a powerful and deadly main commander, Osgir, the Reconstructor, the deck is loaded with great artifacts (and additional legendary creatures) as well.
Commander: Osgir, the Reconstructor
Theme: Artifacts
Color(s): Red and White
Best Cards: Archeomancer’s Map, Monologue Tax, Cursed Mirror
52. Silverquill Statement
Silverquill Statement is an interesting deck, especially for those who enjoy a good old fashioned chaos deck, but one with all the newest bells and whistles. The main commander is Breena, the Demagogue, a trickster by all means.
The primary playing style of this deck? Trick your opponents into attacking and killing eachother off, which the deck makes easy and breezy to do thanks to the card’s multiplayer focus.
Commander: Breena, the Demagogue
Theme: Multiplayer
Color(s): Black and White
Best Cards: Tempting Contract, Keen Dualist, Bold Plagiarist
51. Witherbloom Witchcraft
The Witherbloom Withcraft preconstructed deck is one you’ll enjoy directly out of the deck box, from minute one. The main commander is Willowdusk, Essence Seer, a powerful multi-colored card you’ll enjoy and your opponents will dread.
The deck centers around gaining life, and taking life away from your opponents, while defending yourself and whittling away at anything that gets in your way.
Commander: Willowdusk, Essence Seer
Theme: Life Gain/Life Loss
Color(s): Black and Green
Best Cards: Marshland Bloodcaster, Veinwitch Coven, Witch’s Clinic
50. Quantum Quandrix
The Quantum Quandrix commander deck is another instant classic for Magic the Gathering commander format fans. The theme is tokens, hence it comes with a copy of the main commander Willowdusk, Essence Seer.
Commander: Willowdusk, Essence Seer
Theme: Tokens
Color(s): Blue and Green
Best Cards: Esix, Fractal Bloom, Oversimplify, Spawning Kraken
49. Prismari Performance
The Prismari Performance release saw many new red and blue cards, most of them rather expensive instants and sorceries. Mana ramp anyone? 🙂
The main commander of the deck is Zaffi, Thunder Conductor. That way you can play those high-cost cards, andnot just hold them in your hand.
Commander: Zaffai, Thunder Conductor
Theme: High-cost Instants/Sorceries
Color(s): Blue and Red
Best Cards: Veyran, Voice of Duality, Reinterpret, Rousing Refrain
Kaldheim Commander Decks
Kaldheim Commander is one of the most popular sets from 2021, the first “lite” decks of the series. It consists of two decks; one Tribal themed, the other Foretell oriented.
48. Phantom Premonition
The Foretell theme steeps the Phantom Premonition collection with spell-heavy white and blue cards your opponent’s are sure to hate. There are plenty of cards for copying, canceling, and countering opponents’ spells in this deck.
This powerful blue and white deck’s main commander is Ranar, the Ever-Watchful.
Commander: Ranar, the Ever-Watchful
Theme: Foretell
Color(s): Blue and White
Best Cards: Cosmic Intervention, Brago, King Eternal, Arcane Artisan
47. Elven Empire
For elven Magic fans, the Elven Empire deck is one of the best releases in years. With a tribal elf theme, the collection is loaded with the classic Elf cards you’re familiar with, and some really special new ones as well.
The deck comes with the diverse lead card, Lathril, Blade of the Elves. That way, you can muster and boost as many elves as possible.
Commander: Lathril, Blade of the Elves
Theme: Elf/Tribal
Color(s): Black and Green
Best Cards: Ruthless Winnower, Pact of the Serpent, Rhys the Exiled
Commander Legends Commander Decks
The Legends series features two additional decks from 2020, one a mana ramp set, the other based on equipment and auras.
46. Reap the Tides
Talk about a fun deck to play with, when it comes to blue and green spells few decks can contend with Reap the Tides, a massively enjoyable mana ramp deck.
Reap the Tides comes with a genuinely fierce main card, the blue and green Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait.
