Commander Launch Party

~
Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

This weekend, hobby / game stores around the globe will be busy celebrating the launch of the newest WoTC product - Commander. Formerly, Elder Dragon Highlander, this is a casual 100-card singleton game with a focus on fun. Locally here in Barrie, OMG! Games (130 Bell Farm Rd. near Georgian College) has been running EDH on Thursday evenings for as long as we can remember and although we personally have gone only a few times, the new pre-constructed Commander decks may just be what gets our butts into this game. The Commander Launch Party at OMG! Games starts at noon, Saturday, 18th June, costs only $45 which gets you a Commander deck, chances at random prizes, foils and a truck load 'o' fun - give 'em a call at (705) 721-4263.


Righto - how is going down ? Check out where you can play, bring along some dice 'n' sleves and get ready for fun. Depending upon how your store sets things up, you will either choose or get a random deck. There are five new commander decks : Heavenly Inferno, Mirror Mastery, Counterpunch, Political Puppets, and Devour for Power.

Each Commander deck contains 15 new Magic the Gathering cards specifically designed for Commander and another whopping 51 other cards new to MTG. Depending upon turn-out, players will go either head-to-head with another player or more play in a group of of 3-5 players. When a game finishes, players can play again or be regrouped into another game with new players.


Each player with receive 1 of 5 premium oversized promo cards (while supplies last) of the following awesome cards : Edric, Spymaster of Trest, Basandra, Battle Seraph, Skullbriar, the Walking Grave, Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter, or Nin, the Pain Artist.

Here are the Commander Decklists . . .

Mirror Master,
Commanders: 1 Riku of Two Reflections, 1 Animar, Soul of Elements, 1 Intet, the Dreamer
Creatures: 1 Magus of the Vineyard, 1 Veteran Explorer, 1 Fierce Empath, 1 Edric, Spymaster of Trest, 1 Conundrum Sphinx, 1 AEthersnipe, 1 Chartooth Cougar, 1 Rapacious One, 1 Spitebellows, 1 Deadwood Treefolk, 1 Elvish Aberration, 1 Baloth Woodcrasher, 1 Hydra Omnivore, 1 Nucklavee, 1 Valley Rannet, 1 Intet, the Dreamer, 1 Faultgrinder, 1 Krosan Tusker, 1 Simic Sky Swallower, 1 Trench Gorger, 1 Avatar of Fury, 1 Magmatic force, 1 Artisan of Kozilek
Planeswalkers: 1 Garruk Wildspeaker
Artifacts: 1 Sol Ring, 1 Armillary Sphere, 1 Gruul Signet, 1 Izzet Signet, 1 Lightning Greaves, 1 Prophetic Prism, 1 Simic Signet
Enchantments: 1 Vow of Flight, 1 Vow of Lightning, 1 Vow of Wildness
Instants: 1 Brainstorm, 1 Fire/Ice 1 Tribute to the Wild, 1 Colossal Might, 1 Invigorate, 1 Spell Crumple, 1 Electrolyze, 1 Ray of Command 1 Prophetic Bolt, 1 Hunting Pack
Sorceries: 1 Collective Voyage, 1 Hull Breach, 1 Cultivate, 1 Kodama's Reach, 1 Firespout, 1 Ruination, 1 Explosive Vegetation, 1 Chain Reaction, 1 Death by Dragons, 1 Vengeful Rebirth, 1 Disaster Radius, 1 Call the Skybreaker, 1 Savage Twister
Lands: 1 Command Tower, 1 Evolving Wilds, 1 Fungal Reaches, 1 Gruul Turf, 1 Homeward Path, 1 Izzet Boilerworks, 1 Kazandu Refuge, 1 Rupture Spire, 1 Simic Growth Chamber, 1 Temple of the False God, 1 Vivid Crag, 1 Vivid Creek, 1 Vivid Grove, 7 Island, 8 Mountain, 13 Forest

