The Command Zone

Latest Episodes:

Magic Rules that Don’t Make Sense | 768 Oct 16, 2026

Show notes

So you think you know how Magic works, huh? WRONG! It’s almost impossible to fully know the game! Magic has hundreds of pages of rules, and some of them make no sense at all. This episode, we’re going through Magic’s weirdest, most unintuitive, least understood rules and telling you exactly how they work and exactly what boggles our minds about them. Ready to learn something? Let’s get into it!

--------

JOIN OUR PATREON:

Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone

--------

BROOKLYN BEDDING:

Ready to upgrade your sleep? Brooklyn Bedding has you covered! Get 30% off sitewide when you use promo code COMMAND at https://Brooklynbedding.com

ALIENWARE:

Upgrade your gaming experience today with Alienware. Be More Alien at Alienware.com/gameyourway

WHATNOT:

Join us LIVE on Saturday 10/17 @ 4PM Pacific for Reality Fracture gameplay and giveaways! Get $15 free when you sign up at: https://www.whatnot.com/invite/command

--------

CARD KINGDOM:

The Command Zone is sponsored by Card Kingdom! If you want to receive your cards in one safe package and experience the best customer service, make sure to order your Magic cards, sealed product, accessories, and more at Card Kingdom: http://www.cardkingdom.com/command

ARCHIDEKT:

Discover, build, catalog, and playtest on Archidekt, the deck-building website that makes it easy to brew brand new lists or manage your old favorites. Go to http://www.archidekt.com/commandzone to get started today!

ULTRA PRO:

Huge thanks to Ultra PRO for sponsoring this episode! Be sure to check out their amazing APEX sleeves and super classy MANA 8 product line. If you want to keep your cards protected and support the show, visit: https://ultrapro.com/command

--------

Relevant Links:

You're Reading Cards WRONG | The Command Zone 560:

https://youtu.be/7eBGjtysGcY?si=jy-gDxS170Gd8Lsi

Reality Fracture w/ Matt Mercer | Game Knights 88:

https://youtu.be/6ibfhMHFQoE?si=Teu0ml3abuxNWERP

TMNT w/ Jarvis Johnson | Game Knights 84:

https://youtu.be/edT3KiM67z0?si=er1afhV6qEMeEj-Z

Level Up Your Combat Phase | The Command Zone 607:

https://youtu.be/36mEaTK9Fu4?si=jI9qbD1d39do804O

Bonkers Battle Between Brilliant Brewmasters | Extra Turns 31:

https://youtu.be/iv-xb2T7Z2E?si=ppDqG8-CptRJ9HAD

Jake Boss:

X: https://x.com/JakeBossMTG

--------

@thecommandzone

@CommandCast

@commandcast.bsky.social

@CommandCast

@JoshLeeKwai

@jfwong

@wachelreeks

https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/

Email us:

commandzonecast@gmail.com

--------

Commander Rules and Ban List:

https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stop Falling for these Commander Deckbuilding Traps | 767 Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

Deckbuilding may seem fun, but it’s also incredibly DANGEROUS! From unfocused gameplans to awkward mana curves, everywhere you look there are traps and pitfalls just waiting to kill your grand vision. Today, let us be your guides through the perilous world of brewing Commander decks. With our help, you can avoid these common missteps and make sure your decks are all ready for action!

--------

JOIN OUR PATREON!

Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone

--------

RAYCON:

Go to https://buyraycon.com/command to get 20% off. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring!

ALIENWARE:

Start your Alienware journey with the streamlined Alienware 15 gaming laptop. Get yours today at: https://Alienware.com/15

WHATNOT:

Join us LIVE on Saturday 10/17 @ 4PM Pacific for Reality Fracture gameplay and giveaways! Get $15 free when you sign up at: https://www.whatnot.com/invite/command

--------

CARD KINGDOM:

ARCHIDEKT:

ULTRA PRO:

--------

Relevant Links:

