MTG Commander precon upgrade guides

Every official Commander preconstructed deck in one index — 176 decks across 48 releases — each with its own page, and upgrade guides that argue from the list in the box.

A precon is the cheapest way into Commander and the most common thing to want to improve, so upgrade advice for them is everywhere. Most of it is the same dozen staples with a different commander pasted on top.

These guides work the other way round. Every number on one of them comes from resolving the decklist the box actually ships — the curve, the land split, the colour sources each spell demands, the bracket the list can honestly claim — and the swaps are argued from what those numbers say about that deck. It's also why the swap counts differ page to page. A precon padded with filler supports a deeper cut list than a tight one, and padding to a round number means recommending cards I don't believe in.

Published guides

Avengers Assemble

Captain America, Team Leader

27 of 30 creatures are Heroes and 28 are legendary. The Avengers Assemble upgrades those two numbers argue for, worked out from the real decklist.

12 cuts, 12 adds

Read the guide

Doom Prevails

Doctor Doom, King of Latveria

Doctor Doom turns discarded lands into damage. Twelve swaps for the Doom Prevails precon, worked from its real list: 25 Villains, 37 lands, Bracket 1.

12 cuts, 12 adds

Read the guide

The Fantastic Four

Invisible Woman

Invisible Woman's payoff costs one mana of every colour, and the turn you win pays it twice. Eleven swaps for The Fantastic Four precon, from its real 100.

11 cuts, 11 adds

Read the guide

Wakanda Forever

T'Challa, the Black Panther

T'Challa's Vibranium mana can't cast most of his own deck. Thirteen swaps for the Wakanda Forever precon, with the mana math and the full upgraded decklist.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Goblin Storm

Zada, Hedron Grinder

Is the Goblin Storm Secret Lair deck worth it? Zada's singles price near 4x the $149.99 sale tag — where that value hides, and how the deck actually plays.

Read the review

Lorehold Spirit

Quintorius, History Chaser

Quintorius, History Chaser makes a 3/2 whenever a card leaves your graveyard. Seven of the box's enablers cost more than the commander. Thirteen swaps.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Prismari Artistry

Rootha, Mastering the Moment

Rootha's Elemental is only as big as the largest mana value you cast that turn. 14 swaps that raise the ceiling, plus the full upgraded decklist.

14 cuts, 14 adds

Read the guide

Quandrix Unlimited

Zimone, Infinite Analyst

Zimone discounts one X spell a turn, and the box shipped 29 of them. Thirteen swaps for Quandrix Unlimited, worked from its real decklist.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Silverquill Influence

Killian, Decisive Mentor

Killian, Decisive Mentor draws when an enchanted creature attacks, and it need not be yours. The full upgraded decklist, with the numbers behind every swap.

14 cuts, 14 adds

Read the guide

Witherbloom Pestilence

Dina, Essence Brewer

Witherbloom Pestilence ships four free sacrifice outlets and only two cards that drain on a death. Twelve swaps, the full decklist, and the numbers.

12 cuts, 12 adds

Read the guide

Turtle Power!

Heroes in a Half Shell

Thirteen of Turtle Power!'s 31 creatures never trigger Heroes in a Half Shell. 15 cuts and 15 adds fix who's attacking, with the full decklist.

15 cuts, 15 adds

Read the guide

Blight Curse

Auntie Ool, Cursewretch

Auntie Ool pays a card for every -1/-1 counter on your side. Thirteen swaps that cut Blight Curse's three seven-drops, untap its mana and add the real engines.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Dance of the Elements

Ashling, the Limitless

Ashling, the Limitless makes every Elemental in the box a four-mana spell. Eleven swaps for about $45 that make the evoke loop pay twice, plus the decklist.

11 cuts, 11 adds

Read the guide

Counter Intelligence

Inspirit, Flagship Vessel

Counter Intelligence precon guide: Inspirit's protection only switches on at eight charge counters. Fifteen swaps, about $85, to get there faster.

