Commander Masters is a Magic: The Gathering set focused on its casual multiplayer format Commander. Just like other Masters sets, it features sought after reprints for players looking to expand their collection. But unlike those sets, MTG Commander Masters is specifically designed for EDH, full of cards for players to pop in their Commander decks.
Arriving in August 2023, this MTG set includes reprints of expensive MTG cards like The Ur-Dragon and Jewelled Lotus. Wizards also sold snazzy looking Commander deck precons alongside Commander Masters draft, set, and collector boosters.
Those include a five-color deck for Slivers and a colorless deck for Eldrazi. Each is lead by a brand new MTG commander, and features ten original card designs.
The Commanders Masters MTG set dropped into the MTG 2023 release schedule right after the MTG Lord of the Rings Universes Beyond set, and just before Wilds of Eldraine. This guide will recap the MTG Commander Masters’ release date, the spoiler season, and all the news it generated.
MTG Commander Masters release date
The global MTG Commander Masters release date was August 4 2023. Before that, preview events were held at select WPN stores from July 28 – 30. Commander Masters did not come to MTG Arena, as the platform doesn’t have a Commander game mode.
Commander Masters spoiler season began on July 11, and the whole set was spoiled by July 18. The only new cards came in the four precon decks, revealed from July 17 – 20.
MTG Commander Masters spoilers
Before spoiler season, plenty of Commander Masters cards were already shown off, during the ‘First Look’ at the set back in May 2023. Most notably, we got to see all four of the Commanders from the precon decks, including the slithery Sliver and eldritch Eldrazi. High value cards like Jewelled Lotus, Capture of Jingzhou and Personal Tutor were all revealed in the First Look.
MTG Commander Masters spoilers officially started during the MTG Weekly broadcast on July 11 2023, hosted by Blake Rasmussen and Gavin Verhey. Naturally, the set contains sexy new versions of classic Commander cards like Sol Ring and Command Tower.
There were also a handful of high value cards among the first Commander Masters spoilers – for instance a new reprint of Land Tax. The cost-reducing Medallion cycle, which hasn’t seen a reprint since 2014, also returned for the set.
Other key cards include: a cycle of spells from Ikoria Commander decks that are free as long as you control your Commander; the massive green finisher Finale of Devastation; mega-demon Archfiend of Despair; and premier win condition Cyclonic Rift.
Box packaging also gave the game away about a few cards before they were spoiled: Ghoulcaller Gisa on the set booster box, and Zacama, Primal Calamity on the collector booster box. Peering closer, Avacyn, Angel of Hope is hiding on the draft booster packs.
MTG Commander Masters decks
The four MTG Commanders Masters precon decks are:
- Enduring Enchantments – A White/Black/Green enchantments deck
- Sliver Swarm – A five color Sliver deck
- Planeswalker Party – A Blue/White/Red planeswalker deck
- Eldrazi Unbound – A colorless Eldrazi deck – though just how Eldrazi is it really?
Each deck contains ten new cards with the remainder reprints.
Sliver Swarm
Sliver Swarm is much what you’d expect – a bunch of new MTG Slivers to create the ultimate horde. Its mana base leaves a lot to be desired however.
One card worth paying particular attention to though is the alternate Commander, Rukarumel, who’s powerful in and out of Sliver decks, able to manipulate creature types in a very unique way, and enabling all sorts of typal nonsense.
Planeswalker Party
Planeswalker Party has a few new Planeswalkers, and lots of cards designed to protect them.
Highlights include a new blue Planeswalker that can phase out your Planeswalker squad, and a flying cat monster that can double Planeswalker effects.
Eldrazi Unbound
Despite our fears, Eldrazi Unbound is pretty damn cool – with a bunch of new Eldrazi and reprint Eldrazi, as well as some other big colorless cards.
Check out our guide to the best MTG commanders if you’re looking to build a new EDH deck. Or if you want to go set-specific, we can serve up a helping of the top MTG Lord of the Rings commanders too. Finally, if MTG Arena is where you go to get Standard or MTG Draft games played, don’t miss out on these MTG Arena codes.