Commander Deckbuilding Primer: Core Rules, Strategy, and Best Practices

Commander is a 100-card, singleton multiplayer format built around a single legendary creature or other permitted commander that sits in the command zone and can be cast repeatedly under commander tax. The deck must contain exactly 100 cards including the commander, and only basic lands may appear more than once. Color identity governs every card you may include: a card’s mana symbols in its casting cost and rules text must fall entirely within the commander’s color identity.

Deck construction starts with that commander and a clear strategy. Decide whether you want combo, commander damage or voltron, group slug and board control, token armies, or politics-based value engines. Build consistent synergy by selecting enablers, protection, and answers that support the plan rather than scattering neat but unrelated cards. Pick a win condition early and prioritize cards that advance it reliably.

Mana planning is core to consistency. Typical advice is to run roughly 36 to 40 lands depending on the amount of ramp you include. Fill the gap with mana rocks and ramp spells to smooth early turns; adjust land count up or down based on the average converted mana cost and the presence of cheap interaction. Shape a mana curve that matches your strategy so you have meaningful plays each turn and can hit key thresholds for your commander and finishers.

Interaction matters for both power and politeness. Include single-target removal, mass removal, and counterspells if your colors allow them. Favor recurring answers and flexible interaction that solve multiple problems rather than situational one-offs. Balance removal to match your playgroup’s power level and aim to have at least a few answers to common threats to avoid games stalling out.

Table etiquette is part of the format. Discuss power level with your playgroup and agree on any house rules or local ban lists before shuffling. If your group dislikes free infinite combos, consider bracket-style adjustments to combos so play remains enjoyable for everyone. Be transparent about deck intent and expected play speed to prevent awkward turns and confusion.

Resources to use while building and testing include EDHREC for data-driven card selection, Gatherer and Scryfall for rulings and card images, and your local game-store or Discord communities for playtesting and feedback. Follow this checklist when starting a new 99, and when you’re ready, dive into commander-specific guides to tune lists for particular archetypes or commanders.