Get ready for a magical journey, because the next set in the Magic: The Gathering, Wilds of Eldraine, is dropping on September 1st!
As with other releases, you can pick up your orders at pre-release on September 1st.
This set is deeply entrenched in the whimsical and mysterious world of fairytales and children's stories. But don't let the charming setting fool you - there are plenty of powerful cards in this set that are bound to shake up your Commander decks.
As with our other Top 10 lists, we’ll exclude Legendary Creatures unless they have broader applicability beyond being your Commander.
Let's take a look at some of the most impactful cards that you'll want to consider for your 99.
White has traditionally struggled with core Commander gameplay needs like card draw and ramp - but Discerning Financier is here to improve that. This card not only helps you catch up in resources, but also comes with the added advantage of turning your excess Treasure into card draw.
The rates aren’t fantastic, and you need to give a Treasure to an opponent, but that’s where the beauty lies. Giving a player a Treasure and drawing a card can be worth way more than three mana if you work the politics of the table in your favor. Maybe there’s a game winning threat on the table and someone is one mana short from answering it - some discretion would go a long way to solve the problem, don’t you think?
Meet White's answer to the iconic Craterhoof Behemoth. Moonshaker Cavalry is designed to create explosive turns and can turn the tide of any game in your favor. While Flying may not guarantee the win the same way Trample can, with enough Creatures on board this eight mana Mythic will secure you the win more often than not.
More unrestricted removal in White is always welcome, and Stroke of Midnight fits the bill perfectly. Think of it as an upgraded Generous Gift that will let you deal with various threats effortlessly. Admittedly, Stroke of Midnight will not remove problematic Lands, but that’s a trade I’d happily make to give my opponent a smaller Creature.
For those who love to dig deep into their decks, Farsight Ritual offers a powerful effect similar to Dig Through Time. You won’t be able to reduce the cost down to two mana, but at its baseline, you’ll be able to pick two cards from your top four. While overcosted compared to Dig, having a second copy is nothing to scoff at!
Are you into token or aristocrat strategies? Back for Seconds will be right up your alley. Similar to Macabre Waltz, this Black spell will let you return two Creatures to your hand. It comes with some additional costs, but some significant upside. The one mana difference lets you skip the discard, and the Bargain cost turns this into a mini Victimize.
While this won’t win you a Commander game on Turn 1 like in Legacy, Beseech the Mirror offers a lot of strength in Commander. With the Bargain cost paid you get to cast a card from your deck with mana cost four or lower. The high color commitment means you won’t see this in every deck, but in those that do run it there will be a lot of combos coming right after its cast.
Up the Beanstalk is a fantastic addition to any deck with a high-costed Commander or high average mana value. This Enchantment replaces itself and offers a steady stream of card draw in the late game. You won’t be able to play this in your Keruga, the Macrosage deck, but if you’re skipping the Companion to afford some early plays, Up the Beanstalk should be one of those.
Open the Armory has found its superior in Kellan, the Fae-Blooded. Modal spells have always been fantastic in Commander, and having one that also brings along a Creature is simply too good to pass up. Most decks that want this effect will run both when they can, and Equipment is a very prevalent strategy in Red-White. As a supporting player, Kellan multiplies the value of your Equipment and Auras giving those decks a bit more gumption.
Although it might not offer the best rate, Collector's Vault is a low-cost, Colorless card that can easily slide into a multitude of decks. Looting and creating a Treasure can help you set up for later turns with filtering and stockpiling mana. For recursion decks, the discard will add some further value.
10. Hylda's Crown
Do you like drawing cards? If so, you’ll likely want Hylda's Crown in some of your decks. While you'll need five tapped creatures for this card to shine, it has the potential to draw you an absurd number of cards.
The other benefit that may not be as obvious is how this Artifact will act as a mini Silent Arbiter. This card will have your opponents reconsider turning sideways as long as its in play since it threatens filling your hand with a ton of cards. I’d expect this card to make you a target or bring the game to a standstill.
And there you have it, ten must-have cards from Wilds of Eldraine that you'll want to slot into your Commander decks.
There are many more treats that may fit your decks perfectly, so I’d recommend checking out the entire set. Eager to try these out?
Were there any cards you’re excited about that I missed? Let me know in the Chimera Gaming Discord, or reach me directly on Twitter.
Did you know we usually have 16 pods firing for Commander night on Tuesdays? I hope to see you there and may your adventures in the Wilds of Eldraine be as enchanted as the tales that inspired them!
