Making Dispatch was motivated by 'a mix of arrogance and stupidity,' its creative directors say

B&H Photo has one of the best deals right now on a 4K-ready gaming PC. The Lenovo Legion Tower 5 RTX 5070 Ti gaming PC drops to just $1,899 with free delivery after an $700 discount. Most RTX 5070 Ti prebuilts cost above $2,000 these days, so this is one of the lowest prices I've seen. The RTX 5070 Ti is our best reviewed Nvidia GeForce Blackwell card and has the chops to run games in glorious 4K at 60+fps.
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 gaming PC is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F desktop processor, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and a 2TB M.2 SSD. The Core Ultra 7 265F is part of Intel's newest Arrow Lake-S lineup released earlier this year and boasts a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz with 20 cores and a 36MB L2 cache. This is a solid all-around CPU for gaming, multi-tasking, and general workstation performance. It doesn't have as many cores as a Core Ultra 9 processor, but that doesn't matter for gaming since the vast majority of games will not be able to utilize more than 20 cores.
The RTX 5070 Ti offers the best bang for your buck in terms of 4K gaming performance. It performs neck-and-neck with the previous generation RTX 4080 Super and pulls ahead in any game that supports multi-frame generation, especially with the recent DLSS 4.5 update. It is fully capable of running any game in 4K at 60fps. It also has 16GB of VRAM like the RTX 5080, making it viable for AI work. Since RTX 5070 Ti GPUs are pretty much non-existent as a standalone card, the only way to get one without paying a ridiculous markup is by getting an equipped prebuilt computer.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

The Alienware Area-51 16 is Dell's highest-end 16" gaming laptop. Much like every gaming laptop on the market, prices have gone up in 2026 due to the increased demand for RTX 50 series GPUs and DDR5 RAM, but fortunately there's still a reliable way to get a good deal if you know where to look.
Dell Outlet – Dell's official site for Dell and Alienware refurbished, scratch and dent, and clearance PCs – just recently restocked its inventory of Alienware Area-51 16 laptops equipped with RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 GPUs. These have been factory inspected and certified to work and look brand new and even include the same warranty as buying a retail product. Like a retail product, you also have the option to extend the base warranty up to three years if desired.
Although the Alienware Area-51 can be equipped with an RTX 5060 or 5070 GPU, at its price tier you really shouldn't be targeting gaming performance lower than an RTX 5070 Ti. The RTX 5070 Ti 12GB GPU is the least expensive card in Nvidia's mobile RTX 50 series lineup that I'd recommend for running most games smoothly on the display's 2560x1600 resolution. It performs about 15%-20% better than the RTX 5070. Compared to the previous generation, it's comparable in performance to the RTX 4080 and pulls ahead of it in games that support DLSS 4.5 and multi-frame generation. Compared to desktop GPUs, it's similar in performance to the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB model.
The RTX 5080 is a 15%-20% uplift in performance over the RTX 5070 Ti. It also has more VRAM (16GB vs 12GB) which gives it the edge in higher resolution gaming, ray tracing performance, and AI applications. In fact, it's slightly more powerful than the RTX 4090, which was the previous generation's flagship card. Compared to desktop GPUs, it's similar in performance to the RTX 5070. This is the GPU I'd recommend for most people who want to run just about any game out there at 2560x1600 and 60fps with minimal tweaking. Obviously the RTX 5090 is better, but it's way pricier.
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is the most powerful mobile graphics card on the market, performing about 15% better than the RTX 5080. It also has a lot more VRAM (24GB vs 16GB), which can come in handy when playing games at higher resolutions (like on an attached 4K monitor) or if you're planning to use this as a mobile creator or AI workstation. Compared to desktop GPUs, it's similar in performance to the RTX 5070 Ti. If you want to run any game out there with all of the bells and whistles enabled, including ray tracing, then this configuration will get it done.
