What Is Commander—and Why Should You Play It?
If you’ve been around Magic: The Gathering for a bit—or even if you’re just starting—you’ve probably heard people talk about Commander. It’s one of the most popular ways to play Magic, and here at Storming Good Games, it’s the heart of our weekly events.
So… what is Commander, and why should you join us on Monday nights to play it?
🧙♂️ What Is Commander?
Commander—also known as EDH (which stands for Elder Dragon Highlander)—is a multiplayer format where each player builds a 100-card deck led by a single legendary creature—your Commander. Your deck can only include cards that match your Commander’s color identity, and aside from basic lands, you can only have one copy of each card.
The format was originally created by a group of judges and casual players who wanted a more social, long-form way to play Magic. It took off in popularity over the years, eventually becoming an officially supported format by Wizards of the Coast. Today, it’s the most played Magic format in the world—and for good reason.
Games are usually played with 3-4 players, and each player starts with 40 life. That’s right—this format is built for epic, splashy, unpredictable games where table politics, strategy, and chaos all collide.
💥 Why Should You Play Commander?
1. It’s Social and Fun
Commander is a community-driven format. It’s less about winning quickly and more about enjoying the game, telling cool stories with your cards, and interacting with other players. Perfect for making friends or just unwinding after a long day.
2. You Get to Express Yourself
Since every deck is unique, you can build around your favorite creature, theme, or even obscure combo. Want to play angels? Artifacts? Giant sea monsters? Group hug decks that help everyone draw cards? You can do all of that and more.
3. It’s Budget-Friendly (if you want it to be)
Because Commander is casual at its core, you don’t need expensive staples to have a great time. You can build a fun, functional deck on a tight budget—or go wild with foils and big-ticket cards if that’s your style.
4. Games Are Wildly Memorable
No two games are the same. One week you might get overrun by squirrels, and the next you’ll be slinging massive spells or stealing everyone’s creatures. It’s all part of the fun.
🎉 Come Try It at Storming Good Games
We host Commander Night every Monday from 6–10pm at The Bodega (16 S Jackson St, Greencastle, IN). Don’t have a deck? No problem—we’ve got Commander decks to borrow and new ones for sale. It’s the perfect way to learn the format, make friends, and have a blast.
There’s also pizza, drinks, snacks, and door prize drawings each night. So even if your deck falls apart, you could still walk away a winner.
Ready to give Commander a shot?
Come join us! We’d love to help you dive into the best format Magic has to offer.
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Storming Good Games
Building community one card at a time.