Commander Deckbuilding Template for the New Era | The Command Zone 658:

https://youtu.be/OSNV6224cHg?si=XzfwDSqg2FkXThcE

How to Level-Up Your Removal | The Command Zone 762:

https://youtu.be/LDkLS6fo6cU?si=XULSVJId8FlzIi-a

Why Your Deck Feels Clunky and How to Fix It | The Command Zone 730:

https://youtu.be/6oS1E5BGi0U?si=ZfdO7RHY3iXqaGKO

We Upgrade Each Other’s Decks w/ Murph | The Command Zone 760:

https://youtu.be/hokDxT8sc78?si=U_E6ZxOtTd7bz1PQ

Do This One Thing to Win More Games | How to Playtest | The Command Zone 596:

https://youtu.be/swjL6prGShE?si=yb-N9asWejx0JmET

--------

@thecommandzone

@CommandCast

@commandcast.bsky.social

@CommandCast

@JoshLeeKwai

@jfwong

@wachelreeks

https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/

Email us:

commandzonecast@gmail.com

--------

Commander Rules and Ban List:

https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reality Fracture’s Best New Cards (In the 99) | 766 Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Ready to step into a fresh new world of power? Reality Fracture has you covered with a multiverse’s worth of sweet new tools for your 99. This episode, we’ll lay out all the cards you don't want to miss from MTG’s latest in-universe set, and trust us, there’s some real staple potential going on with some of these picks. Jace’s Echoverse might not have lasted long, but these cards are here to stay, so let’s get started!

--------

JOIN OUR PATREON:

Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone

--------

GAME KNIGHTS LIVE RETURNS TO ATLANTA:

Game Knights Live is warping into MagicCon Atlanta for an out-of-this-world Commander showdown. Don't miss the Greatest Show in the Multiverse! Set a course for adventure and grab your badge today at: https://www.tinyurl.com/MCAtlantaGKLive

--------

SHOPIFY:

Power your business with Shopify. Start your FREE trial today by going to: https://www.shopify.com/tcz

BROOKLYN BEDDING:

Ready to upgrade your sleep? Brooklyn Bedding has you covered! Get 30% off sitewide when you use promo code COMMAND at https://Brooklynbedding.com

RAYCON:

Go to https://buyraycon.com/command to get 20% off. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring!

--------

CARD KINGDOM:

ARCHIDEKT:

ULTRA PRO:

--------

Relevant Links:

The Hobbit: There and SMACK Again | Extra Turns 74:

https://youtu.be/9RCIT4xTn-w?si=UIW_ZRN52E5nz6SL

Game Knights: TMNT w/Jarvis Johnson | 84:

https://youtu.be/edT3KiM67z0?si=icQOMOcTHMX3Tvzu

Cards We’ll Never Stop Playing in Commander | The Command Zone 763:

https://youtu.be/Q-n3xUTbZlg?si=p1Y0BEos8A-Qhqmv

Joe Johnson:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephhjohnsonjr

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TabletopJocks

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/blackneto.bsky.social

--------

@thecommandzone

@CommandCast

@commandcast.bsky.social

@CommandCast

@JoshLeeKwai

@jfwong

@wachelreeks

https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/

Email us:

commandzonecast@gmail.com

--------

Commander Rules and Ban List:

https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reality Fracture’s Most Powerful New Commanders | 765 Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Bad news: Jace has broken the multiverse.

Good news: That means YOU get some broken new Commanders to play with!

That’s right, this episode we’re going over the most powerful new legends from MTG’s latest in-universe set, Reality Fracture. We’ll lay out everything you need to know to start crafting around these cool color-swapped characters, so you can turn YOUR universe into one where you have a sweet new deck. Come watch!

--------

JOIN OUR PATREON:

Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone

--------

SHOPIFY:

Power your business with Shopify. Start your FREE trial today by going to: https://www.shopify.com/tcz

BROOKLYN BEDDING:

Ready to upgrade your sleep? Brooklyn Bedding has you covered! Get 30% off sitewide when you use promo code COMMAND at https://Brooklynbedding.com

RAYCON:

Go to https://buyraycon.com/command to get 20% off. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring!

