Commander Theory

CLB IS HERE. The sequel to both Commander Legends AND Adventures in the Forgotten Realms is here! Commander Legends: Baldur's Gate is a draftable commander format with 85(!!!) New legends and... backgrounds? To mix, match, and slam down as you duke it out with your friends and brew some more cool decks! This will be the first episode of spoilers for Nick and Zak, where they look at specifically the partners... I mean Choosers! And their Backgrounds they can pair with! Basically a partner variant. Which Choosers got the two co-hosts brains turning? What pairs are obvious and what ones... don't really make sense? It's (mostly!) all here as the crew digs into the first part of all the new legendary goodness! So listen in and let us know which choosers you're thinking about playing also! HUGE thank you to Alex Whiteclay for help digging into the new cards, on this and the next few review episodes. We couldn't do it without you! Timestamps:Are in the Chapters Section! Decklists:Vhal, Maste

The last of the episodes about #MTGSNC to keep us honest! It's prediction time!! How right were Nick and Zak about Kamigawa Neon Dynasty? What do they think about SNC? Any cards they're impressed by or not impressed by? And what's the deal with spells with four color-pip costs in... 5 color decks?!?! It's all here! So listen in, laugh and cry with our mistakes and successes, and let us know what your favorite cards are too! You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us at commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you want to hear more of Zak's band, The Havnauts, you can do so Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here!If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link. It costs you nothing and earns money for the show!The opening theme is Lincoln Continental by Entrophy (now Nic Cage on Soundcloud)Support the showYou can reach

In this very special episode, Nick and Zak are delighted to talk to Megan Smith! Magic: The Gathering Designer and current Green Council Member on the Council of Colors in Studio X.  For those who might not have listened before, The Council of Colors is a team put together so Studio X can help to stop breaks in the color pie between all the products they release in a year. The council members are resident experts as to what each color can do, and where each color might go in the future. Megan and the crew discuss "technically correct" green, the sins of the past, what green means to different planes/sets, and so much more! So listen in and tell us what you think! Thank you so much to the Wizards PR team, and Megan for being such an amazing guest! We couldn't have done this episode without all of your help. You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us at commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us

HOOBOY! Welcome to a long episode! All about the new commanders and cards in the NCC set (That's New Capenna Commander). Nick and Zak get right deep into the decks starting off with the commanders and getting into main deck cards in WUBRG order, so if you want to hear about only a particular color feel free to skip around! What family got the best new commanders? Which decks are more casual-focused? Are there any cards that just make us scratch our heads? Confluences?!? It's all here! So listen in and tell us your thoughts too! Decklists:Oskar, Rubbish ReclaimerJolene, the Plunder QueenBess, Soul Nourisher Kamiz, Obscura Oculus Anhelo, the PainterYou can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us at commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you want to hear more of Zak's band, The Havnauts, you can do so Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here!If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer

AND NOW: Ladies and cephalids, boys and germs! We give to you, this doozy of an episode! And a bit early! The Maindeck cards from Capenna are many and there's a lot going on,  So Nick enlisted the help of supporter and friend of the show Jason to get into the nitty-gritty of what's good in New Capenna! What can you do with the new white protection spell? Is Elspeth a new staple? Did they really make Farhaven Elf a rare?!? All this and more in this episode! Thank you Jason for all the help!!! Loved your input and your creativity! You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us at commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you want to hear more of Zak's band, The Havnauts, you can do so Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here!If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link. It costs you nothing and earns money for the show!The opening th

Here again! A new set is upon us in all its art deco wonder! Streets of New Capenna bring us a whole lot of new stuff to play with! So in this episode, Nick and supporter and friend of the show, Jason (Zak was on vacation, sorry!)  get into the nitty-gritty of the new commanders available! What legends look really fun? Anything busted? Did Edric really need white added to the color identity?!? It's all here! So listen in, and as always let us know what you think too! DECK LISTS:Bennie BracksGiada, Font of HopeMari, the Killing QuillRaffine Xander Ognis, The Dragon's LashJetmir Rocco (secret commander)Rigo, Streetwise MentorYou can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us at commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you want to hear more of Zak's band, The Havnauts, you can do so Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here!If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the sh

You read that right: this week on Commander Theory Nick and Zak discuss a project Nick has been working on for a while.  Phyrexian Rebirth is a fan-made module to be run using the 5th edition DnD rules that allows players to explore the world of New Phyrexia just after the event of the Mirrodin storyline.  The GM and players will be able to use the rules to create phyrexians of every type, or just a sad elf that got stuck on this plane that's so inhospitable to natural life. Nick did a great job with this 100% fan made module that we think you'll love. We in no way own the rights to any of the material inside, so please, download for free, have fun, and... Welcome to New Phyrexia! We can't wait to show you the potential that lies just beneath your skin... Link to the Download (for now)You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us at commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you wan

