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What is Commander?

The format explained for somebody who has never played it: one commander-legal legendary card leads a deck of exactly 100 cards, and apart from basic lands no two of them can have the same name.

Let the site build a deck with me

Session Zero asks a few plain questions about how you like to play, then suggests commanders and decks that suit the answers. No account needed to try it.

I already have a decklist

Paste it from Moxfield, Archidekt, Mana Pool, Deckbox, ManaBox or just typed out, and the site reads it and finds every card.

How powerful is my deck?

Brackets are how players agree on how hard their decks try to win, before the game starts. There are five, and the brackets page explains each one in plain words. A reading of your own deck is coming once we trust its numbers.

Look Something Up

What does this word mean?

Every term the game uses, defined in plain English with an example card wherever one helps.

What kind of deck is this?

50 archetypes: whole game plans, described by the way the deck intends to win.

What is this deck built around?

131 themes: a creature type, a single idea, a color pair.

What does one card actually do?

211 tags: one job a single card can do, in a vacuum.

How do I search for a kind of card?

74 search words, like is:historic or is:shockland, each explained in plain words.

Who can lead a deck?

All 3,677 legal commanders, A to Z.

What can I buy ready-made?

181 preconstructed decks you can buy and play out of the box, each with its full card list.

Show Me Around

How do I replay a tutorial?

Every major screen walks you through its controls the first time you open it. The ? button replays the tour for whatever page you are on, any time, including this one's neighbors. On a phone it sits next to the menu at the top of the screen; on a computer it is in the bottom-left corner. Signed in, Account → Tutorials lists every tour, plays any of them on demand, and turns them off or back on.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for search?

Press / anywhere and the cursor jumps to the search box on whatever page you are on. Esc closes any suggestion list.

Do I need an account?

No, to look. You can browse and search every card, commander and preconstructed deck, open anyone's shared deck, and run Session Zero without signing in. You need an account only to save something: your own decks, and your collection.

Search Words

Type any of these into the search bar on the Cards or Commanders tab, on their own or with other words: t:creature is:historic. Put a minus in front to leave them out: -is:reprint. You don't need to remember them. Start typing one, like "shock", and the search bar offers it.

Commander

is:commander Can be your commander

Cards allowed to lead a Commander deck. Mostly legendary creatures, plus the few other cards whose text says they can be your commander. Example: Atraxa, Praetors' Voice (Double Masters). Try is:commander id:wu. From: Official rules

is:partner Partner

Commanders with Partner. A deck can be led by two of these instead of one. A card that says "Partner with" and a name only pairs with that one card. Example: Kodama of the East Tree (Bloomburrow Commander). Try is:partner id:br. From: Official rules

is:companion Companion

Cards with Companion. If your whole deck meets the rule written on the card, it waits outside the game and you can pay {3} to put it into your hand once. Example: Lurrus of the Dream-Den (Pioneer Challenger Decks 2021). From: Official rules

is:gamechanger Game Changer

Cards on the official Game Changers list. They are strong enough that the brackets limit how many a deck can have. Example: Rhystic Study (Jumpstart 2022). From: Wizards of the Coast

is:banned Banned in Commander

Cards that aren't allowed in a Commander deck. You can still look them up, and we flag them if one ends up in a deck. Example: Mana Crypt (Double Masters). From: Wizards of the Coast

is:reserved Reserved List

Cards Wizards of the Coast has promised never to reprint, which is often why they cost so much. Example: Lion's Eye Diamond (Vintage Masters). Try is:reserved t:land. From: Scryfall card data