Devour for Power,
Commanders: 1 The Mimeoplasm, 1 Damia, Sage of Stone, 1 Vorosh, the Hunter
Creatures: 1 Nezumi Graverobber, 1 Skullbriar, the Walking Grave, 1 Riddlekeeper, 1 Fleshbag Marauder, 1 Eternal Witness, 1 Troll Ascetic, 1 Yavimaya Elder, 1 Solemn Simulacrum, 1 Brawn, 1 Wonder, 1 Sewer Nemesis, 1 Gravedigger, 1 Lhurgoyf, 1 Dreamborn Muse, 1 Mortivore, 1 Desecrator Hag, 1 Mulldrifter, 1 Acidic Slime, 1 Vulturous Zombie, 1 Dark Hatchling, 1 Extractor Demon, 1 Scythe Spector, 1 Wrexial, the Risen Deep, 1 Vorosh, the Hunter, 1 Triskelavus, 1 Slipstream Eel, 1 Butcher of Malakir, 1 Patron of the Nezumi, 1 Szadek, Lord of Secrets, 1 Avatar of Woe, 1 Artisan of Kozilek
Artifacts: 1 Sol Ring, 1 Dimir Signet, 1 Golgari Signet, 1 Lightning Greaves, 1 Simic Signet, 1 Oblivion Stone
Enchantments: 1 Vow of Wildness, 1 Vow of Flight, 1 Vow of Malice, 1 Memory Erosion, 1 Grave Pact
Instants: 1 Tribute to the Wild, 1 Spell Crumple, 1 Fact or Fiction, 1 Relic Crush
Sorceries: 1 Minds Aglow, 1 Shared Trauma, 1 Sign in Blood, 1 Stitch Together, 1 Cultivate, 1 Windfall, 1 Buried Alive, 1 Syphon Mind, 1 Unnerve, 1 Rise from the Grave, 1 Syphon Flesh, 1 Living Death
Lands: 1 Barren Moor, 1 Command Tower, 1 Dimir Aqueduct 1 Dreadship Reef, 1 Golgari Rot Farm, 1 Jwar Isle Refuge, 1 Lonely Sandbar, 1 Rupture Spire, 1 Simic Growth Chamber, 1 Svogthos, the Restless Tomb, 1 Temple of the False God, 1 Terramorphic Expanse, 1 Tranquil Thicket, 8 Forest, 8 Island, 11 Swamp

Heavenly Inferno,
Commanders: 1 Kaalia of the Vast, 1 Tariel, Reekoner of Souls, 1 Oros, the Avenger
Creatures: 1 Mother Of Runes, 1 Orzhov Guildmage, 1 Boros Guildmage, 1 Gwyllion Hedge-Mage, 1 Duergar Hedge-Mage, 1 Lightkeeper of Emeria, 1 Razorjaw Oni, 1 Anger, 1 Voice Of All, 1 Dragon Whelp, 1 Serra Angel, 1 Shattered Angel, 1 Fallen Angel, 1 Bassandra, Battle Seraph, 1 Oni of Wild Places, 1 Mana-Charged Dragon, 1 Malfegor, 1 Angelic Arbiter, 1 Archangel of Strife, 1 Angel of Despair, 1 Bladewing the Risen, 1 Avatar of Slaughter, 1 Akroma, Angel Of Fury, 1 Reiver Demon, 1 Dream Cacademon
Artifacts: 1 Sol Ring, 1 Armillary Sphere, 1 Boros Signet, 1 Lightning Greaves, 1 Orzhov Signet, 1 Rakdos Signet, 1 Darksteel Ingot
Enchantments: 1 Soul Snare, 1 Vow Of Duty, 1 Vow of Malice, 1 Vow of Lightning, 1 Stranglehold, 1 Pyrohemia, 1 Righteous Cause
Instants: 1 Path to Exile, 1 Bathe In Light, 1 Terminate, 1 Orim's Thunder, 1 Mortify, 1 Congregate, 1 Return To Dust, 1 Sulfurous Blast, 1 Wrecking Ball, 1 Master Warcraft, 1 Cleansing Beam, 1 Comet Storm
Sorceries: 1 Syphon Mind, 1 Diabolic Tutor, 1 Evincar's Justice, 1 Syphon Flesh, 1 Akroma's Vengeance, 1 Death By Dragons, 1 Earthquake
Lands: 1 Akoum Refuge, 1 Barren Moor, 1 Bojuka Bog, 1 Boros Garrison, 1 Command Tower, 1 Evolving Wilds, 1 Forgotten Cave, 1 Molten Slagheap, 1 Orzhov Basilica, 1 Rakdos Carnarium, 1 Rupture Spire, 1 Secluded Steppe, 1 Vivid Meadow, 1 Zoetic Cavern, 8 Plains, 8 Swamp, 8 Mountain

