<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection|2x2|32" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.chasestoneart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chase Stone</a></em></p>
<p>Today we're trying to answer a rather difficult question: Which Commander precons were more impactful to the format, <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon#commander2016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2016</a> or <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon#commander2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2017</a>?</p>
<p>To try and find a solution to this debate, I'll take a look at cards originally printed in these products to see what they brought to the game and how these cards fared the test of time.</p>
<p>Before diving into this topic and analyzing various aspects of this matter, I want to remind you that these are my personal opinions and they're all up for debate. There isn't any true answer to this question, nor is my objective to reach a truth set in stone. The point of this article is to start a conversation about two extremely important turning points in the history of Commander as a format.</p>
<p>So, if you don't agree with something I wrote, you're more than welcome to write it in the comment section to keep the discussion going!</p>
<p>With all of this out of the way, let's start our trip down memory lane.</p>
<h2>The Commanders</h2>
<p>Starting from the roster of available commanders, trying to put one of the years on top is pretty difficult.</p>
<p>Let's start from 2017; this year gave us one of the strongest (to some even unfairly so) keywords in history: eminence.</p>
<h3>2017 and Eminence</h3>
<p>For those of you that don't know it, bless your sweet innocent soul. For those of you that do know it, I'm sorry for you but we're in this together.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Edgar Markov"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ur-Dragon"></div></div>
<p>Eminence refers to a static or triggered ability that is active both when the creature is on the battlefield <em>and</em> while it is in the command zone. To (in theory) balance it, it was only ever printed on typal commanders.</p>
<p>The true result was creating a group of powerhouse commanders that still terrorize casual tables to this day.</p>
<p>Out of the bunch, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arahbo, Roar of the World" href="#" target="_blank">Arahbo, Roar of the World</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is perhaps the least menacing of them. In fact, you need it one the battlefield to really get something meaningful out of it.</p>
<p>On the other hand, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edgar Markov" href="#" target="_blank">Edgar Markov</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> quickly became the <em>de facto</em> commanders for their own typal strategy. Edgar provides so much pressure it's hard to ever keep up with it, whereas Ur-Dragon solves one of Dragons' biggest problems by reducing their mana cost.</p>
<p>Oh, and don't get me started on how good they are when they're on the battlefield.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arahbo, Roar of the World"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inalla, Archmage Ritualist" href="#" target="_blank">Inalla, Archmage Ritualist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> falls somewhere in the middle of these two sub-groups. On one hand it's so powerful it was a good cEDH commander for a while (before it was power-crept out of the meta). On the other, it's hard to build a casual deck around it, because it'll most likely end up being either too powerful or too passive.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, any of these four commanders will have an advantage above many other competitors simply because of Eminence. Receiving a benefit simply because you chose to play a commander (that maybe you don't even ever cast) is so powerful you need to try it to fully understand it.</p>
<h3>2016 and Partners</h3>
<p>While everything described so far is nothing short of impressive, its competition is as fierce as it gets. If you thought eminence was a broken mechanic, allow me to introduce you to something even more game-warping: partner.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kraum, Ludevic&#039;s Opus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silas Renn, Seeker Adept"></div></div>
<p>The rules for this keyword are pretty simple: you may have two commanders in your command zone as long as they both have partner.</p>
<p>On the surface, it can be hard to understand how powerful this possibility is. In the end, you're simply reducing your deck size by one; how good could it be? This isn't even comparable to eminence, right?</p>
<p>Well, no. It's so much more than this.</p>
<p>In fact, what partner brings to the game is an outrageously high level of personalization. And what's even more outstanding is how this changes Commander as a game overall.</p>
<p>First, in casual settings, this opens up a huge number of possibilities for new and original decks. While it's true that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper" href="#" target="_blank">Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one singular card, each of the additional commanders you can pair it with will lead you in a different direction.</p>
<p>Then, if we go up in power level, the things change quit a bit. Because what's truly revolutionary about partner is that it opens up a lot more possibilities to build four-color Commander decks. And this means that, in a version of the format where you only want to play the strongest strategies possible, you can take your standard tri-color deck and splash a fourth color to play some specific pieces.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrasios, Triton Hero"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tymna the Weaver"></div></div>
<p>I won't go too much in depth about what makes partner an over-powered mechanic. Still, just looking at the pair of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrasios, Triton Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Thrasios, Triton Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tymna the Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Tymna the Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can give you a feeling of it.</p>
<p>Imagine you're playing only the best cards, with winning being your only goal. Being able to pair two exceptional draw engines while also having access to four out of five colors in the game makes it very easy to build a strong deck.</p>
