Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate

Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate

 

Commander decks

 

Trivia

 

Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description	Shield with a centered hexagon
Design	Glenn Jones (lead) Corey Bowen Gavin Verhey Chris Mooney Michael Grothe Chris VanMeter Jules Robins David Iezzi Ethan Fleischer Mike Mearls
Development	Corey Bowen (lead) Gavin Verhey Jules Robins David Iezzi Ethan Fleischer Mike Mearls Jadine Klomparens Megan Smith Michael Hinderaker Bryan Hawley
Release date	June 10, 2022
Plane	Forgotten Realms
Themes and mechanics	Legendary, Background, Dice rolling, Flavor words, Gates
Keywords/​ability words	Adventure, Choose a Background, Goad, Initiative, Myriad, Party, Venture into Undercity
Set size	361 + 575
Expansion code	CLB
Development codename	Pentagon
Commander series
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Commander Decks Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate Dominaria United Commander Decks
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
2022 Starter Kit Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate Commander Decks

Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate is the second Magic: The Gathering Commander set that is designed to be drafted. It will be released on June 10, 2022. It is also a Dungeons & Dragons crossover set.

Set details

CLB expansion symbol

Key art featuring the Githyanki Lae'zel

Battle for Baldur's Gate is larger than a normal set, with both oft-asked-for Commander reprints and new cards. There are TBA new cards, including 85 legendary creatures and planeswalkers. The set is designed to play Limited Commander: you can play Draft or Sealed with it. It will also be available and draftable on Magic Online. Building on the Commander-first gameplay of 2020's Commander Legends, Battle for Baldur's Gate brings in iconic characters, new mechanics, more flavorful spells from D&D, and Commander Legends-style foil-etched legendary creatures.

For Booster Fun, the Showcase "rulebook" frames of Adventures in the Forgotten Realms are expanded upon to include non-creatures. There are also borderless cards and foil-etched legends.

Similar to the original Commander Legends, Battle for Baldur's Gate contains 361 regular cards (141 commons, 120 uncommons, 77 rares, 22 mythic rares, 1 special) and includes randomly inserted premium versions of all cards. Alternate card frames have another card number than the original version. Borderless planeswalkers are numbered #362-TBA. Other borderless cards are #TBA-TBA. "Rulebook frames" are #TBA-TBA. The extended artwork cards are numbered #TBA-TBA. The Bundle promo is #935 and the Buy-a-Box card is #936. The dark frame treatment cards from the Universal promo pack are numbered #TBA-TBA.

Eight weeks before the release of the set, someone opened multiple Collector Boosters on TikTok. Multiple cards and mechanics were revealed.

Drafting rules

Commander draft uses three draft boosters per player. For every pick, players take two cards at a time. This is to ensure coherency of decks, as players will need to conform to the color identities of their eventual commanders, and for speed.

After the draft, players build a 60-card deck — much like how a traditional deck of Magic is 60 cards and a traditional draft is 40, here it's 60 to Commander's 100. All other Commander rules apply with one exception: the Singleton rule does not apply. You may play as many copies of a card as you draft of it, though given the set size compared to how many cards players get, it's not very likely to get more than 1 copy of a card. Players may always use one or more Faceless Ones as a commander, even if they didn't draft one.

Storyline

The set takes place in the Forgotten Realms, and focuses on the city of Baldur's Gate.

Marketing

Battle for Baldur's Gate is sold in 20-card Draft booster packs. Each booster pack contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher and 1 guaranteed Traditional Foil card. A 21^st card is a Marketing card. The set is also sold in 15-card Set Boosters, Collector Boosters, a Draft Pack, the Baldur's Gate Bundle and four Commander decks. The Draft Boosters feature art from TBA ; the Set Boosters depict Boo and the Collector Boosters feature art from TBA.

Events

• Debut Day: May 17, 2022
• Previews: May 17-23
• Commander Deck Previews: May 24 & 25, 2022
• Prerelease: June 3–5, 2022
• Global Release: June 10, 2022

Promotional cards

• Buy-a-Box promo: Alternate art foil Elder Brain
• Bundle promo: Alternate art foil Wand of Wonder

Tokens and markers

Battle for Baldur's Gate comes with 20 tokens and markers. Tokens and markers appear in the marketing card slot.