Kinds of Card

is:historic Historic

Legendary cards, artifacts and Sagas. Some cards reward you for casting historic spells. Example: Sol Ring (Secrets of Strixhaven Commander). Try is:historic t:creature. From: Official rules

is:outlaw Outlaw

Cards that are an Assassin, Mercenary, Pirate, Rogue or Warlock. Some cards get better the more outlaws you control. Example: Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer (Modern Horizons 2). From: Official rules

is:party Party

Cards that are a Cleric, Rogue, Warrior or Wizard. A full party is one of each, and some cards get stronger the more of your party you have. Example: Archmage Emeritus (Secrets of Strixhaven Commander). From: Official rules

is:modal Modal

Spells and abilities that let you pick from a list, like "Choose one" or "Choose two". Example: Austere Command (Fallout). Try is:modal t:instant. From: Our definition

is:vanilla Vanilla

Creatures with no rules text at all. Just a name, a cost, and power and toughness (how much damage it deals and how much it can take). Example: Gigantosaurus (Core Set 2019). From: Player term

is:frenchvanilla French vanilla

Creatures whose only rules text is keyword abilities, like Flying or Trample. Example: Vampire Nighthawk (Foundations). From: Player term

is:bear Bear

Creatures that cost 2 mana and have 2 power and 2 toughness. The name comes from Grizzly Bears, the classic example. Example: Grand Abolisher (The Big Score). From: Player term

is:spell Spell

Every card that isn't a land. Example: Swords to Plowshares (Secrets of Strixhaven Commander). From: Our definition

is:permanent Permanent

Cards that stay on the battlefield once played: creatures, artifacts, enchantments, lands, planeswalkers and battles. Example: Arcane Signet (Secrets of Strixhaven Commander). From: Official rules

is:hybrid Hybrid mana

Cards with a mana symbol split in two, like half green and half white. You can pay that symbol with either half. Example: Kitchen Finks (Ultimate Masters). From: Official rules

is:phyrexian Phyrexian mana

Cards with Phyrexian mana symbols. You can pay each one with its color of mana or with 2 life instead. Example: Dismember (Time Spiral Remastered). From: Official rules

Cards With More Than One Part

is:split Split card

Two small cards printed side by side on one card. You choose which half to cast. Example: Wear // Tear (Fallout). From: Official rules

is:flip Flip card

Cards with a second half printed upside down. When the card tells you to, you turn it around and use the other half. Example: Budoka Gardener // Dokai, Weaver of Life (Commander 2018). From: Official rules

is:transform Transforming

Double-faced cards that start on the front face and turn over to the back when something tells them to. Example: Delver of Secrets // Insectile Aberration (Innistrad Remastered). From: Official rules

is:mdfc Modal double-faced

Double-faced cards where you choose which face to play. Many have a spell on the front and a land on the back. Example: Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs (Modern Horizons 3). Try is:mdfc t:land. From: Official rules

is:dfc Double-faced

Any card with a face on both sides instead of a card back. Example: Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness (March of the Machine). From: Official rules

is:meld Meld

Pairs of cards that combine into one bigger card when you have both on the battlefield. Example: Bruna, the Fading Light (Innistrad Remastered). From: Official rules

is:meldpart Meld piece

One of the two cards that meld together. Each is a normal card you can play on its own. Example: Gisela, the Broken Blade (Innistrad Remastered). From: Official rules

is:meldresult Melded card

The big card two meld pieces turn into. It is printed on the back of one of the pieces, so you never play it by itself. Example: Brisela, Voice of Nightmares (Innistrad Remastered). From: Official rules

is:adventure Adventure

Cards with a second, smaller spell printed inside them, called an Adventure. You can cast the card normally, or cast the Adventure first. If you do, the card waits in exile and you can cast it from there later. Example: Bonecrusher Giant // Stomp (Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate). From: Wizards rulings

is:leveler Level up

Creatures you can pay mana into to level up. They get stronger at the levels printed on the card. Example: Joraga Treespeaker (Rise of the Eldrazi). From: Official rules

Lands

is:fetchland Fetch land

Lands you sacrifice to go and find another land in your deck, like Polluted Delta. Example: Polluted Delta (Modern Horizons 3). From: Player term

is:triome Triome

Lands with three basic land types, so they make any of three colors of mana. Example: Ketria Triome (Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths). Also works as is:tricycleland. From: Player term

is:shockland Shock land

Lands with two basic land types that ask you to pay 2 life, or they come in tapped. Example: Steam Vents (Lorwyn Eclipsed). From: Player term

is:dual Original dual land

The ten original lands with two basic land types and nothing else on them, like Underground Sea. Example: Underground Sea (Limited Edition Beta). From: Player term

is:bikeland Cycling land

Lands with two basic land types that come in tapped and have cycling {2}: pay {2} and discard it to draw a new card when you don't need it. Example: Canyon Slough (Lorwyn Eclipsed Commander). From: Player term

is:manland Creature land

Lands that can turn into creatures for a while and still count as lands. Example: Mutavault (Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate). Also works as is:creatureland. From: Player term

is:bounceland Bounce land

Lands that come in tapped and send one of your other lands back to your hand, but make two mana each time you tap them. Example: Azorius Chancery (Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander). Also works as is:karoo. From: Player term

is:painland Pain land

Lands that make colorless mana for free, or one of two colors if you take 1 damage. Example: Adarkar Wastes (Edge of Eternities Commander). From: Player term

is:checkland Check land

Lands that come in untapped if you already control a land of one of the two types they check for, like a Plains or an Island. Example: Glacial Fortress (Edge of Eternities Commander). From: Player term

is:fastland Fast land

Lands that come in untapped early in the game, while you control two or fewer other lands, and tapped after that. Example: Seachrome Coast (Bloomburrow Commander). From: Player term

is:slowland Slow land

The opposite of fast lands: they come in tapped early on, and untapped once you control two or more other lands. Example: Deserted Beach (Innistrad Remastered). From: Player term

is:gainland Gain land

Lands that come in tapped and give you 1 life when they do. Example: Tranquil Cove (Aetherdrift). From: Player term

is:pathway Pathway

Double-faced lands. You choose which side to play, and each side makes one color. Example: Riverglide Pathway // Lavaglide Pathway (Zendikar Rising). From: Player term

is:scryland Scry land

Lands that come in tapped and let you scry 1: look at the top card of your library, then leave it there or put it on the bottom. Example: Temple of Mystery (Secrets of Strixhaven Commander). From: Player term

is:surveilland Surveil land

Lands with two basic land types that come in tapped and let you surveil 1: look at the top card of your library, then leave it there or put it into your graveyard. Example: Undercity Sewers (Murders at Karlov Manor). From: Player term

is:storageland Storage land

Lands that can save up mana on the card as storage counters and spend it all on a later turn. Example: Calciform Pools (Time Spiral Remastered). From: Player term

is:filterland Filter land

Lands that turn mana you already have into mana of the colors you need. Example: Mystic Gate (Commander Masters). From: Player term

is:canopyland Canopy land

Lands that cost 1 life each time they make colored mana. When you no longer need the land, you can sacrifice it to draw a card. Example: Horizon Canopy (Doctor Who). From: Player term

is:shadowland Reveal land

Lands that come in untapped if you show a land of one of their two types from your hand, and tapped if you don't. Example: Choked Estuary (Murders at Karlov Manor Commander). Also works as is:snarl. From: Player term

is:tangoland Battle land

Lands with two basic land types that come in untapped only if you control two or more basic lands. Example: Prairie Stream (Aetherdrift Commander). Also works as is:battleland. From: Player term

is:bondland Bond land

Lands made for games with more than two players. They come in untapped when you have two or more opponents, which in Commander is almost always. Example: Luxury Suite (Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate). From: Player term

is:triland Three-color tapped land

Lands that come in tapped and make any one of three colors. Example: Arcane Sanctum (Aetherdrift Commander). From: Player term

