commander masters draft guide
Commander Masters Draft Guide: An Overview

Commander Masters Draft offers a unique Magic: The Gathering experience, blending strategic deckbuilding with multiplayer fun. This guide provides essential tips and explores key archetypes
to maximize your drafting success and enjoyment within this exciting format.
Commander Masters Draft represents a thrilling evolution in Magic: The Gathering drafting, specifically designed for a multiplayer experience. Unlike traditional drafting, you’re constructing a Commander deck, meaning a legendary creature will lead your forces. This format emphasizes synergy and building around a central theme, rather than focusing solely on individual card power.
The core difference lies in the gameplay itself – Commander is a four-player multiplayer format, demanding a different strategic approach. You’ll need to consider not only your own deck’s strengths but also potential threats from multiple opponents. Packs contain 20 cards, offering a wider range of possibilities.
This guide aims to equip you with the knowledge to navigate this exciting format, from understanding pack contents to mastering drafting strategies and recognizing powerful archetypes. Even with expensive packs, a solid understanding will enhance your enjoyment. Good luck, and prepare for epic multiplayer battles!
What is Commander Draft?

Commander Draft is a unique Magic: The Gathering Limited format where players build Commander decks through drafting, rather than pre-constructed deckbuilding. It closely resembles a standard draft, but with key distinctions tailored for the Commander ruleset. You begin by opening three packs of Commander Masters, each containing 20 cards – a higher card count than typical drafts.
The primary goal is to select a Commander, a legendary creature that dictates your deck’s color identity and strategic direction. You can choose a Commander early, or even draft two if they possess the “partner” ability.
Unlike 60-card Constructed decks, Commander decks consist of 100 cards, including your Commander. This larger deck size encourages a wider variety of cards and emphasizes synergy. The format culminates in a four-player multiplayer game, demanding a different strategic mindset than one-on-one duels.
Pack Contents and Structure
Commander Masters packs deviate from standard Magic: The Gathering draft packs in a significant way: they contain 20 cards per pack, a substantial increase from the usual 15. This higher card density impacts drafting strategy, offering more potential options with each pick, but also requiring quicker evaluation.
The packs feature a mix of cards designed specifically for the Commander format, including legendary creatures suitable as Commanders, powerful spells, and synergistic cards that excel in multiplayer environments. You’ll find a diverse range of mana values and card types, reflecting the broader scope of Commander deckbuilding.

Expect to see cards that support various archetypes and color combinations. The increased card count per pack necessitates careful consideration of card quality and potential synergies, as building a cohesive 100-card deck requires a broader range of options than a typical 60-card Limited deck.

Drafting Strategies
Successful Commander Masters drafting hinges on prioritizing strong Commanders, evaluating card quality for multiplayer, and recognizing emerging archetypes. Mana fixing is crucial for multi-color decks!
Prioritizing Commanders
Commander selection is paramount in Commander Masters Draft. Unlike traditional drafting, your Commander dictates the entire deck’s direction. Early picks should heavily favor powerful or synergistic legendary creatures. Remember, a strong Commander can elevate a mediocre deck, while a weak one can cripple even the best cards.

