Marvel previews send Bruce Banner, Hulk to Commander spotlight

Previews for the Marvel Super Heroes set released on December 9 and sparked immediate deckbuilding activity. Early analysis of EDHREC data showed Bruce Banner, The Incredible Hulk running far ahead with 82 Commander decks in the site database, a clear signal that players are chasing combo lines and explosive combat step interactions. Stream coverage highlighted specific tool interactions that make Banner compelling, and those demonstrations translated quickly into spikes in interest and even shifts in secondary market pricing for some supporting cards.

Key cards named in early builds included Pyrohemia and Caltrops as enablers of infinite or near infinite combat step lines with Hulk. Those interactions drove concentrated attention on the pieces that make the combo work, and sellers and buyers responded in real time. Monitor Caltrops and similar staples if you are tracking card prices or planning a Hulk build, because preview reaction can move markets before the set release.

Not every Marvel legend caught that initial momentum. Namor the Sub Mariner, Doctor Doom, Baron Helmut Zemo, and Super Skrull all lagged in deckbuilding numbers in the early dataset. Factors include high mana costs, overlap with existing commander identities such as Merfolk or mono black recursion, and direct competition from flexible, easy to cast commanders like Kenrith. At the moment of analysis Captain America had no deck builds listed, a surprising result that invites closer examination of his deckbuilding hooks and comparative casting cost.

This early snapshot matters because it ties preview reactions, streamer spotlighting, and EDHREC trend data into actionable signals for builders and buyers. Watch the decks that have already appeared to see which directions players are testing, track stream replays for technical lines to evaluate consistency, and verify pricing trends before committing to purchases. Share your deck builds and theorycrafts so the community can weigh in on why Banner gained so much early traction and which Marvel legends will catch up as more previews and gameplay emerge.