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Commander Legends card list unveils a treasure trove of powerful cards and exciting mechanics that significantly impacted the Commander format. This guide delves into the set’s comprehensive card pool, analyzing its rarity distribution, influential cards, and the innovative mechanics introduced. We’ll explore how Commander Legends reshaped existing archetypes and its lasting influence on future Magic: The Gathering sets.

From examining the metagame shifts caused by key cards to dissecting the reprint strategy and its market impact, we aim to provide a complete picture of Commander Legends’ contribution to the world of Magic. We’ll also explore the unique design choices behind some of the set’s most memorable cards, comparing them to similar cards from other sets. The analysis includes detailed examples, decklists, and hypothetical scenarios to illustrate the set’s impact and potential.

Commander Legends Card Set Overview

Commander Legends, released in 2020, significantly impacted the Commander format by introducing a large number of cards specifically designed for multiplayer gameplay. The set’s focus on legendary creatures and powerful support cards broadened the available strategies and deckbuilding options, refreshing the metagame and offering players a wealth of new choices.The card pool of Commander Legends is characterized by its high concentration of legendary creatures across all colors, many of which offer unique and powerful abilities tailored to Commander play.

Beyond the legendary creatures, the set also features a diverse range of spells, artifacts, and enchantments designed to synergize with the Commander format’s unique dynamics, such as high mana curves and multiple players. Many cards are designed to support specific archetypes or strategies, leading to a diverse and exciting metagame.

Rarity Distribution

Commander Legends features a unique rarity distribution compared to standard sets. While it includes the usual common, uncommon, rare, and mythic rare rarities, the proportions differ. The set boasts a higher percentage of rare and mythic rare cards than standard sets, reflecting its focus on providing powerful and unique options for Commander decks. This increased number of powerful cards at higher rarities contributes to the set’s significant impact on the Commander format, providing more options for high-level play and deckbuilding.

The exact percentages are available through various online resources that track Magic: The Gathering card set statistics.

Color Identity Breakdown

The following table details a selection of cards from Commander Legends, organized by color identity. Note that this is not an exhaustive list, as the set contains hundreds of cards. The mana cost reflects the converted mana cost (CMC) of each card.

Color Identity	Card Name	Mana Cost	Rarity
Mono-White	Captain Sisay	3W	Mythic Rare
Mono-Blue	Arjun, the Shifting Flame	2U	Rare
Mono-Black	Zulaport Cutthroat	1B	Uncommon
Mono-Red	Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin	2R	Rare
Mono-Green	Rishkar, Peema Renegade	2G	Rare
Azorius (White/Blue)	Admiral Beckett Brass	3WU	Rare
Rakdos (Black/Red)	Neheb, the Worthy	2BR	Rare
Golgari (Black/Green)	The Gitrog Monster	3BG	Rare
Boros (White/Red)	Aurelia, the Warleader	2RW	Mythic Rare
Selesnya (White/Green)	Emmara, Soul of the Accord	3GW	Rare
Dimir (Blue/Black)	The Locust God	3UB	Mythic Rare
Izzet (Blue/Red)	Niv-Mizzet, Parun	2UR	Mythic Rare
Simic (Green/Blue)	Prime Speaker Zegana	3GU	Mythic Rare
Gruul (Red/Green)	Wort, the Raidmother	2RG	Rare
Five-Color	Prossh, Skyraider of Kher	2RGB	Mythic Rare

Notable Commander Legends Cards: Commander Legends Card List

Commander Legends, while introducing a plethora of cards, saw several significantly impact the Commander metagame. These cards redefined strategies, offered powerful new options, and shifted the balance of power in various archetypes. Their impact stems from a combination of efficient design, unique abilities, and synergistic potential within existing Commander strategies. This section will analyze three particularly impactful cards, exploring their design choices, comparing them to similar cards, and showcasing their use in sample decklists.