Commander: Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait
Theme: Lands Matter/Ramp
Color(s): Blue and Green
Best Cards: Trench Behemoth, Stumpsquall Hydra, Avenger of Zendikar
45. Arm for Battle
The Arm for Battle collection is just as it sounds: cards that center around strengthening your creatures. Auras, equiptment, and a few nice instants lend an arm for battle to any creature on the field that you choose to focus on. Pro tip: it is more than a match for the most feared artifact decks.
This MTG deck’s main commander is to lead the troops to victory on the battlefield, against any color, Wyleth, Soul of Steel.
Commander: Wyleth, Soul of Steel
Theme: Auras/Equiptment
Color(s): Red and White
Best Cards: Timely Ward, Blazing Sunsteel, Sram, Senior Edificer
Zendikar Rising Commander Decks
In 2020, Zendikar introduced two decks that are a bit less outright powerful than the typical deck (up to that point in time), one a mana ramp, the other made of tribal rogues.
44. Land’s Wrath
One of the most powerful mana ramp sets released in quite some time, the Lands Matter theme of the Land’s Wrath deck brings high-cost red, green, and white spells into play quickly and consistently.
The Land’s Wrath deck box includes a copy of the main commander, Obuun, Mul Daya Ancestor, furthering the amount of mana you can spin and damage you can deal each turn.
Commander: Obuun, Mul Daya Ancestor
Theme: Lands Matter
Color(s): Green, Red, and White
Best Cards: Trove Warden, Geode Rager, Omnath, Locus of Rage
43. Sneak Attack
The Sneak Attack set is another collection of cards that is just as it seems: a deck full of sneaky rogues ready to pick pockets and slit throats of all that stand in their way. Instants, sorceries, and a few other special cards help the sneak attacks be even more devastating.
Sneak Attack comes with the roguish blue and black commander-card, Anowon, the Ruin Thief.
Commander: Anowon, the Ruin Thief
Theme: Tribal/Rogues
Color(s): Black and Blue
Best Cards: Enigma Thief, Whispersteel Dagger, Oona, Queen of the Fae
Commander 2020 / Ikoria Commander Decks
The main series from 202o introduced 5 instant classics, the Ikoria decks. Each collection is made up of three colors, mono and multi-colored.
42. Ruthless Regiment
This regiment of cards is ruthless indeed. But, what tribal humans weren’t actually ruthless when their lives were on the line? These red, black, and white tribal cards are as ruthless and merciless as any MTG cards ever printed.
The Ruthless Regiment Commander deck includes the main tribal-human card Jirina Kudro, a solid hero for the rest of the deck to rally around.
Commander: Jirina Kudro
Theme: Tribal/Humans
Color(s): Black, Red, and White
Best Cards: Flawless Maneuver, Kelsien, the Plague, Silvar, Devourer of the Free
41. Arcane Maelstrom
The Arcane Maelstrom deck had a lot of MTG players chomping at the bits with anticipation, waiting for the release of these new green, blue, and red cards. The reason? Few precons offer so much diversity of multi-colored spells and abilities.
Arcane Maelstrom comes with the epic card, Kalamax, the Stormsire, making the deck even more formidable.
Commander: Kalamax, the Stormsire
Theme: Instants/Matter
Color(s): Blue, Green, and Red
Best Cards: Pako, Arcane Retriever, Haldan, Avid Arcanist, Deflecting Swat
40. Symbiotic Swarm
In Symbiotic Swarm, counters truly matter. Many of the cards, particularly creatures seem weak and feeble at first, until they start building up counters. Once your cards are nicely stacked with counters, and they just keep coming, your opponents will mentally throw in the towel.
This deck’s most powerful card is the mighty Kathril, Aspect Warper.
Commander: Kathril, Aspect Warper
Theme: Counters Matter
Color(s): Black, Green, and White
Best Cards: Obscuring Haze, Cartographer’s Hawk, Netherborn Altar
39. Timeless Wisdom
As the name of this set suggests, the Timeless Wisdom deck is packed with powerful and intellectual cycling-based spells. Blue, red, and white multi-colored instants and sorceries dominant the collection.
