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The Command Zone

The Command Zone

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Your weekly source for all things Commander (aka EDH), a multiplayer Magic: The Gathering format, with hosts Jimmy Wong and Josh Lee Kwai. Focused on all aspects of gameplay and strategy from table politics, budget builds, to deck building and more! [email protected] We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 For advertising opportunities please email [email protected] Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/us/terms-and- ...
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Story Break

Maximum Fun

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Story Break is a weekly podcast from RocketJump where we (Will Campos, Matt Arnold, and Freddie Wong) sit down in the RocketJump writer's room and attempt to "break" a story for a ridiculous concept, property, or idea that we in NO way have any rights to. Join us every week as we attempt to tackle everything from beloved video games to billion dollar franchises!
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The Masters of Modern

Collected Company

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Your weekly insight into Modern, a competitive Magic: the Gathering format, with hosts Alex Kessler and Glenn Jones. We break down all different aspects of the format from deck archetypes to new releases and predictions!
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Building your own Commander deck from scratch can be intimidating. It’s not just about finding powerful cards. A great brew needs to strike the perfect balance. This episode, we’re here to make that task much easier with our new and improved Deckbuilding Template. We’ll lay out the ideal ratios of ramp, card draw, disruption, and more, all based on…
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The new Commander [Brackets] system has been officially unveiled in all its 5-tiered glory! But what exactly does the system look like? And how is it different from the old ways? Most importantly, will [Brackets] solve Commander’s power level problem? This episode, we’re breaking it all down and bringing you our analysis. Let’s get bracketing! ----…
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We are super excited to announce that Hasbro Entertainment has signed a deal with Legendary Entertainment to produce an official live-action Magic: the Gathering movie! Over the past 30+ years, MTG has become an entertainment icon with millions of fans all over the world, and we can’t wait to see it up on the big screen. So join us as we roll out t…
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Don’t blink, because Aetherdrift is coming in FAST! But have no fear, this episode will get you up to speed by going over the very best cards for your 99 from the new set. We’ll lay out all the high-octane tech so you can gas up your decks with these sweet new additions to the format, along with laying out the synergies and strategies you need to g…
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Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- Show Notes: Do you have the need for speed AND the need for a powerful new deck? Find out which of Aetherdrift’s racing legends is right for you, as we break down the most powerful Commanders from the new…
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Want to make the new “Eternal Might” (White/Blue/Black) precon even mightier? Never fear! We’re here to breathe new life into this deck of undeath with our $50 upgrade guide! We’ll give you 10 cards to exhume, and 10 to entomb so that next time you call forth your legions of mummies, everyone will know who the true god-pharoah is! (It’s you.) Come …
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Can you feel that? The electricity in the air can only mean one thing: the Aetherdrift “Living Energy” (Red/Blue/Green) precon reveal is HERE! We’ve got a brand new Energy-themed deck to show you, including two new Commanders and 10 never-before-seen cards! Then just to amp things up a bit, we’ve also included our $50 10-card upgrade, so you’ll hav…
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Everyone will tell you they’re not the threat, but someone has to be! And figuring out exactly who it is can be the difference between victory and defeat. This episode, we’re breaking down everything you need to become a master of threat assessment. From how to calibrate your thinking going into the game to how to assess the board states themselves…
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It’s a mailbag episode! JLK and Rachel sit down to answer all your burning inquiries: Which Commanders do we REFUSE to play against? Which colors do we find the most powerful? What’s the best way to find a new playgroup? What do we think about Rule 0 commanders? And so much more! No question will go unanswered, so you’re not going to want to miss t…
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Hindsight is a 20/20 with Flying and Indestructible, so it’s time to look back at 2024 and all of the controversies, changes, events, and of course, cards from the last 365 days. From unprecedented bans that shook up the Commander world forever, to design choices that may have shifted the fabric of the game, plus the rise of Universes Beyond, and e…
