New York City
Event Details
Commander Sealed NYC — Spring 2027
The Format
How Commander Sealed Works
Commander Sealed is Magic: The Gathering at its most raw. No pre-built decks, no preparation — just you, a pool of packs, your podmates, and your instincts.
01
Open & Trade
Each player opens their sealed booster pool. Then the trading begins — work with your pod of 4 to swap cards and maximize what everyone is working with. A rising tide lifts all boats.
02
Choose Your Commander & Build
Pick a legendary creature from your pool to define your color identity and strategy, then construct your 100-card deck on the spot using only what you've got. Think fast.
03
Play
Four rounds of Commander. Rewards go to adaptability, creativity, and the willingness to embrace chaos — but how your whole pod performs matters just as much as your own record.
04
Prize Wall
Tickets for the prize wall are earned based on your results and your pod's collective performance. The better everyone in your pod does, the more tickets you all walk away with.
Event Details
Event Details
Sealed Pool Breakdown
Each player receives a sealed pool of 14 packs, drawn from the last 1–3 years of boosters, along with some special inclusions.
Fixed packs (every player receives these 9):
- 2×Foundations
- 2×The Hobbit
- 2×Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- 2×Marvel Super Heroes
- 1×Aetherdrift
Plus 5 packs drawn randomly from:
- Final Fantasy
- Avatar
- Lorwyn Eclipsed
- Outlaws of Thunder Junction
- Edge of Eternities
- Secrets of Strixhaven
- Tarkir Dragonstorm
- Duskmourn: House of Horrors
How It Works
The spirit of this event is fun and casual. We're here to support The Trevor Project and make memories. Please participate in trading in good faith, play with respect, and make friends!
Deck Construction & Trading
In pods of four, players have 75 minutes to trade amongst their card pools and construct a Commander deck. Trades between players are permitted and encouraged — but offering money or outside compensation is strictly forbidden. All trades are considered final; the event cannot guarantee trade-backs.
What's Legal
Any card opened from your 14 boosters is legal to play — including List cards and cards that appear on the Game Changers or Commander Ban List in other formats. If you open it, you can play it. This includes cards normally banned in Commander such as Braids, Channel, Hullbreacher, Primeval Titan, and others. Mystery Booster Playtest cards are also legal.
Deck Size & Singleton
Build a 100-card singleton deck: 99 cards + your Commander, or 98 cards + two Commanders in the case of Partners or Background. A 101st card may be added if your deck qualifies for a Companion. As in all Commander, no two cards may share the same English name (except basic lands), regardless of how many copies appear in your pool.
Continuous Construction
Continuous construction is in effect — you may freely swap cards between your deck and sideboard at any time, as long as you continue to follow all deckbuilding rules. However, trading between sealed pools is only permitted during the designated construction window. Trading between rounds to improve your deck is not allowed and may result in a warning or disqualification.
Companions, Lessons & Wishes
Cards that reference "cards you own from outside the game" function as they would in any Limited event, with your unused sealed pool serving as your sideboard. Cards pulled from your sideboard must still follow the singleton rule and your Commander's color identity. You must designate sideboard cards before play begins — you cannot leave the table to acquire them mid-game.
Partners & Background
If you choose Partner commanders or a legendary creature with "Choose a Background," your deck uses the combined color identity of both, and your deck size is 98 cards + your Commander(s). Each player has access to up to two copies of Prismatic Piper or Faceless One, regardless of whether those cards appear in their pool.
Starting Life Total
Players begin at 40 life, as in standard Commander.
Prize Support
The Prize Wall
Prizes are distributed in prize tickets, or "tix", similar to an arcade, and can be redeemed at our Prize Wall exclusively during the event. Prizes will be awarded for participation and number of wins and original pod overall performance during the event, with additional prizes for the top 4 players.
Uncut Sheet
A rare collector's item — an uncut sheet of Magic cards straight from the print run.
Artist Proofs
Blank-backed cards used by artists as personal copies, perfect for signatures and custom artwork.
Signed Cards
Cards signed by their original artists — unique pieces you won't find at your local game store.
Sealed Products
Booster boxes, collector boosters, and other sealed Magic product to take home and crack.
And More
Full prize wall details will be announced closer to the event. Stay tuned.
FAQ
Common Questions
Do I need to bring cards?
No. All cards are provided as part of the sealed pool you open at the event. Just bring yourself and your deckbuilding instincts.
Is this beginner-friendly?
Commander Sealed is one of the most accessible formats for newer players — you're all working with fresh pools, so experience with specific cards matters less than good judgment.
How long does the event run?
Full schedule TBA. Expect a full day event including deckbuilding time, four rounds of play, and a prize wall.
Can I register as a group?
Yes — you can sign up solo or as a pre-formed pod of 4. Either way, you'll be seated with three other players and the trading begins together.
How does the prize wall work?
You earn tickets based on your own results and your pod's collective performance across all four rounds. More tickets means more choices at the prize wall — and helping your podmates build better decks is one of the best ways to earn more.