Magic: The Gathering’s Head Designer Struggles to Enjoy Commander Format: Inside His Honest Confession

Mark Rosewater, the chief designer at Wizards of the Coast for Magic: The Gathering, has been involved in creating cards across all formats of the game. At a recent event, MagicCon Atlanta, Rosewater participated in a press Q&A where he shared insights into his personal views on the game, notably expressing his disinterest in Commander, currently the most favored format among MTG players.

During the session, Rosewater addressed a question concerning player exhaustion related to the Universes Beyond series, which introduces collaborations with external franchises. He empathized with players who might feel overwhelmed by these crossover sets, admitting his own reservations about some of Magic’s new directions, particularly the Commander format.

“I’m not a Commander fan,” Rosewater stated. “For me, Magic is a game of strategy. It’s about outsmarting your opponent to win. Commander, on the other hand, is more of a political game where interactions with other players play a significant role.”

The format of Commander, which involves four-player games and a vast selection of cards, has transitioned from a niche activity to the predominant mode of gameplay in Magic. Recent expansions, such as the Final Fantasy and Edge of Eternities sets, have even begun offering pre-built Commander decks to simplify new player participation.

Rosewater mentioned undergoing a period of “soul searching” regarding his feelings toward Commander, concerned that “Magic was evolving into something that didn’t resonate with me.”

He ultimately came to terms with the format upon realizing the joy it brought to numerous players—acknowledging that he could always choose to play other one-on-one formats like Legacy or Modern if he preferred.

“The more people play, and the more they enjoy it, the better for the game,” Rosewater concluded. “I had to emotionally reconcile with the fact that a lot of people are genuinely happy. Accepting that others’ happiness enhances Magic was key for me as a player.”

MagicCon Atlanta also unveiled the full 2026 release schedule for Magic: The Gathering, featuring expansions set in the universes of The Hobbit, Star Trek, and Marvel Super Heroes. The event also highlighted several limited edition Secret Lair collaborations, including those with PlayStation, The Office, Furby, and Jaws.