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Commander 2020
C20 logo
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description A shield with thorns
Design Ethan Fleischer (lead) [1]
Development Corey Bowen (lead)[2]
Mark Globus
Daniel Holt
Glenn Jones
Scott Larabee
Noah Millrod
Ken Nagle
Stephen Sunu
Release date April 17, 2020 (Asia)
May 15, 2020 (other)
Themes and mechanics Experience counters, keyword counters
Keywords/​ability words Cycling, goad, mutate, partner with
Set size Five 100-card decks
Expansion code C20[4]
Commander series
[[Commander 2019]] '''Commander 2020''' [[Zendikar Rising Commander Decks]]
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
[[Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths]] Commander 2020 [[Secret Lair Drop Series: The Godzilla Lands]]
C20 Expansion symbol

Expansion symbol

Commander 2020 or Ikoria Commander, also marketed as Commander: Ikoria and as the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Commander decks, is a product in the Commander series released by Wizards of the Coast.[3] The set will be released on the same day as Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, and is marketed as an integral part of that set.[5] It was originally scheduled to be released on April 24, 2020. Due to the 2019-2020 coronavirus pandemic, the release was advanced to April 17 for Asia, and delayed until May 15, 2020 for the other continents.[6]

Set details

Commander 2020 consists of five preconstructed theme decks, and features twenty premium foil commanders. The five 100-card decks contain 322 different cards in total. There are 71 new cards legal in Vintage and Legacy. These are set on the world of Ikoria, though the reprints can be from anywhere. There are a handful of cards from the main Ikoria set in the reprint slots, but the number is fairly small. These Ikoria reprints retain the Ikoria expansion symbol and collector numbers. All other cards, including the other reprints and the new cards, have their own expansion symbol and set code (C20) to set them apart.

Each package contains 1 foil oversized Commander card, a 100 card deck, 10 double-sided tokens, 1 deck box, 1 life wheel and keyword counter punch card. Each deck features 17 new cards, with some of them appearing in several decks. They also feature four legendary foils instead of the usual three, with two of them having partner with.[5] The latter represent the bonders and their monsters from Ikoria.

The following cards are included in every deck: Arcane Signet, Bonder's Ornament, Command Tower, Exotic Orchard, and Sol Ring.

Themes and mechanics

Color-wise, the set is enemy color themed, leaning into wedges.

As the set is connected to Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, it also makes use of keyword counters.[7] Note that double strike and indestructible counters only appear on cards in the C20-set, and don't appear on the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths punch cards. There are also additional cards with mutate and cycling.

There are eight non-evergreen old mechanics returning on new cards, the designers not just holding themselves to mechanics in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths:[8]

Preconstructed decks

Commander 2020 consists of five decks featuring twenty premium foil commanders. Each deck contains 100 cards plus an oversized foil commander card.

Theme
deck name
Color Identity Commander
{W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Ruthless Regiment W B R Jirina Kudro
Arcane Maelstrom U R G Kalamax, the Stormsire
Symbiotic Swarm W B G Kathril, Aspect Warper
Timeless Wisdom W U R Gavi, Nest Warden
Enhanced Evolution U B G Otrimi, the Ever-Playful

Tokens and punch cards

C20 Keyword counter punch card 1

Commander 2020 punch card #004

C20 Keyword counter punch card 2

Commander 2020 punch card #003 (reverse of #004)

Commander 2020 features 19 tokens[9].

  1. {W} 4/4 Angel creature with flying, created by Decree of Justice and Descend upon the Sinful.
  2. {W} 1/1 Bird creature with flying, created by Akim, the Soaring Wind and Migratory Route.
  3. {W} 4/4 Elemental creature with flying, created by Hoofprints of the Stag.
  4. {W} 1/1 Human creature, created by Increasing Devotion and Thraben Doomsayer.
  5. {W} 1/1 Soldier creature, created by Decree of Justice.
  6. {W} 1/1 Spirit with flying, created by Spirit Cairn.
  7. {U} 1/1 Bird Illusion with flying, created by Murmuring Mystic.
  8. {U} 2/2 Drake with flying, created by Drake Haven and Talrand, Sky Summoner.
  9. {B} 2/2 Zombie creature, created by Xathrid Necromancer.
  10. {R} 3/1 Elemental creature, created by Chandra, Flamecaller (even though her Elemental has haste).
  11. {G} 4/4 Beast creature, created by Hunting Pack.
  12. {G} 0/0 Hydra creature, created by Zaxara, the Exemplary.
  13. {G} 1/1 Insect creature with flying and deathtouch, created by Hornet Queen.
  14. {G} 1/1 Saproling creature, created by Artifact Mutation.
  15. {G} 1/1 Snake creature, created by Xyris, the Writhing Storm.
  16. {R/W} 2/2 Dinosaur Cat creature, created by Gavi, Nest Warden.
  17. {R/G} 1/1 Goblin Warrior creature, created by Wort, the Raidmother.
  18. {U/R} 1/1 Insect creature with flying and haste, created by The Locust God.
  19. {C} Treasure artifact, created by Shiny Impetus and Surly Badgersaur.

