Guide
How to build a Commander deck
Commander is Magic’s most popular casual format: 100 cards, one legendary leader, no duplicates. Here are the rules and a template that works for almost any commander.
The rules
What makes a Commander deck legal
100 cards, commander included. Your commander is a legendary creature (or a card that says it can be your commander), and it starts in the command zone.
Singleton. Only one copy of each card, apart from basic lands.
Colour identity. Every card must only use mana symbols from your commander’s colour identity. A white-black commander means no red, green or blue cards.
40 life, 21 commander damage. Players start on 40 life, and 21 combat damage from a single commander knocks a player out.
Commander tax. Each time you cast your commander from the command zone, it costs 2 more than the last time.
A template
Where the 99 cards go
A widely used starting template. Adjust it once you’ve played a few games.
- 0136–38
Lands
Fewer if your deck is very cheap, more if it’s full of big spells.
- 02~10
Ramp
Mana rocks and land search so you’re ahead on mana.
- 03~10
Card draw
Commander games are long. Running out of cards loses them.
- 04~10
Interaction
Removal, counterspells and a board wipe or two, depending on your colours.
Then add your plan
The remaining 30 or so cards are what make the deck yours: creatures and spells that do what your commander wants. Pick the ones that work with it, not just strong cards in your colours.
Before a game, check you’re at the same power level as the table. Wizards’ Commander Brackets give everyone a shared way to talk about it, and the Game Changers list flags the cards that push a deck up.
Starting from a precon
Preconstructed Commander decks are a cheap, legal place to start. The fastest upgrade is usually better lands and ramp, then swapping the weakest ten cards for ones that fit your commander.
Price your list in one go
Paste your list from Moxfield, Archidekt or MTGO into Deck Check. We’ll show what’s on our shelf, the total in AUD and what’s missing. Basic lands are on us.
Questions
Commander questions
How many lands should a Commander deck have?
Most decks run 36–38 lands. Run fewer if the deck is very low-cost or has lots of ramp, and more if it relies on expensive spells.
Can I have more than one copy of a card in Commander?
No. Commander is singleton: one copy of each card, except basic lands.
What is colour identity?
All the mana symbols on your commander, including in its rules text. Every card in your deck must fit inside it.