Mono-Black | 7 picks
Best Mono-Black Avatar Commanders
- 7 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 7 are included under the series cap.
Mono-Black commander
Koh, the Face Stealer
Treat the graveyard and expendable permanents as resources instead of incidental value.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 7 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 1,164 decks.
- Build toward: efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Commander tax arrives quickly. The deck needs ramp and a game plan that still functions without its leader.
- Card text: When Koh enters, exile up to one other target creature. Whenever another nontoken creature dies, you may exile it. Pay 1 life: Choose a creature card exiled with Koh. Koh has all activated and triggered abilities of the last chosen card.
Mono-Black commander
Mai, Scornful Striker
Keep Ally density high enough for the command-zone trigger to matter every turn.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 7 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 845 decks.
- Build toward: efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Repeated commander removal can turn the engine into an expensive setup piece. Do not skip standalone draw and interaction.
- Card text: First strike Whenever a player casts a noncreature spell, they lose 2 life.
Mono-Black commander
June, Bounty Hunter
Use a focused artifact package so ordinary setup pieces become fuel for the commander.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 7 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 379 decks.
- Build toward: artifact tokens and artifact payoffs, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Graveyard hate and exile can cut off the engine. Include a fair backup plan.
- Card text: June can't be blocked as long as you've drawn two or more cards this turn. {1}, Sacrifice another creature: Create a Clue token. Activate only during your turn. (It's an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")
Mono-Black commander
Azula, Ruthless Firebender
Attack to make temporary mana, then spend it during combat before the window closes.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 7 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 363 decks.
- Build toward: combat-speed mana sinks, +1/+1 counter support, haste, evasion, and combat protection, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Removal before combat can blank the turn. Haste and protection are real deck-building costs.
- Card text: Firebending 1 (Whenever this creature attacks, add {R}. This mana lasts until end of combat.) Whenever Azula attacks, you may discard a card. Then you get an experience counter for each player who discarded a card this turn. {2}{B}: Until end of turn, Azula gets +1/+1 for each experience counter you have and gains menace.
Mono-Black commander
Nyla, Shirshu Sleuth
Use a focused artifact package so ordinary setup pieces become fuel for the commander.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 7 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 244 decks.
- Build toward: artifact tokens and artifact payoffs, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Graveyard hate and exile can cut off the engine. Include a fair backup plan.
- Card text: When Nyla enters, exile up to one target creature card from your graveyard. If you do, you lose X life and create X Clue tokens, where X is that card's mana value. (A Clue token is an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.") At the beginning of your end step, if you control no Clues, return target card exiled with Nyla to its owner's hand.
Mono-Black commander
Azula, On the Hunt
Attack to make temporary mana, then spend it during combat before the window closes.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 7 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 80 decks.
- Build toward: combat-speed mana sinks, artifact tokens and artifact payoffs, haste, evasion, and combat protection, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Removal before combat can blank the turn. Haste and protection are real deck-building costs.
- Card text: Firebending 2 (Whenever this creature attacks, add {R}{R}. This mana lasts until end of combat.) Whenever Azula attacks, you lose 1 life and create a Clue token. (It's an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")
Mono-Black commander
Lo and Li, Twin Tutors
Stock the graveyard or hand with Lessons so the command-zone payoff stays online.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 7 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 66 decks.
- Build toward: Lessons and graveyard setup, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Sweepers reset the board that makes the commander scale.
- Card text: When Lo and Li enter, search your library for a Lesson or Noble card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle. Noble creatures you control and Lesson spells you control have lifelink.
Golgari | 1 pick
Best Golgari Avatar Commanders
- 1 eligible new commander exist in this exact color identity.
- 1 is included under the series cap.
Golgari commander
Long Feng, Grand Secretariat
Treat the graveyard and expendable permanents as resources instead of incidental value.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 1 eligible new leader. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 919 decks.
- Build toward: +1/+1 counter support, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Graveyard hate and exile can cut off the engine. Include a fair backup plan.
- Card text: Whenever another creature you control or a land you control is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
Rakdos | 2 picks
Best Rakdos Avatar Commanders
- 5 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Rakdos commander
Ozai, the Phoenix King
Bank red mana across phases, attack immediately, and keep six mana floating for protection.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 5 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 7,681 decks.
- Build toward: combat-speed mana sinks, X spells, instant-speed interaction, power boosts.
- Pressure point: Six mana is a serious starting point. Removal before combat loses both the attacker and the firebending turn.
- Card text: Trample, firebending 4, haste If you would lose unspent mana, that mana becomes red instead. Ozai has flying and indestructible as long as you have six or more unspent mana.
Rakdos commander
Fire Lord Ozai
Treat the graveyard and expendable permanents as resources instead of incidental value.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 5 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 967 decks.
- Build toward: haste, evasion, and combat protection, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Removal before combat can blank the turn. Haste and protection are real deck-building costs.
- Card text: Whenever Fire Lord Ozai attacks, you may sacrifice another creature. If you do, add an amount of {R} equal to the sacrificed creature's power. Until end of combat, you don't lose this mana as steps end. {6}: Exile the top card of each opponent's library. Until end of turn, you may play one of those cards without paying its mana cost.