Impactful Card Analysis: The Three Standouts

Three cards from Commander Legends stand out for their immediate and lasting impact: Krenko, Mob Boss (the reprint), Dockside Extortionist, and Urza, Lord High Artificer. These cards quickly became staples in various Commander decks due to their exceptional power and versatility. Their design choices successfully filled gaps in existing archetypes and created entirely new strategic avenues.

Krenko, Mob Boss: Goblin Tribal’s Reignited Power

Krenko, Mob Boss’s reprint in Commander Legends reignited the Goblin tribal strategy. Its simple yet potent design—creating Goblin tokens equal to its power—provided a significant boost to already existing Goblin strategies. The design choice to keep it relatively low cost (2 mana) and simple to understand made it easily accessible and highly effective. Compared to other Goblin generators like Goblin Chieftain, Krenko provides exponentially greater value the more Goblins are on the battlefield, creating a powerful snowball effect.

This explosive potential makes it a clear upgrade for many Goblin strategies.

• Example Decklist (Focus: Aggro): Krenko, Mob Boss as the commander, including cards like Skirk Prospector, Goblin Matron, and Goblin Ringleader to maximize token generation and mana ramp.
• Example Decklist (Focus: Combo): Krenko, Mob Boss paired with cards like Impact Tremors and Goblin Bombardment to deal massive damage with each Goblin token created.

Dockside Extortionist: Ramp and Value Generation

Dockside Extortionist’s design is deceptively simple yet incredibly powerful. Its ability to generate treasure tokens equal to the number of opponents is extremely effective in multiplayer Commander games. The design elegantly leverages the multiplayer aspect of Commander, offering significant ramp and value generation based on the number of players. Compared to other mana-generating cards like Sol Ring, Dockside Extortionist offers a more scalable advantage that grows stronger as the game progresses.

Its reliance on opponents’ creatures entering the battlefield adds a strategic layer, encouraging aggressive play styles.

• Example Decklist (Focus: Control): Dockside Extortionist as a key engine in a control deck, paired with counterspells and board wipes to maintain control while generating significant mana advantage.
• Example Decklist (Focus: Midrange): Dockside Extortionist in a midrange strategy, using the generated mana to accelerate into powerful threats and impactful spells.

Urza, Lord High Artificer: Artificer Synergy and Control

Urza, Lord High Artificer introduced a powerful new dimension to the Artificer archetype in Commander. His abilities—providing card draw, mana generation, and artifact ramp—create a potent engine for powerful artifact-based strategies. The design choice to combine these powerful abilities on a single card made him a game-changer. Compared to other powerful planeswalkers like Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, Urza focuses on a more synergistic, artifact-centric strategy, offering a different kind of control and overwhelming value.

• Example Decklist (Focus: Artifact Synergy): Urza, Lord High Artificer as the commander, focusing on cards like Myr Battlesphere, Cranial Plating, and other powerful artifacts to generate overwhelming board presence.
• Example Decklist (Focus: Control): Urza, Lord High Artificer in a control deck that uses his abilities to generate card advantage, mana, and artifact ramp to counter opposing strategies and control the game.

Commander Legends Card Mechanics

Commander Legends, a unique Magic: The Gathering set, introduced and emphasized several mechanics designed to enhance the Commander format’s experience. These mechanics often focused on improving the synergy between commanders and their respective decks, encouraging strategic deckbuilding and exciting gameplay. The set also revisited and refined existing mechanics, giving them a fresh perspective within the Commander context.Commander Legends mechanics significantly impacted gameplay by increasing deckbuilding options, offering more strategic depth, and introducing new ways to interact with opponents.

The emphasis on powerful, synergistic cards allowed players to create more focused and effective Commander decks, while also increasing the overall power level of the format. This shift encouraged more aggressive and interactive playstyles.

Partner Commanders

Partner Commanders were a central mechanic in Commander Legends. This mechanic allowed players to choose two commanders from a selection of designated cards, provided they met specific color identity requirements. This drastically increased the diversity of commander combinations and opened up numerous strategic possibilities. The Partner mechanic broadened the available commander archetypes and fostered a more diverse metagame.

