Commander series: Difference between revisions

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[[File:VOW commander deck minimal packaging.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Minimal packaging for online sales]]
[[File:VOW commander deck minimal packaging.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Minimal packaging for online sales]]
For a long time, Commander series products were packaged in plastic with an [[oversized]] [[Commander (designation)|commander]] to mark the main commander of each deck (the "'''face card'''"). Starting with ''[[Commander 2021]]'', plastic was reduced in the packaging and a [[foil-etched]] [[display commander]] replaced the oversized card.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/check-out-new-packaging-commander-2021-edition-and-beyond-2021-04-08|Check Out The New Packaging for Commander (2021 Edition) and Beyond|[[Adam Styborski]]|April 8, 2021}}</ref> At the same time an additional "minimal packaging version" of the deck was introduced for sales online. While it doesn't feature the design of the typical retail packaging, instead it uses a corrugated cardboard box to contain the product, it delivers almost everything the same way using even less material and space. The only difference between the minimal packaging and retail versions is that the insert tray holding the deck box does not offer punch-out counters and a divider—you'll still receive everything else (the [[deck]] and [[deck box]], plus [[life wheel]], display commander, and [[double-sided token]]s).
For a long time, Commander series products were packaged in plastic with an [[oversized]] [[Commander (designation)|commander]] to mark the main commander of each deck (the "'''face card'''"). Starting with ''[[Commander 2021]]'', plastic was reduced in the packaging and a [[foil-etched]] [[display commander]] replaced the oversized card.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/check-out-new-packaging-commander-2021-edition-and-beyond-2021-04-08|Check Out The New Packaging for Commander (2021 Edition) and Beyond|[[Adam Styborski]]|April 8, 2021}}</ref> At the same time an additional "minimal packaging version" of the deck was introduced for sales online. While it doesn't feature the design of the typical retail packaging, instead it uses a corrugated cardboard box to contain the product, it delivers almost everything the same way using even less material and space. The only difference between the minimal packaging and retail versions is that the insert tray holding the deck box does not offer punch-out counters and a divider—you'll still receive everything else (the [[deck]] and [[deck box]], plus [[life wheel]], display commander, and [[double-sided token]]s).
Starting with ''[[Outlaws of Thunder Junction]]'' in 2024, the display commanders were exchanged for regular foil cards.<ref name="Collecting OTJ">{{DailyRef|feature/collecting-outlaws-of-thunder-junction|Collecting ''Outlaws of Thunder Junction''|[[Max McCall]]|March 26, 2024}}</ref>


==Releases==
==Releases==
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* ''[[Commander (2011)|Commander]]'' {{-}} Five [[wedge]] colored decks (June 2011).   
* ''[[Commander (2011)|Commander]]'' {{-}} Five [[wedge]] colored decks (June 2011).   
* ''[[Commander's Arsenal]]'' {{-}} 18 [[foil]] cards and other goodies (November 2012).
* ''[[Commander's Arsenal]]'' {{-}} 18 [[foil]] cards and other goodies (November 2012).
* ''[[Commander 2013]]'' {{-}} Five [[shard]] colored decks, introducing commanders scaling with mana spent. (November 2013).
* ''[[Commander 2013]]'' {{-}} Five [[shard]] colored decks, introducing commanders scaling with mana spent and interacting with the [[command]] zone. (November 2013).
* ''[[Commander 2014]]'' {{-}} Five [[monocolored]] decks, introducing planeswalker commanders. (November 2014).
* ''[[Commander 2014]]'' {{-}} Five [[monocolored]] decks, introducing planeswalker commanders. (November 2014).
* ''[[Commander 2015]]'' {{-}} Five [[enemy color]]ed decks, introducing experience counters. (November 2015).
* ''[[Commander 2015]]'' {{-}} Five [[enemy color]]ed decks, introducing experience counters. (November 2015).
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* ''[[Commander Anthology]]'' {{-}} Four previous Commander decks together in one package (June 2017).
* ''[[Commander Anthology]]'' {{-}} Four previous Commander decks together in one package (June 2017).
* ''[[Commander Anthology Volume II]]'' {{-}} Four previous Commander decks together in one package (June 2018).
* ''[[Commander Anthology Volume II]]'' {{-}} Four previous Commander decks together in one package (June 2018).
===Master Series===
* ''[[Commander Masters]]'' {{-}} a release in the [[Masters series]] (August 2023).


===Set Commander decks===
===Set Commander decks===
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!Release
!Release
!Alternate name
!Alternate name
!Code
!Decks
!Decks
!Connected to
!Connected to
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|''[[Commander 2020]]''
|''[[Commander 2020]]''
|''[[Ikoria Commander]]''
|''[[Ikoria Commander]]''
|C20
|5
|5
|''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]''
|''[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]]''
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|''[[Zendikar Rising Commander Decks]]''
|''[[Zendikar Rising Commander Decks]]''
|
|
|ZNC
|2
|2
|''[[Zendikar Rising]]''
|''[[Zendikar Rising]]''
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|''[[Commander Legends Commander Decks]]''
|''[[Commander Legends Commander Decks]]''
|
|
|CMR
|2
|2
|''[[Commander Legends]]''
|''[[Commander Legends]]''
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|''[[Kaldheim Commander Decks]]''
|''[[Kaldheim Commander Decks]]''
|
|
|KHC
|2
|2
|''[[Kaldheim]]''
|''[[Kaldheim]]''
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|''[[Commander 2021]]''
|''[[Commander 2021]]''
|''[[Strixhaven Commander]]''
|''[[Strixhaven Commander]]''
|C21
|5
|5
|''[[Strixhaven: School of Mages]]''
|''[[Strixhaven: School of Mages]]''
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|''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Commander Decks]]''  
|''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Commander Decks]]''  
|''[[Forgotten Realms Commander]]''
|''[[Forgotten Realms Commander]]''
|AFC
|4
|4
|''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms]]''
|''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms]]''
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|''[[Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Decks]]''
|''[[Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Decks]]''
|
|
|MIC
|2
|2
|''[[Innistrad: Midnight Hunt]]''
|''[[Innistrad: Midnight Hunt]]''
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|''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow Commander Decks]]''
|''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow Commander Decks]]''
|
|
|VOC
|2
|2
|''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow]]''
|''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow]]''
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|''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Commander Decks]]''
|''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Commander Decks]]''
|
|
|NEC
|2
|2
|''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty]]''
|''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty]]''
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|''[[Streets of New Capenna Commander Decks]]''
|''[[Streets of New Capenna Commander Decks]]''
|''[[New Capenna Commander]]''
|''[[New Capenna Commander]]''
|NCC
|5
|5
|''[[Streets of New Capenna]]''
|''[[Streets of New Capenna]]''
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|''[[Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate Commander Decks]]''
|''[[Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate Commander Decks]]''
|
|
|CLB
|4
|4
|''[[Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate]]''
|''[[Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate]]''
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|''[[Dominaria United Commander Decks]]''
|''[[Dominaria United Commander Decks]]''
|
|
|DMC
|2
|2
|''[[Dominaria United]]''
|''[[Dominaria United]]''
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|''[[The Brothers' War Commander Decks]]''
|''[[The Brothers' War Commander Decks]]''
|
|
|?
|BRC
|2
|''[[The Brothers' War]]''
|''[[The Brothers' War]]''
|-
|2023-02
|''[[Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander Decks]]''
|
|ONC
|2
|''[[Phyrexia: All Will Be One]]''
|-
|2023-04
|''[[March of the Machine Commander Decks]]''
|
|MOC
|5
|''[[March of the Machine]]''
|-
|2023-06
|''[[The Lord of the Rings Commander Decks]]''
|
|LTC
|4
|''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth]]''
|-
|2023-09
|''[[Wilds of Eldraine/Commander decks|Wilds of Eldraine Commander Decks]]''
|
|WOC
|2
|''[[Wilds of Eldraine]]''
|-
|2023-11
|''[[The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander Decks]]''
|
|LCC
|4
|''[[The Lost Caverns of Ixalan]]''
|-
|2024-02
|''[[Murders at Karlov Manor Commander Decks]]''
|
|MKC
|4
|''[[Murders at Karlov Manor]]''
|-
|2024-04
|''[[Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Decks]]''
|
|OTC
|4
|''[[Outlaws of Thunder Junction]]''
|}
|}