15 cuts, 15 adds

Read the guide

World Shaper

Hearthhull, the Worldseed

Hearthhull, the Worldseed drains two life per sacrificed land the moment it lands. Ten swaps for the shipped list, led by the missing namesake card.

10 cuts, 10 adds

Read the guide

Counter Blitz (FINAL FANTASY X)

Tidus, Yuna's Guardian

Tidus can hold every Summon one chapter short of dying. Ten swaps for the FFX Counter Blitz precon, argued from the shipped list's own numbers.

10 cuts, 10 adds

Read the guide

Limit Break (FINAL FANTASY VII)

Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER

Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER pays a card for every equipped attacker. Twelve swaps for the Limit Break precon: free-attach effects, untapped lands, real removal.

12 cuts, 12 adds

Read the guide

Revival Trance (FINAL FANTASY VI)

Terra, Herald of Hope

Terra, Herald of Hope can buy back 22 of the box's 35 creatures for two mana. What Revival Trance is missing, the swaps that fix it, and the full decklist.

11 cuts, 11 adds

Read the guide

Scions & Spellcraft (FINAL FANTASY XIV)

Y'shtola, Night's Blessed

Y'shtola pays out on mana value, not mana spent. Fifteen swaps lean into delve, foretell and flashback spells that say 8 and cost far less.

15 cuts, 15 adds

Read the guide

Everyone's Invited!

Morophon, the Boundless

Is the Everyone's Invited! Secret Lair deck worth it? Where Morophon's value hides, and why rebuilding the list costs less than the $199.99 drop did.

Read the review

Abzan Armor

Felothar the Steadfast

The Abzan Armor precon packs 184 toughness behind 61 power, and Felothar turns the bigger number loose. Eleven swaps, about $55, full decklist inside.

11 cuts, 11 adds

Read the guide

Jeskai Striker

Shiko and Narset, Unified

Computed swaps for the Jeskai Striker precon: why Shiko and Narset's trigger never misses, the tapped-land fix, and what the ten adds cost.

10 cuts, 10 adds

Read the guide

Mardu Surge

Zurgo Stormrender

33 of Mardu Surge's 99 cards make tokens and none cash in a token's arrival. Thirteen swaps, about $54, with the full upgraded decklist.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Sultai Arisen

Teval, the Balanced Scale

One Zombie per graveyard event, never per card — the rule behind all 13 Sultai Arisen swaps (about $54). Full upgraded decklist, curve and pip math inside.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Temur Roar

Eshki, Temur's Roar

Eshki counts power, not Dragons: 25 of Temur Roar's 34 creature spells already draw when cast. Eleven computed swaps, about $83, fix speed and mana.

11 cuts, 11 adds

Read the guide

Eternal Might

Temmet, Naktamun's Will

Temmet pays every Zombie +1/+1 per card drawn — twelve Eternal Might swaps, about $47, that turn the box's draw spells into combat tricks. List + math.

12 cuts, 12 adds

Read the guide

20 Ways to Win

Go-Shintai of Life's Origin

Sixteen cards in the 20 Ways to Win Secret Lair deck read "you win the game". Which ones the deck can actually turn on, and what the 100 cards are worth.

Read the review

Animated Army

Bello, Bard of the Brambles

Bello turns 19 of this precon's artifacts and enchantments into 4/4 attackers. The 13 swaps that let them connect, for about $80.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Family Matters

Zinnia, Valley's Voice

Zinnia charges {2} on every creature spell and the box shipped ten five-drops. The 13 swaps that lower the curve and feed her count, for about $57.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Peace Offering

Ms. Bumbleflower

Ms. Bumbleflower already gives opponents cards for free. Fourteen swaps, about $80, that stop this precon paying twice and fix its seven tapped lands.

14 cuts, 14 adds

Read the guide

Squirreled Away

Hazel of the Rootbloom

Thirty-one cards in the Squirreled Away box make a token. Only eight make the Squirrel Hazel doubles. Fourteen swaps, about $70, both fixes already in the box.

