Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks and Decklists

Magic the Gathering is doing a big crossover with Warhammer 40k. There won’t be a regular MTG set, but instead we’re getting four Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks. In this article, we’ll talk about everything you should know about these interesting precons.

Here’s a quick overview of the decks.

Deck nameColors
The Ruinous Powers Warhammer 4k MTG IconThe Ruinous Powers
  • Blue
  • Black
  • Red
  • Tyranid Swarm
  • Blue
  • Red
  • Green
  • Forces of the Imperium
  • White
  • Blue
  • Black
  • Necron Dynasties
  • Black
  • Warhammer 40k Commander Decks

    In this section, you’ll find all four Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks. So far we know their colors, and main commanders, based on which we can make some educated guesses about the decks’ themes. Let’s take a look – we’re starting with a fascinating one.

    The Ruinous Powers

    The Ruinous Power Warhammer 40k Commander Decks Decklists

    The Ruinous powers was the first one that had its commander previewed. From it, one can safely assume that this deck will try to deal a lot of damage to the opponents. The deck also looks like it’ll offer a nice balance between aggression, and combo.

    All things considered, it looks like a fresh take on the Grixis color combination, which is always welcome. If you’re a fan of this color combo, this deck probably won’t disappoint you.

    The Ruinous Powers Decklist

    Commander (1)
    Abaddon the Despoiler

    New Cards (41)
    Be’lakor, the Dark Master
    Lord of Change
    Blight Grenade
    Great Unclean One
    Mandate of Abaddon
    Mortarion, Daemon Primarch
    Nurgle’s Conscription
    Plague Drone
    Poxwalkers
    Sloppity Bilepiper
    Tallyman of Nurgle
    Venomcrawler
    Aspiring Champion
    Bloodthirster
    Dark Apostle
    Keeper of Secrets
    Khârn the Betrayer
    Knight Rampager
    Let the Galaxy Burn
    Blood for the Blood God!
    Chaos Defiler
    Chaos Mutation
    Drach’Nyen
    Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch
    Helbrute
    The Horus Heresy
    Kill! Maim! Burn!
    Lucius the Eternal
    Magnus the Red
    Mutalith Vortex Beast
    Pink Horror
    The Ruinous Powers
    Tzaangor Shaman
    Heralds of Tzeentch
    Nurgle’s Rot
    Bloodcrusher of Khorne
    Chaos Terminator Lord
    Herald of Slaanesh
    Noise Marine
    Seeker of Slaanesh
    The Lost and the Damned
    Lands (38)
    Exotic Orchard
    Foreboding Ruins
    Sunken Hollow
    Barren Moor
    Crumbling Necropolis
    Molten Slagheap
    Temple of the False God
    Command Tower
    Dismal Backwater
    Evolving Wilds
    Forgotten Cave
    Path of Ancestry
    Swiftwater Cliffs
    Terramorphic Expanse
    Mountain
    Swamp
    Island

    Sorceries (4)
    Past in Flames
    Decree of Pain
    Blasphemous Act
    Deny Reality

    Instants (6)
    Chaos Warp
    Reverberate
    Bile Blight
    Bituminous Blast
    Brainstorm
    Dark Ritual

    Artifacts (9)
    Chromatic Lantern
    Assault Suit
    Sol Ring
    Talisman of Creativity
    Talisman of Dominance
    Talisman of Indulgence
    Worn Powerstone
    Commander’s Sphere
    Wayfarer’s Bauble

    Enchantment (1)
    Warstorm Surge

    You can find the new cards from The Ruinous Powers here.

    Abaddon the Despoiler Review

    Abaddon the Despoiler Warhammer 40K MTG Commanders Decks Decklists

    As far as Abaddon’s stats go, it passes the test. 5/5 trampler for five mana is fine. However, in Commander, we’re more interested in the abilities.

    As we can see, there is a caveat to its ability. Your opponents will need to lose life in order for it to do anything. However, that’s a pretty easy requirement, once you’re building around it. On top of that, the payoff is pretty amazing!

    All spells you cast from your hand during your turn, can have cascade, provided you dealt enough damage to your opponents. This can make for some really explosive turns.

    Final verdict is that Abaddon is a really great commander. It provides a nice deckbuilding challenge, and the reward is certainly there. It also promotes attacking, which in turn enables a more proactive game of Commander. Finally, it isn’t broken, so you don’t become the target number one, from the start of the game by default.

    Tyranid Swarm

    Tyranid Swarm Warhammer 40k Commander Decks Information

    The deck doesn’t have the most original theme, as Tyranid Swarm focuses on +1/+1 and other counters. Nevertheless, not every deck needs to do something new. Many players enjoy playing with counters, and if you’re one of them, you’re going to really like this deck.

    Tyranid Swarm Decklist

    Commander (1)
    The Swarmlord

    New Cards (41)
    Magus Lucea Kane
    Genestealer Patriarch
    Exocrine
    The Red Terror
    Screamer-Killer
    Biophagus
    Bone Sabres
    Broodlord
    Clamavus
    Haruspex
    Hierophant Bio-Titan
    Hormagaunt Horde
    Lictor
    Nexos
    Old One Eye
    Sporocyst
    Termagant Swarm
    Tervigon
    Toxicrene
    Tyrant Guard
    Atalan Jackal
    Deathleaper, Terror Weapon
    The First Tyrannic War
    Gargoyle Flock
    Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph
    Malanthrope
    Mawloc
    Ravener
    Shadow in the Warp
    Tyranid Harridan
    Tyranid Prime
    Winged Hive Tyrant
    Zoanthrope
    Genestealer Locus
    Acolyte Hybrid
    Aberrant
    Purestrain Genestealer
    Tyranid Invasion
    Trygon Prime
    Venomthrope
    Goliath Truck
    Lands (39)
    Cinder Glade
    Exotic Orchard
    Game Trail
    Temple of Abandon
    Temple of Epiphany
    Temple of Mystery
    Ash Barrens
    Frontier Bivouac
    Unclaimed Territory
    Cave of Temptation
    Command Tower
    Evolving Wilds
    Opal Palace
    Path of Ancestry
    Rugged Highlands
    Terramorphic Expanse
    Thornwood Falls
    Mountain
    Island
    Forest

    Sorceries (5)
    Hull Breach
    Cultivate
    Explore
    Farseek
    Rampant Growth

    Instants (4)
    Starstorm
    Aetherize
    Inspiring Call
    Harrow

    Artifacts (4)
    Icon of Ancestry
    Herald’s Horn
    Sol Ring
    Arcane Signet

    Enchantments (6)
    Abundance
    Death’s Presence
    Hardened Scales
    Bred for the Hunt
    New Horizons
    Overgrowth

    You can find the new cards from Tyranid Swarm here.

    The Swarmlord Review

    The Swarmlord MTG Warhammer 40000 Commander Decks Decklists

    The Swarmlord is a 5/5 for six, which is a bit of a letdown, especially compared to the previous face commander, Abaddon. However, if you use it as a Commander, it’ll always come with a least a couple of counters, making it a 7/7 at worst. If your opponents manage to get rid of it, even if you do have to pay the Commander tax, it’ll come back bigger.

    Furthermore, it has another ability, which draws you a card whenever one of your creatures with a counter (of any kind) dies. Now this can really enable various combos and synergies, namely aristocrats, which wasn’t a real deal in these color until now.

    Forces of the Imperium

    Forces of the Imperium Warhammer 40k MTG Commander Decks

    Forces of the Imperium looks like an intriguing deck based on the face commander, plus it has perhaps the most exciting secondary commander as well.

    Forces of the Imperium Decklist

    Commander (1)
    Inquisitor Greyfax

    New Cards (41)
    Marneus Calgar
    Celestine, the Living Saint
    Defenders of Humanity
    For the Emperor!
    Space Marine Devastator
    Triumph of Saint Katherine
    Ultramarines Honour Guard
    Vexilus Praetor
    Zephyrim
    Sister of Silence
    Vanguard Suppressor
    Arco-Flagellant
    Primaris Eliminator
    Assault Intercessor
    Belisarius Cawl
    Birth of the Imperium
    Callidus Assassin
    Commissar Severina Raine
    Company Commander
    Cybernetica Datasmith
    Epistolary Librarian
    Exterminatus
    The Flesh Is Weak
    Inquisitor Eisenhorn
    Neyam Shai Murad
    Sister Hospitaller
    Sister Repentia
    The Golden Throne
    Inquisitorial Rosette
    Knight Paladin
    Reaver Titan
    Redemptor Dreadnought
    Thunderhawk Gunship
    And They Shall Know No Fear
    Grey Knight Paragon
    Space Marine Scout
    Thunderwolf Cavalry
    Sicarian Infiltrator
    Sanguinary Priest
    Deny the Witch
    Primaris Chaplain
    Lands (37)
    Choked Estuary
    Darkwater Catacombs
    Exotic Orchard
    Port Town
    Prairie Stream
    Skycloud Expanse
    Sunken Hollow
    Arcane Sanctum
    Ash Barrens
    Memorial to Glory
    Command Tower
    Dismal Backwater
    Evolving Wilds
    Path of Ancestry
    Scoured Barrens
    Terramorphic Expanse
    Tranquil Cove
    Island
    Swamp
    Plains