Consider Commanders that offer unique abilities, strong color combinations, or facilitate specific archetypes. Don’t underestimate mono-colored Commanders; in Commander Masters, any two mono- or colorless legends can function as partners, opening up unique strategic possibilities. If a clear Commander doesn’t present itself early, remain flexible and open to drafting cards that support multiple strategies.
Be mindful of the potential for drafting The Prismatic Piper or Faceless One as fallback Commanders if you struggle to find a suitable leader. These options provide a baseline for building a functional deck, even without a dedicated Commander pick.
Evaluating Card Quality
In Commander Masters Draft, card evaluation differs significantly from standard drafting. Power level isn’t solely about individual strength; synergy with your Commander and potential archetypes are crucial. Prioritize cards that directly support your chosen Commander’s strategy or fit into a developing archetype. Removal spells are highly valuable, given the multiplayer format and potential for powerful threats.
Ramp spells are also essential, enabling you to cast your Commander and other high-cost cards ahead of your opponents. Cards that generate card advantage are incredibly strong, helping you maintain momentum throughout the game. Don’t overlook utility lands or cards that fix your mana, as consistent mana is vital for casting multicolored spells.
Remember that Commander packs contain 20 cards, increasing the likelihood of finding impactful cards. However, this also means more competition for the best picks, so be prepared to adapt your strategy as the draft progresses.
Understanding Archetypes
Commander Masters Draft thrives on synergistic archetypes. Recognizing these patterns is key to a successful draft. Common archetypes include aggressive strategies like Rakdos (Red/Black), aiming to overwhelm opponents early. Dimir (Blue/Black) focuses on control, disrupting opponents and establishing a late-game advantage. Gruul (Red/Green) excels at ramp, quickly deploying powerful creatures.
Azorius (White/Blue) employs tempo tactics, bouncing creatures and controlling the board. Selesnya (White/Green) leverages token generation for overwhelming board presence. However, these are just starting points; flexibility is vital.
Pay attention to signals from other drafters – if you consistently see cards from a specific color combination, it may indicate an open archetype. Don’t force an archetype if the cards aren’t flowing; be prepared to pivot and explore alternative strategies. Remember, a cohesive deck built around a clear theme is more powerful than a collection of random good cards.
The Importance of Mana Fixing
In Commander Masters Draft, consistent mana is paramount. Unlike traditional drafting, you’re building a deck around a Commander, potentially with multiple colors. Reliable mana fixing ensures you can cast your spells on curve and consistently activate abilities. Prioritize lands that produce multiple colors, such as dual lands or lands with color-fixing abilities.
Artifact mana, like Sol Ring and other ramp spells, is exceptionally valuable. They not only accelerate your game plan but also provide colorless mana for potentially diverse decks. Don’t underestimate the power of color-fixing creatures or enchantments.
Even if your Commander is mono-colored, including some mana fixing can open up your deckbuilding options and allow you to splash powerful off-color cards. A stable mana base is the foundation of a successful Commander deck, enabling consistent plays and maximizing your strategic options.
Synergies and Combos
Commander Masters Draft thrives on identifying and exploiting powerful synergies. Look beyond individual card strength and focus on how cards interact with each other and your Commander. Cards that generate tokens pair well with sacrifice outlets or token-doubling effects. Graveyard recursion synergizes with self-mill strategies and reanimation spells.
Keep an eye out for potential combos, even if they aren’t immediately obvious. A seemingly innocuous card can become game-winning when combined with the right pieces. Prioritize cards that support your chosen archetype and amplify its strengths.
Don’t be afraid to deviate from a strict archetype if you stumble upon a strong synergistic core. Recognizing and building around these interactions is crucial for crafting a potent and memorable Commander deck.

