The Command Zone

It’s Commander’s biggest night of the year: The Zoney Awards!  We’re rolling out the red carpet to crown the best cards from 2025, as voted by our esteemed Academy of Command Zone staff and patrons. Which legendary nominees will win a golden trophy, and who will bring home the title of Best Card of 2025? Grab your popcorn, because it’s time to find out! -------- DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT (LESS THAN 2 DAYS LEFT!): We’ve got not one but TWO amazing new Game Knights playmats – get yours now before it’s too late! These epic dragon designs come together to form one stunning battlefield, especially in the PREMIUM spot foil version that’s unlike anything we’ve done before. Order yours today at: https://tinyurl.com/DuelingDragonsGK -------- SUPPORT OUR CONTENT: Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- RIDGE: Take advantage of Ridge’s Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/COMMAND #Ridgepod AURA: Get an exclusive $35 off your Carver Mat frame at: https://on.auraframes.com/COMMAND with promo code COMMAND. 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: 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 -------- Jake Boss: Twitter: @JakeBossMTG Instagram: @jakebossmtg Bluesky: @jakeboss.bsky.social Jordan Pridgen: Twitter: @jordanpigeon Instagram: @jordanpridgen Bluesky: @jordanpigeon.bsky.social Beky Bell: Twitter: @bekybear Instagram: @bekybear Gaurav Gulati: Twitter: @DoubleGXG Instagram: @DoubleGXG Jamie Block: Twitter: @Jamblock Manson Leung: Twitter: @MansonLeung_ Instagram: @the_manson Karina Cruz: Bluesky: @kcz24.bsky.social Eric Lem: Archidekt: https://archidekt.com/u/ItsBigGreen Joshua Murphy: Twitter: @alsonamedjosh Bluesky: @alsonamedjosh.bsky.social Edge of Eternities w/ Bosco & Irene The Alien | Game Knights #79: https://youtu.be/269giWwNGN4?si=JYURk5MBA5Ul7g3a Game Knights Spider-Man w/CovertGoBlue | #80: https://youtu.be/d2r50q6Xa8w?si=dUtNHjOZtUiEfjIA -------- THE END STEP: Tales Unrolled: Watch Jimmy and JLK play D&D:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m27DrGOi8s Better than Heroes:  https://www.youtube.com/betterthanheroes -------- Follow us on TikTok: @thecommandzone Follow us on Instagram: @CommandCast Follow us on Bluesky: @commandcast.bsky.social Follow us on Twitter: @CommandCast @JoshLeeKwai @jfwong @wachelreeks Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/ Email us: [email protected] -------- Commander Rules and Ban List: https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are your decks putting you to sleep? Tired of playing the same old lines over and over again? There’s GOT to be a better way! Today, we’re showing you how to take your decks and make them less boring. We’ll bring you deckbuilding tips that will breathe new life into your gameplay, with more diverse win conditions, more interesting decision points, and cards that won’t put you in the same position every single game. It’s time to dust off that old deck and make it new again! -------- SUPPORT 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 -------- DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER: We’ve got not one but TWO amazing new Game Knights playmats – get yours now before it’s too late! These epic dragon designs come together to form one stunning battlefield, especially in the PREMIUM spot foil version that’s unlike anything we’ve done before. Order yours today at: https://tinyurl.com/DuelingDragonsGK -------- WHATNOT: Join us live for games and free giveaways on December 18th @ 3pm Pacific! Plus, get a free $15 on us off your first purchase on Whatnot when you sign up at: https://whatnot.com/invite/command #whatnotpartner FABLETICS: Become a Fabletics VIP to get 80% off EVERYTHING plus monthly credits toward items, bundles, and outfits. Sign up at: http://www.fabletics.com/command AURA: Get an exclusive $35 off your Carver Mat frame at: https://on.auraframes.com/COMMAND with promo code 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: Salubrious Snail's "The Difficult Reality of the Tutor Question": https://youtu.be/ccAea-2xqAU?si=c20KSd22P7NDnCcK Commander Deckbuilding Template for the New Era | The Command Zone 658: https://youtu.be/OSNV6224cHg?si=mTRG66mCqj46Vk2J Alex Kessler: Twitter: @Kesswylie Instagram: @kesswylie YouTube: @TheMMCast Ben Bateman: Twitter: @benbatemanmtg Instagram: @benbatemanmtg  YouTube: @BenBatemanMTG About Singleton Format Highlander Gauntlet: https://youtu.be/a6FC6-5g1qQ?si=I-fSxKqV4aGG-YUz Master Deck Building w/ These Scryfall Hacks | The Command Zone 608: https://youtu.be/NNv2uWeCS50?si=m0M7BUNS4FnO2qVv -------- Follow us on TikTok: @thecommandzone Follow us on Instagram: @CommandCast Follow us on Bluesky: @commandcast.bsky.social Follow us on Twitter: @CommandCast @JoshLeeKwai @jfwong @wachelreeks Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/ Email us: [email protected] -------- Commander Rules and Ban List: https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just because a card is popular doesn’t mean it’s good in every deck. With power creep becoming power leap, a lot of Commander staples have been outclassed. So don’t miss our list of well known cards you could probably cut. They may seem fine on their face, but we’ll break down why they’re overrated, and how you can do better. -------- DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER: We’ve got not one but TWO amazing new Game Knights playmats – get yours now before it’s too late! These epic dragon designs come together to form one stunning battlefield, especially in the PREMIUM spot foil version that’s unlike anything we’ve done before. Order yours today at: https://tinyurl.com/DuelingDragonsGK -------- SUPPORT OUR CONTENT! Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more: https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- AURA: Get an exclusive $35 off your Carver Mat frame at: https://on.auraframes.com/COMMAND with promo code COMMAND. FABLETICS: Become a Fabletics VIP to get 80% off EVERYTHING plus monthly credits toward items, bundles, and outfits. Sign up at: http://www.fabletics.com/command SHOPIFY: Power your business with Shopify. Start your one-dollar-per-month trial period today by going to: https://www.shopify.com/tcz WHATNOT: Join us live for games and free giveaways on December 18th @ 3pm Pacific! Plus, get a free $15 on us off your first purchase on Whatnot when you sign up at: https://whatnot.com/invite/command #whatnotpartner -------- 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: Lost Caverns of Ixalan w/ The Professor | Game Knights 66: https://youtu.be/vA5qMDnyLc0?si=WZBgz5ETCBSWj53U -------- Follow us on TikTok: @thecommandzone Follow us on Instagram: @CommandCast Follow us on Bluesky: @commandcast.bsky.social Follow us on Twitter: @CommandCast @JoshLeeKwai @jfwong @wachelreeks Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/ Email us: [email protected] -------- Commander Rules and Ban List: https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list -------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes a Commander comes along that looks like the coolest legend ever printed—until you actually try to build it. This episode, the Command Zone crew tells tales of brews that never quite came together. From clunky plans to unfun play patterns, come find out which cards were too tricky to crack even for us, and we’re professionals! -------- DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER: We’ve got not one but TWO amazing new Game Knights playmats – get yours now before it’s too late! These epic dragon designs come together to form one stunning battlefield, especially in the PREMIUM spot foil version that’s unlike anything we’ve done before. Order yours today at: https://tinyurl.com/DuelingDragonsGK -------- 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: Thanks Raycon for sponsoring! This holiday season, get 20% off SITEWIDE on Raycon audio products like the new Essential Open Earbuds at: https://www.buyraycon.com/commandopen AURA: Get an exclusive $35 off your Carver Mat frame at: https://on.auraframes.com/COMMAND with promo code COMMAND WHATNOT: Join us live for games and free giveaways on December 18th @ 3pm Pacific! Plus, get a free $15 on us off your first purchase on Whatnot when you sign up at: https://whatnot.com/invite/command #whatnotpartner -------- 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: CZ 714 | Murph's Ramses Overdark: https://archidekt.com/decks/17724687/cz_714_murphs_ramses_overdark CZ 714 | Jordan's Cid: https://archidekt.com/decks/17724719/cz_714_jordans_cid CZ 714 | Rachel Kendra's Kaalia (Demon Typal): https://archidekt.com/decks/17724763/cz_714_rachel_kendras_kaalia_demon_typal CZ 714 | Rachel Kendra's Kaalia (Blink): https://archidekt.com/decks/17724796/cz_714_rachel_kendras_kaalia_blink CZ 714 | Sebastian's Jerren: https://archidekt.com/decks/17724820/cz_714_sebastians_jerren EPIC Commander Combat w/ Pixie Kitten | Extra Turns 16: https://youtu.be/ZUYN4tdCToQ?si=tp_ccR7Rw-45onXG High-Energy Action w/ Jarvis Johnson | Extra Turns 54: https://youtu.be/hRes8boLkVs?si=QDDkou5G_9Eqj41t -------- Follow us on TikTok: @thecommandzone Follow us on Instagram: @CommandCast Follow us on Bluesky: @commandcast.bsky.social Follow us on Twitter: @CommandCast @JoshLeeKwai @jfwong @wachelreeks Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/ Email us: [email protected] -------- Commander Rules and Ban List: https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another year, another batch of Commander precons. But how did 2025’s crop turn out? With four Final Fantasy decks and a whole slew from within the worlds of Magic, there’s a lot to evaluate, so this episode we’re going one by one through every precon this year. We’ll be grading them each for playability, value, and just plain old fun! Come find out which decks pass, and which you should pass on. -------- DUELING DRAGONS PLAYMAT KICKSTARTER: We’ve got not one but TWO amazing new Game Knights playmats – get yours now before it’s too late! These epic dragon designs come together to form one stunning battlefield, especially in the PREMIUM spot foil version that’s unlike anything we’ve done before. Order yours today at: https://tinyurl.com/DuelingDragonsGK -------- 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 SHOPIFY: Power your business with Shopify. Start your one-dollar-per-month trial period 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 go to https://Brooklynbedding.com  and use promo code 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: Tarkir: Dragonstorm w/ The Professor & AliasV | Game Knights 77: https://youtu.be/-biWuhZQBs0?si=AP3KxTe3rDDh_fCc FINAL FANTASY x MAGIC w/ Jacob Bertrand | Game Knights 78: https://youtu.be/7X_W4OQfSn0?si=2gypI5XZN2TtO3Z7 Final Fantasy 7 - Commander Deck Upgrade Guide | “Limit Break” | The Command Zone 674: https://youtu.be/xkypTAiPbkU?si=rYm_1gXJsAvhQ1m4 Universes Beyond: Avatar - Magic Director Explains Lack of Commander Decks: https://mtg.cardsrealm.com/en-us/articles/universes-beyond-avatar-magic-director-explains-lack-of-commander-decks -------- Follow us on TikTok: @thecommandzone Follow us on Instagram: @CommandCast Follow us on Bluesky: @commandcast.bsky.social Follow us on Twitter: @CommandCast @JoshLeeKwai @jfwong @wachelreeks Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/ Email us: [email protected] -------- Commander Rules and Ban List: https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list -------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices