Mono-Blue | 10 picks
Best Mono-Blue Avatar Commanders
- 15 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 10 are included under the series cap.
Mono-Blue commander
Katara, Waterbending Master
Play at instant speed to collect experience, then attack to turn those counters into card selection.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 15 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 3,197 decks.
- Build toward: +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 you cast a spell during an opponent's turn, you get an experience counter. Whenever Katara attacks, you may draw a card for each experience counter you have. If you do, discard a card.
Mono-Blue commander
Wan Shi Tong, All-Knowing
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 15 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 2,032 decks.
- Build toward: efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Sweepers reset the board that makes the commander scale.
- Card text: Flying When Wan Shi Tong enters, target nonland permanent's owner puts it into their library second from the top or on the bottom. Whenever one or more cards are put into a library from anywhere, create two 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens with "This token can't block or be blocked by non-Spirit creatures."
Mono-Blue commander
Wan Shi Tong, Librarian
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 15 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 1,917 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: Flash Flying, vigilance When Wan Shi Tong enters, put X +1/+1 counters on him. Then draw half X cards, rounded down. Whenever an opponent searches their library, put a +1/+1 counter on Wan Shi Tong and draw a card.
Mono-Blue commander
Princess Yue
Keep Ally density high enough for the command-zone trigger to matter every turn.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 15 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 1,796 decks.
- Build toward: landfall and land-creature support, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Creature removal can become land disruption. Keep enough ordinary mana sources and recursion to recover.
- Card text: When Princess Yue dies, if she was a nonland creature, return this card to the battlefield tapped under your control. She's a land named Moon. She gains "{T}: Add {C}." (She's still legendary.) {T}: Scry 2.
Mono-Blue commander
Yue, the Moon Spirit
Build a board that can help pay waterbend costs without giving up the turn's normal mana development.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 15 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 1,426 decks.
- Build toward: cheap creatures and artifacts to tap, 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: Flying, vigilance Waterbend {5}, {T}: You may cast a noncreature spell from your hand without paying its mana cost. (While paying a waterbend cost, you can tap your artifacts and creatures to help. Each one pays for {1}.)
Mono-Blue commander
Gran-Gran
Stock the graveyard or hand with Lessons so the command-zone payoff stays online.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 15 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 763 decks.
- Build toward: cheap creatures and artifacts to tap, Lessons and graveyard setup, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Graveyard hate and exile can cut off the engine. Include a fair backup plan.
- Card text: Whenever Gran-Gran becomes tapped, draw a card, then discard a card. Noncreature spells you cast cost {1} less to cast as long as there are three or more Lesson cards in your graveyard.
Mono-Blue commander
Tui and La, Moon and Ocean
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 15 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 656 decks.
- Build toward: cheap creatures and artifacts to tap, +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 Tui and La become tapped, draw a card. Whenever Tui and La become untapped, put a +1/+1 counter on them.
Mono-Blue commander
The Blue Spirit
Keep Ally density high enough for the command-zone trigger to matter every turn.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 15 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 642 decks.
- Build toward: combat-speed mana sinks, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Sweepers reset the board that makes the commander scale.
- Card text: You may cast the first creature spell you cast each turn as though it had flash. Whenever a nontoken creature you control enters during combat, draw a card.
Mono-Blue commander
The Unagi of Kyoshi Island
Build a board that can help pay waterbend costs without giving up the turn's normal mana development.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 15 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 448 decks.
- Build toward: cheap creatures and artifacts to tap, 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: Flash Ward:Waterbend {4}. (Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays {4}. They can tap their artifacts and creatures to help. Each one pays for {1}.) Whenever an opponent draws their second card each turn, you draw two cards.
Mono-Blue commander
The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan
Keep Ally density high enough for the command-zone trigger to matter every turn.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 15 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 252 decks.
- Build toward: artifact tokens and artifact payoffs, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Sweepers reset the board that makes the commander scale.
- Card text: Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, create a Clue token. (It's an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.") {T}: Until end of turn, target artifact token you control becomes a 3/1 Construct artifact creature with flying.
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.
Simic | 2 picks
Best Simic Avatar Commanders
- 2 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Simic commander
Guru Pathik
Stock the graveyard or hand with Lessons so the command-zone payoff stays online.
- 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 133 decks.
- Build toward: Lessons and graveyard setup, +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: When Guru Pathik enters, look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a Lesson, Saga, or Shrine card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. Whenever you cast a Lesson, Saga, or Shrine spell, put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature you control.
Simic commander
The Lion-Turtle
Stock the graveyard or hand with Lessons so the command-zone payoff stays online.
- 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 119 decks.
- Build toward: Lessons and graveyard setup, 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: Reach, vigilance When The Lion-Turtle enters, you gain 3 life. The Lion-Turtle can't attack or block unless there are three or more Lesson cards in your graveyard. {T}: Add one mana of any color.
