Commander Spock | Star Trek Commander | Art by Sam Kennedy
20, Oct, 26

MTG Star Trek Debut Commander Spoilers Include 4 New Face Commanders

Share
All hands to the command deck!

In a rapid turnaround after Reality Fracture’s October 2nd release, the Debut for MTG Star Trek is already upon us. As expected, this was stuffed with spicy new spoilers from the main set, some tasty Stardate bonus sheet reprints, and a ton of funky sci-fi card treatments to boot. As if all this wasn’t enough, we also got some spoilers from the MTG Star Trek Commander precons, too, including all four face Commander and some intriguing new 99 cards.

The Borg Queen MTG

The Borg Queen

Though it’s pricey at seven mana, The Borg Queen is probably the most exciting new Commander revealed today. Assimilating the next creature in an opponent’s deck is a powerful ability, guaranteeing you at least an extra 4/4 body when paired with Assimilate’s counter and The Borg Queen’s board buff. You’ll also get access to all of its abilities, and add to your artifact count for Affinity payoffs like Krang, Master Mind Krang, Master Mind Krang, Master Mind Affinity for artifacts (This spell costs {1} less to cast for each artifact you control.)
When Krang enters, if you have fewer than four cards in hand, draw cards equal to the difference.
Krang gets +1/+0 for each other artifact you control.
.

When played fairly, getting this trigger once per turn is already pretty strong. There are a ton of ways to abuse it, however, whether it’s repeatable blink like Eldrazi Displacer Eldrazi Displacer Eldrazi Displacer Devoid (This card has no color.)
{2}{C}: Exile another target creature, then return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control. ({C} represents colorless mana.)
and The Mind Stone The Mind Stone The Mind Stone Indestructible
{T}: Add {W}.
{5}{W}, {T}: Harness The Mind Stone. (Once harnessed, its ∞ ability is active.)
∞ — At the beginning of your end step, exile up to one other target nonland permanent you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control.
, or trigger doublers like Strionic Resonator Strionic Resonator Strionic Resonator {2}, {T}: Copy target triggered ability you control. You may choose new targets for the copy. (A triggered ability uses the words "when," "whenever," or "at.") . Heck, with a Panharmonicon Panharmonicon Panharmonicon If an artifact or creature entering causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time. and a couple of blink creatures, you can even steal every creature from each opponent’s deck by blinking her in and out infinite times.

Add in her Esper color identity, which provides access to incredible artifact support like Simulacrum Synthesizer Simulacrum Synthesizer Simulacrum Synthesizer When this artifact enters, scry 2.
Whenever another artifact you control with mana value 3 or greater enters, create a 0/0 colorless Construct artifact creature token with "This token gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control."
and Organic Extinction Organic Extinction Organic Extinction Improvise (Your artifacts can help cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for {1}.)
Destroy all nonartifact creatures.
, and The Borg Queen looks like a fearsome new Commander indeed. Just be sure to pack plenty of mana rocks to get over that hefty casting cost.

Commander Spock MTG

Commander Spock

Like The Borg Queen, Commander Spock is a three-color value engine with a very tasty Titan trigger. Each time Spock enters or attacks, you either get to cast the top card of your deck for free, put a land into play, or draw a card. Naturally, outcome one is the best option here, and, interestingly, whether you can use it depends on an idea Star Trek leans into hard: unique land count.

We’ve seen this concept briefly before with cards like Field of the Dead Field of the Dead Field of the Dead This land enters tapped.
{T}: Add {C}.
Whenever this land or another land you control enters, if you control seven or more lands with different names, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
and All-Fates Scroll All-Fates Scroll All-Fates Scroll {T}: Add one mana of any color.
{7}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw X cards, where X is the number of differently named lands you control.
, and it’s an idea well-suited to Commander. With so many strong dual lands and utility lands available today, it’s easy to build a full mana base with no repeated basic lands. With the emergence of land tokens on cards like Overlord of the Hauntwoods Overlord of the Hauntwoods Overlord of the Hauntwoods Impending 4—{1}{G}{G} (If you cast this spell for its impending cost, it enters with four time counters and isn't a creature until the last is removed. At the beginning of your end step, remove a time counter from it.)
Whenever this permanent enters or attacks, create a tapped colorless land token named Everywhere that is every basic land type.
and Saurian Explorer Saurian Explorer Saurian Explorer Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, this creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
{6}: Create a tapped Planet land token named New Planet with "{T}: Add one mana of any color." Activate only as a sorcery.
, Spock should net you free spells a lot of the time.

