Oloro, Ageless AsceticOloro, Ageless Ascetic | by Eric Deschamps

For the anniversary of Commander precons in Magic, I thought it would be really fun to pick the brains of some of our brilliant writers to see which ones the started with.

There are a few repeats, but mostly a decent spread of precons. We've organized these sections into each writer instead of by each precon for that reason. Find your favorite writer and see what they wrote.

Writer comments may have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Cas Hinds (Me)

Before I knew about precons, I built a notoriously bad Oloro, Ageless AsceticOloro, Ageless Ascetic deck. I thought every deck had to be built up from the ground. Boy, was I wrong.

I learned about this through an event at my LGS. At my card shop everyone was starting a league where we all picked a precon and upgraded it only with cards we pulled from a two packs a week.

I was broke in 2016 and the cheapest deck was Stalwart Unity. This was the group hug deck that headed Kynaios and Tiro of MeletisKynaios and Tiro of Meletis (K&T).

It was back when they would do the oversized commander cards in the box. I still have my K&T and my friend's Atraxa, Grand UnifierAtraxa, Grand Unifier oversized card. I still have my K&T deck still put together in the same deckbox from back in 2016. It's 10 years old.

I've made adjustments to it over the years, but it was my most beloved decks at Magic Conventions. I've written about it at lengths about how to build Group Hug.

I've become rather well known for my takes surrounding the archetype, showing up in a video.

Jeremy Rowe

"In June 2011, I was in my 4th year of college, the year before student teaching. I had been a primarily competitive player until Worldwake the year before, as [ Jace, the Mind SculptorJace, the Mind Sculptor ] priced me out of most formats.

Commander was the only format I could afford. The Commander precons were what convinced me the format had legs beyond just being a fan format, and got me to buy into it.

I bought Devour for Power and Political Puppets from a local Target, but I don't think I ever played with either of them as precons.

I did build Zedruu the GreatheartedZedruu the Greathearted as a "wish fulfillment" deck, specializing in donating powerful and expensive cards that were left over from my push for the Pro Tour, including my own [ Jace, the Mind SculptorJace, the Mind Sculptor ].

The deck was designed around giving newer players a chance to play with cards they couldn't afford, instead of taunting them with my collection.

It's always fascinating to see how competitive players gingerly dipped their toes into Commander. I never had a competitive experience, so Commander seemed the only avenue in 2016. That's such a different experience than from above.

DougY

"My first precons were the entire set of Commander 2013 (C13), bought because I was trying to get others into Commander.

I was in the military at that point, and that means moving around a lot, which meant constantly having to create new Magic groups wherever I went.

While none of the C13 decks stick out for reasons other than "Yeah, I'll play Marath because no one else wants to" and "Oloro is dumb", I'll always be thankful for them providing an entry point for folks I would coerce into playing a game.

I was this person in my play group too. I begged people to play, trying to get anyone who made too much eye contact into the game.

Mike Carozza

"Evasive Maneuvers with Derevi in the command zone. I had no idea how powerful it was.

I had just gone through a rough time and rediscovered some Magic cards and decided to go to the only LGS I knew because I’d heard of Commander being a social format and the buy in is as easy as a precon so I popped in and got it.

I focused on tapping abilities like on white Mikaeus and Thraben DoomsayerThraben Doomsayer and was ignorant to the Stax of it all.

"I never won a game with that deck! It got me back in and eventually, a friend of mine started working at the LGS and I joined his playgroup. We’ve been playing together since 2015."

Learning how strong a precon could be is no new thing to any of us, but it's interesting to see that back in 2013. It's also nice to see long lasting play groups and relationships form with Commander.

Levi Perry

"The first precon I ever bought was Stalwart Unity featuring Kynaios and Tiro of MeletisKynaios and Tiro of Meletis in 2016. I wish there was a good reason why I chose this deck, but in reality, I was going to school in a small town in Wisconsin and this was the only pre con they had.

This is a group hug deck which is hilarious to admit for anyone who knows me. The very first time I played it however I won by sheer dumb luck.

The game ran long and I drew into Treacherous TerrainTreacherous Terrain to kill the table. Over time, I learned how to play with the cards better and I learned the art of playing with players instead of cards, a lesson I still use today.

Playing the player is such an important skill in being more competitive. Knowing what someone will or won't block, what a player will remove or won't, is so powerful to know.

Brian Cain

"Counterpunch led by Ghave, Guru of SporesGhave, Guru of Spores. I was in college at the time and saw some people playing EDH and wanted to get involved.

The LGS owner suggested it to me based on my color preferences. Invoked my love for aristocrat style decks, and was fun to play around with the counters and saprolings.

Eventually I played against the owner, landed Aura ShardsAura Shards, and he promptly banned the enchantment from the store. He hated that card.

Aura ShardsAura Shards is still a hoser even back then. It's so exciting to see how archetypes are formed and established in these precons, forming our preferences for play patterns.

Owain Roberts

"In June 2011, I was in my third year as an undergrad up in the Bay Area. I was a history major (since turned away from it), and I do remember seeing the article when the precons were announced, endlessly reading and studying it throughout that year.

I was on an MtG hiatus at that point, but played from Alara to Rise of the Eldrazi (thereabouts anyway). I decided to wait until the precons came out to get back in, and went on to preorder all five of them.

I had a particular eye on The MimeoplasmThe Mimeoplasm and Riku of Two ReflectionsRiku of Two Reflections, but it would eventually be Tariel who would helm my flagship deck at the time."