14 cuts, 14 adds

Read the guide

Creative Energy

Satya, Aetherflux Genius

Satya's copies enter already attacking, so eight of this box's creatures never trigger. Fifteen swaps for $19.86 fix the curve, the taplands and the removal.

15 cuts, 15 adds

Read the guide

Eldrazi Incursion

Ulalek, Fused Atrocity

Ulalek wants colourless mana, not five colours: white and red sit on three cards each. Thirteen swaps for about $47, with every cut and add explained.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Graveyard Overdrive

Disa the Restless

Disa the Restless triggers on Lhurgoyf cards and the box ships eight. Thirteen swaps that make Graveyard Overdrive's own engine fire, for about $51.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Tricky Terrain

Omo, Queen of Vesuva

Fourteen of Tricky Terrain's 44 lands enter tapped. 13 swaps for $55.82 cut that to nine, drop average mana value to 3.09, and keep the 20/20 the box ships.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Desert Bloom

Yuma, Proud Protector

Only 15 of Desert Bloom's 40 lands are Deserts, so Yuma's 4/2 trigger idles most turns. 13 swaps for $52.80 fix the colours and stop the deck needing more.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Grand Larceny

Gonti, Canny Acquisitor

Grand Larceny lets you cast 21 cards you do not own, and 12 are free, where Gonti’s discount does nothing. 12 swaps, $63.63, with the counts.

12 cuts, 12 adds

Read the guide

Quick Draw

Stella Lee, Wild Card

Stella Lee's copy ability taps her and the box gives her no haste. 13 Quick Draw swaps for $75.72, with the counts behind every one of them.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Hail, Caesar

Caesar, Legion's Emperor

Nine of the box's 36 lands enter tapped and the marquee rare needs three double pips. Eleven swaps for about $36, plus one that costs nothing.

11 cuts, 11 adds

Read the guide

Mutant Menace

The Wise Mothman

A rad counter is worth exactly one card milled, so spreading radiation beats stacking it. Thirteen swaps for The Wise Mothman, and what they cost.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Science!

Dr. Madison Li

Five cards in the box read your graveyard and only two can fill it. What I cut from Science!, what I added for Dr. Madison Li, and what it costs.

15 cuts, 15 adds

Read the guide

Scrappy Survivors

Dogmeat, Ever Loyal

The Fallout Dogmeat box ships 24 Auras and Equipment for 19 creatures. Fifteen swaps at $49 fix the ratio, plus the cuts, the mana math and a full decklist.

15 cuts, 15 adds

Read the guide

Blame Game

Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser

Nine cards in the Blame Game box only work when you get attacked, and Nelly Borca spends the game making sure you don't. 13 swaps for $35.40.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Deadly Disguise

Kaust, Eyes of the Glade

Twenty-four cards in this box average 4.29 mana to turn face up. Kaust does one a turn for free. Thirteen swaps, $23.86, that buy more flips.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Deep Clue Sea

Morska, Undersea Sleuth

Morska hands you a Clue every upkeep and reading it costs two mana. Fourteen of the box's thirty-seven lands enter tapped. 14 swaps for $67.35.

14 cuts, 14 adds

Read the guide

Revenant Recon

Mirko, Obsessive Theorist

Mirko grows one counter per surveil, not per card, and the box's best creatures sit six triggers away. Fifteen swaps for $45.97, with the maths behind each.

15 cuts, 15 adds

Read the guide

Raining Cats and Dogs

Rin and Seri, Inseparable

Rin and Seri's Secret Lair deck runs 24 Cats to 6 Dogs. Which type to name, what the box is worth now, and the $337.85 rebuild.

Read the review

Angels: They're Just Like Us but Cooler and with Wings

Gisela, the Broken Blade

Gisela's Secret Lair Angels deck reviewed: what melding costs you, the fifteen cards that read your life total, and why $687 of singles rebuilds for $326.