<p>Now, if this seems strong, just consider there are currently quite a few partner pairings that are considered stronger than this one. This should put into perspective how strong partners are as a whole.</p>
<h3>Four-Color Commanders of 2016</h3>
<p>While the partners open up a world of possibilities, especially when adding in the monocolored partner options from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/cmr#partners" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Commander Legends</em></a>, it's the face commanders of these precons that truly put 2016 on top.</p>
<p>Remember how having access to four colors is extremely powerful? How about being able to play them <em>without</em> partners?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Breya, Etherium Shaper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Saskia the Unyielding"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder"></div></div>
<p>Just look at them. All five of them are iconic cards that changed Commander forever, including one of the strongest <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/artifacts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Artifact</a> commanders ever in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Breya, Etherium Shaper" href="#" target="_blank">Breya, Etherium Shaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and a cornerstone in the history of <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/group-hug" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Group Hug decks</a> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis" href="#" target="_blank">Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>And all of this without even mentioning <em>the</em> four-color commander: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This legend redefined the format, opening up a new era of the game. A pretty generic effect that can be abused in many different ways; access to the vast majority of the legal cards; an immediate benefit that gets stronger and stronger as the game progresses.</p>
<p>All of this gathered to create the perfect storm: a commander so powerful many just refuse to play against it. Although, I swear, "It's not <em>that</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Atraxa, Praetors&#039; Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck."</p>
<h3>The Backup Legends of 2017</h3>
<p>On the flip side, 2017 is not weak by any means, but it's difficult to be on the same level as game-defining cards.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist" href="#" target="_blank">Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balan, Wandering Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Balan, Wandering Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both strong and beloved <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/voltron" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Voltron</a> commanders that are still more than playable today.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kess, Dissident Mage"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ramos, Dragon Engine"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ramos, Dragon Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Ramos, Dragon Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami" href="#" target="_blank">O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> were some interesting five-colored commanders to mess around with, although they didn't really pass the test of time.</p>
<p>The one outstanding piece is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kess, Dissident Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Kess, Dissident Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Its design isn't complicated at all, but that's what makes it powerful. It was a cEDH commander for a while, but has fallen out of favor.</p>
<h2>The Cards for the 99</h2>
<p>You might think 2016 has this in the bag. But here's where the tables turn.</p>
<p>The 2016 precons gave us some good and iconic cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ash Barrens"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conqueror&#039;s Flail"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deepglow Skate"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ash Barrens" href="#" target="_blank">Ash Barrens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a good budget option for consistency and color fixing, which is as cheap as it gets (in all senses). <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conqueror&#039;s Flail" href="#" target="_blank">Conqueror&#039;s Flail</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an interesting piece, somewhat cEDH playble, that protects Voltron decks from blowouts.</p>
<p>Lastly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deepglow Skate" href="#" target="_blank">Deepglow Skate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the most powerful of the group, with an effect that's as powerful as it is exploitable.</p>
<p>But while 2016 was a good year for the 99, 2017 was something else.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path of Ancestry"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teferi&#039;s Protection"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Herald&#039;s Horn"></div></div>
<p>First of all, I have to say that, being typal-centric decks, they had a bit of an easier time when we're talking about good cards for the 99.</p>
<p>Starting with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path of Ancestry" href="#" target="_blank">Path of Ancestry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one of the best budget lands for commander. Five colors and it occasionally provides a timely scry 1. Simple, to the point. and extremely effective.</p>
<p>Next, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <em>The</em> protection card of the format, a generational card that still wins game almost 10 years after its release. Need I say more?</p>
<p>And then, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Herald&#039;s Horn" href="#" target="_blank">Herald&#039;s Horn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I can hardly mention any typal strategy that isn't interested in this card. And if they aren't, they're probably wrong.</p>
<p>But this is just the tip of the iceberg.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Discovery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hammer of Nazahn"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Dominance"></div></div>