===Starter===
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!Date
!Release
!Alternate name
!Expansion Code
!Decks
!Notes
|-
|2022-12
|''[[Starter Commander Decks]]''
|
|SCD
|5
|Designed for beginning players
|}
===Commander Draft===
===Commander Draft===
* ''[[Commander Legends]]'' {{-}} designed to be [[draft]]ed (November 2020).
{| class="sortable fandom-table"
*''[[Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate]]'' {{-}} [[Dungeons & Dragons]] crossover (June 2022).
!Date
!Release
!Alternate name
!Expansion Code
!Notes
|-
|2020-11
|''[[Commander Legends]]''
|
|CMR
|
|-
|2022-06
|''[[Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate]]''
|
|CLB
|[[Dungeons & Dragons]] crossover
|-
|2023-08
|''[[Commander Masters]]''
|
|CMM
|Part of the [[Masters series]]
|}


===Secret Lair===
===Secret Lair===
*
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"   
{| class="wikitable sortable"   
!Date
!Date
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|1
|1
|''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: Secretversary 2021]]''  
|''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: Secretversary 2021]]''  
|-
|2023-05
|''[[From Cute to Brute]]''
|
|1
|N/A
|-
|2023-08
|''[[Secret Lair Commander Deck: Angels: They're Just Like Us but Cooler and with Wings|Angels: They're Just Like Us but Cooler and with Wings]]''
|
|1
|N/A
|-
|2024-01
|''[[Secret Lair Commander Deck: Raining Cats & Dogs|Raining Cats & Dogs]]''
|
|1
|N/A
|}
|}


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|
|
|4
|4
|N.A.
|N/A
|-
|-
|2023
|2023-06
|''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Commander Decks]]''
|''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Commander Decks]]''
|
|''[[Lord of the Rings Commander]]''
|?
|4
|''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth]]''
|''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth]]''
|-
|-
|2023
|2023-10
|''[[Doctor Who Commander Decks]]''
|''[[Doctor Who Commander Decks]]''
|
|''[[Doctor Who]]''
|4
|N/A
|-
|2024-03
|''[[Fallout/Commander decks]]''
|''[[Fallout]]''
|4
|4
|N.A.
|N/A
|}
|}


Latest revision as of 11:59, 4 July 2024

The Commander series is a line of preconstructed products conceived for the Commander format.

Description

From 2013 on, a Commander product was released every year, each containing four or five 100-card decks.[1] This product is generally targeted at non-tournament play. While the audience is obviously Commander players, they are also interesting for other formats like free-for-all multiplayer or Cube Draft.[2] Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths and Zendikar Rising introduced Commander decks that are released as a regular part of a set's product line.[3][4]

New cards

On average, Commander sets feature 50-60 all-new cards. The new commons are available in all decks, uncommons are available in all decks of the card's color, rares are available in one deck only, and mythic rares are the new commanders themselves.

Packaging

Minimal packaging for online sales

For a long time, Commander series products were packaged in plastic with an oversized commander to mark the main commander of each deck (the "face card"). Starting with Commander 2021, plastic was reduced in the packaging and a foil-etched display commander replaced the oversized card.[5] At the same time an additional "minimal packaging version" of the deck was introduced for sales online. While it doesn't feature the design of the typical retail packaging, instead it uses a corrugated cardboard box to contain the product, it delivers almost everything the same way using even less material and space. The only difference between the minimal packaging and retail versions is that the insert tray holding the deck box does not offer punch-out counters and a divider—you'll still receive everything else (the deck and deck box, plus life wheel, display commander, and double-sided tokens).

