The Magic: The Gathering trading card game is made up of five colors, each specializing in different themes, strategies, and abilities. Furthermore, two colors may synergize with each other depending on their relationship as ally or enemy color combinations. For reference, the enemy color combinations in Magic are Orzhov (White/Black), Simic (Green/Blue), Golgari (Black/Green), Boros (White/Red), and Izzet (Blue/Red).

In the MTG Commander format, players have the opportunity to build decks with cards identifying with one pr more colors depending on their chosen commander. Furthermore, the vast card pool available to commander players can lead to a near endless selection of cards for the 99. MTG also enables players to slot color hoser cards in their decks that provide beneficial effects depending on which colors and cards are in their opponents' decks. Often, color hoser cards grant a fantastic effect for little to no mana. However, players need to be mindful of the color hoser cards they add to decks as some options like Flashfires or Boil can do more harm than good. 

My latest TCGplayer Infinite article, Top 5 Best MTG Color Hosers You Should Play in Commander, covers five color hosers worth playing in various Commander decks. These selected color hoser cards may disrupt and punish an opponent when they play certain colored cards. Read the article to learn more about color hoser cards that you mind find appealing in the 99 of your Commander decks.

After lunch, another destination worth visiting is only a three-minute walk from Burro Velho. Batalha has a museum called Batalha Municipal Community Museum (MCCB) or Museu da Comunidade Concelhia da Batalha. MCCB focuses on the history of Batalha, with exhibits spanning from before the prehistoric era to the present day. You can learn about the first humans roaming around Batalha, the construction of the Batalha Monastery, and much more at MCCB. Be sure to visit MCCB Wednesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Note that MCCB is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. during days of operation. 

In summary, Batalha is a fantastic place to visit in Central Portugal. While Batalha only has a few noteworthy places to visit, it can provide a full day of activities. Here is a summary of the highlighted places to visit for a memorable time in Batalha.

​Day Trip to Batalha Itinerary

Morning - ​Batalha Monastery (Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitoria)

Lunch - Restaurante Burro Velho

Afternoon - Batalha Municipal Community Museum MCCB (Museu da Comunidade Concelhia da Batalha)


For more Portugal travel information, check out my travel guide on how to skip the line at Livraria Lello.

Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond: Fallout released on March 8th, 2024. Following the set's release, players had the opportunity to purchase any of four Commander Precon Decks and Collector Boosters. Fallout-themed artwork is found on all of the Commander Precon Deck new-to-MTG and reprint card inclusions. Excitingly, Universes Beyond: Fallout cards with special treatments and artwork variants are only available in Collector Boosters.

In the TCGplayer Infinite article, The Best Steals and Deals from Universes Beyond: Fallout, I cover several amazing Universes Beyond: Fallout cards available at affordable price points. Read to article to see if any suggested cards synergize with your current Commander decks or could go into a new decklist. 

Blue is one of Magic: The Gathering's five main colors. In MTG, blue often associates with knowledge and control manipulation. Several strategies work well with Blue, including control, milling, and tempo. In MTG's Commander format, Blue supports many commonly played themes like Wizards, Flyers, and Clones.

My recent TCGplayer Infinite article, 5 More Blue MTG Cards You Should Be Playing in Commander, I highlight five effective blue cards from more recent sets capable of supporting multiple strategies and themes. Have you tried playing The Indomitable in a Vehicles, Pirates, or Artifact-themed Commander deck? If you are a MTG Commander player, this article is one you do not want to miss.