Lorwyn was first released back in 2007 and it’s very close and dear to me because at that time is that I started playing Magic: The Gathering. To a lot of players, Lorwyn Eclipsed means the return to a “better” time. Certainly a return to what truly made Magic special, amidst a whirlwind of Universed Beyond sets.
Anyways, enough rambling. As with every other set release, Commander players are eager to see what’s new, what’s good, and even what’s reprinted since that means they will be able to get their hands on some juicy cards that might have been too expensive due to scarcity, and we’ve already gotten a good look at the Spoilers for the new set at this point.
So let’s dive into some of the more interesting cards for Commander in Lorwyn Eclipsed. I will touch on a max of 4 cards per color as “the best”, then later touch on some honorable mentions, starting with:
White Cards
Let’s explore at some new pseudo board-wipes, which are always cool to see. Curious Colossus is a 7/7 Giant Warrior with an asymmetrical effect that turns every creature your opponents control into 1/1 Cowards removing all abilities and other subtypes. The effect may seem worse than just a good old Wrath of God effect, but sometimes inabilitating creatures is better than destroying them, for example if you were dealing against an aristocrats deck and you tried to reset the board you would most like die as a result, not with this guy’s effect. It is also not an “until end of turn” effect.
Winnowing on the other side does destroy, but it can also by asymmetrical with a condition: you’re playing a tribal deck and your opponents are not. Not only can it be an asymmetrical board wipe, but it also has Convoke, which means it can cost little to nothing to cast and it can get rid of all but 1 creature of your choice under each players control. Seems like a very cool take on a board wipe.
Morningtide's Light though not as good or flexible as a Teferi's Protection or an Akroma's Will, it is good in its own right. It is an announced Fog effect which protects only you until your next turn, which means you will be absolutely out of harm for a whole round of turns at the table while everyone else butchers each other. You can also selectively Blink any number of creatures you want, which let’s you abuse any ETB effect or whatever you may need.
Kinscaer Sentry doesn’t look like much at first, however just by looking at it’s initial stats it’s already GOOD. A highly splash-able 2/2 creature with First Strike and Lifelink for 2 mana; combine that with the fact that you can use it to cheat creatures into play be it for extra advantage, or for a finishing blow with something like Moonshaker Cavalry or a Craterhoof Behemoth it will certainly become a staple in some go-wide decks as it isn’t hard to get to 7+ creatures on the field at the same time.
Blue Cards
Mirrorform is the first card that caught my eyes, its only sin is costing 6 mana which can be a bit steep, but the effect is quite insane and well worth the cost. It turns each of your nonland permanents into a copy of a non-Aura permanent; you don’t have to control what you’re copying, and it is an Instant, which means it can instant-ly change or end the game. Imagine turning a board full of treasures or clues into copies of Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim or Syr Konrad, the Grim; as for legendary rule only one will stay, but they all see each other die and can churn exponential amounts of damage. The potential is limitless.
Rimefire Torque is an artifact that will thrive in tribal decks which can also take advantage of copying spells. Decks commanded by Talrand, Sky Summoner and Alela, Cunning Conqueror easily come to mind. You can easily fill it with counters and copy big spells like Expropriate.
Glen Elendra's Answer is a new “Storm” counterspell, and it in of itself can’t be countered. It is a good replacement or upgrade to cards like Flusterstorm, Summary Dismisal, Whirlwind Denial and Counterflux.
Harmonized Crescendo is an instant that rewards you for playing Tribal decks. It is an Instant with Convoke that will let you draw a card for each creature that has the chosen type. It is a huge addition for any Blue Tribal deck, letting you refuel your hand at the end of someone elses turn to let you chain whatever play you want.
Black Cards
Starting with Bitterbloom Bearer, though not as good as Bitterblossom itself (since its effect is attached to a very weak creature), it is still the same very powerful effect. It can either be a cheaper replacement or an addition to be played along with Bitterblossom.
Unbury though not the strongest card it can be a solid addition to any Tribal deck that has access to black and likes to abuse the Graveyard.
Moonsong Aria is the enchantment form of Maralen of the Mornsong which is mostly known for the Ad Nauseam combo deck. Can’t wait what people manage to do with it.
Red Cards
Hexing Squelcher certainly looks like a must-have addition to any deck that has access to Red, as it makes all of your spells and only your spells uncounterable for just 2 mana. The extra ward is a nice addition too. It looks like a must have because no matter if you’re playing a Tribal or creature heavy deck or a more Combo oriented deck, having that extra layer of protection is invaluable.
Spinerock Tyrant a 6/6 Flying Dragon with Wither that will excel at decks with plenty of single target spells since it allows you to copy all of them, while also giving them Wither so they can bypass indestructible rules if needed.
Soul Immolation can be a very powerful game finisher if used correctly.
