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The Block Era

This series is an homage to three-set blocks while remembering the Standard formats of days of old. It uses this starting point to find cards from this bygone era that have remained popular in Commander. Last time, we focused on Scars of Mirrodin, Zendikar, Magic 2011, and Magic 2012, and this week, we're traveling further back in time to see what we can discover. Let's get started!

Shards of Alara, Lorwyn/Shadowmoor, Tenth Edition, and Magic 2010

Between the fall of 2008 and the summer of 2009, the Standard format was awash with cards from the two mini-blocks of Lorwyn/Morningtide and Shadowmoor/Eventide alongside Shards of Alara block. Tenth Edition (earlier on) and Magic 2010 (later on) supplemented these blocks as the Standard-legal core set of this era.

What kind of strategies did cards from these sets enable?

Aggro

Aggressive decks built around many different color combinations and creature types. had an aggressive Kithkin-centric deck set apart by cards like Wizened CennWizened Cenn and Goldmeadow StalwartGoldmeadow Stalwart. decks had hasty threats like Boggart Ram-GangBoggart Ram-Gang, Hellspark ElementalHellspark Elemental, and sometimes even a top end of Demigod of RevengeDemigod of Revenge. Elf-focused decks could access Llanowar ElvesLlanowar Elves (reprinted in both 10e and M10) as synergistic ramp, Wren's Run VanquisherWren's Run Vanquisher as an efficient early creature, and Chameleon ColossusChameleon Colossus as a game-ending threat.

Token producers like Cloudgoat RangerCloudgoat Ranger and Spectral ProcessionSpectral Procession formed the cornerstone of many aggressive and midrange decks. Hybrid mana from Shadowmoor block meant cards like Figure of DestinyFigure of Destiny and Kitchen FinksKitchen Finks showed up in all sorts of strategies, from monocolored aggro to midrange or even more controlling builds. There was even a Treefolk deck built around Doran, the Siege TowerDoran, the Siege Tower!

Midrange

As soon as BitterblossomBitterblossom came out in Morningtide, Faeries remained an absolute menace in Standard for over a year. The core of the deck bolstered this two-mana enchantment with efficient countermagic in Spellstutter SpriteSpellstutter Sprite and Broken AmbitionsBroken Ambitions, instant pump/protection in Scion of OonaScion of Oona, and four-mana powerhouses in Cryptic CommandCryptic Command and Mistbind CliqueMistbind Clique that could essentially cause an opponent to miss their entire turn. The deck had it all, between efficient countermagic and removal, hand disruption, instant-speed aggressive creatures, and late-game power.

Jund (), another iconic midrange deck, had its start around this time with the release of Bloodbraid ElfBloodbraid Elf in Alara Reborn, although its heyday came slightly later after Lightning BoltLightning Bolt, Verdant CatacombsVerdant Catacombs, and Raging RavineRaging Ravine all existed in Standard together.

ReveillarkReveillark, a versatile source of card advantage, saw play in its classic control form alongside cards like MulldrifterMulldrifter, Sower of TemptationSower of Temptation, and Cryptic CommandCryptic Command. It also showed up in a deck called "Boat Brew" that had cards like Ranger of EosRanger of Eos, Mogg FanaticMogg Fanatic, and Siege-Gang CommanderSiege-Gang Commander.

Control

The mana base of Lorwyn's vivid lands combined with Shadowmoor's (reprinted) Reflecting PoolReflecting Pool and filter lands like Mystic GateMystic Gate meant some decks traded a slower early game for the ability to cast the most powerful cards available in every color. Throughout the game, 5-color control decks from this era often needed for Hallowed BurialHallowed Burial, for Cryptic CommandCryptic Command, for Volcanic FalloutVolcanic Fallout, for Esper CharmEsper Charm, for Broodmate DragonBroodmate Dragon, and an epic for Cruel UltimatumCruel Ultimatum. And they somehow made it work!

Combo

Speaking of tons of different mana symbols, the most played combo deck from this era was called Cascade Swans. It set up the two-card combo of Swans of Bryn ArgollSwans of Bryn Argoll with Seismic AssaultSeismic Assault (reprinted in 10e). The plan was to throw tons of lands at the Swans until it had assembled ten lands in hand. Then, it could throw 20 damage at an unfortunate opponent. For the moment when Tenth Edition, Shadowmoor, and Alara Reborn were all in Standard, the deck used Bloodbraid ElfBloodbraid Elf and Captured SunlightCaptured Sunlight to automatically cascade into the Assault (combined with as many as 40 lands to make sure it was hard to peter out once the combo was assembled).

A similar combo shows up in Commander with Swans + Chain of PlasmaChain of Plasma.

But what did these blocks mean for Commander overall?

Impact on Commander

Staples

Some cards from this era have remained format staples, showing up in 900,000 to over 3.6 million decks.

The most popular cards are unsurprisingly lands that can go in any deck – Exotic OrchardExotic Orchard and Reliquary TowerReliquary Tower. These lands are followed in popularity by Path to ExilePath to Exile, NegateNegate, Austere CommandAustere Command, PonderPonder, MulldrifterMulldrifter, and Sign in BloodSign in Blood.

Elves, Types Matter

Because Lorwyn is all about creature types, many prominent Elves showed up around this time. These creatures range from ramp that can go in any deck like Devoted DruidDevoted Druid and Farhaven ElfFarhaven Elf to Elves mainstays like Elvish ArchdruidElvish Archdruid. Devoted Druid shows up in counters-matter decks like Auntie Ool, CursewretchAuntie Ool, Cursewretch and Tayam, Luminous EnigmaTayam, Luminous Enigma and can even go infinite when combined with Myrkul, Lord of BonesMyrkul, Lord of Bones or the new Thranduil, the ElvenkingThranduil, the Elvenking.