Starting with Outlaws of Thunder Junction in 2024, the display commanders were exchanged for regular foil cards.[6]

Releases

Online release

Yearly releases

Anthologies

Master Series

Set Commander decks

Starting with Commander 2020, the Commander releases are all thematically connected to other sets. This allowed R&D to supplement themes from the main set with new cards to help it work better in Commander decks. It also ties into the excitement for the set, including drafting off of all the marketing for it, it provides the opportunity to flesh out creative elements of the current plane, and it differentiates the decks from one another. Always being a blend of everything previously made them feel too similar.[7] After 2021, the Commander [year] template was abandoned, because all sets featured Commander decks.[8]

Date Release Alternate name Code Decks Connected to
2020-04 Commander 2020 Ikoria Commander C20 5 Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
2020-09 Zendikar Rising Commander Decks ZNC 2 Zendikar Rising
2020-11 Commander Legends Commander Decks CMR 2 Commander Legends
2021-02 Kaldheim Commander Decks KHC 2 Kaldheim
2021-04 Commander 2021 Strixhaven Commander C21 5 Strixhaven: School of Mages
2021-07 Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Commander Decks Forgotten Realms Commander AFC 4 Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
2021-09 Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander Decks MIC 2 Innistrad: Midnight Hunt
2021-11 Innistrad: Crimson Vow Commander Decks VOC 2 Innistrad: Crimson Vow
2022-02 Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Commander Decks NEC 2 Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
2022-04 Streets of New Capenna Commander Decks New Capenna Commander NCC 5 Streets of New Capenna
2022-06 Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate Commander Decks CLB 4 Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate
2022-09 Dominaria United Commander Decks DMC 2 Dominaria United
2022-11 The Brothers' War Commander Decks BRC 2 The Brothers' War
2023-02 Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander Decks ONC 2 Phyrexia: All Will Be One
2023-04 March of the Machine Commander Decks MOC 5 March of the Machine
2023-06 The Lord of the Rings Commander Decks LTC 4 The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth
2023-09 Wilds of Eldraine Commander Decks WOC 2 Wilds of Eldraine
2023-11 The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander Decks LCC 4 The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
2024-02 Murders at Karlov Manor Commander Decks MKC 4 Murders at Karlov Manor
2024-04 Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander Decks OTC 4 Outlaws of Thunder Junction

Starter

Date Release Alternate name Expansion Code Decks Notes
2022-12 Starter Commander Decks SCD 5 Designed for beginning players

Commander Draft

Date Release Alternate name Expansion Code Notes
2020-11 Commander Legends CMR
2022-06 Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate CLB Dungeons & Dragons crossover
2023-08 Commander Masters CMM Part of the Masters series

Secret Lair

Date Release Alternate name Decks Connected to
2021-11 Heads I Win, Tails You Lose 1 Secret Lair Drop Series: Secretversary 2021
2023-05 From Cute to Brute 1 N/A
2023-08 Angels: They're Just Like Us but Cooler and with Wings 1 N/A
2024-01 Raining Cats & Dogs 1 N/A

Universes Beyond

Date Release Alternate name Decks Connected to
2022-10 Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks 4 N/A
2023-06 The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Commander Decks Lord of the Rings Commander 4 The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth
2023-10 Doctor Who Commander Decks Doctor Who 4 N/A
2024-03 Fallout/Commander decks Fallout 4 N/A

Commander promos

References

  1. ↑ David Leavitt. (25 October 2012.) 'Commander's Arsenal' is a 'treasure trove of Commander goodies' Examiner.com
  2. ↑ Gavin Verhey (January 18, 2018). "Know Your Audience". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Gavin Verhey (October 30, 2019). "Big Things Are Coming for Commander in 2020". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ The Future of Commander Preconstructed Decks! (Video). Good Morning Magic. YouTube (May 14, 2021).
  5. ↑ Adam Styborski (April 8, 2021). "Check Out The New Packaging for Commander (2021 Edition) and Beyond". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Max McCall (March 26, 2024). "Collecting Outlaws of Thunder Junction". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 24, 2022). "Let me explain why we’ve chosen to tie the Commander decks to the randomized booster sets". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 12, 2022). "Where is Commander 2022?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  9. ↑ Gavin Verhey (July 1, 2019). "Did y'all see this sweet new Sol Ring promo". Twitter.
  10. ↑ Gavin Verhey (July 30, 2019). "The Sol of Commander". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ a b Wurmageddon (May 10, 2021). "Commander Promo - Only in Chinese". MTG Salvation.
Magic: The Gathering sets
 
M15 frame sets
Welcome & Core sets
Expansions
 
Special sets
Special series
Supplemental sets
Non-English Reprint sets
Other Box sets
Un sets
Commemorative sets
 
 
Additional Products
Commander Starter Decks
Commander Anthologies
Set Commander Decks
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