I’m going to try something different here on 99CMDR Problems. I’m going to keep a running review of the cards that are being previewed in the new Eternal Masters set. Once a new card gets previewed by an official previewer (they were given that card, not just a leak), I’ll throw my two cents on here. Newest previewed cards on top.

Since these are all reprints, it’s a bit easier to gauge on how they’ll play out in the format. These will be short reviews (maybe 100-150 words) to give you an idea of what I think of them plus any info I think is necessary. Here’s the scale I’m going to use:

5.0 – Must have staple in every deck in those colors.
4.0 – Very good card and must be considered.
3.0 – Good card in those colors, sometimes a roleplayer.
2.0 – Usually only part of a combo deck or not that spectacular.
1.0 – I would advise against using it.

I’m going to also include if it’s a new art, first time in foil, article of the preview to get more in depth (most likely non Commander related), and the last printing if you want the older card. Images from mythicspoiler.com.

May 25

Name: Wrath of God
Cost: 2WW
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No
Last Printed: From the Vault: Annihilation
Rating: 5.0

A card so good it’s boring? Maybe. Sets that have printed Wrath of God: From the Vault: Annihilation, Commander 2013, Tenth Edition, Ninth Edition, Eighth Edition, Seventh Edition, Textless Players Rewards, Battle Royal Box Set, Sixth Edition, Portal, Fifth Edition, Forth Edition, Revised, Unlimited, Beta, Alpha. 15 Times (Though only twice in nine years to be fair).

Sets that have printed Damnation, it’s Black color-shifted counterpart: Judge Promo, Textless Players Rewards, Planar Chaos. Enjoy your Void (And Toxic Deluge too).

Name: Void
Cost: 3BR
Rarity: Rare
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Time Spiral Timeshifted Sheet
Previewed by: Blake Rasmussen (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 3.0

There are two things that Black can do well: kill creatures and make players discard. Red can kill artifacts pretty well. Put them on a card and you could have a huge hit. Make you choose a number for converted mana cost in order to kill said things? Well, that’s when we get into a bunch of trouble. It can be good if an opponent is playing a deck with a bunch of cards, or tokens, that cost the same. The fact that you have a chance to keep your stuff alive is the saving grace on this card, but mostly you’ll be using this as a 2-1 or if you’re lucky like 4-1. That’s still a good card, but it’s never a truly a feel good card unless you blow someone out with it. Then that’s the best feeling.

Name: Mystical Tutor
Cost: U
Rarity: Rare
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: From the Vault: Exiled
Previewed by: The Command Zone
Rating: 4.7

The fourth of the tutor cycle, this one ranks just behind Vampiric Tutor as the best once since Blue loves instants and sorceries. Go grab a card with Miracle, say Entreat the Angles or Temporal Mastery or Terminus, and profit. Mix this with Sensei’s Divining Top and you can draw that card this turn, something not unheard of in Commander. It’s a tutor, and unless you spend 20 minutes searching through your deck, everyone likes a tutor effect. This is one of the best.

Name: Ashnod’s Altar
Cost: 3
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Sixth Edition
Previewed by: The Command Zone
Rating: 3.5

FIRST TIME IN FOIL ALERT! If you sacrifice a creature, it pays your Commander Tax. That’s the bare minimum this card does. But in reality, it’s a huge combo enabler with so many different combos I can’t go into them here. 17 years since its last printing, the hope is to see this in more Commander decks because it should be. Sacrificing the creature is free (which is great if an opponent wants to steal a creature), and tokens love it as well. Hopefully this card will get more love and be more than the combo engine it’s usually played as.

Name: Chain Lightning
Cost: RR
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: No (Premium Deck Series)
Last Printed: Premium Deck Series: Fire and Lightning
Rating: 1.5

I had to go to edhrec.com to find out how often this card is played since I couldn’t remember it ever in a Commander deck. It’s a fun card, but it’s just not that useful in Commander.

