Commander 2017

Commander 2017

 

Draconic Domination

 

Feline Ferocity

 

Vampiric Bloodlust

 

Arcane Wizardry

 

Commander 2017
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description	A four-parted shield
Design	Gavin Verhey (lead) Ben Hayes Jules Robins Mark Gottlieb Bryan Hawley
Development	Bryan Hawley (lead) Glenn Jones Jules Robins Mark Globus
Release date	August 25, 2017
Plane	Multiversal
Themes and mechanics	Tribal commanders
Keywords/​ability words	Eminence, Goad, Phasing, Rebound
Set size	Four 100-card decks
Expansion code	C17
Commander series
Commander Anthology Commander 2017 Commander Anthology Volume II
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Hour of Devastation Commander 2017 Ixalan

Commander 2017, officially styled as Commander (2017 Edition), is a product in the Commander series that was released by Wizards of the Coast on August 25, 2017.

Set details

Starting with Commander 2017, Commander sets are reduced from five to four preconstructed theme decks (without reducing the number of new cards) and will be built around themes instead of focusing on color combinations. The reduction of number of decks comes forth from the idea that the best Commander play experience for a new Commander player is a four-player game.

Commander 2017 features four 100-card decks, with 309 different cards in total. There are 56 new cards legal in Vintage and Legacy. Each of the four decks is tribal themed, based on the “most popular, and interesting, tribes.” Cards from Commander 2017 will be featured and distributed in connection with a future offering on Magic Online.

Each preconstructed deck was designed with an identity for each tribe:

• Draconic Domination (, “Dragons matter” and ramp)
• Feline Ferocity (, “Cats matter” and equipment)
• Vampiric Bloodlust (, “Vampires matter” and lifegain)
• Arcane Wizardry (, “Wizards matter” and graveyard interactions)

Each comes with an oversized foil card that corresponds to the main commander of that deck. This card is for fun only and isn't required for Commander gameplay.

Mechanics

Commander 2017 introduces eminence, an ability word that occurs on legendary creatures. Eminence indicates the creature has an ability that triggers both while the creature is on the battlefield or in the command zone; but in exchange requiring a deckbuilding restriction (in this case, building tribally).

Returning non-evergreen mechanics on new cards include goad on Disrupt Decorum (last seen in Conspiracy: Take the Crown); rebound on Taigam, Ojutai Master (last seen in Dragons of Tarkir); and phasing on Teferi's Protection (last seen in Unhinged and Visions), which is notable for being the first new black-bordered card with phasing to be printed in over 13 years. Kindred Boon uses the first Divinity counters since Planechase.

Cycles

Commander 2017 has three cycles of new cards, one of which only consists of four cards. It also continues one as-of-yet incomplete mega cycle:

Cycle name	Dragons	Cats	Vampires	Wizards
Tribal commanders	The Ur-Dragon	Arahbo, Roar of the World	Edgar Markov	Inalla, Archmage Ritualist
	Four mythic rare legendary creatures with the eminence keyword, each representing the tribe of one deck.

Horizontal cycles

Cycle name
"On attack" curses	Curse of Vitality	Curse of Verbosity	Curse of Disturbance	Curse of Opulence	Curse of Bounty
	Five uncommon monocolored curses, each of which triggers when the curse-bearer is attacked, and gives both the controller of the curse and the attacking player a beneficial effect. Each card in the cycle depict the Unluckiest.
Kindred spells	Kindred Boon	Kindred Discovery	Kindred Dominance	Kindred Charge	Kindred Summons
	Five rare non-creature spells that "are extremely powerful in dedicated tribal decks"

Mega cycle

Cycle name
Sorcery magi	Magus of the Balance (Commander 2018) (Balance)	Magus of the Mind (Commander 2017) (Mind's Desire)	Magus of the Will (Commander 2016) (Yawgmoth's Will)	Magus of the Wheel (Commander 2015) (Wheel of Fortune)	Magus of the Order (Commander Legends) (Natural Order)
	Rare Wizards with the converted mana cost and abilities of iconic sorceries from Magic's past.

Theme decks

Commander 2017 consists of four multi-colored decks:

Theme deck name	Color Identity					Commander
Draconic Domination	W	U	B	R	G	The Ur-Dragon
Feline Ferocity	W				G	Arahbo, Roar of the World
Vampiric Bloodlust	W		B	R		Edgar Markov
Arcane Wizardry		U	B	R		Inalla, Archmage Ritualist

Tokens

Commander 2017 has 11 different tokens. There are 10 double-faced tokens in each deck.

1. 2/2 Cat creature for Kemba, Kha Regent and White Sun's Zenith
2. 1/1 Bat creature with flying for Skeletal Vampire
3. 1/1 Rat creature with deathtouch for Hungry Lynx
4. 1/1 Vampire creature for Edgar Markov
5. 2/2 Zombie creature for Curse of Disturbance
6. 4/4 Dragon creature with flying for Broodmate Dragon
7. 6/6 Dragon creature with flying for Utvara Hellkite
8. 2/2 Cat Warrior creature with forestwalk for Jedit Ojanen of Efrava
9. 3/3 Cat Dragon creature with flying for Wasitora, Nekoru Queen (the card does not have a indicator)
10. 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature with "Sacrifice this creature: Add " for Pawn of Ulamog
11. Gold artifact for Curse of Opulence

Notable cards

• Many of the commanders introduced in the set are exceptionally popular in the Commander format, according to the site EDHREC. The Ur-Dragon remains the most popular WUBRG commander ever printed, and Edgar Markov. Arahbo, Roar of the World, and Kess, Dissident Mage are within the top five most popular commanders of their respective color identities.
• The creature type payoffs Path of Ancestry, Kindred Discovery, and Herald's Horn see play in almost 6% of all decks that could include them.
• Teferi's Protection is a powerful white staple that can protect its controller's entire board uniquely. It was also the first card in nearly a decade to involve the phasing out of permanents, which would not be seen again until Core Set 2021's Teferi, Master of Time.
• Hammer of Nazahn is a staple in all Equipment-based aggro decks.