Last updated on June 12, 2024

Witherbloom Command - Illustration by Dmitry Burmak

Witherbloom Command | Illustration by Dmitry Burmak

Commander, also unofficially known as Elder Dragon Highlander or EDH for short, has been around as a fan-made format almost since the beginning of MTG itself. However, it is more than a dozen years since Wizards of the Coast officially started selling retail products specifically for the Commander play style.

In 2011 the first set of Commander preconstructed decks hit the shelves. It consisted of five 3-colored decks with one main commander and another two optional commanders.

It's been a long time, and since 2011, WotC has released more than 30 Commander precon sets (many with 2-4 decks each), plus entire sets dedicated to Commander staples and new cards for the format. So, with this huge history of products, there’s one simple question that would plague anyone: Which of these precons is worth buying?

This is the question that I’ll answer today, taking into consideration the needs of different types of players. The decks listed here came to the top, but that doesn't mean a 4th or 5th option outside of what's listed in these categories won't bring a huge smile to your face, or come out on top of your pod. Don't underestimate the value of self-expression through your Commander deck.

Magic: The Gathering Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Deck – Undead Unleashed (Blue-Black)
Magic The Gathering Kaldheim Commander Deck – Phantom Premonition | 100 Card Ready-to-Play Deck | Blue-White
Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck - Quick Draw (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Commander Masters Commander Deck Bundle – includes Set of 4 Decks (1 Eldrazi Unbound, 1 Enduring Enchantments, 1 Planeswalker Party, and 1 Sliver Swarm)
Magic: The Gathering Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Deck – Undead Unleashed (Blue-Black)
Magic The Gathering Kaldheim Commander Deck – Phantom Premonition | 100 Card Ready-to-Play Deck | Blue-White
Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck - Quick Draw (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Commander Masters Commander Deck Bundle – includes Set of 4 Decks (1 Eldrazi Unbound, 1 Enduring Enchantments, 1 Planeswalker Party, and 1 Sliver Swarm)
Best for New Players
Best Budget
Best Value
Best Competitive
Best Bundle
$96.01
$39.99
$69.91
$38.48
$319.99
Amazon Prime
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-
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Magic: The Gathering Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Deck – Undead Unleashed (Blue-Black)
Magic: The Gathering Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Deck – Undead Unleashed (Blue-Black)
Best for New Players
$96.01
Amazon Prime
Magic The Gathering Kaldheim Commander Deck – Phantom Premonition | 100 Card Ready-to-Play Deck | Blue-White
Magic The Gathering Kaldheim Commander Deck – Phantom Premonition | 100 Card Ready-to-Play Deck | Blue-White
Best Budget
$39.99
-
Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Best Value
$69.91
-
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck - Quick Draw (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck - Quick Draw (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Best Competitive
$38.48
Amazon Prime
Magic: The Gathering Commander Masters Commander Deck Bundle – includes Set of 4 Decks (1 Eldrazi Unbound, 1 Enduring Enchantments, 1 Planeswalker Party, and 1 Sliver Swarm)
Magic: The Gathering Commander Masters Commander Deck Bundle – includes Set of 4 Decks (1 Eldrazi Unbound, 1 Enduring Enchantments, 1 Planeswalker Party, and 1 Sliver Swarm)
Best Bundle
$319.99
Amazon Prime

Best Precons for New Commander Players

Overwhelmed Apprentice - Illustration by Jason Rainville

Overwhelmed Apprentice | Illustration by Jason Rainville

In my opinion, this is where the vast majority of EDH products shine the brightest. Most if not all of these decks are great to just pull out of the box, sit with some friends or at your local game store, and start playing.

Some of these decks can be a bit more complicated to get the hang of, though. Commander is a format that can feel very different when it comes to strategies and understanding how to play when compared to the other formats. That being said, here are some decks that anyone with a basic understanding of how to play MTG can get into without too many complications.

Enduring Enchantments

Anikthea, Hand of Erebos

Enduring Enchantments is a great introduction to enchantress decks which are generally a straightforward deck to play. The bit of complexity here is filling your graveyard with the big threats, and then creating copies of those cards. It's a solid Abzan () start that can go a number of directions, especially with the options for commanders of reanimation, enchantress, and Voltron commanders.

