What does cEDH need to change heading into 2027? This week on the Pregame Podcast, Craig Mack sits down with Josh Welder ZE from CriticalEDH to talk Tayam, tournament structure, the future of competitive Commander, and how we keep growing cEDH.

Josh has become one of the players most associated with Tayam, Luminous Enigma, so naturally we make him answer for what he has done to innocent cEDH tables everywhere.

We talk about:

• Why Josh chose Tayam and why he definitely does NOT recommend you play it
• CriticalEDH and Keeping Tabs on cEDH
• The future of cEDH tournaments in 2027
• Random pairings, blind standings and alternative scoring systems
• Top 16 vs larger Top Cuts
• Better coordination between tournament organizers
• Judging and tournament consistency
• What players can do to help cEDH continue growing
• Whether cEDH should ever have its own ban list
• And somehow... the possibility of UNBANNING FLASH

Then Andrei returns for cEDH and life coaching as we break down cards from Reality Fracture and talk about which ones could actually have an impact on competitive Commander.

And yes...

We have to talk about Samut, Tyrant of Naktamun.

Split second.

No response.

Literally.

Relax. The sky isn't falling.

Your win rate might be.

In the Tournament Report, we look at two neighboring cEDH communities doing something I think more regions should be doing: CIRCUITS.

We break down the Colorado Summer Circuit Invitational and the Legends of the Stack New Mexico Invitational, including their metas, conversion rates and Top 4 finishes.

And somehow...

Craig won New Mexico.

After 16 episodes of giving tournament advice, we finally have limited statistical evidence that some of it might actually work.

We also talk about why local circuits, leaderboards and Invitationals can be incredible tools for growing competitive Commander communities and keeping players engaged.

Finally, Events You Should Be At:

Baked Ziti 4 - Goldsabertooth's NY cEDH
https://topdeck.gg/event/baked-ziti-4-goldsabertooths-ny-cedh

Competitive cEDH, Grim Monoliths, potentially Mox Diamonds, and enough Italian food to make scrubbing out feel significantly better.

MagicCon: Atlanta - November 13-15, 2026
https://www.magic.gg/news/magiccon-atlanta-2026-gather-for-the-multiverse

Craig will be at MagicCon Atlanta as a creator all weekend, slinging cards in the Creator Space and recording live content from the Wizards table Friday at 11 AM.

If you've never been to a MagicCon, come experience it.

The games.
The artists.
The vendors.
The previews.
LobbyCon at 2 AM.

Because the best part of Magic: The Gathering has always been the Gathering.

Support the Pregame Podcast on Patreon:
https://patreon.com/WZKDGAMES

Craig Mack:
https://linktr.ee/Craigmack

CriticalEDH:
https://linktr.ee/CriticalEDH

cEDH Coaching with Andrei Blanton:
Moxfield: BingeyLongtooth
Email: [email protected]

Want help tuning a list, improving your tournament game, or building something completely ridiculous that somehow still wins? Reach out to Andrei for cEDH coaching.

Check out CriticalEDH and Keeping Tabs on cEDH and show Josh some love!

If you enjoy the show, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and help us grow cEDH one degenerate at a time.

Drop a comment below:

If you could change ONE thing about cEDH tournaments heading into 2027, what would it be?

#cEDH #CompetitiveCommander #MTG #MagicTheGathering #Commander #EDH #RealityFracture

Comedian MTG joins the Pregame Podcast for our biggest interview yet.

Ian is one of the most accomplished and creative brewers in cEDH, with successful lists across an absurd number of commanders — and apparently 1,435 decks sitting in his Moxfield account. We talk about how he evaluates unconventional commanders, how he knows when a deck is actually good, why some brews fail, and what separates a good cEDH pilot from someone simply playing powerful cards.

But this conversation goes well beyond deckbuilding.

We get into the current state of politicking in competitive EDH, when persuasion crosses the line into gaslighting, the responsibility established players and creators have toward newer players, tournament behavior, draws, coaching, building better cEDH communities, and why Ian believes you can compete at the highest level without making everyone at the table miserable.

Then we break down recent tournament results and finish with Events You Should Be At, featuring two upcoming cEDH weekends worth putting on your calendar.