Name: Vindicate
Cost: 1WB
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No (Judge Promo)
Last Printed: Judge Promo
Previewed by: Jarvis Yu (GatheringMagic.com)
Rating: 5.0

The other three little words that strike fear into Magic players: Destroy target permanent. The only draw back is the sorcery speed, there’s pretty much nothing else to dislike about this card. I prefer the original Apocalypse art, but that’s because the art in that old frame looks fantastic and iconic. This card is so good that for a few years WotC has been trying to “remake” this card in Utter End and Anguished Unmaking (also fearing Sorin in the art). Yes, this card is worth it in every deck you can cram it into as it will solve almost anything that’s troubling you.

Name: Shardless Agent
Cost: 1GU
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No
Last Printed: Judge Promo
Rating: 3.1

What makes this better than Bloodbraid Elf? Simple, it’s in Blue and it costs less. With Cascade, the higher the cost the more it hits things. Great for Maelstrom Wanderer since you want to hit big creatures and swing with them. Shardless Agent lets you miss bigger spells and hit more direct effects you may want to cast (Draw, ramp, bounce, etc) earlier in the game. Plus, being in Blue, you can bounce him back to your hand and cast it again (Deadeye Navigator trick doesn’t) work here. You can hit more consistent cards if you build it with Shardless Agent in mind. Also a bonus: Artifact. Abuse that to your heart’s content.

Name: Hymn to Tourach
Cost: BB
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: No (From the Vault)
Last Printed: From the Vault: 20
Rating: 1.7

Hymn is a really good card, just not in multiplayer. If you play 1v1 Commander, then this rating changes completely (for the better), but I’m not focused on that here.

Name: Maelstrom Wanderer
Cost: 5URG
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Commander’s Arsenal
Previewed by: Quinn Murphy (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 4.2

COMMANDER ALERT! Only printed in Planechase 2012 (which will also see print in the Planechase Anthology later this year), and the hard to acquire Commander’s Arsenal, this powerhouse Commander warps formats whenever he’s cast. The new art looks wonderful and The Wanderer opens up plenty more deck styles than Animar, Soul of Elementals usual “Creatures and Lands only”. Cascade is so good, even when it gets countered you get the effect. Twice here.

Name: Prodigal Sorcerer
Cost: 2U
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Time Spiral Timeshifted Sheet
Previewed by: Mark Price (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 1.4

“Pinging”, the act of dealing one damage, used to be in Blue. Crazy, I know. Tim here is a relic of the past. Run to see him again, but unless you’re playing pauper Commander or a really weird highlander variant, I just don’t think he makes a list.

Name: Rorix Bladewing
Cost: 3RRR
Rarity: Rare
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Planechase
Previewed by: UMotivo
Rating: 2.4

COMMANDER ALERT! Let me tell you about this card. Back when this was first printed, it basically had to be Legendary because a 6/5 flying haste for 6 was too good. This is the same set that saw a 4/4 for 2GG that didn’t have a drawback and everyone thought powercreep. This old Pit Fighter might have been passed up in the cool department two sets later when his undead self was just more fun to play, but in a format where you only care about having one copy of a card, the Legendary tag doesn’t matter and hitting for 6 is still good.

Name: Unexpectedly Absent
Cost: XWW
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No
Last Printed: Commander 2013
Previewed by: The Mana Pool podcast
Rating: 3.1

FIRST TIME IN FOIL ALERT! I honestly thought that when this card came out in Commander 2013, that it be a huge hit. Not only do you get to remove any permanent, but you force them to draw it again (unless you do it in response to them searching their library then it’s bye bye for a while). The X is just bonus as for WW you can do the same as 1UG with Temporal Spring but as an Instant. But it’s not been that popular from what I can tell. Is it the only one printing? It may not be a superstar but I still believe that it’s a valuable card.

Name: Counterspell
Cost: UU
Rarity: Common
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra
Rating: 3.5

FIRST TIME FOIL IN NEW FRAME ALERT! Ah, the Blue Mage’s closet and best friend. All it takes is two untapped Islands and three little words to scare an opposing mage. The first time seen in Magic boosters since Seventh Edition, Counterspell gets the job done. Powerful even without adding on any keyword mechanics or additional text. Never be ashamed to cast this card.

Name: Cabal Therapy
Cost: B
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: No
Last Printed: Premium Deck Series: Graveborn
Previewed by: Joshua Claytor (PureMTGO.com)
Rating: 2.3

The obvious trick with Cabal Therapy is to name a card on a guess, see the opponent’s hand to what they actually have, then sacrifice a creature to get what they do have. Or if it’s been discarded, use it as a sacrifice outlet. That last line of play is most likely it’s play in Commander, but even then it’s a one of sacrifice effect on a sorcery to maybe hit something. It’s way better in competitive Magic and something like Raven’s Crime is much better suited for Commander if you’re looking for the discard outlet.

May 24

Name: Nevinyrral’s Disk
Cost: 4
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No
Last Printed: Commander 2014
Rating: 4.0

Before it’s first modern printing in From the Vault: Relics, Nevinyrral’s Disk didn’t see it reprinted for 12 years. In the past six years, including the FtV:R entry, this will be its fourth. An all powerful card that allows any color to get rid of almost any threat on the battlefield (except for Planeswalkers), the Disk will alter plans and change strategies once it’s cast. One of the better reusable reset cards, Nevinyrral’s Disk is a classic that has stood the test of time. Don’t be afraid to play it early to slow things down.

Name: Ichorid
Cost: 3B
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No
Last Printed: Torment
Previewed by: tocage.jp (Japanese)
Rating: 1.9

One of my favorite cards in Odyssey Block, sadly this card doesn’t really hold up in a multiplayer format where your opponents start at 40 life. There are too many hoops to jump through to make this card work and if you want a recurring creature, there are better ones than Ichorid. Even if you wanted to use something like Skullclamp, Reassembling Skeleton doesn’t exile creatures in your graveyard.

Name: Gaea’s Blessing
Cost: 1G
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: No
Last Printed: Time Spiral (Timeshifted Sheet)
Rating: 2.8

A long time ago in a format far away, this used to be a very nice roleplayer and combat against milling/Statis decks. It’s still very serviceable card; it’s cheap, replaces itself with the draw and it has the key phrase “up to” meaning that you don’t have to hit three cards if you don’t want to. I haven’t seen it in many Green lists lately as players either want to return their own cards to their hands (Eternal Witness) or just shuffle everything back into their library (Loaming Shaman). I wouldn’t overlook the card, especially as a budget option.

Name: Baleful Strix
Cost: UB
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No
Last Printed: Commander 2013
Previewed by: The Mana Source
Rating: 3.5

FIRST TIME FOIL ALERT! Rareshifted up from uncommon, this is a bigger card for older formats than Commander. Though a 1/1 Flying Deathtouch, draw a card for UB is fantastic, but I don’t believe it’s really found a home outside UB control builds. It’s a great threat to block and replace itself early in the game as well as never a bad topdeck, there certainly can be worse. The big draw here is the foil version of the card, which will be worth a good amount of money.

Name: Regal Force
Cost: 4GGG
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No
Last Printed: Eventide
Previewed by: The Mana Source
Rating: 4.3

A much needed reprint as there has only been one printing of it (Seems like it would’ve found a nice home in the Mono Green Commander precon deck). Released in a set that cared about colors and mana symbols, Regal Force is a draw engine that could. Though it stipulates Green, it doesn’t say non-token so if you have an army of Elves, draw a bunch of cards. Bonus: it says enters the battlefield, not cast. Find some tricks to play around with that. It should be strongly considered in any Green deck.

Name: Dualcaster Mage
Cost: 1RR
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No
Last Printed: Judge Promo
Rating: 4.3

The Judge Promo is the only foil of the card, but this was only printed in Commander 2014 before that. Wizards are always a viable creature type in Commander (Riptide Laboratory) and unless you’re playing against a Animar, Soul of Elementals deck there will always be cards to copy. This gives Red some much needed help in the Multiplayer department and fits along side with favorite Wild Ricochet.

Name: Giant Tortoise
Cost: 1U
Rarity: Common
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Fourth Edition
Rating: 0.5

FIRST TIME IN FOIL ALERT! The art is cute, but since you can’t put it in a Doran the Siege Tower deck it makes this card pretty much unplayable.

Name: Animate Dead
Cost: 1B
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Premimum Deck Series: Graveborn
Rating: 3.0

See: Worldgorger Dragon.

Don’t be scared by the rules text, it’s just for templating issues. Target a creature in any graveyard, and it will enter the battlefield with Animate Dead attached to it. That’s basically it. This card can be very good outside the Worldgorger Dragon combo because of the ability to target any graveyard. Go steal your opponent’s biggest threat you’ve killed before.

Name: Dack Fayden
Cost: 1UR
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: No
Last Printed: Conspiracy
Previewed by: Luis Scott-Vargas (ChannelFireball.com)
Rating: 4.1

One of the rarest to find Planeswalkers until just now, Dack has the distinction to be printed in two supplemental draft sets (Conspiracy and Eternal Masters) without seeing print in any other set. The greatest theif in the Multiverse will do what you need him to do in a Blue/Red deck. Artifacts are always relevant in Commander and if you ever get that ultimate off, that will pretty much be game over as you take all the things. Should be looked at in any deck that could house him.

Name: Karakas
Cost: Land
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: No (Judge Promo)
Last Printed: Judge Promo
Previewed by: TCGPlayer
Rating: 0.0

BANNED. It used to have errata that said “Non-Commander Legendary Creature” but that went away.

Name: Mishra’s Factory
Cost: Land
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: No
Last Printed: Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret
Previewed by: Hareuya (Japanese)
Rating: 2.7

It’s a land that becomes a 2/2 creature that can pump itself up if it taps. Before Wastes were printed in Oath of the Gatewatch, this would have been a higher ranked card because it was a colorless land. Sure, it can still turn into a 2/2 creature, but I haven’t found myself activating it too often lately. It’s a fun card to play, but the creature lands from Worldwake and Battle for Zendikar block are a bit more useful if you play those colors.

Name: Werebear
Cost: 1G
Rarity: Common
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Odyssey
Previewed by: Snack Time Podcast
Rating: 2.0

Great as a budget friendly card, and can hold it’s own after threshold. But, it’s not exciting and there are other options out there for mana producers. #TeamOldFlavorText

Name: Sensei’s Divining Top
Cost: 1
Rarity: Rare
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: From the Vault: Exiled
Previewed by: Jacob Van Lunen (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 4.5 or 1.0

Another one of those highly debated cards. It’s a good card, but it’s such a time sink. I will avoid putting it decks that don’t need them just so I won’t get the stink eye from the other players in the game. I’ve seen people take such a long time to top that it slows the game down to a standstill. Everyone always groans and gives them a bad time. If your playgroup is quick and efficient or really competitive, then it’s a go. Otherwise, this is a group by group basis on how everyone feels.

Name: Balance
Cost: 1W
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: No (Judge Foil)
Last Printed: From the Vault: Exiled
Previewed by: Adam Prosak (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 0.0

BANNED. It’s too good, especially in multiplayer.

Name: Shaman of the Pack
Cost: 1BG
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: No
Last Printed: Magic Origins (Still in Standard)
Previewed by: Meghan Wolff (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 1.5

Only good in an Elf deck.

Name: Wirewood Symbiote
Cost: G
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Scourge
Previewed by: Meghan Wolff (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 2.5

It’s only good if you have elves. There’s a difference between this and Timeberwatch Elf: You need a bunch of Elves to make Timeberwach Elf useful, you only need a certain one or two elves to make Symbiote work. Return an Elf to your hand (hopefully it’s something like Bloodbraid Elf), to untap any creature, like Vraska or Rosheen Meanderer. It’s more open, but you have to have enough Elves to make it work. Pick the good ones to reuse their ability over and over again.

Name: Timberwatch Elf
Cost: 2G
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Commander 2014
Previewed by: Meghan Wolff (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 1.5

Only good in an Elf deck.

Name: Entomb
Cost: B
Rarity: Rare
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Premium Deck Series: Graveborn
Previewed by: TournamentCenter.eu
Rating: 2.6

Entomb is a very powerful card, it just has to be in the right deck. So for a deck like Karador, Ghost Chieftain, this is arguably better than Vampiric Tutor. The huge draw back is now there is much more efficient graveyard removal in Commander in the past few years. This is a risk you take instead of putting it on top of your library but it allows you to skirt the cost if you can reanimate or cast it with flashback. First turn Entomb Worldgorger Dragon is a thing.

Name: Control Magic
Cost: 2UU
Rarity: Rare
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Duel Decks: Jace vs. Vraska
Previewed by: Blue Envelope Podcast
Rating: 3.0

The OG stealing a creature card. It’s not flashy but it doesn’t have to be. Sure, a card like Treachery would’ve been lovely here since we have so many printings of Control Magic, but Treachery’s on the Reserved List so no one can enjoy that card. Other possible variations of Control Magic include Abduction, Corrupted Conscience, Dominating Licid, Hypnotic Siren, Soul Ransom, Sower of Tempation (my choice to be in this set) and Yavimaya’s Embrace.

Name: Worldgorger Dragon
Cost: 3RRR
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: No
Last Printed: Judgement
Rating: 2.0

You either love this card or you really hate this card, there’s not a lot of middle ground with the nightmare dragon. If you don’t know the combo, cast Animate Dead when Worldgorger Dragon is in the graveyard and target it. It enters the battlefield, exiling everything in play, including Animate Dead. With the Animate Dead gone, Worldgorger Dragon goes back to the graveyard and everything returns to the battlefield, including Animate Dead. Rinse, repeat. The key to this deck is that when a card enters the battlefield from exile, it does so untapped. So, in response to the Worldgorger exiling everything, tap all your lands for mana. Then you get them back untapped to generate as much mana as you want. Then go do something with that mana.

Name: Diminishing Returns
Cost: 2UU
Rarity: Rare
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Sixth Edition
Previewed by: SaffronOlive ( MTGGoldfish.com)
Rating: 2.0

FIRST TIME IN FOIL ALERT! This is one card I didn’t really expect to see in this set. A “fixed” Timetwister, it sees play in combo decks, I guess, which explains the reason it’s here. Looks like it sees enough play on MTGO from the Masters Edition that it warranted a printing here. It’s basically a must have for Nekusar, the Mindrazer decks. So it’s got that going for it, which is nice.

May 23

Name: Vampiric Tutor
Cost: B
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Judge Promo
Rating: 5.0

First time it’s been printed in 16 years, and the only foil is a Judge Promo, this is a welcome sight for old eyes. Although he didn’t get Imperial Seal, this is another one of the tutor cycle and it’s best one. Paying 2 life to grab any card is just too good, which is why it’s restricted in Vintage, and banned in Legacy. There is a reason why this card was bumped up from rare to Mythic and if you’re able to track a copy down, it’s a literal must have for any Black Commander deck.