Sale
Magic The Gathering Commander Masters Commander Deck - Enduring Enchantments (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
  • POWERFUL RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX—Take your Commander game to the next level with a high-powered, ready-to-play deck
  • PLAY WITH COMMANDER’S GREATEST HITS—Turn heads with a deck stacked with reprints of some of the greatest cards to grace Magic’s most popular format
  • INTRODUCES 10 COMMANDER CARDS—Each Commander deck also introduces 10 never-before-seen Magic: The Gathering cards
  • WHITE-BLACK-GREEN COMMANDER DECK—get the Enduring Enchantments Commander Deck, a White-Black-Green 100-card deck containing 2 Foil Legendary cards and 98 nonfoil cards, and battle your friends in epic, multiplayer games
  • COLLECT SPECIAL TREATMENT CARDS—Each deck comes with a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack containing 2 special treatment cards from the Commander Masters set, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare

Undead Unleashed

Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver

Undead Unleashed is a Dimir zombie tribal deck from Wizards of the Coast that was released alongside Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, and quickly became one of the most popular precon Commander decks ever. The deck’s commander, Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver, is a zombie warrior that gives you a 2/2 decayed zombie whenever one of your non-decayed zombies dies. This helps maximize the value you get from sacrificing creatures, which is something zombie strategies are great at.

The deck’s overall strategy is simple, too. There isn’t much depth beyond playing your zombie creatures and then overwhelming your opponents with either sheer number of creatures or powerful game-ending spells like Dark Salvation.

There aren’t any big-ticket cards that you can resell to make your money back, but the deck’s value, is about equal to what you'll pay.

Magic: The Gathering Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Deck – Undead Unleashed (Blue-Black)
  • 100-card ready-to-play Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander deck
  • Deck includes 2 traditional foils + 98 nonfoil cards
  • 1 foil-etched Display Commander
  • 10 double-sided tokens + life tracker and deck box
  • Introduces 15 MTG cards not found in the main set

Spirit Squadron

Millicent, Restless Revenant

Spirit Squadron is an Azorius commander deck that hit the shelves with the release of Innistrad: Crimson Vow, and can be picked up for just below MSRP. In addition to maintaining its affordable price point, the deck has a pretty basic playstyle that new players can pick up on quickly.

Its commander, Millicent, Restless Revenant is a legendary spirit that costs less for each spirit you control. Additionally, whenever it or a nontoken spirit you control does damage to a player, you get to create a 1/1 flying spirit! Combat strategies are the simplest for new players to follow along with, and it's exciting when their board is flooded with tokens. That’s really the key, to get our friends excited to play Magic.

Magic: The Gathering Innistrad: Crimson Vow Commander Deck – Spirit Squadron (White-Blue)
  • 100-card ready-to-play Innistrad: Crimson Vow Commander deck
  • Deck includes 2 traditional foils plus 98 nonfoil cards
  • 1 foil-etched Display Commander
  • 10 double-sided tokens plus life tracker and deck box
  • Introduces 15 MTG cards not found in the main set

Best Budget Precon Decks

Commander precons have a very wide range of prices, going from considerably cheap to very expensive depending on the set and the cards they include. Here are some of the more affordable ones so you can try out new Commander strategies without having to dip too much into your savings.

Land’s Wrath

Obuun, Mul Daya Ancestor

With Zendikar Rising came two Commander precons with a low cost and surprisingly fun to play decks. The one we’re interested in this case is helmed by Obuun, Mul Daya Ancestor.

Through online retailers, you can find this Obuun deck for the low-end price range among Commander precons. And what’s even better, the quality of the deck isn’t any lower in the slightest, right-out-of-the-box. This landfall-centric deck may not be the strongest out of the dozens of precons, but it’s a completely viable and fun to play deck for a really low price.

