In Magic the Gathering's Commander format, each player has a legendary creature as their commander, and the colors of that commander determine the only colors you can play in your deck. This creates a strategic constraint where deck building must align with your commander's color identity. The video demonstrates this through a beginner's journey building a mill-based dragon deck, showing how to select cards that synergize with your commander's abilities and how to balance land count with your deck's mana curve. The key principle is that effective Commander decks require understanding how your commander's abilities interact with other cards to create synergistic strategies.
Deep Dive
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Deep Dive
I gave my cousin $100 for Magic cards (He spent $300)Added:
Look at this.
>> Yes.
>> Why would you do that? That means you too.
>> I know. That's crazy.
>> Why would you do >> This is my cousin. He knows absolutely nothing about Magic the Gathering. And today we're going to change all that.
>> Yep. The card.
>> Okay. So, today I'm building a commander deck for my cousin who has no experience in magic whatsoever. We're going to take him on an adventure. He's going to figure out his commander, what color, what's his play style, and yeah, we'll see you in there. As of now, there's no budget for the deck. So, he's going to buy whatever he feels. He really wants to win, right? He just cares about winning. So, we're going to try to find him the best options for what's going to help him win. But don't roast him too hard on what deck he chooses.
>> So, how many how many duplicates can you have? Just >> you can only can play one copy every card. So, it's always different.
>> It's not like when you have like three or something.
>> No, in in standard Magic, you can run four.
>> Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
>> Do you guys have like a list of commander cards for magic? Like a binder or anything?
>> Uh, as in Oh, like an FG. No, if you're looking for legendary creatures for >> Yeah. Yeah. Legendary creatures.
>> Uh there's there's thousands of them.
>> So, uh I guess the more popular ones would be in shelves typically in the multiolor. Um otherwise, it would be >> Let me see if there's legendary though.
There's no legendary here.
>> Yeah. Yep. The card has to say legendary. That's your commander.
>> Oh, so there's one commander for every deck. Yeah. Oh, Transformer, Marvel, Sure.
>> Iron Man, Captain America, stuff like that.
>> Like that. Do I just buy a box like that?
>> No, like Commander, you would buy those box stores >> and you build upon that. But >> we have a a bit more rares in here.
Although typically in legendary cards like commanders won't be in here. It's more like a higherend staples.
>> Do you have any of the Marvel Commanders?
>> Well, that actually comes out next set.
>> No, the old one. Do you have the old ones?
>> Like Spider-Man, Wolverine? These are equivalent to like a Pokemon Center drop. You buy these online from their official website.
>> But this is Fallout, right?
>> Yeah, but they did a collab with Marvel.
That's where you would find Wolverine.
>> So Marvel's in here?
>> No, not in this one.
>> No, no, not this Marvel one.
>> Last of Us.
>> Are you open to playing anything else other than >> Yeah, I'm open to Yeah, I'm to anything else, too, >> cuz maybe maybe he can take a look at like what the cards do and then pick from there.
>> Yeah. Yeah, I'm down for that.
How competitive do you want the deck to be? Uh, >> I mean, I don't want to be crazy. Just like, you know, like you said, the balance, like a balance of like attacking and also like, you know, controlling.
>> I'll probably dragon. Oh god, people will hate you with this because it's a really He wants the Earl Dragon.
>> The deck is extremely strong.
>> But it'll be easy to build for cuz it's almost there would be >> is it different types of dragons?
>> Yeah. No, with that deck you can play every cuz cuz this deck has every single color. You can play every single card.
Magic.
>> There's no limit to what you can build in this deck.
>> The dragon. Dragon look cool, bro.
>> Yeah, it is. That's why it's rank one.
>> Everyone likes dragon.
>> That's true. But people are going to know I have this. So I bought this. This is one of my >> Oh, the cat.
>> Yeah, she's really good. People hate that too cuz you can play [ __ ] from your hand. I'm a dark lord.
>> So what I'm hearing is Sean has good taste. Good taste and strong cards.
>> Here's another dragon. Oh, that's cool.
If you wanted this one, they sell the precon here. You can buy that first.
