MTG The Hobbit: 5 Best Commander Cards to Build Around
If you want to build a Magic: The Gathering Commander deck inspired by The Hobbit, the five best cards to build around are Galadriel, Light of Valinor, Sauron, the Dark Lord, Bilbo, Retired Burglar, Gandalf, Friend of the Shire, and Thorin, Dwarf King. These legendary creatures from the Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set offer the most distinct and powerful build-around strategies that capture the book’s themes of adventure, stealth, and the struggle over the One Ring.
Background: The Lord of the Rings in MTG
Wizards of the Coast released The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth in June 2023, a full Universes Beyond set that introduced dozens of characters from J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, including those from The Hobbit. The set was designed to be legal in Modern and Commander, and it introduced the Ring tempts you mechanic, which turns a creature into a Ring-bearer and grants incremental benefits. For Commander players, the set provided a wealth of new legendary creatures, many of which directly reference key moments from The Hobbit—from Bilbo’s riddle game with Gollum to the Battle of Five Armies.
How Each Card Works as a Commander
Each of the five commanders offers a distinct play pattern. Galadriel, Light of Valinor costs 3GU and lets you scry 1 whenever you cast an Elf or legendary spell. If you scry a card to the top, you may reveal it and put it into your hand, then create a 1/1 Elf Warrior token. She rewards a deck full of cheap legendary spells and Elves, generating card advantage and a wide board. Sauron, the Dark Lord costs 3UBR and is a 7/6 that amasses Orcs whenever you cast a spell with mana value 5 or greater. When he enters or attacks, you may pay 2 life to draw a card and then discard a card unless you have a Ring-bearer, in which case you draw two and discard one. He pushes you toward expensive spells and a reanimator or graveyard theme. Bilbo, Retired Burglar is a 2UR 3/2 that lets you play an additional land each turn and, whenever you cast a spell with mana value 5 or greater, you create a Treasure token. His second ability triggers when you have 10 or more Treasures: you may cast an instant or sorcery from your graveyard without paying its mana cost. He’s a classic spellslinger/treasure commander. Gandalf, Friend of the Shire is a 2UU 2/4 that lets you cast instant and sorcery spells as though they had flash, and whenever you cast an instant or sorcery, you may draw a card and then discard a card. He rewards a draw-go control style. Finally, Thorin, Dwarf King is a 2RW 4/4 that gives your Dwarves +1/+1 and has a triggered ability: whenever a player sacrifices a Treasure, you create a 1/1 white Dwarf Soldier token. He’s a token/aristocrats commander that cares about Treasures.
Choosing the Right Commander for Your Playstyle
Pick your commander based on how you like to win. If you enjoy a wide board and incremental value, Galadriel or Thorin are excellent. Galadriel builds a go-wide Elf army while drawing cards; Thorin punishes opponents who use Treasures (which are common in Commander) and can also make your own Treasures into a token engine. If you prefer a controlling, spell-heavy game, Gandalf is your best bet—you can hold up countermagic and then flash in a big sorcery on your opponent’s end step. Bilbo is a combo-oriented commander: you accumulate Treasures, then use his ability to cast a game-winning spell like Expropriate or Torment of Hailfire from the graveyard. Sauron is for players who want to play big, splashy spells and grind out value with graveyard recursion. Each commander supports a different archetype, so match your preferred style.
Common Problems and How to Solve Them
The most common pitfall with these commanders is building a deck that is too linear or too fragile. For Galadriel, players often include too few legendary spells, so her scry trigger fizzles. Solution: run at least 30 legendary permanents, including legendary lands like Shire Terrace. For Sauron, the issue is mana curve—if you don’t have enough five-drops, you won’t trigger his amass ability. Include expensive interaction like Cyclonic Rift and big finishers like Rise of the Dark Realms. Bilbo suffers from being a removal magnet because opponents see 10 Treasures as a threat. Run protection like Lightning Greaves or Swiftfoot Boots, and include backup win conditions like Comet Storm. Gandalf can run out of cards if you discard too much; include looting payoffs like Arclight Phoenix or Snapcaster Mage. Thorin is weak to board wipes; include indestructible effects like Heroic Intervention.
Comparisons: Which Commander Is Strongest?
In a vacuum, Sauron, the Dark Lord is arguably the most powerful of the five because he provides card draw, board presence, and graveyard setup all in one. His amass ability creates a growing Army token that can become a huge threat, and his draw ability is nearly unconditional if you have a Ring-bearer. Galadriel is the most consistent value engine, but she requires a critical mass of Elves and legendary spells. Bilbo is the most explosive—he can win out of nowhere once you hit 10 Treasures, but he’s also the most fragile because opponents will remove him before your combat step. Gandalf is the most controlling, but he doesn’t provide a clear win condition by himself; you need a combo or a big spell. Thorin is the most niche, but in a meta full of Treasure decks (like those using Dockside Extortionist), he can generate an absurd number of tokens. For raw power, Sauron wins; for fun and flavor, Bilbo or Gandalf might be more enjoyable.
Cost and Availability
As of early 2025, prices for these cards vary. Galadriel, Light of Valinor is a rare from the main set and typically costs $2–4. Sauron, the Dark Lord is a mythic and usually $8–12. Bilbo, Retired Burglar is a rare, around $1–2. Gandalf, Friend of the Shire is a rare, $2–3. Thorin, Dwarf King is a rare, $1–2. These are approximate market prices and can fluctuate. All five are widely available from the set, and you can often find them in local game stores or online. Because they are not the most sought-after mythics (like The One Ring), they are affordable for most players.
Alternatives and Honorable Mentions
If you want a Hobbit-themed commander but none of these five fit, consider Bilbo, Birthday Celebrant (a 1GW legendary that gains life and can win the game if you have 111 life), Gollum, Patient Plotter (a 2B 2/2 that can return from graveyard to hand if you have a Ring-bearer), or Gimli, Counter of Kills (a 3R 3/3 that gets +1/+1 counters whenever a creature an opponent controls dies). Also, Radagast, the Brown (a 3G legendary that lets you cast creature spells with mana value 3 or less from the top of your library) is a great value commander. These are less powerful or less focused than the top five, but they offer more niche strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these cards legal in Commander?
Yes, all five are legendary creatures and can be your commander. They are also legal in Legacy, Vintage, and Modern (since the set is Modern-legal), but Commander is the most popular format for them.
Do I need to include the One Ring in my deck?
No, you don’t need The One Ring card, but the Ring tempts you mechanic is central to Sauron and Bilbo. You can include the actual card The One Ring (which is a legendary artifact) but it’s not required for the commander to function.
Which commander is best for a budget deck?
Bilbo, Retired Burglar is the cheapest and can be built with common cards like Treasure Cruise and Seething Song. Thorin is also budget-friendly if you use token generators like Krenko, Mob Boss.
Can I mix these with other Middle-earth cards?
Absolutely. The set includes many supporting cards like Mithril Coat, Andúril, Flame of the West, and Rivendell that work well with these commanders. You can also use cards from other sets that reference The Hobbit indirectly, like Dwarven Mine or Treasure Nabber.
What is the best win condition for each?
For Galadriel, a Craterhoof Behemoth or an overrun effect. For Sauron, a Torment of Hailfire or a huge Army token. For Bilbo, a big X spell like Exsanguinate. For Gandalf, a combo like Dramatic Reversal + Isochron Scepter. For Thorin, a Purphoros, God of the Forge or Impact Tremors.
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