How this list is organized: mono-color sections keep up to ten leaders and each matching multicolor identity keeps up to two. EDHREC deck counts order each exact identity.
Golgari — picks 1–2
Golgari commanders
3 eligible new commanders exist in this exact printed identity; 2 are included under the series rules.
Golgari commander
High Perfect Morcant
Blight and -1/-1 counters become a resource, so the deck wants expendable creatures, counter movement, or payoffs for weakened bodies.
What the card does: Whenever High Perfect Morcant or another Elf you control enters, each opponent blights 1. (They each put a -1/-1 counter on a creature they control.) Tap three untapped Elves you control: Proliferate. Activate only as a sorcery. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
Why it ranks: Within the Golgari identity, 3 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 16,780 decks for this commander.
Golgari commander
Lluwen, Imperfect Naturalist
Token production gives the deck both material and scaling payoffs, with the command zone defining which permanents should fill the list.
What the card does: When Lluwen enters, mill four cards, then you may put a creature or land card from among the milled cards on top of your library. {2}{B/G}{B/G}{B/G}, {T}, Discard a land card: Create a 1/1 black and green Worm creature token for each land card in your graveyard.
Why it ranks: Within the Golgari identity, 3 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 1,808 decks for this commander.
Rakdos — pick 3
Rakdos commanders
1 eligible new commander exists in this exact printed identity; 1 is included under the series rules.
Rakdos commander
Grub, Storied Matriarch // Grub, Notorious Auntie
Blight and -1/-1 counters become a resource, so the deck wants expendable creatures, counter movement, or payoffs for weakened bodies.
What the card does: Menace Whenever this creature enters or transforms into Grub, Storied Matriarch, return up to one target Goblin card from your graveyard to your hand. At the beginning of your first main phase, you may pay {R}. If you do, transform Grub. // Menace Whenever Grub attacks, you may blight 1. If you do, create a tapped and attacking token that's a copy of the blighted creature, except it has "At the beginning of the end step, sa...
Why it ranks: Within the Rakdos identity, 1 eligible new option exists; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 4,759 decks for this commander.
Orzhov — picks 4–5
Orzhov commanders
2 eligible new commanders exist in this exact printed identity; 2 are included under the series rules.
Orzhov commander
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight
Blight and -1/-1 counters become a resource, so the deck wants expendable creatures, counter movement, or payoffs for weakened bodies.
What the card does: Flying, lifelink Creature spells you cast have convoke. (Your creatures can help cast those spells. Each creature you tap while casting a creature spell pays for {1} or one mana of that creature's color.) At the beginning of your first main phase, you may pay {B}. If you do, transform Eirdu. // Flying, lifelink Each other nontoken creature you control has persist. (When it dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it...
Why it ranks: Within the Orzhov identity, 2 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 5,161 decks for this commander.
Orzhov commander
Abigale, Eloquent First-Year
The rules text gives the deck a concrete build-around, while the remaining slots must supply interaction, card flow, and a reliable way to close.
What the card does: Flying, first strike, lifelink When Abigale enters, up to one other target creature loses all abilities. Put a flying counter, a first strike counter, and a lifelink counter on that creature.
Why it ranks: Within the Orzhov identity, 2 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 3,061 decks for this commander.
Jund — picks 6–7
Jund commanders
2 eligible new commanders exist in this exact printed identity; 2 are included under the series rules.
Jund commander
Auntie Ool, Cursewretch
Blight and -1/-1 counters become a resource, so the deck wants expendable creatures, counter movement, or payoffs for weakened bodies.
What the card does: Ward—Blight 2. (To blight 2, a player puts two -1/-1 counters on a creature they control.) Whenever one or more -1/-1 counters are put on a creature, draw a card if you control that creature. If you don't control it, its controller loses 1 life.
Why it ranks: Within the Jund identity, 2 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 17,920 decks for this commander.
Jund commander
The Reaper, King No More
Blight and -1/-1 counters become a resource, so the deck wants expendable creatures, counter movement, or payoffs for weakened bodies.
What the card does: When The Reaper enters, put a -1/-1 counter on each of up to two target creatures. Whenever a creature an opponent controls with a -1/-1 counter on it dies, you may put that card onto the battlefield under your control. Do this only once each turn.
Why it ranks: Within the Jund identity, 2 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 5,553 decks for this commander.
Sultai — pick 8
Sultai commanders
1 eligible new commander exists in this exact printed identity; 1 is included under the series rules.
Sultai commander
Maralen, Fae Ascendant
The rules text gives the deck a concrete build-around, while the remaining slots must supply interaction, card flow, and a reliable way to close.
What the card does: Flying Whenever Maralen or another Elf or Faerie you control enters, exile the top two cards of target opponent's library. Once each turn, you may cast a spell with mana value less than or equal to the number of Elves and Faeries you control from among cards exiled with Maralen this turn without paying its mana cost.
Why it ranks: Within the Sultai identity, 1 eligible new option exists; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 20,696 decks for this commander.
Abzan — pick 9
Abzan commanders
1 eligible new commander exists in this exact printed identity; 1 is included under the series rules.
Abzan commander
Doran, Besieged by Time
Combat is the value engine, making haste, evasion, and protection structural parts of the deck rather than optional upgrades.
What the card does: Each creature spell you cast with toughness greater than its power costs {1} less to cast. Whenever a creature you control attacks or blocks, it gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the difference between its power and toughness.
Why it ranks: Within the Abzan identity, 1 eligible new option exists; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 11,996 decks for this commander.
Five-Color — picks 10–11
Five-Color commanders
2 eligible new commanders exist in this exact printed identity; 2 are included under the series rules.
Five-Color commander
Ashling, the Limitless
Token production gives the deck both material and scaling payoffs, with the command zone defining which permanents should fill the list.
What the card does: Elemental permanent spells you cast from your hand gain evoke {4} as you cast them. (If you cast a spell for its evoke cost, it's sacrificed when it enters.) Whenever you sacrifice a nontoken Elemental, create a token that's a copy of it. The token gains haste until end of turn. At the beginning of your next end step, sacrifice it unless you pay {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}.
Why it ranks: Within the Five-Color identity, 2 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 24,254 decks for this commander.
Five-Color commander
Mass of Mysteries
Token production gives the deck both material and scaling payoffs, with the command zone defining which permanents should fill the list.
What the card does: First strike, vigilance, trample At the beginning of combat on your turn, another target Elemental you control gains myriad until end of turn. (Whenever it attacks, for each opponent other than defending player, you may create a token copy that's tapped and attacking that player or a planeswalker they control. Exile the tokens at end of combat.)
Why it ranks: Within the Five-Color identity, 2 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two most adopted multicolor leaders. EDHREC currently reports 2,153 decks for this commander.