<p>There's the cycle of "Kindred" cards, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Dominance" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Dominance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> leading the way. There are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hammer of Nazahn" href="#" target="_blank">Hammer of Nazahn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodforged Battle-Axe" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodforged Battle-Axe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for Voltron strategies.</p>
<p>And then there are typal payoffs of any kind, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Patron of the Vein" href="#" target="_blank">Patron of the Vein</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for Vampires, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bloodline Necromancer" href="#" target="_blank">Bloodline Necromancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for Wizards (and Vampires), and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scalelord Reckoner" href="#" target="_blank">Scalelord Reckoner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for Dragons.</p>
<p>The pool of cards is simply as deep as it gets, truly functioning as a turning point in the format and the power level of decks.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>It's extremely difficult to get to a proper conclusion, but I've made my decision. I've looked at both pools of cards for quite a long time and I'm quite happy with my choice.</p>
<p>In my opinion, 2016 takes the crown.</p>
<p>That's because, considering how both precon sets introduced huge cornerstones for the format, it's <em>Commander 2016</em> who truly revolutionized the game. The access to four colors in the command zone and partner redefined what a Commander game looks like. The possibility of having two playable legends in the command zone alongside 98 cards pulled from four different colors is inexplicably better than playing a placeholder five-colored card.</p>
<p>Eminence had a similar impact on the format, but it ended up being correctly limited by its design. While it's true this mechanic made Dragons, Cats, Wizards and Vampires extremely powerful by default, it only affected these specific creature types.</p>
<p>The true divider was the longevity of their impact on the game. In a sense, <em>Commander 2016</em> set the scene for everything that came after. It opened the game to possibilities that weren't even conceivable before it was published. In a sense, the eminence commanders are the spiritual successors of this shift, demonstrating that it was possible to bend the borders of the format even more.</p>
<p>But it's impossible to deny the cardinal importance of the double innovation introduced by 2016. Every powerful or unfair card printed after these decks was sure to find a home <em>because</em> there will always be a four-colored deck ready to host them.</p>
<p>The cards for the 99 nearly pushed the argument in favor of 2017, because they're simply miles better than the 2016 ones. But there's a reason why the format is called Commander.</p>
<p>Now it's on to you! Agree or disagree, let me know what you think in the comments below!</p>


Which Commander Precons Were More Impactful, 2016 or 2017?

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omo, Queen of Vesuva" href="#" target="_blank">Omo, Queen of Vesuva</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.alexbrockart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alex Brock</a></em></p>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to <em>How To Be New</em>, a series for players for whom every draw from their deck feels just as unfamiliar and startling as unboxing a <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wizards-of-the-coast-issues-statement-on-turtles-eclipsing-lorwyn" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Ninja Turtles</em> card in their <em>Lorwyn Eclipse</em>d prerelease kit</a>.</p>
<p>Today, we'll be talking about one of my favorite topics in Commander, and that's the oft-discussed Commander preconstructed deck ("precon"). These are the preconstructed Commander decks that Wizards of the Coast releases alongside most new sets.</p>
<p>I love precons. Assembling a deck whole cloth is tough for newer players. Heck, even updating preconstructed decks can be tough (just ask my <a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/9188004/miracle_worker_precon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miracle Worker</a> deck that's sitting on my desk, begging me to pick from the 30 cards I'm considering adding so that it can actually see a game table). Truly, the simple pleasure of just opening a deck, tossing some sleeves on it, shuffling up, and surprising yourself at what you find is akin to what I imagine dads feel when they drop a line into the local pond on a warm Sunday afternoon. It's just pure, contented bliss.</p>
<p>But the world of precons is vast. There are truly so many. They do so many different things and cost so many different dollar amounts. How do you possibly choose which ones are best to buy as a new player?</p>
<p>Well, not only do I have some answers for you, I have some directions. Because by their nature, preconstructed decks are great for learning one particular facet of the game or another. And I have a few decks that I'd recommend as wonderful places to start in order to get to know some of the most fundamental parts of Commander, and indeed, <em>Magic</em> itself.</p>
<h2>Get To Know Combat With <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/blame-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Blame Game</em></a></h2>
<p><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/murders-at-karlov-manor-commander-deck-blame-game.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-161425 size-full" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/murders-at-karlov-manor-commander-deck-blame-game.webp" alt="Blame Game Commander precon" width="640" height="1000" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/murders-at-karlov-manor-commander-deck-blame-game.webp 640w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/murders-at-karlov-manor-commander-deck-blame-game-192x300.webp 192w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></a></p>
<p><em>Blame Game</em> is a precon I opened at my very first MagicCon, when I'd only been playing Commander for a handful of months. And the first thing I have to say about it is that it absolutely crushed the Precon Chaos event I played it in (in these events, you get handed a random precon deck, put in a random pod, and off you go. It's wonderful).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Feather, Radiant Arbiter"></div></div>
