Commander 2020

Commander 2020

 

Ruthless Regiment

 

Arcane Maelstrom

 

Symbiotic Swarm

 

Timeless Wisdom

 

Enhanced Evolution

 

Commander 2020 or Ikoria Commander, officially styled as Commander (2020 Edition), and also marketed as Commander: Ikoria and as the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Commander decks, is a product in the Commander series released by Wizards of the Coast. The set was released on the same day as Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, and is marketed as an integral part of that set. It was originally scheduled to be released on April 24, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the release was advanced to April 17 for Asia, and delayed until May 15, 2020 for the other continents.

Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description	A shield with thorns
Design	Ethan Fleischer (lead)
Development	Corey Bowen (lead) Mark Globus Daniel Holt Glenn Jones Scott Larabee Noah Millrod Ken Nagle Stephen Sunu
Release date	April 17, 2020 (Asia) May 15, 2020 (other)
Plane	Ikoria Multiversal
Themes and mechanics	Experience counters, keyword counters
Keywords/​ability words	Cycling, delve, goad, monstrosity, mutate, partner with, scavenge, strive
Set size	Five 100-card decks
Expansion code	C20
Commander series
Commander 2019 Commander 2020 Zendikar Rising Commander
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Commander 2020 Secret Lair Drop Series: The Godzilla Lands
Scryfall Statistics
322 cards 10.2% 15.5% 11.2% 8.1% 10.9% 14.6% 29.5%

Expansion symbol

Set details

Alternate product logo.

Commander 2020 consists of five preconstructed theme decks, the first time since Commander 2016, and features twenty premium foil commanders. The five 100-card decks contain 322 different cards in total. There are 71 new cards legal in Vintage and Legacy. These are set in the world of Ikoria, though the reprints can be from anywhere. There are a handful of cards from the main Ikoria set in the reprint slots, but the number is fairly small. These Ikoria reprints retain the Ikoria expansion symbol and collector numbers. All other cards, including the other reprints and the new cards, have their own expansion symbol and set code (C20) to set them apart.

Each package contains 1 foil oversized Commander card, a 100 card deck, 10 double-sided tokens, 1 deck box, 1 life wheel and keyword counter punch card. Each deck features 17 new cards, with some of them appearing in several decks. They also feature four legendary foils instead of the usual three, with two of them having partner with. The latter represent the bonders and their monsters from Ikoria.

The following cards are included in every deck: Arcane Signet, Bonder's Ornament, Command Tower, Exotic Orchard, and Sol Ring.

Themes and mechanics

Color-wise, the set is enemy color themed, leaning into wedges.

As the set is connected to Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, it also makes use of keyword counters. Note that double strike and indestructible counters only appear on cards in the C20-set, and don't appear on the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths punch cards. There are also additional cards with mutate and cycling.

There are eight non-evergreen old mechanics returning on new cards, the designers not just holding themselves to mechanics in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths:

• Delve (Ethereal Forager)
• Devour (Ravenous Gigantotherium)
• Experience counters (Kelsien, the Plague)
• Goad (e.g. Agitator Ant)
• Monstrosity (Vitality Hunter)
• Partner with (e.g. Shabraz, the Skyshark)
• Scavenge (Boneyard Mycodrax)
• Strive (Call the Coppercoats)

Preconstructed decks

Commander 2020 consists of five decks featuring twenty premium foil commanders. Each deck contains 100 cards plus an oversized foil commander card.

Theme deck name	Color Identity					Commander
Symbiotic Swarm	W	–	B	–	G	Kathril, Aspect Warper
Ruthless Regiment	W	–	B	R	–	Jirina Kudro
Timeless Wisdom	W	U	–	R	–	Gavi, Nest Warden
Arcane Maelstrom	–	U	–	R	G	Kalamax, the Stormsire
Enhanced Evolution	–	U	B	–	G	Otrimi, the Ever-Playful

Tokens and punch cards

Commander 2020 punch card #004

Commander 2020 punch card #003 (reverse of #004)

Commander 2020 features 19 tokens.

1. 4/4 Angel creature with flying, created by Decree of Justice and Descend upon the Sinful.
2. 1/1 Bird creature with flying, created by Akim, the Soaring Wind and Migratory Route.
3. 4/4 Elemental creature with flying, created by Hoofprints of the Stag.
4. 1/1 Human creature, created by Increasing Devotion and Thraben Doomsayer.
5. 1/1 Soldier creature, created by Decree of Justice.
6. 1/1 Spirit with flying, created by Spirit Cairn.
7. 1/1 Bird Illusion with flying, created by Murmuring Mystic.
8. 2/2 Drake with flying, created by Drake Haven and Talrand, Sky Summoner.
9. 2/2 Zombie creature, created by Xathrid Necromancer.
10. 3/1 Elemental creature, created by Chandra, Flamecaller (even though her Elemental has haste).
11. 4/4 Beast creature, created by Hunting Pack.
12. 0/0 Hydra creature, created by Zaxara, the Exemplary.
13. 1/1 Insect creature with flying and deathtouch, created by Hornet Queen.
14. 1/1 Saproling creature, created by Artifact Mutation.
15. 1/1 Snake creature, created by Xyris, the Writhing Storm.
16. 2/2 Dinosaur Cat creature, created by Gavi, Nest Warden.
17. 1/1 Goblin Warrior creature, created by Wort, the Raidmother.
18. 1/1 Insect creature with flying and haste, created by The Locust God.
19. Treasure artifact, created by Shiny Impetus and Surly Badgersaur.