>> How do we do equipment, dude? I can do the samurai or the dragon or even Azula.
But does it have to be like you have to make it cohesive of like avatar? All of them has to be avatar or no.
>> No.
>> Oh, did you like an ally deck? I think he would like this one. Take a look at these.
>> What dragon is that?
>> It's a new one.
>> Wither bloom.
>> You're lucky cuz the new set that just came out, a lot of new dragons came out.
So, black, black, each colors have different things. So, black and green.
And black is a lot of death, like bringing things from the graveyard. And green is like big things, like really big things.
>> Oh, this one similar.
>> That one's white and black.
>> No, it doesn't have to be.
>> So, whatever color you're picking in your commander, that's the colors you can only play in your deck.
>> Really?
>> Yeah.
>> Oh, [ __ ] So, if you pick this one, you play all >> you think that you like red and green because fast and it gets big really quickly.
>> Dang. So, if I do someone that can do all them, then that's OP. Then, >> it's also hard to put them out.
>> That's good.
>> But once they're out, it's really strong. I recommend you not buy this guy cuz every time I see him, I just target him.
>> This guy is cool. Wait, so what kind of play style? Do you like drawing a lot?
Do you like not letting people play or do you like just beating people down?
>> Uh, I do like for me I I still like to draw, but >> he likes his options.
>> I mean, wouldn't this be kind of good?
This new dragon at the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, you may discard a card and you do draw a card.
>> That's pretty good.
>> I have to discard card each card. I know you can discard useless cards, >> but he won't know what card is.
>> He'll know over time.
>> Do you think you'll be attached to cards? Cuz I am attached to cars.
>> I like the red, green, and white. Red, green, white, but no dragons.
>> I think he just likes his dragons and dinos.
>> I think we just get him like dragon.
>> Dragon. Yeah. So, he decided to get one of the dragon precons. It's one of It's either this guy or that guy. So, let's see which precon they have and then we're going to get some stuff to do a little upgrade of the deck. Whatever cards he wants to play with. But yeah, we are back at card art cuz they have everything. Tofu unfortunately didn't have enough stuff for us. So he has he has two of the dragons. Which one do you recommend for him to play either?
>> So that one. What was your other one?
>> He just wants dragons.
>> He just want dragons. I feel like if you just want dragons, it's definitely this one. Uh the other one is more graveyard.
>> Oh graveyard. So he's a beginner. So which one do you recommend?
>> I mean if you just want to play dragons, definitely aren. So this way.
>> Do you guys have either one of these or >> uh I probably have the cards. Let me see.
We don't have the precons. So I want to be able to get you like the full deck to get going with.
>> But if you're looking for the face commanders and a place to start, I should be able to help you.
>> Yeah, but they still have singles for you to build out the deck.
>> Yeah.
>> Do you have a copy of the ball?
>> I don't know. Have a copy of a Reny, but you also want to pull one.
>> Want a shiny one or a non shiny?
>> Okay. So you want shiny?
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I mean they have this one. You start building.
>> But you want to play it specifically like kind of like dragons. No, it could be it could be a minute, but most most like a lot.
>> He wants like basically a balanced strong deck where he doesn't get rolled.
>> Gotcha. I think Well, my next question then is what is your budget?
>> Uh >> I'm not going to say it's impossible.
>> But it's going to like we're going to have to do some work.
>> Oh, no problem.
>> Yeah. So, I'm going to grab you some of the like the more basic stuff.
>> Probably get him the staples first.
>> Yeah, exactly.
>> And then from there, we can figure out if he wants like the price cards. 57.
>> No. 67.
>> Land's pretty important cuz the cheaper lands, they're slower.
>> What do you do with the lands? It's what you used to pay for the cards.
>> Oh, really?
>> Yeah. So, this is how much it costs to play.
>> You need five black and three. So, it's five.
>> But then you only have like eight cards in hand, right? Maximum.
>> Yeah. But every turn, you only can play one land.
>> But for green, you can play more than one.
>> Spells are.
>> So, that's why he's really good.