<p>I won the first game somewhat handily. And when one of my opponents from my first pod saw me approaching him to join him in his second, the crestfallen look on his face said it all. He was playing a fairly powerful five-color deck, and another guy at that table had the very good <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/sliver-swarm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Slivers precon</a>. It didn't matter. On that day, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser" href="#" target="_blank">Nelly Borca</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> would not be denied.</p>
<p>It's an easy enough deck to pilot, especially for new players. It makes heavy use of <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Goad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the goad mechanic</a> to get your opponents' creatures swinging at each other at every possible opportunity, leaving you clean and dry far away from the maelstrom.</p>
<p>So why does that help you to learn the ins and outs of combat? Because you'll get to constantly watch more veteran players navigate it during every one of their turns. It's more of a visual learning method rather than tactile, but it's powerfully instructive if you pay attention.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mob Verdict"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Immortal Obligation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hot Pursuit"></div></div>
<p>Another benefit of the goad mechanic is that it can help teach you threat assessment, which I talked about <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/how-to-be-new-at-threat-assessment-in-commander" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in my last article</a>. Did someone just bring out a creature that everybody groaned at? Or did someone read you a creature with a lot of lines of text that you're not exactly sure you followed? Just goad it! See what it can do by watching it bring its might to bear against another one of your opponents.</p>
<p>You'll get to see plenty of examples of how to handle attacking and defending from players who, presumably, know those skills much better than you do. What were you going to learn from that creature just sitting on the back line? Make its controller huck it straight into combat. You'll learn pretty quickly which creatures you'd prefer not to mess with.</p>
<h3>Suggested Upgrades</h3>
<p>I had the <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/masters-of-evil" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Masters of Evil Doctor Who</em> precon</a> on hand already, and there are a couple of fantastic cards in there to slot into this deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Day of the Moon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Sound of Drums"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sontaran General"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Day of the Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Day of the Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a very fun card, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Sound of Drums" href="#" target="_blank">The Sound of Drums</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is extremely nasty when attached to certain creatures. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sontaran General" href="#" target="_blank">Sontaran General</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is also a wonderful include. I've used all three to great effect in this deck.</p>
<h2>Get To Know Lands With <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/tricky-terrain" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Tricky Terrain</em></a></h2>
<p><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/modern-horizons-3-commander-deck-tricky-terrain.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-161350" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/modern-horizons-3-commander-deck-tricky-terrain.webp" alt="Tricky Terrain Commander Precon" width="641" height="1000" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/modern-horizons-3-commander-deck-tricky-terrain.webp 641w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/modern-horizons-3-commander-deck-tricky-terrain-192x300.webp 192w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 641px) 100vw, 641px" /></a></p>
<p>I just got to play <em>Tricky Terrain</em> for the first time last week. I'd seen it played at a different Precon Chaos event, and it didn't really get off the ground, which is what I told my pod when I pulled it out and they asked me about its power level.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Omo, Queen of Vesuva"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jyoti, Moag Ancient"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Depths"></div></div>
<p>Then, I got to play <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card I'd long admired but never actually had in any of my decks, on turn three. On turn four, I copied Dark Depths with another land (there's a strong chance I misplayed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copy Land" href="#" target="_blank">Copy Land</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and none of my pod caught it, but I also had <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thespian&#039;s Stage" href="#" target="_blank">Thespian&#039;s Stage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in hand, so I could've achieved this regardless). The new Dark Depths didn't have any ice counters on it, and as such, it sacrificed itself and produced a glorious, flying, 20/20 indestructible <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marit Lage" href="#" target="_blank">Marit Lage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that singlehandedly won me the game.</p>
<p>Did I feel a little bad? Honestly, no. It felt totally awesome. And that's what this deck is. It's incredible. And the reason it's so cool is because you'll get to play with a ton of interesting lands that you probably wouldn't see otherwise. There's Locuses, and Caves, and Gates. In this deck with 44 lands, there are four Forests and three Islands. That's all of your basics.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Planar Nexus"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trenchpost"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Talon Gates of Madara"></div></div>
<p>This is a deck to help you fully grasp what an incredible resources lands are, and why they're often the most expensive part of any player's collection. It will also help you learn whether any other members of your pod are cruel enough to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and why exactly that card is perennially on the <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/salt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EDHREC Salt List</a>.</p>
