commandzone

The Best Cards of 2025 | The Zoney Awards | 717

It’s Commander’s biggest night of the year: The Zoney Awards! 

We’re rolling out the red carpet to crown the top cards from 2025, as voted by our esteemed Academy of Command Zone staff and patrons. Which legendary nominees will win a golden trophy, and who will bring home the title of Best Card of 2025? Grab your popcorn, because it’s time to find out!

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DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER:

We’ve got not one but TWO amazing new Game ...

Extra Turns - Holiday 2025 | Episode #66 | Exclusive Patreon Preview

The newest episode of Extra Turns is here early and ad-free exclusively for Patrons! (Please do not share this link and keep it special)

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Show Notes:

You’d better watch out, because Santa’s scientists have cooked up an exciting twist for our highest-stakes holiday Extra Turns ever!

Jimmy and JLK face special guests Jet and ZachTheBold in a showdown that will put their gameplay, politics, and moral compasses to the test. Who will be naughty, ...

How to Make Your Decks Less Boring | #716

Are your decks putting you to sleep? Tired of playing the same old lines over and over again? There’s GOT to be a better way! Today, we’re showing you how to take your decks and make them less boring. We’ll bring you deckbuilding tips that will breathe new life into your gameplay, with more diverse win conditions, more interesting decision points, and cards that won’t put you in the same position every single game. It’s time to dust off that old deck and make it new again!

2025-12-11 19:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post

Vote for the Best Set of 2025

As we wrap up the end of the year, we'll be doing a lot of looking backward. We want to know what you thought, too!

What set do you think was the best set of the year? What set went above and beyond?

Vote for the Worst Set of 2025

As we wrap up the end of the year, we'll be doing a lot of looking backward. We want to know what you thought, too!

What set do you think was the worst set of the year? What set missed the mark?

Play These Cards At Your Own Risk | #715

Just because a card is popular doesn’t mean it’s good in every deck. With power creep becoming power leap, a lot of Commander staples have been outclassed. So don’t miss our list of well known cards you could probably cut. They may seem fine on their face, but we’ll break down why they’re overrated, and how you can do better.

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DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER:

We’ve got not one but TWO amazing new Game Knights playmats – get yours now b...

Last Call to Vote on The Best Cards of 2025

Fill out this short survey today if you want your vote to determine the official Best Cards of 2025! We're locking the results tomorrow morning!

https://forms.gle/fo6Rsn4YKkdzb1ue7

Commanders We Just Can’t Crack | 714

Sometimes a Commander comes along that looks like the coolest legend ever printed—until you actually try to build it. This episode, the Command Zone crew tells tales of brews that never quite came together. From clunky plans to unfun play patterns, come find out which cards were too tricky to crack even for us, and we’re professionals!

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DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER:

We’ve got not one but TWO amazing new Game Knights playmats – get yours n...

The Best Cards of 2025

It is that time of year again! We're voting for the best cards of 2025 and we'd love your help. Below is the link to vote on the cards you think are the best this year.

Best can mean whatever you'd like it to mean. Personal favorite, most powerful, coolest design, most exciting; these are all good metrics for this survey. The results will be used in our Best Cards of 2025 episode coming out next month! We've got some very fun things planned for the episode so we hope you participate! <...

We Rank Every Precon from 2025 | #713

Another year, another batch of Commander precons. But how did 2025’s crop turn out? With four Final Fantasy decks and a whole slew from within the worlds of Magic, there’s a lot to evaluate, so this episode we’re going one by one through every precon this year. We’ll be grading them each for playability, value, and just plain old fun! Come find out which decks pass, and which you should pass on.

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DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER:

We’ve got ...

The Best Budget Cards in Every Color Pair | #712

Want to upgrade a deck that’s multiple colors without spending multiple dollars? Look no further! This episode, we’re bringing you 10 powerful cards—one for each color pair—that cost under $10 TOTAL! This tech gives you a ton of bang for your buck, so don’t miss out on these underrated gems.

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Relevant Links:

CZ 712 | 10 Multicolored Cards for $10:

2025-11-21 19:01:27 +0000 UTC View Post

Game Knights #82 | Patreon Exclusive Early Access

The new episode of Game Knights is here early and ad-free exclusively for Patrons!

