The Pre-Game Podcast by WZKD-

Craig Mack WZKD
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Games
  • Updated Weekly

The PREGAME Podcast is your weekly competitive Commander briefing hosted by Craig Mack of WZKD Games. Every Monday, Craig breaks down the biggest stories in cEDH, including tournament results, emerging decklists, metagame shifts, new card technology, spoiler season reactions, and the community conversations everyone is talking about. Whether you're preparing for your next tournament, looking for the latest cEDH tech, or just trying to stay ahead of the meta, PREGAME delivers fast-paced analysis, hot takes, deck discussions, and event coverage from across the competitive Commander landscape.

  1. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    BIG DACK ENERGY! Mono-White’s Brutal Win Combo | Dack Fayden cEDH Deck Tech

    Six mana. One commander. Anybody have a response? Dack Fayden, Helping Hand brings BIG DACK ENERGY to cEDH—a mono-white combo deck built to turn its commander into a game-ending chain of creature loops and dungeon triggers. This is the deck Etali, Ang, and Gyruda wish they could be. With the combo pieces available and the loop protected, we’re skipping the suspense and getting straight to your opponents picking up their cards. 🔗 DECKLIST ON MOXFIELD:https://moxfield.com/decks/1QmhAfnYGnurqbK_6yKB7w 🔗 ALL OUR LINKS — SOCIALS, CONTENT & WAYS TO SUPPORT:https://linktr.ee/Craigmack In this Pregame Podcast deck tech, we break down:• How Dack’s creature package builds the winning loop• Fast mana and explosive turn-one and turn-two possibilities• Setting up a turn-three win attempt• Stax pieces and creature removal that buy you time• Silence effects and protecting your combo• Which opening hands to keep—and when to mulligan• The counters, bounce spells, and disruption you need to respect Mono-white. An extremely direct game plan. The confidence of a guy blasting Creed in a modified Camaro. Would you bring Dack to a tournament—or are you already holding up interaction? Tell us below. Subscribe to Pregame Podcast for more cEDH deck techs, tournament reports, and competitive Commander conversations. #cEDH #MTG #DackFayden

    BIG DACK ENERGY! Mono-White’s Brutal Win Combo | Dack Fayden cEDH Deck Tech

  2. 5d ago

    Stop Blaming Your Deck: Getting Better at cEDH ft. Logan from CriticalEDH

    Is your deck holding you back—or is it how you’re playing it? Logan from CriticalEDH joins Craig Mack to talk cEDH strategy, threat assessment, better practice, and turning tournament experience into better decisions. Welcome to Episode 18 of the Pregame Podcast! We’re getting into competitive Commander, the community that keeps us coming back, and why “just get more reps” isn’t the whole answer. I played 141 games of cEDH in one month. That’s a number you say proudly to your playgroup—and very quietly to your wife. Logan and I discuss how the Crit League helped get me hooked, what players can learn from established meta decks, and when loyalty to your favorite commander becomes staying together for the sleeves. IN THIS EPISODE:• Meaningful practice, online leagues, and improving at cEDH• Threat assessment, table politics, and when to spend interaction• Mastering one deck versus learning multiple strategies• Off-meta brewing and understanding why the best decks work• Logan’s Even Flow Krark–Thrasios brew• Welcoming new players and growing the cEDH community• Tournament standards, transparency, and honest prize support• Baked Ziti 4 and Mulligan Championship Series tournament reports• BIG DACK ENERGY: our Dack Fayden deck tech• Sunshine Showdown: last call for October 10–11, 2026 Logan has opinions. I have follow-up questions. Neither of us knows how to leave it at “yeah, fair enough.” 👇 What improved YOUR game the most: mastering one deck, trying different decks, coaching, or reviewing your mistakes? PREGAME PODCAST — FOLLOW & SUPPORT All our links, socials, and content:https://linktr.ee/Craigmack Support us on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WZKDGAMES CRITICAL EDH — FOLLOW, PLAY & SUPPORT Official links, YouTube, socials, and league information:https://linktr.ee/CriticalEDH Join the CriticalEDH Discord:https://discord.gg/rkrJsqy8HD CriticalEDH Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/CriticalEDH Ad Naus — cEDH community discussions:https://adnaus.gg cEDH coaching directory:https://pregame.gg BIG DACK ENERGY — DACK FAYDEN cEDH DECK TECH Watch the full deck tech:https://youtu.be/nanBy6ZBnv4 My decklist on Moxfield:https://moxfield.com/decks/1QmhAfnYGnurqbK_6yKB7w TOURNAMENT REPORTS Baked Ziti 4:https://edhtop16.com/tournament/baked-ziti-4-goldsabertooths-ny-cedh Mulligan Championship Series:https://edhtop16.com/tournament/mulligan-championship-series-october-w-guaranteed EVENTS YOU SHOULD BE AT Sunshine Showdown — October 10–11, 2026Coconut Creek, FloridaEvent details and registration:https://topdeck.gg/event/sunshine-showdown-cedh-tournament Subscribe to Pregame Podcast for cEDH interviews, tournament reports, deck techs, and conversations about the future of competitive Commander. #cEDH #MTG #Commander