SUPPORT THE PREGAME PODCAST
WZKD GAMES Patreon:
https://patreon.com/WZKDGAMES

FOLLOW CRAIG MACK / WZKD GAMES
Craig Mack Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/Craigmack

FOLLOW COMEDIAN MTG
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@ComedIanMTG

Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/comedianmtg

Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/Comedianmtg

EVENTS YOU SHOULD BE AT

Yapsgiving — cEDH 10K
November 7–8 • Provo, Utah
Presented by Salt City Gaming Events.

Registration & event info:
https://topdeck.gg/event/yapsgiving-10k

The Atrium 2
November 21–22 • Claremont, California
Hosted by BFF cEDH and Lost Levels Card Shop, with the official LobbyCon on November 20.

Registration & event info:
https://topdeck.gg/event/the-atrium-2-1

If you enjoy the show, LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE, and tell us in the comments:

Where is the line between good cEDH politicking and going too far?

PREGAME PODCAST | WZKD GAMES

#cEDH #MTG #Commander #MagicTheGathering #CompetitiveEDH #ComedianMTG #EDH

Can a toxic player kill an entire local cEDH community? And is it finally time to BAN Rhystic Study?

On Pregame Podcast Episode 14, I sit down with longtime cEDH player, brewer, Krark/Sakashima sicko, and one of the people most responsible for building the competitive Commander community here in Santa Fe: Ken Bauman.

Find all my links, socials, streams and more here:
https://linktr.ee/Craigmack

Ken and I get into what it actually takes to build and sustain a local cEDH scene, how experienced players should treat newcomers, why being a good human can genuinely make you a better political player, and the behaviors that can absolutely destroy a community.

We also talk about:

• How Ken found cEDH and helped grow the Santa Fe scene
• How to introduce new players to competitive Commander
• Why established players need to actively welcome new players
• Teaching cEDH without overwhelming people
• Politicking without turning yourself into the table enemy
• Why losing, learning, and laughing matter
• Why you shouldn’t immediately dismiss fringe decks and brews
• The story behind Too Deep
• Krark/Sakashima and roughly 1,500 games worth of coin flips
• Why Krark may still be seriously underplayed
• Ken’s cEDH Mount Rushmore
• And finally… Ken gets the microphone and makes his case for why RHYSTIC STUDY SHOULD BE BANNED.

And because apparently one giant cEDH conversation wasn’t enough, we’ve also got some very cool decks this week, including Thor, Ms. Bumbleflower, and everybody’s favorite beautiful idiot: Flubs the Fool.

Then in EVENTS YOU SHOULD BE AT, we’re looking at two more cEDH tournaments worth putting on your calendar:

SUNSHINE SHOWDOWN
October 10–11 — Coconut Creek, Florida
https://topdeck.gg/event/sunshine-showdown-cedh-tournament

I’m going to try to make this one myself… God willing.

ROCKET CITY LIFTOFF
November 7 — Huntsville, Alabama
https://topdeck.gg/event/rocket-city-liftoff

If you enjoy competitive Commander, tournament cEDH, deckbuilding, brewing, politics, or just listening to two grown men talk far too seriously about flipping coins and paying for Rhystic Study triggers, you’re in the right place.

Subscribe to PREGAME PODCAST for weekly cEDH conversations, tournament coverage, deck discussions, interviews, events you should be at, and whatever else happens to break our brains that week.

ALL LINKS:
https://linktr.ee/Craigmack

cEDH ON TOP.

A player made a deal around Necropotence… then immediately argued that Necropotence doesn’t technically “draw” cards.

Was that clever cEDH gameplay?

Or was it just lying?

This week on The Pregame Podcast, Craig Mack and Andrei Blanton break down where the line should be when it comes to deals, misleading opponents, technical truths, and maintaining trust at a competitive cEDH table.

We also dive into the August cEDH Meta Report to look at what actually happened across the tournament scene: which decks are winning, which commanders are climbing, what’s falling off, and what the data might tell us about where the format is headed next.

