Avengers Assemble!Avengers Assemble! | Illustrated by Alex Horley-Orlandelli

Marvel Super Heroes previews have recently concluded and, as par for the course in recent Universes Beyond sets, there are an actual truckload of new legendary creatures that take time to digest and ponder their uses.

I'm here to help with that! I've got over 30 years experience playing multiplayer Magic and nearly 18 years playing and writing about EDH/Commander. Last week I combed through the main set list and leveraged my expertise to highlight new legends that stand head and shoulders above the rest in terms of power, fun, or both. This week I did the same for the cards from the Commander precon decks and Jump Start to boil everything down to the ones you should at least be aware of, so let's don the spandex and see what's what!

Absorbing Man and TitaniaAbsorbing Man and Titania

Absorbing Man and TitaniaAbsorbing Man and Titania is a simple enough card, with just a single line of text: "Double all damage that creature sources you control would deal." But if you like smashing with creatures, you're going to love AM&T! There are creatures that dish out damage outside of combat that are going to go great in this deck; one of my favorites is Brash Taunter, and other fight effects and spells will punch harder. There are cards like Biotech SpecialistBiotech Specialist, Borborygmos EnragedBorborygmos Enraged, and Ruric Thar, the UnbowedRuric Thar, the Unbowed! Even little pingers, like Goblin SharpshooterGoblin Sharpshooter, get a boost.

Astonishing Spider-ManAstonishing Spider-Man

If you want a personal WindfallWindfall each time you attack, Astonishing Spider-ManAstonishing Spider-Man could be the Hero you're looking for. Blue card draw spells can keep your hand stocked for a big effect, and red gives you access to haste effects, to get the benefit right away, and extra attacks for even more churn. Notably, this is a "may" trigger, so if you don't want to lose some key cards in your hand you can still beat down with your commander.

Bast, Panther GoddessBast, Panther Goddess

All you need are two other creatures and Bast, Panther GoddessBast, Panther Goddess is able to attack or block with her pile of powerful abilities. You're going to want to have as many creatures on the battlefield as possible to maximize that triggered ability, which should make victory by commander damage a very real possibility. Selesnya has a bunch of great creature cards and ways to make creature tokens, so I expect this to be a fun and powerful commander option for Cat decks or just good stuff creature decks.

Black Widow, Intel ExpertBlack Widow, Intel Expert

White has had a fair number of card draw spells that also let an opponent draw, and Black Widow, Intel ExpertBlack Widow, Intel Expert takes that and puts it in your command zone in a pretty cool way. A 3/3 with first strike for three mana is a pretty efficient body, and it's easy to boost her power with Equipment or other effects to make good blocks difficult for the defending player, assuming they don't want to draw cards. There are political implications here where you can bargain with opponents to let them take the hit to draw cards. As much as I hate Smothering TitheSmothering Tithe, it would be difficult not justifying playing that card in this deck along with cards like Tataru TaruTataru Taru and Scrawling CrawlerScrawling Crawler.

Captain America, SkyboundCaptain America, Skybound

If you like attacking with creatures, Captain America, SkyboundCaptain America, Skybound might be of interest to you. He doesn't ask for much; he just wants two or more other creatures to attack with him and you get the awesome benefit of boosting all attackers with a +1/+1 counter, and they get indestructible, so take that, blockers! Notably, the indestructible lasts until end of turn, so feel free to follow up with a battlefield sweeper, like Wrath of GodWrath of God, so you don't need to worry about a crack back. Even if you don't have a sweeper, since Cap's got vigilance he's still available to block.

Damocles Base, Sword of KangDamocles Base, Sword of Kang

Since legendary Vehicles are available as commanders, you could build around Damocles Base, Sword of KangDamocles Base, Sword of Kang. The crew cost is reasonable, and since it has flying there's a pretty good chance it will connect with an opponent and make them face a villainous choice: either sacrifice a precious creature card or they lose two life and you get to draw two cards. Either way you're feeling pretty good about their choice, so make sure you practice your villainous laugh!

Director Nick FuryDirector Nick Fury

If you're interested in building a Hero deck, Director Nick FuryDirector Nick Fury is an excellent choice to lead the way, which is a flavor home-run from the Marvel movies. He gathers Heroes from the top of your deck each time you attack, and he discounts Hero spells by . Notably Fury doesn't have to attack to get the trigger, so if you have an attacker available the turn you cast him you get the benefit right away. Blue gives you ways to manipulate the top of your library (here's looking at you, BrainstormBrainstorm), along with classics like Scroll RackScroll Rack and Sensei's Divining TopSensei's Divining Top.

Doctor Doom, UnrivaledDoctor Doom, Unrivaled

Doctor Doom, UnrivaledDoctor Doom, Unrivaled is bananas to me. Having a card draw engine like this stapled to your commander that also gives you a win condition? Bananas! The first card in the 99 has got to be Thousand-Year ElixirThousand-Year Elixir, right? Black has a number of ways to exile your library: Demonic ConsultationDemonic Consultation is the classic, but there is also the flavorful choices DoomsdayDoomsday and Doomsday ExcruciatorDoomsday Excruciator. Even if you're not interested in racing to the combo win, Doom can simply be a card drawing engine while you slowly assemble your master plan.

Iron Man, Bleeding EdgeIron Man, Bleeding Edge

I'm glad Wizards of the Coast (WotC) Design made this five mana, because otherwise Iron Man, Bleeding EdgeIron Man, Bleeding Edge would be way too powerful. At this cost the card is more reasonable in power level but still a ton of fun and very open-ended: you get to stuff your deck full of your favorite artifacts and get paid when you cast them with Iron Man on the battlefield. I love that the copy isn't legendary so you can still copy the awesome legendary artifacts out there. Since this triggers just once per turn, you'll want to make each artifact copy be a big effect, rather than stuffing your deck with cheap artifacts. You can also leverage the trigger ability playing artifacts that have flash, like Mithril CoatMithril Coat and Liberator, Urza's BattlethopterLiberator, Urza's Battlethopter.