>> So, this this require eight land.
>> Yeah. But when you ramp, you'll probably see how fast like you can get ahead everyone else.
>> Yeah, dragon's expensive to play. This is like a black. It is black or jet. I mean, there's straight black reserve, but black is really basic.
>> Yeah, that's >> what's it called again?
>> Torture existence. For each creature in your graveyard, let's say you have six creatures. When you play this, you get six mana.
>> Oh, it's still good.
>> Yeah, if you have lot actually. That's not bad.
>> Pretty good.
>> You actually found a card that might be good. Proud.
>> Unblockable.
>> All right, that is toxic.
>> Wait. Huh?
>> Huh?
>> Just so messed up.
>> I know.
>> That's crazy.
This stays forever. If it's enchantment, it stays forever unless they destroy it.
>> Whenever an opponent plays this mill card you said, right? If it's a sorcery, it only activates once. Like you play and it's done. It's like playing a magic. Enchantment stays under until someone gets rid of it.
>> Well, blue is a lot of like drawing stuff.
>> Yeah, blue. That's why blue is really strong. Drawing. You like drawing cuz you got to see more options.
>> What does he mean to scry?
>> I mean, I think he wants to the extra turn.
>> Yeah, extra turn. Yeah, >> cuz now you say they are longer. If I want to use that, I keep my hand, right?
>> Yeah. Yeah. You don't have to use it.
>> Basket over from your high head.
>> Low key, I think.
>> Look at this.
>> Why would you do that? That means YouTube.
>> I know. That's crazy.
>> Why would you, >> Dude? You're to actually make the game go for four hours, dude.
>> Look at this. That's crazy, >> dude. Did you just start magic? He's living on these dirty ass cards.
>> Yeah, maybe you shouldn't play Magic.
Maybe you should go into like Pokemon.
>> Wait, you want more Millie?
>> This one says whenever you draw a card, >> dude, that's even better, dude. So, if you exile that mean can I bring it anymore?
>> Exile gone forever.
>> Hey, put that the other one. This one.
>> What? Listen. You want this in case the hand is bad?
>> Well, what color is your deck?
>> Blue, black, and green.
>> Yo, get more green card. Okay.
>> Get more green. Less blue, please.
>> Damn, look at this one called potent portant. Look at the top three cards of the targets players library. Then either shuffle that library or put those three cards on the top of the library in any order.
>> The [ __ ] is troll as [ __ ] Don't play that.
>> If you have these two cards out, you're going to be able to make and and a creature in the graveyard, a creature in your hand, you're going to make infinite two twos because every single time you activate this ability, discard a card, you're going to get a treasure.
>> Yeah, it's leaving the graveyard. Then you can spend that treasure to activate this ability again. You just go back and forth. You make infinite twos.
>> Two two like two two commander creatures.
>> Infinite two twos.
>> How do we display the two two?
>> We have cards.
>> Oh, you have to do that.
>> Yeah. Perfect. You have ways to mill yourself. This is important. This one is their opponents, but still fine.
>> Some of them are crazy.
>> Second chance.
>> Oh man, you playing. Okay. Yeah, these are sweet. Uh man, this is me. You're going to sundo your friend. Holy hell.
>> I told him not to play. He's like, "In case I'm losing." I'm like, "Okay."
>> He's very mean. But these these are good cards. I think for the most part, >> I can see the vision on almost all these. I >> think he's trolling.
>> Yeah. Some of these are a little disperate, but like these are just like staples, right? This >> those I put in for him cuz >> if >> you want to play can trips, you can always play can trips. This taking extra turn is a really powerful effect.
Sometimes getting it for two is kind of broken. And monster. Yeah, it's fine.
Manaus, which is good. Revelation, you get good use. This card's insane in your deck if you're milling yourself.
>> I think we just need to find more ways to like get stuff into your graveyard now.
>> Yeah.
>> So, which one's your >> spider? Oh, scarab.
>> Similar kind of card. Okay.
>> I think somebody might have him.
>> Yeah. Scar god.
>> Yep. Sadi.
>> Yep. These are all good. This might be just troll.