PLUS:

• The difference between good politicking and deception
• Why your reputation matters in competitive Commander
• The August cEDH metagame
• Decks and strategies gaining momentum
• What we’re watching heading into the next month
• BANGERS YOU SHOULD BE AT — You Dead! cEDH 5K and The Atrium 2

Do you think lying is ever acceptable in cEDH?

Drop your answer in the comments — because I have a feeling people are going to disagree on this one.

Subscribe for weekly cEDH news, strategy, tournament coverage, deckbuilding discussion, and questionable opinions from people who spend way too much time thinking about competitive Commander.

WZKD Games / Pregame Podcast

All WZKD links:
https://linktr.ee/Craigmack

#cEDH #MTG #Commander #MagicTheGathering #CompetitiveCommander #cEDHMeta

We survived Breach the Bay 2.

Barely.

This week on The Pregame Podcast, we’re excited to officially welcome Breach the Bay 2 Open Champion Andrei Blanton as a new co-host of the show — whenever his schedule allows!

Andrei is an incredible deck builder, a member of Too Deep, a student of the game, and someone who consistently brings unique decks to major cEDH tournaments…and somehow keeps WINNING WITH THEM.

This week we talk about:

🔥 Andrei’s Breach the Bay 2 Open WIN
🧠 Building unique decks in an established cEDH meta
🤝 How to politick without being manipulative or adversarial
🗣️ Why sharing information can actually help you win games
🌎 Language barriers in competitive cEDH — and how we can handle them better
🏆 Our full Breach the Bay 2 experience
❤️ What we LOVED about the event
😬 And a few things we could have done without...

Plus, BANGERS YOU SHOULD BE AT!

🍖 THE COOKOUT 2026
https://topdeck.gg/event/the-cookout-2026

🏛️ THE ATRIUM 2
https://topdeck.gg/event/the-atrium-2-1

And yes…we are still absolutely exhausted from Breach the Bay.

So Episode 12 is a little different. We’re hanging out, talking cEDH, telling stories, and recovering from an incredible weekend.

Normal Pregame formatting returns next week!

If you enjoy the show, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and drop a comment — it helps us more than you know.

And let us know:

What did you think of Breach the Bay 2?

Follow Craig / The Pregame / WZKD Games:
https://linktr.ee/Craigmack

cEDH ON TOP.

Tournament day is coming. Are you actually ready?

This week on The Pregame, we break down two recent cEDH events featuring K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth, Rocco, Cabaretti Caterer, and Krark & Sakashima.

Then we dive into HOW TO PREPARE FOR A cEDH TOURNAMENT — knowing your deck, studying the meta, understanding what your opponents are playing, sharing information, navigating table politics, managing mistakes, and having the confidence to play YOUR game.

Plus, Events You Should Be At! We spotlight the Summer Sizzler 5K and make one final pitch for Breach the Bay 2, which has a chance to become one of the biggest cEDH events ever.

And if you stick around until the end… I reveal what I’m considering playing at Breach. 👀

Next week: the full Breach the Bay recap — whether I crush it or get absolutely destroyed.

Shuffle up. Have fun. LET’S PREGAME.

Find Craig & The Pregame:
https://linktr.ee/Craigmack

#cEDH #MTG #Commander #CompetitiveCommander

EPISODE 10!

The Pregame Podcast officially hits double digits, and we're celebrating with a great one.

This week, PIGEON joins Craig to talk about becoming a better cEDH player, navigating tables, improving the format, and some of the lessons Magic can teach us beyond the game.

We also break down two recent tournaments featuring some interesting decks—including the first appearance of Gleaming Splendor—and look ahead to Breach the Bay 2, The Cookout, and the TopDeck Invitational.

The Invitational is the Super Bowl of cEDH, and Craig is putting his predictions on tape: Jason Doan, Evan Pierce, Zach Shepherd, and Pigeon in the final pod. Who takes it all down?

Plus, we've heard some VERY interesting things about the decks people are bringing…

A huge thank you to everyone who's watched, listened, commented, and supported the Pregame Podcast through our first 10 episodes.

We're just getting started.

Episode 9.5 – The Hobbit cEDH Set Review

Could The Hobbit become one of the most impactful sets ever released for Competitive Commander?

