Every new set still presents red mages with the same question: Is this the set where we get more tools to play longer than turn five in Commander? And, thankfully, like most of the sets in the recent past (notable sets being Final Fantasy and Edge of Eternities) Lorwyn Eclipsed answers that question with fire. Lots of it.

Let's talk about the cards that sit at the top of the volcano's set.

Spinerock Tyrant

Spinerock Tyrant is a Dragon that is specifically designed for Commander players who enjoy spellslinger decks but still want a beefy threat in the sky.

Wither on damage to creatures matters more than it first appears. Turning combat and damage-based removal into permanent board shrinkage changes how opponents block and how long their creatures stay relevant. The other triggered ability is where things escalate. Any instant or sorcery you cast that targets a single thing can be copied, with new targets.

Key cards that pair well:

• Chaos Warp - One of Red's most flexible answers. Copying it lets you solve multiple problems or gamble twice, depending on your mood.
• Fire Covenant - This instant enjoyed its first ever reprint in Lorwyn Eclipsed and is amazing with this dragon.
• Crackle with Power - Finisher that becomes absurd when copied, especially in decks already built to generate mana.

Soul Immolation

Soul Immolation is a Red sorcery that understands how Commander boards actually look. You are not just burning faces. You are navigating creatures with wildly different sizes and resilience.

Blight X as an additional cost means this spell scales with the board you already have. Dealing X damage to each opponent and each creature they control is often a reset that favors the caster, especially when your deck is built to recover faster and in some cases, can burn whatever life totals your opponents have to zero.

Key cards that pair well:

• Torbran, Thane of Red Fell - Increasing damage output pushes Soul Immolation into game-ending territory much faster.
• All Will Be One - Blighting makes you put counters on permanents ... and this will trigger more damage to toss towards any target.
• Everlasting Torment - An enchantment that ensures damage sticks and lifegain does not undo your work.

End-Blaze Epiphany

End-Blaze Epiphany is the kind of spell Red decks dream about drawing late in the game. It removes a key creature, and replaces itself with card advantage when that creature kicks the bucket.

Exiling cards equal to the creature's power and letting you play one of them later turns this turn's removal into next turn's momentum. This is especially important in Commander, where trading one-for-one rarely feels good unless you get something back. End-Blaze Epiphany ensures that your big mana investment turns actually matter. End-Blaze Epiphany fits best in Red decks that expect games to go long and want their payoff spells to do more than one job.

Key cards that pair well:

• Fire Lord Zuko - A perfect commander for your 99 as End-Blaze Epiphany gives you a couple of cards castable from exile.
• Mana Geyser - A classic that gets exponentially stronger with the table. Casting Epiphany after a Geyser can swing the game massively in your favor.
• Reverberate - Copy your Epiphany and get double the value by killing two pesky threats and getting twice as many cards in exile to choose from until your next turn.

Hexing Squelcher

Hexing Squelcher looks small, but its text box carries real weight. A creature that cannot be countered and gives your other creatures ward changes how opponents interact with your board.

Paying life to target your permanents is a tax many decks cannot afford repeatedly. This is especially punishing against Blue-based interaction and spot removal-heavy strategies which can be prevalent in higher powered EDH tables.

The fact that Hexing Squelcher itself dodges counters means it reliably establishes this protection when it matters.

Key cards that pair well:

• Goblin Matron - This momma tutors up lil ol' Hexing Squelcher and get 'im ready for his big day of stopping counterspells.
• Wort, Boggart Auntie - OG Wort is still relevant today as it lets you get back this pesky Squelcher if it ever dies.
• Goblin War Drums - Lets your little goblin army get their evasion on with menace and swing through clogged boards.

Collective Inferno

Collective Inferno is a kindred player's go-to when they want to speed up a game. Convoke makes it easier to deploy despite having five mana value.

Doubling all damage sources of the chosen type turns typal decks into engines of destruction. This applies to combat damage, triggered damage, and spell-based damage tied to that creature type.

Key cards that pair well:

• Terror of the Peaks - If you're running a dragon deck, then this Red menace will make short work of your opponents threats or their life totals.
• Be'lakor, the Dark Master - Now, if you're leaning towards the demonic side, then this Demon Noble is kind of like Terror of the Peaks but in Grixis.
• Omnath, Locus of Rage - And of course, if you're piloting an Elementals deck - there are a couple of those that throw damage to the face like Omnath does.

Fiery Thoughts

All of the Red cards from Lorwyn Eclipse burn bright but don't sputter out. In fact, these keep you in the game by removing opposing creatures... and sometimes, players themselves.

Choosing to run Red in Commander seems to be shaping up very well this early in 2026. Pretty soon, more players might rethink their opinions about Red being the fifth best color in the 100-card singleton format we all love.