Barroom BrawlBarroom Brawl | Art by Craig J Spearing

With Commander being more complex and expensive than ever, players are searching for alternatives. As it turns out, some cards, despite being good enough to otherwise include in decks, get too annoying to track and just aren't worth the hassle.

But what happens when we take the mindset of "All these counters, tokens, dungeons, double-faced cards, and other stuff is too much to deal with" and expand it to a whole Commander variant? In other words, is there a version of the format available for people who just want to go to a local bar or restaurant and run some games for fun?

I enjoy playing Magic in public places. It's always great when people walk by and strike up a conversation about how they love to play too, or they know someone who does, or how they've always been interested in learning more about the game. But Commander, which usually requires tons of tokens, dice, sleeves, deck boxes, and expensive cards, isn't exactly the best format to bring out and about to a random location.

The idea of a "bar cube" has been around for at least a few years, and it sounds like this concept is being brought to Commander as well. In this format, decks are specifically designed to be portable, simple, and cheap. After all, out in a bar or restaurant, there's always the risk of cards getting lost or having a drink spilled on them.

What Are "Bar Decks"?

The rules for bar decks are as follows:

• No counters
• No tokens
• No double-faced cards
• No designations that require cards or reminders (The MonarchThe Monarch, The InitiativeThe Initiative, The RingThe Ring, etc.)
• No searching for cards (except maybe basic lands)
• Only cards you don’t mind falling on the floor or having a food/drink touching them

As it turns out, these rules pretty much completely eliminate the hassle of Commander and offer a much-needed RespiteRespite from overly complex board states. These guidelines also set up fun new brewing opportunities.

As someone who absolutely loves building decks of all kinds, the idea of bar decks got my gears turning. Not only do these restrictions reduce the number of potential Commanders from over 2,900 down to around 850, it also forces us to further examine which ones of these will be a good fit for the format.

For example, Obeka, Brute ChronologistObeka, Brute Chronologist is nowhere near as impactful without cards that make token copies of permanents. And Ezuri, Stalker of SpheresEzuri, Stalker of Spheres is pretty much useless without any counters to proliferate.

But which commanders are a good fit for this format?

Small Elf, Big Mana

Belbe decks usually follow a very simple formula: low-cost mass life loss enabler + this commander = mana for big payoff spells. As it turns out, none of this requires counters, tokens, searching libraries, or any special bells or whistles.

Flying Fish

Next up is a fun "build around me" commander that pairs a high density of Equipment with creatures that benefit from having flying and haste. No frills needed, just put weapons on your team and attack!

Peak Gruul

What's a better fit for a simplicity-first format than an commander that takes noncreature spells out of the equation entirely?

More Bar Commander Ideas

Here are some more commanders that look ripe for bar deck brewing.

Monocolored

• Beatrix, Loyal GeneralBeatrix, Loyal General
• Callaphe, Beloved of the SeaCallaphe, Beloved of the Sea
• Mistform UltimusMistform Ultimus

• Alpharael, StonechosenAlpharael, Stonechosen
• Asmodeus the ArchfiendAsmodeus the Archfiend
• Gilgamesh, Master-at-ArmsGilgamesh, Master-at-Arms

Two Colors

• Bruna, Light of AlabasterBruna, Light of Alabaster
• Black Waltz No. 3Black Waltz No. 3
• General Marhault ElsdragonGeneral Marhault Elsdragon

• Wylie Duke, Atiin HeroWylie Duke, Atiin Hero
• Elenda, Saint of DuskElenda, Saint of Dusk
• Sanar, Innovative First-YearSanar, Innovative First-Year

Three Colors

• Eriette, the BeguilerEriette, the Beguiler
• Obeka, Splitter of SecondsObeka, Splitter of Seconds
• Mr. Orfeo, the BoulderMr. Orfeo, the Boulder

• Annie Flash, the VeteranAnnie Flash, the Veteran
• Mr. FoxgloveMr. Foxglove
• Teval, Arbiter of VirtueTeval, Arbiter of Virtue

Wrapping Up

Do you have any Commander decks already built with a "no hassle" mindset? Are there any other commanders you think would be fun to start brewing around for this format? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks for reading, and see you next time.