The Thirteenth DoctorThe Thirteenth Doctor | Art by Pauline Voss

We're now three weeks deep into my journey back through set releases since my first article on Murders at Karlov Manor came out in 2024. Last week, I covered Wilds of Eldraine. Today, it's time for Doctor Who, which came out in the form of four preconstructed Commander decks and a total of 189 new cards in October 2023.

Let's see which ones have traveled through time to make it to my latest top 10 list.

10. K-9, Mark IK-9, Mark I - 43,814 Decks, Around 800 as Commander or Partner Commander

Finding out this card existed made me realize that we must be nearing a time when we can build a Jodah, the UnifierJodah, the Unifier legends deck populated by Dogs, with an emphasis on trusty companions from various Universes Beyond. If you'll allow me the digression from talking about the strengths and applications of specific cards, I've found out that we can run this and Karvanista, Loyal LupariKarvanista, Loyal Lupari from Doctor Who, Dogmeat, Ever LoyalDogmeat, Ever Loyal and Rex, Cyber-HoundRex, Cyber-Hound from Fallout, Interceptor, Shadow's HoundInterceptor, Shadow's Hound from Final Fantasy, and Eel-HoundsEel-Hounds from Avatar: The Last Airbender. 

That's not all! Mushroom WatchdogsMushroom Watchdogs covers The Lord of the Rings, while Lucky the Pizza DogLucky the Pizza Dog bounds into legality with Marvel Super Heroes Commander coming out next month. I'm going to go ahead and count Iron MastiffIron Mastiff from Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate, alongside Loyal WarhoundLoyal Warhound and Blink DogBlink Dog from the Standard-legal release.

I'm just gutted that we didn't get any canines in Warhammer.

So, back to K-9: even when you're not going out of your way to put the pile above together, it's still a fine addition to Jodah for its synergy with legends. Cheap artifacts and/or Dogs also play well with Mendicant Core, GuidelightMendicant Core, Guidelight and Sophia, Dogged DetectiveSophia, Dogged Detective, making this is a cool one-drop that you totally do not need to build around.

9. Flaming TyrannosaurusFlaming Tyrannosaurus - 46,331 Decks

This reminds of one of the best arguments in favor of welcoming Universes Beyond sets: they bring more people into the game. Only, Flaming TyrannosaurusFlaming Tyrannosaurus does the opposite for me. I want to watch Doctor Who so I can find out what set it ablaze, and how it feels about what's going on.

Mechanically speaking, though, this 5/5 seems to be enjoying being toasty, seeing how it turns cards cast from exile and other zones into Lightning BoltLightning Bolts and buffs.

This goes especially well with Pantlaza, Sun-FavoredPantlaza, Sun-Favored whose ability conveniently lets you cast stuff from exile. Even if you ignore the creature type, this can threaten a lot of damage in decks like Loot, the Key to EverythingLoot, the Key to Everything, Prosper, Tome-BoundProsper, Tome-Bound, or anything that takes advantage of the cascade mechanic.

8. Cyberman PatrolCyberman Patrol - 51,294 Decks

I absolutely love how Magic: The Gathering designers translate lore and flavor into familiar mechanics. What do you mean, Cybermen and Zombies from Amonkhet are mechanically similar? It's really neat, and I think it fits given what I know about the universe, but diehard Whovians will have to let me know in the comments if it makes sense.

Anyway, Patrol looks particularly well-suited to an aggressive or creature-heavy artifacts deck like Mr. House, President and CEOMr. House, President and CEO, Mendicant Core, GuidelightMendicant Core, Guidelight, or Anim Pakal, Thousandth MoonAnim Pakal, Thousandth Moon.

Afflict is probably in the bottom quarter of abilities or keywords in Commander, but it does put pressure on opponents' life totals when you put it on every 1/1 Thopter or 3/3 Robot you have. It takes all kinds of effects to make the world go 'round.

7. Danny PinkDanny Pink - 51,423 Decks, 480 as Commander

He's a fantastic addition to the format for +1/+1 counters enthusiasts just itching for the challenge of building a mono-blue deck. I looked into this cool build more closely and found a predictable proliferate sub-theme and some very cool, tempo-oriented creatures, like ThrummingbirdThrummingbird, Dreamtide WhaleDreamtide Whale, Chasm SkulkerChasm Skulker.

Who even needs Gavony TownshipGavony Township when you have Karn's BastionKarn's Bastion pumping your team?

If you like Danny but don't believe in him enough to lead a deck on his own, you can run him in any blue deck that plays around with counters for a significant card advantage boost. EDHREC users are running him in The Wise MothmanThe Wise Mothman, Tidus, Yuna's GuardianTidus, Yuna's Guardian, Sonic the HedgehogSonic the Hedgehog, and many more builds.