That's so nostalgic. Tariel, Reckoner of SoulsTariel, Reckoner of Souls brings me back. It's so fascinating to see people who learned about the format as it was announced.

Commander always existed when I played. It's nice to see how it kept people playing Magic when competitive formats didn't fit them anymore.

Nicholas Lucchesi

"My first precon was my introduction to commander more or less. It was the mono-white Nahiri precon. Starting out with a planeswalker as a commander was not the best idea.

It did lead to one of my favorite Magic moment ever where I was able to use ComeuppanceComeuppance to kill a player who was kept alive by their Platinum AngelPlatinum Angel.

"Big level up moment in my playing career with that one. Still have the oversized face card that I got altered by the artist.

Everyone has a great big moment with a precon that is unforgettable. We remember where we started. It's so sick!

Josh Nelson

"In June of 2011, I was in my second year of undergrad. I was as already pretty into Commander with decks for Zur the EnchanterZur the Enchanter and Rhys, the RedeemedRhys, the Redeemed.

I bought Heavenly Inferno to have a third deck for the format, and it turned out to be a great move. Kaalia of the VastKaalia of the Vast was a fantastic deck for a good while.

"Nowadays, while I don’t run Kaalia anymore, I think back to how fun that deck was during the days of Battlecruiser-style college-budget Commander, and I smile fondly at those memories.

Commander, from it's fan controlled time to now, has changed so drastically. The meta and speed of decks are so different than from five years ago.

The Minotaur Reviewer

"My first precon was Commander 2017. I had first started playing Magic a couple months prior. My current Commander deck was just random cards thrown together so a precon looked good.

I didn't know anything about the decks, but of the four, I went with Feline Ferocity.

I can't exactly remember why, but I think I liked the midrange typal strategy Arahbo, Roar of the WorldArahbo, Roar of the World card was signaling. Plus I already a bunch of Cats from Amonkhet I could immediately slot in.

"I still play with the deck, upgraded of course, but I opt to have Nazahn, Revered BladesmithNazahn, Revered Bladesmith be the commander over Arahbo. The Voltron strategy just seems more fun to me."

Seeing a deck get played over the years is so thrilling. So many of us use precons as the base for our decks and its good to see them still withstand the test of time.

Nick Benstead

"My first precon was Ob Nixilis of the Black OathOb Nixilis of the Black Oath from Commander 2014. I was a brand new Magic player, and my college roommates had told me to buy the deck as a way to 'start.'

Playing the deck, I had no idea what I was doing, but it was the moment that hooked me as a player. Seeing everyone else’s personalities through their decks was so cool, and I believe playing Magic is what made us closer friends.

I’ve tried rebuilding that exact list in the past and it’s a fun walk down memory lane, even if it doesn’t really hold up against modern precons.

The juxtaposition of a nostalgic feel of an old precon with the efficiency of a new one, never changes. I felt that way about the Hearthhull, the WorldseedHearthhull, the Worldseed's precon. So strong. Unbelievably.

John Sherwood

"I bought three Commander precons for spare parts before I ever played one out of the box. Land's Wrath, Elven Empire, and Aura of Courage all had cards I needed to build my other decks.

The first Commander precon I bought and played out of the box was Painbow from Dominaria United, and only played one game with it before it became a Ship of Theseus.

It's fascinating how precons also become a "Ship of Theseus." Decks with Precon commanders at the helm versus an "upgraded precon."

It's so fascinating how precons involve themselves in the process of playing Commander even if not played wholly together.

Cooper Gottfried

"My first precon was Witherbloom Witchcraft, from our first visit to Strixhaven: School of Mages. A friend gave me the deck for free, and that kicked off my Magic addiction.

"I didn’t know it then, but this deck would be the first of many Golgari decks I’d build. First thought best thought, I suppose, but black and green have stuck around as my favorite colors for a while!

Learning about ourselves with our decks are so essential to the precon experience. It's a safe way to explore archetypes.

Arnaud Gompertz

"I bought the first original five precons back in 2011. I had taken a liking for Commander about a year before, and gotten really tired of the traditional ways to play.

Those precons were rather badly constructed, but I dissected them thoroughly to enhance my builds. At the time, I didn't think much of Cyclonic RiftCyclonic Rift, and thought Trade RoutesTrade Routes was a busted card.

Times change. Though I still continue to dismember most precons I buy.

The way a card in the meta shifts from unplayable or boring to a incredible card is part of the Magic experience. Precons have shown that with things like Fierce GuardianshipFierce Guardianship.

Bennie Smith

"I too bought all five of the original Commander 2011 precons, but I dismantled them for parts for other Commander decks because I love building decks from scratch.

I did make a Skullbriar, the Walking GraveSkullbriar, the Walking Grave deck at the time and kept it for about a year or two. It seemed to freak out other players for its relentlessness and the play pattern was pretty linear so I eventually retired it.

I also made a Nin, the Pain ArtistNin, the Pain Artist deck and kept that around for longer, retired that about five years ago.

I believe I dabbled with putting together a Tariel deck but never got a list together I liked and never played it."

I love how the two worlds of building up from scratch and building with a precon base is so unique to each player. I'm also a fan building from scratch. I don't often turn to precons.

Conclusion

Precons are at the heart of a lot of our beginnings with Commander. Not all of us started Magic with Commander, but a lot of us were affected by it.

Precons are so important to the fabric of Commander that so many of us have a story.What do you think? I'm @strixhavendropout on everything.