(Please do not share this link and keep it special)

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Show Notes:

Long ago, the Game Knights lived together in harmony. Then everything changed with the release of Magic’s latest set, Avatar: The Last Airbender! Special guest Brian David Gilbert (Dropout TV) joins Jimmy, JLK, and Rachel in a battle that will test their mastery of both the four elements and their fo...

4 Avatar Commander Decks to Build Right Now | #711

Does the lack of Avatar precons have you airbent out of shape? Don’t worry, we’ve brewed four awesome new decks for you with powerful Last Airbender legends! These lists are ready right out of the iceberg, so if you want to bring the beatdown in some cool new ways, do NOT miss this episode.

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DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER:

We’ve got not one but TWO amazing new Game Knights playmats – get yours now before it’s too late! These epic dragon d...

Avatar’s Best Cards (In the 99) | 710

Looking for some powerful benders and badgermoles to upgrade your favorite Commander deck? Then this episode’ll quench ya, because we’re breaking down the best cards in the 99 from Magic’s latest set, Avatar: the Last Airbender. This set is packed with cool designs and potential new staples that’ll bring the four nations (and your three opponents) to their knees. So don’t miss out on our top picks!

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DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER:

We’ve...

Extra Turns 65 | We Play Patron Decks! | Exclusive Patreon Preview

The newest episode of Extra Turns is here early and ad-free exclusively for Patrons! (Please do not share this link and keep it special)

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Show Notes:

In this exciting episode of Extra Turns, we’re playing brews built by the FANS! We asked our Patrons to submit their favorite lists, then Jimmy, JLK, Rachel, and Murph each picked a deck to bring into battle. But who will do their patron proud with a victory in this four-way face-off? It’s time to fi...

Avatar’s Most Powerful New Commanders | #709

Magic’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is finally emerging from the iceberg, ready to bring balance to Commander. But what if you don’t want balance? What if you want… POWER? Say no more! This episode, we’re laying out the most powerful legends from Avatar for your viewing pleasure. From humble cabbage merchants to mighty firelords, we’ll show you the strategies and synergies you need to brew a deck that can bend the elements (and your opponents) to your will!

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Is it Finally Time to Change Hybrid Mana? | #708

From the format’s inception, color identity has been a core part of Commander, creating deck diversity by forcing players to work within restrictions. But should those limits be loosened for hybrid mana? In most formats, hybrid mana makes cards more versatile, but in Commander it actually holds them back. Lately, the Commander Format Panel has floated changing how hybrid mana works with color identity. Would this help the game, or hurt it? Don’t miss our in-depth breakdown.

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Pro Level Commander Advice from Actual Pros | #706

1v1 Magic is full of lessons and strategies you can use to up your EDH game. This episode, we’ve enlisted help from the best of the best including: pro players, competitive streamers, and hall of famers.  Get ready for a ton of level-up moments as we solicit sage advice from some of the top minds in all of Magic. 

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Relevant Links:

Beky Bell:

Twitter: @bekybear

Instagram: @bekybear

Corey Baumeister:

Twitte...

The New, NEW Commander Brackets | #705

That’s right, the Commander Bracket system has been updated!

But do the new changes actually make the brackets more clear? How will the Game Changer cuts impact the health of the format? Is every deck still a 3? Don’t miss our hot takes as Commander Format Panel members Rachel and JLK break down what’s happened and what still needs to be done to make Rule 0 work.

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Commander Brackets Update Article:

2025-10-22 19:26:30 +0000 UTC View Post

Extra Turns 64 | Mono Mono-Black | Exclusive Patreon Preview

The newest episode of Extra Turns is here early and ad-free exclusively for Patrons! (Please do not share this link and keep it special)

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Show Notes:

Just in time for Halloween we’ve got our spookiest, deadliest Extra Turns game ever, because this pod is mono-mono-black! Get ready for a romp in the Swamp as Jimmy, Jordan, Manson, and Gaurav pull out their favorite decks of darkness. It’s a morbid melee full of removal, life drain, tutors, and of c...

The 10 Best Colorless Cards for just $10 | 704

Want some high-impact, low-cost cards that you can run in ANY deck? You’ve come to the right place! 