Read the review

Eldrazi Unbound

Zhulodok, Void Gorger

Zhulodok gives colorless spells costing seven or more cascade twice, and the box holds fifteen. Thirteen swaps, about $101, take that to twenty-one.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Sliver Swarm

Sliver Gravemother

Sliver Gravemother turns a six-drop in your graveyard into three hasty copies. Nine Sliver Swarm swaps for $81.80, and the encore math behind them.

9 cuts, 9 adds

Read the guide

From Cute to Brute

Esika, God of the Tree

Five foils carry From Cute to Brute: $166.96 of its $401 in singles, from a $149.99 box. What Esika's deck does, and why sealed is not the buy.

Read the review

Cavalry Charge

Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir

Two of the hundred cards in Cavalry Charge are Planechase cards. Eleven swaps for about $47 that fix the mana and pay off the commander’s forced discard.

11 cuts, 11 adds

Read the guide

Forces of the Imperium

Inquisitor Greyfax

Thirteen swaps for Inquisitor Greyfax, under $30. Nineteen cards in the box make tokens and one pays them off, so here is what leaves and what replaces it.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Necron Dynasties

Szarekh, the Silent King

Every lord in Necron Dynasties reads ‘artifact creature’, not Necron. Fourteen swaps for Szarekh, the Silent King, priced at $57.82.

14 cuts, 14 adds

Read the guide

The Ruinous Powers

Abaddon the Despoiler

Abaddon’s cascade threshold counts every opponent’s life loss added together, and the box can barely move it before combat. Fourteen swaps, about $48.

14 cuts, 14 adds

Read the guide

Tyranid Swarm

The Swarmlord

Twelve cards in Tyranid Swarm cost X, and the box gives The Swarmlord no way to sacrifice a creature. Thirteen swaps for $58.29.

13 cuts, 13 adds

Read the guide

Painbow

Jared Carthalion

Painbow ships sixteen lands that enter tapped and none of the ten painlands. Fourteen swaps for $46.89 fix the mana and feed Jared's Kavu tokens.

14 cuts, 14 adds

Read the guide

Exit from Exile

Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald

Eleven cards exile the top of your library and start a one-turn clock. Eight cost seven mana or more. Fifteen swaps, $33.18, and the clock stops beating you.

15 cuts, 15 adds

Read the guide

Heads I Win, Tails You Lose

Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom & Okaun, Eye of Chaos

Half your combats do nothing. The other half can end the game. What the $99.99 Secret Lair deck is worth in 2026, and how the coin flips actually fall.

Read the review

Arm for Battle

Wyleth, Soul of Steel

Wyleth draws a card for every Aura and Equipment he wears, and half the box’s gear costs three mana or more to re-attach. Fourteen swaps, about $44.

14 cuts, 14 adds

Read the guide

Enhanced Evolution

Otrimi, the Ever-Playful

Enhanced Evolution ships two Islands, three goad Auras and a ten-card X package under a mutate commander. 16 swaps commit Otrimi to mutate and fix the mana.

16 cuts, 16 adds

Read the guide

Timeless Wisdom

Gavi, Nest Warden

Gavi makes your first cycle each turn free, and that cycle is the card that makes a token. Where Commander 2020 skimped: the mana and the removal.

12 cuts, 12 adds

Read the guide

Vampiric Bloodlust

Edgar Markov

Eighteen of Vampiric Bloodlust's 37 lands enter tapped, under a commander who pays out from turn one. 17 swaps for $64.91, and most of them are mana.

17 cuts, 17 adds

Read the guide

Stalwart Unity

Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis

Kynaios and Tiro hand three opponents free cards and free lands. Fourteen swaps for about $111 that make the table pay for it, plus the full upgraded decklist.

14 cuts, 14 adds

Read the guide

Wade into Battle

Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas

Commander 2015 shipped fourteen Giants, six Angels, and three cards that only help the Giants. Fifteen swaps pick a side, for $24.

15 cuts, 15 adds

Read the guide

Nature of the Beast

Marath, Will of the Wild

Commander 2013 gave Marath 42 lands, 15 red sources, and a spell that destroys 25 of them. Eighteen swaps, $10.55, and the mana finally works.