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Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- Show Notes: Commander is famously a casual format, so it’s easy to handwave some of the more complicated rules when it comes to stuff like the stack and priority in a 4-player pod. But if you’re looking t…
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From gruesome murders to cute woodland critters, 2024 has brought a ton of new cards, styles, and settings to the game of Magic The Gathering. As always, everyone has their favorites and their flops, so this episode we’ll be going through every set of the year and laying out which we feel hit the nail on the head, and which ones whiffed completely.…
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This episode, we’re bringing in the members of our Command Zone team to answer the question: What are your favorite cards of the year? From powerful new format staples, to quirky pet cards, 2024 certainly had a lot to talk about! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://ww…
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When you’ve been playing Magic for years, it can be hard to remember how difficult it is when you’re just starting out. Teaching new players can be a daunting task. Fortunately here at the Command Zone, we’ve got a ton of experience introducing others to the game and we’re gonna share some of the best techniques and guidelines to make teaching Magi…
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2024 had a TON of Commander precons hit the shelves - 24 in fact! But not all precons are created equal, and this year had its duds as well as its slam dunks. But which is which? Never fear! We’ve got Rachel, Murph, and Jordan here to break down every single preconstructed deck from the past 365 and rank each of them definitively from best to worst…
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The commander is often the most influential card in any EDH deck. In fact, some are SO powerful that they’ve had to be banned from the format entirely – even if they’d be perfectly fair as part of the 99! Couldn’t this problem be fixed by simply making a “Banned as Commander” List? This episode, we discuss the pros and cons of reinstating that cont…
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The Foundations Starter Collection was designed to help new players get into Standard, but it’s also really great for new Commander players! In fact, with a little bit of care and creativity, we’ve come up with a variety of Commander decks you can build right out of the box! We’ll walk you through the builds, strategies, and potential upgrades so y…
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They haven’t played Magic since the 90’s but now they’re getting thrown into the deep end! In this episode, JLK reunites his long-lapsed original playgroup to show them the (extremely different) world of modern-day Magic. What will they make of the game’s current design and power level? What do they remember from their old school spellslinging days…
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Want to give your next Commander deck a bit of a jumpstart? Why not build one of these new anime-style legends from the Foundations Jumpstart set? This episode, we’ll give you the rundown on the most powerful of these new commanders, laying out the best strategies and synergies to turn these beginner-friendly cards into full-on manga monsters! ----…
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Don’t let the Standard focus fool you, Foundations is loaded with cool new toys for Commander players everywhere! So this episode we’re breaking down our list of the best non-legendary cards for your 99. From cool support pieces to potential format staples, we’ll lay out everything you can’t afford to miss, along with the synergies and strategies y…
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Want to assemble a new deck, but still need to find the right captain? Then, we’re about to be your heroes! We’re breaking down the commanders from Magic’s brand new Marvel Secret Lair! Come see how these comic book legends put the “POW!” in powerful as we lay out the synergies and combos that’ll elevate them from good to outright super. -------- S…
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The new legends from Foundations may be in Standard for a while, but they’re going to be in Commander FOREVER – so don’t miss out on seeing which ones are the most powerful! This episode, we’re breaking down the tricks, synergies, and combos these cards bring to the game table. Who will serve as the foundation for your next favorite deck, and who m…
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You know what mana-ROCKS? Fantasy-drafting artifacts that ramp! This episode, Jimmy, JLK, and Rachel are picking the best mana rocks (over 2 mana) in Commander. We all know that two-drop ramp pieces are great, but which cards demand an include on the upper end of the curve? Tune in and find out! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a p…