1. 2/2 Knight creature, for The Council of Four.
2. 1/1 Rabbit creature, for Cadira, Caller of the Small.
3. 1/1 Soldier creature, for Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward, Isgard's Call, and Veteran Soldier.
4. 1/1 Faerie Dragon creature with flying, for Elminster, Feywild Caretaker, and Feywild Visitor.
5. 3/3 Demon creature, for Tasha, the Witch Queen.
6. 4/1 Skeleton creature with menace, for Gut, True Soul Zealot and Undercity.
7. Boo, a 1/1 legendary Hamster creature with trample and haste, for Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes.
8. 1/1 Devil creature with "When this creature dies, it deals 1 damage to any target.", for Raphael, Fiendish Savior.
9. 4/4 Dragon creature with flying, for Dragon Cultist.
10. 1/1 Squirrel creature, for Cloakwood Hermit.
11. 1/1 Construct artifact creature," for Jan Jansen, Chaos Crafter.
12. Treasure artifact, for Battle Angels of Tyr, Blood Money, Descent into Avernus, Dungeoneer’s Pack, Guild Artisan, Gluntch, the Bestower, Jan Jansen, Chaos Crafter, Mahadi, Emporium Master, Noble’s Purse, Safana, Calimport Cutthroat, and Undercity.
13. Volo’s Journal, a legendary artifact with hexproof and “Whenever you cast a creature spell, note one of its creature types that hasn’t been noted for this artifact.”, for Volo, Itinerant Scholar.
14. Copy for Elminster’s Simulacrum, Irenicus’s Vile Duplication and Myrkul, Lord of Bones.
15. Undercity dungeon / The Initiative marker.

Themes and mechanics

Undercity dungeon

Battle for Baldur's Gate features new legendary creatures themed as D&D characters and several multiplayer keywords.

Adventure, D20 dice rolling, Goad, and Myriad are returning mechanics. Flavor words also made a comeback.

Each prerelease pack comes with an Undercity Dungeon Card. This is a unique card that shares the same mechanic as Dungeon Cards from Adventures in the Forgotten Realms. The card is not included in a player's deck size or sideboard and is activated by the Initiative mechanic to Venture into Undercity. However, the Forgotten Realms Dungeons are not making a return. The Bundle provides an oversized version.

Monocolored Legendary creatures in the set have the ability to Choose a Background. By choosing a Background, you can customize your Commander.

Limited archetypes

Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate features the following limited archetypes:

• : Flicker (Oji, the Exquisite Blade)
• : Initiative (Rilsa Rael, Kingpin)
• : Sacrifice (Mahadi, Emporium Master)
• : Dragon Power (Thrakkus the Butcher)
• : Tokens (Cadira, Caller of the Small)
• : Leaves the battlefield effect (Minthara, Ruthless Soul)
• : Adventures with Dragons (Lozhan, Dragons’ Legacy)
• : Graveyard Recursion (Kagha, Shadow Archdruid)
• : Attack effects (Commander Liara Portyr)
• : Dragon value (Korlessa, Scale Singer)

Card types

The set features the new Background Enchantment type, that is only featured on Legendary Enchantments.

The set also introduces the Elminster, Minsc and Tasha planeswalker type and the Gith creature type.

Cycles

Commander Legends has at least two cycles.

Cycle name
Mythic metallic dragons			Ancient Brass Dragon
	Five mythic rare Dragons.
Rare background legends	Lae’zel, Vlaakith’s Champion	Gale, Waterdeep Prodigy	Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar	Wyll, Blade of Frontiers	Jaheira, Friend of the Forest
	Five rare legendary creatures with choose a Background.
Rare character spells	Lae’zel’s Acrobatics	Gale's Redirection		Wyll's Reversal	Jaheira's Respite
	Five rare instants that depict the cycle of rare background legends.
Rare backgrounds	Noble Heritage	Shameless Charlatan	Cultist of the Absolute	Popular Artist	Raised by Giants
	Five rare Backgrounds.
Gem dragons	Crystal Dragon	Sapphire Dragon	Obsidian Dragon	Amethyst Dragon	Emerald Dragon
	Five uncommon dragons with adventure.
Uncommon "dethrone" backgrounds	Veteran Soldier	Sword Coast Sailor	Agent of the Shadow Thieves	Guild Artisan	Hardy Outlander
	Five uncommon Backgrounds that check if you are attacking the opponent with the most life.
Invokers	Bane's Invoker	Tymora's Invoker	Myrkul’s Invoker	Bhaal's Invoker	Silvanus's Invoker
	Five common creatures with an activated ability costing .
Common backgrounds	Flaming Fist		Scion of Halaster		Master Chef
	Five common Backgrounds.
Thriving gates	Citadel Gate			Cliffgate
	Five common Gates that are functional reprints of the Thriving lands but with the added subtype.
Cycle name
Bond lands	Sea of Clouds	Morphic Pool	Luxury Suite	Spire Garden	Bountiful Promenade
	Five rare dual lands that enter the battlefield tapped, unless you have two or more opponents. Reprinted from Battlebond.