The Alienware Area-51 is a considerable upgrade compared to the previous generation's Alienware m16. For starters, it's clad in anodized aluminum for both the lid and bottom chassis and features a unique iridescent finish that sparkles in direct lighting. The frame is made of a durable and lightweight magnesium alloy. Cooling has been upgraded with generous amounts of copper and a new thermal interface. Dell claims that it can handle up to 240W TDP without raising acoustics.
Design-wise, the Area 51 has a sleeker, more contoured shape compared to previous models, with rounded edges and soft corners replacing the traditional squared off design. The hinges are internally positioned so that they're near invisible. There's a transparent window on the undercarriage to show off the internal components. There's also plenty of RGB illumination, although most of it can be turned off if you don't like that sort of thing.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

It’s another great day to save some money. Everything from board games and an incredible gaming laptop to a mobile gaming controller and a MTG bundle is seeing solid discounts. That’s not all, as it’s Mario Day, which means you’ll find excellent sales on all things Mario, including tons of Switch games, a Switch 2 memory card, and more.
If you’ve been waiting to grab the best microSD Express card for Switch 2, in celebration of Super Mario Bros. 40th anniversary, the official 256GB memory card from Samsung has been discounted. It’s down to $39 from $59.99, a $20.99 savings. While you might think the current 256GB that comes stock on the gaming handheld will suffice, since many games are digital or use key cards, that space fills up fast. This microSD Express card doubles the current storage capacity of the gaming handheld and provides speedy loads, quick downloads, and smooth performance, making it one of the top Switch 2 accessories.
The Mario Day Deals are upon us, and that means a bunch of discounts on Switch and Switch 2 games. Some notable titles on sale include Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury and Super Mario Odyssey for just $39.99 each. The Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV for Switch 2 is also $20 off. That’s not all, you’ll find a bunch of other Mario titles on sale to celebrate Super Mario Bros. 40th anniversary. Check the best deals out below:
This Mario Joy PowerA Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch is discounted for the Super Mario Bros. 40th Anniversary. You can save $20 on this wireless gamepad that works seamlessly with the Switch and Switch 2. Beyond intuitive controls and a comfy, ergonomic design, it comes with motion controls to make gameplay even more unique. It’s one of the best Switch 2 controllers around, especially for those after a solid budget option.
The LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant is down to $41.99 on Amazon for 30% savings. This fun 9-inch-high, 540-piece model is perfect for popping on a bookshelf or desk. The head, mouth, stalk, and leaves are all poseable too. Plus, it comes with two coins, which will be much easier to grab than when you’re actually playing the game. Just note that this set is best for adults.
Get the Super Mario Bros. Movie Power Up Edition 4K Blu-ray for just $12.99 at Amazon. It’s a gem of a deal for Mario Day, with other retailers selling it for a bit more. If you haven’t already seen this film, Mario fans young and old will absolutely adore it. Plus, the voice acting is marvelous. Can you really beat the iconic performance of “Peaches” from Jack Black as Bowser? This film is truly a great addition to any physical media collection.
Make mobile gaming a heck of a lot more enjoyable with one of our favorite phone controllers, the Razer Kishi Ultra. This expandable controller straps buttons, joysticks, and triggers to either side of your device’s screen and connects via a built-in USB-C connector for no latency during the action. It even scored a 9/10 in our review, thanks to the responsive, clicky buttons, full-size grips, console-quality thumbsticks and triggers, and incredible app.
You can score this controller for the lowest price ever on Amazon-owned Woot, and Prime members receive free shipping. It’s just $65.69, as there’s an extra 10% off taken off the already discounted price at checkout. The Razer Kishi Ultra is going for $79.99 on Amazon right now, so this is some solid savings.
