BrainstormBrainstorm | Art By Mateus Santolouco & Ronda Pattison

New set, but old tricks. With the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) releasing this week, we welcome back the return of the Class enchantments. These are enchantments that can be leveled up at the cost of some amount of mana to gain a new effect. Originally from the Adventures in the Forgotten Realms set, the Classes have always been a hit in each set they've appeared in.

TMNT has people truly in their feelings about how much they're enjoying the set, but one thing is for sure: these Classes aren't just named after a catchy theme song from the 1980s; they might catch you by surprise with how good they can be.

So today, let's take the five new Classes from TMNT and rank them by how good they are for Commander. Class is in session, so let the countdown begin.

5. Party DudeParty Dude

While Michelangelo is often the fan favorite of the Heroes in a Half ShellHeroes in a Half Shell, their Class Party DudeParty Dude might not be. The words on this Class are not bad by any means. Gaining life, drawing cards, and pumping creatures on attack are things that a deck, let alone a green deck, should be happy to do.

It's just that this card does it all in very strange ways.

The cheapest Class to cast at only a , the first and second levels of Party Dude have nice synergy. And there are actually a few homes for this card already. Food decks such as Ygra, Eater of AllYgra, Eater of All, and Gyome, Master ChefGyome, Master Chef can make good use of a cheap-to-cast Food creator. The cost to cast and go to level two even gives you a second copy of Viridian RevelViridian Revel.

This is where the issues start.

While artifact decks are super popular, the combination of running into an Artifact deck, leveling up this Class to a point where it gets you multiple cards, holding all those cards, and finally turning it into damage with the final level is not worth the cost of .

Party DudeParty Dude is a good time, but this is a party I'm leaving early.

4. Leader's TalentLeader's Talent

I might not be the biggest Ninja Turtle fanboy, but Leonardo was always my personal number one. Sadly for their Class Leader's TalentLeader's Talent, it's coming in second-to-last in the rankings. With the highest mana cost needed to go from casting to fully leveled, this one just doesn't do enough.

The first and last levels of this Class are where the card does shine, if there is any shine. is not that bad to give a +1/+1 counter every time you attack.

While it might cost you a total of , turning every single spell you cast, regardless of type, into a counter for your entire board can do wonders in the right deck. Commanders like Tidus, Yuna's GuardianTidus, Yuna's Guardian, or Isshin, Two Heavens as OneIsshin, Two Heavens as One could find a way to turn this card into a superstar. Sadly this Class sandwich has no filling.

The middle ability on this card, giving you two life when a creature leaves the battlefield, is just not what you want to be doing. I understand it might be there for insurance when the idea is to build a board and go wide using this Class; when someone blows up the board with something such as FarewellFarewell or Blasphemous ActBlasphemous Act, you gain some life. The priority should be not letting your creatures die in the first place with this Class out.

3. Does MachinesDoes Machines

Now this is a Class that I could get a B+ in. Right in the middle of all the Classes, when it comes to casting cost, at Does Machines, well, does everything that you'd want out of a card. It draws you cards, fills your graveyard for value, and then has a way to win you the game.

So why is this one only at number three? The first and second levels of this card are fantastic. Two mana gives you a mill two, draw two, and discard two. For two mana more, ideally, getting back two of those cards you put into the grave, provided they're artifacts.

This Class is a slam dunk in something like Tameshi, Reality ArchitectTameshi, Reality Architect, Norman OsbornNorman Osborn, or something simple like Mm'menon, Uthros ExileMm'menon, Uthros Exile. Once again, why only number three? A very lackluster final level and one that is featured on so many other cards. Giving three +1/+1 counters to an artifact and animating it into a creature, in some cases, is nice, but not for the amount of mana needed, and not when we've seen better versions before.

Tezzeret, Cruel CaptainTezzeret, Cruel Captain giving an emblem means the effect will stick around forever. The Antiquities WarThe Antiquities War digs for artifacts much deeper than doing so with machines. Lastly, Cyberdrive AwakenerCyberdrive Awakener is a better endgame threat, and for three mana less.

2. Ninja TeenNinja Teen

With both Ninja TeenNinja Teen and the eventual holder of the number one spot, deck dependence could make these Classes flip-flop. The most expensive one to cast is, ironically, the one that most players won't even bother to put mana into anymore. Aristocrats players will be familiar with cards like Bastion of RemembranceBastion of Remembrance and the laundry list of Zulaport CutthroatZulaport Cutthroat variants. Ninja Teen provides half of that right off the jump.

Not gaining life is a considerable downside of this card, but the other levels might make up for it. At level two, giving all your creatures +1/+0 and menace is massive for any black decks wanting to go to combat. From old favorites like Yuriko, the Tiger's ShadowYuriko, the Tiger's Shadow, to new TMNT commanders like Splinter, Radical RatSplinter, Radical Rat, or even the middle ground with Gonti, Canny AcquisitorGonti, Canny Acquisitor, all love ways to make sure creatures can get in the red zone.

Finally, the last level giving all creatures in your graveyard sneak for is nothing to scoff at. The combination of creatures being a threat no matter where they are or when they hit the board is what makes this card so attractive.

On the board, leaving the board, and in the graveyard, you should never fear because the Ninja Teen is here.

1. Cool but RudeCool but Rude

This card is the best... in Class. See what I did there? Cool but RudeCool but Rude hits the sweet spot of performing game actions worth building around and having all the right combination of words when it comes to the level effects. Not to mention, it's the cheapest overall Class, where each level costs only .

First up, getting a loot every time you attack is fantastic. Commanders such as Inti, Seneschal of the SunInti, Seneschal of the Sun, Laelia, the Blade ReforgedLaelia, the Blade Reforged, and Ivora, Insatiable HeirIvora, Insatiable Heir are waiting for TMNT release day to windmill slam this into their 99.

The second level builds upon synergies with not only the first level but also the decks you would find this card in. Two damage for every card discarded is massive. Not every time you discard, mind you, but every single card. Small discards such as Faithless LootingFaithless Looting to entire-hand discards off Change of FortuneChange of Fortune will rapidly bring life totals down.

If you have played 60-card formats recently, then warning bells are going off looking at this card and thinking about how it works with Monument to EnduranceMonument to Endurance. The last ability on this card is funny because while it acts as a version of GambleGamble, it can't be understated how good this card and GambleGamble work together.

Yes, you have to be in a discard deck or at least a red-based deck where your card draw comes from Unexpected WindfallUnexpected Windfall and Thrill of PossibilityThrill of Possibility-style cards. When in the right deck, none of the other Classes come close to the amount of value they can get you when compared to Cool but RudeCool but Rude. This earns the top spot as the best student because, when in the right deck, it outperforms the other options.

Wrap Up

With only five options for Classes your schedule isn't that full this time around. TMNT is, for everything it lacks, filled with interesting role-playing cards. All of these will find their way into a 99, I have no doubt. If you see Cool but RudeCool but Rude hit the table, I would suggest looking at it the same way Super ShredderSuper Shredder looks at Splinter, Hamato YoshiSplinter, Hamato Yoshi.

What is your favorite Class from TMNT? What is your favorite Class outside of this set? Who is your favorite Turtle? Let me know here or over on socials @nicnax96. Keep slinging spells and keep safe inside those turtle shells. Cowabunga, Dudes!