The following tokens are created by cards in the decks and are thus included with the decks. However, they are not part of the Commander 2020 expansion. Instead, they retain their Ikoria expansion symbol and collector number:

• 1/1 Human Soldier creature, created by Bastion of Remembrance, Call the Coppercoats, Jirina Kudro, Trynn, Champion of Freedom and Valiant Rescuer.
• 8/8 Kraken creature, created by Ominous Seas.
• 3/3 Beast creature, created by Beast Within, Curious Herd, Sawtusk Demolisher and Trumpeting Gnarr.

There is also a set of double-sided punch cards included in the Symbiotic Swarm deck, with each featuring 6 punch-out keyword counters. Each card face has its own collector number. The first punch card is identical to the one present in Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.

Punch card (from Ikoria)
	#001	#002
	First strike	Flying
	Menace	Trample
	Lifelink	Deathtouch
	Hexproof	Flying
	Reach	Vigilance
	+1/+1	+1/+1

Punch card (C20-only)
	#003	#004
	Indestructible	Double strike
	Flying	First strike
	Flying	Hexproof
	Deathtouch	Lifelink
	Indestructible	Double strike
	Vigilance	Trample

Cycles

Commander 2020 has seven cycles of new cards, including two partial cycles.

Cycle name
Free spells	Flawless Maneuver	Fierce Guardianship	Deadly Rollick	Deflecting Swat	Obscuring Haze
	Five rare instants that can be cast for free if you control your commander. Each one has art and flavor text featuring one of the five face commanders.
Impetuses	Martial Impetus	Psychic Impetus	Parasitic Impetus	Shiny Impetus	Predatory Impetus
	Five uncommon Auras that goad the enchanted creature, and have an additional benefit whenever they attack.
Bonders	Avenging Huntbonder	—	Daring Fiendbonder	—	Slippery Bogbonder
	Three rare Humans that use keyword counters.
Mutants	—	Souvenir Snatcher	Mindleecher	—	Sawtusk Demolisher
	Three rare non-Human creatures with mutate.
Cycle name
Face commanders	Jirina Kudro	Kalamax, the Stormsire	Kathril, Aspect Warper	Gavi, Nest Warden	Otrimi, the Ever-Playful
	Five mythic rare wedge colored legendary creatures, each representing the theme of one deck.
Secondary commanders	Kelsien, the Plague	Xyris, the Writhing Storm	Tayam, Luminous Enigma	Akim, the Soaring Wind	Zaxara, the Exemplary
	Five mythic rare wedge colored legendary creatures, each of which plays well with subthemes of one deck.
Partners	Trynn, Champion of Freedom ()	Haldan, Avid Arcanist ()	Nikara, Lair Scavenger ()	Brallin, Skyshark Rider ()	Cazur, Ruthless Stalker ()
	Silvar, Devourer of the Free ()	Pako, Arcane Retriever ()	Yannik, Scavenging Sentinel ()	Shabraz, the Skyshark ()	Ukkima, Stalking Shadow ()
	Five mythic rare wedge colored pairs of legendary creatures with partner with: one a monocolored Human, the other an allied colored monster.

Reprint cycles

Five cycles of reprinted cards are in the following decks.

Cycle name	Ruthless Regiment	Arcane Maelstrom	Symbiotic Swarm	Timeless Wisdom	Enhanced Evolution
Planeswalkers	Nahiri, the Harbinger ()	Jace, Architect of Thought ()	Ajani Unyielding ()	Chandra, Flamecaller ()	Nissa, Steward of Elements ()
Tri-colored taplands	Nomad Outpost	Frontier Bivouac	Sandsteppe Citadel	Mystic Monastery	Opulent Palace
Pain lands	Battlefield Forge ()	Yavimaya Coast ()	Caves of Koilos ()	Shivan Reef ()	Llanowar Wastes ()
Odyssey filter lands	Shadowblood Ridge ()	Mossfire Valley ()	Sungrass Prairie ()	Skycloud Expanse ()	Darkwater Catacombs ()
Battle lands	Smoldering Marsh ()	Cinder Glade ()	Canopy Vista ()	Prairie Stream ()	Sunken Hollow ()

One double cycle of lands was reprinted. Each deck contains every card that can be included in the color identity.

Cycle
Bounce lands	Azorius Chancery	Dimir Aqueduct	Rakdos Carnarium	Gruul Turf	Selesnya Sanctuary	Orzhov Basilica	Izzet Boilerworks	Golgari Rot Farm	Boros Garrison	Simic Growth Chamber

Notable cards

• Bonder's Ornament was banned in Pauper to curtail Affinity decks, and because of its strong synergy with the Urza's lands. It was unbanned as a "trial" in May 2026 to support slower control decks that had struggled with the format's increase in power since the initial ban.