Commanding Presence MTG Card

Boosts creature power and creates 1/1 tokens, enhancing battlefield presence and strategic versatility. Requires an existing creature and specific mana, potentially limiting usage in diverse decks. Strategies that involve removal spells and board wipes can effectively counteract its advantages.

Commanding Presence - Theros Beyond Death

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Enchantment — Aura
Abilities	Enchant
Released	2020-01-24
Set symbol
Set name	Theros Beyond Death
Set code	THB
Number	7
Frame	2015
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Milivoj Ćeran

Text of card

Enchant creature Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and has first strike and "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, create a 1/1 white Human Soldier creature token."

"In every one of you I see a hero's heart."

Cards like Commanding Presence

Commanding Presence is an intriguing aura card in Magic: The Gathering that bestows a creature with an impressive ability to deal more damage and create 1/1 white Human Soldier creature tokens. In comparison, Ethereal Armor provides a significant power boost for each enchantment you control, also enhancing the creature’s defense with First Strike but does not contribute to token generations.

Another related enchantment, Gryff’s Boon, lends a creature not only a power increase but also the advantage of flying, paving the way for more direct attacks. While it doesn’t generate additional creatures to control the board like Commanding Presence, its recurring ability from the graveyard can be a game-changer. On the other hand, Angelic Gift is similar in offering an evasion tactic through flying, coupled with card draw when the aura enters the battlefield – a useful trade-off for the absence of extra token production.

In examining these enchantments, Commanding Presence emerges as a valuable option among aura cards, especially in strategies aiming to widen the board presence with additional creatures while ramping up a single creature’s offensive capabilities.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Commanding Presence is a multifaceted aura that when attached to a creature, not only boosts its power but also creates additional 1/1 white Human Soldier creature tokens with every successful hit to your opponent. This ongoing token creation can swiftly tip the scales in your favor, providing a persistent source of creatures that can be used for defensive or offensive strategies. It’s a reliable way to expand your presence on the battlefield without having to draw additional creature cards.

Resource Acceleration: Although Commanding Presence doesn’t directly produce mana or Treasure tokens, the creature tokens it creates can be valuable resources. Their presence can deter opponents from attacking, save mana on defense, or be used alongside other cards that benefit from having a wide array of creatures. This could lead to indirect resource acceleration by saving mana for other spells or enhancing synergies within your deck.

Instant Speed: While Commanding Presence itself is not an instant-speed spell, the tokens it creates can be a buffer for you. They add to your board at the speed of combat, which in turn can make your instant-speed spells more effective by providing additional attackers or blockers that your opponent has to consider when playing their own instants and during their turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Commanding Presence offers an alluring effect of creating 1/1 White Soldier creature tokens, it requires a player to have a creature already in play that can be targeted by this Aura spell. This prerequisite can sometimes act as a discard requirement if there’s no suitable creature on the board, which might lead to a decrease in flexibility and tempo.

Specific Mana Cost: Commanding Presence demands a specific mana arrangement, with a requirement of two white mana in its casting cost. This specificity can be restrictive and often necessitates a heavily white-aligned or mono-white deck to ensure reliable play, potentially limiting the card’s adaptability across a diverse range of MTG decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total of four mana, including two white, Commanding Presence has a relatively high mana cost for an enchantment Aura. This can be a significant investment, especially when considering the abundance of removal spells that can easily dispose of the enchanted creature, potentially leading to a costly two-for-one loss on the player’s side.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Commanding Presence is a potent aura that can be slotted into a variety of white decks, particularly those aiming to establish strong single-creature threats. Its ability to provide a consistent buff to a creature makes it a valuable asset in decks that prioritize creature-based combat.

Combo Potential: The card is noteworthy for its synergy with strategies that capitalize on aggressive tactics. It can turn any creature into a significant threat and the additional 1/1 white Human Soldier creature tokens it creates can be utilized in various ways, whether by enhancing your board presence or as fodder for other card interactions.

Meta-Relevance: With a shift in the meta towards decks that reward sustained board presence and incremental advantages, Commanding Presence fits right in. Its capacity to both grow a creature and generate a stream of tokens makes it relevant against many deck archetypes you’re likely to face.

How to beat Commanding Presence

Commanding Presence is a compelling aura card from Magic: The Gathering that can turn a simple creature into a significant threat. The card itself bestows a creature with additional power and the ability to create 1/1 white Human Soldier creature tokens upon dealing combat damage. Overcoming a card like this requires a strategic approach. Removal spells that can target either the equipped creature or the aura itself are highly effective. Creatures with ‘Hexproof’ or ‘Shroud’ prevent Commanding Presence from latching on, removing its threat altogether.

Board wipes can also be a solution, as they address both the buffed-up creature and the generated tokens in one fell swoop. It’s crucial to disrupt the aura before it gets out of hand, ideally by countering it when it’s cast or destroying it before it resolves with instant speed removal. Given its ability to quickly turn a board state in favor of the opponent, prioritizing the removal of Commanding Presence or its host is often key in maintaining control of the game.

Leveraging these strategies helps keep Commanding Presence in check, maintaining balance in a match and paving the way to victory against opponents who rely heavily on such auras to bolster their creatures and create an army.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Commanding Presence MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death, 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 Commanding Presence and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Commanding Presence has restrictions

Format	Legality
Historicbrawl	Legal
Commander	Legal
Historic	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Explorer	Legal
Gladiator	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Timeless	Legal