Locations
Hello everyone! I'm Levi from The Thought Vessel, and today we're exploring the Game Changer list for Commander. On February 11th, it was announced that we would have a new way to evaluate deck power levels using a bracket system. Some of my fellow writers here at CoolStuffInc are covering the details of the brackets and the current cards on the Game Changer list. Today, I want to focus on the legendary creatures on the list and consider what other legends might join them in the future.
The current legendary creatures on the Game Changer list are Urza, Lord High Artificer, Tergrid, God of Fright, Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy, Grand Arbiter Augustin IV, Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow, and Winota, Joiner of Forces. There are also Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger and Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur, but those are more commonly played in the 99 than as commanders.
At a high level, these legendary creatures fit into one of three categories:
- cEDH-caliber commanders that don't scale down well
- Value engines that can easily spiral out of control
- Stax effects that are too oppressive at lower power levels
This rubric will guide the list of potential future additions. Do I think all--or even most--of these commanders will end up on the Game Changer list? Definitely not. But I believe there's a reasonable case for each one. Let's start with an honorable mention.
Honorable Mention: Narset, Enlightened Master
In Commander's early days, Narset was one of the strongest commanders you could play. Her ability to chain extra combat and extra turn spells could easily create an oppressive game of solitaire until she found a win condition. Many of the game-changing elements she embodies--extra turns and combo loops--are already covered in the bracket system. So, while Narset might not need to be added to the Game Changer list right away, she's definitely worth keeping in mind.
10. Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm
Dragons are already one of the most busted creature types in Magic. The combination of flying, evasion, and raw damage output is unmatched. Miirym makes things even more ridiculous by doubling every dragon that enters the battlefield--and conveniently bypassing the legendary rule. Add her frustrating Ward 3 and the potential for a clone-based build, and you've got a problem many Bracket 2 decks won't have an easy answer for.
9. Gaddock Teeg
Much like Iona, Shield of Emeria, Teeg can shut down entire strategies for just two mana. He's incredibly easy to cast early, and his effect can lock certain decks out of the game entirely. While Teeg isn't super popular right now, a reprint or Secret Lair could boost his visibility--and if that happens, I wouldn't be surprised to see him added to the Game Changer list.
8. Toxrill, the Corrosive
Toxrill is a nightmare for token and small-creature decks. Its brutal control effect wipes out opposing creatures, leaving behind an army of slugs. The combination of creature denial and a built-in token engine makes Toxrill a solid contender for the Game Changer list.
7. Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
Much like Vorinclex and Jin-Gitaxias, Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines offers a powerful effect paired with a devastating restriction on opponents. In a mono-White blink deck, she becomes especially oppressive, looping removal spells repeatedly. Her Torpor Orb effect can completely shut down archetypes like blink and landfall, making her a serious threat.
6. Magda, Brazen Outlaw
At first glance, Magda might not seem like a cEDH commander, but make no mistake--she is. Fetching artifacts or dragons at instant speed, often in a way that's hard to interact with, is far too much for a Bracket 2 table to handle. Magda is an incredibly fun deck to pilot--just make sure you're playing at a higher power bracket.
5. Sythis, Harvest's Hand
Sythis is one of the best value engines in Commander. For just two mana, she gains you life and draws a card for every enchantment you cast. That's an absurd amount of value on a two-mana creature. To make things worse (or better, depending on your perspective), Sythis can sit in your command zone. Every game I've played against a Sythis deck has revolved around that card--definitely Game Changer material.
4. Korvold, Fae-Cursed King
In a format overflowing with treasure, food, clue, map, and blood tokens, Korvold has no shortage of things to sacrifice for value. He's a glutton for card advantage and can take over games with minimal effort. While the recent bannings of Jeweled Lotus and Mana Crypt took him down a notch, Korvold was once a cEDH staple capable of winning tournaments if left unchecked. Not many Bracket 2 commanders can keep up with him.
3. Najeela, the Blade-Blossom
An admitted design mistake, Najeela is an unstoppable force. It's easy to combo with her or drown your opponents in value. Being five colors removes any restrictions on her deck building options, making her a top cEDH commander for years. Najeela absolutely deserves to be part of the Game Changer conversation.
2. Chulane, Teller of Tales
When Chulane was first spoiled, I thought it was a fan-made custom card. Every time you cast a creature, you get to draw a card and put a land into play untapped. Don't have a creature in hand? No problem! Chulane can bounce creatures back to your hand so you can reuse them. I still can't believe this card exists--it's a powerhouse and a clear game-changer.
1. Jodah, the Unifier
And speaking of cards I thought were fake, here's Jodah, the Unifier. He combines the best parts of Sliver Legion and The First Sliver--but for legendary creatures. If Jodah survives a couple of turns, the game will quickly spiral out of reach. In a five-color deck, the "legendary" restriction barely even matters.
And there you have it! These are the top ten commanders that could find themselves on the Game Changer list in the near future. It'll be interesting to see what changes happen in April when we get a more refined version of this bracket system. Until then, just keep playing what you love. Until next time, happy gaming!
