Shows / The Command Zone
The Command Zone
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! commandzonecast@gmail.com We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com Privacy Policy…
Episodes
- The Command Zone
“Eternal Might” Precon Upgrade | Aetherdrift | 654
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…
- The Command Zone
“Living Energy” Full Deck Reveal & Upgrade | Aetherdrift | 653
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…
- The Command Zone
Who’s the Target? Lessons in Threat Assessment | 652
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…
- The Command Zone
Commanders We Refuse to Play Against | 651
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 Command Zone
MTG in 2024 - Year in Review | 650
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 Command Zone
A Masterclass in Priority | 649
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…
- The Command Zone
We Rank Every Set from 2024 | 648
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…
- The Command Zone
The Best Cards of 2024 | 647
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…
- The Command Zone
Tips for Teaching Magic: The Gathering | 646
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…
- The Command Zone
We Rank Every Precon from 2024 | 645
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…
- The Command Zone
Do We Need the “Banned as a Commander” Rule Back? | 644
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…
- The Command Zone
4 Commander Decks You Can Build from the Foundations Starter Kit | #643
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…
- The Command Zone
JLK Sits Down w/ His Original Playgroup (They Haven't Played Magic in 20 Years) | 642
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…
- The Command Zone
Most Powerful Commanders | Foundations Jumpstart | 641
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…
- The Command Zone
Foundation's Best Cards (In the 99) | 640
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…
- The Command Zone
MARVEL + MTG: Earth’s Mightiest New Commanders! | 639
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…
- The Command Zone
The Most Powerful Commanders from Foundations | 638
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…
- The Command Zone
What Are the Best 3+ Mana Rocks in Commander? | 637
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…
- The Command Zone
How to Play BLUE w/ Josh Lee Kwai | 636
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…
- The Command Zone
What Should Be Unbanned? | 635
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…
- The Command Zone
Duskmourn’s Best Cards (In the 99) | 634
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…
- The Command Zone
Looking in the Mirror | A Discussion w/ The Professor
JLK sits down with The Professor from Tolarian Community College to discuss the roles and responsibilities of content creators during periods of community…
- The Command Zone
How Bad Is It? Wizards Takes Over Commander.
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…
- The Command Zone
“Miracle Worker” Precon Upgrade | Duskmourn | 633
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 Command Zone
Let’s Talk About the Bans | Bonus Episode
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…
- The Command Zone
The Most Powerful Commanders | Duskmourn | 632
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…
- The Command Zone
“Jump Scare” Precon Upgrade | Duskmourn | 631
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…
- The Command Zone
“Endless Punishment” Precon Upgrade | Duskmourn | 630
Everybody hurts, sometimes… Especially when you’re playing against the new “Endless Punishment” (red/black) precon Commander deck from Duskmourn: House of…
- The Command Zone
“Death Toll” Full Deck Reveal & Upgrade | Duskmourn | 629
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…
- The Command Zone
The Stupidest Deck I’ve Ever Built | 628
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…
- The Command Zone
The Most Annoying Cards in Commander | 627
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…
- The Command Zone
How to Play Group Hug w/ Jumbo Commander | 626
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…
- The Command Zone
The Best Cards (In the 99) from Bloomburrow | 625
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…
- The Command Zone
“Family Matters” Precon Upgrade | Bloomburrow | 624
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…
- The Command Zone
The Most Powerful Commanders | Bloomburrow | 623
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…
- The Command Zone
“Animated Army” Precon Upgrade | Bloomburrow | 622