You can also improve Spock’s consistency by running topdeck-manipulation cards, such as Scroll Rack Scroll Rack Scroll Rack {1}, {T}: Exile any number of cards from your hand face down. Put that many cards from the top of your library into your hand. Then look at the exiled cards and put them on top of your library in any order. and Sensei’s Divining Top Sensei’s Divining Top Sensei’s Divining Top {1}: Look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order.
{T}: Draw a card, then put this artifact on top of its owner's library.
. These will let you dodge cards you can’t quite cast for free yet, or ensure extra land drops with Spock triggers when you need them. You can also abuse blink engines like Conjurer’s Closet Conjurer’s Closet Conjurer’s Closet At the beginning of your end step, you may exile target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under your control. and Thassa, Deep-Dwelling Thassa, Deep-Dwelling Thassa, Deep-Dwelling Indestructible
As long as your devotion to blue is less than five, Thassa isn't a creature.
At the beginning of your end step, exile up to one other target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under your control.
{3}{U}: Tap another target creature.
to get more triggers per turn and maximize your value. While it’s ultimately a bit generic, Spock is undeniably a powerful new Bant Commander for those looking to play a Midrange game.

Jean-Luc Picard, Luminary MTG

Jean-Luc Picard Luminary

We were expecting a Spacecraft Commander in Star Trek, and Jean-Luc Picard delivers on that front and then some. Since Spacecraft are all artifacts and generally fairly pricey, that first ability turns them into cantrips. The extra draw then feeds right into ability two, which both grants charge counters directly to your Spacecraft, and buffs your creatures so they can Station faster. Since Picard only costs four mana to cast, this should help your Spacecraft decks get going much faster than usual.

Of course, Picard isn’t locked into just being a Spacecraft deck, as his abilities work just fine for a more general Historic strategy as well. Simulacrum Synthesizer Simulacrum Synthesizer Simulacrum Synthesizer When this artifact enters, scry 2.
Whenever another artifact you control with mana value 3 or greater enters, create a 0/0 colorless Construct artifact creature token with "This token gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control."
has already shown how easy it is to bring in three-cost artifacts repeatedly, letting you turn Picard into a serious draw engine. With Sami, Wildcat Captain Sami, Wildcat Captain Sami, Wildcat Captain Double strike, vigilance
Spells you cast have affinity for artifacts. (They cost {1} less to cast for each artifact you control.)
, Ancestral Statue Ancestral Statue Ancestral Statue When this creature enters, return a nonland permanent you control to its owner's hand. , and four artifacts in play, you can even draw your entire deck with this ability, before closing out with the classic Thassa’s Oracle Thassa’s Oracle Thassa’s Oracle When this creature enters, look at the top X cards of your library, where X is your devotion to blue. Put up to one of them on top of your library and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. If X is greater than or equal to the number of cards in your library, you win the game. (Each {U} in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to blue.) .

Overall, Jean-Luc Picard feels efficient and flexible enough to support a wide range of strategies across multiple brackets. It’s not quite as flashy as some of the other Commanders revealed today, but an uncapped draw engine is never something to take lightly, so this is definitely one to watch.

Worf, Defiant Commander MTG

Worf Defiant Commander

Heading up the Klingon Fury precon is Worf, Defiant Commander, a fun new take on a Mardu Aggro legend. Five mana gets you a 3/4 and a 2/1 Haste, which lets you immediately impulse draw at least one card with Worf’s Battlefront ability. By the time Worf drops, you should easily be able to stack up some solid early attackers, too, such as Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer Whenever Ragavan deals combat damage to a player, create a Treasure token and exile the top card of that player's library. Until end of turn, you may cast that card.
Dash {1}{R} (You may cast this spell for its dash cost. If you do, it gains haste, and it's returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.)
and Voice of Victory Voice of Victory Voice of Victory Mobilize 2 (Whenever this creature attacks, create two tapped and attacking 1/1 red Warrior creature tokens. Sacrifice them at the beginning of the next end step.)
Your opponents can't cast spells during your turn.
, to guarantee you the maximum three cards ‘drawn’ here.

While this doesn’t sound too impressive at first, it compares fairly well to Tymna, the Weaver Tymna, the Weaver Tymna, the Weaver Lifelink
At the beginning of each of your postcombat main phases, you may pay X life, where X is the number of opponents that were dealt combat damage this turn. If you do, draw X cards.
Partner (You can have two commanders if both have partner.)
, one of the more widely-played Commanders in cEDH. Worf is actually more consistent than Tymna, too, since your creatures don’t need to get through for damage to get you the draw. This means you can leverage cards like Reconnaissance Reconnaissance Reconnaissance {0}: Remove target attacking creature you control from combat and untap it. (If you activate during end of combat, the creature will untap after it deals combat damage.) to pull your creature out after it attacks and still get the draw, or damage prevention like Dolmen Gate Dolmen Gate Dolmen Gate Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to attacking creatures you control. to survive blocks while still generating advantage.