    Creature (1)
    Bastion Protector

    Sorceries (6)
    Collective Effort
    Deploy to the Front
    Fell the Mighty
    Hour of Reckoning
    Launch the Fleet
    Martial Coup

    Instants (4)
    Entrapment Maneuver
    Utter End
    Swords to Plowshares
    Mortify

    Artifacts (9)
    Everflowing Chalice
    Mind Stone
    Skullclamp
    Sol Ring
    Talisman of Dominance
    Talisman of Hierarchy
    Talisman of Progress
    Arcane Signet
    Commander’s Sphere

    Enchantment (1)
    Reconnaissance Mission

    You can find the new cards from Forces of the Imperium here.

    Inquisitor Freyfax Review

    Inquisitor Greyfax Warhammer 40K MTG Commanders

    Inquisitor Greyafax is an unusual Commander, and it was probably designed in a way that the mechanics fit the character’s flavor and not the other way around.

    You basically get a version of Always Watching with Greyafax, which is nice in a multiplayer format. You get to attack without making yourself vulnerable. Its second ability can also come in handy occasionally, by enabling safe attacks that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Of course, Clues are always useful. They can be used for card advantage or for artifact synergies.

    Greyfax is probably a weaker commander than the previous two, but nevertheless, she still provides a nice deckbuilding challenge. It’ll rarely be the strongest commander at a multiplayer game, which is both a benefit and a problem at once.

    Necron Dynasties

    Necron Dyansties MTG Warhammer 40k Commander Decks

    This is the only one of the Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks, that doesn’t have three colors. Instead, this one features a mono Black commander.

    Necron Dynasties Decklist

    Commander (1)
    Szarekh, the Silent King

    New Cards (41)
    Imotekh the Stormlord
    Anrakyr the Traveller
    Biotransference
    Chronomancer
    Cryptek
    Illuminor Szeras
    Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
    Lychguard
    Necron Deathmark
    Necron Overlord
    Out of the Tombs
    Royal Warden
    Shard of the Nightbringer
    Shard of the Void Dragon
    Skorpekh Lord
    Technomancer
    Their Name Is Death
    Their Number Is Legion
    Tomb Blade
    Trazyn the Infinite
    Triarch Stalker
    The War in Heaven
    Canoptek Scarab Swarm
    Canoptek Spyder
    Canoptek Tomb Sentinel
    Canoptek Wraith
    Convergence of Dominion
    Cryptothrall
    Ghost Ark
    Necron Monolith
    Resurrection Orb
    Sceptre of Eternal Glory
    Tomb Fortress
    Flayed One
    Hexmark Destroyer
    Plasmancer
    Psychomancer
    Sautekh Immortal
    Skorpekh Destroyer
    Triarch Praetorian
    Night Scythe
    Lands (36)
    Barren Moor
    Myriad Landscape
    Reliquary Tower
    Desert of the Glorified
    Polluted Mire
    Vault of Whispers
    30 Swamp

    Sorceries (4)
    Beacon of Unrest
    Living Death
    Mutilate
    Dread Return

    Instants (3)
    Defile
    Darkness
    Go for the Throat

    Artifacts (15)
    Caged Sun
    Endless Atlas
    Gilded Lotus
    Mystic Forge
    Sculpting Steel
    Cranial Plating
    Hedron Archive
    Mask of Memory
    Sol Ring
    Arcane Signet
    Commander’s Sphere
    Mind Stone
    Thought Vessel
    Unstable Obelisk
    Wayfarer’s Bauble

    You can find the new cards from Necron Dynasties here.

    Szarekh, the Silent King Review

    Szarekh, the Silent King MTG Warhammer 40000 Commander Decks Decklists

    Szarekh is a four mana 3/4 flyer. Its ability isn’t particularly strong. First you have to attack with it, and then you mill three cards. You can return one artifact creature or a vehicle among the milled cards to your hand.

    So you have to attack, and then hit a correct card type on among the next three cards of your deck in order to essentially just draw a single card. All in all, Szarekh truly looks the most disappointing commander of the bunch. Hopefully, there is something good in the rest of the deck, because this ain’t it.