The Magic: The Gathering Marvel's Spider-Man Bundle: Gift Edition received a killer discount on Amazon, dropping the price down to just $59.99 from $89.99. That’s back to the lowest price ever. This bundle includes nine Play Boosters, a single Collector Booster, an alternate-art promo card exclusive to the box, and 30 Land cards. Since a Collector Booster alone is going for between $30-40, and you get all those other packs on top of it, it’s one heck of a deal. While this may be a “Gift Bundle,” you’ll probably want to keep it for yourself.
Amazon is running a pretty great board game deal right now. If you spend $50 on select board games and toys, you can get a $10 Amazon credit to use later. The credit should arrive in your account about 30 days after the games are shipped. A few of our favorite beginner board games, including Azul and Pandemic, are a part of this deal. Plus, some classic games, like Scatagories and Monopoly, or a great couples board game, 7 Wonders Duel, can put an extra $10 in spending cash in your pocket.
It’s not just games that are a part of this deal. A bunch of Lego sets, jigsaw puzzles, and more are part of the spend $50, get a $10 Amazon credit deal. Check out the entire sale here to do your own scrolling.
Need a portable Bluetooth speaker for backyard cookouts, camping trips, pool parties, and more? The LG xboom Grab Core Waterproof Portable Speaker is on sale for just $79.99, down from $139.99. All that’s required is entering the code "Grab60" at checkout for $60 off, and there’s even free shipping. This price drastically beats what retailers like Amazon and Best Buy are selling the speaker for.
The LG xboom Grab Core is a compact, yet powerful speaker featuring a racetrack woofer, a dome tweeter, and passive radiators. In fact, it's tuned by none other than will.i.am, the tech pioneer and Black Eyed Peas member, for some awesome, distortion-free audio. With a 19-hour battery life, an IP67 water-resistance rating, and a floating design, this speaker is equipped for all your outdoor adventures.
For those after a top-tier gaming laptop equipped to handle anything you throw its way, look no further than the Acer Predator Helios 18. This incredibly powerful rig is rocking an RTX 5090 mobile GPU, an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB SSD. The 18-inch 4K+, 240Hz mini-LED should look spectacular, while the Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 5 ensure it will be with you for the long haul. Best of all, it’s significantly cheaper than other laptops with similar specs, thanks to a healthy $1000 discount at Best Buy, bringing this beastly device down to only $3499.99.
Disney+ just dropped the best deal this year on its Hulu bundle. With this new discount, you can enjoy subscriptions to both Disney+ and Hulu Basic for $4.99 per month for the first 3 months. Given this is the lower-tier membership for both, there will be ads, but it’s still a solid sale considering this plan normally goes for $12.99 per month. The deal is valid for new and eligible returning subscribers, and you can cancel the subscription at any time to avoid paying full price. This offer ends right when the Daredevil: Born Again season 2 premieres.
If you’re after unbelievable charging power for topping up the best handheld gaming PCs, gaming laptops, and more, grab the Anker A110A Prime Power Bank. It comes with an impressive 26,250mAh capacity to charge up some seriously power-hungry devices. Charging will be quick, too, thanks to the USB-C port’s 140W max charging speed. When charging two devices, the USB-C can output an impressive 250W combined. And there’s also USB-A available for good measure, bringing the total max output to 300W.
You can score this top-tier power bank brand-new from the Amazon-owned Woot for only $139.99, and Prime members enjoy free shipping. Or if you’re okay with bulk packaging, it’s only $124.99. That’s up to 46% savings.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles– Amazon Exclusive Edition for PS5 is at its lowest price on Amazon. You can score the remaster of this turn-based tactical RPG for just $29.32. With it comes a better UI, new voice acting, improved graphics, and other upgraded features while staying true to the original. In our review of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, it scored a 9/10. Ronny Barrier went on to say, “It’s by far the best way to play this classic on modern hardware.” The Amazon Exclusive Edition also includes a double-sided poster.
Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

Before he was gunning down a bunch of dudes as John Wick, Keanu Reeves was gunning down a bunch of computer programs as Neo. The Matrix movies will always be some of the most iconic entries in his long career, and Hot Toys has done real justice to that legacy with their latest Neo figure.