Impulse draw isn’t always ideal, of course, but with Worf you get until the end of your next turn to play them, which is better than usual. This also lets you tap into the many ‘cast from exile’ synergies that Wizards has been printing lately, such as Passionate Archaeologist Passionate Archaeologist Passionate Archaeologist Commander creatures you own have "Whenever you cast a spell from exile, this creature deals damage equal to that spell's mana value to target opponent." and Advanced Reconstruction Advanced Reconstruction Advanced Reconstruction (Gain the next level as a sorcery to add its ability.)
At the beginning of your first main phase, mill a card, then exile a card from your graveyard at random. You may play the exiled card this turn.
{1}{R}: Level 2
Whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard, this Class deals 2 damage to each opponent.
{1}{R}: Level 3
Spells you cast from anywhere other than your hand cost {2} less to cast.
. Though Worf feels a bit less exciting than the other face Commanders revealed today, I think it may end up being one of the most powerful once the dust settles post-release.

Best of the Rest

MTG-Star-Trek-Debut-Commander-Spoilers-Roundup

In addition to the precon face Commanders, today’s MTG Star Trek Debut also included some spicy spoilers from the 99. Of this batch, Koloth, Tribble Hunter is probably the most exciting, putting a ton of Tribble tokens into play each turn, and ensuring your opponents are always swinging at each other. Alongside cards like Suture Priest Suture Priest Suture Priest Whenever another creature you control enters, you may gain 1 life.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls enters, you may have that player lose 1 life.
and The Meathook Massacre The Meathook Massacre The Meathook Massacre When The Meathook Massacre enters, each creature gets -X/-X until end of turn.
Whenever a creature you control dies, each opponent loses 1 life.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, you gain 1 life.
, which punish opposing creature death, this can very quickly become a serious threat. It’s also fantastic in any kind of Aristocrats list, as a reliable way to generate two pieces of fodder per turn.

Carrying on down the cute critter path, Spot, Felis catus is probably the cutest MTG creature we’ve seen this year. It’s also a genuine banger, too, providing a free Food on entry, then again whenever a nontoken legendary permanent enters. Right off the bat, this lets you make infinite Food with Hullbreaker Horror Hullbreaker Horror Hullbreaker Horror Flash
This spell can't be countered.
Whenever you cast a spell, choose up to one —
• Return target spell you don't control to its owner's hand.
• Return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand.
or fellow Cat Displacer Kitten Displacer Kitten Displacer Kitten Avoidance — Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, exile up to one target nonland permanent you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control. , provided you have a Mox Amber Mox Amber Mox Amber {T}: Add one mana of any color among legendary creatures and planeswalkers you control. and another mana rock to loop. You can then feed these Foods to Krark-Clan Ironworks Krark-Clan Ironworks Krark-Clan Ironworks Sacrifice an artifact: Add {C}{C}. and use Spot’s ability to blow up every opposing artifact in play. While this is the dream scenario, Spot seems generally useful just as a value piece, so I expect plenty of decks like Ragost, Deft Gastronaut Ragost, Deft Gastronaut Ragost, Deft Gastronaut Artifacts you control are Foods in addition to their other types and have "{2}, {T}, Sacrifice this artifact: You gain 3 life."
{1}, {T}, Sacrifice a Food: Ragost deals 3 damage to each opponent.
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained life this turn, untap Ragost.
to try it out.

Last but not least, Star Trek finally gave us a truly scary-looking Spacecraft in Starship Enterprise. While it needs 16 charge counters to get going, the Landfall ability here means that’s only four land drops away, or two if you’re running Fetchlands. Once it’s up and running, you can reliably draw four cards a turn with this beast, or more if you invest in stat buffs and Double Strike granters like Genji Glove Genji Glove Genji Glove Equipped creature has double strike.
Whenever equipped creature attacks, if it's the first combat phase of the turn, untap it. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase.
Equip {3}
. As a generic draw option for land-based Commander decks, this seems great, and it’s one of the few Spacecraft we’ve seen so far that’s not clunky beyond belief.

While the other MTG Star Trek Commander spoilers from today’s Debut were far less exciting, they still had some gems. Locutus of Borg Locutus of Borg Locutus of Borg Lifelink
Artifact creatures you control have "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, create a 1/1 colorless Borg artifact creature token."
is a great piece for aggressive Esper artifact brews, for example, while The Sword of Kahless The Sword of Kahless The Sword of Kahless Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has "Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top five cards of your library. You may put a Klingon or Warrior creature card from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order."
Equip {2}
is an interesting typal Equipment for decks like Gornog, the Red Reaper Gornog, the Red Reaper Gornog, the Red Reaper Haste
Cowards can't block Warriors.
Whenever one or more Warriors you control attack a player, target creature that player controls becomes a Coward.
Attacking Warriors you control get +X/+0, where X is the number of Cowards your opponents control.
. If the rest of these precons meet the same standard, these new decks will be well worth the extended wait.

Stick with us here at mtgrocks.com: the best site for Magic: The Gathering coverage. Be sure to check out our deckbuilder for your next big brew, and our brand new MTG Rocks Podcast! 

BROWSE