Last week's episode got us thinking: What are our favorite mechanics and why? So in this episode, Nick and Zak have a little chat about just that! What makes a good mechanic, and why? There's so much space in magic design, but what can be mined further and to good ends? Listen in and tell us what you think too! You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us at commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you want to hear more of Zak's band, The Havnauts, you can do so Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here!If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link. It costs you nothing and earns money for the show!The opening theme is Lincoln Continental by Entrophy (now Nic Cage on Soundcloud)Support the showYou can reach me on Twitter or email me hereIf you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon! Now with ad-free episodes!If you're

We asked for some custom commanders and you all delivered! In this episode of Commander Theory, Nick and Zak asked for custom legendary creatures that focused on underutilized mechanics from the past. There's everything from combat-focused commanders to Mono-black spells, and even energy and charms thrown in there too! Was that an arcane/cipher legend as well...? Listen in and tell us your favorites! (Nick should have the commanders up on the tumblr soon if you want to see them as well!) You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us at commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you want to hear more of Zak's band, The Havnauts, you can do so Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here!If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link. It costs you nothing and earns money for the show!The opening theme is Lincoln Continental by Entrophy (now Nic

Sometimes life hands you lemons, and sometimes you gotta put out a rerun podcast to deal with all those lemons, so here we are! Nick and Zak are fine, just had a lot on their respective plates this week, so here's one of the podcasts we think about a lot (and should really revisit soon tbh...) If you've never heard before please enjoy! It's a trip down memory lane for sure. What things have been addressed by wizards since the end of 2019, and what hasn't? Well listen in and find out! You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us at commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you want to hear more of Zak's band, The Havnauts, you can do so Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here!If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link. It costs you nothing and earns money for the show!The opening theme is Lincoln Continental by Entrop

Many content creators on the internet have posted episodes of shows and podcasts where they discuss a baseline way to build decks. They're usually heuristics like, "You need 10 ramp spells" or "you need 3 board clears" that are easy to follow and remember. But what do the Commander Theory hosts use...? In this episode, Nick and Zak lay out their process for deckbuilding in as simple a way as possible (which sounds worse than it is!) We get into the weeds about why decisions are made, how to use a hypergeometric calculator, and just why to do this at all in the first place! So listen in and let us know what you think about deck-building and your favorite deck compositions! Is there a list you made you were super proud worked out? Tell us all about it!  Here's a link to a super easy to use Hypergeometric CalculatorYou can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us at commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podca

We're back with another retrospective! In this Seasons Past we look at a set that had a huge influence on Nick and Zak: Mirage! What did Mirage do differently than the sets before it? What cards are people still playing? There's even a little controversy?!? All this and more! So listen in and tell us your favorite card from the set! You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us @commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you want to hear more of Zak's band, The Havnauts, you can do so Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here! If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link. It costs you nothing and earns money for the show!The opening theme is Lincoln Continental by Entrophy (now Nic Cage on Soundcloud)Support the showYou can reach me on Twitter or email me hereIf you like the podcast, please support it on Patreon! Now with ad-free ep

One of the benefits of this whole New Secret Lair Cards thing is that, oh wow! A TON of new commanders to build around!! In this episode, Nick and Zak get into the legendaries from the (now in preorder) Secret Lair - Street Fighter cards. There are some interesting build-arounds and some not-so-subtle build paths, on top of some really cool things in general! So listen in,, let us know what card is your favorite, OR if you think SLDs with new cards are an abomination unto the game! Either or! There's no wrong answer, just more harmful coping mechanisms. If you liked the song Zak couldn't make sound super good at the end of the episode, you can find more of it Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here, where it will sound much better! The band is The Havnauts, and the song is called "Bummer Man". It was the B side to a single from last year and there's more like it and more to come.  DECK LISTS:E. HONDADHALSIMYou can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Comman

YOU THOUGHT WE WERE DONE. Well, Nick and Zak wanted to take one more look back at the joys of Kamigawa Neon Dynasty and assess how well their predictions went from Crimson Vow. This episode is a great check-in on what people are actually playing, what new players like, what cards the two co-hosts enjoy, and generally get to talking about Magic and Commander. They go over their top 10 new cards as well as some favorites that might not make that list. Listen in, tell us your top 10, and finally! We say goodbye to seeing NEO in the feed (even though we love the set very much).  You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us @commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link. It costs you nothing and earns money for the show!The opening theme is Lincoln Continental by Entrophy (now Nic Cage on Soundcloud)Supp

