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 Oreskos
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 Bastion
Karn’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 Wurm, 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 Zhalfir has the power to return dead knights from the Graveyard to play. Sidar also has the Eminence mechanic, made famous by cards like Edgar Markov and The Ur Dragon.
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 Horn and Vanquisher’s Banner
- You want to play a very aggressive game.
Best Reprints
Hero of Bladehold, currently worth $15
Vanquisher’s Banner, currently worth $14
Adeline, Resplendent Cathar, 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 Awakener 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 Hydra, currently worth $15
Fetid Heath, currently worth $7
Flameshadow Conjuring, 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 Awakener and its Commander, Kasla, the Broken Halo.
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 Champion, currently worth $10
Secure the Wastes, currently worth $7
Keeper of the Accord
Keeper of the Accord
At 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 Tracker
Tireless Tracker
Landfall — 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 Swindle, currently worth $4.50
Academy Manufactor
Academy Manufactor
If 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!