    Stop Blaming Your Deck: Getting Better at cEDH ft. Logan from CriticalEDH

  3. 6d ago ·  Bonus

    This Witherbloom Deck WON Breach the Bay 2 | cEDH Deck Tech

    Seven straight wins. A Breach the Bay 2 Open victory. And yes… Lurking Predators.Craig Mack sits down with Andrei Blanton to break down Witherbloom, the Balancer—a Golgari cEDH deck built around creature engines, instant-speed combos, and some absolutely BASED card choices.Andrei explains the strategy behind his tournament-winning build, the changes he’s made since, and how this deck turns an innocent-looking board into a table-ending problem. From Corpse Dance loops to Sprout Swarm combos, we walk through how the pieces work—and when to go for the win.IN THIS DECK TECH:• Why Andrei chose midrange over turbo• How to build your board and when to cast Witherbloom• Corpse Dance, Entomb, and Eternal Witness combo lines• Sprout Swarm combos and their different outlets• Razaketh and Hoarding Broodlord tutor chains• Why Lurking Predators earned its slot• K’rrik, Chatterfang, Yawgmoth, and Warren Soultrader synergies• Removal, table politics, and winning at instant speedDECKLIST + PRIMERhttps://moxfield.com/decks/05oZVnIK4EOL5O3A6osldQQUESTIONS & cEDH COACHINGWant help piloting Witherbloom or taking your cEDH game to the next level? Reach out to Andrei Blanton for deck questions and coaching:andrei.blanton@gmail.comFOLLOW CRAIG MACK / WZKD GAMESFind our socials, streams, and more:https://linktr.ee/CraigmackCHAPTERS00:00 Meet the Breach the Bay 2-winning deck01:53 From abandoned brew to tournament winner06:21 The Beledros Witherbloom origins10:55 Witherbloom, the Balancer explained15:30 Token engines and creature synergies19:11 Lurking Predators is absolutely BASED23:48 When should you cast your commander?26:57 Braids, card advantage, and table politics32:34 Disruptive creatures and stax34:10 K’rrik and Corpse Dance synergies39:04 Chatterfang and Warren Soultrader41:00 Opposition Agent and Wandering Archaic44:00 Tutors and sorcery choices50:26 Removal and the interaction package59:09 How the deck wins1:00:07 Corpse Dance combo walkthrough1:04:43 Sprout Swarm combos1:09:17 Hoarding Broodlord combo walkthrough1:12:20 Razaketh ties it all together1:13:08 Strengths of the deck1:15:26 Coaching and closing thoughtsWhat’s the most BASED card in this list—and would you sleeve up Witherbloom? Let us know in the comments.Like the video and subscribe for more cEDH deck techs, tournament breakdowns, and the Pregame Podcast:https://www.youtube.com/@WZKDGAMES#cEDH #Witherbloom #MTG

