Commander Precons are a staple of any Magic: The Gathering player's diet. It's not a massive surprise given that Commander remains popular with the exciting Brackets and Game Changer system, but also that some of the coolest cards now come in these 100-card packages. If you've been out of the game for a bit, it can be challenging to know what Commander Precons are the best right out of the box.

Because we want to make sure you get what you're really looking for, even if you're not sure what you're looking for, we're going to talk about all of the newest sets and their Commander Precons, as well as picking some of our favorites you can buy right now. Shall we go ahead and get into things?

Tarkir: Dragonstorm

 

  • Tarkir: Dragonstorm Sultai Arisen Commander Precon

  • Tarkir: Dragonstorm Temur Roar Commander Precon

  • Tarkir: Dragonstorm Abzan Armor Commander Precon

  • Tarkir: Dragonstorm Mardu Surge Commander Precon

  • Tarkir: Dragonstorm Jeskai Striker Commander Precon

  • Tarkir: Dragonstorm Deck Display (Set of Five)

Takir: Dragonstorm is the latest MTG set, which is also the most MTG set we've had in a fair while. Part of that's because it takes us back to a well-loved plane in Tarkir, but there's also the fact that it's filled with characters from that plane and doesn't have a gimmick like race cars or cowboy hats. Sure, there isn't anything wrong with that, but MTG players are pretty stoked for Tarkir: Dragonstorm.

The set came with a whopping five Commander Precons, and while they're all pretty good, the best of the bunch is definitely Sultai Arisen, which has some genuinely silly cards in it. Teval, the Balanced Scale is one of the two options in the Commander Precon, where it ramps you on mana, mills cards whenever it attacks, and creates Zombie Druid tokens every time a card leaves the graveyard. Talk about value!

If you're looking to upgrade any of these fantastic Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Precons, we've got our own coverage on the best way to take these to the next level right here.

Aetherdrift

  • Aetherdrift Eternal Might Commander Precon
  • Aetherdrift Living Energy Commander Precon
  • Aetherdrift Commander Deck Display (Set of Two)

Aetherdrift is an interesting set with a cast of popular characters. The racing theme felt a little out of place, and there's no denying that even if you didn't love the main set, the two Commander Precons are seriously special. Living Energy is easily the best Energy Precon we've had yet and can become a powerhouse when upgraded… pun intended.
However, the best of the two is Eternal Might, which despite being a Zombie-focused strategy, manages to stand out as a unique take on the archetype. It also houses the immense Hashaton, Scarab's Fist, an awesomely fun Commander to build around.

And if you're eager to hit first place when playing Commander, then check out our upgrade guides for these Aetherdrift Commander Precons right here!

Duskmourn: House of Horror

  • Duskmourn: House of Horror Death Toll Commander Precon
  • Duskmourn: House of Horror Endless Punishment Commander Precon
  • Duskmourn: House of Horror Miracle Worker Commander Precon
  • Duskmourn: House of Horror Jump Scare! Commander Precon
  • Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander Deck Display (Set of Four)

We didn't get Commander Precons with Magic Foundations' release and instead got an ungodly number of legendary creatures in the set. So, this means that Duskmourn: House of Horror was the final release of 2024 featuring Commander Precons, and while they were all pretty solid, there was definitely a standout choice out of the terrifying crop of cards. 

Endless Punishment had the powerful Valagovoth, Harrower of Souls at the helm and is a Commander Precon offering not only plenty of power but also some cool lines of play, too. Valgavoth is also just an incredibly cool character because how could you not love a demon living in a basement?

If you want to check out our upgrade guides for the Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander Precons, you can do so here (if you dare).

Bloomburrow

  • Bloomburrow Peace Offering Commander Precon
  • Bloomburrow Squirreled Away Commander Precon
  • Bloomburrow Family Matters Commander Precon
  • Bloomburrow Animated Army Commander Precon
  • Bloomburrow Commander Deck Display (Set of Four)

Ah, Bloomburrow, how could we not love the most adorable Magic set ever made? Despite the cutesy look of the set, this thing had some absolute game-ending weapons when it comes to cards. You can't go five minutes in basically any format without being beaten down by some cute animal in an aggressive strategy (I'm looking at you, Coruscation Mage). It turns out the Commander Precons were solid too, if not a bit mean (thanks, Ms. Bumbleflower). 

The best one is Squirreled Away, which gave Magic players what they wanted, and what they wanted was more Squirrels. You can also look at the Animated Army Precon if you like the idea of turning your trash output into treasure.

If you want to give your Bloomburrow Commander Precons an extra cuteness factor, then we've got our coverage on how to upgrade these into something truly adorable (but actually quite mean).

The Best vs MTG Commander Precons

  • The Brothers' War Peace Urza's Iron Alliance Commander Precon
  • The Brothers' War Mishra's Burnished Banner Commander Precon
  • The Brothers' War Commander Precon (Set of Two)

We've not had a decent versus deck for a while, and while we'll be getting one with the upcoming Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY release, the best ones for now come from The Brothers' War, pitting Urza against Mishra in an iconic battle of the artificers. The decks are genuinely a ton of fun to play, but that's not the only reason they're so great to play with.

These two also come complete in Retro Frames, which makes them really stand out at any table. If you want to stick to that style, they can be a little trickier to upgrade, but it's worth it for the pure artistry and theming on offer. These make for an exceptional purchase for people who have a specific player in mind when it comes to Commander, but also be great gifts.

The Best MTG Commander Precon You Should Buy Right Now

  • Tarkir: Dragonstorm Mardu Surge Commander Precon
  • The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Explorers of the Deep Commander Precon
  • Universes Beyond: Warhammer 40,000 Necron Dynasties Commander Precon

If you're looking for something different, then we would actually recommend the Mardu Surge Commander Precon from Tarkir: Dragonstorm. Aggressive decks aren't uncommon when it comes to Commander Precons, but they can often feel like they lose momentum quickly. Mardu Surge manages to have a very cool vibe (thanks to the color purple) but maintains plenty of staying power without the need to be overly aggressive.

A lot of that is thanks to Zurgo Stormrender, a three-mana creature that creates tokens but lets you either draw cards or drain your opponents whenever a creature token you control leaves the battlefield. It's a remarkably fun concept and great for newer players who just want to turn things sideways, as well as veteran players who want to turn things sideways. It's worth mentioning The Lost Cavern of Ixalan's Explorers of the Deep Commander Precon, which cares quite about Merfolk and +1/+1 counters but if you aren't fussed about budget, Universes Beyond: Warhammer 40,000's Necron Dynasties is an incredibly strong Commander Precon, especially if you're a fan of the Games Workshop franchise (or Space Marine 2). 

The Best MTG Commander Precon Budget Buys

  • First Flight Starter Commander Precon
  • Token Triumph Starter Commander Precon
  • Starter Commander Precon (Set of Five)

Now, while it's nice to grab the latest Commander Precons, sometimes you just want to pick up a deck without spending a chunk of money. Thankfully, the Starter Commander Decks are a massive boon in that respect. Token Triumph is a green and white deck that's, you guessed it, all about creating tokens and generating an impressively wide board state. It's an easy one to upgrade if you decide to do so, thanks to the sheer power of tokens in Commander, so that's always a nice bonus.

If you prefer drawing cards over a board state, then you'll want the First Flight Commander Precon. This one lets you draw a silly amount of cards but also lets you fly over the competition and take your victory from the skies themselves.

Lastly, If you have one of these on its way to you, then you might also want to check out our Commander Upgrade series. We make sure to talk about why we're removing cards and why we're adding them, and even let you pick them up from us without much issue.