AND WITH THAT we have finished another review season! Nick and Zak get right to it, digging into possible builds for the two new Commander decks to come out alongside Kamigawa Neon Dynasty! There are six new legends and a ton of new cards, but not all that shimmers in cyber tech is golden. What do the two hosts think about the themes, and how were they executed? What cards are their favorites, and what might have been better served on the cutting room floor? Listen in and find out! And let us know what you're excited about too! We in no way want something we're not super excited about to bring you down! (We're gonna build the decks for science to see how things go, even if they're not linked here)  - EDIT - FIXED THAT BREAK IN THE MIDDLE, thank you to everyone who reached out!  DECKLISTS: Kotori, Pilot Prodigy Shorikai, Genesis Engine Kosei, Penitent WarlordYou can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us @commanderthe

A ratfolk on a hoverbike just zoomed by my house and painted graffiti all over the alley. Guess that means Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty is out! In this doozy of an episode, Nick and Zak review all the commanders and cards they think you should note in the regular set for NEO (basically anything you can get in a set booster). There is SO much and the episode is definitely fat because of it, and we hope it means there's just more you'll enjoy! What is white getting in this set that's worth looking at? How are these saga's going to play out? Are there... Too many words on cards?!? Listen in and let us know how you feel too! Because this set is jam-packed with cards that are great in commander! Deck Lists:AoLight-PawsJin-Gitaxias 2.0KairiThe Reality ChipHeiko Yamizaki (the red one)West-side KodamaShigekiTameshiIsshin (NOT from Okami =c )Hinata Value AND Hinata BlinkTatsunariGo-ShintaiYou can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email

Commander Theory focuses a lot on what the format looks like if we observe the whole. Nick and Zak often use language about what you "should do" or "ought to do" or "ought to play" when describing the format, but what do they actually play? Not these decks anymore! That's for sure! In this episode Nick and Zak talk about decks that just... weren't fun for themselves or the table. They discuss what to look for to avoid the pitfalls of spending time and especially money on a deck, only to hate the experience once you're sitting at the table.  And once you're done let us know what decks you've played and hated as well! DECKLISTS: Just DM us, there are a lot of them You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us @commandertheory@gmail.comIf you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affilia

In this episode, Nick and Zak look at some builds that won't break the bank! Commander can be an expensive hobby, and it can often feel like you need to keep up in an arms race to compete, but that's not necessarily the case! Nick and Zak layout 7 decks that can really punish a table, some for under $100! And they work so effectively because the commanders are doing things most decks don't really care too much about. Who needs a Jeweled Lotus when a Strike It Rich does the same thing! Wait? Realy?!? It's all here! So listen in and let us know what your favorite budget builds are down below! (They include some of the upgrades we'd highly recommend to expand your collection! And they're still cheap!!)  DECKLISTS:Teshar's RobosOrvar, The All-Appropriate Budget ListGrazi-Relaxin Over This Cheap DeckShirei, Shizo's Budget ListRionya Fire Budget ListDargo and Jeska at TanagraYedora, Great Investment You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even mo

Nick and Zak do a little different take on a retrospective this year. The twist?  As they look back at their favorite cards from 2021 they have to pick cards that are WAY too good for how cheap they are! There's a few from every set last year, so come on the ride and use the affiliate link below to buy some cards on the cheap! Did you have some favorite cards from 2021? We'd love to hear about them and why! Always feel free to use the links at the bottom of our episode descriptions to give us a shout and bug us about cards! It's our favorite! You can reach us on Twitter or Tumblr, and our YouTube has videos for even more Commander content! You can even email us @commandertheory@gmail.com If you like our podcast, please support us on Patreon!If you're planning on shopping with TCGPlayer, you can support the show by using our affiliate link. It costs you nothing and earns money for the show!The opening theme is Lincoln Continental by Entrophy (now Nic Cage on Soundcloud)Support the showYou c

On this very special episode of Commander Theory Nick interviews Corey Bowen! Magic: the Gathering designer and the representative for Black on the Council of Colors in Wizard's of the Coast's Studio X. What is the history of black's color pie in Magic? What has it gained? what has it lost? There's talk of treasure, life payments, sacrifice, so much more! So listen in and let us know what your favorite part of Black's color pie is too! Nick was also recently on an episode of The Legendary Creature Podcast! Kyle, Andy, and Nick get into the nitty-gritty of White, and the vibe is kind of a more laid-back version of what this series has been. If you've enjoyed this look into Magic design with us, then you can catch that episode HERE. It's really fun and we can't recommend them enough!  This is also a very special episode for us because (with some caveats...) with this episode releasing we've interviewed a member of each color on the Council of Colors! We hope you&apos