It’s time for another 10 for $10, where we bring you 10 cards you can pick up for a grand total of $10. This time, all those cards are colorless! But just because they don’t have any color doesn’t mean they won’t have a huge impact on the board. So come on in and bring a crisp 10 dollar bill!

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BE A GUEST ON GAME KNIGHTS!

Think you ha...

Be the Next Fan Guest on Game Knights!

Howzit Patrons!?

If you've ever dreamed of showing off your spell-slinging skills on an episode of Game Knights, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!

We are currently holding auditions to appear on the show. All active patrons are eligible. We'll fly the winners out to LA so they can get knighted and battle it out for eternal Commander glory.

Please follow the link for all the info, rules, and regulations: https://command...

We Draft the Game Changers | #703

The Command Zone fantasy draft is back, but this time we’re bumping up the bracket by drafting GAME CHANGERS!

 Jimmy, JLK, and Rachel are going to be making their picks for the top cards on the Commander Game Changers list. How brutal will they go? Will they tussle for the tutors? Battle for the bombs? Fight for the fast mana? Tune in and find out!

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Game Knights #81 | Patreon Exclusive Early Access

The new episode of Game Knights is here early and ad-free exclusively for Patrons!

(Please do not share this link and keep it special)

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Show Notes:

Every year Game Knights throws wide the castle gates for brave and noble supporters to audition, and today we have two gallant challengers who heeded our call. Yes, it’s time to roll out the banners for our annual Fan Episode! Presenting Pedro Gonzalez and Zephry Wright, who shall test their mettle a...

Is Universes Beyond Killing Magic? | #702

Universes Beyond: What started as a single Secret Lair of The Walking Dead cards has now ballooned to encompass over half of all cards being released next year.

Love it or hate it, UB has been a polarizing topic in the MTG community. Do Furby and Dwight from The Office belong in the same game as Urza and Mishra? Is there still room for Magic in Magic: The Gathering? Is it all just too much? Tune in for our takes and let us know what YOU think!

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Relevant Link...

Our Favorite Decks We Built This Year | 701

What do you get when you fill an entire office with Commander addicts? A whole lot of decks, that’s what!

This episode, we’re calling in the whole Command Zone staff to show off our favorite brews from the past year. So jump in and meet the people who work behind the scenes. We’ve got decks from every bracket, color, and era and we can’t wait to tell you about them!

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Relevant Links:

Jordan Pridgen:

Twit...

Game Knights #80 | Patreon Exclusive Early Access

The new episode of Game Knights is here early and ad-free exclusively for Patrons!

(Please do not share this link and keep it special)

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Show Notes:

Our spider-senses are tingling! ’Cause our Game Knights guest for Marvel’s Spider-Man has a secret identity so mysterious, “Covert” is right there in the name. That’s right, CGB himself CovertGoBlue is here to thwip the Game Knights into shape, taking on Jimmy, JLK, and Rachel in a battle of heroes and vil...

The Complete Guide to Mass Disruption | #700

Looking to mess up your opponent's whole plan with a single card? Then it better be a piece of MASS DISRUPTION. That's our term for everything from board wipes to fogs to stax pieces. We’re breaking down how much mass disruption you need, the best cards for each role, and much more. Understanding this tech is a huge part of building better decks, so don’t miss it! 

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Relevant Links:

Commander Deckbuilding Template for the New Era | The Co...

4 Spider-Man Commander Decks to Build Right Now | #699

No pre-made Commander decks? No problem! You can still use the new Spider-Man set to jump into Magic! 

Crafting a deck yourself might seem tough, but we’re here to help with four full decklists focused around top-tier characters. With these ready-to-build decks, you’ll be swinging over to your LGS ready to save the day (and win the game) in no time!

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Relevant Links:

Spider-Man, Peter Parker Decklist:

2025-09-18 18:01:03 +0000 UTC View Post

Extra Turns 63 | Exclusive Patreon Preview

The newest episode of Extra Turns is here early and ad-free exclusively for Patrons! (Please do not share this link and keep it special)

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Show Notes:

Good Morning Magic! 

Get ready for a Verhey special episode of Extra Turns. That’s right, Gavin Verhey, the prolific Principal Magic Designer from Wizards of the Coast, is sitting down to see if he can take on a full pod of commanders that he created. To give him a run for his money, ...