The following tokens are created by cards in the decks and are thus included with the decks. However, they are not part of the Commander 2020 expansion. Instead, they retain their Ikoria expansion symbol and collector number:

There is also a set of double-sided punch cards included in the Symbiotic Swarm deck, with each featuring 6 punch-out keyword counters. Each card face has its own collector number.[10] The first punch card is identical to the one present in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.

Punch card (from Ikoria)
#001 #002
{W} First strike Flying
{R} Menace Trample
{B} Lifelink Deathtouch
{U} Hexproof Flying
{G} Reach Vigilance
{C} +1/+1 +1/+1
Punch card (C20-only)
#003 #004
{W} Indestructible Double strike
{W} Flying First strike
{U} Flying Hexproof
{B} Deathtouch Lifelink
{W} Indestructible Double strike
{G} Vigilance Trample

Cycles

Commander 2020 has seven cycles of new cards, including two partial cycles.

Cycle name {W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Free spells Flawless Maneuver Fierce Guardianship Deadly Rollick Deflecting Swat Obscuring Haze
Five rare instants that can be cast for free if you control your commander. Each one has art and flavor text featuring one of the five face commanders.
Impetuses Martial Impetus Psychic Impetus Parasitic Impetus Shiny Impetus Predatory Impetus
Five uncommon Auras that goad the enchanted creature, and has an additional benefit whenever it attacks.
Bonders Avenging Huntbonder Daring Fiendbonder Slippery Bogbonder
Three rare Humans that use keyword counters.
Mutants Souvenir Snatcher Mindleecher Sawtusk Demolisher
Three rare non-Human creatures with mutate.
Cycle name {R}{W}{B} {G}{U}{R} {W}{B}{G} {U}{R}{W} {B}{G}{U}
Face commanders Jirina Kudro Kalamax, the Stormsire Kathril, Aspect Warper Gavi, Nest Warden Otrimi, the Ever-Playful
Five mythic rare wedge colored legendary creatures, each representing the theme of one deck.
Secondary commanders Kelsien, the Plague Xyris, the Writhing Storm Tayam, Luminous Enigma Akim, the Soaring Wind Zaxara, the Exemplary
Five mythic rare wedge colored legendary creatures, each of which plays well with subthemes of one deck.
Partners Trynn, Champion of Freedom ({W}) Haldan, Avid Arcanist ({U}) Nikara, Lair Scavenger ({B}) Brallin, Skyshark Rider ({R}) Cazur, Ruthless Stalker ({G})
Silvar, Devourer of the Free ({B/R}) Pako, Arcane Retriever ({R/G}) Yannik, Scavenging Sentinel ({G/W}) Shabraz, the Skyshark ({W/U}) Ukkima, Stalking Shadow ({U/B})
Five mythic rare wedge colored pairs of legendary creatures with partner with: one a monocolored Human, the other an allied colored monster.

Reprint cycles

Five cycles of reprinted cards are in the following decks.

Cycle name {R}{W}{B}
Ruthless Regiment
{G}{U}{R}
Arcane Maelstrom
{W}{B}{G}
Symbiotic Swarm
{U}{R}{W}
Timeless Wisdom
{B}{G}{U}
Enhanced Evolution
Planeswalkers Nahiri, the Harbinger ({R/W}) Jace, Architect of Thought ({U}) Ajani Unyielding ({G/W}) Chandra, Flamecaller ({R}) Nissa, Steward of Elements ({G/U})
Tri-colored taplands Nomad Outpost Frontier Bivouac Sandsteppe Citadel Mystic Monastery Opulent Palace
Pain lands Battlefield Forge ({R/W}) Yavimaya Coast ({G/U}) Caves of Koilos ({W/B}) Shivan Reef ({U/R}) Llanowar Wastes ({B/G})
Odyssey filter lands Shadowblood Ridge ({B/R}) Mossfire Valley ({R/G}) Sungrass Prairie ({G/W}) Skycloud Expanse ({W/U}) Darkwater Catacombs ({U/B})
Battle lands Smoldering Marsh ({B/R}) Cinder Glade ({R/G}) Canopy Vista ({G/W}) Prairie Stream ({W/U}) Sunken Hollow ({U/B})

One double cycle of lands was reprinted. Each deck contains every card that can be included in the color identity.

Cycle {W/U} {U/B} {B/R} {R/G} {G/W} {W/B} {U/R} {B/G} {R/W} {G/U}
Bounce lands Azorius Chancery Dimir Aqueduct Rakdos Carnarium Gruul Turf Selesnya Sanctuary Orzhov Basilica Izzet Boilerworks Golgari Rot Farm Boros Garrison Simic Growth Chamber

References

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