How Fun Are The Bloomburrow Commanders?
Bria, Riptide Rogue | Illustrated by Borja Pindado
The Infamous Cruelclaw | Illustrated by Christina Kraus
Ygra, Eater of All | Illustrated by Chris Rahn
Baylen, the Haymaker | Illustrated by Ryan Pancoast
Maha, Its Feathers Night | Illustrated by Alessandra Pisano
Hey, nerds! With the release of Bloomburrow, we're introduced to 34 new commanders, and while many people might ask which of these is the most powerful, I like to ask how fun they are. Of course, each person's definition of fun differs, so I might Rate a commander lower or higher than you. That doesn't mean I think it's bad or you're bad for playing them. And to be clear, this is for casual EDH only.
The ranks are as follows:
- Want to build: These are commanders I'm interested in building. It could be that their effect is unique or a new take on an old mechanic I like.
- Very Fun: These are close to wanting to build, but not going out of my way brew a list for myself.
- Fun: This is where most commanders fall. They either have enjoyable play patterns or a unique effect.
- Kinda Fun: This is where more generic commanders go that are kindred lords or tend to become pile decks.
- Not Fun: This is usually reserved for older commanders that are seven-mana vanilla creatures or a legendary creature that isn't meant for EDH.
So with all of the explanations out of the way, let's get into it!
Alania, Divergent Storm
It's a Commander-legal Lutri, the Spellchaser that also copies your first Otter spell. I don't enjoy spellslinger decks; however, the flavor and art on this card are spectacular, and I like the idea of copying Otters with clone spells to get even more Otters.
Fun Ranking: Fun
Arthur, Marigold Knight
It's a Mouse that's a Sneak Attack effect from the top six cards of your library in Jeskai. Can't wait to see people abuse Penance, Scroll Rack, and Brainstorm to put their threats back on top. I want to see someone cheat in Fblthp, the Lost to draw a bunch of cards.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun
Baylen, the Haymaker
If you want tokens, this is your commander. Any token theme will work with this Rabbit, from Treasures to Food. I want to build a token pile deck that shuffles in a random 30 token-generators from a pile of 100+ each time. It's powerful and generic, but I think you can build some fun things with it.
Fun Ranking: Fun
Bello, Bard of the Brambles
Gruul isn't the usual colors for artifact-based decks, so this is a unique take on that theme. If I had to build this Raccoon, I'd probably build a Vehicle deck to get the most value from Bello's effect. And if you're looking to build this cutie, Kibo, Uktabi Prince, Meria, Scholar of Antiquity, and Roxanne, Starfall Savant seem like great inclusions.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun
Beza, the Bounding Spring
This looks like a solid constructed or 99 card. Not really interested in this effect from the command zone, it's just a bit too narrow for my taste. However, if you're building an Elementals deck, I'd add this.
Fun Ranking: Kinda Fun
Bria, Riptide Rogue
Another Izzet spellslinging Otter that reminds me of Narset, Enlightened Exile thanks to giving your creatures prowess. I think an Izzet token deck is more interesting than just pure spells, and you can find this in the Bloomburrow Starter Kit along with the next card on this list, so it should be easy to get a copy.
Fun Ranking: Fun
Byrke, Long Ear of the Law
This is the other Starter Kit mythic. I like putting counters on things and doubling those counters, also Rabbits. I think it is a bit too linear for my liking, but if you want to make an easy-to-play deck, Byrke I think is the way to go.
Fun Ranking: Fun
Camellia, the Seedmiser
I like Squirrels. I like Golgari. So obviously I love a Golgari Squirrel commander. Camellia is much more interesting than Chatterfang, Squirrel General as a dedicated Squirrel commander and I love the flavor of Food.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun
Clement, the Worrywort
Simic has the identity of being a pile of value commanders, and I think Clement breaks the mold on that, at least a little bit. This Cloudstone Curio at home also gives all your Frogs the ability to tap for mana. Thankfully you can only cast creature spells with this mana, and I can't think of a way to break Intruder Alarm with this, but I just want to build a Frog deck with Clement.
Fun Ranking: Want To Build
Dragonhawk, Fate's Tempest
The second mono-colored commander on the list. This is on the border between Kinda Fun and Fun for me. I think a medium red-style deck could work well in Commander, but I think there are more interesting mono-red commanders.