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With tons of counterspells, card draw, and instant-speed interaction, blue may be Magic’s most infamous color. With all that complexity, Blue can be just as tricky to pilot as it is to play against! Luckily, this episode we have master blue mage Josh Lee Kwai to break down the keys to playing the color successfully. If you’ve got some blue decks of…
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As the new stewards of Commander, Wizards of the Coast announced they’ll be reevaluating the ban list. In this episode, we decided to do the same! We’re going through every banned card to break down which we think could safely re-enter the format and which should stay locked away forever. There’s some super powerful stuff in there, and you won’t wa…
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Would you make a deal with a demon? Now is your chance, because Duskmourn is here to offer you what every Magic player truly wants: POWER! This new set is chock full of powerful cards, and we’ll show you the best of the best as we go over the top cards from Duskmourn for your 99. We’ll guide you through all the hot new tech you’ll want to snap up f…
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JLK sits down with The Professor from Tolarian Community College to discuss the roles and responsibilities of content creators during periods of community crisis. -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- The Professor (Tolarian Communit…
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Further fallout from last week’s divisive new ban announcement: The Commander Rules Committee has decided to officially hand over control of the format to Wizards of the Coast. This shift in power brings the 13-year era of community management to an end. Needless to say, there’s a lot to talk about. Join Jimmy, Rachel, and JLK as we sit down to dis…
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Ever been on the wrong side of a Commander game and thought, “I’d need a miracle to win!” We're here to make it happen with our 10-card, $50 upgrade guide for the new “Miracle Worker” (white/blue/black) precon deck! Come see what enchanting new includes will take this Duskmourn list to new heights, and soon you’ll have everything you need to make y…
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This is the episode you’ve been waiting for: We’re talking about the bans. This week’s ban announcement – removing Dockside Extortionist, Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt, and Nadu from the format – took the Commander community by storm. Some people are ecstatic, others are furious, but if you engage with Magic on the Internet you know this is all anyone’…
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To survive in the harrowed halls of Duskmourn, you’ve gotta be pretty scary yourself. It’s no surprise this set is loaded up with a bunch of frighteningly powerful new Commanders! This episode, we’ll be going over our picks for the best legends in the set, giving you a rundown of all the synergies and strategies you’ll need to put one of these mons…
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BOO! Did we make you jump? Or are you just leaping to get your hands on the new “Jump Scare” (blue/green) Commander precon from Duskmourn? Settle down, because we’re here to calm your nerves and raise your power level with our 10-card upgrade guide, all for under $50! We’ll tell you which cards to cut and which to hide in the deck so, at your next …
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Everybody hurts, sometimes… Especially when you’re playing against the new “Endless Punishment” (red/black) precon Commander deck from Duskmourn: House of Horrors! Today, we’re going to help you bring the pain with our 10 card upgrade, all for under $50! We’ll go over which cards to add and which ones to slash from the list for a power spike that w…
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Have no fear, Duskmourn preview season isn’t quite over yet. We’ve got a terrifyingly cool new deck to show you, plus an upgrade guide that’s simply to die for. The time has come to reveal the new “Death Toll” (green/black) Commander precon, including 10 never-before-seen cards. Then, we’ll lay out our 10-card upgrade that won’t cost you an arm and…
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Every so often a Commander deck comes along that begs the question: Is this so stupid it’s brilliant, or just regular stupid? This episode, you can be the judge as master brewer Rachel Weeks presents the dumbest deck she’s ever built: Norin the Wary… with stickers! She’ll break down the sticking points she encountered along the way, as well as the …
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You know what really ruffles our feathers? Grinds our gearhulks? Makes our Blood tokens boil? Well you’re about to! This episode, we break down the most annoying cards in Commander. We got a bunch of submissions from our Patrons and staff, and now we’re laying out what makes these cards miserable and ranking which are the worst of the worst. There’…
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Everyone loves hugs right? How about group hugs? Maybe in real life! But, in Commander, the group hug strategy can be pretty controversial, not to mention tricky to pilot. Fret not! This episode, we’ve got the best hugger we know, DJ (AKA “Jumbo Commander”), to bring you the complete guide to the archetype. He’ll teach you how to turn making friend…