>> That was just like a big dude. I mean, this one's definitely good. And then these are like interactive pieces. So these ones I would decide at the end.
You want to get like your engine going and then you get to decide like how you want to play your interaction.
>> But because you're playing Lance from your graveyard, you're triggering all the leave the graveyard effects when using that.
>> Um, so these are kind of like the same thing where they let you play cards from your graveyard. When you play cards from your graveyard, you're going to trigger these >> one or more. Wow, that's pretty good.
>> Yeah, exactly. The rest are like reanimation spells. So these also have things that will exit the graveyard. So you essentially every time you random animate something now, you're stapling a two two to it. So it's a lot of extra value.
>> Just know you get a creature every time you bring something back. It's really good.
>> Uh so this is in your deck a piece of ramp. So if you mill over a bunch of lands, let's say you have five lands in your graveyard and you cast this, you're going to pick all of them up and just put them onto the battlefield. And if you have ways to sacrifice things, then you can keep that chain going. This one's just card advantage. Importantly, if he dies, he'll come back. He'll touch the graveyard, then come out as an enchantment. So every single one of these cards just come with extra things except this one which you just want to get into your graveyard and it just makes all your stuff fly.
>> Well, what's the range when they fly?
>> They can't block unless they have reach.
>> So, you just fly over the creatures.
>> Wait, what do you mean?
>> Like if >> it's a good way to close out the game.
>> It's like if they don't have cards that says reach, you just fly across and hit them directly.
>> So, you need a reach >> say reach or something.
>> Reach on it >> so that they can block.
We don't have the cheapest version unfortunately. So I don't have the torquier one, but I do have a great one >> cuz I need to be able to complete.
>> What if after all this you go nah?
>> What? No. No. Did it happen?
>> Like yo, who?
>> Wait, you've done that?
>> Yeah, >> they've done that.
>> I mean, just these three lands. So these the shock lamps will bring you up to 210. So >> But then how much do I complete now? How much?
>> So I mean I'm going to throw in the 50 cent cards cuz you're buying like the full character. That's fine. Uh, this is 210. And then if you want, >> would that complete my deck for that one?
>> These ones? Yeah, this will get you a good chunk of the way there. Then we can try and fill it with basics and get you to a playable state.
>> Basics, like free lands.
>> Yeah, like I'll give you the basics.
>> So, usually, uh, but if you want, I'll price this out and see where we get.
Yeah.
>> And then with the with the other lands, it'll be fine.
>> Yeah, for sure. Normally these are each.
>> So, that's what we're working with.
>> Okay. 238. Okay.
>> Cool.
>> So, I'm just going to do 245 to take care of the other card.
>> So, that's pretty much like the whole deck besides the basic.
>> Beside the basic. Yeah. We're going to figure out exactly what what basics we need. So, I need to figure out the colors.
>> No. Do you need a deck bump?
>> Uh, like to hold your deck.
>> This will hold my deck, too.
>> I mean, let's carve a carve a buck up to you, dude.
>> But it's going to be 28261.
>> Whenever you're ready, >> Sean, how much did you just spend?
>> $300, bro.
>> 282.
>> Did you feel good?
>> 282.
>> We said 100 g. The rest is You're right.
>> 300 casual.
>> Why you Why you sleeping, bro? There's There's raw dog.
>> I was going to raw dog.
>> Did you spend $300 raw dog? Crazy.
>> God damn.
>> Look at that one. Did she draw that?
>> No. That's >> Did I draw it?
>> Did you key?
>> Show the key.
>> That's what she bought.
>> What the [ __ ] is that, bro?
>> It's supposed to be this.
>> That's $30.
>> So, I ended up uh my commander is Taval.
Uh the balance skill. These are my creatures.
>> Well, you should be speaking, sir.
>> I don't think someone's going to sit through that.
The only way to do this, >> yo guys, this video the video like yo is the video.
>> He just said this and has like 30 like the five minutes of silence.
>> Audio.
>> Hello.
>> Hello. Wait shot.
>> Those are each name. and he ended up with Taval, this little dragon dude.