Timeless Wisdom comes equipped with, Gavi, Nest Warden, a multi-colored cycling card.
Commander: Gavi, Nest Warden
Theme: Cycling
Color(s): Blue, Red, and White
Best Cards: Brallin, Skyshark Rider, Shabraz, the Skyshark, Fierce Guardianship
38. Enhanced Evolution
The aptly named Enhanced Evolution deck is stocked up with some of the top mutate cards ever printed by Wizards of the Coast. Even more, the set saw the release of several new and powerful blue, green, and black multi-colored spells.
Otrimi, the Ever-Playful is the best Mutate creature that comes with the Enhanced Evolution precon.
Commander: Otrimi, the Ever-Playful
Theme: Mutate
Color(s): Black, Blue, and Green
Best Cards: Zaxara, the Exemplary, Cazur, Ruthless Stalker, Deadly Rollick
Commander 2019 Decks
The main collections released in 2019 included Morph, Flashback, Populate, and Madness themes, with tri-colored cards decks.
37. Faceless Menace
Faceless Menace is a collection of cards from 2019 that is based on the ability to morph your cards. For example, many creatures and enchantments start off as face-down cards that ar practically useless. However, if given the chance, they morph into powerhouse cards that may quickly rewrite the course of the game.
The best Morph card released with this deck is Kadena, Slinking Sorcerer. Not only will she help you hold off the enemies, she’ll help you morph other cards more quickly.
Commander: Kadena, Slinking Sorcerer
Theme: Morph
Color(s): Black, Blue, and Green
Best Cards: Mire in Misery, Sudden Substitution, Leadership Vacuum
36. Mystic Intellect
Mystic Intellect is one of the best instant and sorcrey-based collections released in quite some time. The deck features a potent Flashback theme of red, white, and blue cards that make it hard for your opponents to keep up let alone guess what your next step is.
Sevinne, the Chronoclasm is the main commander of the Mystic Intellect precon Flashback deck.
Commander: Sevinne, the Chronoclasm
Theme: Flashback
Color(s): Blue, Red, and White
Best Cards: Elsha of the Infinite, Dockside Extortionist, Sevinne’s Reclamation
35. Primal Genesis
The Primal Genesis set features the Populate theme, which as you guess it, includes plenty of populating action (similar to the spawning or spore abilities). That means, the long you have cards on the board, the larger your trooops grow, and the more your opponents worry.
The card, Ghired, Conclave Exile, is the most interesting multi-colored creature card that comes with the deck.
Commander: Ghired, Conclave Exile
Theme: Populate
Color(s): Green, Red, and White
Best Cards: Atla Palani, Nest Tender, Ghired’s Belligerence, Ohran Frostfang
34. Merciless Rage
This famous collection of cards has become a Magic the Gathering classic with commander players, the powerhouse deck focuses on death and destruction… at all costs (to your opponents, and even yourself at times).
Anje Falkenrath, a Madness-themed black and red multi-colored Madness card that comes with the Merciless Rage deck.
Commander: Anje Falkenrath
Theme: Madness
Color(s): Black and Red
Best Cards: Chainer, Nightmare Adept, K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth, Bone Miser
Commander 2018 Decks
Three tri-colored and one dual-colored decks were introduced to players back in 2018, including Artifact, Land, Top Cards, and Enchantment themes.
33. Nature’s Vengeance
Nature-based MTG card lovers were more than pleased with the release of Nature’s Vengeance, as it finally included some serious nature cards outside of the realm of green cards. The set features black, red, and green cards, while the deck focuses primarily on getting lands into play (but works with a number of other strategies as well).
As an added bonus, this deck includes a copy of the well-known and loved multi-colored legendary hero, Lord Windgrace.
