Kozilek, the Great Distortion
What's not to like about a 12/12 body with Menace (They can't be blocked except by two or more creatures) that refills your hand when cast? The casting cost? Not such a problem in Command, which is a format full of mana rocks like Sol Ring and Thran Dynamo.
It also has a limited counterspell function which is great because it's colourless but I wonder how useful it will prove to be.
Endbringer
This creature screams utility. I can see it being as popular, if not more so, then Solemn Simulacrum
Firstly this is a colourless creature that lets you draw a card for 2 colourless mana. For players of Red and White decks I can see that being a huge positive.
What's even better is that it untaps itself during every players untap step so if you have the mana you could be drawing 3 or 4 extra cards every round.
So even in colours with better draw options it will easily be able to stand up and be counted.
Don't have the mana to use it for drawing cards? You can always tap it to kill that annoying 1/1 utility creature.
The middle ability could prove useful. Commander is a game of politics as much as it is a game of magic and being able to decide if one of your opponent's creatures can attack or block during their turns could prove to be really useful.
Ignoring everything else this is a colourless counterspell. People will argue every colour has had some kind of counter in the past but, that doesn't make this any less of a big deal.
Every board sweeper I can think of; Damnation, Wrath of God etc is a Sorcery.
Even Rout which may read as though it can be cast as an instant is still classed as a Sorcery.
The Oracle wording of the card reads:
"You may cast Rout as though it had flash if you pay 2 more to cast it. (You may cast it any time you could cast an instant.)"
So its type doesn't change. All of these can be countered by Warping Wail.
Also it can be Imprinted by Isochron Scepter.
Just based on those two points above I can see this being played in almost every deck that doesn't play Blue!
Stoneforge Masterwork
Cheep to cast and equip. Made for Ultron style decks it also gives tribal decks a way to win with Commander damage. In the coming weeks I plan to write a post on a tribal deck and this will be included.
Seer's Lantern
A mana rock that lets you Scry. I can see this being played. It maybe situational based on the deck you're running. But I still think it has it's uses.
Sea Gate Wreckage
A land that lets you draw cards is never going to be a bad thing. I expect to get one of these myself at some point.
Call the Gatewatch
69 - That's how many Planeswalker cards have now been released by wizards. A new tutor for white that doesn't go for enchantments is a welcome addition to the Commander arsenal.
Definitely going to see play in decks that can use white.
General Tazri
Want to play 5 colours? Want to play Allies? Then General Tazri is your Commander of choice. It's nice to see WotC releasing a Legendary creature which is so obviously designed for Commander but not in a stand alone Commander set.
Make a Stand
There's nothing like avoiding your own Wrath of God by playing a card to make your own creatures indestructible!
Eldrazi Displacer
Flicker effects i.e. those that remove a creature from play only to see them return - usually to abuse an enter the battlefield effect, are quite common in Commander. This beauty has an effect that is reusable which makes it abusable. Enough to create infinite combos!
You need another land but this will work:
Cloud of Faeries lets you untap the Temple and the other land so you can then tap them to flicker the faeries to repeat the process.
There maybe better combos in fact I'm sure there will be. I just came up with this one while writing the article.
This card actually quite excites me as I like infinite combos. I like them alot.
Zendikar Resurgent
A little on the expensive size, but hey you're playing green so you shouldn't care too much. This card includes mana ramp and card draw all in one nice package. Another card designed for Commander rather than any of the other formats.
World Breaker
Not the most outstanding card in the format and I think somewhat overshadowed by other large green creatures. However it Exiles rather than destroys and it can be brought back from the graveyard if you need to use it again, which is always a bonus.
Bonds of Mortality
An enchantment that nicely replaces itself and lets you remove Hexproof and Indestructible from you opponents creatures has to have a place in Commander. You only have to look at my last attempt at deck construction to see that.
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet.
Great in Tribal Vampires or Zombies. And at the very least it shuts down Mikaeus, the Unhallowed combos. It can also voltron itself in a pinch. Great card, maybe even a great commander.
Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
I chose this because of it's second ability. It's not hard in colours that support Lifelink and Extort to gain 10 life more than your starting total.
Once you're there you can sacrifice another creature, probably a token - Black and White are both great at produce those as well, to exile a target nonland permanent. So that's anything else; Planeswalkers, Enchantments, Artifacts, Creatures you name it you can Exile it.
Cliffhaven Vampire
If you've read my Black Magic combos post you'll be aware of the Sanguine Bond/Exquisite Blood combo. Well this is a variation of Sanguine Bond on a 2/4 body.
It never hurts to have more than one piece for a combo if you're playing the colours for it.
Mindmelter
I confess I'm not sure about this one. Early game it could prove to be a real bane for your opponents, especially as it doesn't require Mindmelter to tap - although, in normal circumstances, it can only be used during your turn.
Fall of the Titans
An instant X damage spell that can deal it's damage to two targets if you can cast it for it's Surge cost. That's highly efficient and well worth a mention.
Chandra, Flamecaller
I was tempted to leave Chandra off of this list as she costs a full 6 CMC to cast. But her 0 ability is really useful for red decks where drawing cards is a rare ability.
I still think she's borderline playable but I've included her despite my misgivings.
Crush of Tentacles
So wipe the board clean and you get an 8/8 beat stick as well. Played for it's surge cost this card has plenty of upside and little downside.
Hedron Alignment
Forget the wordy paragraph of text that doesn't matter in a singleton format like Commander. Concentrate on the fact this is an Enchantment with Hexproof that lets you Scry whenever you like and as often as you like so long as you have the mana to pay for it.
Sphinx of the Final Word
What better card to leave until the end of the article.
The big Sphinges (that's the plural I looked it up!) are always great cards and this one is no exception.
It can't be countered and has Hexproof making it pretty hard to get rid of and it makes your instant and sorcery spells uncounterable.
And those are my thoughts and that is my final word.
Phil
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