Welcome to the fourth Community Corner Creator Spotlight! In this article series, we interview and spotlight creators within the Magic community. We showcased MTGRookies and Garage The Gathering in our previous Community Corner Creator Spotlight article.

Today, we are happy to present two more interviews, this time with Blue Collar Commander and members of the team behind Commander Sealed, below. They bring the perspectives of their time within the Magic community in its many forms. They also have a few events upcoming that you'll appreciate learning more about!

Blue Collar Commander

Blue Collar Commander is a relatively new Commander content creator, having started their content in December of 2024. However, despite the channel's age, in their first year of content creation BCC managed to fundraise over $17,000 for The Trevor Project in conjunction with Commander Sealed. This month, they worked with over 30 other creators to raise over $10,000 in charity funds as well. Such a philanthropic juggernaut cannot be overstated!

How did you first get into Magic, and what is the first set release you remember playing?

I first got into Magic through an old friend showing me the card DamnDamn. I had played some card games in the past, but never Magic. My friend was going through cards and showed me the card. I loved the card art and wanted to learn more about the game! They took me to the local game store for a prerelease that weekend which was for the Phyrexia: All Will Be One set! I have been absolutely hooked ever since.

What is your favorite card/commander and why?

My absolute favorite card is Phyrexian ObliteratorPhyrexian Obliterator! Specifically, the Todd Lockwood art. The card art is absolutely amazing, and what the card does is insanely brutal. I was definitely one of the ones running Golgari fight club when it was Standard legal! Phyrexian Obliterator, BushwhackBushwhack, and a dream!

Why do you create content for Magic instead of other games? 

I am a man of many hobbies. I’ve always jumped from one thing to another. Guitars, drawing, restoring vehicles, you name it. Magic is the one hobby I have ever had that has completely kept hold of my busy brain. There’s just so much to do. So many different ways to play, collect, and most importantly, gather. Through my content, I’m able to really show my love of the game and just be myself while I do it!

What is the goal of your content?

This is an ever-evolving question. I feel like the content creation journey comes in phases. The first phase goal, you’re not sure if you can even do it. If you’ll be successful enough or have the time. You have your passions, the things you like to do or talk about, but you’re still figuring it out. Your goal is just to make it there.

In phase two, you realize that you’re more than capable. You’ve conquered your fears and worries. That’s when the true content comes. The stuff that doesn’t take 30 takes because you were so nervous to get it just right when it truly doesn’t make that much of a difference. Your goal is to just figure out your lane. Start to iron out what your content is about and why.

The third phase comes naturally. You’re past the nervousness for the most part. You’re confident. Eager. You can look at and track your growth. Set goals. But most importantly, your community is now full of individuals who share your passions, morals, and values. You have a team. You have people who have your back, no questions asked. People who take consistent time out of their lives to be a part of what you’ve created. Your goal is now to never let that community down. To stay passionate, stay true to yourself, and to rally your community towards aligned morals and passions.

What about life outside Magic influences your content?

My blue-collar job! I’m a Master Electrician! Construction workers work very, very hard all day long, most often out in the elements. Guess what? We’re nerds too! Many times did we leave job sites to go straight to the LGS just to hang out and catch some games. Bringing our deodorant, of course… My channel represents the blue-collar workers within the community.

What is one thing you would change about Magic?

Although I do enjoy Universes Beyond sets, I think they should be limited to twice a year. I understand the business need for drawing in new players, etc. But too much can be bad. I was brought in, all bright-eyed, learning about multi-dimensional/planar war with Phyrexians and all sorts of beings. Can we bring more of that stuff back, please?

Are you attending/hosting any upcoming events where players could meet you?

Absolutely! I’ll be attending the following later this year!

MagicCon Atlanta

Commander Sealed

Commandfest Toronto

More to be announced!

Commander Sealed

An effort between a collective of Magic players in Rochester, NY, and the host of the event, Just Games Rochester, Commander Sealed is one of the East Coast's biggest Commander events not run or sponsored by Wizards of the Coast. The event has grown massively since its seriously grassroots beginnings in 2019. Its philanthropic side also cannot be overstated, as it raises funds for both The Trevor Project and Trans Lifeline. Founder Dean Gootee and Social Media Manager Michael Bauman-Sarchet represent Commander Sealed as they spoke with us.

How did you first get into Magic, and what is the first set release you remember playing?

DG: I first played Magic in high school. I believe OG Kamigawa and Mirrodin were in Standard at the time. I recall playing a friend’s deck and everyone dumping on him for running four Sensei's Divining TopSensei's Divining Top (because the card was soooo bad). I picked up cards and played very casually through college, but didn’t actually seriously start playing until Mirrodin Besieged came out. The first prerelease I remember playing in was New Phyrexia, where I recall being impressed by Slash PantherSlash Panther.

