MTG March of the Machine Commander Decks Buyer’s Guide

Which MTG March of the Machine Commander deck is right for you?

Given that there are five available decks and they all have wildly different game plans choosing the right one can be tricky.

Here is a guide analyzing each of the decks, their strategy, why they might be fun, and listing their best reprints.

We also have an overall list of the most valuable reprints in these decks available here.

Growing Threat

Growing Threat is an Orzhov deck focussed around the Phyrexian army invading the multiverse. Mechanically, it focuses both on Phyrexian tribal gameplay and making Artifacts matter, alongside a small Sacrifice subtheme. These two themes are tied together using the new Incubate mechanic, which can be found on the deck’s primary Commander Brimaz, Blight of OreskosBrimaz, Blight of OreskosWhenever you cast a Phyrexian creature or artifact creature spell, incubate X, where X is that spell's mana value. (Create an Incubator token with X +1/+1 counters on it and "{2}: Transform this token." It transforms into a 0/0 Phyrexian artifact creature.)
At the beginning of each end step, if a Phyrexian died under your control this turn, proliferate.

Buy this deck if…

• You like the Phyrexians and want to play as the bad guys.
• You enjoy using Artifacts and Creatures in conjunction with each other.
• You like playing with +1/+1 counters, but don’t want them to be the primary theme of your deck.
• You like having access to a powerful suite of single target removal spells.
• You want to win through creature combat.

Best Reprints

Ancient Stone Idol, currently worth $6

Karn’s BastionKarn’s Bastion{T}: Add {C}.
{4}, {T}: Proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.), currently worth $5

Massacre WurmMassacre WurmWhen this creature enters, creatures your opponents control get -2/-2 until end of turn.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, that player loses 2 life., currently worth $5

Cavalry Charge

Cavalry Charge is an Esper Knight Tribal deck. This deck is focused on swarming the fields with cheap Knights that buff and support one another. The Commander, Sidar Jabari of ZhalfirSidar Jabari of ZhalfirEminence — Whenever you attack with one or more Knights, if Sidar Jabari is in the command zone or on the battlefield, draw a card, then discard a card.
Flying, first strike
Whenever Sidar Jabari deals combat damage to a player, return target Knight creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. has the power to return dead knights from the Graveyard to play. Sidar also has the Eminence mechanic, made famous by cards like Edgar MarkovEdgar MarkovEminence — Whenever you cast another Vampire spell, if Edgar is in the command zone or on the battlefield, create a 1/1 black Vampire creature token.
First strike, haste
Whenever Edgar attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on each Vampire you control. and The Ur DragonThe Ur DragonEminence — As long as The Ur-Dragon is in the command zone or on the battlefield, other Dragon spells you cast cost {1} less to cast.
Flying
Whenever one or more Dragons you control attack, draw that many cards, then you may put a permanent card from your hand onto the battlefield..

Buy this deck if…

• You want to play a Tribal deck.
• You are excited by the long awaited return of Horsemanship and Eminence.
• You want to get your hands on some of the new Blue Knight cards.
• You want access to Tribal support cards like Herald’s HornHerald’s HornAs this artifact enters, choose a creature type.
  Creature spells you cast of the chosen type cost {1} less to cast.
  At the beginning of your upkeep, look at the top card of your library. If it's a creature card of the chosen type, you may reveal it and put it into your hand. and Vanquisher’s BannerVanquisher’s BannerAs this artifact enters, choose a creature type.
  Creatures you control of the chosen type get +1/+1.
  Whenever you cast a creature spell of the chosen type, draw a card.
• You want to play a very aggressive game.

Best Reprints

Hero of BladeholdHero of BladeholdBattle cry (Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.)
Whenever this creature attacks, create two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens that are tapped and attacking., currently worth $15

Vanquisher’s BannerVanquisher’s BannerAs this artifact enters, choose a creature type.
Creatures you control of the chosen type get +1/+1.
Whenever you cast a creature spell of the chosen type, draw a card., currently worth $14

Adeline, Resplendent CatharAdeline, Resplendent CatharVigilance
Adeline's power is equal to the number of creatures you control.
Whenever you attack, for each opponent, create a 1/1 white Human creature token that's tapped and attacking that player or a planeswalker they control., currently worth $10

Call for Backup

Call for Backup is a Naya +1/+1 counter deck. The deck’s name also hints that it has lots of cards which make use of the new Backup mechanic from March of the Machine. Cards with Backup, like the deck’s Commander Bright-Palm, Soul AwakenerBright-Palm, Soul AwakenerBackup 1 (When this creature enters, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. If that's another creature, it gains the following ability until end of turn.)
Whenever this creature attacks, double the number of +1/+1 counters on target creature. That creature can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less this turn. can temporarily grant other creatures their abilities as they enter play, along with giving them +1/+1 counters.