Name: Enlightened Tutor
Cost: W
Rarity: Rare
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Arena League – Sixth Edition
Rating: 4.7

The first time this card has been printed in 17 years, this is the exact set that this card needed to have in order to see booster packs once again. Another one of the tutor cycle, this is a card that has only gotten more powerful as more powerful artifacts and enchantments have seen print. Very useful in Voltron type decks (Kemba/Rafiq/Uril), this allows you to get something and hide it away from discard spells. As an instant, grab something at the end of an opponent’s turn and draw it a few second later. The only reason you’re not playing this card is if you’re not running Artifacts or Enchantments.

Name: Maze of Ith
Cost: Land
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No (From the Vault)
Last Printed: From the Vault: Realms
Rating: 4.3

It can hold the most scary creature at bay, but it doesn’t tap for mana. This card is really good and I think the appeal for this card might be it’s multiplayer politics game you can play with it. Prevent someone from getting hit with a huge creature, they’re in your debt. Or, abuse the attack trigger on some creatures to get it untapped once again  (ala Alesha, Who Smiles at Death). It will become hated because of how it can slow games down, but it will save you an equal amount of times.

Name: Mana Crypt
Cost: 0
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: No (Judge Promo)
Last Printed: Judge Promo
Previewed by: Face to Face Games Toronto
Rating: 5.0 or 1.0

This is a very split card in the Commander community. Some want it banned because of the quick mana that it provides. While I keep mentioning it, you high starting life total comes into play here as it won’t hurt you as much which is part of that issue. It’s good, like really good. If you happen to pull this and want to play it, be ready for it to get hated out shortly. Me? I don’t mind it since it’s got a self destruct possibility. It’s 2 colorless mana. It’s powerful, but late game, it’s not quite as potent.

Name: Sylvan Library
Cost: 1G
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No (Commander’s Arsenal)
Last Printed: Commander’s Arsenal
Previewed by: Magic Judges Blog
Rating: 5.0

One of the most powerful Green cards as it does something Green doesn’t usually get to do: draw and decide. Looking at the top three cards of your deck and deciding which one or two to actually draw is so fantastic it’s criminal that it costs two mana (thanks early Magic design!). And if you have a shuffle effect? There’s a reason why Sensei’s Divining Top has a hate following. Again, that 40 life buffer is great if you’re cautious about what you keep but it’s so worth it.

Name: Jace, the Mind Sculptor
Cost: 2UU
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: No
Last Printed: From the Vault: 20
Previewed by: Patrick Chapin
Rating: 5.0

If you’re playing Blue and you have access to this card, you’re most likely playing the best Planeswalker ever printed. Control draws of any player’s deck, Brainstorm for free, bounce a creature and, if you’ve gotten that far, completely destroy an opponent’s library. This is Blue, personified. One of the most broken and powerful cards ever, there was a time where people were doubting its worthiness. That was just about 3 months after it was printed. Must play.

Name: Toxic Deluge
Cost: 2B
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No
Last Printed: Commander 2013
Previewed by: Top Level Podcast
Rating: 4.9

FIRST TIME IN FOIL ALERT! A Black wrath effect while we wait to see if Damnation ever gets reprinted. In Commander, this might be the better card. It costs less and it has the amazing -X/-X ability which gets rid of indestructible creatures. It’s also easier to splash due to the only Black mana in its cost. Sure, you pay life to kill things but this allows you to adjust what you want to hit, which can leave your side high and dry.

Name: Gamble
Cost: R
Rarity: Rare
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Urza’s Saga
Rating: 4.0

FIRST TIME IN FOIL ALERT! This is “part” of the tutor cycle that came out in Mirage and Visions. Red was missing a tutor card and this ended up being printed after fans chimed in that they wanted a Red version. Yes, this is a gamble to play so don’t cast it if it’s the only card in your hand, unless that was the whole point. Red doesn’t have many tutors but this is a fair and fun way to go get what you need.

Name: Nimble Mongoose
Cost: G
Rarity: Common (Pauper alert)
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Odyssey
Previewed by: Alex Ullman (GatheringMagic.com)
Rating: 1.0

A possible 3/3 for 1 Shroud isn’t all that exciting for multiplayer Commander. You can equip or enchant it and it can still be blocked. Great for older formats, but just avoid in Commander.

