Last updated on February 17, 2024
Maelstrom Colossus | Illustration by Svetlin Velinov
One of the first sets to ever have a Commander focus was Commander Legends with loads of new cards and reprints for our favorite free-for-all format. It was the first set to mix two of the best formats in Draft and Commander, a set in which you draft a Commander deck.
Back up a second, draft a commander deck? It's a blast, and whether you've enjoyed it already, or never tried it, I'll explain how this crazy draft format works and the impactful mechanics in this legendary set.
Commander Legends Basic Information
Wordly Tutor | Illustration by Cristi Balanescu
Set Details
| What | Key Info. |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Commander Legends |
| Set Symbol |  |
| Set Code | CMR |
| Hashtag | #MTGCMR |
| Number of Cards | 361 |
| Rarities | 70+ new legends |
| Cards per Pack | 20 (with 1 foil and 2 legendary creatures) |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Previews start on dailymtg.com | October 26, 2020 |
| Last day of card previews | November 5, 2020 |
| Release on Draftsim's Draft Simulator | November 5, 2020 (Live now) |
| Release on MTGO (no MTGA) | November 19, 2020 |
| Paper prerelease | November 13, 2020 |
| Paper release | November 20, 2020 |
About the Set
WotC knocked it out of the ballpark with Commander Legends in the winter of 2020. This set followed Zendikar Rising, and as far as flavor, there isn't really a distinct flavor identity for the set. Cards were taken from many planes in Magic.
There needed to be a critical amount of commanders and the ability to build Limited decks, so there is an unusually high number of uncommon legendaries.
Then, there are two preconstructed Commander decks released alongside Commander Legends and each has three unique cards that can’t be found within the set's boosters.
How Many Legends are in Commander Legends?
When you promise a set with “legends” in the name, you have to come through. WotC made sure of that. There are:
- 71 total new legends, despite the initial announcement mentioning only 70;
- 41 of these are mono-colored partner legends—not only were these a popular request, but they also helped enable the draft format;
- 30 non-partner 2- or 3-color legends.
How Are Commander Legends Packs Different?
Commander Legends boasts 20-card booster packs that include one
One in every six packs contains The Prismatic Piper, which replaces a common. I'll get to why in just a bit.
Set Mechanics
There are four main mechanics in the set. Three are returning and one debuted with this set.
Encore
The exciting new mechanic for Commander Legends was… encore! Encore is a twist on the old mechanic “unearth,” allowing you to throw creatures out of your graveyard for one last vengeful gasp.
It's an activated ability that exiles a creature card from your graveyard, creating a token copy of that creature with haste that's sacrificed at the end of the turn.
The twist is that since this is Commander, you get to attack all your opponents. And you don't get a choice about that! So no politicking. Sorry.
Cascade
Cascade is a big gift for all of us value-lovers out there.
When you cast a card with cascade (even if it gets countered!), you get to exile cards from the top of your library until you reveal a nonland card with a lesser mana value. Then you get to play it. For free. So, you know, a free Black Lotus or two along with your free card.
Monarch
Monarch is a strange mechanic, because it's not always apparent what it means when you see a card with it.
In fact, the rules might be a little complicated to jam onto every card with monarch.
No one starts the game as monarch, and you can only acquire the “monarch” status when a card tells you to. Then:
- At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card.
- If another player deals combat damage to the monarch, that player steals the crown and becomes the monarch.
Talk about having a target on your back!
Partner
Partner is an ability on some legendary creatures that allows you to have two commanders. As long as each eligible commander has partner, you can squirrel both away in your command zone.
Commander Legends Draft Rules
The most notable feature of Commander Legends is what made it one of the most innovative Magic products for 2020: this was the first set where you could draft Commander decks.
To build a Commander deck in this context, you follow the same rules of Commander with a slight twist that melds it comfortably with the draft format.
The Draft
- Drafts work well for both four players and eight players.
- You take two picks out of every single pack
Deckbuilding
- Deck size is 60 cards.
- Color identity rules do apply.
- The Commander singleton rule does not apply.
- If you don't draft a commander, you automatically get The Prismatic Piper in your deck as your commander. And since it's a partner commander, you can put two of them in your deck for “free” if you want two color identities. At least the art is a beautiful consolation prize!
Gameplay
- It's recommended to split your 8-person draft pod into two 4-person games, but you're free to do whatever configuration you want to after the draft (i.e., a big free-for-all).
- The starting life total is 40.
- Commander damage does apply.
Draft and gameplay for a Commander Legends draft should take about two hours overall.
The power level of the decks is pretty high for draft, and
Mono-Colored Partners
This is a big innovation that ties the entire draft format together. With color combinations being especially critical, how do you stay open in the draft?
The answer is mono-colored partner commanders. That way, if you start with a white partner commander, you can begin taking white cards. When you see a commander of a different color, black for example, you can be rewarded for staying flexible and can start taking
All mono-colored legends in this set have partner. The Prismatic Piper is the only common in the bunch.
Ready for pack one? Practice drafting Commander Legends for free on our draft simulator.
Commander Legends Full Gallery
White
Blue
Black
Red
Green
Multicolor
Colorless
Land
Notable Cards
Etched Foil Commanders
While etched foil commanders such as these are included in draft boosters (in the foil slot), they are incredibly rare. You're much more likely to find one in a collector booster.
Reprints
All right, let’s talk about reprints in this set. We know there were many long overdue reprints and this is a mere sample. WotC promised fetch land reprints in 2020 and didn't include them here, but delivered them in Zendikar Rising expeditions and a Secret Lair drop.
