Have you ever stared at a wall of colorful Magic: The Gathering cards, feeling a little overwhelmed by all the choices? Maybe you’ve heard about Commander, a super fun way to play, but the idea of building your own deck feels like a giant puzzle. It’s totally normal to feel that way! There are so many amazing commanders and cards out there, it can be tough to figure out where to even start when you’re just beginning.
But don’t worry! This guide is here to help you unlock the exciting world of Commander without the confusion. We’re going to break down what makes a great beginner Commander deck and show you how to pick one that feels just right for you. By the end of this post, you’ll have a much clearer idea of how to choose your first Commander, understand the basic building blocks of a good deck, and feel ready to jump into your first game with confidence.
Top Commander Decks For Beginners Recommendations
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, First Flight (White-Blue), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD WHITE-BLUE DECK: With the First Flight deck, take wing with the sphinx Isperia, Supreme Judge, and overwhelm foes with a squadron of flying friends
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Grave Danger (Blue-Black), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD BLUE-BLACK DECK: With the Grave Danger deck, ally with the human wizards and siblings Gisa and Geralf and overwhelm foes with a multiplying army of zombies
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Draconic Destruction (Red-Green), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD RED-GREEN DECK: With the Draconic Destruction deck, go on the attack with Atarka, World Render, and double down on dragon damage to overwhelm foes with a multiplying army
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Token Triumph (Green-White), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD GREEN-WHITE DECK: With the Token Triumph deck, ally with the elf cleric Emmara, Soul of the Accord, and overwhelm foes with a multiplying army
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Chaos Incarnate (Black-Red), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD BLACK-RED DECK: With the Chaos Incarnate deck, embrace the chaos of war with the demon berserker Kardur, Doomscourge, and overwhelm foes with a multiplying army
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
- TINY TAILS, BIG ADVENTURE—Put your best paw forward and enter the world of Bloomburrow. Battle your friends with armies of adorable critters and prove that bravery comes in all sizes!
- BRING THE TABLE TO LIFE—Make trash and smash all who stand in your way with the Racoon Bard, Bello, at your side. One critter’s trash is another one’s treasure.
- EPIC MULTIPLAYER BATTLES—Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic, an epic, free-for-all battle full of strategic plays and social intrigue
- INTRODUCES 10 COMMANDER CARDS—This deck introduces 10 never-before-seen Commander cards to Magic: The Gathering, including 3 foil cards (one of which is Borderless!)
- CONTENTS—1 ready-to-play Animated Army Bloomburrow Commander Deck, a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack, 10 double-sided tokens, and 1 deck box
- WELCOME TO THE MULTIVERSE—The perfect way to start playing Commander with your friends. Bring this 100-card deck to the table and square off against up to three other combatants!
- THRILLING MULTIPLAYER BATTLES—Battle your friends with powerful creatures and spectacular spells in Commander, Magic’s most popular multiplayer format
- ONE GOOD STOMP IS ALL IT TAKES—Tower over the rest of the food chain with Ghalta and let high-power creatures run wild on the battlefield. Higher attack power reduces Ghalta’s casting cost, so unleash her as soon as possible and trample the competition!
- FOIL LEGENDARY CARD—Every Foundations Commander Deck includes 1 Mythic Rare Legendary Creature card with a shiny Traditional Foil treatment to command your deck in style
- CONTENTS—1 ready-to-play Tramplesaurus Rex Foundations MTG Commander Deck (100 cards), 1 deck box, 10 double-sided token cards, 1 strategy guide, 1 reference card
- FACE YOUR GREATEST TEST YET—The hallowed halls of Strixhaven welcome you back to school! Choose your college of magical study and expand your education in the greater world of Arcavios as you stand against mysterious threats plaguing the plane
- POWER IS WORTH THE PRICE—There’s trouble brewing when Dina leads your Witherbloom forces, so prepare the Pests for sacrifice! Sacrifices grant life, cards, and stackable counters that prepare your next victim for gainful harvesting or pump your attackers for a deadly push.
- 2 FOIL BORDERLESS COMMANDERS—Every Secrets of Strixhaven Commander Deck includes 2 Traditional Foil Mythic Rare Legendary Creature cards featuring Borderless art that can be played as your commander
- INTRODUCES 12 COMMANDER CARDS—Each deck introduces 12 never-before-seen Commander cards to Magic: The Gathering
- THRILLING MULTIPLAYER BATTLES—Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic, an epic, free-for-all battle full of strategic plays and social intrigue
Commander Decks for Beginners: Your Gateway to Magic!
So, you’re ready to dive into the exciting world of Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format? Awesome! Commander is a super fun way to play with friends. It’s a multiplayer game where you build a special deck around a legendary creature. Getting started can feel a little overwhelming, but we’re here to help! This guide will show you what to look for in your first Commander deck.
Key Features to Look For
When you’re picking out a Commander deck, keep these things in mind.
- **Preconstructed vs. Custom:** For beginners, preconstructed decks are the best. They come ready to play right out of the box. You don’t need to worry about building a deck yourself yet.
- **Commander Choice:** Your Commander is your most important card. It’s a powerful creature that leads your deck. Look for a Commander that has abilities you like. Some are good at attacking, others help you draw cards, and some make your other creatures stronger.
- **Synergy:** This means how well the cards in the deck work together. A good deck has cards that help each other out. For example, cards that make lots of “tokens” (small creature cards) work well with cards that make those tokens stronger.
- **Rarity of Cards:** Preconstructed decks usually have a mix of common, uncommon, rare, and even mythic rare cards. More rare cards often mean more powerful effects.
- **Simplicity:** Some decks are easier to learn than others. Look for decks with clear strategies. Avoid decks with too many complicated rules or effects at first.
Important Materials
Your Commander deck is made of cards, of course! These cards are usually made of sturdy cardboard. They are printed with the game’s artwork and rules.
- **Card Stock:** Good quality card stock feels nice and lasts longer. It’s less likely to bend or tear.
- **Printing Quality:** The colors should be bright and clear. You want to be able to read the text easily.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What makes a Commander deck great or not so great for a new player?
- **Improve Quality:**
- Clear Strategy: A deck that does one thing well is easier to understand.
- Good Card Balance: A deck needs enough lands to play spells and enough spells to do cool things.
- Fun Commander: If you like your Commander, you’ll enjoy playing the deck more.
- **Reduce Quality:**
- Confusing Cards: Too many cards with complex rules can be tough for beginners.
- Weak Commander: A Commander that doesn’t do much can make the deck feel slow.
- Poor Card Synergy: If the cards don’t work together, the deck won’t be very effective.
User Experience and Use Cases
Commander decks are designed for fun multiplayer games. You’ll typically play with three or more people.
- Learning the Game: Preconstructed decks are perfect for learning how Commander works. You can jump right in without needing to build a deck first.
- Playing with Friends: These decks are made to be played with other Commander decks. They offer a balanced and enjoyable experience for everyone.
- Exploring Different Strategies: Each preconstructed deck has its own theme and playstyle. Trying different ones helps you find what you like best.
- Upgrading Later: Once you get comfortable, you can start swapping out cards to make your deck even stronger. But for now, enjoy the ready-to-play experience!
Commander Decks for Beginners: Your Top 10 Questions Answered!
Here are some common questions beginners have about Commander decks.
Q: What is Commander in Magic: The Gathering?
A: Commander is a fun, multiplayer way to play Magic. You pick a legendary creature called your Commander. Your deck is built around this Commander, and you have a special life total of 40. It’s all about big spells and exciting interactions!
Q: Why are preconstructed Commander decks good for beginners?
A: Preconstructed decks are already put together for you. They have a clear plan and are ready to play right away. This means you can start having fun without the stress of building your own deck.
Q: What should I look for in my first Commander?
A: Choose a Commander with abilities that seem interesting to you. Think about if you like attacking, drawing extra cards, or making your creatures bigger. A Commander that makes sense to you will make the deck more enjoyable.
Q: How many cards are in a Commander deck?
A: A Commander deck has exactly 100 cards. One of those cards is your Commander, which starts outside your deck. The other 99 cards are your main deck. You can only have one copy of each card, except for basic lands.
Q: What does “synergy” mean in a Commander deck?
A: Synergy means how well the cards in your deck work together. For example, a card that makes creature tokens works well with a card that makes all your creature tokens stronger.
Q: Do preconstructed decks have good cards?
A: Yes, preconstructed decks usually have a good mix of cards. They often include some rare and powerful cards that are exciting to play. They are designed to be fun and playable right out of the box.
Q: Can I play Commander with just one friend?
A: Commander is best with three or more players. However, you can play with two players, but the game might feel a bit different. It’s really designed for group play.
Q: What if I don’t like the Commander in a preconstructed deck?
A: That’s okay! You can still play the deck. Later, you can swap out the Commander for a different legendary creature you like better. You can also change other cards in the deck as you learn more.
Q: How much do beginner Commander decks usually cost?
A: Beginner preconstructed Commander decks typically range from $30 to $50. The price can change based on the specific set and the cards included.
Q: What’s the best way to learn to play Commander?
A: The best way is to get a preconstructed deck and play with friends who know how to play. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Most Commander players are happy to help new players learn the ropes.