    This Witherbloom Deck WON Breach the Bay 2 | cEDH Deck Tech

  4. Sep 30

    How the Best cEDH Player Thinks | Evan Pierce of MTG Basics

    Evan Pierce of MTG Basics joins Pregame Podcast to talk winning at cEDH, his approach to Kinnan, tournament mindset, and the future of competitive Commander. He’s my pick for the best player in the world, a good friend, and apparently incapable of letting me win at foosball. MTG Basics is one of my favorite channels, and this conversation shows why. Evan makes you think differently about the game—between opportunities to make fun of me. In Episode 17, we get into:• Evan’s life outside Magic and how he found cEDH• Tournament preparation, mulligans, and playing without letting results get in your head• Table politics, threat assessment, and making deals that actually make sense• Kinnan’s place in the meta and the “little flips” build• Rhystic Study, Samut, and where the format goes next• F6 Supply and Evan’s projects outside the command zone PLUS: Tournament Report returns with results from the CCS Invitational Qualifier and Ohio cEDH: Highlander 3—meta share, Top 16 conversion rates, Top 4 pilots, and my patented HAT TIP to the winners. And our Dumpster of the Week? Kinnan. Fifteen entries across both events. Zero Top 16s. We invite Evan on to explain why the deck is good, and the deck immediately requests legal representation. We also cover Events You Should Be At, including the Black Lotus Invitational qualifier I’m hosting at WZKD Games and why you should get involved with Land Go’s Commander Invitational series. I went to the Invitational in Nashville and loved it. It’s cEDH MagicCon—and I want more players and stores to be part of it. What’s the best piece of cEDH advice you’ve ever received? Drop it in the comments. EVAN PIERCE & MTG BASICSSubscribe to MTG BasicsShop F6 Supply cEDH COACHING WITH ANDREI BLANTONWant to sharpen your game? Contact Andrei for cEDH coaching:andrei.blanton@gmail.com SUPPORT & JOIN THE PREGAME COMMUNITYPatreonJoin our DiscordCraig Mack’s Linktree EVENTS YOU SHOULD BE ATWZKD Games Black Lotus Invitational Qualifier — come play, I’m hosting!Land Go Events — learn about the series, find qualifiers, and get your store involved TOURNAMENT RESULTSCCS Invitational QualifierOhio cEDH: Highlander 3 Subscribe to Pregame Podcast for cEDH interviews, tournament reports, deck talk, and questionable jokes delivered with unreasonable confidence. #cEDH #MagicTheGathering #Commander

    How the Best cEDH Player Thinks | Evan Pierce of MTG Basics

  5. Sep 22

    The Future of cEDH Needs to Change | Josh Welder, Reality Fracture & Tournament Magic

