March of the Machine: Aftermath is a new style of product made up of 50 new cards featured in Epilogue boosters.
This set wraps many of the story threads from March of the Machine but more importantly, features new cards for Commander! Rather than cover off the Top 10 cards for Commander, we'll focus on the Top 5 that offer some new play patterns for your decks.
As with other Top 10 lists, we’ll talk about cards that are best for your 99, but we’ll make an exception for Legendary Creatures that have some broad appeal.
Let’s explore some new tech from March of the Machine: Aftermath!
1.Filter Out
Three mana value wraths will always turn heads, and Filter Out is no different. Returning all noncreature and nonland permanents to their owners’ hands will prove powerful. This can be a great way to slow down opponents that are setting up value engines with draw power Enchantments and Artifact ramp early. Filter Out also temporarily removed pesky Planeswalkers and Battles.
2.Reckless Handling
Tutors are a dividing concept in Commander as they are at odds with the inconsistency paradigm supported by the singleton restriction. That doesn't mean they don't have a home though - they just may not fit your specific play style. For those that don't oppose tutors, Reckless Handling offers a very Red feeling Artifact tutor. Acting as a second Gamble with a restriction, this card will find a home in many decks.
3.Open the Way
While Open the Way is no Ranger's Path, it's a significant upgrade to Explosive Vegetation. In most Commander games this Green sorcery will net you three Lands of any type from your deck. While it is random what you get, Open the Way should prove beneficial for fixing and a good way to get some utility lands in play.
4.Nahiri's Resolve
At first glance, Nahiri'sResolve doesn't seem really strong and maybe a little counter intuitive with removing some blockers. However, this expensive Enchantment offers some unique utility in protecting important Creatures or enabling repeatable Enters the Battlefield triggers. Giving all your Creatures haste means the new friends you okay will be able to swing in right away and then sidestep out of the way of danger. That fact alone makes Nahiri's Resolve really strong for decks with high mana value Creatures.
5.Rebuild the City
Akin to Astral Dragon, Rebuild the City lets you make Creature copies of noncreature cards - this time with a restriction to Lands. It does come in at a lower mana value, but requires more colors so it's unlikely to break things but it will lead to some memorable plays. I'm excited to try this out with some nonlegendary shenanigans and a Dark Depths.
What do you think of the cards we reviewed?
While this list offers some generic cards that will fit in many decks, there are others that fit into niche strategies.
This set also opens up some new creative paths for characters that have been previously restricted to certain card types. Without spoiling too much, I can tell you I'm excited for the new directions this will open for card design.
As we eagerly await the release of March of the Machine: Aftermath, take a spin through the full set and get ready to embrace the thrilling new possibilities this set has to offer.
Were there any cards you’re excited about that I missed? Let me know in the Chimera Gaming Discord, or can reach me directly on Twitter. Happy shuffling, and hope to jam a game or two with you in the future!
