TOP 8 #MTGxWHO Commander Picks
By Ryan Sparks
I’ve had countless evenings wrapped up in the timey-wimey awesomeness of Doctor Who, with my younger brother right by my side. In my wildest dreams, I’d envision myself leaping into my very own Tardis, zipping through time and space, and embarking on epic adventures. Little did I know that Wizards of the Coast would work their magic and merge the Whovian multiverse with the world of Magic: The Gathering, and even more thrillingly, it was all tailored exclusively for EDH players like me. As an avid Commander enthusiast, I’m about to whisk you away through time and space as I reveal my top picks for the eight Doctor Who cards that had me reaching for my wallet faster than the Doctor flips a sonic screwdriver, and my two favorite Planeschase cards from this incredible set.
Everybody Lives – Let me Introduce to you my favorite card from the set, Everybody Lives.
Plains CMC card that hits you with instant speed, and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer in the truest sense. Now, it’s packed to the brim with text, but the real showstopper here is its ability to grant all creatures indestructible and hexproof.
But hold onto your wizard hats because it doesn’t stop there. “Everybody Lives” goes full-on cosmic and hands out hexproof like it’s candy, making every player untouchable. It’s like giving everyone their very own Platinum Angel, ensuring that they won’t lose life or the game in general.
I want to point out a ruling shown on twitter on this card for food for thought:
Cyber Conversion – Alright, brace yourself because they’ve bestowed upon us something that’s essentially the love child of Morph Pongify and Reality Shift, all in one neat package! It’s like they conjured up a fresh, mind-bending blue instant removal spell, and you know what? I’m absolutely here for it. Picture this: you’re faced with that one commander or a pesky creature that’s been driving you up the wall. Just the idea of flipping that troublesome commander or creature upside down is enough to make your inner trickster grin with glee.
Now, I can already see countless blue decks clamoring to get their hands on this gem. After all, it’s only going to give your opponent a puny 2/2 creature in return. There’s just one tiny catch – it’s a tad pricier in terms of mana compared to Pongify and Rapid Hybridization. But hey, who said magic was ever about taking the easy route, right?
Vislor Turlough – It’s Technically Xantcha’s little brother. Here’s his ability for flavor:
Deal with the Black Guardian — When Vislor Turlough enters the battlefield, you may have an opponent gain control of it.
Deal with the Black Guardian — When Vislor Turlough enters the battlefield, you may have an opponent gain control of it.
If you do, it’s goaded for as long as they control it. At the beginning of your end step, draw a card, then you lose life equal to the number of cards in your hand. Doctor’s companion (You can have two commanders if the other is the Doctor.)
If you do, it’s goaded for as long as they control it. At the beginning of your end step, draw a card, then you lose life equal to the number of cards in your hand. Doctor’s companion (You can have two commanders if the other is the Doctor.)
Alright, buckle up, because what we’ve got here is essentially Xantcha 2.0, but this time, we’re not just punishing your opponents by making them pay mana to draw cards and making them attack. No, no, we’re turning it up a notch! Picture this: at the end of each controller’s turn, they’re losing life equal to the number of cards they’ve got in their hands.
It’s like playing the most devious game of hand-size chicken, where you’re not just controlling the game, you’re controlling their fate! This little marvel isn’t just a control freak’s dream; it’s a political powerhouse. I can already see it slinking its way into tax-heavy decks, wreaking havoc, and turning those friendly gatherings into epic showdowns of wits and strategy. Get ready to be the puppet master of the tabletop, my friend!
Displaced Dinosaurs Now, gather ’round, fellow dino enthusiasts, because as a certified Dinosaur fanatic (just check out my epic Gishath deck from the last legendary showdown episode coming soon! ), I’m about to let you in on a little secret. We’re on the brink of the upcoming Ixalan set, and there’s a card that’s bound to soar in value faster than a Pterodactyl taking flight.
This card isn’t just good; it’s practically legendary! Brace yourselves for the majesty of it all: it has the power to transform every historic spell entering the battlefield into a roaring, rampaging 7/7 dinosaur. Yes, you heard that right. It’s like sprinkling a dash of prehistoric magic onto your battlefield, and these dinos are ready to stomp and chomp their way through the competition.