Commander: Lord Windgrace
Theme: Lands
Color(s): Black, Green, and Red
Best Cards: Fury Storm, Windgrace’s Judgment, Nesting Dragon
32. Adaptive Enchantment
Enchantment-wise, Adaptive Enchantment was without a doubt a commander product for the books. The card advantage due to the high number of enchantmnents the player weilds with this deck is insane, especially considering how much the main creature card helps out.
Estrid, the Masked, an intriguing version of the well-known legendary Estrid is the best creature to boost with the many enchantments of this preconstructed deck.
Commander: Estrid, the Masked
Theme: Enchantments
Color(s): Blue, Green, and White
Best Cards: Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle, Empyrial Storm, Genesis Storm
31. Subjective Reality
In the Magic universe, everything is Subjective Reality. Perhaps that’s why this theme deck comes with some of the very top cards ever printed for Magic the Gathering players. The power level of this set is practically unparralled by other collections.
Aminatou, the Fateshifter is the cream of the crop among the Top Cards released with this deck.
Commander: Aminatou, the Fateshifter
Theme: Top Cards
Color(s): Black, Blue, and White
30. Exquisite Invention
Out of all the MTG artifact cards printed in 2018, this collection smoked them all. Whether purchased as a commander set, or with a guild kit, the deck has enough artifacts to equip a small army of MTG cards (let alone one or two creatures) and your special commander as well.
Exquisit Invention comes with the unique and powerful card Saheeli, the Gifted, making it even easier to use your artifacts.
Commander: Saheeli, the Gifted
Theme: Artifacts
Color(s): Blue and Red
Best Cards: Saheeli’s Directive, Echo Storm, Retrofitter Foundry
Commander 2017 Decks
The 2017 releases are just as popular today as they were when they first came out. The series includes four different tribal themes, Dragons, Cats, Vampires, and Wizards, each with powerful leaders to occupy the command zone..
29. Draconic Domination
Draconic Domination was a highly anticipated deck, released by Wizards back in 2017. The collection features many of the most powerful Dragons, Drakes, and related winged and tribal cards.. including the one and only Ur Dragon (which is actually the deck’s lead crature – surprise, surprise).
This also set introduced many new and instant classic dragon and tribal cards as well in addition to the beloved Ur Dragon.
Commander: The Ur-Dragon
Theme: Dragons/Tribal
Color(s): Black, Blue, Green, Red, and White
Best Cards: Ramos, Dragon Engine, Territorial Hellkite, Kindred Discovery
28. Arcane Wizardry
This theme deck headed by the impressive multi-colored Inalla, Archmage Ritualist, is all a tribal wizards Magic the Gathering and could ask for, and then some. The set is great for 1v1 dueling as well as other formats, heavily laden with wizards and wicked spells in black, red, and blue.
Commander: Inalla, Archmage Ritualist
Theme: Wizards/Tribal
Color(s): Black, Blue, and Red
Best Cards: Kess, Dissident Mage, Mairsil, the Pretender, Magus of the Mind
27. Feline Ferocity
Feline Ferocity is another well-named collection, it is a deck full of feirce tribal and ferocious cat cards. These white and green cards are headed with the epic leader Arahbo, Roar of the World. With this set, you’ll paw and mawl your way through the enemy in no time.
Commander: Arahbo, Roar of the World
Theme: Cats/Tribal
Color(s): Green and White
Best Cards: Balan, Wandering Knight, Traverse the Outlands, Kindred Summons
26. Vampiric Bloodlust
What could be better than a seductive vampire theme deck, or a powerful tribal theme deck? A Tribal Vampires theme deck headed with one of the best legendary creatures, Edgar Markov. Boom, there it is! Another awesome thing about this deck? Its leader has the Eminence ability.
Commander: Edgar Markov
Theme: Vampires/Tribal
Color(s): Black, Red, and White
Best Cards: New Blood, Disrupt Decorum, Kindred Charge
Commander 2016 Decks
Chaos, Aggression, Group Hug, and Counter themes make up the 2016 sets released. A noticible change in the series is that each deck consists of four colors.
