MTG: Heroes of Middle-earth – A Look at the “Lord of the Rings” Commanders
It takes a great hero (or villain) to lead the armies of Middle-earth, and these four are some of the greatest in MTG.
Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is almost here, and from all the previews, it’s shaping up to be one of the coolest MTG sets yet. Our favorite heroes and monsters will clash on the battlefields of the Multiverse, with new mechanics and powerful cards to boost our decks. As with any set, LOTR includes a new batch of preconstructed Commander decks, and the face cards for this batch are phenomenal. Whether you want brave mortal warriors, homebody chefs, imperious elven lords, or terrible orcs and nightmares, there’s a box for you. Whichever general you choose, you’ll be in good hands. The face commanders are going to unleash some amazing new combos.
Eowyn, Shieldmaiden
Starting the bidding is the slayer of the Witch King herself, Eowyn. This proud shieldmaiden of Rohan leads the allied warriors of Rohan and Gondor. This deck benefits your Human creatures, and gives you extra effects for having more of them. Jeskai is an interesting color combination for an aggressive creature theme. However, I think it fits the deck playstyle well. Eowyn herself is a powerhouse, being a 5/4 with first strike for five. However, her real power is her ability to summon more warriors to her side before attacks are declared. Should she marshal an army large enough, she also gives you card advantage. If you want to overwhelm your enemy with a tide of brave heroes, Eowyn is the commander for you.
Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit/Sam, Loyal Attendant
Just like in the books, Frodo and Sam are never far apart, and on the battlefields of Magic, they are partner commanders. Their Abzan deck is themed around producing Food tokens and then getting extra benefits from them. Sam, ever the optimist, produces a Food token at the beginning of each of your combats, then lets you eat them even faster. Frodo, on the other hand, empowers your Ring abilities when he attacks, as long as you’ve gained 3 or more life by then. Say, how much life does Food gain you? While Frodo doesn’t hit very hard, if he’s your Ring-bearer he’ll be hard to block. Plus, if you’ve played the Ring’s game, you’ll get an additional draw whenever he attacks. Hobbits may be small, but that doesn’t make them weak.
Galadriel, Elven-Queen
Leader of the elves of Lothlorien and one of the most powerful being living in Middle-earth, Galadriel’s card is fitting of her power and skill. A 4/5 for four is already an incredible bargin, but she brings a powerful political ability as well. Every combat, if you had another Elf enter the battlefield on your side, you lead a vote around to table for either dominion or guidance. If dominion wins, the Ring’s power increases and your Ring-bearer grows stronger. However, if you can resist the Ring, you draw a card. Will you give rise to a Dark Queen, or lead the Fellowship to Sauron’s destruction?
Sauron, Lord of the Rings
The embodiment of evil and creator of the master Ring, Sauron needed to be a powerhouse card, and he doesn’t disappoint. A 9/9 with trample is already a force to be reckoned with, but he also forges Orc armies, allows for graveyard recursion, and empowers your Ring abilities. Sure, you have to mill five cards from your deck whenever you cast a spell, but with all the recursion in Grixis, that should be a small price to pay. After all, ultimate power is nothing without sacrifice.
Which deck will you be picking up?