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Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- Show Notes: Sometimes big power comes in cute little packages, but how do you know which new woodland cards should land a spot in your next deck? We’re here to help with our review of the best cards from …
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Want to give the table a brood awakening at your next Commander night? This episode, we’re making some offspring spring into action with our upgrade for the “Family Matters” (red/white/blue) precon from Bloomburrow. We’ve got 10 new additions to adopt into the deck, and 10 cards to cut from the family reunion guest list, all for under $50. Get read…
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Of all the legendary animals leaping around the valley of Bloomburrow, which is the wildest of the woodland? The fiercest of the forest? The thickest in the thicket? We’re about to find out, because this episode we’re breaking down the most powerful new Commanders from Magic’s latest set. Don’t miss the strategies and synergies that’ll turn these c…
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Show Notes: Trying to tune your Raccoons from trash pandas to treasure pandas? Look no further, because today we’re bringing you our upgrade guide for the brand new “Animated Army” (red/green) precon from Bloomburrow. Special guest upgrader Olivia Gobert-Hicks is here with 10 cards to make the deck sing, and 10 you can leave in the garbage, all for…
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Are you looking to dole out some beats while you’re giving out treats? Bloomburrow has the perfect deck for you with the new “Peace Offering” (blue/white/green) precon! And we’re here to sweeten the deal with our upgrade guide: 10 gifted additions and 10 cards to leave back in your den, all for under $50! Soon you’ll be your whole pod’s favorite pl…
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Are you going nuts for more Bloomburrow previews? Well you’re in luck! Not only do we have an entire new deck to show you, we’ve also got an upgrade guide ready to go! That’s right, it’s time to reveal the new “Squirreled Away” (green/black) precon, complete with 10 brand new cards. Then we’ll give you our take on a 10-card upgrade all for under $5…
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Show Notes: The fantasy draft format is back and, this time, you should expect the unexpected! JLK, Jimmy, and Rachel are drafting the best “Gotcha!” spells in Commander. We’re talking about the tricks that catch your opponents totally off guard and turn the game on its head. But which of the format’s obscure surprise spells will take the top spot?…
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The Assassin Order has struck again, infiltrating Magic: the Gathering with a set full of powerful tricks from across time. This episode, we’ve got our eagle eyes locked on Assassin’s Creed as we look for cards with lethal potential. From historic legends to deadly equipment, there’s a ton of power waiting to be unlocked. So enter the Animus with u…
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Show Notes: Upgrading decks can be tricky, but with the right cards, your lands can be even trickier – especially with this upgrade guide for the new “Tricky Terrain” (green/blue) precon deck from Modern Horizons 3! We’ll guide you through the valley of 10 cards you should add, and across a canyon where you can throw the 10 cards you’ll take out, a…
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With a set as pushed as Modern Horizons 3, we’re getting a ton of new toys and upgrades for Commander. But which cards will rise to staple status? Between the cycle of free spells, twists on powerful classics, and new support for colorless, there’s no shortage of strong contenders. We’ve got a LOT to talk about here, so strap in as we break down th…
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Magic players are flipping out over the new MDFCs from Modern Horizons 3! Many MDFC lands are “auto-includes” in Commander, so we’re going to sit down and let you know which of these powerful new ones are the absolute best for your decks. We’ll rank each of them from must-buy to don’t-even-try, so you’ll know exactly what you need to pick up to get…
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Would you kill for more info on the new Universes Beyond: Assassin’s Creed MTG set? Well you’ve come to the right place! We’ve got a sweet new exclusive preview card for you, and no one has to die to get it. All you have to do is watch and learn the ancient secrets of “Crystal Skull, Isu Spyglass!” -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be …
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Remember when Tarmogoyf was the king of Modern? Those days may be over, but you can still get your fix of Goyf-y goodness in the new Modern Horizons 3 “Graveyard Overdrive” (black/red/green) precon deck! So to help you Jund ‘em out, we’re bringing you our $50 upgrade guide, featuring 10 cards to drive up the power level and 10 cards to leave in the…
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