MBS: My local video store had some boosters alongside the NES Games. They made me super curious because some had elves and dragons on them. I didn’t have much money, so I bought the boosters that were only $1.99 instead of the ones that were $2.99. So I owned a lot of Homelands and Fallen Empires cards when I could have been paying $1 more for Legends and Revised.

What is your favorite card/commander and why?

DG: It’s really hard to choose a favorite. I completed the Chromatic Challenge, building a deck for every color combination, and have continued building…yet more decks anyway, for whatever unholy reason. I feel like each of my decks has its own unique personality based on the way it plays and how I was feeling as I built it. Recently, I have been reaching for Oskar, Rubbish ReclaimerOskar, Rubbish Reclaimer more than most of my other decks. I really enjoy building around an innocuous mechanic like looters and being allowed to pull off some weird tricks with discarding cards to get around timing restrictions.

MBS: My favorite card is Intruder AlarmIntruder Alarm; I’ve been trying to break that one for about 15 years. My favorite commander is either Balthor the DefiledBalthor the Defiled or Oji, the Exquisite BladeOji, the Exquisite Blade. I’ll say Oji because that’s the commander that I top 4’d at a Commander Sealed event with, and I still have the deck.

Why do you create content for Magic instead of other games?

DG: It’s a pretty straightforward, maybe even dumb, reason: I just like Magic. A lot. Or at least that’s why I started making content. I suppose it’s evolved somewhat since my beginnings.

MBS: Well, I also create content for the Zelda 1 (NES) Randomizer Community, alongside working as an admin on the tournament Discord. But Magic is the one game where it’s so deep that you can spend a weekend playing competitive Standard on Friday, a Premodern charity event Saturday, and playtest for a budget cEDH tournament Sunday.

What is the goal of your content?

DG: The goal of Commander Sealed’s content is ultimately to make things better for everyone. All of our content, despite how cool Magic is and how fun our format is, is centered on trying to raise money for The Trevor Project and Trans Lifeline. We strongly believe in queer folks’ right to a bright and happy future, and we are fighting towards that in our own small way.

MBS: Our goal is to raise awareness for our charities, Trans Lifeline and Trevor Project. I tell people that if you are not being proactive in helping others around you who need help, you are failing at being a good person. There are so many opportunities to help fight poverty, discrimination, disease, miseducation, hatred… Now’s the time to step up, whether it’s time, money, voice, or even just making your loved ones and family talk about topics they avoid so they learn.

Commander Sealed 2024 (Photo by Nick Wolf)

What about life outside Magic influences your content?

DG: There’s a certain punk ethos to Commander Sealed’s approach to content. We aren’t afraid to be a little bit edgier in our approach and say what we’re thinking, though we have become more focused and professional about it in recent years.

MBS: Too much! We are starting our annual ramp-up to our September convention soon, with weekly Bracket 1 Commander content featuring our team of content creators who are raising funds for the two charities. So, coordinating my schedule, finishing my bachelor’s degree, finding new work, and taking care of my wife and our friends. And I need to find a way to get to Dean’s house for his weekly game at some point in between all that, so we can playtest this year’s end-of-round event.

What is one thing you would change about Magic?

DG: I would kill Universes Beyond. Hands down, that is the best thing that could happen for Magic.

MBS: The Reserved List is an easy one, but something a little more Hot Take is to stop trying to make every set “for everyone”. Companies like Games Workshop and Lego have done well scaling back and focusing more on the players' well-being for a few years, and then following up with big splashy things when the player base expands. I think that strategy would help Wizards of the Coast because it feels like their decisions don’t have a 3-, 5-, or 8-year plan, and I’d like to see that. And I think going back to some specialty products like another Commander-based set, a new Modern Masters, or a Pioneer Masters would do a great job of grabbing people who are starting to get disenfranchised. Oh, and let them unionize, seriously, Wizards.

Are you attending/hosting any upcoming events where players could meet you?

DG: I will be at Commander Sealed, but I won’t be at any other events this year in particular.

MBS: I’ll be at the Bufftown Bullies Charity Fundraiser on June 13th in Buffalo, NY, at the Mana Bar, and I’m trying to find a way to attend the Excalibur Events cEDH Tournament in Pittsburgh, PA, in July. And of course, you can find us at Commander Sealed September 18th to 20th in Rochester, NY.

Commander Sealed 2024 in full swing. (Photo by Nick Wolf)

Read More: