Magic: The Gathering’sThe Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth brought the rich lore of Middle-earth into the MTG universe. This Universes Beyond set introduced iconic characters and themes from Tolkien’s world, offering players a chance to build decks around beloved figures like Frodo, Gandalf, and Bilbo.
We’ll walk you through the essential steps to build a flavorful and functional Lord of the Rings Commander deck. We’ll cover how to choose the right commander, select synergies and combos, andprovide budget-friendly alternativesfor the more expensive cards. Additionally, we’ll offer tips on gameplay strategy, including early, mid, and late-game tactics, to help you on your journey through Middle-earth.
Rather than trying to jam the biggest creatures into your deck,focus on cards that interact well together. A humble 2/2 that draws you cards every turn will often outperform a big flashy creature you may barely cast.
Sample Deck List
Here’s a sample deck list to kick off your Lord of the Rings Commander Deck, Bilbo, Birthday Celebrant. He’s a legendary creature that captures the essence of Bilbo’s 111th birthday celebration and is a perfect commander for us. He embodies theAbzan color combination of White, Black, and Green, which are known for their strong lifegain and creature synergies.
Voice of the Blessed
Speaker of the Heavens
Authority of the Consuls
Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
Vault of the Archangel,
Swamp (4)
How To Build A Lord Of The Rings Commander Deck
In Commander, your deck’s color identity is determined by the mana symbols in yourcommander’s casting cost and rules text, dictating the colors of cards you can include. Beyond this, thematic synergy helps your deck’s cohesion. The Tales of Middle-earth set offers a variety of themes to explore, such askindred-focused, mechanics-based, or narrative-driven strategies.
Commanders
Tales of Middle Earth offers a great selection of legendary creatures to lead your Commander deck for each theme and color combination. Each one portrays different aspects of Middle-earth. Here are some notable options:
Sauron, Lord of the Rings
A powerful commander that amasses Orcs and reanimates creatures, ideal for a Grixis (Blue, Black, and Red) reanimator strategy.
Éowyn, Shieldmaiden
Leads a Human kindred deck with a focus on the Monarch mechanic and token generation.
Galadriel, Elven-Queen
Supports an Elf kindred (specific creature types)deck with voting mechanics and synergistic abilities.
Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit and Sam, Loyal Attendant
Partner commanders that emphasize Food token generation and lifegain for the set’s mechanics.
For instance, Sauron, Lord of the Rings serves as a potent commander for a Grixis (Blue, Black, and Red)reanimator strategy, leveraging the Amass Orcs mechanic and graveyard recursion to overwhelm opponents. Éowyn, Shieldmaiden leads a Human kindred deck that utilizes the Monarch mechanic and token generation to maintain card advantageand board presence. Galadriel, Elven-Queen supports an Elf kindred deck with voting mechanics, rewarding political play. Meanwhile, Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit and Sam, Loyal Attendant as partner commanders emphasize Food token generation and lifegain, being a powerful strategy that can outlast opponents.
When choosing your commander, consider both the mechanical benefits and the “story” they bring to your deck.
Creatures
Creatures form the backbone of your deck, providing both offensive and defensive capabilities. Depending on your chosen commander and strategy, consider the following:
Kindred Synergies
If you’re building around a specific creature type, such as Elves, Orcs, or Hobbits, include creatures that benefit from kindred synergies. For example, Elvish Warmaster and Elvish Archdruid can help an Elf kindred deck by providingtoken generation and mana ramp. In an Orc-themed deck led by Sauron, Lord of the Rings, cards like Grishnákh, Brash Instigatorcan amass Orc armies quickly.
Utility Creatures
Incorporate creatures that offeradditional value, such as card draw, ramp, or removal.Weathered Wayfarercan help you find essential lands, while Fiend Hunter provides creature removal. These creatures support your deck’s functionality beyond combat.
Token Generators
Creatures that create tokens can help you build a board presence and synergize with effects that benefit from multiple creatures. Faramir, Steward of Gondor and Prince Imrahil the Fair are examples from the Riders of Rohan deck thatgenerate Human tokens, improving strategies that rely on a wide board state.
Ensure your creature base aligns supports your commander’s abilities. For example, decks led by Éowyn, Shieldmaiden thrives on ahigh count of Human creaturesto maximize her token generation and card draw abilities. Conversely, a deck focused on Food tokens and lifegain, such as one led by Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit and Sam, Loyal Attendant, would benefit from creatures thatproduce Food tokens or have lifelink. Balancing your creature choices to match your deck’s theme and mechanics will make your plays much more effective.