    What does cEDH need to change heading into 2027? This week on the Pregame Podcast, Craig Mack sits down with Josh Welder ZE from CriticalEDH to talk Tayam, tournament structure, the future of competitive Commander, and how we keep growing cEDH. Josh has become one of the players most associated with Tayam, Luminous Enigma, so naturally we make him answer for what he has done to innocent cEDH tables everywhere. We talk about: • Why Josh chose Tayam and why he definitely does NOT recommend you play it• CriticalEDH and Keeping Tabs on cEDH• The future of cEDH tournaments in 2027• Random pairings, blind standings and alternative scoring systems• Top 16 vs larger Top Cuts• Better coordination between tournament organizers• Judging and tournament consistency• What players can do to help cEDH continue growing• Whether cEDH should ever have its own ban list• And somehow... the possibility of UNBANNING FLASH Then Andrei returns for cEDH and life coaching as we break down cards from Reality Fracture and talk about which ones could actually have an impact on competitive Commander. And yes... We have to talk about Samut, Tyrant of Naktamun. Split second. No response. Literally. Relax. The sky isn't falling. Your win rate might be. In the Tournament Report, we look at two neighboring cEDH communities doing something I think more regions should be doing: CIRCUITS. We break down the Colorado Summer Circuit Invitational and the Legends of the Stack New Mexico Invitational, including their metas, conversion rates and Top 4 finishes. And somehow... Craig won New Mexico. After 16 episodes of giving tournament advice, we finally have limited statistical evidence that some of it might actually work. We also talk about why local circuits, leaderboards and Invitationals can be incredible tools for growing competitive Commander communities and keeping players engaged. Finally, Events You Should Be At: Baked Ziti 4 - Goldsabertooth's NY cEDHhttps://topdeck.gg/event/baked-ziti-4-goldsabertooths-ny-cedh Competitive cEDH, Grim Monoliths, potentially Mox Diamonds, and enough Italian food to make scrubbing out feel significantly better. MagicCon: Atlanta - November 13-15, 2026https://www.magic.gg/news/magiccon-atlanta-2026-gather-for-the-multiverse Craig will be at MagicCon Atlanta as a creator all weekend, slinging cards in the Creator Space and recording live content from the Wizards table Friday at 11 AM. If you've never been to a MagicCon, come experience it. The games.The artists.The vendors.The previews.LobbyCon at 2 AM. Because the best part of Magic: The Gathering has always been the Gathering. Support the Pregame Podcast on Patreon:https://patreon.com/WZKDGAMES Craig Mack:https://linktr.ee/Craigmack CriticalEDH:https://linktr.ee/CriticalEDH cEDH Coaching with Andrei Blanton:Moxfield: BingeyLongtoothEmail: andrei.blanton@gmail.com Want help tuning a list, improving your tournament game, or building something completely ridiculous that somehow still wins? Reach out to Andrei for cEDH coaching. Check out CriticalEDH and Keeping Tabs on cEDH and show Josh some love! If you enjoy the show, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and help us grow cEDH one degenerate at a time. Drop a comment below: If you could change ONE thing about cEDH tournaments heading into 2027, what would it be? #cEDH #CompetitiveCommander #MTG #MagicTheGathering #Commander #EDH #RealityFracture

    The Future of cEDH Needs to Change | Josh Welder, Reality Fracture & Tournament Magic

  6. Sep 15

    Comedian MTG: The Art of Winning at cEDH | Pregame EP. 15

    Comedian MTG joins the Pregame Podcast for our biggest interview yet. Ian is one of the most accomplished and creative brewers in cEDH, with successful lists across an absurd number of commanders — and apparently 1,435 decks sitting in his Moxfield account. We talk about how he evaluates unconventional commanders, how he knows when a deck is actually good, why some brews fail, and what separates a good cEDH pilot from someone simply playing powerful cards. But this conversation goes well beyond deckbuilding. We get into the current state of politicking in competitive EDH, when persuasion crosses the line into gaslighting, the responsibility established players and creators have toward newer players, tournament behavior, draws, coaching, building better cEDH communities, and why Ian believes you can compete at the highest level without making everyone at the table miserable. Then we break down recent tournament results and finish with Events You Should Be At, featuring two upcoming cEDH weekends worth putting on your calendar. SUPPORT THE PREGAME PODCASTWZKD GAMES Patreon:https://patreon.com/WZKDGAMES FOLLOW CRAIG MACK / WZKD GAMESCraig Mack Linktree:https://linktr.ee/Craigmack FOLLOW COMEDIAN MTGYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ComedIanMTG Linktree:https://linktr.ee/comedianmtg Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/Comedianmtg EVENTS YOU SHOULD BE AT Yapsgiving — cEDH 10KNovember 7–8 • Provo, UtahPresented by Salt City Gaming Events. Registration & event info:https://topdeck.gg/event/yapsgiving-10k The Atrium 2November 21–22 • Claremont, CaliforniaHosted by BFF cEDH and Lost Levels Card Shop, with the official LobbyCon on November 20. Registration & event info:https://topdeck.gg/event/the-atrium-2-1 If you enjoy the show, LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE, and tell us in the comments: Where is the line between good cEDH politicking and going too far? PREGAME PODCAST | WZKD GAMES #cEDH #MTG #Commander #MagicTheGathering #CompetitiveEDH #ComedianMTG #EDH