Loki, Lord of MisruleLoki, Lord of Misrule

Loki, Lord of MisruleLoki, Lord of Misrule is another fun and flexible card, with a powerful activated ability that can be as efficient or as wild as you want to go. Regardless of the cards you put in your deck that you want to copy, you'll want to put a lot of token-producers to flood the battlefield with bodies you can turn into whatever sweet creatures you're vibing with. For even more fun, play a bunch of CloneClone cards that can copy whatever cool creatures your opponents are playing, which will vary wildly game to game.

Loki, the DeceiverLoki, the Deceiver

Loki, the DeceiverLoki, the Deceiver is an excellent choice to lead a Villain deck, with card draw tied to combat damage and the ability to make a token copy of another Villain you control. I like that to maximize that card draw you'd want to attack multiple opponents; making enemies of everyone is what being a Villain is all about!

Mister FantasticMister Fantastic

I love that all four face cards of The Fantastic Four Commander deck work so well together, but Mister FantasticMister Fantastic's abilities make him the best choice to sit in the command zone. He'll often draw you an extra card at the beginning of combat on your turn, and that activated ability to copy a triggered ability you control twice is incredibly powerful. This is yet another card with interesting abilities that deckbuilders will have a field day crafting unique decks around. In particular I love that you could build a "mono-blue" version of this where you have enough cards that can provide other colors to tap into that activated ability.

Nick Fury, SpymasterNick Fury, Spymaster

Nick Fury, SpymasterNick Fury, Spymaster offers a very cool package of abilities to build around. The trigger happens when you attack with a creature alone, which means you can use it the same turn you cast Fury. You'll want value cards to sneak in, like Ranger-Captain of EosRanger-Captain of Eos, Loran of the Third PathLoran of the Third Path, and Spirited CompanionSpirited Companion. Since Fury likes creatures attacking alone, I'd pepper in some cards with exalted, like Sublime ArchangelSublime Archangel, Cathedral of WarCathedral of War, and Battlegrace AngelBattlegrace Angel.

Okoye, Mighty and AdoredOkoye, Mighty and Adored

I adore the monarch mechanic and love to see WotC Design explore that space. It's fun that Okoye, Mighty and AdoredOkoye, Mighty and Adored makes you the monarch and then heavily discourages opponents from taking the monarch from you because they won't want that beginning of combat trigger buffing up a creature that's attacking them with double strike and trample. You can toss in +1/+1 counter synergy if you want, but you could just populate your 99 with scary creatures that will get even scarier, like Ohran FrostfangOhran Frostfang, Kodama of the West TreeKodama of the West Tree, and Wurmcoil EngineWurmcoil Engine. Be on the lookout for cards that benefit you being commander, like Court of GraceCourt of Grace and Court of GarenbrigCourt of Garenbrig.

Professor HulkProfessor Hulk

A mono-blue commander you definitely want to equip with Blackblade ReforgedBlackblade Reforged and smash life totals? Sign me up! Professor HulkProfessor Hulk is expensive to cast, so it's best in a lower bracket deck, but since you're a blue deck you can craft your hand to protect Professor once you cast him and then attack with him. Trample and his size are going to mean at least some cards drawn during combat, but blue also has a bunch of ways to make a creature unblockable for the turn, like Distortion StrikeDistortion Strike and Artful DodgeArtful Dodge. It could also be fun to include copy effects that work with legendary creatures, like Irenicus's Vile DuplicationIrenicus's Vile Duplication. Just be careful you don't end up decking yourself!

Quicksilver, SpeedsterQuicksilver, Speedster

The abilities of Quicksilver, SpeedsterQuicksilver, Speedster are an excellent flavor fit for this Hero, and I particularly love the double strike, which makes him hit hard even without ways to pump his power. Outside of combat, you could include ways to tap him so you can cast sorcery spells as though they had flash on opponents' turns; Vehicles like The IndomitableThe Indomitable, or even something as simple as Springleaf DrumSpringleaf Drum. Be a degenerate and cast Stock UpStock Up during an opponent's end step.

Reed Richards, Smartest ManReed Richards, Smartest Man

Most Magic players love drawing cards; Reed Richards, Smartest ManReed Richards, Smartest Man is the card for players who really love drawing cards. He costs six mana, as well he should, since the first time you would draw a card each turn except the first card you draw during each of your draw steps, you draw four cards instead. Four cards! And to help you keep a hand overflowing with cards Reed says a maximum hand size is only for sub-genius people. You need answers? Reed will help you find them.

Willie Lumpkin, PostmanWillie Lumpkin, Postman

Willie Lumpkin, PostmanWillie Lumpkin, Postman was the mailman for The Fantastic Four in their comic book and was portrayed by Stan Lee in the 2005 film, so if you're a Marvel fan you've got to have a soft spot for this card. Luckily, the card is really good, too; he can't be blocked, and when Willie deals combat damage to an opponent you get to draw a card and that opponent may choose to draw a card, too. If they do draw, they can't attack you or permanents you control during their next turn. This makes for a fun political card, and being unblockable makes him a good candidate for carrying Equipment, like Sword of Feast and FamineSword of Feast and Famine.

I have nearly ten other cards for your consideration, but for my editor's sanity I'm drawing the line here. What other cards are you most looking forward to playing, either as your commander or in the 99?

Read more:

Best Commanders from Marvel Super Heroes!

The Incredible Hulk Commander Deck Tech