25. Stalwart Unity
The Stalwart Unity set features a now classic “Group Hug” theme. The deck consists of cards of every color, except black. The cards must engage eachother (hence the Group Hug name) to become more powerful against the enemy.
Commander: Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis
Theme: Group Hug
Color(s): Blue, Green, Red, and White
Best Cards: Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa, Kraum, Ludevic’s Opus, Realm Seekers
24. Breed Lethality
Breed Lethality, indeed! This deck packs cards loaded with the ability to breed +1/+1 counters. Once you begin placing the counters on your creatures, their level of lethality steadily increases. Keep your creature cards on the board (especially Atraxa, Praetor’s Voice, the main leader of the deck), and breeding counters, and victory is surely yours.
Commander: Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice
Theme: Counters (+1/+1)
Color(s): Black, Blue, Green, and White
Best Cards: Reyhan, Last of the Abzan, Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker, Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper
23. Invent Superiority
This Magic deck includes creatures, spells, and artifacts of all colors except green, and is headed by the shifty leader Breya, Etherium Shaper. The theme of the cards is Superiority, and this mechanic indeed often leaves your opponents feeling inferior and defeated (even before the game is over!).
Commander: Breya, Etherium Shaper
Theme: Superiority/Artifacts
Color(s): Black, Blue, Red, and White
Best Cards: Akiri, Line-Slinger, Magus of the Will, Faerie Artisans
22. Entropic Uprising
The Entropic Uprising release was one of the last to hit the stores (and table tops) back in 2016. A Chaos-themed deck, the black, blue, green, and red cards keep your opponents off-balance and guessing about what’s next.
Commander: Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder
Theme: Chaos
Color(s): Black, Blue, Green, and Red
Best Cards: Thrasios, Triton Hero, Vial Smasher the Fierce, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix
21. Open Hostility
Open Hostility is one of the best-ever well-named MTG decks, period. The Aggression theme deck is packed with angry black, red, white, and green cards ready to tear the enemy to sheds with a passion. None other than Saskia the Unyielding heads this popular deck.
Commander: Saskia the Unyielding
Theme: Aggression
Color(s): Black, Green, Red, and White
Best Cards: Ravos, Soultender, Tana, the Bloodsower, Tymna the Weaver
Commander 2015 Decks
The 2015 expansions introduced 5 new dual-colored collections with Enchantment, Instant, Sorcery, Graveyard, and high-cost creature themes. Many of these necks are now beloved classics.
20. Call the Spirits
Call the Spirits is an Enchantment-based white and black collection of cards headed by the dreaded Daxos the Returned. The set re-released several classic enchantments as well as introducing more new instant classics than other decks, including a few creature tokens (well, spirit tokens anyway!).
Commander: Daxos the Returned
Theme: Enchantments
Color(s): Black and White
Best Cards: Karlov of the Ghost Council, Bastion Protector, Thief of Blood
19. Seize Control
Mizzix of the Izmagnus heads the Seize Control theme deck as the main character. The deck is a preconstructed collection of excellent red and blue Magic cards, heavy in tricky and devastating sorceries and instants. The only catch is you need to count your mana spent, or run out of options.
Commander: Mizzix of the Izmagnus
Theme: Instants/Sorceries
Color(s): Blue and Red
Best Cards: Arjun, the Shifting Flame, Mizzix’s Mastery, Mystic Confluence
18. Plunder the Graves
Plunder the Graves is a classic multi-colored black and green deck with a Graveyard-based theme. With the diverse leader Meren of Clan Nel Toth in the command zone, the deck is geared towards looting your own graveyard and putting cards back into play.
Commander: Meren of Clan Nel Toth
Theme: Graveyard Recursion
Color(s): Black and Green
Best Cards: Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest, Scourge of Nel Toth, Wretched Confluence
17. Wade Into Battle
What can we say about this famous deck? It really does let commander players wade into battle with fire and vengence (and REALLY big creatures, like Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas). The deck focuses on creatures with big casting costs, we’re talking a minimum of a 5+ mana cost.