Card Name	Mana Cost	Mechanic	Description
Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin	1R	Partner	Can be your commander with another Partner commander.
Oswald Fiddlebender	2U	Partner	Can be your commander with another Partner commander.
Silas Renn, Seeker Adept	1B	Partner	Can be your commander with another Partner commander.
Akiri, Line-Slinger	2W	Partner	Can be your commander with another Partner commander.

Cavalcade

The Cavalcade mechanic provided a powerful engine for generating tokens and building a board presence. A card with Cavalcade would create a token creature whenever a creature with a specific characteristic entered the battlefield under your control. This mechanic was particularly effective in aggressive strategies, allowing players to quickly overwhelm opponents. It fostered faster game pacing and emphasized efficient creature deployment.

Card Name	Mana Cost	Mechanic	Description
Cavalcade of Calamity	4RR	Cavalcade	Whenever a Goblin creature enters the battlefield under your control, create a 1/1 red Goblin creature token.

Example of Cavalcade Mechanic in Gameplay

Let’s imagine a hypothetical scenario: A player controls a Commander deck focused on Goblins. They play Cavalcade of Calamity. Subsequently, they play a Goblin Matron, searching their library for a Goblin creature and putting it into play. Because of Cavalcade of Calamity’s effect, they immediately create a 1/1 red Goblin creature token. Then, they play another Goblin, such as a Goblin Chieftain.

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This triggers the Cavalcade effect again, creating another 1/1 Goblin token. The player now has three Goblins on the board, quickly building a strong presence and applying pressure to their opponents. This exemplifies how Cavalcade rapidly expands a player’s board state, leading to potential game-ending advantages. Further plays involving more Goblins will exponentially increase the number of tokens, creating a massive army and overwhelming the opponent.

The initial investment in the Cavalcade card is quickly offset by the rapid generation of tokens, showcasing the mechanic’s power.

Commander Legends’ Impact on Specific Archetypes

Commander Legends, with its focus on two-color commanders and a strong emphasis on powerful tribal synergies, significantly altered the metagame across various Commander archetypes. The set introduced cards that both bolstered existing strategies and created entirely new avenues for deckbuilding, particularly within aggressive, controlling, and combo-oriented strategies. The impact wasn’t uniform across all archetypes, with some experiencing more substantial shifts than others.Commander Legends’ influence on established Commander archetypes is largely attributable to its diverse card pool.

Many cards offered powerful, efficient effects within specific color combinations, enabling streamlined strategies and enhanced consistency. Others provided innovative tools to overcome traditional weaknesses, leading to the emergence of more resilient and versatile decks. The set’s impact is best understood by examining its effects on specific archetypes individually.

Commander Legends’ Influence on Aggro Strategies, Commander legends card list

Commander Legends provided several tools to enhance aggressive strategies in Commander. Cards like [[Dockside Extortionist]] and [[Krenko, Mob Boss]] (if running a goblin theme) offered explosive mana generation capabilities, allowing for significantly faster starts and overwhelming opponents before they could stabilize. Other cards, like efficient one- and two-mana creatures with relevant abilities, helped streamline the early game and maximize the effectiveness of early aggression.

The set’s impact was felt most acutely in mono-red and other aggressive two-color strategies, enabling faster kills and increasing the overall consistency of these strategies.

The following examples demonstrate how Commander Legends cards enhanced aggressive strategies:

• A mono-red aggro deck utilizing Dockside Extortionist to generate massive amounts of mana, enabling multiple attacks and overwhelming damage in a single turn.
• A Boros (red/white) aggro deck that leverages efficient one- and two-drop creatures from Commander Legends to establish a strong early board presence, pressuring opponents before they can establish defenses.
• A Rakdos (black/red) aggro deck that utilizes efficient removal spells from the set to clear away blockers and pave the way for an aggressive assault.