Artifacts
Artifacts can significantly improve your deck byproviding mana acceleration, card draw, and other utilities. When building a Lord of the Rings Commander deck, consider including artifacts that fit your Commander’s mechanics and fill gaps in functionality.
Mana Rocks
Artifacts that produce mana can help youramp into your more expensive spellsand maintain a consistent mana base. For instance, Wizard’s Rockets has mana fixing and card draw upon sacrifice, which is great for multicolor decks. Phial of Galadriel accelerates mana and can be useful in decks that benefit from scrying.
Equipment
If your deck is based on combat, equipment artifacts canboost your creatures' power and toughness,or even grant them additional abilities. Sting, the Glinting Dagger grants the equipped creature +1/+1, haste, and vigilance, which allows for tap abilities to be immediately and repeatedly used. Mithril Coat is great for offense and defense, as it gives flash and indestructibility to legendary creatures.
Utility Artifacts
Artifacts that offer card draw, graveyard recursion, or other beneficial effects willincrease your survivability.The One Ring is a powerful card draw engine, granting protection from everything for a turn and allowing you to draw additional cards each turn at the cost of life, which can be mitigated in lifegain-focused decks. Palantír of Orthanc has scrying and card draw, fitting well into decks that benefit from self-mill or manipulating the top of the library.
Selecting artifacts thatcomplement your deck and address its specific needswill make your build shine.
Enchantments
Enchantments can give your Lord of the Rings Commander deck powerful board control options. They oftenstick around longer than creatures or artifacts, so they’re good for ongoing effects. Depending on your goals, you’ll want enchantments thatstrengthen your playstyleor disrupt your opponents.
Enchantments like King of the Oathbreakerssupport decks by generating Spirit tokenswhenever you sacrifice a permanent, creating snowballing value. Effects like Flowering of the White Tree can pump up your legends and giving your board staying power.
Removal and Control
Some enchantments act as efficient removal. Call of the Ring gives card draw and a way to tempt your ring-bearer into bigger plays. It also appliespressure to your opponentsover time. Fall of Gil-Galad helps remove enemy creatures.
Token and Buff Enablers
If you’re building around tokens or small creatures (like Hobbit or Human decks), enchantments such as Rangers of Ithilien will work togenerate tokens or buff your existing army.
Choosing enchantments that build momentum keeps your Commander deck consistent, especially againstremoval or the grind of late game.
Instants and Sorceries
Usinginstants and sorceriesgives your deck a lot of flexibility with a mix of removal spells, card draw and tutors, as well as combat tricks and protection spells. Including a variety of these spells makes sure you have the tools to handle different situations.
Removal Spells
Cards that can eliminate threats, whether single-target or mass removal, are key to controlling the game. Gollum’s Bite and Bitter Downfall are black instant-speed removal spells from the set and are great at dealing with problematic creatures. Raise the Palisade is a blue sorcery that can serve as aboard wipe in creature type decksand helps preserve your own creatures.
Card Draw and Tutors
Using spells that allow you to draw cards or search your library improves your deck’s success. Sail into the West is an instant-speed spell that offers achoice between drawing cards or returning cards from your graveyardto your hand. Lidless Gaze is a black sorcery that exiles cards from your graveyard to cast a spell without paying its mana cost, allowing you toreuse your resources.
Combat Tricks and Protection
Gain the advantage with instants that can surprise opponents during combat or protect your permanents. you’re able to createsurprise blockers or attackerswith Galadhrim Ambush, an instant that creates a number of 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature tokens equal to the number of attacking creatures. Escape from Orthanc is a white instant that gives a creature +1/+3 and flying until the end of the turn, untapping it. You can use it tosave a creature or surprise an opponentduring combat.
Lord of the Ring decks often have lots of flashy high-cost spells. Make sure you have enough ramp (mana rocks, land tutors) so you aren’t stuck watching everyone else make big plays while you’re tapped out.
Lands
A solid mana base is the unsung hero of any Commander deck, so you can cast your spells smoothly and enjoy the game without hiccups. In a Lord of the Rings Commander deck, lands that provide the right colors of mana for your spells are essential. When selecting lands, consider the following: Aim for a land count that supports your deck’s curve, typicallyaround 36–38 lands, adjusting based on your deck’s mana requirements and ramp options. Include a mix of color-fixing lands, utility lands, and basic lands for a strong mana base.
