Commander night at your local game store is the best night of the week, right up until you realise you've left your tokens at home. Here's a simple packing list for Magic: The Gathering® Commander players who want to travel light and turn up ready.
The essentials
1. Your deck, in a proper box
Your deck is the one thing you can't borrow. Carry it in a rigid box that won't pop open in your bag. SquadPod Slim holds a 100-card Commander deck plus 10 tokens, single-sleeved, with a hinged click-shut lid, in a case only 50 mm deep. It slides into a rucksack side pocket or a laptop bag without the bulge.
2. Tokens
Keep them with the deck. SquadPod Slim has space for 10 tokens alongside your cards, so they can't go walkabout.
3. Dice and a life counter
Commander starts at 40 life and generates a lot of counters. Bring a spin-down or life tracker plus a handful of d6s.
4. A playmat
Store tables aren't always clean. A playmat keeps your cards off spilled drinks and crumbs, and rolls up small.
Nice to have
- Spare sleeves – for when one splits mid-game.
- A second deck – so you can match the table's power level. Two slim boxes take less room than one bulky one.
- A pen and paper – for commander damage and notes.
- Snacks and a drink – in a separate pocket from your cards. Always.
How to carry it all
The trick to a light game-night bag is slim, rigid boxes. Fabric pouches squash; bulky boxes eat space. A slim hard case gives you protection without the bulk. (More on that in fabric vs hard deck boxes and the best slim MTG deck boxes for travel.)
Game store etiquette reminders
- Tell the table what power level your deck is before you start.
- Keep your cards and tokens on your side of the table.
- Buy something from the store if you can – they're hosting you for free.
- Show off your commander. That's what the SquadPod Slim display window is for.
Quick checklist
- Deck (in a box)
- Tokens
- Dice / life counter
- Playmat
- Spare sleeves
- Second deck (optional)
Buying for someone who plays? Our MTG Christmas gift ideas under £25 covers most of this list. Double-sleeving a 60-card deck instead? Check what fits in your deck box.
SquadPod Slim by WarSplay – £19.99
100 single-sleeved cards + 10 tokens · commander display window · hinged click lid · only 50 mm deep · five colourways
Magic: The Gathering® and MTG are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. These names are used for descriptive and compatibility purposes only. SquadPod® is a registered trade mark; WarSplay is a brand of Blubbercove Ltd. Blubbercove Ltd is an independent UK company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or approved by Wizards of the Coast, Hasbro or any other trade mark owner named on this page.