In fact, this new figure (based on Reeves' appearance in 2003's The Matrix Reloaded) might just be one of their best and most lifelike collectibles to date. It's got all the bells and whistles you'd expect, right down to the individually adjustable eyeballs. Get a closer look in the slideshow gallery below:
This Neo figure measures about 12.2 inches tall and comes decked out in a detailed mixed media suit with embedded, adjustable wires in the cassok. The figure also comes with removable sunglasses, of course.
As far as accessories go, Hot Toys gives you pretty much everything you need to recreate the iconic Burly Brawl and Chateau battle scenes from the film. That includes various weapons and interchangeable hands, as well as a Chateau-themed base and optional cardboard backdrop.
Judging from one of the photos, it appears Hot Toys is also developing a companion Agent Smith figure, though that hasn't been officially announced yet:
The Hot Toys Neo figure is priced at $270 and is slated for release between January and June of 2027. You can preorder the figure through Sideshow Collectibles.
Previously, Hot Toys revealed a new Batman figure based on 2013's Batman: Arkham Origins.
In other The Matrix news, back in 2024 we learned that Drew Goddard is attached to write and direct a new movie, with Lana Wachowski executive producing. It's unclear whether the film will bring back Reeves or other actors or act as a full reboot of the franchise.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

LEGO has just revealed the first new One Piece set of 2026. The Gum-Gum Fruit set is a 482 pieces and is now up for preorder at the LEGO Store for $69.99 with a release date of August 1, 2026. The set was unveiled alongside Season 2 of the live action series dropping on Netflix.
The LEGO One Piece line of sets first began back in August 2025 with seven total sets focused on Season 1 of the show. There have been rumors that six new sets would be getting released in 2026 and this appears to be the first of those to arrive.
The Gum-Gum Fruit set is pretty much exactly what you'd think it would be, it's a giant Gum-Gum fruit on display with a little plaque. More specifically, this is the Devil Fruit that Luffy ate to gain his stretchy powers when he was just a boy. The top of the fruit actually comes off to reveal a smaller scene with a young Monkey D. Luffy encountering the Gum-Gum fruit for the first time in the Windmill Village hut.
The set comes with two different Luffy minifigures. The first is that stretchy leader of the Straw Hat Pirates as he is in the present, with long movable arms that you can extend on the right or the left. You'll also get a young Luffy minifigure that is meant to be part of the little scene inside the big Gum-Gum fruit. With an age rating of 9+, this set is meant for older kids and adults to build and display on a shelf.
Although only the Gum-Gum fruit set has been revealed so far, we do know that additional sets are rumored to arrive later this year. Nothing has been confirmed just yet, but the rumors suggest we may see builds for Drum Island Castle, a Marine Ship, and Tony Tony Chopper. LEGO tends to released themed sets in batches, so it seems likely that we'll see more arrive in August alongside the new Gum-Gum fruit build.
In the meantime, you can check out all seven of the original sets that released last year. Both of the BrickHeadz figures are set to retire soon, so they may be harder to find.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 8 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics -- from TV series to indie games, LEGO, and books.

Kathryn Hahn looks set to play Tangled villain Mother Gothel in Disney's upcoming live-action remake, following what appears to be a pretty clear-cut social media tease.
Within the last hour, Hahn has posted a video to her Instagram account where she acts as if she's simply showing off her outfit of the day — which largely consists of a fan-made Mother Gothel shirt.
Fans have long called for Hahn to play Mother Gothel, following her scene-stealing appearances as the antiheroine Agatha Harkness in both Wandavision and Agatha All Along. Now, seemingly, Hahn has officially accepted the role — as her post today has also been shared by Disney's official account.
It had been expected that Disney would soon name its pick for Mother Gothel, following word of casting for the film's lead roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider last month. Rather than some of the more well-known options suggested by fans for those roles, Tangled's leading duo will instead be played by Titans actress Teagan Croft and Zombies actor Milo Manheim.