This card has flying. Whenever he attacks, we mill three cards. So, we want cards in our graveyard. And so, when that happens, you may. So, I get a choice to return a land card from the graveyard to the battlefield tap. So, I guess whenever you mail, there's a chance that land cards could end up in your graveyard, and you get those for free. Whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard, create a two two. Wait, >> Jimmy. So, we get land and we get a creature.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh, that's [ __ ] broken.
>> I mean, that's pretty broken. Excuse my language. Okay, let's see what the creatures are.
>> Creatures sat sat wayfinder. What is this? Enters. Reveal top four card library. Put a land card. Put the rest in the graveyard. Okay, so more in graveyard. Circle of the land. Dru dr. Druid. Druid. Druid.
Sorry, my bad. Uh, when this guy enters the battlefield, you may mill. Okay, more milling. More into a graveyard.
When circle of the land, this guy dies.
Return target land card from your graveyard to your hand. Oh, just more land. A lot of land from graveyard to hand or field. This one has trample cycling.
Recycle. Put a trample counter on target creature control. Oh, so giving more creatures target.
>> Or wait, wait, wait. Is this one putting giving more creatures trample?
>> Yeah.
>> Nice.
>> Sound greeter enters more milling.
>> Gaining life.
>> Emperor of bones.
>> Exile one of your target card from >> exile one up to one target card from a graveyard.
Whenever one or more crossbow scanner are put on this guy, put a creature card. Exile. I have no idea what to do.
This is too much reading. Psych search.
Okay. More more land.
>> I almost beat your creature. Let's see.
>> This has mana plus flying. Whenever a car leaves your graveyard during this turn, draw a card or draw ability.
Whenever this guy enters the battlefield or attacks, mill threes more milling.
Whenever one or more creature cards are printed to your graveyard from your library crate. Okay. Isn't this similar?
Same same.
>> Oh yeah.
>> Same sameish. I think >> this guy has menace. Nice. Each creature card in your graveyard has scavenge.
What is scavenge? Scavenge range cost is equal to its mana cost. Scavenges. Exile a creature card from your graveyard and pay its mana cost. Put a number of 1 equal to card power on card creature.
Scavenge only as a sorcery. Okay. No instant. This one plus one plus one for each creature card in your graveyard.
That's it. Sacrifice.
Okay. Flash. Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, draw a card. Whenever this guy dies, it returns as an enchantment. I think I have this. I have this right my other deck.
>> And then Amelia. Oh, by the way, >> spring bloom enters field. Sacrifice a land if you do search. Okay. Two basic lands. may play lands from your graveyards. Whenever six attract mail three cards, put a land to your hand. As long as it's your turn on a lot of moving land to your battlefield, moving land to your hand, right? Gain life, draw a card. I guess there's some drawability in here. Um, there's a lot going on here. Uh, at the beginning of your upkeep, each opponent loses X life and you scry X, where X is the number of zombies you control. Does he even have zombies? I think it is.
>> Does every creature that comes back from the graveyard, is that considered a zombie or no? Oh, it explicitly says zombies.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh, okay.
>> When Timeless Witness enters the battlefield, target return target card from your graveyard to your hand.
>> Target card. So, what are you looking for this?
>> What are you looking at your target?
>> Anything. You just target card. So, whenever like >> What? What's the good one here?
>> Oh, I didn't even look through that.
>> This one is flying. Whenever one or more card leave your graveyard during your turn, create a treasure token. Okay.
Enters mill. Okay. More milling. More lane from graveyard. This guy is flying.
Oh, I hate his deck. Deck has so much flying. I mean, it is a dragon.
This one is when Kyrie dies, choose one.
You can return any number of target non-land permanence with total mana value six or less to their owner's hand or mail six cards. Then return up to two instance and or sorcery cards from your graveyard to your hand.
Legendary creature. This one Junji Flying Menace. When Juji dies, you can choose each opponent discards two cards and lose two life. Or you can have them put a target non dragon creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control, but you lose two life. Okay.
