Bloomburrow Commander (BLC): The Complete Guide
Four preconstructed Commander decks landed alongside the main Bloomburrow set on August 2, 2024, and together they make up the Bloomburrow Commander (BLC) product - 355 cards spread across some of the most charming, critter-filled decks Wizards has put out in a long time. If you've ever wanted to lead a squirrel uprising or conduct a chorus of woodland creatures into battle, this is the set for you.
BLC is a companion release to Bloomburrow (BLB), the set that introduced the plane of Bloomburrow - a world where small animals have built entire civilisations in the absence of humans. The Commander decks lean fully into that identity.
The four Bloomburrow Commander decks
Each deck has a distinct color identity and mechanical focus. Here's the full lineup at a glance:
| Deck Name | Color Identity | Commander | |---|---|---| | Animated Army | {R}{G} | Bello, Bard of the Brambles | | Family Matters | {W}{U}{R} | Zinnia, Valley's Voice | | Peace Offering | {W}{U}{G} | Ms. Bumbleflower | | Squirreled Away | {B}{G} | Hazel of the Rootbloom |
Each deck comes ready to play out of the box, with a legendary creature at the helm that reflects the plane's wider themes - community, family bonds, and animals doing genuinely heroic things.
Animated Army - {R}{G}, led by Bello, Bard of the Brambles
Bello, Bard of the Brambles sits at the head of a Gruul deck that, based on its name and commander, leans into token generation and animated permanents - fitting for a bard stirring the woodland masses into action. Red and green together tend to mean big, fast, and aggressive, and Animated Army looks like it plays to those strengths on the plane of Bloomburrow.
Family Matters - {W}{U}{R}, led by Zinnia, Valley's Voice
Zinnia, Valley's Voice leads a Jeskai (white-blue-red) build with a name that strongly hints at creature type synergies - Bloomburrow's lore is built around family groupings and species communities, so expect this deck to care about having the right creatures around at the right time. Jeskai in Commander often means combat tricks, card draw, and some light controlling elements layered over an aggressive shell.
Peace Offering - {W}{U}{G}, led by Ms. Bumbleflower
Ms. Bumbleflower commands a Bant (white-blue-green) deck, and the name Peace Offering suggests a politics-friendly, gift-giving, or group-hug style of play - the kind of Commander deck that makes friends before it makes enemies. Bant is well suited to that: you have access to powerful enchantments, big creatures, and counterspell backup, all wrapped in a generous exterior.
Squirreled Away - {B}{G}, led by Hazel of the Rootbloom
This is the one squirrel fans have been waiting for. Hazel of the Rootbloom leads a Golgari (black-green) deck, and if the name didn't already give it away, expect squirrel tribal synergies and graveyard recursion to be central to what this deck does. Black and green together means you can go wide with tokens, sacrifice for value, and bring things back from the bin - classic Golgari.
The Bloomburrow Starter Kit
Alongside the four main Commander decks, Bloomburrow also includes a Starter Kit - two duel decks aimed at players brand new to the game. These aren't part of the BLC product exactly, but they're worth knowing about if you're introducing someone to Magic through the lens of Bloomburrow's world.
| Deck Name | Colors | Commander | |---|---|---| | Hare Raising | {W}{G} | Byrke, Long Ear of the Law | | Otter Limits | {U}{R} | Bria, Riptide Rogue |
These two decks are designed to be played against each other right out of the box - a good onramp for anyone charmed by the world of Bloomburrow who hasn't played Magic before.
Setting and lore
Bloomburrow is a plane unlike most in Magic's history. There are no humans here - instead, small animals (mice, rabbits, otters, squirrels, birds, and more) have built thriving civilisations. The plane has a gentle, pastoral feel, but don't mistake warmth for softness: Bloomburrow's story involves real stakes, elemental disasters, and communities fighting to protect what they've built.
The Commander decks are deeply rooted in this world. Each commander represents a distinct corner of Bloomburrow society - a bard rousing a crowd, a voice of a valley, a bumbleflower keeper offering peace, a rootbloom keeper hoarding secrets underground. The flavour runs all the way through the card designs.
Who should pick up a Bloomburrow Commander deck?
Honestly, any Commander player who enjoys creature-focused, synergy-driven decks with a strong flavour identity. These aren't the most cutthroat precons ever printed - Bloomburrow's tone is warm and communal, and the decks reflect that. But warmth doesn't mean weak: each deck has a clear game plan and a commander that wants to do something specific.
If you're new to Commander, the four decks offer a good spread of playstyles across two and three colour identities. Peace Offering is probably the most forgiving for newer players, while Squirreled Away rewards knowing how to use your graveyard. Family Matters and Animated Army sit somewhere in between - proactive and fun without being too complicated to pilot on a first run.