Fun Ranking: Kinda Fun (borderline Fun)
Eluge, the Shoreless Sea
Our third mono-colored commander (spoiler, only five are in the set.) This seems like a solid mono-blue commander that takes advantage of flood counters. You need to attack or blink this Fish to get more counters, so it isn't too broken, and you get the added utility of turning off Field of the Dead and Gaea's Cradle.
Fun Ranking: Fun
Finneas, Ace Archer,
Another Rabbit and token matters commander. It provides card draw and pumping from the command zone, and it has cute art. It doesn't buff itself and is pretty linear, which I think is fine, so into the fun tier it goes.
Fun Ranking: Fun
Flubs, the Fool
This little Frog has received a lot of attention since being spoiled. Its ability is just begging to be broken, and I can't wait to see what people do with this little guy. Or I'll end up hating it, but right now, it is getting the brew juices going.
Fun Ranking: Want To Build
Gev, Scaled Scorch
We continue the cycle of Lizard outlaws from Outlaws of Thunder Junction. Okay, "cycle" might be a strong word: there are four in total. Most notably, Laughing Jasper Flint loves this little guy. You can also just build this as a Rakdos mid-range pile that buffs your creatures. Also, Gev can combo any persist creature, like Murderous Redcap, to just win the game.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun
Glarb, Calamity's Augur
More Frogs make me happy. This time we can build Sultai Frogs and include The Gitrog Monster and The Gitrog, Ravenous Ride. Glarb isn't meant to be a Frog commander, but I think it's a powerful value engine that provides card advantage, so I'd build them as Frogs.
Fun Ranking: Fun
Hazel of the Rootbloom
The second Golgari Squirrel of the set and face commander of the precon. It's a mana dork that gives you a ton of mana and lets you copy tokens. If those tokens happen to be Squirrels, you get two. Notably, you can use this to crack clues since clues don't need to be tapped to sacrifice. Love the flavor and art here.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun
Helga, Skittish Seer
This Bant Frog cares about creatures with a mana value of four or greater. My first thought was Keruga, the Macrosage companion deck, like most people I'm sure, and as this Frog gets bigger, it taps for mana. However, the mana can only be spent on creatures with a mana value of four or greater or X in their cost. Oh, and it provides card draw and life.
Fun Ranking: Fun
Hugs, Grisly Guardian
This Badger Warrior seems fine, nothing fancy here in my opinion. You get to impulse a bunch of cards and play additional lands. I think it's great in the 99 of decks like Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes and Rosheen, Roaring Prophet.
Fun Ranking: Kinda Fun
Kastral, the Windcrested
I had a foiled-out Bant Bird deck a few years ago, but it has been taken apart over the years, so I think Kastral is the perfect reason to rebuild it, but just in Azorious this time around. The finality counter is easy to remove, and there are some powerful Birds in this set that I'd want to add.
Fun Ranking: Want To Build
Kitsa, Otterball Elite
Have you ever wondered what Merfolk Looter at mythic would look like? That would be Kitsa, Otterball Elite. I think this card will be a house in 60-card formats, and solid in the 99 of decks, but as a commander, I'm less interested in it. I do like the restriction for the copy ability, but mono-blue as access to so many cantrips, I don't think it really matters.
Fun Ranking: Fun (borderline Kinda Fun)
Lumra, Bellow of the Woods
If you want mono-green lands, I guess you could play Lumra. Like most of the mono-colored commanders in this set, seems like a solid inclusion in the 99 of some decks, but as a commander, not interested.
Fun Ranking: Kinda Fun
Mabel, Heir to Cragflame
If you've wanted a Mouse commander, maybe Mabel is who you want. This little critter also comes with incredibly powerful Equipment that you can give to it or any of your other Mouse buddies. I love the flavor, art, and effects.
Fun Ranking: Want To Build
Maha, Its Feathers Night
This is probably an ice-cold take, but this commander is not fun. I know there'll be people who build this with Kaervek, the Spiteful and Night of Souls' Betrayal, and if you like that, more power to you. However, this isn't what I'm looking for. I'll put one in the 99 of my combo-less Mikaeus, the Unhallowed deck, but aside from that, I'm avoiding this card.
