Make your next deck upgrade count.
Commander buying guide · October 8, 2026
Start with something you want your deck to do better. A short, considered shopping list is easier to test than a stack of cards with no clear place to go.
Choose one problem to work on.
Think about your last few games. Were you missing a color of mana, running out of cards, or struggling to answer an opponent's threat?
- Getting started: review your lands and ways to produce mana.
- Keeping going: review ways to draw cards or reuse resources.
- Interacting: review ways to answer the threats your group plays.
Choose the most noticeable problem first. These are prompts for reviewing your list, not fixed card-count rules.
Set a budget for the whole order.
Set aside the total you are comfortable spending, including delivery and any tax shown at checkout. Then choose the changes that fit.
Compare available printings, finishes and conditions. If you only need a card's game effect, you may prefer a different version from the one pictured in a deck article.
Check cards you already own before adding another copy. For each proposed addition, write down the card it would replace.
Check the list before shopping.
Commander decks have 100 cards including the commander. The usual rule is one copy of each card other than basic lands, subject to card-specific exceptions, and cards must fit the commander's color identity.
Check Wizards' current Commander guidance and the current banned list linked there. Talk with your group about the kind of game you want before choosing upgrades.
Bring the cards you need.
- Save your full decklist, then make a shopping list containing only the cards you still need.
- Open Match a decklist and paste one card per line with its quantity and full name.
- Review every match, including the printing, condition, finish, language and available quantity.
- After adding cards, check the cart against your list. Keep a note of anything unavailable.
Current listings determine availability and price. A saved deck recipe does not reserve stock.
Keep a note after playing.
Try the changes and record what helped. If the deck still struggles, that note gives your next upgrade a purpose.
Want a hand checking versions or working through a list? Send me the list and what you are trying to improve.
General buying guidance, not a playtested deck recommendation. Rules reference checked October 8, 2026. Check Delivery & help for US shipping and eligible local delivery.