Mark Rosewater, the lead designer for Magic: The Gathering, has created cards for every way to play the game. During a recent interview at MagicCon Atlanta, he surprisingly revealed he doesn’t enjoy Commander, despite it being the most popular format among Magic players.
Someone asked Rosewater about players getting tired of Universes Beyond, the Magic: The Gathering sets that team up with other brands. He admitted he understands why some players aren’t thrilled with these crossovers, because he doesn’t always love some of Magic’s other popular choices either, particularly the Commander format.
Rosewater explained he doesn’t enjoy Commander. He sees Magic as a game of strategy where success comes from outsmarting your opponent. He feels Commander is different, focusing more on social dynamics and ‘playing the players’ rather than strategic gameplay.
Commander has become the most popular way to play Magic: The Gathering, growing from a niche format thanks to its multiplayer games and huge variety of cards. Now, several expansions – like those based on Final Fantasy and Edge of Eternities – offer ready-to-play Commander decks, making it easy for newcomers to start with just one purchase.
Rosewater expressed a need to reflect on his involvement with Commander, questioning whether Magic: The Gathering was still a good fit for his interests.
He eventually came around to the format when he saw how much joy Commander brought to others—plus, he can always switch back to playing individual formats like Legacy or Modern whenever he feels like it.
Rosewater explained that a game improves as more people play and enjoy it. He realized he needed to accept that Magic: The Gathering is more fulfilling when others are having fun, and that others’ enjoyment actually enhances his own experience as a player.
Okay, so MagicCon Atlanta was insane! They basically showed us everything coming to Magic: The Gathering all the way to 2026! Get this – we’re getting sets based in Middle-earth with The Hobbit, Star Trek, and even Marvel! But it doesn’t stop there. They also announced a ton of limited-edition Secret Lair drops, and some of the collabs are WILD. We’re talking PlayStation, The Office, Furby, and even Jaws! Seriously, Jaws! I need to start saving my money now.
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2025-10-09 01:10