One Commander deck is easy to keep track of. Four or five is a different story: same-looking boxes, mixed-up sleeves, and the occasional moment at the store when you realise you've brought the wrong deck. A simple visual system solves it.
The short answer: give every deck its own sleeve colour and deck box colour, keep the commander visible from the outside, and add a small label inside the lid. Then you can grab the right deck at a glance.
Why should I make my decks easy to tell apart?
It saves time, stops you grabbing the wrong deck on your way out, and prevents cards migrating from one deck to another after games. It also makes it easier for friends to borrow a deck without confusion.
Should each deck have its own sleeve colour?
Yes. A unique sleeve colour per deck is the single most effective step, because it makes stray cards obvious instantly. Some players match sleeve colours to each deck's colour identity, which makes the system easy to remember.
Should I colour-code my deck boxes?
It helps a lot when decks sit on a shelf or in a bag. SquadPod Slim comes in five colourways (Bone, Harbour, Field, Blossom and Frost), so you can give each deck its own box and spot it immediately.
How do I show which commander is in each box?
Keep the commander visible from the outside. A deck box with a display window shows it at a glance; SquadPod Slim holds the commander in an included toploader behind the front window, so the box effectively labels itself.
Are labels worth using?
A small label inside the lid or on the side can note the deck's name, power level or bracket, and how many tokens it should have. It's especially useful if you own several decks with similar colour identities.
How do I stop cards moving between decks?
Sort cards back into their own decks as soon as a game ends, before packing up. Unique sleeve colours make strays obvious, and a quick count confirms each deck still has 100 cards.
Should I keep a deck list for each deck?
Yes. A list on your phone or a note in the box makes it easy to check nothing has gone missing and to rebuild a deck after borrowing cards for another. It also helps when swapping cards in and out.
How do I keep each deck's tokens with it?
Store each deck's tokens in its own box, sleeved in a contrasting colour. Our guide to organising Commander tokens covers the details.
How should I store several decks at home?
Upright on a shelf or in a drawer, with each box clearly visible. Our guide to storing multiple Commander decks covers options that save space.
How do I choose which decks to bring to game night?
Bring two or three with different power levels or play styles so you can match the table. A clear system means you can make that choice in seconds. Our Commander night packing list covers the rest of the kit.
What if two decks share the same colours?
Use different sleeve colours anyway, and lean on the commander display and labels to tell them apart. A distinctive token sleeve per deck adds one more quick check.
Do deck box colours need to match the deck's colours?
No. Any consistent system works, as long as you always know which box holds which deck. Some players like matching colours to colour identity; others simply give each deck a favourite.
How do I tell decks apart in a multi-deck case?
Label the top edge of each deck or box, and use sleeve colours that are visible from above. Keeping the commander at the front of each deck gives a final quick check.
What's the quickest way to set this up?
Pick a sleeve colour and box colour per deck, put each commander where it can be seen, and add a label. It takes an evening, and you'll never grab the wrong deck again.
SquadPod Slim Commander deck box
Holds 100 single-sleeved cards and 10 tokens in two side-by-side stacks, with your commander displayed in an included toploader behind the front window. Hinged lid, click-shut latch, five colourways.
More Commander guides
- How to Store Multiple MTG Commander Decks Without Running Out of Space
- How to Organise Tokens for Commander (and Carry Them to Game Night)
- The Best Slim MTG Deck Box for Travel: Why Slim Beats Bulky
- How to Protect and Display Your MTG Commander Card
Magic: The Gathering is a trade mark of Wizards of the Coast LLC. This is an unofficial guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Wizards of the Coast. SquadPod® is a registered trade mark of Blubbercove Ltd.