Political Puppets, u
Commanders: 1 Zedruu the Greathearted, 1 Ruhan of the Fomori, 1 Numot, the Devastator
Creatures: 1 Goblin Cadets, 1 Spurnmage Advocate, 1 Jotun Grunt, 1 Wall Of Omens, 1 Fog Bank, 1 Nin, The Pain Artist, 1 Azorius Guildmage, 1 Court Hussar, 1 Gomazoa, 1 Guard Gomazoa, 1 Vedalken Plotter, 1 Wall Of Denial, 1 Plumeveil, 1 Flametongue Kavu, 1 Windborn Muse, 1 False Prophet, 1 Brion Stoutarm, 1 Chromeshell Crab, 1 Izzet Chronarch, 1 Dominus of Fealty, 1 Rapacious One, 1 Arbiter of Knollridge
Artifacts: 1 Sol Ring, 1 Armillary Sphere, 1 Fellwar Stone, 1 Howling Mine, 1 Lightning Greaves, 1 Prophetic Prism, 1 Champion's Helm, 1 Darksteel Ingot, 1 Dreamstone Hedron
Enchantments: 1 Soul Snare, 1 Journey to nowhere, 1 Vow Of Lightning, 1 Ghostly Prison, 1 Vow Of Duty, 1 Propaganda, 1 Vow Of Flight, 1 Prison Term, 1 Crescendo of War, 1 Martyr's Bond
Instants: 1 Brainstorm, 1 Flusterstorm, 1 Lash out, 1 Punishing Fire, 1 Pollen Lullaby, 1 Perilous Research, 1 Vision Skeins, 1 Whirlpool Whelm, 1 Chaos Warp, 1 Oblation, 1 Murmurs from Beyond, 1 Repulse, 1 Spell Crumple, 1 Wild Ricochet, 1 Reins Of Power, 1 Scattering Stroke
Sorceries: 1 Breath of Darigaaz, 1 Trade Secrets, 1 Death By Dragons, 1 Austere Command, 1 Insurrection, 1 Skyscribing
Lands: 1 Azorius Chancery, 1 Boros Garrison, 1 Command Tower, 1 Evolving Wilds, 1 Izzet Boilerworks, 1 Terramorphic Expanse, 8 Mountain, 8 Plains, 12 Island

Counter Punch,
Commanders: 1 Teneb, the Harvester, 1 Karador, Ghost Chieftain, 1 Ghave, Guru of Spores
Creatures: 1 Aquastrand spider, 1 Deadly Recluse, 1 Sakura-Tribe Elder, 1 Scavenging Ooze, 1 Monk Realist, 1 Selesnya Evangel, 1 Golgari Guildmage, 1 Selesnya Guildmage, 1 Nantuko Husk, 1 Fertilid, 1 Spawnwrithe, 1 Vampire Nighthawk, 1 Spike Feeder, 1 Yavimaya Elder, 1 Squallmonger, 1 Penumbra Spider, 1 Sigil Captain, 1 Shriekmaw, 1 Dark hatchling, 1 Hornet Queen, 1 Vish Kal, Blood Arbiter 1 Symbiotic Wurm, 1 Celestial Force, 1 Chorus of the Conclave
Artifacts: 1 Skullclamp, 1 Sol Ring, 1 Golgari Signet, 1 Lightning Greaves, 1 Orzhov Signet, 1 Selesnya Signet, 1 Darksteel Ingot, 1 Acorn Catapult
Enchantments: 1 Soul Snare, 1 Fists of Ironwood, 1 Necrogenesis, 1 Vow of Malice, 1 Awakening Zone, 1 Vow of Wildness, 1 Oblivion Ring, 1 Vow of Duty
Instants: 1 Attrition, 1 Aura Shards, 1 Doom Blade, 1 Tribute to the Wild, 1 Footbottom Feast 1 Afterlife, 1 Mortify, 1 Nemesis Trap, 1 Cobra Trap
Sorceries: 1 Alliance of Arms, 1 Cultivate, 1 Harmonize, 1 Syphon Flesh, 1 Bestial Menace, 1 Hex, 1 Hour of Reckoning, 1 Death Mutation, 1 Storm Herd
Lands: 1 Barren Moor, 1 Command Tower, 1 Evolving Wilds, 1 Golgari Rot Farm, 1 Orzhov Basilica, 1 Rupture Spire, 1 Secluded Steppe, 1 Selesnya Sanctuary, 1 Temple of the False God, 1 Tranquil Thicket, 1 Vivid Grove, 1 Vivid Marsh, 1 Vivid Meadow, 8 Swamp, 10 Forest, 8 Plains

And now some Commander background / rules :

Each player starts at 40 life, and each player's deck is led by a legendary creature designated as that deck's commander. That commander determines what cards are allowed in the rest of the deck.

Commander decks are exactly 100 cards, including the deck's commander.

The deck's commander must be a legendary creature.

Other than basic lands, each card must have a different English name.

Your commander begins the game in the command zone, a game area created for the Commander format.

You may cast your commander from the command zone. Each time you do this, it costs {2} more to cast for each time you previously cast it from the command zone that game.

If your commander would be put into your graveyard from anywhere or be exiled from anywhere, you may choose to put it into the command zone instead.

In addition to the normal rules regarding winning and losing the game, the Commander format adds this additional rule: A player that's been dealt 21 or more combat damage by the same commander over the course of the game loses the game.

That's it for now - for more details, visit the official Commander page or hit up the WoTC product page.
~