18 cuts, 18 adds

Read the guide

What's in a guide

Every one covers the same ground. The arguments are the deck's, not a template's:

What the box is built around — the typal split, how many cards make you name a creature type, how much of the deck is legendary. Counts, not adjectives.
Whether the mana works. Each coloured cost is checked against the sources the deck actually runs, on the same exact hypergeometric math as the mana base calculator. Precons fail this more often than they fail on card quality.
The lands, classified properly. A land that enters tapped unless you control two basics is not a tapland in a deck with sixteen basics, and a shockland is not one at all. Getting that wrong is how an upgrade list ends up recommending a downgrade.
The bracket floor — which bracket the list can claim out of the box, and whether the swaps move it.
What comes out, and what stays. Including the cards that look like obvious cuts and aren't, with the reason they survived.
The full upgraded decklist, copyable as plain text or loadable straight into the deck builder.

Every Commander precon

All 176 official preconstructed Commander decks, newest release first, with the commander and the colour identity you're committing to. Collector's Edition printings sit on the deck they reprint instead of taking their own row — the hundred cards are the same, only the treatments differ.

Every deck name here goes to its own page: what the box contains, the full decklist, and what those cards are worth today. 66 of them also carry a written guide — the cut list, the adds and what the swaps cost — and those are being written a set at a time.

If the question is what a deck is worth rather than what's in it, the precon price index totals the singles in all of them — priced at the exact printing the box ships, which is where it parts company with every value list that goes by card name.

And if you're shopping by commander rather than by box, every commander below has its own page in the commander directory: the precon it fronts, that deck's land count and bracket floor, and how many coloured sources it actually runs against what its commander's mana cost needs.

Marvel Super Heroes Commander

June 2026 · 4 decks · 4 guides

Avengers Assemble Guide also a Collector’s Edition Captain America, Team Leader
Doom Prevails Guide also a Collector’s Edition Doctor Doom, King of Latveria
The Fantastic Four Guide also a Collector’s Edition Invisible Woman
Wakanda Forever Guide also a Collector’s Edition T'Challa, the Black Panther

Secret Lair Drop

May 2026 · 7 decks · 7 guides

20 Ways to Win Review Go-Shintai of Life's Origin
Angels: They're Just Like Us but Cooler and with Wings Review Gisela, the Broken Blade
Everyone's Invited! Review Morophon, the Boundless
From Cute to Brute Review Esika, God of the Tree
Goblin Storm Review Zada, Hedron Grinder
Heads I Win, Tails You Lose Review Zndrsplt, Eye of Wisdom & Okaun, Eye of Chaos
Raining Cats and Dogs Review Rin and Seri, Inseparable

Secrets of Strixhaven Commander

April 2026 · 5 decks · 5 guides

Lorehold Spirit Guide Quintorius, History Chaser
Prismari Artistry Guide Rootha, Mastering the Moment
Quandrix Unlimited Guide Zimone, Infinite Analyst
Silverquill Influence Guide Killian, Decisive Mentor
Witherbloom Pestilence Guide Dina, Essence Brewer

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Eternal

March 2026 · 1 deck · 1 guide

Turtle Power! Guide Heroes in a Half Shell

Lorwyn Eclipsed Commander

January 2026 · 2 decks · 2 guides

Blight Curse Guide Auntie Ool, Cursewretch
Dance of the Elements Guide Ashling, the Limitless

Edge of Eternities Commander

August 2025 · 2 decks · 2 guides

Counter Intelligence Guide Inspirit, Flagship Vessel
World Shaper Guide Hearthhull, the Worldseed

Final Fantasy Commander

June 2025 · 4 decks · 4 guides

Counter Blitz (FINAL FANTASY X) Guide also a Collector’s Edition Tidus, Yuna's Guardian
Limit Break (FINAL FANTASY VII) Guide also a Collector’s Edition Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER
Revival Trance (FINAL FANTASY VI) Guide also a Collector’s Edition Terra, Herald of Hope
Scions & Spellcraft (FINAL FANTASY XIV) Guide also a Collector’s Edition Y'shtola, Night's Blessed

Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander

April 2025 · 5 decks · 5 guides

Abzan Armor Guide Felothar the Steadfast
Jeskai Striker Guide Shiko and Narset, Unified
Mardu Surge Guide Zurgo Stormrender
Sultai Arisen Guide Teval, the Balanced Scale
Temur Roar Guide Eshki, Temur's Roar

Aetherdrift Commander

February 2025 · 2 decks · 1 guide

Eternal Might Guide Temmet, Naktamun's Will
Living Energy Saheeli, Radiant Creator

Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander

September 2024 · 4 decks

Death Toll Winter, Cynical Opportunist
Endless Punishment Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls
Jump Scare! Zimone, Mystery Unraveler
Miracle Worker Aminatou, Veil Piercer

Bloomburrow Commander

August 2024 · 4 decks · 4 guides

Animated Army Guide Bello, Bard of the Brambles
Family Matters Guide Zinnia, Valley's Voice
Peace Offering Guide Ms. Bumbleflower
Squirreled Away Guide Hazel of the Rootbloom

Modern Horizons 3 Commander

June 2024 · 4 decks · 4 guides

Creative Energy Guide also a Collector’s Edition Satya, Aetherflux Genius
Eldrazi Incursion Guide also a Collector’s Edition Ulalek, Fused Atrocity
Graveyard Overdrive Guide also a Collector’s Edition Disa the Restless
Tricky Terrain Guide also a Collector’s Edition Omo, Queen of Vesuva

Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander

April 2024 · 4 decks · 3 guides

Desert Bloom Guide Yuma, Proud Protector
Grand Larceny Guide Gonti, Canny Acquisitor
Most Wanted Olivia, Opulent Outlaw
Quick Draw Guide Stella Lee, Wild Card

Fallout

March 2024 · 4 decks · 4 guides

Hail, Caesar Guide Caesar, Legion's Emperor
Mutant Menace Guide The Wise Mothman
Science! Guide Dr. Madison Li
Scrappy Survivors Guide Dogmeat, Ever Loyal

Murders at Karlov Manor Commander

February 2024 · 4 decks · 4 guides

Blame Game Guide Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser
Deadly Disguise Guide Kaust, Eyes of the Glade
Deep Clue Sea Guide Morska, Undersea Sleuth
Revenant Recon Guide Mirko, Obsessive Theorist

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander

November 2023 · 4 decks

Ahoy Mateys Admiral Brass, Unsinkable
Blood Rites Clavileño, First of the Blessed
Explorers of the Deep Hakbal of the Surging Soul
Veloci-Ramp-Tor Pantlaza, Sun-Favored

Doctor Who

October 2023 · 4 decks

Blast from the Past The Fourth Doctor & Sarah Jane Smith
Masters of Evil Davros, Dalek Creator
Paradox Power The Thirteenth Doctor & Yasmin Khan
Timey-Wimey The Tenth Doctor & Rose Tyler

Wilds of Eldraine Commander

September 2023 · 2 decks

Fae Dominion Tegwyll, Duke of Splendor
Virtue and Valor Ellivere of the Wild Court

Commander Masters

August 2023 · 4 decks · 2 guides

Eldrazi Unbound Guide Zhulodok, Void Gorger
Enduring Enchantments Anikthea, Hand of Erebos
Planeswalker Party Commodore Guff
Sliver Swarm Guide Sliver Gravemother

Tales of Middle-earth Commander

June 2023 · 4 decks

Elven Council Galadriel, Elven-Queen
Food and Fellowship Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit & Sam, Loyal Attendant
Riders of Rohan Éowyn, Shieldmaiden
The Hosts of Mordor Sauron, Lord of the Rings

March of the Machine Commander

April 2023 · 5 decks · 1 guide

Call for Backup Bright-Palm, Soul Awakener
Cavalry Charge Guide Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir
Divine Convocation Kasla, the Broken Halo
Growing Threat Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos
Tinker Time Gimbal, Gremlin Prodigy

Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander

February 2023 · 2 decks

Corrupting Influence Ixhel, Scion of Atraxa
Rebellion Rising Neyali, Suns' Vanguard

Starter Commander Decks

December 2022 · 5 decks

Chaos Incarnate Kardur, Doomscourge
Draconic Destruction Atarka, World Render
First Flight Isperia, Supreme Judge
Grave Danger Gisa and Geralf
Token Triumph Emmara, Soul of the Accord

The Brothers' War Commander

November 2022 · 2 decks

Mishra's Burnished Banner Mishra, Eminent One
Urza's Iron Alliance Urza, Chief Artificer

Warhammer 40,000 Commander

October 2022 · 4 decks · 4 guides

Forces of the Imperium Guide also a Collector’s Edition Inquisitor Greyfax
Necron Dynasties Guide also a Collector’s Edition Szarekh, the Silent King
The Ruinous Powers Guide also a Collector’s Edition Abaddon the Despoiler
Tyranid Swarm Guide also a Collector’s Edition The Swarmlord

Dominaria United Commander

September 2022 · 2 decks · 1 guide

Legends' Legacy Dihada, Binder of Wills
Painbow Guide Jared Carthalion

Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate

June 2022 · 4 decks · 1 guide

Draconic Dissent Firkraag, Cunning Instigator
Exit from Exile Guide Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald
Mind Flayarrrs Captain N'ghathrod
Party Time Nalia de'Arnise

New Capenna Commander

April 2022 · 5 decks

Bedecked Brokers Perrie, the Pulverizer
Cabaretti Cacophony Kitt Kanto, Mayhem Diva
Maestros Massacre Anhelo, the Painter
Obscura Operation Kamiz, Obscura Oculus
Riveteers Rampage Henzie "Toolbox" Torre

Neon Dynasty Commander

February 2022 · 2 decks

Buckle Up Kotori, Pilot Prodigy
Upgrades Unleashed Chishiro, the Shattered Blade

Crimson Vow Commander

November 2021 · 2 decks

Spirit Squadron Millicent, Restless Revenant
Vampiric Bloodline Strefan, Maurer Progenitor

Midnight Hunt Commander

September 2021 · 2 decks

Coven Counters Leinore, Autumn Sovereign
Undead Unleashed Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver

Forgotten Realms Commander

July 2021 · 4 decks

Aura of Courage Galea, Kindler of Hope
Draconic Rage Vrondiss, Rage of Ancients
Dungeons of Death Sefris of the Hidden Ways
Planar Portal Prosper, Tome-Bound

Commander 2021

April 2021 · 5 decks

Lorehold Legacies Osgir, the Reconstructor
Prismari Performance Zaffai, Thunder Conductor
Quantum Quandrix Adrix and Nev, Twincasters
Silverquill Statement Breena, the Demagogue
Witherbloom Witchcraft Willowdusk, Essence Seer

Kaldheim Commander

February 2021 · 2 decks

Elven Empire Lathril, Blade of the Elves
Phantom Premonition Ranar the Ever-Watchful

Commander Legends

November 2020 · 2 decks · 1 guide

Arm for Battle Guide Wyleth, Soul of Steel
Reap the Tides Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait

Zendikar Rising Commander

September 2020 · 2 decks

Land's Wrath Obuun, Mul Daya Ancestor
Sneak Attack Anowon, the Ruin Thief

Commander 2020

April 2020 · 5 decks · 2 guides

Arcane Maelstrom Kalamax, the Stormsire
Enhanced Evolution Guide Otrimi, the Ever-Playful
Ruthless Regiment Jirina Kudro
Symbiotic Swarm Kathril, Aspect Warper
Timeless Wisdom Guide Gavi, Nest Warden

Commander 2019

August 2019 · 4 decks

Faceless Menace Kadena, Slinking Sorcerer
Merciless Rage Anje Falkenrath
Mystic Intellect Sevinne, the Chronoclasm
Primal Genesis Ghired, Conclave Exile

