Hey everyone! Get ready to dive deep into Commander Masters 2022, the set that's got the whole Magic: The Gathering community buzzing! If you're a Commander enthusiast, or even just a curious newcomer, you're in for a treat. This set is packed with reprints of some of the most powerful and beloved cards in the format, alongside exciting new additions that are sure to shake up your decks. I'm going to walk you through some of the absolute best cards from the set, covering everything from game-winning bombs to essential utility pieces. Let's get started and explore what makes Commander Masters a standout release!

Unveiling the Powerhouses: The Must-Have Cards

Mana Crypt: The Mana Accelerator Extraordinaire

Let's kick things off with a card that needs absolutely no introduction: Mana Crypt. This card is a staple in almost every Commander deck for a reason. Mana Crypt provides you with two colorless mana for no mana cost! This can make all the difference in a Commander game. This is an absolutely bonkers card, that can give you such a massive advantage early in the game that it is hard to overstate its value. Imagine casting your Commander a turn or two earlier than usual! With the speed of Commander games, this can quickly snowball into a huge advantage. It's a key inclusion in many decks, because it lets you ramp into your big plays with incredible efficiency. While it does come with a small life loss cost, the benefit of the mana acceleration far outweighs the minor downside. Seriously, if you don't have a Mana Crypt for your Commander decks, it should be at the very top of your list to acquire. The reprinting in Commander Masters has made this card more accessible. This is your chance to snag one and upgrade your Commander experience. If you are new to the format or just starting to build out a deck, Mana Crypt should be near the top of your list of cards to acquire. It is so good that this card is a must-have for Commander enthusiasts.

Rhystic Study: The Card Draw Engine

Next up, we have Rhystic Study, another card that deserves a spot in nearly every blue-based Commander deck. It’s a simple, yet incredibly effective enchantment. Basically, if your opponents cast spells, they have to pay an extra mana or you get to draw a card. This creates a disincentive for your opponents to cast spells, or it generates incredible card advantage for you. Rhystic Study is one of those cards that can completely warp the game. At the very least it will give you some card draw for free. The art on the card is awesome and this is a card that will make your game run smoother. It's a potent engine to fuel your hand with extra cards, allowing you to maintain a steady flow of resources. The sheer volume of cards you can draw over the course of a game from Rhystic Study can be insane. It can easily get out of hand. With the power of card draw in Commander, this is a must-have.

Jeweled Lotus: The Commander Enabler

Here's a card that's all about getting your Commander onto the battlefield ASAP: Jeweled Lotus. This artifact taps to add three mana of any one color to your mana pool, which can only be used to cast your commander. Jeweled Lotus is a game-changer for decks built around powerful commanders. The purpose of this card is to get your Commander out as early as possible. If your Commander is the centerpiece of your strategy, this card is a godsend. Getting your Commander out a turn or two early can be the difference between victory and defeat. This is a game-winning type of card in the right deck. For decks that rely on their commander, this card provides that explosive boost to get them on the board as fast as possible. This is especially good for commanders that have a high mana value. If you want to accelerate your commander's arrival, this card is your best friend!

Utility Cards: The Supporting Stars

Cyclonic Rift: The Board Wipe

Let's talk about Cyclonic Rift. This is a blue instant that is an all-star in Commander. The card is simple: you can either overload it to bounce all nonland permanents your opponents control. Or you can cast it without the overload cost to simply bounce one target nonland permanent. This is a board wipe on a stick. It can clear the way for your own attacks or save you from a perilous board state. Cyclonic Rift's versatility makes it a valuable inclusion in any blue deck. If you are getting overwhelmed by your opponents' creatures and artifacts, this is the perfect solution. It can reset the board and give you the space you need to recover. Or you can just bounce one troublesome permanent. The card provides a tactical advantage, and can swing the game in your favor in an instant. This is a key card to protect yourself from your opponents. It is so powerful that it can easily change the tides of the game.

Toxic Deluge: The Black Sweeper

Black decks also have a great board wipe in Toxic Deluge. This is a black sorcery that is a board wipe. Toxic Deluge is a board wipe that can destroy creatures. It has a unique cost of paying life instead of mana to destroy creatures. It offers a way to clear the board, at the cost of some life. This is great in the face of a high-power board, while avoiding mana costs. This can be critical to clearing out the board. When you need to reset the board, this is one of your best options.

Smothering Tithe: The Treasure Generator

We cannot ignore Smothering Tithe. This white enchantment is a card advantage engine. Whenever an opponent draws a card, they have to pay two mana or you get to create a treasure token. Since your opponents are drawing cards every turn, this card generates treasure tokens at an alarming rate. This allows you to ramp your mana, letting you cast big spells. Smothering Tithe is a treasure generator and a mana accelerator. You can generate a huge amount of mana with this card. This allows you to cast your big spells earlier. This is a must-have in a lot of white-based commander decks.

New Additions and Rising Stars

All Will Be One: The Aggro Powerhouse

Commander Masters also brings some exciting new cards to the format. One of these is All Will Be One. This is a powerful new card for infect or proliferate decks. This card deals damage to creatures and planeswalkers equal to the number of poison counters that they have. All Will Be One is a game changer for infect strategies. The card can also deal a lot of damage to your opponents. It is a must-have card in infect decks. The card can also fit in decks that utilize proliferate. This card is going to be a staple in the format.

The Most Wanted (New Commander): The New Commanders

Commander Masters has introduced new commanders for the format. While some of them are not so exciting, one of the new commanders that you may want to play is The Most Wanted. The Most Wanted is a 3/3 creature that has a mana cost of 1, Blue and Black. When The Most Wanted enters the battlefield, you create two 1/1 white Vampire creature tokens. It also has a death trigger where you can return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield under your control. This card allows you to make a bunch of tokens, and it gives you a lot of value. This can be a very powerful commander. Be sure to check this card out, if you are looking for new commanders.

Strategic Considerations and Deckbuilding Tips

When you're building a Commander deck, it's essential to consider how these cards fit into your overall strategy. Think about your commander's color identity, the type of deck you want to build (control, aggro, combo, etc.), and how these cards synergize with the other cards in your deck. For instance, if you're running a blue control deck, cards like Rhystic Study and Cyclonic Rift are absolute must-haves. For faster, more aggressive strategies, Mana Crypt and Jeweled Lotus can give you the early advantage you need to outpace your opponents. When including these cards, remember to balance them with other essential elements of your deck: removal, card draw, and ramp. A well-rounded deck is more likely to succeed than one that's solely focused on a few powerful cards.

How to Acquire These Cards

Now that you know what cards you want, the next step is how to get them. These cards are available in Commander Masters booster packs. If you are looking for a specific card, then buying singles is the best way to get them. Be sure to check your local game stores or online retailers. Make sure to compare prices to get the best deals. Also, keep in mind the condition of the cards when buying them. If you want to collect the whole set, then buying booster boxes is your best bet, but be careful because the cost can be high.

Conclusion: Building Your Commander Legacy

Commander Masters 2022 is a fantastic set, packed with cards that will elevate your Commander experience. From the mana acceleration of Mana Crypt to the board-clearing power of Cyclonic Rift and the card draw from Rhystic Study, these cards are essential for any serious Commander player. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the format, this set offers something for everyone. So, go out there, grab these amazing cards, and start building your ultimate Commander deck. Good luck, have fun, and may your draws always be in your favor!