Color Fixing
Include lands that can producemultiple colors of manaso you’re able to cast your spells reliably. Command Tower is a staple in multicolor decks. It taps for any color in your commander’s color identity. Great Hall of the Citadel is another excellent choice, especially for decks with a focus on legendary creatures. It providesmana of any colorfor casting legendary spells. Additionally, Shire Terrace offers mana fixing by allowing you to sacrifice it to search for a basic land.
Utility Lands
You can add value to your deck using Lands with additional effects. Rogue’s Passage can make a creature unblockable, which is useful for pushing through damage with your commander. Provide a steady stream of creatures for defense or to bolster your board presence using Castle Ardenvale , allowing you to create 1/1 Human tokens. Bojuka Bog is effective for graveyard hate,exiling an opponent’s graveyardupon entering the battlefield.
Basic Lands
Maintain a balance of basic lands to support effects that search for them and to protect against land destruction targeting nonbasic lands. Basic lands areneeded for cards that fetch specific land types, such as Evolving Wilds or Terramorphic Expanse. They help in fixing your mana base by allowing you to search for the basic land you need.
How To Play A Lord Of The Rings Commander Deck
Playing a Lord of the Rings Commander deck feels like setting off on your own adventure through Middle-earth. Each deck brings a different story to the table, andknowing how to pace yourselfthrough the early, mid, and late game is the key to making your strategy work. Every phase of the game, no matter if you’re building up armies of Orcs or protecting your Fellowship, gives you a new chance to move closer to victory.
Early Game
In the early turns, your focus should be onsetting up your mana base and establishing a board presence. Using mana rocks like Sol Ring or Arcane Signet to accelerate your mana production so you may cast your spells more efficiently. If you’re playing a deck like Food and Fellowship, start generating Food tokens early toprepare for lifegain synergies. With an Elven Council deck, begin deploying low-cost Elves to build a foundation for your kindreds. This stage is aboutlaying the groundwork for your deckand keeping yourself asnon-threatening as possibleagainst any aggressive players.
Mid Game
As the game progresses into the mid-game, it’s time to execute your game plan. For Riders of Rohan, this might involve leveraging the Monarch mechanic to draw extra cards and deploying Human tokens tobuild a formidable army. In a Hosts of Mordor deck, you could start amassing Orc armies and casting reanimation spells tobring back powerful creaturesfrom your graveyard. Midgame often brings plenty of threats from players trying to disrupt your board, so havingremoval spells or protective instantslike Heroic Intervention is a must.
Late Game
In the late game, it’s all about using the lead you’ve built up to close things out. Drop your biggest spells and swing the game in your favor. For instance, Elven Council decks might use Overwhelming Stampede to turn a wide board of Elves into a lethal force. Hosts of Mordor decks can use large Orc armies and powerful finishers like The Balrog of Moria to close out the game. Make sure you have contingency plans in place, such as board wipes orprotective spells, to handle nasty surprises and an ever-shifting board.
Don’t Sleep on Monarch or Tempting effects. Many Middle-earth cards use “becoming the Monarch” or “The Ring tempts you” mechanics. These effects are small advantages at first, but they snowball over time.
Budget-Friendly Alternative Cards
Building a Lord of the Rings Commander deck doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some less expensive alternatives for key cards in your deck:
Creates tokens and can grant trample.
Gains life and grows stronger with each opponent’s spell cast.
Also doubles tokens and +1/+1 counters but affects all players.
Rhystic Study
Mystic Remora
Draw cards when opponents cast noncreature spells unless they pay 4 mana.
Smothering Tithe
Monologue Tax
Generates Treasure tokens whenever an opponent casts their second spell each turn.
The One Ring
Staff of Nin
Provides consistent card draw and a ping effect at a lower cost.
Offers mana acceleration and can be sacrificed for card draw.
Sword of Feast and Famine
Sword of the Animist
Helps ramp by fetching basic lands when the equipped creature attacks.
Cyclonic Rift
Evacuation
Returns all creatures to their owners' hands at a more budget-friendly cost.
Grants indestructibility and populates. Fits well in token decks.
Offers a similar effect and is usually more affordable.
Shock Lands
Tranquil Cove
Enters tapped but provides both white and blue mana and a small lifegain.
Fetch Lands
Evolving Wilds
Allows you to search for a basic land, and helps with mana fixing on a budget.