Name: Goblin Charbelcher
Cost: 4
Rarity: Rare
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Mirrodin
Previewed by: Tolarian Community College
Rating: 2.0

Listen, this is one of my favorite just random cards. The foil of the old card was one of my favorite foils. I would just shoe-horn this card into random decks because of the silliness it would cause. There are some fun things that you can do with this and if you want to play the game of chance, go right ahead. Of course, playing Goblin recruiter or removing all lands from your library works as well if you want to go for the straight kill.

Name: Sneak Attack
Cost: 3R
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: No (Judge Promo Art)
Last Printed: Judge Promo (Urza’s Saga)
Previewed by: Mark Rosewater (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 4.3

So, for a single R, I can play a huge creature from my hand, and it gets haste? Yes, this is another really good creature as well. Surprise attacks, or blocks, can change the game. Bigger creatures work well here since you can skirt their cost but there’s something to being said about creatures with unique utility. A Solemn Simulacrum that costs R to tutor a land and draw a card seems really good. Best played in decks with multiple colors to get maximum use out of it.

Name: Necropotence
Cost: BBB
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: No (From the Vault art)
Last Printed: From the Vault: Exiled
Previewed by: Blake Rasmussen/Erik Lauder (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 3.9

Necropotence is one of the defining cards of Magic (in my opinion, the Deckmaters foil old school skull art is the best bling of this card). In Commander, where you start with 40 life, you have a ton of life to play around with to draw what you want. It’s powerful and if you can work around the drawbacks, it’s very worth it. Fun story: some friends and I were playing in 5th Edition when I put this in my deck. I didn’t know why you’d want to play this on you so I enchanted my opponent with it. We didn’t understand it’s power.

Name: Deathrite Shaman
Cost: [b/g]
Rarity: Rare
New Art: No
Last Printed: Return to Ravnica
Previewed by: Blake Rasmussen (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 4.5

This is an all-around good card. There’s nothing really bad to say about it, only the hybrid rule doesn’t allow you to play it in mono-colored decks. Lands, Instants and Sorceries and Creatures will always be played in Commander and end up in the graveyard. It allows you to take from your opponents while hurting them at the same time. It’s great early game, great late game. I’m never surprised when I see this card show up in a B/G deck.

Name: Bloodbraid Elf
Cost: 2RG
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Planechase 2012
Previewed by: Blake Rasmussen (DailyMTG.com)
Rating: 2.5

Great value with letting you cast a card that costs three or less for free, there’s a lot to love about this gal. If you’re somehow in a Red/Green Elf deck, this is an auto include. But a 3/2 haste for 4 isn’t always the sexiest play. It’s not bad, per say, but I don’t know if you can always get the needed value to make it work. Bounce it using Wirewood Symbiote and suddenly, you’ve got a stew going.

Name: Chrome Mox
Cost: 0
Rarity: Mythic
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Grand Prix Promo 2009 (Mirrodin)
Rating: 2.0

Exiling a card in Commander can be a tough deal. There’s enough regrowth style effects in all of the colors that exiling something from your hard does more harm than good. Plus, when it gets destroyed you get 2 for 1’d. Great in fast or combo decks that need the mana now, it’s almost never useful until it is. Note: you have to have a card exiled under it to generate mana. Colorless is not a color.

Name: Daze
Cost: 1U
Rarity: Uncommon
New Art: Yes
Last Printed: Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra (Anthology)
Rating: 3.0

I have found that even in the format of big mana, sometimes that little bump for one extra is enough. Playing with Mana Tithe has caught some people off guard, especially in White, but here you get a “free” “counterspell”. It all depends on the number of Islands you’re running, but even when someone is winding up for that non-storm combo, this can turn the tide for a game.