--------

CARD KINGDOM:

ARCHIDEKT:

ULTRA PRO:

--------

Relevant Links:

Matt Mercer:

X: https://x.com/matthewmercer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewmercervo/

Gavin Verhey:

X: https://x.com/GavinVerhey

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gavinverhey

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gavinverhey.bsky.social

We Upgrade Each Other’s Decks w/ Murph | The Command Zone 760:

https://youtu.be/hokDxT8sc78?si=zZ6emc2zTt0JCUVf

--------

@thecommandzone

@CommandCast

@commandcast.bsky.social

@CommandCast

@JoshLeeKwai

@jfwong

@wachelreeks

https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/

Email us:

commandzonecast@gmail.com

--------

Commander Rules and Ban List:

https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Multiverse Reforged” Precon Upgrade Guide | Reality Fracture | 764 Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Behold Jace’s perfect world in the form of the four-color ”Multiverse Reforged” Reality Fracture precon! He may have “improved” the multiverse, but now it’s up to us to improve his deck with our $50 upgrade guide. We’ll lay out 10 cards to bring into existence, and 10 to banish into nothingness to make this deck a true masterpiece. Soon you’ll be reforging the reality of your next game night into one where you are VICTORIOUS! Let’s get started.

--------

JOIN OUR PATREON:

Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone

--------

BROOKLYN BEDDING:

Ready to upgrade your sleep? Brooklyn Bedding has you covered! Get 30% off sitewide when you use promo code COMMAND at https://Brooklynbedding.com

FACTOR:

Eat smart with Factor. To get 50% off your first box plus free breakfast for one year, use code command50off at: https://www.factormeals.com/command50off

RAYCON:

Go to https://buyraycon.com/command to get 20% off. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring!

--------

CARD KINGDOM:

ARCHIDEKT:

ULTRA PRO:

--------

Relevant Links:

"Multiverse Reforged" Precon Upgrade Deck List:

https://archidekt.com/decks/26481258/cz_764_multiverse_reforged_precon_upgrade

--------

@thecommandzone

@CommandCast

@commandcast.bsky.social

@CommandCast

@JoshLeeKwai

@jfwong

@wachelreeks

https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/

Email us:

commandzonecast@gmail.com

--------

Commander Rules and Ban List:

https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cards We’ll Never Stop Playing | 763 Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

Sometimes, you just like something. Even if it's overcosted or never pays off, a pet card holds a special place in your heart. This episode, we’re polling the Command Zone staff to find each of their most beloved pet cards. From old staples to new flavor pieces that just tickle their fancy, everyone has a different fun justification for their picks, so let's jump in!

--------

SUPPORT US ON PATREON:

Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone

--------

WHATNOT:

Join us Thursday 9/17 @ 2PM Pacific for LIVE retro MTG giveaways, games, and more! Get $15 free when you sign up at: https://www.whatnot.com/invite/command

BROOKLYN BEDDING:

Ready to upgrade your sleep? Brooklyn Bedding has you covered! Get 30% off sitewide when you use promo code COMMAND at https://Brooklynbedding.com

RAYCON:

Go to https://buyraycon.com/command to get 20% off. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring!

--------

CARD KINGDOM:

ARCHIDEKT:

ULTRA PRO:

--------

Relevant Links:

Joshua Murphy:

X: @alsonamedjosh

Bluesky: @alsonamedjosh.bsky.social

Gaurav Gulati:

X: @DoubleGXG

Jordan Pridgen:

X: @jordanpigeon

Instagram: @jordanpridgen

Bluesky: @jordanpigeon.bsky.social

Jake Boss:

X: @JakeBossMTG

Instagram: @jakebossmtg

Bluesky: @jakeboss.bsky.social

Beky Bell:

X: @bekybear

Instagram: @bekybear

Karina Cruz:

Bluesky: @kcz24.bsky.social

Reggie AKA Arcade:

TikTok: @reggiethearcade

YouTube: @reggieTheArcade

Instagram: @reggie.aka.arcade

Manson Leung:

X: @MansonLeung_

Does Commander Have a Turn Order Problem? | The Command Zone 755:

https://youtu.be/bBZ-PvOyYKY?si=t_PQilWhPWPFnhWe

Mono Mono-Red | Extra Turns 72:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiGFmYMgN3k