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship – Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts, because we’re going on a wild ride with Dinosaurs on a Spaceship! Now, I know I’ve got a bit of a dino obsession, but this one takes the cake. We’re talking about a Dinosaur lord that’s straight out of a sci-fi adventure.
This Dino commander isn’t just your run-of-the-mill creature; it’s like the captain of the prehistoric starship, here to lead your dino army to glory. With its suspend ability, it’s like it’s stuck in a temporal warp, and every time a time counter goes poof, it’s dishing out red and white Dinosaur tokens like there’s no tomorrow, and these babies come ready to soar with wings and a fire in their hearts.
It’s not just about giving your Dinos a motivational speech; it’s about giving them the whole shebang – +1/+1, vigilance, and trample. This is some next-level, dino-commanding, starship-captaining madness. And you know what’s even more epic? Most dino decks are all about stomping on the ground, but now they’ve got these winged warriors joining the ranks. It’s like turning your Dino tribe into an aerial force to be reckoned with. So, if you’re ready for some high-flying, time-warping dino action, this card is your ticket to an adventure that’s truly out of this world!
Reverse the Polarity– Now, I know what you’re thinking – it’s another blue card, but trust me, this one’s a reasonable 3 mana, this instant spell gives you the power to make an epic choice. You can either shut down every other spell in the room, unleashing a cascade of “nope” on your opponents, or you can do something even crazier – you can make all the creatures in play question their Power and Toughness by swapping their power and toughness, and to top it off or declare them unlockable for the turn.
River song – SPOILERS! A Legendary Creature that happens to add a fun/yet interesting twist to the game. Her Meet in Reverse ability says you draw cards from the bottom of your library rather than the top. Really helps when you scry or put things on the bottom with certain cards that you can always save for next turn because a player won’t mill your bottom, just the top, so eat your heart out mill decks. The other fun part about this card is her Spoilers ability. Spoilers says if an opponent scries or searches their library you put a plus one, plus one on her and deal damage to that player equal to its power. That’s Izzet, doing Izzet things at at 3 CMC, what nice Commander or part of your 99.
Crisis of Conscience – Batten down the hatches, my fellow Planeswalkers, because in a world brimming with token-spewing decks, it’s high time we seize the power of the ultimate token-themed board wipe! We’ve got not one but two electrifying options to choose from: Do you want to annihilate all those pesky tokens, or do you dare to go big and obliterate every nonland, non-token permanent in sight?
It’s like having the keys to the magical nuke that’s going to reshape the battlefield in your favor! And, let me tell you, my trusty Kykar deck is absolutely ecstatic about this card. It’s like a symphony of destruction, and my feathered friend Kykar can’t wait to take center stage. So, whether you’re in the mood to clear out token swarms or unleash utter chaos by eradicating non-token permanents, this card is your ticket to board wipe glory!
FOR THE PLANAR DECK WIELDERS:
Hold onto your mana crystals, because I’ve got a pair of Planeschase cards that are like the icing on the Magic cake! These bad boys don’t just add fun to the game; they make laughter echo and excitement skyrocket as your decks undergo extreme testing. You’ll find yourself either giggling like a mad wizard or jumping for joy as these cards turn your battles into epic, unpredictable adventures.
If you’re on the hunt for that extra spice to sprinkle on your Planar decks, these are the golden tickets you’ve been searching for! So grab ’em if you can, and brace yourself for a wild ride through the multiverse that’ll leave your opponents and you in awe!
Two Streams Facility
Plane — Apalapucia
Whenever you planeswalk to Two Streams Facility and at the beginning of the first upkeep of the game, each player chooses green anchor or red waterfall.
Each player who last chose green anchor may play an additional land during each of their turns.
Creatures controlled by players who last chose red waterfall get +2/+0 and have haste.
Whenever chaos ensues, each player who last chose green anchor chooses red waterfall, and vice versa.
Prime Minister’s Cabinet Room
