Crimson Fleet Commodore MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Ogre Pirate
Abilities Trample
Power 5
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Becoming the monarch through the Commodore grants card advantage and can lead to resource acceleration.
  2. Its discard requirement and specific mana cost may limit its integration into multicolor decks.
  3. The Crimson Fleet Commodore stands out for easily asserting the monarchy while threatening opponents.

Text of card

Trample When Crimson Fleet Commodore enters the battlefield, you become the monarch.

"Kindly steer your fleet clear of the waters west of Scrub Isle. It would be a shame to incinerate such exquisite maritime craftsmanship." —Commodore Axurik, to Admiral Yelise


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you play Crimson Fleet Commodore, its trample ability ensures that it’s not only a formidable force on the battlefield but also a source of substantial card advantage. It grants you the temporary status of the monarch, which, at the beginning of your end step, enables you to draw an additional card. This steady influx of cards can be a game-changer, ensuring you never run out of options.

Resource Acceleration: Although the card itself does not directly produce mana or treasure tokens, becoming the monarch can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. The additional card drawn at the end of your turn can be a land or a mana-generating spell, which helps develop your resources faster. In MTG, keeping the monarch status can consistently provide you with the necessary resources to outpace your opponents.

Instant Speed: While Crimson Fleet Commodore is not an instant itself, claiming the monarch status can put pressure on your opponent to act hastily and at suboptimal times. It forces them to commit resources and spells to regain the monarch status, which they might have to do on your turn. This tactical advantage can sway the game’s momentum in your favor, as your adversary will have to deal with your continuous card advantage and the tactical presence of a powerful creature on the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Crimson Fleet Commodore demands a discard to activate its Trample ability. For a player running low on hand resources, this cost can hinder your game plan and deplete your valuable options.

Specific Mana Cost: With its strict red mana requirement, Crimson Fleet Commodore may pose a challenge in multicolored decks. Players need to carefully manage their mana sources to ensure they can play it when needed without disrupting their mana base for other spells.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Costing three mana might seem reasonable, but in the highly competitive pace of the current formats, there are options that require less mana investment. The Commodore’s relatively high cost may delay your board development compared to playing lower-cost creatures or spells that offer similar or better advantages.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Crimson Fleet Commodore brings a powerful presence to any Commander deck, with its ability to grant you the monarch status. It adapts well to aggressive strategies that aim to control the game through card advantage.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes with strategies that capitalize on being the monarch, enabling various draw mechanics, or triggering effects that occur when you become the monarch or at the beginning of your end step.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where the monarch mechanic is undervalued, Crimson Fleet Commodore can catch many opponents off guard, making it a significant tactical advantage in your gameplay.


How to beat Crimson Fleet Commodore

Crimson Fleet Commodore, with its Trample and “becoming the monarch” feature, can shift the tides of a game in Magic: The Gathering. A player gains several advantages being the monarch, primarily drawing an extra card at the end of their turn. To tilt the scales back, focus on removing the Commodore swiftly. Employ cards that can bypass its Trample ability by using instant-speed removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile. Direct damage spells such as Lightning Bolt also effectively dispatch the Commodore before its effect becomes overwhelming.

Alternatively, take advantage of its drawback—it forces its controller to become the monarch, even when it may not be opportune. Set up defenses to withstand attacks and reclaim the monarchy, as gaining control of it offers a consistent draw advantage. Skills in crafting a strategic block, along with spells that can neutralize threats or provide sufficient blockers, are crucial in mitigating the Commodore’s impact. Utilizing these methods, one can not only neutralize the threat of Crimson Fleet Commodore but use its distinctive ability to their own benefit in the intricate play of Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players looking to enhance their decks with strategic depth would do well to consider the Crimson Fleet Commodore. Its ability to anoint you as the monarch can provide you with consistent card advantage and the potential to shape the ebb and flow of the game. However, as with every card, understanding its power and drawbacks is crucial. From managing the discard requirement to incorporating it effectively in multicolor decks, mastering the Crimson Fleet Commodore can pivot a match in your favor. Interested in leveraging this card’s full potential in your next battle? Dive deeper with us to explore advanced tactics and deck synergies.