Disney's attempt at a Tangled live-action was first reported in December of 2024, and has been in and out of development over the past year. The original animated version of Tangled, meanwhile, garnered plenty of positive reviews and grossed $592.5 million worldwide back in 2010, earning it a spot alongside other recent popular classics.
Work on this new adaptation appeared to have been paused last year following the widely-reported struggles faced by several other Disney live-action attempts, most notably the company's Snow White remake. But this was pause was short-lived, however, as the subsequent $1 billion box office performance of Lilo & Stitch got the ball rolling again.
Earlier today, it was reported that Disney is now developing a live-action Peter Pan spin-off centered on tiny fairy Tinker Bell, to launch on Disney+. Other upcoming live-action Disney remake projects in the works include the plans to remake Hercules and Bambi. A live-action Lilo & Stitch sequel is also in development, as well as plans to make a Beauty and the Beast spin-off starring Gaston.
Before all those, however, Disney will launch its live-action Moana remake in July.
Image credit: Kathryn Hahn/Disney Studios
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

AI "actress" Tilly Norwood is back — and this time she's released a pop music video, where she sings about the backlash to her initial announcement.
The song is titled “Take the Lead” and its accompanying music video is chock full of ridiculous imagery including Norwood swinging from a disco ball, singing on a London rooftop, and even flying through the sky while riding an inflatable flamingo.
But while the video seems to feature AI generated imagery throughout, production company Particle6 has said the project was made by a team of almost 20 people — and that rather than taking away work, AI was simply unlocking productivity. We'll let you make up your own minds there.
Tilly Norwood's new video starts off with a message that reads, “The following production was made by 18 real humans — from production designers to costume designers to prompters, editors, and an actor. No flamingos were harmed in the process.”
The song, which was inspired by an essay written by Norwood’s creator Eline van der Velden, was generated using Suno, an AI music generator, and put together by Particle6 (Van der Velden’s production company) and its AI talent arm Xicoia Studio using preexisting AI tools and its own proprietary creative process, according to The Hollywood Reporter. During that process, Van der Velden acted out Norwood’s performance, which was then incorporated into the AI workflow to produce the music video.
The lyrics show that Van der Velden is still dealing with the online and real-world backlash to Norwood's announcement and positioning as the world's first "AI actress" back in 2025. “When they talk about me, they don’t see the human spark, the creativity… I’m just a tool, but I’ve got life,” Norwood can be heard robotically singing. “They think I’m just a dollar dream but I’ve got more than they believe… I’m not a puppet, I’m the star.”
This music push seems to be testing the waters for Norwood’s official acting debut later this year, according to THR. The companies behind Norwood also seem to be pushing for a “Tilly-verse,” where Norwood and unreleased upcoming AI characters can “live, interact, and work,” the outlet claims.
Earlier this year, Marvel and Jurassic World star Chris Pratt hit out at Norwood, but insisted the panic within Hollywood about the potential impact of AI "actors" was "bulls***."
Image credit: Particle6
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
NVIDIA has just released a new driver for its graphics cards. According to the release notes, the NVIDIA GeForce 595.79 WHQL driver offers optimal performance in Crimson Desert and Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. This new driver also adds support for more than 35 G-SYNC Compatible displays that deliver a baseline VRR experience. You … Continue reading NVIDIA GeForce 595.79 WHQL Driver Released, Optimized for Crimson Desert and Death Stranding 2 →
The post NVIDIA GeForce 595.79 WHQL Driver Released, Optimized for Crimson Desert and Death Stranding 2 appeared first on DSOGaming.
The list of the path-traced games on PC gets bigger and bigger. Last month, Capcom released Resident Evil Requiem, which supported Path Tracing on PC. In April 2026, the team will also release PRAGMATA, which will also have Path Tracing on PC. And now, we get three more titles that will come out in 2026 … Continue reading 007 First Light, CONTROL Resonant, and Tides of Annihilation will have Path Tracing on PC →
The post 007 First Light, CONTROL Resonant, and Tides of Annihilation will have Path Tracing on PC appeared first on DSOGaming.