Some of this deck’s highlight cards are:

Magic: The Gathering Zendikar Rising Commander Deck – Land's Wrath | 100 Card Ready-to-Play Deck | 1 Foil Commander | Red-Green-White
  • BATTLE YOUR FRIENDS. Commander is a different way to play Magic: The Gathering. It's all about legendary creatures, big plays, and battling your friends in epic multiplayer games.
  • 100-CARD READY-TO-PLAY DECK. Designed as an introduction to Commander, this deck is ready-to-play right out of the box, without sacrificing the richness and depth that made Magic iconic.
  • THREE CARDS PRINTED FOR THE FIRST TIME. This Commander deck debuts three cards, plus it's loaded with reprints to kickstart your Commander experience.
  • EXPLORE ZENDIKAR. On Zendikar, danger is the norm: wild terrain, cunning predators, and "the Roil"—violent ripples of change—all make life precarious and full of adventure.
  • CONTENTS: 1 ready-to-play deck of 99 Magic: The Gathering cards, 1 foil commander card with alternate art, 10 tokens, 1 reference card, 1 deck box (can hold 100 sleeved cards), 1 life tracker

Phantom Premonition

Ranar the Ever-Watchful

Kaldheim arrived following in tow with the pleasant surprise brought two Kaldheim Commander decks of its own. In this particular case, Phantom Premonition is an Azorius deck with a focus on the foretell mechanic for a fair cost. This even gives you a small temporal advantage over some of the other precons since you’re gonna be sitting down to play with an uncommon mechanic that will allow you to catch your opponents by surprise.

The deck includes eight designed-for-Commander cards which is more than the previous Zendikar and Commander Legends precons without an increase in the price. What’s more, it brings some amazing reprints like Mulldrifter and Brago, King Eternal with it.

Additional highlight cards are:

Sale
Magic The Gathering Kaldheim Commander Deck – Phantom Premonition | 100 Card Ready-to-Play Deck | Blue-White
  • 100-card ready-to-play KHM Commander deck
  • 1 foil Commander card
  • 8 Viking-inspired Magic cards make their debut
  • 10 double-sided tokens + life tracker and deck box
  • Create a horde of spirits to do your bidding!

Revenant Recon

Mirko, Obsessive Theorist

Revenant Recon has some sneaky good cards and can capitalize on great surveil cards that you may already have. One of the coolest aspects of reanimation decks is the ability to disregard some of the higher mana costs of cards that are otherwise too expensive for other decks to play. Mirko, Obsessive Theorist grows quickly and efficiently finds value in cards with good ETB abilities like Baleful Strix and Ravenous Chupacabra. Moneywise, cards like Necromancy, Toxic Deluge, and Rise of the Dark Realms are great for helping you feel like you have an instant rebate.

Recon's highlight cards are:

Sale
Magic: The Gathering Murders at Karlov Manor Commander Deck - Revenant Recon (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
  • WATCH YOUR BACK—Investigate Ravnica’s deadly mysteries with the surveil mechanic, then bring the dead back for revenge with this Blue-Black deck that’s ready-to-play right out of the box
  • 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 12 COMMANDER CARDS—This deck introduces 12 never-before-seen Commander cards to Magic: The Gathering, including 2 foil Legendary Creature cards
  • COLLECT SPECIAL TREATMENT CARDS—Each deck also comes with a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack containing 2 alt-border cards from the Murders at Karlov Manor set, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare and at least 1 Traditional Foil card
  • CONTENTS—1 ready-to-play Revenant Recon Murders at Karlov Manor Commander Deck, a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack, 1 Foil-Etched Display Commander, 10 double-sided tokens, 1 life tracker, and 1 deck box

What If I Have a Bigger Budget? Best Pricier Precons

Sometimes budget can be a problem, but other times you simply have no issues spending as much as you want on a fun or powerful deck, regardless of how strong your commander is. On special occasions, Wizards offers foiled-out Commander decks like those in Modern Horizons III. Aside from the foilness in those decks the lists of cards are the same, so I'm skipping their ranking here. Let’s see some decks that may be a little more expensive.

Arcane Maelstrom

One of the decks that strays furthest from the Ikoria set mechanics is also one of its most interesting ones. Led by Kalamax, the Stormsire, this instants-matter deck plays to cast the most instants to overwhelm your opponent.

This set of precons also brought a total of 17 unique cards for Commander with each deck, and the value of a lot of its singles is something to keep in mind when you consider cards like Deflecting Swat. All in all, the power level of this deck is pretty high, and when added up to the amazing number of unique Commander cards and the great singles, it makes the deck’s price worth it.

