How to run a Commander night at your store

Updated November 2, 2026

Commander night is one of the easiest regular events a store can run: players bring their own decks, a game needs only a table and four chairs, and the format is built for long, social games. A little structure keeps it friendly as it grows.

Before the night

Pick a regular day and start time and keep them, so people can plan around it. Post the event where players look for it, with the format, the start time, any entry fee and whether it's casual or competitive. If you know roughly how many tables you can give it, set a seat limit so nobody turns up to a full room.

Decide your house rules once and write them down: how pods are formed, whether there's a time limit, and what happens with prizes, if you give any. A short printed sheet at the counter answers most questions before they're asked.

A table for every four players, with room for playmats
A few spare sleeves, dice and life counters for people who forget theirs
One or two preconstructed decks to lend, for anyone new or without a deck
A clear spot where people check in when they arrive

Forming pods

Four players is the usual pod. Three works well, and five is possible but slow. When you split a crowd, aim for pods of four and use threes to absorb the remainder, rather than leaving one player out.

Random pods help regulars meet new people. Some stores let friends sit together for the first round and shuffle after. Whichever you choose, say it at the start so nobody feels singled out.

Matching power levels

The most common complaint at Commander night is a mismatched table: a casual deck facing a highly tuned one. Ask players to say how strong their deck is before the game starts. Many stores use the 1 to 5 bracket scale for this, from themed and casual decks at 1 to fully competitive decks at 5.

If you run a beginner table or a casual-only table, say so on the event. A store that keeps games fair is a store people come back to.

Keeping the night moving

A Commander game usually takes about an hour, and some run much longer. If you want several games in a night, announce a soft time limit, and give a five-minute warning before you call it. When a pod finishes early, offer to mix its players into a new pod with others who are free, so nobody waits around.

Welcoming new players

Greet first-timers at check-in, ask what they play, and seat them at a table that matches. A loaner deck and one patient player at the table make all the difference. Keep an eye out during the first game: a quick check-in from staff tells a new player they're welcome.

Set expectations for behavior as clearly as the rules: be kind to new players, no pressure to trade, and staff can be asked for help at any time.

Using LookForParty

On LookForParty, a store posts Commander night as a store event with its format, start time, seats and price, and can mark it beginner-friendly or set the expected power bracket. Players near you find it, save a seat, and get a reminder before it starts. On Store Pro, game mode can deal the room into pods at random and keep a shared life counter at each table.

Magic: The Gathering is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast LLC. LookForParty is not affiliated with or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.