Young necrolancer enters the field, you exile two cards in your graveyard. When you do return two card from your graveyard to the battlefield, Wonder as long as Wonder is in your graveyard and you control an island creatures, you control how flat everything is flying.
This card is my American. This deck is my worst nightmare. I like playing flying, but I hate when the opponent plays flying.
>> I think it's good.
>> Yeah, I think his deck is good. One one counter flying destroy combat damage to a creature destroy combat damage.
Destroy.
>> Oh, this is a dredge thing that we talk about. I don't know what that does, but >> we'll figure it out.
>> This one has trample.
>> Other creatures you can control have trample. He's giving them everything.
>> Yeah.
This one has reach two cards from of your library to graveyard. More flying coma damage.
>> Flying one one counters. Oh my gosh, I know this one. I love my card for this.
>> He can't do anything after.
>> This one you just beat them down and win the game.
>> Uh flying. Whenever this creature enters mill. Okay, more milling.
>> Ridiculous. During each of your turn, you may play a land and cast a permanent spell of each permanent type from your graveyard.
>> Pacific.
>> Okay, >> that's the title.
>> That's all the creatures. Yes, these two. That's the bar. Are these only artifacts?
>> Two artifacts only.
>> Okay. A soul ring, of course. Cop out.
I put a soul ring in my deck. This is all his land.
>> All his lands.
Land. Land.
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 draw 36 36 land. Nice. Good job on the land.
Instant an offer you can't refuse.
Counter grizzly salvage top five card.
Put a creature land among them in your hand. Put the rest in graveyard. Song of the damn mana for each creature in your graveyard. That's pretty good. Counter spell. Counter target spell.
>> Tarian wins discard hand. Draw down many. I think this is when he's desperate. Assassin's trophy. Destroy target permanent.
And then you search for basic land.
Heroic intervention. Hex proof and indestructible. Very nice. Enchantments.
Okay. More more cards in graveyard.
This one. More lands to play. T-ball's judgment. Draw a card. Treasure token.
Okay. Necromancy. That's too much to read. We'll figure that out.
Undergrowth. Reco at the beginning of your upkeep. Return target lane. Okay.
From your graveyard to the battlefield.
Tap torture existence. Choose and discard a creature card. Return creature card from graveyard to your hand.
Insidious fruits. More mana. Ripple of undeath at the beginning. Mill. Okay.
More milling. And mon.
I I can't I can't say right >> uh draw very close >> draw and making your opponent cast >> whatever cost more.
>> Okay. And there's sorcery. Quite a bit of sorcery for me. Who >> are all these sorcery? Draw more in graveyard. Search for land.
What is this?
>> Card to graveyard. Sacrifice a creature.
Okay. Return target creature card from Okay. Return all land. This is This is evil.
>> Wait, no. This is good for you. Return all land cards from your graveyard to the Battlefield T. Oo, that's pretty good.
>> That's really good.
>> Target player put top. That That is >> That That's a shitty BM card. Is it >> target player puts the top half of his or her library rounded down into his or her graveyard. That is just straight up like you hate the person.
>> Create one one target creature in graveyard library basic cardigan additional cost spell discard destroy target creature plan walker and then more searching for basic land. So I think it's just a lot of land in graveyard >> and creature. You get creatures.
>> Yeah, because of this guy.
>> Drop a comment. Did we completely fail this build or is my cousin's deck actually going to dominate? Let me know what cards we missed. Also, if you want a place to actually hang out, talk strategy, and play games, hop into our Discord below. Hit subscribe if I should force the rest of my friends and family to play Magic. See you to to your hands.
>> Okay. Well, that's a good one. That card is very good.
>> Six.
>> And so this effect says >> military card.
>> Yeah. Your non-land cards in your graveyard have retrace. So this keyword, the one that says you can play from your graveyard.
>> Uh I think it's nonland.
So now >> you can cast everybody >> any of these. Doesn't matter.
>> You can cast these cards from your graveyard.
>> Everyone just dies.
>> Oh shoot.
>> If you also discard a land.
>> Oh. So now, as long as you have him, you have the ability to do that.
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