Commander: Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas
Theme: Creatures with CMC5 or more
Color(s): Red and White
Best Cards: Anya, Merciless Angel, Magus of the Wheel, Kalemne’s Captain
16. Swell the Host
This classic +1/+1 counter deck genuinely enables commander players to swell the host of creatures they control. With Ezuri, Claw of Progress, to lead the swollen host of green and blue Magic the Gathering cards on the field, victory is almost guaranteed.
Commander: Ezuri, Claw of Progress
Theme: Counters (+1/+1)
Color(s): Blue and Green
Best Cards: Kaseto, Orochi Archmage, Verdant Confluence, Ezuri’s Predation
Commander 2014 Decks
These next 5 installments of the series came out a good two years into the commander craze, and brought players all new ways to cast spells. The 2014 themes include Equiptment, Sea Monsters, Artifacts, Demons, and Elves.
15. Forged in Stone
The Forged in Stone set was released as one of the last collections of the 2014 commander series. Fitting the 2014-theme for commander precons, the collection of cards features a solid color. These white cards are equipment-heavy and include the leader Nahiri, the Lithomancer.
Commander: Nahiri, the Lithomancer
Theme: Equipment
Color(s): White
Best Cards: Jazal Goldmane, Containment Priest, Angelic Field Marshal
14. Peer Through Time
Peer Through Time is a commander staple blue deck with a Sea Monsters Magic the Gathering theme. Needless to say, there are many heavy-hitting water creatures in the collection. The deck is headed by the main creature, Teferi, Temporal Archmage.
Commander: Teferi, Temporal Archmage
Theme: Sea Monsters
Color(s): Blue
Best Cards: Stitcher Geralf, Stormsurge Kraken, Reef Worm
13. Sworn to Darkness
The infamous Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath leads this trechorously preconstructed deck of all-black cards. As the name hints, Sworn to Darkness features a Demons theme. Further, it has really creepy-looking basic lands as well.
Commander: Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath
Theme: Demons
Color(s): Black
Best Cards: Ghoulcaller Gisa, Demon of Wailing Agonies, Infernal Offering
12. Built from Scratch
The Built from Scratch set features a red Artifact Recursion theme. Daretti, Scrap Savant, is a more tan fitting leader for this scrappy deck. This is another really great collection for multiplayer format.
Commander: Daretti, Scrap Savant
Theme: Artifact Recursion
Color(s): Red
Best Cards: Feldon of the Third Path, Tyrant’s Familiar, Scrap Mastery
11. Guided by Nature
Guided by Nature is indeed a fierce green mono-colored deck, featuring both old-school and modern elves (now classics, all these years later). The powerhouse green card collection comes with a copy of the versatile leader Freyalise, Llanowar’s Fury.
Commander: Freyalise, Llanowar’s Fury
Theme: Elves
Color(s): Green
Best Cards: Titania, Protector of Argoth, Thunderfoot Baloth, Sylvan Offering
Commander 2013 Decks
These early collections are all classics today, their themes include Evasion, Gaining Life, Sacrifice, Instants, Sorcery, and Beasts.
10. Mind Seize
When it comes to blasting ans casting the enemy to death, no cards from the Mind Seize deck come in as helpful and deadly as Jeleva, Nephalia’s Scourge. It’s also worth mentioning that Mind Seize has inspired a load of unofficial fan content over the years.
Commander: Jeleva, Nephalia’s Scourge
Theme: Instants/Sorceries
Color(s): Black, Blue, and Red
Best Cards: Nekusar, the Mindrazer, True-Name Nemesis, Tempt with Reflections
9. Power Hungry
Prossh, Skyraider of Kher, is the most power hungry of all creatures with the sacrifice ability found in this deck. Power Hungry is a sacrifice theme collection made up of black, green, and red multi-colored cards. This set harkens back to the days of the brawl deck.