Buy this deck if…

• You like putting huge numbers of +1/+1 counters on your creatures.
• You are interested in experimenting with the new Backup mechanic.
• You like wacky abilities that can change the course of games.
• You want your cards to have an impact the moment they enter play.
• You like playing “Big Creatures” like Hydras and Dragons and then making them even bigger.

Best reprints

Kalonian HydraKalonian HydraTrample
This creature enters with four +1/+1 counters on it.
Whenever this creature attacks, double the number of +1/+1 counters on each creature you control., currently worth $15

Fetid HeathFetid Heath{T}: Add {C}.
{W/B}, {T}: Add {W}{W}, {W}{B}, or {B}{B}., currently worth $7

Flameshadow ConjuringFlameshadow ConjuringWhenever a nontoken creature you control enters, you may pay {R}. If you do, create a token that's a copy of that creature. That token gains haste. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step., currently worth $3

Divine Convocation

Divine Convocation is a Jeskai deck themed around the Convoke mechanic. The essential game plan for the deck is that you fill the board with cheap creatures and then you use them to Convoke out powerful expensive cards like Wildfire AwakenerWildfire AwakenerConvoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for {1} or one mana of that creature's color.)
When this creature enters, create X 1/1 red Elemental creature tokens with "Whenever this token becomes tapped, it deals 1 damage to target player." and its Commander, Kasla, the Broken HaloKasla, the Broken HaloConvoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for {1} or one mana of that creature's color.)
Flying, vigilance, haste
Whenever you cast another spell that has convoke, scry 2, then draw a card..

Buy this deck if…

• You want to go really wide and amass a huge army of creatures.
• You enjoy playing Token decks.
• You want to win the game by attacking with an army of small creatures, backed up by huge flying threats.
• You want to make big late game plays.
• You want to use your creature for something other than combat.

Best Reprints

Elspeth, Sun’s ChampionElspeth, Sun’s Champion+1: Create three 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens.
−3: Destroy all creatures with power 4 or greater.
−7: You get an emblem with "Creatures you control get +2/+2 and have flying.", currently worth $10

Secure the Wastes, currently worth $7

Keeper of the AccordKeeper of the AccordAt the beginning of each opponent's end step, if that player controls more creatures than you, create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token.
At the beginning of each opponent's end step, if that player controls more lands than you, you may search your library for a basic Plains card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle., currently worth $5

Tinker Time

Tinker Time is a Temur deck that wants to get as many artifact tokens as possible into play. Gimbal, Gremlin Prodigy, the Commander, produces Gremlin Artifact creature tokens that grow stronger the more differently named artifact tokens you have in play. From Treasure, to Blood, to Clues, Tinker Time wants to assemble them all.

Buy this deck if…

• You want an artifact focused deck.
• You want to try an innovative and new strategy.
• You enjoy playing with non-Creature tokens.
• You want to use Treasure to ramp out expensive cards early.
• You want to make some creative modifications to the list to find niche Artifact tokens.

Best Reprints

Tireless TrackerTireless TrackerLandfall — Whenever a land you control enters, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")
Whenever you sacrifice a Clue, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature., currently worth $4.70

Spell SwindleSpell SwindleCounter target spell. Create X Treasure tokens, where X is that spell's mana value. (They're artifacts with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color."), currently worth $4.50

Academy ManufactorAcademy ManufactorIf you would create a Clue, Food, or Treasure token, instead create one of each., currently worth $3.00

Conclusion

Given that March of the Machine takes place across the entire MTG multiverse, it is no surprise that the set’s Commander decks are so varied. Whether you will be Convoking out powerful Angels, or incubating some terrifying Phyrexian threats, there’s plenty on offer here. Even if none of the five appeal to you, the release of New Commander decks often causes previously released pre-cons to drop in price.

Read more: Insane MTG March of the Machine Uncommon May be the Best Card in the Set!