    MTG Warhammer 40k Spoilers

    This time around we’re doing the spoiler section a bit differently. Instead of lumping all the images together, there are four separate pages, one for each deck. Each page has all the new cards from each deck. (There are 42 new cards per deck, so 168 total.) Here are the galleries:

    More MTG Warhammer 40k Information

    What is Warhammer 40,000?

    Warhammer 40,000 is a miniature wargame, produced by Games Workshop. In fact, it’s the most popular miniature wargame in the world. Just like Magic the Gathering, it also has a long history, as it has been around since 1987.

    With this collaboration, we’re getting Magic the Gathering cards set in the Warhammer 40k universe. This is a part of the Universes Beyond – series in which MTG works with other intellectual properties.

    Intro Decks or Full Versions

    Usually, when a new Commander precon comes out, players wonder if it’s going to be a cheaper, lite version (like the Kaldheim ones) or a more powerful and more expensive version (like the New Capenna Commander decks).

    It certainly looks like the Wizards aren’t planning on bringing back the lite versions any time soon. It would be especially weird to bring them back with a set that only has Commander decks, and no regular boosters.

    That’s why it’s highly likely that these will be your regular Commander precons with new powerful cards and with exciting reprints.

    Products

    As we mentioned before, there will be four Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks. These will be multicolored, and the colors won’t be evenly distributed, since the Warhammer universe wasn’t made with the color pie in mind. In fact, three out of four decks are black!

    Besides the four decks, there will also be three Secret Lairs, but there will be no boosters of Warhammer 40,000. This means no Draft, Set, nor Collector boosters.

    Release Date

    The official release date for Warhammer 40k Commander decks was supposed to be August 12. However, due to ongoing global supply chain challenges and delays in production, the release was pushed further into the future. The official release date is October 8, 2022.

    Game stores will be able to host launch weekend events on October 8-10. The Secret Lair Drops will be available between October 8-18.

    Missing Cards

    If your Warhammer 40k Commander deck seems to be missing cards, make sure to double-check the tokens. Due to the placing error, some cards ended up in the token portion of the deck, as per Wizards’ statement. The affected cards seem to be Epistolary Librarian in the Forces of the Imperium precon and Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch card in The Ruinous Powers deck.

    Warhammer 40k Commander Decks – FAQ

    Here are the answers to some questions you might have about the Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks. If we didn’t answer your question, leave a comment below, and we’ll get back to you, as fast as we can.

    Warhammer 40000 MTG Commander Decks Decklists
    Do Warhammer 40k Commander decks come with a booster?

    We don’t know yet. Lately, most Commander precons came with a Sample Collector booster, but there is no set tied to Warhammer 40k, so there’s that.

    Can Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks function as a self-contained game?

    Yes, they can. You can get all four Commander decks, and use them as a board game for 2-4 players.

    Are the Warhammer 40k Commander precons balanced against each other?

    While we don’t know the decklists yet, it’s very likely that they will be. Whenever Wizards release a bunch of decks together, they always try to balance them against one another.

    When will the Warhammer 40k Commander decklists get previewed?

    We’re getting more infromation later today, that’s on September 12, 2022.

    In which formats will the Warhammer 40k cards be legal?

    They will be legal in Commander, Legacy and Vintage. The commons will also be legal in Pauper.

    What are the Warhammer 40k Collector’s Edition Commander decks?

    This are the same decks – with one twist. All the cards are in foil and have the special surge-foil treatment. But more about them in the next section.

    Warhammer 40k Commander Decks Collector’s Edition

    Before we wrap up, here’s another thing we absolutely have to mention – the Collector’s Edition of Warhammer 40k Commander decks!

    Tyranid Swarm Warhammer 40K Commander Decks Collector Edition

    These four decks will contain the same cards as their regular counterparts. The only change is that all the cards will have the special surge-foil treatment. Of course, the price of these is therefore higher, and you can check it on Amazon.

    These are something quite unique that Wizards are doing, and they might be worth more in the future, once that they’ll no longer be available in print. However, that depends on many factors and is never a 100% sure.

    Conclusion

    That’s all about Warhammer 40k Commander decks so far. Once more information becomes available, we’ll update the article, so make sure to check back soon. You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram, where we post whenever something new and interesting comes up in the world of Magic the Gathering.

    Furthermore, if you’d like to explore more about new Magic products, you can take a look at the following articles:

    Until next time, have fun and may your starting hand always contain a Sol Ring.

    8 thoughts on “Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks and Decklists”

      • From the cards that we’ve seen so far, it looks like the decks will be pretty good. However, for the final verdict, we’ll have to wait for the full decklists to be previewed.

        Reply

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