Dimir | 2 picks
Best Dimir Avatar Commanders
- 4 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Dimir commander
Lo and Li, Royal Advisors
Build around the text that is unique to this leader, then reserve enough slots for draw, interaction, and protection.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 4 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 1,506 decks.
- Build toward: +1/+1 counter support, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Repeated commander removal can turn the engine into an expensive setup piece. Do not skip standalone draw and interaction.
- Card text: Whenever an opponent discards a card or mills one or more cards, put a +1/+1 counter on each Advisor you control. {2}{U/B}: Target player mills four cards. (They put the top four cards of their library into their graveyard.)
Dimir commander
Azula, Cunning Usurper
Attack to make temporary mana, then spend it during combat before the window closes.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 4 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 1,290 decks.
- Build toward: cast-from-exile and entry triggers, combat-speed mana sinks, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Removal before combat can blank the turn. Haste and protection are real deck-building costs.
- Card text: Firebending 2 (Whenever this creature attacks, add {R}{R}. This mana lasts until end of combat.) When Azula enters, target opponent exiles a nontoken creature they control, then they exile a nonland card from their graveyard. During your turn, you may cast cards exiled with Azula and you may cast them as though they had flash. Mana of any type can be spent to cast those spells.
Orzhov | 1 pick
Best Orzhov Avatar Commanders
- 1 eligible new commander exist in this exact color identity.
- 1 is included under the series cap.
Orzhov commander
Hei Bai, Spirit of Balance
Use a focused artifact package so ordinary setup pieces become fuel for the commander.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 1 eligible new leader. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 731 decks.
- Build toward: artifact tokens and artifact payoffs, +1/+1 counter support, haste, evasion, and combat protection, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Removal before combat can blank the turn. Haste and protection are real deck-building costs.
- Card text: Whenever Hei Bai enters or attacks, you may sacrifice another creature or artifact. If you do, put two +1/+1 counters on Hei Bai. When Hei Bai leaves the battlefield, put its counters on target creature you control.
Grixis | 2 picks
Best Grixis Avatar Commanders
- 2 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Grixis commander
Fire Lord Azula
Attack, make mana, then copy every spell you cast while Azula is still in combat.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 2 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 37,024 decks.
- Build toward: cheap instants and permanent spells, flash enablers, attack triggers, combat protection.
- Pressure point: Azula has to attack and survive while you cast. One removal spell can shut off the entire copy turn.
- Card text: Firebending 2 (Whenever this creature attacks, add {R}{R}. This mana lasts until end of combat.) Whenever you cast a spell while Fire Lord Azula is attacking, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. (A copy of a permanent spell becomes a token.)
Grixis commander
Mai and Zuko
Attack to make temporary mana, then spend it during combat before the window closes.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 2 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 707 decks.
- Build toward: combat-speed mana sinks, high Ally density, artifact tokens and artifact payoffs, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Removal before combat can blank the turn. Haste and protection are real deck-building costs.
- Card text: Firebending 3 You may cast Ally spells and artifact spells as though they had flash.
Mardu | 1 pick
Best Mardu Avatar Commanders
- 1 eligible new commander exist in this exact color identity.
- 1 is included under the series cap.
Mardu commander
Fire Lord Zuko
Cast from exile to grow the whole team while Zuko's attack funds the next spell.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 1 eligible new leader. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 13,053 decks.
- Build toward: impulse draw and other cast-from-exile effects, Allies, power boosts, combat protection.
- Pressure point: The deck needs exile effects, a wide board, and a safe attack. Drawing the wrong half makes Zuko look ordinary.
- Card text: Firebending X, where X is Fire Lord Zuko's power. (Whenever this creature attacks, add X {R}. This mana lasts until end of combat.) Whenever you cast a spell from exile and whenever a permanent you control enters from exile, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
Five-Color | 2 picks
Best Five-Color Avatar Commanders
- 2 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Five-Color commander
Avatar Aang // Aang, Master of Elements
Cycle through all four bending actions for cards, then transform into a five-color cost-reduction engine.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 2 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 19,734 decks.
- Build toward: repeatable airbend, waterbend, earthbend, and firebending enablers, five-color fixing.
- Pressure point: The front face needs four different bending actions in one turn. Without a dense, cheap enabler package, Aang never reaches the payoff.
- Card text: Avatar Aang: Flying, firebending 2 Whenever you waterbend, earthbend, firebend, or airbend, draw a card. Then if you've done all four this turn, transform Avatar Aang. // Aang, Master of Elements: Flying Spells you cast cost {W}{U}{B}{R}{G} less to cast. (This can reduce generic costs.) At the beginning of each upkeep, you may transform Aang, Master of Elements. If you do, you gain 4 life, draw four cards, put four +1/+1 counters on him, and he deals 4 damage to each opponent.
Five-Color commander
Hei Bai, Forest Guardian
Find a Shrine on entry, then turn legendary enchantments into an unblockable Spirit board.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 2 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 6,910 decks.
- Build toward: Shrines, legendary enchantments, five-color fixing, Spirit payoffs.
- Pressure point: Five colors and a high Shrine count pull the mana and card packages in different directions. The deck needs disciplined fixing.
- Card text: When Hei Bai enters, reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a Shrine card. You may put that card onto the battlefield. Then shuffle. {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}, {T}: For each legendary enchantment you control, create a 1/1 colorless Spirit creature token with "This token can't block or be blocked by non-Spirit creatures."