- Fan-Made Precons: Wizards didn't release official Commander decks for The Hobbit set, but fans have created balanced $50 budget alternatives.
- Five Armies Theme: Decks are built around Humans, Dwarves, Elves, Wargs, and Goblins, plus a special Smaug "Archenemy" deck.
- Budget Strategy: These decks are designed to cost around $50, utilizing commons and leaving obvious upgrade paths for new players.
- Thematic Mechanics: Strategies rely on Kindred synergies, Treasure generation, and mass token mechanics (Amass).
- Price Warning: Avoid buying cards at inflated pre-order prices; wait for the market to stabilize before purchasing singles.
The Five Armies Commander Decks
Since Wizards of the Coast did not release official Commander precons for The Hobbit set, content creators have developed community-driven alternatives. These decks are designed to be thematic, relatively affordable (around $50), and mechanically distinct from one another. They allow players to experience the Battle of Five Armies within the format.
Video Highlights:
- Overview of six custom Commander decks for The Hobbit set.
- Explanation of the $50 budget strategy and card selection.
- Breakdown of mechanics for Dwarves, Goblins, Elves, and Smaug.
- Tips on navigating pre-order pricing volatility.
Below is a comparison of the primary commanders leading these fan-made decks.
| Deck Name | Commander | Strategy | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baruka Zad | Thorin, King of Durin's Folk | Dwarf Tribal / Treasure Tokens / Equipment | Beginner |
| Wilderland Wargs | Chief Worg | Wolf Tribal / Anthem Buffs / Card Draw | Beginner |
| Misty Mountain Menace | The Great Goblin | Goblin & Army Tribal / Sacrifice / Burn | Intermediate |
| Greenwood the Great | Thranduil, Elven King | Elf Tribal / Graveyard Activations | Intermediate |
| King's Command | Bard, King of Dale | Human Tribal / Token Doubling / Card Draw | Advanced |
| Greatest of Calamities | Smaug, Wicked Worm | Artifact Hate / Treasure Ramp / Burn | Expert |
Be aware that card prices for The Hobbit set are highly volatile immediately following release. Base copy rares are often inflated during the pre-order phase. It is recommended to wait for prices to stabilize before buying singles for these decks.
Budget Hero Decks
The "Five Armies" decks are designed as budget-friendly options for players who want to jump into the theme without breaking the bank. They utilize a high number of commons and uncommons to keep costs down, while still maintaining a cohesive power level suitable for casual Commander tables.
Dwarves: Baruka Zad
- Thorin, King of Durin's Folk creates Treasure whenever a Dwarf enters.
- 33 Dwarves: The deck runs almost exclusively Dwarf creatures for maximum synergy.
- Equipment Sub-theme: Supports aggressive combat strategies.
Wargs: Wilderland Wargs
- Chief Worg provides card draw via combat damage.
- Anthems: Uses buffs like Metallic Mimic to enable the Worg's ability.
- Loose Tribal: Includes off-type creatures like Spider-Ham for utility.
Goblins: Misty Mountain
- The Great Goblin pings opponents when you put counters on Goblins/Armies.
- Amass Engine: 32 cards grow a single Army token.
- Sacrifice Synergy: Uses Azog to kill own Army for value and draw.
Because these decks include common cards intentionally, your first upgrades are obvious. Simply replace the vanilla commons with more powerful synergistic rares as your budget allows.
Advanced Tactics & Elves
While Dwarves and Goblins rely on straightforward aggression, the Elven and Human decks offer more complex interactions involving the graveyard and resource multiplication.
Greenwood the Great (Elves) This deck, led by Thranduil, is a self-milling machine. Thranduil gains all activated abilities of Elf cards in your graveyard. The strategy involves filling the yard with Elves and then utilizing their abilities from the command zone.
| Key Card | Function | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Aftermath Analyst | Self-mills to fill graveyard | Provides fuel for Thranduil |
| Fauna Shaman | Discards Elves to tutor creatures | Puts utility in graveyard |
| Singularity Rupture | Wipes board and mills library | Sets up massive graveyard turn |
| Thranduil | Copies activated abilities | Uses dead Elves' skills |
King's Command (Humans) Led by Bard, King of Dale, this deck is the most complex of the Five Armies. Bard doubles your token creation and extra card draws. This requires a careful setup to maximize the value of every trigger.
Build the Engine
Play mana rocks and card draw spells to ensure you can cast Bard (6 mana).
Drop the Commander
Cast Bard to begin doubling your effects.
Pop Off
Chain token generators and draw spells to overwhelm the board.
The Archenemy: Smaug
If playing the heroes isn't your style, the Greatest of Calamities deck allows you to play the villain. This is not a budget deck; it is designed to be an "Archenemy" list that sits across from the other five armies.
Smaug's Strategy Smaug enters the battlefield creating tapped Treasures for each artifact opponents control. The deck then uses "Treasure mana" to cast spells that cantrip (draw a card and lose 1 life), generating massive advantage.
This Smaug deck is "budget inconsiderate." It relies on expensive staples to function as a proper Archenemy deck. Expect to pay significantly more to build this compared to the $50 hero decks.
| Mechanic | Key Cards | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Treasure Ramp | Curse of Opulence, Descent into Avernus | Feed opponents artifacts to fuel Smaug |
| Stax/Lock | Karn, the Great Creator | Shuts down opponents' artifacts (treasures) |
| Burn Finishers | Exsanguinate, Torment of Hailfire | Convert treasure pile into damage |
| Upkeep Win | Win conditions in deck | Maintain pressure with accumulated resources |
Deck Building Checklist
Whether you are building one of these decks from scratch or upgrading an existing list, use this checklist to ensure you have the essentials covered.
Construction Essentials:
- Verify Commander color identity matches the deck list (e.g., Thranduil is Bant)
- Include at least 30-35 lands for consistency, adjusting for ramp spells
- Check for 'fugazi' pre-order pricing on Hobbit singles before buying
- Prioritize Kindred (Lords) for tribal decks to buff your creatures
- Add board wipes appropriate for your strategy (e.g., Blasphemous Act for Dwarves)
- Ensure you have draw engines outside of the Commander (e.g., Ox Drover)
- Test the mana curve to ensure you can cast Commander by turn 5-6
Community & FAQ
The Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit community has been active in filling the gap left by the lack of official precons. Deck lists are often shared on platforms like Moxfield for free.
Q: Why didn't Wizards make official Hobbit Commander decks?
According to community analysis, Wizards likely focused their resources on the 'Battle of Five Armies' multiplayer box set instead of standard preconstructed Commander decks.
Q: Are these fan decks legal in Commander?
Yes, as long as the cards themselves are legal in the format (Vintage ban list) and the deck adheres to Commander rules regarding color identity and card format (e.g., no Un-set cards in official playgroups unless agreed upon).
Q: What is the best deck for a new player?
The Dwarf deck (Baruka Zad) or the Goblin deck (Misty Mountain Menace) are excellent starting points. They have clear synergies and aggressive strategies that are easy to understand.
Q: How does the 'Amass' mechanic work in the Goblin deck?
Amass creates an Army token if you don't have one, or puts +1/+1 counters on it if you do. The Great Goblin deck uses this to create a massive threat that can be sacrificed for damage or card draw.