Every year Wizards of the Coast releases dozens of Commander Precons alongside new sets. In 2025 alone, 13 new decks were released. The question isn’t whether any are worth it — it’s which one is right for you. This guide evaluates the most notable Precons from the 2025-2026 sets, based on criteria that have practical value: out-of-the-box performance, reprint value, upgrade potential and how new-player-friendly each deck is.
What Makes a Good Precon?
Before the recommendations, here are the criteria we use:
| Criterion | What it means |
|---|---|
| Out-of-the-box power | How well it plays immediately, without upgrades. |
| Reprint value | Value of cards already in the deck — some are worth €5–15 each. |
| Upgrade potential | How easy and cheap it is to improve. |
| Accessibility | How easy it is to learn to play. |
| Theme cohesion | How well the cards work together. |
A good Precon doesn’t need to excel at everything — it just needs to do well at what matters to you.
Tarkir: Dragonstorm (April 2025) — 5 Decks
Tarkir: Dragonstorm was one of the most beloved MTG sets in recent years — a return to a fan-favourite plane with dragon tribal and 5-clan dynamics. Its 5 Precons are generally solid, with Sultai Arisen standing out clearly.
Sultai Arisen
Tarkir: Dragonstorm │ Black / Green / Blue │ Bracket 2
Theme: Landfall + Graveyard — Teval, the Balanced Scale
Strengths: Teval generates massive card advantage. One of the best precons of 2025 out-of-the-box. Excellent reprint value.
Best for: Players who enjoy value plays and resilience — a deck that rarely loses control entirely.
Temur Roar
Tarkir: Dragonstorm │ Green / Blue / Red │ Bracket 2
Theme: Dragon tribal — ramp and cheat big creatures into play
Strengths: Best reprint value of all Tarkir precons. Simple strategy that delivers impressive results.
Best for: New players who love dragons. Its simplicity is an asset, not a drawback.
Mardu Surge
Tarkir: Dragonstorm │ Red / White / Black │ Bracket 2–3
Theme: Token aggro — Zurgo Stormrender
Strengths: Zurgo is one of the best Commanders of 2025. Flexible: can play token aggro or pivot into aristocrats.
Best for: Players who want aggressive play with upgrade options.
Marvel Super Heroes (June 2026) — 4 Decks
The second Marvel MTG set (following Spider-Man) brings 4 Commander Precons with very different themes. We focus here on the two most interesting for Bracket 2-3 players.
Doom Prevails
Marvel Super Heroes │ Blue / Black / Red (Grixis) │ Bracket 2
Theme: Villains, Connive, Life Drain — Doctor Doom, King of Latveria
Strengths: Clear internal cohesion. Skullclamp, Black Market Connections, Toxic Deluge included. Molecule Man (~€79) as chase card.
Best for: Players who enjoy value plays and midrange. Ideal for upgrading — every improvement makes a noticeable difference.
For a detailed Doom Prevails upgrade guide, see: How to Upgrade Your First Commander Precon
Avengers Assemble
Marvel Super Heroes │ Red / White / Blue (Jeskai) │ Bracket 2
Theme: Hero tribal, +1/+1 counters — Captain America, Team Leader
Strengths: The most accessible of the 4 Marvel decks. Simple strategy, clear game plan. Equipment and counters.
Best for: New players starting Commander. The most beginner-friendly of all 2026 precons.
Lorwyn Eclipsed (January 2026) — 2 Decks
The return to Lorwyn was one of the most anticipated announcements — a plane with deep tribal history. The 2 Precons differ significantly from each other.
Dance of the Elements
Lorwyn Eclipsed │ 5 colours │ Bracket 2
Theme: Elemental tribal — Ashling, the Limitless
Strengths: Fury + Endurance reprints represent a significant portion of the retail price. Explosive board states. Widely loved.
Best for: Players who want dramatic games with lots of moving pieces. The reprints justify the purchase on their own.
Which Precon for Which Player?
| If you’re looking for… | We recommend… |
|---|---|
| Best out-of-the-box | Sultai Arisen (Tarkir) |
| Most accessible for new players | Avengers Assemble (Marvel) or Temur Roar (Tarkir) |
| Best for upgrading | Doom Prevails (Marvel) or Mardu Surge (Tarkir) |
| Best reprint value | Dance of the Elements (Lorwyn) or Temur Roar (Tarkir) |
| Dragons | Temur Roar (Tarkir) |
| Marvel / IP theme | Doom Prevails or Avengers Assemble (Marvel) |
Our Recommendation
Starting from scratch: Temur Roar or Avengers Assemble — simple, fun, clear.
With some experience: Sultai Arisen or Doom Prevails — richer synergies, better upgrade ceiling.
Best overall precon of 2025: Sultai Arisen without a second thought.
Whichever you choose: play 10–15 games before buying upgrades.
Further Reading
- How to Build Your First Commander Deck
- Commander MTG in Greece — The Complete Guide
- Commander Staples Worth Picking Up
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