Double cycles

Cycle name
Gold rares	The Council of Four	Jon Irenicus, Shattered One	Raphael, Fiendish Savior	Raggadragga, Goreguts Boss	Gluntch, the Bestower	Astarion, the Decadent		Baba Lysaga, Night Witch	Duke Ulder Ravengard	Alaundo the Seer
	Ten rare dual-colored legendary creatures.
Gold signposts	Oji, the Exquisite Blade	Rilsa Rael, Kingpin	Mahadi, Emporium Master	Thrakkus the Butcher	Cadira, Caller of the Small	Minthara, Ruthless Soul	Lozhan, Dragons’ Legacy	Kagha, Shadow Archdruid	Commander Liara Portyr	Korlessa, Scale Singer
	Ten uncommon dual-colored legendary creatures, each a signpost for a draft archetype.
Uncommon legend pairs	Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward	Imoen, Mystic Trickster	Sivriss, Nightmare Speaker	Ganax, Astral Hunter	Halsin, Emerald Archdruid	Lulu, Loyal Hollyphant	Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher	Viconia, Drow Apostate	Amber Gristle O'Maul
	Alora, Merry Thief	Safana, Calimport Cutthroat	Gut, True Soul Zealot	Skanos Dragonheart	Ellyn Harbreeze, Busybody	Sarevok, Deathbringer	Livaan, Cultist of Tiamat	Erinis, Gloom Stalker	Rasaad yn Bashir	Renari, Merchant of Marvels
	Ten pairs of uncommon monocolored legendary creatures with choose a Background, each together making a signpost for a draft archetype.
Uncommon background pairs	Far Traveler	Dungeon Delver	Agent of the Iron Throne	Dragon Cultist				Criminal Past		Acolyte of Bahamut
			Street Urchin		Inspiring Leader		Passionate Archeologist	Cloakwood Hermit		Feywild Visitor
	Ten pairs of uncommon monocolored legendary backgrounds, each together making a signpost for a draft archetype.
Cycle name
Tricolor legends	Gorion, Wise Mentor	Bane, Lord of Darkness	Zevlor, Elturel Exile	Bhaal, Lord of Murder	Mazzy, Truesword Paladin	Jan Jansen, Chaos Crafter		Myrkul, Lord of Bones	Dynaheir, Invoker Adept	Nine-Fingers Keene
	Ten rare tri-colored legendary creatures.

Pairs

Lore pair		Description
Descend into Avernus ()	Ascend from Avernus ()	Two cards representing the fall and later rise of Elturel from Avernus.

Reprints

• Ambition's Cost, first printed in Portal Three Kingdoms, last seen in Commander 2021.
• Arcane Encyclopedia, first printed in Core Set 2019, last seen in Jumpstart.
• Arcane Signet, first printed in Throne of Eldraine, last seen in Neon Dynasty Commander.
• Basilisk Collar, first printed in Worldwake, last seen in Forgotten Realms Commander.
• Bramble Sovereign, first printed in Battlebond.
• Command Tower, first printed in Commander 2011, last seen in New Capenna Commander.
• The Diamonds cycle, first printed in Mirage, last seen in Commander Legends.
• The Allied color Bond lands, first printed in Battlebond, last seen in Zendikar Rising/Expeditions.
• Geode Golem, first printed in Commander 2018.
• Reflecting Pool, first printed in Tempest, last seen in Conspiracy.
• Thieves' Tools, first printed in Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms.
• Traverse the Outlands, first printed in Commander 2017, last seen in The List.
• Treasure Keeper, first printed in Aether Revolt, last seen in Double Masters.
• Swiftfoot Boots, first printed in Magic 2012, last seen as Streets of New Capenna launch party promo.
• Wayfarer’s Bauble, first printed in Fifth Dawn, last seen in Forgotten Realms Commander.

Notable cards

• Faceless One is a Background creature, and printed at common. As such, it is the second common legendary creature printed, the second legal in Pauper, and fills the role that The Prismatic Piper did in the original Commander Legends. It lacks a creature type.
• Zevlor, Elturel Exile received errata before it was released, "When you next cast an instant or sorcery spell that targets only a single opponent [...]"

Preconstructed decks

Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate features four preconstructed Commander decks that are released as a regular part of a set's product line. These are meant to be on-ramps to Commander.

Theme deck name	Color Identity					Commander
Party Time	W		B			Nalia de'Arnise
Mind Flayarrrs		U	B			Captain N'ghathrod
Draconic Dissent		U		R		Firkraag, Cunning Instigator
Exit from Exile				R	G	Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald

External links

• The Forgotten Realms Wiki
• https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/first-out-baldurs-gate-2022-05-17