Despite the failure of the sealed product, I still think this set has an absolute truck ton of interesting and powerful commander cards as well as some appreciated albeit middle to low value reprints. I've personally dropped about $200 so far on singles and I honestly wish i had more to spend. There are just SO MANY objectively good commander cards here.
It's tragic because it would have been SO EASY to make this set a hit. There isn't much value in the mythic slot aside from the ultra illusive ancient metal dragons. All wotc needed to do was include some high dollar commander reprints in the mythic slot. Smothering Tithe, Dockside, and Jeweled Lotus could have absolutely been here IMO, The Fierce Guardianship / Deflecting Swat cycle is also due for a reprint and this would have been a good place for it with some showcase or borderless alt art variants.
How about the medallion cycle? Sapphire Medallion, Ruby Medallion etc... they are all getting pricey and would have looked awesome with the showcase art or in etched foil.
I think the showcase frame is pretty unique and cool. It's such a shame to me that the cards that got the treatment are all bulk. It would have been nice to see some high value cards printed with this treatment. The etched foil process also is started to look really appealing and I go for that if I want foils. But sadly so few of the cards I wanted from this set have an etched foil variant. Another shortcoming I think with the set's value.
Basically my theory is that these commander sets would be a lot more successful if they just included more actual high dollar commander reprints with new art and new frame treatments. Plenty of stuff to choose from that fits the flavor of the set I'm sure.
INITIATIVE: What do you think about the Initiative mechanic? I haven't played with it too much. Seems like a neat idea, but in practice I find it a bit tedious. Minigames just make already long game even longer.
BACKGROUDS I like the flavor. I almost wish there was a way to use these in the command zone with existing commanders but that would be power creep to the max. Seemed like the actual pairings were a bit weak. Needing to have essentially two commanders in play for your synergy to work seems fragile.
I actually got burnt out writing this list, so there are going to be a lot of cards missing. I'm only scratching the surface so chime in with your thoughts.
First, I want to get the ancient metal dragons out of the way:
Ancient Copper Dragon - The red one (and the most expensive) is pretty broken no doubt. The mana cost is pushed and it's in a color that can grant haste and has Sneak Attack as well as multiple attack triggers on top of doublestrike enablers. Should be plenty of ways to cheat it into play and help it connect and connect more than once.
My alteration: P/T = 3/5 doublestrike, roll a d6
Ancient Brass Dragon - I think this one is pretty powerful. It's in a color that can reanimate it into play fairly reliably. I don't think you ever want to be paying its vanilla mana cost though.
my alteration: ward: discard 3 cards, roll a d10
Ancient Silver Dragon - drawing this many cards no doubt is a powerful effect. Blue can flash this into play and protect it from spot removal.
my alteration: flash, roll a d8
Ancient Gold Dragon - there are probably more efficient ways to make tokens in white, so I think I'll pass on this one.
my alteration: protection from creatures with lesser power, roll a d10
Ancient Bronze Dragon - might be able to ramp up to this, but I think it's limited in what it can do for a deck. Beatsticks aren't all that impressive to me. I wish this had trample.
my alteration: trample, roll a number of d6s equal to the damage dealt
Legion Loyalty definitely an "I win the game" card. Makes me wish I had an Academy Rector. I guess if you can cheat this into play somehow it could be worth it. I will likely get a copy and just see what it can do for me.
Battle Angels of Tyr - I see this being an aggro staple for a LONG time. It's going in my Aurelia, the Warleader deck where I can get multiple attack triggers.
Archivist of Oghma - This is one of those cards that I question if we really needed. It seems to be autoinclude for basically any deck running white that's creature focused. Gets better the more competetive your meta is. I can't wait to run it against my friend's Karametra, God of Harvests deck.
Deep Gnome Terramancer - I see this being pretty darn good. If you can get even just one land from this, I think it's worth it.
Lae'zel, Vlaakith's Champion - seems phenomenal in the 99 of any counters deck
Cut a Deal - pretty nice budget draw here
Lae'zel's Acrobatics - someone appealing, but probably too costly compared to other mass blink effects.
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward - combo potential here
BLUE
Aboleth Spawn - could be a sleeper. I think it's pretty interesting personally
Gale, Waterdeep Prodigy - insane value for a spellslinger list leaning toward creature effects
Displacer Kitten yeah, whats not to love here?
Robe of the Archmagi - are there blue equipment decks?
BLACK
Black Market Connections - not as many black cards on my list, but this one makes the cut. How many black lifegain decks are there? If you have a way to double tokens, then I think this gets really crazy.
RED
Balor - this guy has some pretty insane value. I would be interested if it were just an ETB, but a death trigger is arguably better in this format. On top of that, it triggers on attack. 5cmc for these effects I think is pretty pushed
Wrathful Red Dragon - autoinclude for dragon deck? Even thinking about running it in Kaalia
Descent into Avernus - i can see some decks really breaking this card
Wild Magic Surge - another mono red catch all removal is more than welcome. Probably going to try this in Niv.
Passionate Archaeologist - I think this is my favorite background in the set and the one I'd consider running in the 99 if I had a deck that could abuse this. Pako, Arcane Retriever and Haldan, Avid Arcanist is the ideal place for this. It will trigger twice. I could see Prosper, Tome-Bound liking this too.
GREEN
Monster Manual // Zoological Study- I think my Blightsteel with enjoy this.
Barroom Brawl - looking forward to trying this one out. It's just a fun card.
MULTICOLORED
there are a ton a decent commanders from this set. None of them compell me to build a deck however, but truly there is probably something for everyone.
Mahadi, Emporium Master - again, i can see this finding its way into a lot of decks. pretty linear effect, but it is ramp for rakdos!
Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm - great for just about any dragon deck, or as a commander itself
Elminster - my friend built a deck around this guy and seems to play well.
Tasha, the Witch Queen that top ability seems like a good build around ability. Not a fan of walkers in the command zone personally
COLORLESS
Vexing Puzzlebox - likely a niche card, but I can see it finding a home in a deck that is already flipping a lot of coins.
Nautiloid Ship - this thing seems pretty good. graveyard exile with an upside in colorless feels strong
Fraying Line - pretty neat card and i could see it getting some play just for the fun aspect. Generally, though I prefer my board wipes to be usable the turn i cast them. this is a pretty long standing weakness of colorless removal.