Commander Precon Quantity Plummets in 2025

Last updated on February 4, 2025

Count on Luck | Illustration by Michal Ivan

Product fatigue is real, and it's an issue Magic players have been vocal about since around 2020 forward. On top of the overall increased number of Standard sets per year, there's no shortage of Secret Lairs, supplementary sets like Remasters and Masters sets, and especially Commander precons that come out in between the major releases. It's that last category that's seemed to have ramped up into oblivion lately, with precon line-ups accompanying every Standard set, as well as standalone products like 2024's Fallout and 2023's Doctor Who.

However, that might be coming to a head this year, with a recent announcement that multiple sets released in 2025 will only feature two Commander precons. They're not going away, but there will be less of them overall.

What's the Change and What's it Mean?

In a recent video on the Good Morning Magic YouTube channel, MTG Game Designer Gavin Verhey addressed why there were only two precons with the upcoming Aetherdrift release, stating that reducing the number of new precons in circulation is a direct response to player feedback about product fatigue and having too many releases to keep up with.

He directs his answer as a change in the way Wizards is approaching Commander releases, but also mentions how this is just a good change for the health of the individual decks. “By doing fewer,” Gavin says, “it means players get more time to evaluate decks and cards, and also gives themes more time to breath, while also going through design space slower.”

He also mentions the fact that Aetherdrift contains an energy-themed deck, which players pointed out feels less special than it should since 2024 also featured two energy precons.

Gavin goes on to say: “Aetherdrift is also not the only set this year with two decks.” All of this comes off the heels of Wizards already announcing that 2025 would feature fewer full set releases than 2024, which already decreases the opportunities for additional Commander decks.

What Can You Expect from Future Commander Releases?

2025 set release schedule

Right now, the only confirmed Commander decks are the two tied to Aetherdrift, with confirmation that at least one other set in 2025 will feature only two decks. It's a safe bet that Final Fantasy will be a huge release this summer, and likely feature four or more precons, and other Universes Beyond releases have such a large roster of material to work through that a full set of Commander precons is a reasonable way to fit more characters, settings, and callouts into a single release. That means the Spider-Man and unannounced UB set (rumored to be Avatar: The Last Airbender) are the most likely candidates for larger precon line-ups.

Pre-order product listings for Ultra PRO deck boxes list five different commander products for the “Return to Tarkir” making it likely that Tarkir Dragonstorm precons are Abzan, Jeskai, Mardu, Sultai and Temur. Edge of Eternities as the other “normal” release for 2025, would be the 2-deck set.

There's also the curve-ball that every Standard release in 2025 has two decks, which would put the total at 12 for the year. If you instead assume four decks for each Universes Beyond crossover and two for each in-house Magic IP set, that's 18 for the year. That's still a huge improvement over the 24 Commander precons released in 2024, and the 25 released the year before (technically more if you count Secret Lair Commander decks).

It's also less likely that players get standalone Commander releases like Warhammer 40,000 and Fallout since there are Standard releases dedicated to Universes Beyond crossovers now. Those releases will have Commander tie-ins for sure, but there will likely be fewer, if any extra Commander precon sets released between those Standard sets.

How Are Players Responding?

Swords to Plowshares | Illustration by Axel Sauerwald

Gavin asks for player feedback in his YouTube video, and Twitter/X responded with almost universal praise of the decision.

“2 decks feels less “sloggy.” Its hard to keep up with what cards exist with 4 decks every set,” writes @RampMana.

@tlannoye11 writes: “This is a terrific way to pump the brakes on a format that was already getting too fast and too furious…”

Of course, Magic design and product schedules are fluid, and changes can happen at any moment. Remember that sets are designed and “locked in” far ahead of their actual release, so any feedback given to Wizards and the people designing Commander decks won't come to fruition for at least a year after they receive the feedback. Still, Gavin's been an overwhelmingly positive voice in the Magic community, so if you have feedback to offer, the Good Morning Magic YouTube channel and @GavinVerhey are great places to do it.