Some of this deck’s highlight cards are:

Magic: The Gathering Arcane Maelstrom Ikoria Commander Deck | 100 Card Deck | 4 Foil Legendary Creatures
  • Choose from three fierce Commanders from Ikoria Lair of Behemoths (IKO) to lead your deck to victory—four legendary creatures including two that share a magical bond and can command your deck together
  • Commander is a Magic The Gathering (MTG) multiplayer format where alliances are formed friends are betrayed and grudges are repaid with a vengeance
  • Turn the tide of any battle with the Arcane Maelstrom deck—copy spells with Kalamax the Stormsire draw cards when you do damage with Xyris the Writhing Storm or exile your opponents’ resources and cast them yourself with Haldan Avid Arcanist and Pako Arcane Retriever
  • Arcane Maelstrom is one of five Commander Decks from Ikoria Lair of Behemoths (IKO) Each includes exclusive cards tailored to that deck—pick your favorite mechanics and dive in to battle!
  • Battle your way through the plane of Ikoria with monster-themed mechanics that grow your creatures build your bond and crush your opponents

Entropic Uprising

Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder

Older decks can be a little harder to find nowadays and that causes their price to shoot up, but some of them are still worth it even with the highly inflated prices. This particular 4-colored deck is an ode to some of the weirdest things you can do in MTG, which is to build a chaos deck. Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder gives cascade to all the spells you play each turn after he’s dealt combat damage to your opponent, which at some point will inevitably end up in a storm of random spells to enter the battlefield all in one turn and cause a huge mess.

Another added value to Entropic Uprising is the two partner commanders that come with it, Vial Smasher the Fierce and Thrasios, Triton Hero. Both are long-standing, great commanders and managed to become EDH staples.

Some of this deck’s highlight cards are:

Stalwart Unity

Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis

As an amazing polar opposite to the previous deck and coming from the same set, Stalwart Unity is another delve into original and interesting strategies. In this case, the chosen strategy is group hug, which gives both you and your opponent advantages and grants you a stronger place at the table. This deck is ideal for multiplayer games because of its mechanics, and it’s a great way to break matches away from the too-usual power displays that Commander tends to turn into.

With all this said, having a clear and strong win condition can be hard with this deck. Your commander, Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis, is great for political play but not strong enough to be a real threat when it comes to damage. You’ll have to make sure that your battlefield has some of the stronger creatures like Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs in play and ready to strike when the time comes to end your last opponent.

Some of this deck’s highlight cards are:

Magic: The Gathering - Commander 2016 Stalwart Unity Deck
  • Magic the Gathering 2016 Commander STALWART UNITY Deck

Best Precon Decks for Value

While Wizards’ precons have become more focused and fun over the years, their value tends to fluctuate as they get older. More recent releases with unique cards or exciting alternate art are typically much more valuable than others. Let’s take a look at three of the best!

Tricky Terrain – Modern Horizons III
Veloci-ramp-tor – The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Blood Rites – The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander Deck - Veloci-ramp-tor (English Version)
Magic: The Gathering The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander Deck - Blood Rites (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
$69.91
$89.95
$59.95
-
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Tricky Terrain – Modern Horizons III
Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
$69.91
-
Veloci-ramp-tor – The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Magic: The Gathering The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander Deck - Veloci-ramp-tor (English Version)
$89.95
Amazon Prime
Blood Rites – The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
Magic: The Gathering The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander Deck - Blood Rites (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
$59.95
Amazon Prime

Tricky Terrain

Tricky Terrain precon

Tricky Terrain has got it where it counts, in the mana base. The lands in this land-themed deck are quite playable in many decks beyond Commander. There are some clear, high-value cards you might have heard of Mana Reflection, Dryad of the Ilysian Grove, and Dark Depths. Sought-after cards that many decks also want are a sizable portion of the deck list, thanks to Propaganda, Scute Swarm, and Vesuva. Yes, there is an increase in price for the MH3 product compared to many other Commander precons, but this is a case where the purchase price leads to great value.

