Commander MTG in Greece — The Complete Guide

Walk into any local game store in Greece while Magic: The Gathering is being played and chances are most tables will be running Commander.

Commander (also known as EDH — Elder Dragon Highlander) has grown into the most popular Magic format worldwide, and it’s now the primary way most Greek players engage with the game. The reason is simple: every game is different, every deck has its own identity, and the experience puts more emphasis on fun and interaction than on cutthroat competition.

Whether you’re returning to Magic after years away or picking it up for the first time, this guide covers everything you need to know to get into Commander. We’ll look at how the format works, what Commander Brackets are, the easiest way to get your first deck, and how much you actually need to spend.

What Is Commander?

Commander is a multiplayer format of Magic: The Gathering, typically played by four players.

Each deck consists of exactly 100 cards, and — with the exception of basic lands — you may only include one copy of any given card. This rule, known as singleton, is one of the main reasons every game plays out differently.

At the heart of every deck is the Commander: usually a Legendary Creature that starts the game in the Command Zone. If it’s destroyed or removed, you can cast it again from there, paying an additional {2} mana for each previous time you’ve done so. This is known as the Command Tax.

The Commander also determines your deck’s colours. If your Commander has a blue and black colour identity, every card in your deck must belong exclusively to those colours.

Unlike most formats, each player starts with 40 life rather than 20. There’s also a unique win condition: if a single Commander deals a total of 21 combat damage to you over the course of a game, you lose — regardless of how much life you still have remaining.

The Basic Rules at a Glance

Why Is Commander the Most Popular Format in Greece?

Commander didn’t become the most popular format because it’s the most competitive. It became popular because it’s the most enjoyable to play with a group of friends.

It’s Played Primarily for Fun

Most games are four-player pods, full of politics, alliances, unexpected turns and memorable interactions. Even when you don’t win, there’s usually a story worth telling after the game ends.

There’s No Rotation

Unlike Standard, your cards don’t stop being legal every few years. You can invest in a deck, upgrade it gradually, and play it for as long as you want.

There Are Thousands of Different Commanders

There are currently more than 2,000 legal Commanders, which means you’re unlikely to encounter two identical decks. Some players build around Dragons, others around Goblins, Zombies, Elves or Spells, while others go for more unusual strategies centred on artifacts, the graveyard or combo.

You Can Start Without Spending Much

A good Commander Precon typically costs €50-60, is ready to play immediately, and is the best way to learn the format’s mechanics. You can then upgrade it gradually, buying only the cards you actually need.

Every Game Is Different

The singleton rule means you’ll never draw the same cards in the same order. Even the same deck can play completely differently from game to game, which keeps things interesting long after dozens of sessions.

Commander Brackets — How to Find Balanced Games

For years, players tried to describe their deck’s power level using a scale from 1 to 10. In practice, though, the system created more confusion than it resolved. One player’s ‘7’ could easily be another’s ‘9’.

That’s why Wizards of the Coast introduced the official Commander Bracket System from 2025 onward. Rather than trying to self-assess subjectively, you now place your deck into one of five Brackets based on specific criteria.

The system is still evolving, but it’s already widely used across the Commander community and represents the best starting point for a conversation before any game.

The Five Commander Brackets

In the Greek community, most games sit between Bracket 2 and Bracket 3. That’s where you’ll find the majority of upgraded Precons and custom Commander decks. For more information on commander brackets check the official resources by Wizards of the Coast.

What Are Game Changers?

Alongside the Brackets, Wizards introduced the Game Changers list.

These are cards with such a significant impact on gameplay that they directly affect how a deck’s power is assessed. They’re not necessarily the most expensive or most popular Commander cards — but they’re cards that can dramatically alter how a game unfolds.

The list is updated regularly, so it’s worth checking the official Wizards page before building or upgrading a deck: magic.wizards.com/en/formats/commander

How Do You Choose the Right Bracket?

If you’re just getting into Commander, Bracket 5 and cEDH don’t need to concern you.

A solid Precon or a lightly upgraded deck will give you hundreds of enjoyable games without needing to chase the format’s most expensive cards. As you gain experience, you’ll naturally start refining your deck: a better mana base, more consistent card draw, stronger removal and a more coherent game plan are typically what takes a deck from Bracket 2 to Bracket 3.

The Most Important Rule in Commander — Rule 0

Before any game begins, take a minute to talk with the rest of the table.

Say which deck you’ve brought, which Bracket you think it belongs to, and whether it includes any particularly powerful strategies such as fast combo, stax or mass land destruction.