Commander 2018

August 2018 · 4 decks

Adaptive Enchantment Estrid, the Masked
Exquisite Invention Saheeli, the Gifted
Nature's Vengeance Lord Windgrace
Subjective Reality Aminatou, the Fateshifter

Commander Anthology Volume II

June 2018 · 4 decks

Breed Lethality Atraxa, Praetors' Voice
Built From Scratch Daretti, Scrap Savant
Devour for Power The Mimeoplasm
Wade into Battle Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas

Commander 2017

August 2017 · 4 decks · 1 guide

Arcane Wizardry Inalla, Archmage Ritualist
Draconic Domination The Ur-Dragon
Feline Ferocity Arahbo, Roar of the World
Vampiric Bloodlust Guide Edgar Markov

Commander Anthology

June 2017 · 4 decks

Evasive Maneuvers Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
Guided by Nature Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury
Heavenly Inferno Kaalia of the Vast
Plunder the Graves Meren of Clan Nel Toth

Commander 2016

November 2016 · 5 decks · 1 guide

Breed Lethality Atraxa, Praetors' Voice
Entropic Uprising Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder
Invent Superiority Breya, Etherium Shaper
Open Hostility Saskia the Unyielding
Stalwart Unity Guide Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis

Commander 2015

November 2015 · 5 decks · 1 guide

Call the Spirits Daxos the Returned
Plunder the Graves Meren of Clan Nel Toth
Seize Control Mizzix of the Izmagnus
Swell the Host Ezuri, Claw of Progress
Wade into Battle Guide Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas

Commander 2014

November 2014 · 5 decks

Built From Scratch Daretti, Scrap Savant
Forged In Stone Nahiri, the Lithomancer
Guided By Nature Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury
Peer Through Time Teferi, Temporal Archmage
Sworn To Darkness Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath

Commander 2013

November 2013 · 5 decks · 1 guide

Eternal Bargain Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
Evasive Maneuvers Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
Mind Seize Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge
Nature of the Beast Guide Marath, Will of the Wild
Power Hungry Prossh, Skyraider of Kher

Commander 2011

June 2011 · 5 decks

Counterpunch Ghave, Guru of Spores
Devour for Power The Mimeoplasm
Heavenly Inferno Kaalia of the Vast
Mirror Mastery Riku of Two Reflections
Political Puppets Zedruu the Greathearted

Magic Online Theme Decks

August 2009 · 2 decks

Deathdancer Xira Xira Arien
Enchantress Rubinia Rubinia Soulsinger

FAQ

Are Commander precons worth buying?

For most people they're the best-value way into the format: a hundred legal cards for roughly the price of a few singles, built to play against each other out of the box. What they aren't is optimised. They share a reprint pool, so the same filler turns up deck after deck, and the mana base is usually where that shows first — which is the part these guides spend the most words on.

How many Commander precons are there?

The index above lists 176 across 48 releases: the annual Commander sets, the set-tied decks that have shipped alongside most releases since 2021, Universes Beyond products like Warhammer 40,000 and Final Fantasy, and the Commander decks that arrived through Secret Lair. Collector's Edition printings aren't counted twice.

Which precon should a new Commander player start with?

Colour count is the practical filter, more than the theme is. A two-colour precon's mana works out of the box far more often than a four- or five-colour one, and a deck you can cast is a deck you learn the format on. The colour identity of every deck is in the index above, so you can narrow by that first and pick on theme second.

Can I play a precon straight out of the box?

Yes, and against other precons it's a fair game — that's what they're built for. Against a table of upgraded decks it usually isn't, and the gap is rarely about power level in the abstract: the precon is a turn or two behind on mana and its removal arrives late. Each guide states the bracket the stock list can claim, so you can check what your pod is actually asking for.

How many cards should I swap when upgrading a precon?

There's no fixed number, and any guide that always lands on the same one is working from a template. Somewhere between eight and fifteen is where most of these come out, driven by how much filler the deck was padded with. The rule that does hold: cuts have to equal adds, or the deck stops being a legal hundred.