Commander Legends’ Strengthening of Control Archetypes

While not as dramatically impacted as aggro strategies, Commander Legends did provide several tools to improve control archetypes. Cards offering efficient removal and countermagic, often in two-color combinations not previously well-supported, increased the effectiveness of these strategies. Furthermore, the introduction of cards that could generate significant card advantage helped control decks maintain tempo and consistently disrupt opponents’ plans.

This subtly but effectively shifted the control metagame towards more proactive and less reactive strategies.

Illustrative examples of control decks enhanced by Commander Legends include:

• An Azorius (white/blue) control deck utilizing efficient countermagic and board wipes from Commander Legends to maintain control of the board state and stifle opponents’ strategies.
• A Selesnya (white/green) control deck that utilizes powerful removal spells and card draw engines from the set to maintain tempo and disrupt opponents’ plans while simultaneously developing a strong defensive board state.

Impact on Combo Strategies in Commander

Commander Legends’ influence on combo strategies was more nuanced. While the set didn’t introduce game-breaking combo pieces on the level of some previous sets, it provided several cards that improved the consistency and resilience of existing combo strategies. These cards often provided additional redundancy or protection, making combos harder to disrupt and increasing the likelihood of successful execution. This made certain combo decks more reliable and less reliant on specific card draws.

A hypothetical example demonstrating this impact:

• A Simic (blue/green) combo deck leveraging cards from Commander Legends to improve its consistency and resilience. This could involve using efficient ramp to accelerate the combo, additional card draw to find the necessary components, and countermagic to protect the combo from disruption.

Hypothetical Commander Legends-Influenced Decklist: Boros Aggro

This decklist exemplifies how Commander Legends cards synergize within a Boros (red/white) aggro strategy. The focus is on efficient early-game creatures, supported by removal and card draw to maintain momentum. The inclusion of several Commander Legends cards enhances the deck’s speed and consistency.

Commander: [[Aurelia, the Warleader]]

• Creatures: [[Legion Loyalist]], [[Skyknight Legionnaire]], [[Elite Vanguard]], [[Recruiter of the Guard]], [[Thraben Inspector]], [[Storm-Kin Scout]], [[Falco Spara]], [[Champion of the Parish]] (and other aggressive 1-2 drop creatures)
• Spells: [[Path to Exile]], [[Lightning Helix]], [[Boros Charm]], [[Brave the Elements]], [[Collected Company]]
• Lands: A mix of plains and mountains, including fast lands and fetches where appropriate.

Commander Legends Reprint Strategy

Commander Legends, a unique set focusing on the Commander format, employed a specific reprint strategy aimed at both bolstering the existing Commander card pool and making popular cards more accessible. This involved a careful selection of reprints across various rarities, impacting both the playability and market value of the chosen cards.The reasons behind reprinting specific cards were multifaceted. Some reprints targeted highly sought-after cards crucial for popular Commander strategies, increasing their availability and reducing their secondary market prices.

Others aimed to introduce iconic cards from Magic’s history to a new generation of players familiar with the Commander format. Finally, certain reprints were included to provide valuable support for new Commander decks and archetypes introduced within the set itself. This strategic approach aimed to enhance the overall Commander experience while managing the secondary market’s impact.

Reprint Impact on the Secondary Market

The impact of Commander Legends reprints on the secondary market was significant and varied depending on the card’s original rarity and demand. High-demand cards reprinted at a higher rarity (e.g., a mythic rare becoming a rare) experienced a considerable price drop, making them more accessible to a wider player base. Conversely, reprints of already-common cards had a less dramatic effect, often resulting in only minor price fluctuations.

The overall effect, however, was a positive one for many players, as access to previously expensive staples became significantly easier. For example, the reprint of cards like Dockside Extortionist at a lower rarity significantly decreased its market value.