Sony's PlayStation Plus game catalog additions for March 2026 have been leaked, with notable additions from both the Persona and Warhammer franchises.
As ever, Dealabs' reliable billbil-kun has beaten Sony to its own announcement for which titles it is adding to the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium rosters this month.
From March 17, the Extra catalog is set to include both the highly-acclaimed Persona 5 Royal and chunky shoulder pad shooter Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, plus the latest Madden game, indie sandbox Astroneer, and more.
Looking at this month's list, Persona 5 Royal is the obvious standout. Available through the catalog on PS5, this is the expanded 2022 release of the original Persona 5 which added new missions, music and social elements.
Rounding out the list are sci-fi robot shooter Metal Eden, plus dwarven survival game The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. If you're a Premium subscriber, meanwhile, you'll get access to the classic PSP game Tekken Dark Resurrection, which Sony had previously confirmed was on the way at some point.
Check out the full list of leaked additions below:
Extra:
Premium:
As ever, we'll update again here whenever Sony makes the list official.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Magic: The Gathering is a fantastic card game, but the Commander format has given it even more legs.
It revolves around a central Commander that helms your deck, giving it a ton of personality as players gravitate towards their favorite legendary creatures to build around.
Wizards of the Coast finally recognized the format in 2011, beginning a deluge of preconstructed decks that are playable right out of the box. We’ve got a full list of them, but for now, we’ve narrowed down our top 12.
These aren’t presented in any real order, but let us know which ones you’ve played!
The Ur-Dragon still commands a high fee, and the 10/10 standard-bearer of this five-color precon is a beneficiary of the Eminence keyword. It drops the cost of Dragon spells by 1 mana, and then, when it is on the field, your dragons essentially multiply as they attack.
It’s far and away the most powerful preconstructed Dragon deck, but if you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, my first deck was Draconic Destruction from the Commander starter decks, and Temur Roar is a great three-color dragon deck with upgrade potential, too.
OK, I’m cheating a little here, but both Edge of Eternities decks were great. Counter Intelligence is helmed by Kilo, Apogee Mind, and ramps up counters swiftly by proliferating every time it’s turned sideways.
World Shaper, on the other hand, is a deck I’ve had a lot of fun with. Szarel, Genesis Shepherd lets you play lands from your graveyard, and there are a ton of landfall effects that play into that, too.
Both decks also use the Spacecraft card type, which is highly likely to return in Universes Beyond: Star Trek.
All the Final Fantasy decks were great, but Counter Blitz stands ahead of the others for the counter-switching shenanigans it could lead to.
Tidus, Yuna’s Guardian, lets you move counters around, but the type of counter isn’t specified. There are four Summon creatures in the deck that you could essentially keep around forever with the right counter shuffling.
The deck also contains some great reprints, like Three Visits and Farewell, while Yuna is a great Commander in her own right.
This mono-black Warhammer deck costs a pretty penny these days, with its Commander, Szarekh, able to mill cards to put more creatures into your hand.
Personally, I prefer to use Imotekh the Stormlord as my Commander, though, letting you create token creatures as you use recursion and power up a creature during combat.
Out of the Tombs is awesome, too. It lets you risk milling yourself out, but can give you a whole host of board presence in the late game.
I hate this deck. It’s a pain to deal with, causing plenty of mill and life loss for the whole table, but there’s no denying it’s effective.
The Wise Mothman, its Commander, dishes out rad counters and then grows in power as those counters mill cards and wound your opponents.
Strong, the Brutish Thespian, can even add life from radiation, making a great mechanic (at least for you), even more useful.
A deck that’s so effective at dealing damage it can make Commander matches take half as long to complete, Endless Punishment is a great deck that gets even better if you swap out Valgavoth with Master of Pain.