Brutal Warhammer Beatdown | Extra Turns 28:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DB-V0Xfd4g

Four Hobbit Commander Decks to Build Right Now | The Command Zone 757:

https://youtu.be/2ZIKJYzsZtw?si=qu2d3fkIXJbvQsON

The Hobbit: There and SMACK Again | Extra Turns 74:

https://youtu.be/9RCIT4xTn-w?si=6ZiPnfIlg3IDnd2p

Beorn the Fierce Deck List:

https://archidekt.com/decks/24750291/cz_757_beorn_the_fierce

JLK's Katara Deck List:

https://archidekt.com/decks/16139001/jlks_katara_game_knights_82

Rachel's Toph Deck List:

https://archidekt.com/decks/17235508/toph_who_needs_metalbending

Rachel's Gylwain Deck List:

https://archidekt.com/decks/5280200/rachels_gylwain_game_knights_64

JLK's Roon Deck List:

https://archidekt.com/decks/4663782/jlks_roon_game_knights_24

Nightmare Baby Rotation – Wheel of Precons 6 | Elder Dragon Social Club:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOUNu2GRjgQ

--------

@thecommandzone

@CommandCast

@commandcast.bsky.social

@CommandCast

@JoshLeeKwai

@jfwong

@wachelreeks

https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/

Email us:

commandzonecast@gmail.com

--------

Commander Rules and Ban List:

https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Complete Guide to Removal in Commander | 762 Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

“In Response!” If you’ve never said those two fateful words, you’re not winning as many Commander games as you should. A solid gameplan needs a strong disruption package to back it up, so today we’re breaking down how to build a complete suite of interaction. We’re talking removal, counterspells, protection, and more essential tricks of the format. This is a level-up episode that you definitely don’t want to miss!

--------

SUPPORT US ON PATREON:

Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone

--------

GAME KNIGHTS LIVE RETURNS TO ATLANTA:

--------

WHATNOT:

Join us Thursday 9/17 @ 2PM Pacific for LIVE retro MTG giveaways, games, and more! Get $15 free when you sign up at: https://www.whatnot.com/invite/command

RAYCON:

Go to https://buyraycon.com/command to get 20% off. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring!

FACTOR:

Eat smart with Factor. To get 50% off your first box plus free breakfast for one year, use code command50off at: https://www.factormeals.com/command50off

--------

CARD KINGDOM:

ARCHIDEKT:

ULTRA PRO:

--------

Relevant Links:

Commander Deckbuilding Template for the New Era | The Command Zone 658:

https://youtu.be/OSNV6224cHg?si=-KFdpdJomRrI039O

The Problem with Deckbuilding Templates | The Command Zone 659:

https://youtu.be/PUrQpnQ7bi8?si=_dFQbwImhsdr-Z88

The Complete Guide to Mass Disruption | The Command Zone 700:

https://youtu.be/ZTw7phD0_Mc?si=WCZ0WVttjd7srYxR

Level Up Your Deck Building w/ This One Hack | The Command Zone 733:

https://youtu.be/fxBCPGaWu9Y?si=KzjZhs7E3O_x1dhh

Who’s the Target? Lessons in Threat Assessment | The Command Zone 652:

https://youtu.be/DN_6bNCJ-kk?si=To2NQO-Thsvs55a7

An Unexpected BATTLE! Hobbit Commander w/ Tolkien Experts | Extra Turns 74:

https://youtu.be/9RCIT4xTn-w?si=qZkU1xdZ6NWZNQvB

Does Commander Have a Turn Order Problem? | The Command Zone 755:

https://youtu.be/bBZ-PvOyYKY?si=eY7LjDQmzKWcxbw9

The Complete Guide to Mass Disruption | The Command Zone 700:

https://youtu.be/ZTw7phD0_Mc?si=kUmgqVKmxSRIPf8p

Who Built These Decks?!? | Extra Turns 65:

https://youtu.be/WQ85fYMFS8c?si=OfN4xhy8bgxiNchB

Mono Mono-Red | Extra Turns 72:

https://youtu.be/tiGFmYMgN3k?si=hfQy7q2hvscOls4l

--------

@thecommandzone

@CommandCast

@commandcast.bsky.social

@CommandCast

@JoshLeeKwai

@jfwong

@wachelreeks

https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/

Email us:

commandzonecast@gmail.com

--------

Commander Rules and Ban List:

https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don’t Buy Staples. Buy These Cards Instead | 761 Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Sick of feeling like you need to take out a loan to afford the fancy staples in Commander? There’s a better way!