Cards like Crimson Fleet Commodore

Crimson Fleet Commodore brings a unique twist to the table of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It draws a comparison with other creatures that can grant you the monarch status, such as Palace Jailer. While Palace Jailer lets you become the monarch and also exiles an opponent’s creature until you lose the title, the Commodore offers a straightforward approach with its Trample ability and a sizable 5/2 body, ensuring that even if it’s blocked, some of its damage may still bleed through to the opponent.

The Monarch mechanic is a delightful spice to MTG matches, creating a subgame of king-of-the-hill that rewards players for becoming and remaining the monarch with an extra card draw in the end phase. Cards like Court of Bounty simulate a similar Monarch dynamic, offering additional value in the form of putting land or creatures into play. Yet, it doesn’t have the same immediate board presence with its noncreature enchantment nature. Then there’s Regal Behemoth, a creature that mirrors the monarch mechanic and ramps up your mana, which is advantageous but requires a higher mana investment compared to Crimson Fleet Commodore.

In evaluating these cards, Crimson Fleet Commodore stands out for its cost-effective means of becoming the monarch while posing a significant threat on the board, making it a valuable component for players aiming to draw extra cards and assert dominance in MTG games.

Palace Jailer - MTG Card versions
Court of Bounty - MTG Card versions
Regal Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Palace Jailer - Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)
Court of Bounty - Commander Legends (CMR)
Regal Behemoth - Conspiracy: Take the Crown (CN2)

Cards similar to Crimson Fleet Commodore by color, type and mana cost

Dragon Whelp - MTG Card versions
Keldon Warlord - MTG Card versions
Crimson Manticore - MTG Card versions
Márton Stromgald - MTG Card versions
Reckless Embermage - MTG Card versions
Wildfire Emissary - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Giant - MTG Card versions
Rathi Dragon - MTG Card versions
Mogg Bombers - MTG Card versions
Warmonger - MTG Card versions
Bloodfire Kavu - MTG Card versions
Whipkeeper - MTG Card versions
Anger - MTG Card versions
Nalathni Dragon - MTG Card versions
Everquill Phoenix - MTG Card versions
Goblin Goon - MTG Card versions
Lesser Gargadon - MTG Card versions
Krark-Clan Engineers - MTG Card versions
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - MTG Card versions
Ogre Taskmaster - MTG Card versions
Dragon Whelp - Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
Keldon Warlord - Unlimited Edition (2ED)
Crimson Manticore - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Márton Stromgald - Ice Age (ICE)
Reckless Embermage - Mirage (MIR)
Wildfire Emissary - Mirage (MIR)
Flowstone Giant - Tempest (TMP)
Rathi Dragon - Tempest (TMP)
Mogg Bombers - Stronghold (STH)
Warmonger - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Bloodfire Kavu - Apocalypse (APC)
Whipkeeper - Odyssey (ODY)
Anger - Judgment (JUD)
Nalathni Dragon - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Everquill Phoenix - Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths (IKO)
Goblin Goon - Legions (LGN)
Lesser Gargadon - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Krark-Clan Engineers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Ogre Taskmaster - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Crimson Fleet Commodore MTG card by a specific set like Commander Legends and Commander Masters, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Crimson Fleet Commodore and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Crimson Fleet Commodore Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-11-20 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Sidharth Chaturvedi.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 1712015normalblackSidharth Chaturvedi
22023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 2112015normalblackSidharth Chaturvedi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Crimson Fleet Commodore has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Crimson Fleet Commodore card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2020-11-10 If combat damage dealt to the monarch causes that player to lose the game, the triggered ability that causes the controller of the attacking creature to become the monarch doesn't resolve. In most cases, the controller of the attacking creature will still become the monarch as it is likely their turn.
2020-11-10 If the monarch leaves the game during another player's turn, that player becomes the monarch. If the monarch leaves the game during their turn, the next player in turn order becomes the monarch.
2020-11-10 If the triggered ability that causes the monarch to draw a card goes on the stack and a different player becomes the monarch before that ability resolves, the first player will still draw the card.
2020-11-10 The game starts with no monarch. Once an effect makes one player the monarch, the game will have exactly one monarch from that point forward. As a player becomes the monarch, the current monarch (if any) ceases being the monarch.
2020-11-10 There are two inherent triggered abilities associated with being the monarch. These triggered abilities have no source and are controlled by the player who was the monarch at the time the abilities triggered. The full texts of these abilities are "At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card" and "Whenever a creature deals combat damage to the monarch, its controller becomes the monarch."

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