This 5/5 stops opponents from gaining life, has Menace, and turns the mana cost of every first spell of a player’s turn into damage against another player. Given how expensive spells get as the match wears on, that can be a big, big hit.
Reprints of Vial Smasher the Fierce and Witch’s Clinic were welcome, too.
Sliver Swarm, as the name suggests, is a deck that’s all about Slivers, a creature type that’s relatively minor on its own but buffs every other ally with the same type.
This five-color precon is a problem for everyone at the table, helmed by the Sliver Gravemother that can help bring cards back from the graveyard as attacking tokens. Oh, and it means you can have multiple copies of Legendary creatures, too.
The deck had fewer reprints than some, but it’s powerful - and ripe for upgrades if you can find some extra Slivers.
A colorless Eldrazi deck, this one puts Zhulodok, Void Gorger as your Commander and lets you enjoy double Cacade on spells with mana value 7 or higher - ouch.
Kozilek, the Great Distortion, is another Legendary Creature you can pick as your Commander. It costs a lot, but acts as a 12/12 with Menace and facilitates card draw.
It That Betrays was an awesome reprint, and I recently managed to find one myself to put in my Eldrazi Incursion upgrade (more on that later).
There’s a reason that Edgar Markov remains the de facto vampire-type Commander in Magic: The Gathering. His Eminence ability, which triggers even if he’s in the Command Zone, means this 4/4 with First Strike and haste can create Vampire tokens as you cast spells of that type, and he empowers them with +1/+1 when he attacks.
Teferi’s Protection is here, too, with this being the kind of deck with no real weaknesses that’s easy to pilot as well.
The Lord of the Rings Commander Decks were all solid, but Food and Fellowship wins out for its strength in just about every aspect. Sam generates Food tokens to gain life, then Frodo is tempted by the Ring as you consume them, with each of the Partner cards feeding into a cycle.
It’s not all Shire-friendly, either, with some true wrath coming in the form of Toxic Deluge, spot removal like Path to Exile and Swords to Plowshares, and cards like The Gaffer to turn that lifegain into more card draw. A great, well-constructed deck.
The kind of deck that steamrolls many of the precons in recent years, Pantlaza, Sun-Favored helms this dinosaur offering and helps you bring more and more creatures into play with the Discover ability.
With cards like Wakening Sun’s Avatar being a non-dino board wipe and comically large beasts like Apex Altisaur, this deck is wild right out of the box.
This Baldur’s Gate-flavored deck’s commander, Nalia de-Arnise, is a low-cost 3/3 that lets you case Cleric, Rogue, Warrior, and Wizard spells from the top of your library.
It really doesn’t take long to build up a formidable force in early turns, letting you get a head start while your opponents are scrambling to find blockers. The deck is pretty expensive now, though.
The following might not be the most powerful, but I’ve enjoyed playing with them.
Heavenly Inferno is one of the first Commander precons, and its strength lies in its flexibility. The Commander, Kaalia of the Vast, helps you bring creatures into play, whether they’re Angels, Demons, or Dragons.
Because of that, you can easily swap out a bunch of Angels and Demons for Dragons, or lean into two of them if you’d prefer. As with some others on this list, it can get out of hand pretty swiftly, and while Wizards would get more ambitious in the years since, it remains a really fun deck (I’ve upgraded mine).
An Eldrazi deck with five colors and a Commander that can copy spells and activated abilities for two generic mana, Eldrazi Incursion is great off the bat, but becomes positively vile with the right upgrades.
It’s probably not a deck for newcomers, though, because the sheer volume of triggers can feel overwhelming.
I’ve had games that have been won because my Haruspex has gained so much power that it deals huge damage to opponents, or converted its power to mana for a big late-game push.