Commander Archetypes
Commander Masters supports diverse strategies! Explore aggressive Rakdos, controlling Dimir, ramp-focused Gruul, tempo-driven Azorius, and token-generating Selesnya archetypes for drafting success.
Rakdos (Red/Black) Aggro
Rakdos in Commander Masters Draft thrives on aggressive strategies, aiming to quickly overwhelm opponents with efficient creatures and direct damage. This archetype excels at early-game pressure, utilizing a blend of impactful threats and disruptive removal spells. Prioritize commanders that synergize with aggressive tactics, such as those rewarding combat damage or benefiting from creature sacrifices.
Key cards include efficient attackers, burn spells for finishing off opponents, and removal to clear the path for your creatures. Look for synergies between creatures that benefit from attacking and cards that reward aggressive play. Don’t neglect card draw to maintain momentum. A strong Rakdos deck consistently applies pressure, forcing opponents to react defensively while steadily chipping away at their life totals. Remember to balance aggression with a degree of disruption to hinder opposing strategies.
Focus on a low mana curve and prioritize cards that provide immediate value.
Dimir (Blue/Black) Control
Dimir in Commander Masters Draft focuses on controlling the board and outmaneuvering opponents through strategic card advantage and disruption. This archetype aims to survive the early game, neutralizing threats and establishing dominance in the late game. Prioritize commanders that offer card draw, counterspells, or powerful control effects. A successful Dimir strategy revolves around anticipating opponent’s moves and responding accordingly.
Key cards include counterspells to protect your resources, removal spells to eliminate threats, and card draw to maintain a steady flow of options; Look for synergies between cards that allow you to control the pace of the game and disrupt your opponents’ plans. Don’t underestimate the power of hand disruption to dismantle opposing strategies before they materialize.
Building a resilient mana base is crucial for consistently casting your control spells.
Gruul (Red/Green) Ramp
Gruul in Commander Masters Draft centers around accelerating your mana production to deploy powerful, game-ending threats ahead of schedule. This archetype thrives on overwhelming opponents with large creatures and impactful spells. Prioritize commanders that provide mana ramp or benefit from a high mana output. A successful Gruul strategy involves consistently increasing your mana base while protecting your ramp spells.
Key cards include mana dorks, land ramp spells, and creatures with high power and toughness. Look for synergies between cards that allow you to quickly generate mana and cast impactful spells. Don’t underestimate the value of trample effects to ensure your creatures connect with opponents.
A stable mana base is essential, focusing on green and red sources to consistently fuel your ramp and threats.
Azorius (White/Blue) Tempo
Azorius (White/Blue) in Commander Masters Draft aims to control the early to mid-game with efficient removal, counterspells, and disruptive creatures, establishing a tempo advantage. This archetype doesn’t necessarily aim for a late-game win, but rather to consistently keep opponents off-balance and maintain control of the board. Prioritize commanders that offer card advantage or disruption, allowing you to consistently react to threats.
Key cards include efficient removal spells, countermagic, and creatures that generate value over time. Look for cards that allow you to bounce creatures, tap down opponents’ threats, or draw extra cards. Maintaining card advantage is crucial for sustaining tempo.
A balanced mana base with consistent access to white and blue mana is vital for casting your spells on curve and responding to opponents’ plays.
Selesnya (White/Green) Tokens
Selesnya (White/Green) in Commander Masters Draft focuses on overwhelming opponents with a wide board of tokens. This archetype excels at generating numerous creatures, often synergizing with effects that buff or enhance those tokens. The strategy revolves around building a critical mass of creatures and then deploying powerful effects to close out the game.
Prioritize commanders that create tokens, provide token buffs, or offer value based on the number of creatures you control. Cards that generate multiple tokens at once, or those that recur tokens from your graveyard, are particularly strong.

Look for cards that synergize with tokens, such as anthems (effects that give all your creatures +1/+1), overrun effects, or sacrifice outlets that provide additional value. A stable mana base supporting both white and green is essential for consistent token production.