<p>And the rest of the deck plays into this as well. There's ramp galore, there's powerful X-cost spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aggressive Biomancy" href="#" target="_blank">Aggressive Biomancy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Finale of Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Finale of Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to take advantage of all of the mana your lands produce. There's even an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Apex Devastator" href="#" target="_blank">Apex Devastator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, in case you're looking to fold your mind in half several times in a row like in <a href="https://youtu.be/65Qzc3_NtGs?si=6my7RJOaxwa_Pleh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that one Mythbusters episode</a>.</p>
<p>It's an extremely cool deck that I'm thrilled to have in my collection.</p>
<h3>Suggested Upgrades</h3>
<p>As I mentioned, I'm a bit newer to this deck, so I don't have too many recommendations. But I do have an idea. If you've managed to get your hands on any <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tla" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Avatar</em></a> cards, the alternate commander in this deck, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jyoti, Moag Ancient" href="#" target="_blank">Jyoti, Moag Ancient</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, would love to help you make this into an absolutely bonkers <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Earthbend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earthbending</a>-based deck.</p>
<h2>Get To Know Triggers With <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/mardu-surge" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Mardu Surge</em></a></h2>
<p><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tarkir-dragonstorm-commander-deck-mardu-surge.webp"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-161379" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tarkir-dragonstorm-commander-deck-mardu-surge.webp" alt="Mardu Surge Commander precon" width="662" height="970" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tarkir-dragonstorm-commander-deck-mardu-surge.webp 662w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tarkir-dragonstorm-commander-deck-mardu-surge-205x300.webp 205w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 662px) 100vw, 662px" /></a></p>
<p>I bought this deck originally thinking, "Oh, this will be a nice, simple deck for new players to play. Strong, but not too difficult." And then I played a couple of turns with it and, my goodness, even for someone whose first deck was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Jolly Balloon Man" href="#" target="_blank">The Jolly Balloon Man</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, there sure are a lot of tokens coming on and off of the battlefield in this one.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zurgo Stormrender"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Neriv, Crackling Vanguard"></div></div>
<p>At one point in my second game with <em>Mardu Surge</em>, all of my creatures had <a href="https://mtg.wiki/page/Myriad" target="_blank" rel="noopener">myriad</a>, but the copies (and all other tokens) entered as 4/4 Angels with vigilance and flying. It took multiple people to help me through my triggers without my brain tearing in half.</p>
<p><em>But</em>, it was a powerful instructive experience. If you're someone who likes to get their hands dirty, who learns to swim in an olympic-sized diving pool, whose first board game was <em>Twilight Imperium</em>, this is the deck for you.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ainok Strike Leader"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Within Range"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Will of the Mardu"></div></div>
<p>It's not the easiest to pilot, but that's what's so helpful about it. If you can master the triggers in this deck, there will be sparingly few decks who can phase you (and who you and your pod would even want to see hit the table).</p>
<h3>Suggested Upgrades</h3>
<p>Honestly, I wanted to start our discussion here with some suggested downgrades. For example, if you're new and would prefer to warm up to this deck rather than dive in headfirst, take out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Legion Loyalty" href="#" target="_blank">Legion Loyalty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Divine Visitation" href="#" target="_blank">Divine Visitation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. They're the two main culprits behind the situation I described earlier. They're also very strong cards, and once you feel ready to include them, that fact will contribute greatly to the sense of reward you'll feel for having mastered this deck.</p>
<p>In the meantime, toss in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wound Reflection" href="#" target="_blank">Wound Reflection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> instead, to really pour some water on the sauna coals and watch your opponents sweat. Another wonderful friend to this deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Caesar, Legion&#039;s Emperor" href="#" target="_blank">Caesar, Legion&#039;s Emperor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. He fits both in the token generation goal of this deck and in the sacrifice outlet category.</p>
<hr />
<p>These decks should all be relatively inexpensive and available at your FLGS. Any one of them would be a great place to start your Commander journey. If you're Commander-curious, I highly recommend picking one of these up and going to your local Commander night. Truly and honestly, they're all solid decks that won't be too far outclassed by Bracket 2 or 3 decks.</p>
<p>And if you walk up to a table saying "I only have a precon" and you're welcomed to sit down, then you'll know you're in good company and that those players should help you have a fun first Commander night.</p>
<p>Of course, there are so many more precons out there, each with something incredible to teach you. And soon I'll be sharing some more intermediate precons, both in terms of price and complexity, for players looking to take that next step. As a quick preview, I'm just going to leave a picture here of one of my new favorite cards:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Lord of Pain"></div></div>
<p>That is all.</p>


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