Magus Lucea Kane’s doubling up of X-cost spells, and the Swarmlord turning your creatures with counters into card draw, means there are some really fun strategies here - Tyranid Swarm is a deck that truly does feel like a ‘swarm’, and can give you big creatures to attack with, and plenty of tokens back to defend if you’re smart.
It might not be the flashiest deck since it relies on an awful lot of Human Knights in battles between Eldrazi monstrosities, Dragons, and spellcasters, but Riders of Rohan is a precon that’s very well put together.
Aside from a weakness against flying, it’s able to mobilize an army with frightening speed, and it grows with your aggression. I’ve seen it pop off many, many times, and it’s always something to behold.
This Simic (Blue/Green) deck is helmed by Hakbal of the Surging Soul, and uses the Explore mechanic to great effect, either ramping your lands, netting you creatures, or getting card draw.
It’s a Commander with a ton of value (I’m looking to squeeze him into another underwater-themed deck as we speak), but there’s also Kindred Discovery in the deck as well to get even more card draw from your Merfolk.
There’s something about flipping cards face-up to surprise an opponent that feels very Yu-Gi-Oh, and I love Jump Scare (!) for that very reason.
Being able to flip a 15/15 Worldspine Wurm up is a great party trick, but there are other great cards in here like Ashaya, Soul of the Wild, and Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait.
For more on Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format, be sure to check out our rundown the best decks you can buy right now, as well as an early look at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles precon, Turtle Power.

We’re now into the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set for Magic: The Gathering, but if you prefer your New York City seen from the skies and not the sewers, there’s a great deal on a Spider-Man Gift Bundle right now at Amazon.
The retailer has knocked 32% off the price, netting you an $89.99 boxed product for $59.99. That’s its lowest price since it went on sale, which is notable for the fact that it includes a Collector Booster, which essentially makes up half of the value of the bundle on its own.
When it comes to the contents of the box, this bundle is similar to the more traditional booster bundles available with each set, except it has an all-important (and highly sought-after) Collector Booster inside.
These are where you’ll find the most valuable cards from the set, with Collector Boosters full of foil and alternative art variants. That’s why they’re harder to find than your standard Play Boosters, and, with this discount, you’re actually saving money on the basic booster bundle price.
Thankfully, this gift bundle includes nine of those, as well as an exclusive alternate-art card and 30 land cards split into 15 foil and 15 non-foil. Ten of those lands are full-art versions, too.
You also get the comic-style gift box to keep your new cards in, and a die to track your life total.
For more on Magic, be sure to check out our list of the most powerful Commander precon decks, as well as what we thought of the Turtle Power precon from the latest set.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.

Today, March 10, kicks off Mario Day (or MAR10 Day, if you prefer), and already we've been seeing some excellent Mario-related game deals pop up. One of our favorites is on Super Mario Party Jamboree, which has seen discounts on its original copy for Nintendo Switch as well as its Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
For those looking to grab it for the original handheld, the Switch 1 version has dropped to just $39.88 at Amazon (see it here). On the other hand, the Switch 2 version with Jamboree TV has dropped to $59 at the retailer (see it here). Who knows how long these deals will last beyond Mario Day, so if you've been hoping to pick it up for your Switch, this is your chance to save on it.
What makes these offers even better is these prices mark the lowest price points so far for both the Switch version and Switch 2 version at Amazon. If you've had your eye on this game but have been waiting for a good opportunity to pick it up, this is your time to shine.
No matter which Switch model you pick it up for, we very much enjoyed Super Mario Party Jamboree in general. Our review from IGN's Logan Plant called it, "an amazing followup to Mario Party Superstars and easily one of the best games in the series. Not only does it faithfully return to the classic formula established in the Nintendo 64 entries, it confidently improves upon it with a fantastic set of boards that introduce unique and memorable mechanics."
Super Mario Party Jamboree is just one of many Mario games to be discounted, though. If you're hoping to stock up your library with more, have a look through our breakdown of Mario Day 2026 to see some of the best deals that have caught our eye so far.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.