This conversation is known as the Rule 0 Conversation and is perhaps the most important element of Commander’s philosophy. There’s no single ‘correct’ way to play the format. What matters is that everyone at the table has the same expectations. The better the decks match each other in power, the better the game is for everyone.

How to Get Your First Commander Deck

There’s no single right answer. The best way to start depends on how much you want to invest, how much time you’re willing to put into deckbuilding, and whether you already know what playstyle suits you.

For most new players, though, the advice is straightforward: start with a Precon. You’ll be playing immediately, you’ll learn the format in practice, and you can decide later which direction you want to take the deck.

Option 1 — Commander Precon (€50-60)

Commander Precons are ready-to-play 100-card decks that Wizards of the Coast releases alongside most new sets. Open the box and you can play straight away.

• Advantages:
• Ready to play with no additional purchases.
• Well-balanced mix of mana, card draw and removal.
• An excellent way to learn Commander’s core mechanics.
• Easy to upgrade gradually without rebuilding from scratch.

• Disadvantages:
• Includes some weaker cards included for balance or thematic reasons.
• May not always reflect your personal playstyle.
• Moving it to a higher power level will require gradual upgrades.

Even so, if someone asked me today what the best starting point in Commander is, the answer would be a good Precon without a second thought.

Option 2 — Custom Deck from Scratch (€80-150+)

If you already know the game or there’s a specific Commander you really want to build around, you can go straight to a custom deck. This gives you complete freedom in your choices, but requires significantly more research.

You’ll need to decide: who your Commander will be, what strategy you’ll follow, how many lands you need, what ramp and card draw to include, and how the deck will close out games. If this is your first time with the format, it’s usually worth getting some experience with a Precon first.

Option 3 — Upgrade Your Precon (+€20-50)

This is arguably the best value for money. Instead of buying a second deck, you invest a little in targeted upgrades.

For €20 to €50 you can typically replace the weakest cards with significantly better options and noticeably improve the deck’s overall performance. Most upgrades focus on a better mana base, more consistent card draw, more efficient removal, better protection for your Commander, and stronger cards that work with the deck’s core strategy.

How Much Does Commander Actually Cost?

The most important thing to remember is that the most expensive deck isn’t necessarily the most enjoyable. Many of the community’s most-loved Commander decks cost under €100 and continue to deliver great games years after they were built.

Commander Etiquette — The Unwritten Rules of the Format

Commander isn’t just a ruleset. It’s a different philosophy of play. The goal isn’t simply to win — it’s for everyone at the table to enjoy the game. That’s why Commander culture is built on mutual respect and good communication, both before and during games.

Declare Your Deck’s Power Level

Before a game begins, let the other players know which Bracket or power level your deck sits at. This helps everyone align their expectations and avoids situations where a very powerful deck dominates against clearly more casual lists.

Discuss Any Unusual Strategies

If your deck relies on fast combo, stax, mass land destruction or other strategies not everyone enjoys, it’s good practice to mention this before the game starts. There’s no right or wrong playstyle. What matters is that everyone at the table knows what they’re up against.

Remember It’s a Multiplayer Game

In Commander, decisions aren’t based purely on card power — table politics matter too. Don’t repeatedly target the same player without reason, and don’t ignore a genuine threat simply because someone hit you earlier. The dynamic of the game shifts constantly, and the best games are the ones where everyone stays engaged until the end.

Help New Players

The Greek Commander community has earned a reputation for being particularly welcoming to those just starting out. If someone makes a mistake or forgets a trigger, explain what happened. A enjoyable first game is the best way to bring new players into Commander.

The Commander Community in Greece

Commander is currently the most active format in the Greek Magic community. Commander Nights run in stores across Athens, Thessaloniki and many other cities almost every week, and there are particularly active communities on Facebook and Discord where you can find players, trade cards or talk about new deck ideas.

If there’s no active community in your area, there’s always Spelltable — the official Wizards platform that lets you play Commander with your physical cards via webcam against players from around the world.

Useful Resources

Conclusion

There’s a reason Commander has become the most popular format in Magic. It combines the creativity of deckbuilding with the relaxed atmosphere of multiplayer play, and it lets every player express their own style. You don’t need to chase the current metagame or spend a fortune to enjoy it.

If you’re starting out now, a good Commander Precon is the ideal first step. Play some games, get to know the community, and upgrade your deck gradually as you gain experience. Commander rewards creativity and personal expression more than any other format in Magic — and that’s perhaps the main reason it keeps winning new players every year.

Further Reading

• How to Build Your First Commander Deck
• MTG Deck Archetypes: Aggro, Control, Midrange and Combo
• The Best Commander Precons
• How to Build Your First Commander Deck
• Commander Staples Worth Picking Up