Champion of the Path is an extra Warstorm Surge/Terror of the Peaks effect exclusively for Elemental decks.
Green Cards
Bloom Tender is a very strong reprint that speaks for itself. It gets increasingly better the more colors you have in play and for the low cost of 2 mana.
Sapling Nursery can easily get wild in any deck that can abuse Landfall triggers. It can drop for as little as 2 Green mana and makes 3/4 Treefolk tokens with each Landfall. As an extra, you can pay 2, and exile the enchantment to make all your Treefolk and Forests indestructible until end of turn, perfect to combo with a Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth combined with an Armageddon. Everyone LOVES asymmetrical total land destruction!
Finally, Selfless Safewright can be the savior of any green Tribal deck, coming in at Instant speed to save all your creatures of the chosen type.
Multicolor Cards + Artifacts
Starting with interesting new choices for Commander’s we have Brigid, Clachan's Heart a 3/2 White and Green Kithkin Warrior whose abilities help and reward go-wide strategies. Every time she enters of flips into the White side you create a 1/1 green and white Kithkin creature token; conversely, you can pay 1 Green mana to flip her to her other side Brigid, Doun's Mind, in which she works as a Gaea's Cradle type effect for either White or Green. She seems like a strong pick for a Commander, or as a member of the 99 of an already existing go-wide strategy.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn is another interesting pick for a Commander giving us access to both White and Black. Eirdu’s White side is a 5/5 Elemental God with Flying and Lifelink which gives all your creature spells Convoke, which means you can tap creatures on your battlefield to help cast other creatures. By paying 1 Black mana on your main phase you can turn it into Isilu, Carrier of Twilight, on this side you give up the Convoke ability in exchange of the ability to give all your non-token creatures Persist, which means that if they had no -1/-1 counters on it when they died, they will come back alive with one of such counters. I can see this card being either a good Vessel or just an overall very good card in White/Black aristocrat decks.
Grub, Storied Matriarch brings a new flavor to Goblin Tribal decks, be it if you play her as your Commander or not, she lets you return Goblins from you Graveyard to your hand every other turn, while in her Red side Grub, Notorious Antie can make an attacking copy of any creature you control.
Maralen, Fae Ascendant in Sultai colors takes advantage of any Elf or Faerie that ETBs on your side by stealing cards from the top of an opponents library and allowing you to cast one of them per turn for FREE (as long as it costs less than the number of Elves/Faeries you control).
Doran, Besieged by Time in Abzan colors is a new option for decks that like to play Big Butts. Not only does he lower their costs, but he also gives each of them a potentially huge boost whenever they attack or block.
High Perfect Morcant in Golgari colors seems like a very cool new way to play Elves, by letting you “infect” enemy creatures as well as Proliferating by tapping three Elves you control. I can see the possibilities.
Now as for the non-commanders we have Raiding Schemes, a very strong Red and green Enchantment that lets you copy any noncreature spell you cast by “cospiring”. To conspire, you just need to tap two untapped creatures you control (yeah, I know, very card to do on those colors). It synergizes a lot with cards like Inspiring Call, Hunter's Insight, Guardian Project, Unnatural Growth, Fiery Emancipation, and Bello, Bard of the Brambles to just name a few. The possibilities are quite endless.
Deepway Navigator seems like a great addition to any White and Blue merfolk deck since it allows you to untap all your creatures at instant speed, as well as giving them an extra buff if needed.
Twinflame Travelers looks like a must-have card for Elemental decks that can play Red and Blue since it doubles every Elemental trigger you control.
Chronicle of Victory is a very powerful anthem effect and another must-have for any Tribal deck moving forward. Might also replace other cards that used to do a similar thing like Coat of Arms and Vanquisher's Banner.
Lands
As for the Lands we have juicy Dual-land reprints for Hallowed Fountain, Steam Vents, Overgrown Tomb, Blood Crypt, Temple Garden so keep an eye on them for any good deals!
Honorable Mentions
Collective Inferno seems like a great addition to any Red Tribal deck as it doubles the damage that creatures of the chosen type deal while also being cheap to play by having Convoke.
Boldwyr Aggressor is less exciting, but I felt like it needed a mention since it can work on a very fringe Giant Tribal deck!
Omni-Changeling is yet another Copy-effect creature that can be Convoked into play. It’s not the flashiest but certainly a budget alternative for other (usually more expensive) copy effects if you’re in need of one.
Sunderflock is a bit more specific card in that if it’s not played in an Elemental deck, then it’s not good at all; however for an Elemental deck it is quite the addition since it’s an asymmetrical Bounce effect that can cost as little as 2 Blue mana.
The cute and little Mutable Explorer because he puts a Mutavault in play. A nice callback from original Lowryn.
Nameless Inversion, a reprint from original Lorwyn, I just love the card.