This episode, we’re going over some affordable (but still very powerful) alternatives to some of the most expensive staples in the game. With these budget replacements for every color and archetype, you’ll save so much money you can go out and buy—okay, we’ll be realistic—it’s probably more Magic cards. Let’s get started!

--------

JOIN OUR PATREON:

Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone

--------

FACTOR:

Eat smart with Factor. To get 50% off your first box plus free breakfast for one year, use code command50off at: https://www.factormeals.com/command50off

RAYCON:

Go to https://buyraycon.com/command to get 20% off. Thanks to Raycon for sponsoring!

SHOPIFY:

Power your business with Shopify. Start your FREE trial today by going to: https://www.shopify.com/tcz

--------

CARD KINGDOM:

ARCHIDEKT:

ULTRA PRO:

--------

Relevant Links:

Reggie AKA Arcade:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reggiethearcade

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReggieTheArcade

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reggie.aka.arcade

200-Card Decks! | Extra Turns 67:

https://youtu.be/xupnwElKm7o?si=yEPgJYh4U-3ECS7r

Tomer Abramovici:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/budgetcommander.bsky.social

Twitter: https://x.com/BudgetCommander

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MTGGoldfishCommander

Commander Cards We Were Wrong About | The Command Zone 744:

https://youtu.be/4aGmNlEqb7o?si=rLEjq5Nl_tcuPj_i

--------

@thecommandzone

@CommandCast

@commandcast.bsky.social

@CommandCast

@JoshLeeKwai

@jfwong

@wachelreeks

https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/

Email us:

commandzonecast@gmail.com

--------

Commander Rules and Ban List:

https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We Upgrade Each Other’s Decks w/ Murph | 760 Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Collaborate and conquer! This episode we’ll prove two heads are better than one by upgrading each other’s decks. Rachel and Murph each take one of the other’s brews and make 10 changes to bring it up to snuff. How will Murph’s obscure old-school sensibilities mesh with Rachel’s efficient and analytical deckbuilding? Our guess is quite well, but tune in and find out!

--------

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mystery Booster Commander’s Most Powerful New Legends | 759 Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Mystery Booster: Commander Edition is full of powerful, wacky, new legends to brew. But figuring out which are the best of the bunch doesn’t need to be a mystery! This episode, we’re breaking down our picks for the set’s strongest new Commanders and giving you all the info you need to optimize their builds. These cards were literally made for fans of the format like us, so don’t miss out!

--------

JOIN OUR PATREON:

Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- WHATNOT:

Be there Aug. 27 @ 4pm PT as The Prof joins us LIVE in-studio for an epic Whatnot event full of giveaways, gameplay, and more! Get $15 free when you sign up at: https://www.whatnot.com/invite/command

SHOPIFY:

Power your business with Shopify. Start your FREE trial today by going to: https://www.shopify.com/tcz

FACTOR:

Eat smart with Factor. To get 50% off your first box plus free breakfast for one year, use code command50off at: https://www.factormeals.com/command50off

--------

CARD KINGDOM:

ARCHIDEKT:

ULTRA PRO:

--------

Relevant Links:

What's Inside Mystery Booster Commander Edition?:

https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/whats-inside-mystery-booster-commander-edition

We Play w/ BANNED Cards (ft. Crim) | Extra Turns 73:

https://youtu.be/BEMxzQkenRA?si=JvJmf4Ca8LMD-04c

10 PLAYER Commander Game!:

https://youtu.be/CvyRDmwOeCs?si=So3x1_zCkw-8Ydsq