In this special edition of The PREGAME Podcast, Craig Mack breaks down the biggest winners from the set, evaluating which cards have real cEDH potential, which belong in the 98/99 of established archetypes, and which might become format-defining staples.

From Smaug, the Wicked Worm and Bag End Banquet to The Queen of Dale, Dragon's Desire, and more, Craig dives into the cards that could reshape the metagame—and separates the true contenders from the hype.

Did he miss a hidden gem? Is one of these cards being overrated?

Join the discussion and let us know what you think the biggest cEDH card from The Hobbit will be.

Stay prepared. Stay competitive. See you in the next pod.

🎙️ Welcome to Episode 9 of the PREGAME Podcast with Craig Mack and WZKD Games!This week we're breaking down one of the most exciting weekends in Competitive Commander while welcoming Max P from the Win and In Podcast to discuss the future of cEDH, the health of the format, and the deck he's bringing to the upcoming Invitational.This Week's Topics🏆 CCS $20K Qualifier tournament recap📊 The biggest metagame takeaways and standout performances🧙 Auntie Ool – Is this the next breakout commander?⚡ Cursewretch Turbo and why players are taking notice🛡️ Akiri/Thrasios returns to the conversation🎙️ Special Guest: Max P (Win and In Podcast)Max joins Craig to discuss:🔥 The current state of Competitive Commander💡 Small tweaks that could make cEDH even better🎯 What makes the community so special🃏 His newest brew for the upcoming Invitational📈 Where he thinks the metagame is headed nextWhether you're preparing for your next tournament, looking for the latest tech, or just love talking high-level Commander, Episode 9 is packed with strategy, insight, and great conversation.👇 Join the discussion:Is Auntie Ool the real deal?Can Cursewretch Turbo become a top-tier strategy?What changes, if any, would you make to improve cEDH?What deck do you think wins the next major event?If you enjoy Competitive Commander, tournament coverage, metagame analysis, deck techs, interviews with top players, and the latest cEDH news, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the 🔔 so you never miss an episode of the PREGAME Podcast.Stay prepared. Stay competitive. See you in the next pod.

Welcome to Episode 8 of The PREGAME Podcast!This week we're joined by Jack from Doot Loot to discuss one of the most ambitious cEDH events ever planned—Breach the Bay 2.Inspired by the feel of a classic MagicFest, Breach the Bay 2 is shaping up to be far more than just another tournament. We dive into what makes the event unique, the innovative Japanese point system, and why this could become a blueprint for the future of competitive Commander events.We also break down everything happening in cEDH right now, including our July Meta Report, the biggest stories from the Excalibur Columbus $10,000, and our first reactions to The Hobbit spoilers. Could these new cards reshape the competitive landscape? We discuss the commanders, staples, and interactions that already have players talking.This Episode Includes:🏆 Jack from Doot Loot joins the show🌉 Everything you need to know about Breach the Bay 2🎲 The Japanese point system explained📊 July 2026 cEDH Meta Report💰 Excalibur Columbus $10,000 recap and standout decks🧙 The Hobbit spoilers and their impact on cEDH🔥 Cards that could redefine the format🎙️ Community news, tournament discussion, and competitive Commander insightsWhether you're preparing for your next tournament or just love staying on top of the competitive Commander metagame, Episode 8 is packed with everything you need to know.👇 Tell us in the comments:Which Hobbit card has the biggest cEDH potential?Are you planning to attend Breach the Bay 2?What deck impressed you most from the July metagame?Is the Japanese point system something more tournaments should adopt?If you enjoy cEDH, Competitive Commander, tournament coverage, metagame analysis, spoiler season, and interviews with leaders in the community, be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the 🔔 so you never miss an episode of The PREGAME Podcast.Stay prepared. Stay competitive. We'll see you next week!Doot Loot: https://www.doot-loot.com/Breach the Bay2: https://www.breachthebay.com/Rog Si Deck Tech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC1454XNq1sCraig Mack on x: https://x.com/Craig_MackWZKD on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WZKDGames/WZKD GRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wzkdgamesCRAIG MACK MOXFIELD: https://moxfield.com/users/CraigMack