Commander: Prossh, Skyraider of Kher
Theme: Sacrifice
Color(s): Black, Green, and Red
Best Cards: Shattergang Brothers, Ophiomancer, Fell Shepherd
8. Nature of the Beast
This classic set features green, white, and red beasts of all sorts (supporting the Beasts theme). That said, Marath, Will of the Wild, is the most powerful and beastly card in the Nature of the Beast set. The collection introduced exciting new art on basic lands as well.
Commander: Marath, Will of the Wild
Theme: Beasts
Color(s): Green, Red, and White
Best Cards: Gahiji, Honored One, Magus of the Arena, Tempt with Discovery
7. Evasive Maneuvers
This iconic 2013 MTG deck has an Evasion theme (surprise, surprise!), with plenty of classic blue, green, and white creatures, instants, enchantments, and more to back it up. Speaking of backing things up, Derevi, Empyrical Tactician is the main creature card 😉
Commander: Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
Theme: Evasion
Color(s): Blue, Green, and White
Best Cards: Roon of the Hidden Realm, Bane of Progress, Tempt with Glory
6. Eternal Bargain
The Eternal Bargain set is based on gaining life from black, white, and blue spells. Oloro, Ageless Ascetic is included with the Eternal Bargain deck, possibly no creature card enables you to gain life more easily and consistently. It is perfect for multiplayer format.
Commander: Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
Theme: Life Gain
Color(s): Black, Blue, and White
Best Cards: Sydri, Galvanic Genius, Order of Succession, Tempt with Immortality
Original Commander Precons
The first 5 preconstructed sets built around commanders included Heavenly Inferno, Mirror Mastery, Counterpunch, Devour for Power, and Political Puppets.
5. Devour for Power
Devour for Power is a potent multi-colored green, black, and blue commander staple deck with a focus on utilizing Graveyards. That said, The Mimeoplasm is the main card that really fuels this Graveyard themed deck to wreak havoc and command the dead.
Commander: The Mimeoplasm
Theme: Graveyard
Color(s): Black, Blue, and Green
Best Cards: Damia, Sage of Stone, Skullbriar, the Walking Grave, Minds Aglow
4. Heavenly Inferno
Kaalia of the Vast is hands-down the most impressive winged creature of this white, red, and black deck. However, with an Angels, Demons, and Dragons theme, Heavenly Inferno is loaded with awesome flying creature cards. As far as flying sets without copies of the Ur Dragon card go, this is one is well worth getting your hands on.
Commander: Kaalia of the Vast
Theme: Angels/Demons/Dragons
Color(s): Black, Red, and White
Best Cards: Tariel, Reckoner of Souls, Basandra, Battle Seraph, Mana-Charged Dragon
3. Mirror Mastery
When it comes to copying spells, no creature is more potent or dreadful as Riku of Two Reflections, the main card in the Mirror Mastery set. The rest of the collection follows the Copying Spells theme, with mono and multi-colored cards in green, red, and blue.
Commander: Riku of Two Reflections
Theme: Copying Spells
Color(s): Blue, Green, and Red
Best Cards: Animar, Soul of Elements, Edric, Spymaster of Trest, Collective Voyage
2. Counterpunch
Counterpunch is a multi-colored set of black, green, and white cards, many of which create +1/+1 counters. The best card to get out and into play, of course, is Ghave, Guru of Spores, as it’s the one that creates the most +1/+1 counters for your other cards.
Commander: Ghave, Guru of Spores
Theme: Counters (+1/+1)
Color(s): Black, Green, and White
Best Cards: Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter, Karador, Ghost Chieftain, Hornet Queen
1. Political Puppets
Political Puppets is one of the original commander anthology decks. It follows a twisted theme that forces cards into the possession of the enemy (hint: things they’d rather not have given to them). Speaking of giving things to your opponents (which is the official theme of this deck), check out the main card, Zedruu the Greathearted.
Commander: Zedruu the Greathearted
Theme: Giving Things to Your Opponents
Color(s): Blue, Red, and White
Best Cards: Ruhan of the Fomori, Nin, the Pain Artist, Flusterstorm