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…
- The Command Zone
“Peace Offering” Precon Upgrade | Bloomburrow | 621
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”…
- The Command Zone
“Squirreled Away” Full Deck Reveal & Upgrade - Bloomburrow | 620
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…
- The Command Zone
We Draft the Best “Gotcha" Spells in Commander | 619
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…
- The Command Zone
Cards You Need to Know from Assassin’s Creed | 618
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…
- The Command Zone
“Tricky Terrain” Precon Upgrade | Modern Horizons 3 | 617
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…
- The Command Zone
The Best Cards (In the 99) from Modern Horizons 3 | 616
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…
- The Command Zone
We Rank the MDFCs in Modern Horizons 3 | 615
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…
- The Command Zone
We Reveal a Brand New Assassin’s Creed Card | 614
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…
- The Command Zone
“Graveyard Overdrive” Precon Upgrade | Modern Horizons 3 | 613
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…
- The Command Zone
“Eldrazi Incursion” Precon Upgrade | Modern Horizons 3 | 612
Want to annihilate your opponents, but not your wallet? Look no further than our upgrade guide for the five-color Modern Horizons 3 “Eldrazi Incursion” precon!…
- The Command Zone
Most Powerful Commanders from Modern Horizons 3 | 611
Modern Horizons sets are full of notoriously strong cards from all throughout the multiverse. So it’s no surprise that Modern Horizons 3 brings super-pushed…
- The Command Zone
“Creative Energy” Precon Upgrade | Modern Horizons 3 | 610
Does souping up your precon just take too much energy? Well don’t worry, because we’ve done the hard work for you in this upgrade guide for the “Creative…
- The Command Zone
“Tricky Terrain” Full Deck Reveal - Modern Horizons 3 | 609
Thought Modern Horizons 3 couldn’t broaden your horizons any further? You thought WRONG! Today we’re revealing a brand new lands Commander deck for you to…
- The Command Zone
Master Deck Building w/ These Scryfall Hacks | 608
These days, knowing every single Magic card is basically impossible (unless you’re Gavin Verhey). Luckily for the rest of us, there’s Scryfall, the…
- The Command Zone
Level Up Your Combat Phase | 607
Math may be for blockers, but the rules are for everyone. Today we’re going to walk through everything you need to know to navigate your combat phase to…
- The Command Zone
How to Play GREEN with Brian Kibler | 606
It’s not easy playing green – unless you’re two-time Pro Tour champion and Magic Hall of Famer Brian Kibler! Let his wisdom be your guide as he discusses how…
- The Command Zone
Game Knights Isn’t Scripted, BUT… | 605
Ever watched an episode of Game Knights and thought that it was so dynamic, so thrilling, and so focused that it must have been planned out ahead of time?…
- The Command Zone
The Best Cards (In the 99) from Outlaws of Thunder Junction | 604
Want to know how the West was won? Well, obviously by running these super powerful cards from MTG’s newest set Outlaws of Thunder Junction! This episode, we’re…
- The Command Zone
“Most Wanted” Precon Upgrade | Outlaws of Thunder Junction | 603
It’s fun to be an outlaw, but if you want your ne’er-do-wells to do well at the table, you’ll need some upgrades. So today, for just a $50 bounty we present…
- The Command Zone
“Grand Larceny” Precon Upgrade | Outlaws of Thunder Junction | 602
Feeling criminal? Tired of only piloting your own deck? Why not play your opponent's instead!? We’re here to tell you how, with our upgrade guide for the new…
- The Command Zone
“Desert Bloom” Precon Upgrade | Outlaws of Thunder Junction | 601
The desert can be merciless, empty, and unforgiving. But if you know where to look, there’s beauty to be found… in our mighty-fine Thunder Junction “Desert…
- The Command Zone
“Quick Draw” Precon Upgrade | Outlaws of Thunder Junction | 600
In the Wild West, there are only two types of people: the quick and the dead. If you don’t want to be the latter, then you’re going to need a deck that can…
- The Command Zone
Most Powerful Commanders from Outlaws of Thunder Junction | 599
It’s High Noon! And that means it’s time for some rootin’ tootin’ new commanders. Luckily, Magic’s latest set Outlaws of Thunder Junction has rustled up all…
- The Command Zone
“Most Wanted” Full Deck Reveal - Outlaws of Thunder Junction | 598
Thunder Junction previews have been full of tough characters: outlaws, varmints, ne'er-do-wells and more. But today, we’re bringing you the baddest of the bad…