    Comedian MTG: The Art of Winning at cEDH | Pregame EP. 15

  7. Sep 9

    The Secret to Growing cEDH + Krark/Sakashima with Ken Bauman

    Can a toxic player kill an entire local cEDH community? And is it finally time to BAN Rhystic Study? On Pregame Podcast Episode 14, I sit down with longtime cEDH player, brewer, Krark/Sakashima sicko, and one of the people most responsible for building the competitive Commander community here in Santa Fe: Ken Bauman. Find all my links, socials, streams and more here:https://linktr.ee/Craigmack Ken and I get into what it actually takes to build and sustain a local cEDH scene, how experienced players should treat newcomers, why being a good human can genuinely make you a better political player, and the behaviors that can absolutely destroy a community. We also talk about: • How Ken found cEDH and helped grow the Santa Fe scene• How to introduce new players to competitive Commander• Why established players need to actively welcome new players• Teaching cEDH without overwhelming people• Politicking without turning yourself into the table enemy• Why losing, learning, and laughing matter• Why you shouldn’t immediately dismiss fringe decks and brews• The story behind Too Deep• Krark/Sakashima and roughly 1,500 games worth of coin flips• Why Krark may still be seriously underplayed• Ken’s cEDH Mount Rushmore• And finally… Ken gets the microphone and makes his case for why RHYSTIC STUDY SHOULD BE BANNED. And because apparently one giant cEDH conversation wasn’t enough, we’ve also got some very cool decks this week, including Thor, Ms. Bumbleflower, and everybody’s favorite beautiful idiot: Flubs the Fool. Then in EVENTS YOU SHOULD BE AT, we’re looking at two more cEDH tournaments worth putting on your calendar: SUNSHINE SHOWDOWNOctober 10–11 — Coconut Creek, Floridahttps://topdeck.gg/event/sunshine-showdown-cedh-tournament I’m going to try to make this one myself… God willing. ROCKET CITY LIFTOFFNovember 7 — Huntsville, Alabamahttps://topdeck.gg/event/rocket-city-liftoff If you enjoy competitive Commander, tournament cEDH, deckbuilding, brewing, politics, or just listening to two grown men talk far too seriously about flipping coins and paying for Rhystic Study triggers, you’re in the right place. Subscribe to PREGAME PODCAST for weekly cEDH conversations, tournament coverage, deck discussions, interviews, events you should be at, and whatever else happens to break our brains that week. ALL LINKS:https://linktr.ee/Craigmack cEDH ON TOP.

  8. Sep 2

    Lying in cEDH, Table Deals & the August Meta Report

    A player made a deal around Necropotence… then immediately argued that Necropotence doesn’t technically “draw” cards. Was that clever cEDH gameplay? Or was it just lying? This week on The Pregame Podcast, Craig Mack and Andrei Blanton break down where the line should be when it comes to deals, misleading opponents, technical truths, and maintaining trust at a competitive cEDH table. We also dive into the August cEDH Meta Report to look at what actually happened across the tournament scene: which decks are winning, which commanders are climbing, what’s falling off, and what the data might tell us about where the format is headed next. PLUS: • The difference between good politicking and deception• Why your reputation matters in competitive Commander• The August cEDH metagame• Decks and strategies gaining momentum• What we’re watching heading into the next month• BANGERS YOU SHOULD BE AT — You Dead! cEDH 5K and The Atrium 2 Do you think lying is ever acceptable in cEDH? Drop your answer in the comments — because I have a feeling people are going to disagree on this one. Subscribe for weekly cEDH news, strategy, tournament coverage, deckbuilding discussion, and questionable opinions from people who spend way too much time thinking about competitive Commander. WZKD Games / Pregame Podcast All WZKD links:https://linktr.ee/Craigmack #cEDH #MTG #Commander #MagicTheGathering #CompetitiveCommander #cEDHMeta

See All (20)

Ratings & Reviews

About

The PREGAME Podcast is your weekly competitive Commander briefing hosted by Craig Mack of WZKD Games. Every Monday, Craig breaks down the biggest stories in cEDH, including tournament results, emerging decklists, metagame shifts, new card technology, spoiler season reactions, and the community conversations everyone is talking about. Whether you're preparing for your next tournament, looking for the latest cEDH tech, or just trying to stay ahead of the meta, PREGAME delivers fast-paced analysis, hot takes, deck discussions, and event coverage from across the competitive Commander landscape.

Information

You Might Also Like