Printings

is:reprint Reprinted

Cards that have been printed more than once. Example: Sol Ring (Commander 2021). From: Scryfall card data

is:firstprint First printing

The printing where a card first appeared. Add a set to see what that set brought in that was new. Example: Sol Ring (Limited Edition Alpha). Try s:mh3 is:firstprint. From: Our definition

is:unique Printed once

Cards that have only ever come out in one set. Example: Urza's Cave (Modern Horizons 3). From: Our definition

is:promo Promo

Special printings handed out at events, in stores or with products, rather than found in regular packs. Example: Sol Ring (Love Your LGS 2022). From: Scryfall card data

is:spotlight Story Spotlight

Cards that show a key moment from a set's story. Example: An Offer You Can't Refuse (Streets of New Capenna). From: Scryfall card data

is:fullart Full art

Printings where the artwork covers the whole card. Example: Island (Unfinity). Also works as is:full. From: Scryfall card data

is:hires High-quality image

Printings with a sharp, high-resolution picture of the real card. New or rare printings sometimes only have a blurry or stand-in picture for a while. Example: Birds of Paradise (Ravnica Remastered). From: Scryfall card data

is:foil Comes in foil

Printings made in a shiny foil version. Example: Cyclonic Rift (Ravnica Remastered). From: Scryfall card data

is:nonfoil Comes in non-foil

Printings made in a regular, non-shiny version. Example: Sol Ring (Limited Edition Alpha). From: Scryfall card data

is:etched Etched foil

Printings made in etched foil, a foil with a textured, metallic look. Example: Swords to Plowshares (Strixhaven Mystical Archive). From: Scryfall card data

is:digital Digital only

Printings that only exist in online games like MTG Arena or Magic Online. Example: Sol Ring (Vintage Masters). From: Scryfall card data

is:booster In booster packs

Printings you can open in booster packs. Example: Lion's Eye Diamond (Vintage Masters). From: Scryfall card data

is:textless Textless

Printings with no rules text on the card, just the art. Example: Sol Ring (Secret Lair Drop). From: Scryfall card data

is:oversized Oversized

Large versions of cards, made as prizes or for display rather than for play. Example: Swords to Plowshares (Oversized League Prizes). From: Scryfall card data

is:colorshifted Colorshifted

Printings that reimagine a card in a different color, first seen in Planar Chaos. Example: Damnation (Planar Chaos). From: Scryfall card data

is:funny Joke sets

Printings from joke sets like Unfinity. Only the ones allowed in Commander show up here. Example: Clown Car (Unfinity). From: Scryfall card data

is:alchemy Alchemy

Printings from Alchemy, the digital sets made for MTG Arena. Example: Sulfur Falls (Alchemy: Edge of Eternities). From: Scryfall card data

is:old Old card frame

Printings in the original card frame, used from 1993 to 2003. Example: Sol Ring (Unlimited Edition). From: Scryfall card data

is:new Modern card frame

Printings in any of the newer card frames, used from 2003 on, including the one on cards today. Example: Sol Ring (Secrets of Strixhaven Commander). From: Scryfall card data

is:masterpiece Masterpiece

Special printings with unusual art and frames, found now and then in booster packs of certain sets. Example: Cultivate (Strixhaven Mystical Archive). From: Scryfall card data

is:universesbeyond Universes Beyond

Printings from Universes Beyond sets, where Magic crosses over with other worlds like The Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who or Final Fantasy. Example: Gandalf the Grey (The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth). From: Scryfall card data

Printed on the Card

has:flavor Flavor text

Printings with flavor text: the italic story text that doesn't affect the game. Example: Llanowar Elves (Foundations). From: Scryfall card data

has:watermark Watermark

Printings with a faint symbol behind the rules text, like a guild or faction logo. Example: Cyclonic Rift (Ravnica Remastered). From: Scryfall card data

has:indicator Color indicator

Cards with a small colored dot by the type line. It sets the card's color when there's no mana cost to show it. Example: Pact of Negation (Time Spiral Remastered). Also works as is:indicator. From: Scryfall card data

has:security_stamp Security stamp

Printings with the small shiny stamp at the bottom, there to show the card is genuine. Example: Command Tower (Secret Lair Drop). From: Scryfall card data

Something Is Wrong

A card is missing, or its details are wrong

Card details and prices are refreshed every day. If a search finds nothing, the results page offers a Report the gap button that tells us exactly what you looked for.

What changed recently?

Every change to the site is written up, in plain language, on the changelog.