This block also introduced Shapeshifters with the changeling keyword to Magic, like Mirror EntityMirror Entity, Taurean MaulerTaurean Mauler, and the land MutavaultMutavault. Finally, Distant MelodyDistant Melody, Shared AnimosityShared Animosity, and Door of DestiniesDoor of Destinies are great for any typal deck!

Tokens

BitterblossomBitterblossom was a fearsome threat in Standard, and is still a powerhouse in Commander in any deck that cares about Faeries (Alela, Cunning ConquerorAlela, Cunning Conqueror, Maralen, Fae AscendantMaralen, Fae Ascendant), tokens (Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIERSephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER, Silverquill, the DisputantSilverquill, the Disputant), or both (Alela, Artful ProvocateurAlela, Artful Provocateur). Fleshbag MarauderFleshbag Marauder is also a good fit for tokens decks, and has since inspired many similar cards like Accursed MarauderAccursed Marauder, GravelighterGravelighter, and PlaguecrafterPlaguecrafter.

Dragon FodderDragon Fodder easily slots into popular decks led by commanders like Krenko, Mob BossKrenko, Mob Boss and Zada, Hedron GrinderZada, Hedron Grinder.

Lastly, MycolothMycoloth unsurprisingly appears in lots of decks that care about Fungi and/or Saprolings, like Slimefoot, the StowawaySlimefoot, the Stowaway, Shroofus SproutsireShroofus Sproutsire, and The MycotyrantThe Mycotyrant.

cEDH and Combo Enablers

This era released one of the most powerful cards in cEDH in the Game Changer Ad NauseamAd Nauseam, which shows up in high percentages in competitive partner pairings like Tymna the WeaverTymna the Weaver/Kraum, Ludevic's OpusKraum, Ludevic's Opus and Rograkh, Son of RohgahhRograkh, Son of Rohgahh/Silas Renn, Seeker AdeptSilas Renn, Seeker Adept.

Magic 2010 saw the release of SilenceSilence, one of the best ways to prevent a player from comboing off with a card like Ad Nauseam.

Springleaf DrumSpringleaf Drum is also a cEDH favorite, especially paired with Rograkh to create an early mana advantage — it's at 86-91% inclusion in the most popular builds of decks featuring this Kobold Warrior as a partner.

Rings of BrighthearthRings of Brighthearth combines with Basalt MonolithBasalt Monolith for a simple, two-card infinite colorless mana combo that can go in any deck.

Thousand-Year ElixirThousand-Year Elixir isn't a combo piece itself, but is a welcome pseudo-haste enabler for combos in colors that don't usually have access to this ability.

Sanguine BondSanguine Bond, half of one of the most popular combos in the format altogether, was originally printed in Magic 2010.

Other Archetypes

Idyllic TutorIdyllic Tutor and Sigil of the Empty ThroneSigil of the Empty Throne are important pieces for -based enchantress strategies.

Kederekt ParasiteKederekt Parasite is perfect in popular group slug builds like Valgavoth, Harrower of SoulsValgavoth, Harrower of Souls, Nekusar, the MindrazerNekusar, the Mindrazer, and Ob Nixilis, Captive KingpinOb Nixilis, Captive Kingpin.

Cold-Eyed SelkieCold-Eyed Selkie shows up in Merfolk decks and strategies that care about dealing combat damage to opponents, like Felix Five-BootsFelix Five-Boots and Gonti, Canny AcquisitorGonti, Canny Acquisitor. Another combat-focused permanent is Dolmen GateDolmen Gate, which goes in strategies that care about all-out attacking, like Anzrag, the Quake-MoleAnzrag, the Quake-Mole and Isshin, Two Heavens as OneIsshin, Two Heavens as One.

VigorVigor shows up in more niche fight decks like Grothama, All-DevouringGrothama, All-Devouring and Neyith of the Dire HuntNeyith of the Dire Hunt and the +1/+1 counters it grants supplements commanders like Skullbriar, the Walking GraveSkullbriar, the Walking Grave and Shalai and HallarShalai and Hallar.

Nuts and Bolts — Disruption, Ramp, Lands

Rounding it out are the simple building blocks of Commander — mass removal, disruption, protection, and mana ramp.

Cryptic CommandCryptic Command can prevent opponents from attacking — and even clear the way for a lethal attack. With enough mana, Martial CoupMartial Coup can be a powerful sweeper that leaves a fearsome army behind.

Glen Elendra ArchmageGlen Elendra Archmage can protect important threats or break up something your opponents are up to — twice!

Acidic SlimeAcidic Slime and ShriekmawShriekmaw are classic "enters the battlefield" creatures that can answer opposing permanents.

Knight of the White OrchidKnight of the White Orchid, Etherium SculptorEtherium Sculptor, Noble HierarchNoble Hierarch, Bloom TenderBloom Tender, and Mana ReflectionMana Reflection serve as different kinds of mana acceleration/fixing for different strategies.

ScapeshiftScapeshift can search up a smattering of utility lands, but is more likely to end the game in short order when combined with lands-matter commanders like Hearthhull, the WorldseedHearthhull, the Worldseed, The NecrobloomThe Necrobloom, and Tifa LockhartTifa Lockhart.

Speaking of lands, this era introduced or supplemented many cycles we take for granted today, like Magic 2010's checklands, Shadowmoor's filter lands, Shards of Alara's trilands, and Lorwyn's hideaway lands.

Conclusion

All in all, there is a Burren-TONBurren-TON of cards from this time that are still around in the Commander format we know and love today.

What cards and decks do you remember most from this era? Also, please chime in about your favorite niche cards — including commanders — from around this time that didn't make the list. Thanks for reading, and see you next time as we keep researching the depthsresearching the depths of Magic history.