More notable cards include:

Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
  • POWERFUL RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX—Battle your friends with powerful creatures and spectacular spells with a 100-card Commander Deck that’s ready to defeat your opponents right out of the box
  • SOW THE SEEDS OF DEVASTATION—Ramp up with Lands, then send your mightiest monsters out swinging with this deadly Green-Blue deck
  • INTRODUCES 15 COMMANDER CARDS—This deck introduces 15 never-before-seen Commander cards to Magic: The Gathering, including 2 foil Legendary Creature cards
  • COLLECT SPECIAL TREATMENT CARDS—Each deck also comes with a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack containing 2 alt-border cards from the Modern Horizons 3 set, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare and at least 1 Traditional Foil card
  • YOUR NEW FOREVER FAVORITES—Introducing a heaping helping of exciting cards plus the return of competitive favorites, there’s something for everyone to love in Modern Horizons 3 Commander Decks

Veloci-ramp-tor

Veloci-ramp-tor The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander precon

Most of Veloci-ramp-tor’s value comes from its half-dozen or so dinosaur creatures. Curious Altisaur and Wrathful Raptors are staples in any themed dinosaur commander deck, and you might see Bronzebeak Foragers as O-ring-esque removal in any deck in white for years to come. The staying power of From the Rubble and Scion of Calamity really can’t be overstated – Veloci-ramp-tor is packed full of cards that seem to increase in value as they move farther away from their initial release.

Notable cards in Veloci-ramp-tor include:

Sale
Magic: The Gathering The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander Deck - Veloci-ramp-tor (English Version)
  • LEAVE A BIG FOOTPRINT—Play extra lands and unleash dino devastation to leave your opposition facing extinction
  • INTRODUCES 10 COMMANDER CARDS—This deck introduces 10 never-before-seen Commander cards to Magic: The Gathering
  • COLLECT SPECIAL TREATMENT CARDS—Each deck also comes with a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack containing 2 alt-border cards from the The Lost Caverns of Ixalan set, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare and at least 1 Traditional Foil card
  • EPIC MULTIPLAYER BATTLES—Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic, an epic, free-for-all battle full of strategic plays and social intrigue
  • JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF IXALAN—Explore the cavernous depths beneath Ixalan in a race to the hidden core. Will you uncover treasure and glory, or will your adventure spell certain doom?

Blood Rites

Blood Rites The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander precon

Those madmen at WotC finally did it. They finally reprinted Exquisite Blood in a Commander precon (technically it was in Jumpstart (2020) and added to The List that same year, but those are not reliable ways to obtain a copy and didn’t really affect the card’s overall price). Blood Rites is a vampire-themed precon Commander deck from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, and besides featuring the highly-coveted Exquisite Blood, it’s also got just about everything you’d ever need to start playing vampires.

Blood Rites has a good combined value in singles. And hey, pick up one of these and a handful of mountains, and you’re halfway to that Edgar Markov vampire Commander deck you’ve always wanted!

Notable cards in Blood Rites include:

Magic: The Gathering The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander Deck - Blood Rites (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
  • PREY AT THE ALTAR—Spawn Vampire minions and sacrifice them to be reborn as flying Vampire Demons ready to sink their teeth into your opponents
  • INTRODUCES 10 COMMANDER CARDS—This deck introduces 10 never-before-seen Commander cards to Magic: The Gathering
  • COLLECT SPECIAL TREATMENT CARDS—Each deck also comes with a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack containing 2 alt-border cards from the The Lost Caverns of Ixalan set, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare and at least 1 Traditional Foil card
  • EPIC MULTIPLAYER BATTLES—Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic, an epic, free-for-all battle full of strategic plays and social intrigue
  • JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF IXALAN—Explore the cavernous depths beneath Ixalan in a race to the hidden core. Will you uncover treasure and glory, or will your adventure spell certain doom?

Best Precon Decks for Competitive EDH

Look, the simple fact is the preconstructed Commander decks aren’t built for a competitive EDH (or cEDH) environment. They’re designed for casual play with mid-level decks and are balanced against each other, but not much else. That said, there are a few decks that’ll bring you closer to a cEDH deck, in terms of win conditions, staples and commanders. Much of what separates cEDH and traditional Commander is the access to fast mana. While most precons come with the necessary Sol Ring and Arcane Signet, plus a handful of slower mana rocks, they won’t hold their own against any deck running Mana Crypt and Grim Monolith.

If you were to enter a competitive Commander tournament with a precon deck, your chances of dealing with opponents sporting infinite combos as quickly and effectively as possible and winning would be extremely low. That being said, there are still a variety of decks that can hold their ground pretty well against competitive decks. Some might even become competitive themselves with some upgrades and tweaks; if you'd like more ideas on how to improve these deck, check our full guide on how to upgrade Commander precons.

Party Time

Party Time Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate Commander precon

Party Time isn’t a super competitive deck on the face of it, but it does contain more than a couple of staples you’ll want in a cEDH game. Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate’s very own Black Market Connections makes it sing in EDH and makes up about half of the deck's current $50 value. It’s also got Mother of Runes, Skullclamp, and Mutavault – each is a staple in its own right in the right deck.

Party Time’s best value cards are not the CLB commanders but rather:

Magic: The Gathering Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate Commander Deck – Party Time + Collector Booster Sample Pack
  • 100-card ready-to-play Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate Commander Deck—Party Time
  • 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack
  • White-Black deck—includes 3 traditional foils + 97 nonfoil cards
  • 1 foil-etched Display Commander, 10 double-sided tokens + life tracker and deck box
  • Introduces 10 MTG cards not found in the main CLB set

Mystic Intellect

Mystic Intellect’s Commander 2019 precon

This deck made a bit of a splash when it dropped in 2019, but it wasn’t the Jeskai Commander that shocked folks. Dockside Extortionist debuted in Mystic Intellect’s and forever warped the cEDH environment. A huge value on its own, Dockside Extortionist is an essential 2-mana ramp card in any red deck. This deck is, unfortunately, less than playable out of the box, so you’ll be looking to replace about 99 other cards before it’s up and running.

Mystic Intellect's best cards are:

Sale
Magic: The Gathering Commander 2019 Mystic Intellect Deck | 100-Card Ready-to-Play Deck | 3 Foil Commanders | Factory Sealed
  • CARVE YOUR PATH TO VICTORY. Choose from 3 fierce legendary creatures to lead your deck or help build new ones—all printed here for the first time.
  • POWER plus SYNERGY. Commander 2019: Mystic Intellect is built on intricate synergies that reward you for casting spells from your graveyard.
  • JOIN THE FRAY. Commander is a Magic: The Gathering (MTG) multiplayer format where alliances are formed, friends are betrayed, and grudges are repaid with a vengeance.
  • COLLECT ALL FOUR. Merciless Rage is one of four decks in the Commander 2019 series.
  • PLAY THE GAME THAT STARTED IT ALL. The original strategy card game, Magic: The Gathering (MTG) has inspired more than 20 million fans over 25 years.

Quick Draw

Quick Draw Commander precon

Tucked into Quick Draw is one of the consistently dominant cards, Niv-Mizzet, Parun. Sorry Stella, you've got to work a bit harder to overcome some incredibly strong cards in your deck. The supporting cast is rockin' with Bloodthirsty Adversary, Chaos Warp, and Talrand, Sky Summoner. Not only do spells-matter and mean knocking off opponents, you get to play some of the famously competitive cards like: Ponder, Treasure Cruise, and Vandalblast.

Notable cards in Quick Draw are rounded out by

Sale
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck - Quick Draw (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
  • HERE COMES A SHOWDOWN THROWDOWN—Become the quickest draw in Thunder Junction, casting multiple spells per turn, and duel your friends with a Blue-Red deck that’s ready-to-play right out of the box
  • 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 2 foil Legendary Creature cards (one of which is Borderless!)
  • COLLECT SPECIAL TREATMENT CARDS—Each deck also comes with a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack containing 2 alt-border cards from the Outlaws of Thunder Junction set, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare and at least 1 Traditional Foil card
  • CONTENTS—1 ready-to-play Quick Draw Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck, a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack, 10 double-sided tokens, 1 life tracker, and 1 deck box

The More the Merrier: The Best Bundled Decks

Maybe you want to expand your MTG Commander collection, you have a friend who’s really into Commander and you need to buy them a gift, or you want to grab a single product that’ll allow you to play a full game of EDH with your friends. Well, that’s what these bundles are for.

You can grab one of them for yourself and keep all the decks or share the cost with some friends and get into a match right away.

Outlaws of Thunder Junction's Commander Decks

Look across the table and someone is bound to say this set ain't big enough for the four of these decks. Maybe its due to its release after play boosters debuted, yet before Standard rotation and a major Modern set, but the cost of the Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander 4-Deck Bundle is as good as you can find for a Standard set's Commander offerings.

Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck Bundle

You can get a full view of OTJ's Commander decks. The cool perks of this bundle are the bounties on the double-sided tokens (Sample: Bounty: Gorra Tash and Silas / Wanted!).

They add a reward system for completing certain things in the game like putting a land into your graveyard from anywhere, or if the nearest opponent to your left was dealt damage, and ultimately you get treasures and to draw cards, perfect for if you plan to keep the decks together.

  • Desert Bloom brings back deserts! The focus on the land base gives this deck a nudge toward consistency beyond other precons. The graveyard play is also a strong strategy in this Naya build.
  • Grand Larceny is full of crimes, the worst of which is having lower-value cards, but good card advantage from using your opponent's spells makes a winning formula.
  • Most Wanted, puts the outlaws front and center, and focuses on assassins, mercenaries, pirates, rogues and warlocks, and treasure.
  • Quick Draw has you fire off spell after spell with a few storm-related cards and has some iconic spellslinging cards.
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck Bundle - Includes All 4 Decks (Quick Draw, Desert Bloom, Grand Larceny, and Most Wanted)
  • SADDLE UP FOR A WILD RIDE—Join a crew of deadly desperados, plot brazen heists, and defeat your rival outlaws in the frontier world of Thunder Junction
  • EPIC MULTIPLAYER BATTLES—Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic, an epic, free-for-all battle full of strategic plays and social intrigue
  • INTRODUCING 40 COMMANDER CARDS—Get all 4 Outlaws of Thunder Junction decks for a total of 40 never-before-seen Commander cards, with 10 in each deck (including 2 Traditional Foil Legendary Creatures, 1 of which is Borderless, in each)
  • COLLECT SPECIAL TREATMENT CARDS—Each deck also comes with a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack containing 2 alt-border cards from the Outlaws of Thunder Junction set, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare and at least 1 Traditional Foil card
  • CONTENTS—All 4 Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Decks; each 100-card deck also comes with a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack, 10 double-sided tokens, 1 life tracker, and 1 deck box

Commander Anthology

This first attempt at a proper Commander bundle by Wizards of the Coast had its missteps, but it was a great start all in all. The box contains four life-counter spinners and four of the precon Commander decks with new special boxes.

Commander Anthology

In this bundle you’ll find the decks:

Commander Anthology Magic the Gathering MTG 2017
  • Includes four specialized life counters, tokens, and all cards included in the original decks:
  • Contains the commander decks: Heavenly Inferno, Evasive Maneuvers, Guided by Nature, Plunder the Graves

Commander Anthology: Volume 2

With the first Commander Anthology being pretty well-liked by players, Volume 2 was eventually released. It was definitely another step in the right direction.

The Commander Anthology 2 bundle also includes four decks from four different years, and both the power levels and the single-card values of these decks make the pack completely worth it.

Commander Anthology 2 bundle

This anthology includes:

  • Devour for Power, from the Commander 2011 set. One of the most sought-after decks from the original Commander precon set, The Mimeoplasm’s deck is an all-time fan favorite of the format.
  • Built From Scratch, from the Commander 2014 set. Daretti, Scrap Savant by himself makes this deck worth it, being an amazing card for artifact decks both as a commander and as part of the 99.
  • Wade Into Battle, from the Commander 2015 set. I’ve mentioned Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas’ deck as good high-value cards, so it’s a great addition to the bundle.
  • Breed Lethality, from the Commander 2016 set. Again, as with Plunder the Graves in the previous bundle, this is another deck I included for the more competitive options. The presence of Atraxa, Praetors' Voice itself in the bundle is already a huge point in favor of it.
Magic The Gathering MTG Commander Anthology 2018 Volume II Set: 4 Decks
  • Commander Anthology Volume II collects four sought-after and long-out-of-print Commander series decks in one deluxe package!
  • Each anthology set contains four 100-card decks, including 13 foil commanders!!
  • The four decks coming back are "Devour for Power" (helmed by The Mimeoplasm), "Built from Scratch" (the Daretti, Scrap Savant deck), "Wade into Battle" (with Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas leading the charge), and "Breed Lethality" (with everyone's favorite proliferator, Atraxa, Praetors' Voice).
  • Includes Atraxa!! This set is hot!
  • Release Date: June 08, 2018

If you're looking for a way to store your Commander decks, I've always found those precon boxes to be unreliable, try reading up about some of the best ways to store your Commander decks.

Wrap Up

Tale’s End - Illustration by Randy Vargas

Tale's End | Illustration by Randy Vargas

When all is said and done, I think there are a lot of things to consider when going for a Commander precon. Whatever you choose will be decided by what you’re looking for, and I encourage you to follow these tips and build your own deck around your favorite Commander from scratch.

My personal favorite of all these decks is Blood Rites. Vampire themes have run rampant in Commander since the Edgar Markov Commander 2016 deck, and with good reason. Vampires are some of the best commander cards and one of the best creature types to build around, with more internal synergy than most others, and a lot of ways to build them. Starting out with the Blood Rites deck is a great way to start your vampire journey, and it gives you the cards you need to focus the deck down into a creature-type-based combat deck, an aristocrats Commander deck, or something completely different.

What are your favorite Commander precons? Feel free to comment with your favorite non-precon commanders, too! Hopefully, someday we’ll have Commander added to Arena, so be sure to familiarize yourself with Arena Tutor for when that day comes!

That’s all from me for today, so see you next time!

Magic: The Gathering Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Deck – Undead Unleashed (Blue-Black)
Magic The Gathering Kaldheim Commander Deck – Phantom Premonition | 100 Card Ready-to-Play Deck | Blue-White
Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck - Quick Draw (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Commander Masters Commander Deck Bundle – includes Set of 4 Decks (1 Eldrazi Unbound, 1 Enduring Enchantments, 1 Planeswalker Party, and 1 Sliver Swarm)
Magic: The Gathering Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Deck – Undead Unleashed (Blue-Black)
Magic The Gathering Kaldheim Commander Deck – Phantom Premonition | 100 Card Ready-to-Play Deck | Blue-White
Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck - Quick Draw (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Commander Masters Commander Deck Bundle – includes Set of 4 Decks (1 Eldrazi Unbound, 1 Enduring Enchantments, 1 Planeswalker Party, and 1 Sliver Swarm)
Best for New Players
Best Budget
Best Value
Best Competitive
Best Bundle
$96.01
$39.99
$69.91
$38.48
$319.99
Amazon Prime
-
-
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Magic: The Gathering Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Deck – Undead Unleashed (Blue-Black)
Magic: The Gathering Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Deck – Undead Unleashed (Blue-Black)
Best for New Players
$96.01
Amazon Prime
Magic The Gathering Kaldheim Commander Deck – Phantom Premonition | 100 Card Ready-to-Play Deck | Blue-White
Magic The Gathering Kaldheim Commander Deck – Phantom Premonition | 100 Card Ready-to-Play Deck | Blue-White
Best Budget
$39.99
-
Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 3 Commander Deck - Tricky Terrain (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Best Value
$69.91
-
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck - Quick Draw (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Magic: The Gathering Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Deck - Quick Draw (100-Card Deck, 2-Card Collector Booster Sample Pack + Accessories)
Best Competitive
$38.48
Amazon Prime
Magic: The Gathering Commander Masters Commander Deck Bundle – includes Set of 4 Decks (1 Eldrazi Unbound, 1 Enduring Enchantments, 1 Planeswalker Party, and 1 Sliver Swarm)
Magic: The Gathering Commander Masters Commander Deck Bundle – includes Set of 4 Decks (1 Eldrazi Unbound, 1 Enduring Enchantments, 1 Planeswalker Party, and 1 Sliver Swarm)
Best Bundle
$319.99
Amazon Prime

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2 Comments

  • Avatar
    Steve November 29, 2021 1:56 pm

    Hi, I see that this was updated on 11/23/21, but I don’t see listed any of the Precons released after Kaldheim (Comannder 2021/Strixhaven, Adventures in Forgotten Realms, Innistrad:Midnight Hunt, and Innistrad:Crimson Vow).

    Were those considered but just didn’t make the cut for this list, or are those still to-be-evaluated/added? Thanks so much!

    • Avatar
      Dan Troha November 29, 2021 2:33 pm

      We review these articles periodically to make sure they’re still relevant. I believe the last couple precons haven’t been considered, but the others have. We’ll update the publish date when we do a full re-review.

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