Unique Draft Rules
Commander Masters Draft introduces special rules, including treating mono-colored legends as having Partner. The Prismatic Piper and Faceless One can be drafted even if not picked!
The Partner Mechanic in Commander Masters
Commander Masters Draft significantly alters the traditional Partner mechanic, opening up exciting deckbuilding possibilities. Typically, Partner requires specifically designated commanders with the ability. However, this format expands that dramatically.
Exclusive to Commander Masters, any two mono-colored or colorless legends drafted can be treated as if they possess the Partner ability. This means you aren’t limited to commanders explicitly printed with Partner; you can combine any two qualifying legends to lead your Commander deck.
This rule drastically increases the pool of potential commanders, allowing for unique and synergistic combinations that wouldn’t be possible in a standard Commander game. It encourages drafting flexibility and rewards players who can identify powerful pairings, even if they weren’t initially planning on a specific commander. Consider how different abilities complement each other when selecting your legendary duo!
Using The Prismatic Piper
The Prismatic Piper serves as a crucial safety net and viable option within Commander Masters Draft, particularly when a strong commander proves elusive. Unlike typical drafting scenarios, you aren’t required to actually draft The Prismatic Piper to utilize its abilities. This is a unique rule specifically implemented for this format.
If, after opening your packs, you find yourself without a suitable commander, The Prismatic Piper can be selected as one of your commanders, even if it wasn’t part of your drafted cards. This ensures every player has a commander to lead their four-player multiplayer battle.
The Prismatic Piper’s ability to search for any creature allows for a flexible strategy, adapting to the cards you did draft. It’s a powerful enabler for various archetypes, making it a surprisingly strong choice even when other commanders are available. Don’t underestimate its potential!
Drafting Mono-Colored Legends
Commander Masters Draft introduces a fascinating rule centered around mono-colored and colorless legends, significantly impacting commander selection and deckbuilding strategies. The format uniquely treats any two mono-colored or colorless legends as if they possess the “partner” ability during the draft process.
This means you can combine two separate mono-colored or colorless legendary creatures as your commander pairing, even if they don’t explicitly have the partner ability printed on the card. This opens up a wider range of potential commander combinations and allows for synergistic strategies that wouldn’t normally be possible.
Prioritizing mono-colored legends during the draft becomes more valuable, knowing they can function as part of a powerful commander duo. Consider how these legends interact with your drafted cards and build towards a cohesive strategy leveraging this unique drafting rule.

Advanced Tips and Tricks
Success in Commander Masters Draft relies on reading draft signals, building a balanced mana base, and considering sideboard options for multiplayer matchups.
Reading Signals During the Draft
Effectively interpreting signals is crucial for a successful Commander Masters Draft. Pay close attention to what cards are flowing back to you in later picks. If you consistently see cards of a specific color or archetype returning, it’s a strong indication that those colors are open. Conversely, a lack of cards in a color suggests it’s heavily drafted by other players.
Early picks should focus on powerful commanders or strong, versatile cards. As the draft progresses, adjust your strategy based on the signals you receive. Don’t force a specific archetype if the cards aren’t coming to you. Be flexible and willing to pivot to an open color combination.
Remember that Commander Masters features unique drafting dynamics. The presence of Partner commanders and the ability to draft mono-colored legends with Partner can influence signal interpretation. A late-round mono-colored legend might signal that a Partner strategy is available, even if other colors seem contested.
Building a Balanced Mana Base
A consistent mana base is paramount in Commander Masters Draft, given the format’s multiplayer nature and the need to cast a variety of spells; Prioritize lands that fix your colors, especially if you’re drafting a multi-colored commander. Dual lands, though potentially rare, are incredibly valuable.
Don’t neglect basic lands! A healthy mix of basics ensures you can consistently hit your land drops. Consider the color requirements of your commander and key spells when determining the ratio of basic lands. If your commander is heavily weighted towards one color, include more of that basic land.
Ramp spells are also crucial for a smooth mana curve. Drafting mana rocks or spells that search for lands will help you accelerate your game plan. Remember that Commander games tend to be longer, so having access to consistent mana is vital for outlasting your opponents.
Sideboarding Considerations
Sideboarding in Commander Masters Draft is less defined than in traditional constructed formats, but still important. Since games are multiplayer, prepare for multiple opponents and diverse strategies. Consider cards that offer broad utility, like removal that can target various threat types.
Cards countering key spells or disrupting ramp strategies are valuable, especially against control or ramp-heavy decks. Graveyard hate can be effective against reanimator or recursion-based strategies. Assess your deck’s weaknesses after each game and identify cards to swap in;
Don’t be afraid to sideboard out cards that are situational or underperforming. A streamlined, focused deck is often more effective than a bloated one. Remember, your goal is to adapt to the specific challenges presented by your opponents in each pod.
















































