6. Flesh DuplicateFlesh Duplicate - 55,600 Decks

Getting to copy something expensive and powerful for just two mana sounds like a great recipe for a combo piece, especially when the vanishing 3 rider matters not if you're winning the game right then and there.

A quick look at Duplicate's Commander Spellbook page shows us a veritable treasure trove of combos, from Felidar GuardianFelidar Guardian and infinite enters triggers to Kiki-Jiki, Mirror BreakerKiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker and a one-hit KO.

In fact, its most popular commanders do lend themselves to combo-heavy builds. I'm talking about Kinnan, Bonder ProdigyKinnan, Bonder Prodigy and the Rograkh, Son of RohgahhRograkh, Son of Rohgahh + Thrasios, Triton HeroThrasios, Triton Hero partner duo, which often attacks the game with Birthing PodBirthing Pod and analogs.

5. Cybermen SquadronCybermen Squadron - 68,132 Decks

I've never been much of a fan of Doctor Who, but I still know who the Cybermen are. Perhaps more importantly for Commander, I know about Blightsteel ColossusBlightsteel Colossus and how Squadron combos with the 11/11 Golem to potentially wipe the entire table out with poison counters:

There are more ways to go off with other artifacts, from using Time SieveTime Sieve to turn a bunch of myriad-generated artifact creature tokens into infinite turns, to this convoluted engine involving turning Combat CelebrantCombat Celebrant into an artifact with BiotransferenceBiotransference. Hey, if you're a fan of the alleged Universes Beyond-ification of the game, you'll love a Who and a Warhammer card teaming up with Amonkhet's finest.

4. Auton SoldierAuton Soldier - 69,992 Decks

Doctor Who really went hard on CloneClones, eh? That's fine for Commander players, because Clone effects that ignore the Legend Rule, like Irenicus's Vile DuplicationIrenicus's Vile Duplication and Spark DoubleSpark Double, are really popular in the format, because who doesn't want a second, third, or fourth copy of their commander?

Sure enough, this Clone that has the potential to clone whatever it's already cloned in combat is one of the most played cards from Doctor Who, showing up in decks ranging from The MindskinnerThe Mindskinner, where it can supply a fearsome amount of milling power by copying the commander, to an Izzet () deck, where it can end the game with Kiki-Jiki.

3. Everybody Lives!Everybody Lives! - 70,002 Decks

This is one letter off from being a Universe Beyond nod not from Doctor Who, but from Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital's own Dr. Gregory House. This is one of the latest examples of a fine tradition in of cards that ensure you can't be messed with for a turn. Teferi's ProtectionTeferi's Protection is the exemplar, but it's a Game Changer, so we're incentivized to experiment with slightly weaker variants like this, Flawless ManeuverFlawless Maneuver, Clever ConcealmentClever Concealment, and Heroic InterventionHeroic Intervention in .

What's cool about this is that it really lives up to its name. Everybody does live, especially when you use this politically to save other players in danger of being killed in combat or by an infinite combo. That's a pretty cool twist to an otherwise familiar plot, like a medical procedural that sends its main character to the psych ward instead of the surgical theater to start a season.

2. Quantum MisalignmentQuantum Misalignment - 71,766 Decks

Clone effects that ignore the Legend Rule, like Irenicus's Vile DuplicationIrenicus's Vile Duplication and Spark DoubleSpark Double, are really popular in the format, because who doesn't... wait, I'm getting déjà vu here.

Anyway, clones also have so much game-winning combo potential, alongside cards like Dualcaster MageDualcaster Mage, Kiki-Jiki, and Naru Meha, Master WizardNaru Meha, Master Wizard.

Copying stuff is so powerful that there is even a whole EDHREC tag for Clone decks, with builds commonly led by Miirym, Sentinel WyrmMiirym, Sentinel Wyrm, Obeka, Brute ChronologistObeka, Brute Chronologist, or Orvar, the All-FormOrvar, the All-Form. My personal favorite strategy is to make a bunch of Gyruda, Doom of DepthsGyruda, Doom of Depths and mill opponents out!

1. Sonic ScrewdriverSonic Screwdriver - 77,043 Decks

The most played card from the Doctor Who Commander decks isn't as noisy or flashy as other contenders on this list. Yet, thanks to its versatility, it whirs along, helping players use their mana efficiently over the course of a long game. It certainly does more than other three-mana "rocks" that see play in the format, like Network TerminalNetwork Terminal, Bonder's OrnamentBonder's Ornament, or Seer's LanternSeer's Lantern.

As we've seen pretty often in this column, versatility and utility often help cards finish ahead of raw power. Just don't lump these utility mana artifacts together with a format staple like Chromatic LanternChromatic Lantern!

Obey or You Will be DestroyedObey or You Will be Destroyed

Now, now, it is definitely your choice whether to put the most played cards from Doctor Who into your deck! I'm not going to force you, or destroy you, but I will ask: what's your favorite card from the set that didn't make the cut? Let us know!