How can you not be excited about the first legendary wizard rabbit? Kwain, Itinerant Meddler? Faeries are an awesome creature type, too, and Nymris, Oona's Trickster does not disappoint.
Commander Legends Etched Foils
We've seen a lot of premium products and treatments coming from WotC. Their innovative alternate-version treatments of the legends in Commander Legends are called foil–etched cards.
These cards have a special frame, like “showcase cards” found in collector boosters, but go through a different foiling process.
You can find these cards in both CMR draft boosters (quite rare) and Commander Legends collector boosters.
Available Products
Draft Boosters
The 20-card draft boosters come with two legends per pack. The draft booster boxes of 24 packs are available on Amazon for a fairly reasonable price.
- COMMANDER DRAFT IS HERE. Draft with the first ever booster packs designed for Commander—a Magic format all about battling your friends in epic multiplayer games.
- 24 DRAFT BOOSTERS. Grab 3 packs, pick 2 cards at a time, and add in some lands for a 60-card Commander deck—then show it off in exciting free-for-all games with up to 8 friends.
- 2 LEGENDS PER PACK. Every Commander Legends Draft Booster pack contains 2 legendary cards—enhance your deck with reprints of classic MTG commanders or 1 of the 71 commanders introduced in the set.
- INTRODUCING FOIL ETCHED CARDS. Commander Legends debuts a special kind of foil—foil etched cards with beautiful metallic frames. In some Commander Legends Draft Boosters you can find a foil etched showcase legend or regular foil borderless planeswalker.
- CONTENTS: 24 Commander Legends Draft Booster packs—20 Magic cards + 1 ad/token per pack, with 2 legends, at least 1 rare, and 1 foil each.
Collector Boosters
The display boxes of Commander Legends collector boosters carry 12 sealed packs filled with at least four rares, the finest foils, and at least two extended art cards per pack. text
- 12 COLLECTOR BOOSTERS. Collector Boosters are a shortcut to the coolest cards in Commander Legends—fill your deck with rares, foils, and special art from the first booster packs created specifically for Commander.
- 24+ FOIL ETCHED CARDS. Commander Legends debuts a special kind of foil—foil etched cards with beautiful metallic frames. Collector boosters are the only Commander Legends booster packs where you're sure to find foil etched legends, with 2–3 in every pack!
- 60 LEGENDARY CARDS. Every Commander Legends Collector Booster pack contains 5 legendary cards, with at least one showcase mythic reprint. Collect classic MTG commanders or meet some of the 71 commanders introduced in the set.
- 24+ EXTENDED-ART CARDS. Not found in any other Commander Legends booster packs, Collector Boosters contain at least 2 extended-art cards, with a chance of up to 5.
- 48+ RARES. Each Collector Booster contains up to 5 assorted rare and mythic rare cards, with a minimum of 4 rares per pack.
Commander Legends Preconstructed Decks
We have reviewed the two Commander Legends decks in-depth. Arm for Battle and Reap the Tides are balanced for each other, even if their prices are unequal:
- BATTLE YOUR FRIENDS. Commander is a different way to play Magic: The Gathering. It's all about legendary creatures, big plays, and battling your friends in epic multiplayer games.
- 100-CARD READY-TO-PLAY DECK. Designed as an introduction to Commander, this MTG deck is ready-to-play right out of the box, without sacrificing the richness and depth that made Magic iconic.
- BRANDISH YOUR BLADE. Ally with Wyleth, equip him with arms, and draw tons of cards as you dispatch your opponents with martial superiority.
- THREE CARDS PRINTED FOR THE FIRST TIME. This Commander deck debuts three cards, plus it's loaded with reprints to kickstart your Commander experience.
- CONTENTS: 1 ready-to-play deck of 99 Magic: The Gathering cards, 1 legendary foil commander card, 10 tokens, 1 deck box (can hold 100 sleeved cards), 1 life tracker.
- BATTLE YOUR FRIENDS. Commander is a different way to play Magic: The Gathering. It's all about legendary creatures, big plays, and battling your friends in epic multiplayer games.
- 100-CARD READY-TO-PLAY DECK. Designed as an introduction to Commander, this MTG deck is ready-to-play right out of the box, without sacrificing the richness and depth that made Magic iconic.
- GATHER THE STORM. Summon the strength of Aesi, call forth a torrent of extra cards and lands, and sweep your opponents away.
- THREE CARDS PRINTED FOR THE FIRST TIME. This Commander deck debuts three cards, plus it's loaded with reprints to kickstart your Commander experience.
- CONTENTS: 1 ready-to-play deck of 99 Magic: The Gathering cards, 1 legendary foil commander card, 10 tokens, 1 deck box (can hold 100 sleeved cards), 1 life tracker
Always look to give local game stores your support. If you don’t live near a store or the product isn’t in stock, check out online sellers like Amazon or TCGPlayer to order. Remember, you're way better off buying a booster box than single packs.
A Legendary Finish
Seedborn Muse | Illustration by Forrest Imel
What about you? Are you inspired to try Commander Cube? Which of the cards were you most excited to see included? Feel free to discuss your thoughts in the comments below.
As always, if you’re looking for more stuff from us, check out our blog for tons of commander or draft goodies for you to read. We also have a Patreon if you’d like to support the further creation of cool content.
For now, that’s all I’ve got. Stay safe and healthy, and we’ll see you back here soon!
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