To make our latest deal on Bundle boxes less nakedly commercial, we’re talking about a way we like to play Magic that we think you should try too: Sealed Commander.
What is Limited?
Limited is a way of playing Magic where you open some packs, add basic lands, and build from what you’ve got. There’s a few different styles that change the type of deck or how you open packs, including Sealed, Draft, and Commander variants, but the basic concept stays the same.
Draft and Sealed are as old as the game itself, but they’re much more common as head-to-head formats and we know you have more than one friend. So today, we’re talking about bringing the unrefined chaos of Limited to Commander play.
Sealed Commander
The basics:
Each player opens a set number of boosters (usually at least 6 each, but you can go as big as you’d like and even use a full Play Booster Box. We don’t recommend using Collector Booster Boxes, but go off)
- Choose an eligible Commander from what you’ve cracked
- Build a 60-card deck
- Unlike regular Commander, you can ignore singleton rules and include multiple copies of cards with the same name
- Add as many basic lands as you need
- Players start with 30 life
Some common house rules:
- You’re allowed to use a “free” second colour or Partner Commander if your Commander (or Commanders, if you use the Partner option) are single-coloured
- Everyone also gets a handful of staples they can use, like a Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, and Command Tower
Why You Should Play Limited Formats
- Playing limited formats is one of the best ways to get better at Magic. You’ll develop your ability to build decks, evaluate cards, value removal, and assess threats in ways which were heretofore unthought. Well, maybe not unthought, but you will get better at these things. Having limited resources forces you to be creative and asks you to go outside your comfort zone with themes, colours, and mechanics and really dive into what a new set has to offer.
- The other reason to play limited formats, and stick with me here, is that you’ll get to play with some absolute garbage cards. Yes, a 7-drop with Lifelink might decide a game. Yes, that’s a good thing. You’ll play cards that you’d never otherwise put in a deck because nothing can be perfectly optimised. It’s surprising. It’s janky. It’s great.
- You can really get the most out of a set. We know you were gonna buy boosters instead of singles anyway. Have some fun with them. There’s a world of cards in every set that are designed for limited formats that would otherwise wind up in a bulk box. Let them sing. Let Shivan Dragon run rampant over your kitchen table again. You’ll have fun. Promise.
- You can, with your whole chest, honestly claim that your deck is terrible and you’re not the threat and the table should really focus on someone else. It doesn’t even have a Sol Ring in it.
Pick up a few bundles from your set of choice (and while there’s a deal going. Almost like we planned it), which will also give you the basic lands you need. Two bundles will give you enough for three players, one each will give you some extra boosters to open.