Fun Ranking: Not Fun
Mr. Foxglove
I think Mr. Foxglove would have been a bit more interesting if they didn't add the "you may put a creature card from your hand onto the Battlefield" line. The rest of the card feels like a fun and interesting commander. You attack around the table, gaining life and cards as you swing in. I want to build a combat trick deck using him where you just dump your hand as you attack to draw as many cards as possible.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun
Ms. Bumbleflower
Generally, I despise group hug decks, so when I saw there was a Bant hug precon, I scoffed and went about my day. But as I read Ms. Bumbleflower, I realized how cracked of a commander she was. Sure, you have to give an opponent a card, but you can give it to someone who's behind, and then you grow your creatures. If I were to build a Rabbit deck, I'd probably pick Bumble as my leader for the sheer value she provides.
Fun Ranking: Want To Build
Muerra, Trash Tactician
We have a Raccoon commander now. Surprisingly, there are 20 Raccoons in Gruul, not including changelings, at the time of writing, which is plenty to build a dedicated deck around, and Muerra provides card advantage (kinda) and life gain whenever you spend enough mana casting spells. Remember, expend counts the mana spent to cast things, not activated abilities, so load up on instants to cast on other player's turns.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun
The Infamous Cruelclaw
I'm surprised they put Voxy on a Magic card. Jokes aside, this Weasel actually seems like a solid commander. You do need to deal combat damage for their trigger, but with menace that shouldn't be an issue, and as we all know, cheating on mana costs is one of the most broken things you can do in the game. I'm just waiting for someone to get the turn three or four Ulamog, the Defiler.
Fun Ranking: Want To Build
The Odd Acorn Gang
I. Love. This. Card. I think this is my favorite Squirrel commander of the set. It has a bunch of keywords and lets you buff your Squirrels with other Squirrels, and it has card draw if you hit people with Squirrels. I feel like Toski, Bearer of Secrets stocks just went way up. Also this art is perfect.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun
Vren, the Relentless
My initial impressions of this Rat were pretty low, but then I remembered Genesis Chamber, Akroan Horse, and Acorn Catapult exist. Okay, those might be a little jank, but you get the idea. If you can give your opponent tokens and then kill them with something like Pestilence, you could easily grow your Rat army. Plus it has ward two, which is just the icing on the cake.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun
Wick, the Whorled Mind
This is my number one want-to-build commander of the set. I've been looking for a home for all my Rakdos and Dimir lands, and Wick has to be it. I tried building Rakdos Rats using Totentanz, Swarm Piper, but it felt like it was missing something. With blue, however, we can play all of the new Rats from the set and Kindred Discovery. Just don't forget to include Taurean Mauler in your list.
Fun Ranking: Want To Build
Wildsear, Scouring Maw
Gruul enchantress isn't something you normally see, but if Pantlaza, Sun-Favored is any indication, a commander that gives you cascade will probably be busted. Now, you do need to cast it from your hand, so that stops any Shenanigans. Still, free spells are powerful, so I'm curious what crazy decks people are going to build with this puppy.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun (borderline Want To Build)
Ygra, Eater of All
I know a lot of people were hyped for this commander, but I don't get why. Yes, it is a powerful Food commander, and yes it turns other people's creatures into Food artifacts (Karn, the Great Creator is mean in this deck.) But otherwise, this commander seems pretty bland. I think it'll be great in the 99 of decks, and I can't wait for someone to use an opponent's Ygra's ward ability as a repeatable sacrifice outlet for their board.
Fun Ranking: Fun
Zinnia, Valley's Voice
This was my runner-up for a Bird commander. It gives all your other creatures offspring so if you've ever wanted two Storm Crows now you can. I don't think the second line of text is relevant most of the time, so just worry about abusing that offspring ability.
Fun Ranking: Very Fun
Zoraline, Cosmos Caller
Last and most certainly not least we have a Bat commander. You can gain life when you attack with Bats and return permanents from your graveyard to play. I wish it said nonland permanent, but I'm sure that would be broken in some way. And much like any time I see finality counters mentioned, you can easily get around that with blink effects. If you wanted to get extra flavorful, you could build Orzhov Vampires with Zoraline.
Fun Ranking: Fun
And that wraps up my fun ranking for Bloomburrow! If you disagree with anything on my list, let me know down below or over on Twitter @BathroomMTG. Alrighty nerds, I'll see you in the next one!