Reprint Rarity Breakdown

The following table provides a breakdown of some reprinted cards from Commander Legends, showing their original set, original rarity, and their rarity in Commander Legends. Note that this is not an exhaustive list and represents a selection of notable reprints.

Card Name	Original Set	Original Rarity	Commander Legends Rarity
Dockside Extortionist	Theros Beyond Death	Mythic Rare	Rare
Sol Ring	Unlimited	Rare	Rare
Vampiric Tutor	Legends	Rare	Rare
Rhystic Study	Modern Masters 2015	Rare	Rare
Command Beacon	Commander 2013	Rare	Rare

Commander Legends’ Influence on Future Sets

Commander Legends, with its focus on multiplayer gameplay and its unique card design, has undeniably left a mark on the Magic: The Gathering landscape. Its influence extends beyond the immediate impact on the Commander format, shaping the design philosophy and card mechanics of subsequent sets. The success of its innovative approach to product design and its focus on providing a fun, engaging experience for players is likely to resonate in future releases.The design choices made in Commander Legends, particularly the emphasis on powerful, yet flavorful cards designed specifically for multiplayer combat, have set a precedent for future sets.

We can expect more sets to explore similar design spaces, potentially incorporating more powerful effects tailored to the complexities of multiplayer games, without necessarily making them overwhelmingly overpowered in 1v1 formats. This could manifest as more cards with flexible abilities, scaling effects that increase in potency with more players, or even dedicated s or mechanics designed to encourage strategic interactions between multiple players.

Influence on Card Mechanics

Commander Legends introduced several interesting mechanics, some of which are likely to inspire future designs. The “Partner” mechanic, allowing players to choose two commanders with a combined mana cost of 10 or less, proved particularly popular. This mechanic fostered a diverse range of commander strategies and opened up creative deckbuilding possibilities. Future sets might incorporate similar mechanics that encourage creative deckbuilding choices or facilitate unique interactions within a game.

For instance, we could see a mechanic that allows players to combine abilities from multiple cards in their deck, creating synergistic effects that are not readily apparent. The success of “Partner” shows a willingness from Wizards of the Coast to explore more complex, yet rewarding, interactions in their game design.

Examples of Potential Future Mechanics

The “Background” mechanic, a Commander Legends innovation, allowed for a secondary type of card to modify a commander’s abilities. This approach could influence future sets to incorporate more modularity in card design. This could manifest in the form of equipment with unique abilities, or perhaps even auras that grant abilities based on the game state. Another potential influence is the prevalence of cards with powerful, but conditional, effects.

Commander Legends showcased the appeal of cards that only shine under specific circumstances, requiring players to think strategically and adapt to changing game states. Future sets might see a wider implementation of these conditional effects, creating more dynamic and engaging gameplay experiences.

Hypothetical Card from a Future Set

Name: Vanguard’s Decree

Mana Cost: 3WW

Type: Enchantment

Rarity: Rare

Text: Whenever you cast a creature spell, if you control two or more creatures with different power, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token. If you control four or more creatures with different power, create a 2/2 white Knight creature token instead.

This hypothetical card exemplifies a potential future mechanic inspired by Commander Legends’ focus on multiple creatures and synergistic effects. It encourages players to build diverse creature decks and rewards them for controlling a wide range of creature types and power levels. The card’s power scales with the number of creatures controlled, directly mirroring the multiplayer environment where Commander Legends thrives.

The effect is similar to Commander Legends’ focus on impactful, synergistic play, while also providing a solid, strategic element.

Concluding Remarks

Commander Legends proved to be a pivotal Magic: The Gathering set, leaving an undeniable mark on the Commander format. Its innovative mechanics, powerful reprints, and influential card designs continue to shape the metagame. This comprehensive exploration of the Commander Legends card list has illuminated its impact, from subtle archetype shifts to the broader influence on future set designs. By understanding the strategic choices behind the set, players can gain valuable insights into optimizing their Commander decks and anticipating future developments in the game.