Izzet | 2 picks
Best Izzet Avatar Commanders
- 2 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Izzet commander
Sokka, Bold Boomeranger
Stock the graveyard or hand with Lessons so the command-zone payoff stays online.
- 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 350 decks.
- Build toward: Lessons and graveyard setup, artifact tokens and artifact payoffs, +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: When Sokka enters, discard up to two cards, then draw that many cards. Whenever you cast an artifact or Lesson spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Sokka.
Izzet commander
Professor Zei, Anthropologist
Keep Ally density high enough for the command-zone trigger to matter every turn.
- 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 149 decks.
- Build toward: efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Graveyard hate and exile can cut off the engine. Include a fair backup plan.
- Card text: {T}, Discard a card: Draw a card. {1}, {T}, Sacrifice Professor Zei: Return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand. Activate only during your turn.
Azorius | 2 picks
Best Azorius Avatar Commanders
- 3 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Azorius commander
Aang, Swift Savior // Aang and La, Ocean's Fury
Use temporary exile as protection and value, then recast the cards that matter most.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 3 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 1,528 decks.
- Build toward: cast-from-exile and entry triggers, cheap creatures and artifacts to tap, +1/+1 counter support, haste, evasion, and combat protection, efficient interaction.
- Pressure point: Removal before combat can blank the turn. Haste and protection are real deck-building costs.
- Card text: Aang, Swift Savior: Flash Flying When Aang enters, airbend up to one other target creature or spell. (Exile it. While it's exiled, its owner may cast it for {2} rather than its mana cost.) Waterbend {8}: Transform Aang. // Aang and La, Ocean's Fury: Reach, trample Whenever Aang and La attack, put a +1/+1 counter on each tapped creature you control.
Azorius commander
Katara, Water Tribe's Hope
Build a board that can help pay waterbend costs without giving up the turn's normal mana development.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 3 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 1,296 decks.
- Build toward: cheap creatures and artifacts to tap, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Sweepers reset the board that makes the commander scale.
- Card text: Vigilance When Katara enters, create a 1/1 white Ally creature token. Waterbend {X}: Creatures you control have base power and toughness X/X until end of turn. X can't be 0. Activate only during your turn. (While paying a waterbend cost, you can tap your artifacts and creatures to help. Each one pays for {1}.)
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.
Temur | 1 pick
Best Temur Avatar Commanders
- 1 eligible new commander exist in this exact color identity.
- 1 is included under the series cap.
Temur commander
Iroh, Grand Lotus
Use the graveyard as a second hand during your turn, with one-mana flashback for Lessons.
- 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 14,703 decks.
- Build toward: Lessons, self-mill and looting, cheap instants and sorceries, graveyard protection.
- Pressure point: Graveyard hate switches off the flashback engine, and six mana makes commander tax painful.
- Card text: Firebending 2 During your turn, each non-Lesson instant and sorcery card in your graveyard has flashback. The flashback cost is equal to that card's mana cost. (You may cast a card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) During your turn, each Lesson card in your graveyard has flashback {1}.
Bant | 2 picks
Best Bant Avatar Commanders
- 3 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Bant commander
Katara, the Fearless
Double every triggered ability from an Ally and build around the strongest repeatable triggers.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 3 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 9,863 decks.
- Build toward: Allies with strong triggered abilities, blink effects, token makers, protection.
- Pressure point: Katara does nothing without Allies that have useful triggers. Removing her before those triggers resolve cuts the payoff in half.
- Card text: If a triggered ability of an Ally you control triggers, that ability triggers an additional time.
Bant commander
Aang, at the Crossroads // Aang, Destined Savior
Animate lands, grow them with counters, and turn the mana base into the deck's main threat package.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 3 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 6,449 decks.
- Build toward: creatures with mana value four or less, blink and airbend effects, land-creature support.
- Pressure point: The deck can expose creatures and animated lands to the same sweeper. Keep recursion and noncreature interaction in reserve.
- Card text: Aang, at the Crossroads: Flying When Aang enters, look at the top five cards of your library. You may put a creature card with mana value 4 or less from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order. When another creature you control leaves the battlefield, transform Aang at the beginning of the next upkeep. // Aang, Destined Savior: Flying Land creatures you control have vigilance. At the beginning of combat on your turn, earthbend 2. (Target land you control beco...
Jeskai | 2 picks
Best Jeskai Avatar Commanders
- 2 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Jeskai commander
Sokka, Tenacious Tactician
Every noncreature spell makes an Ally and gives the entire team a combat keyword package.
- 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 11,160 decks.
- Build toward: cheap noncreature spells, Allies, token payoffs, protection from sweepers.
- Pressure point: The deck needs creatures and noncreature spells in balance. A sweeper removes the Allies that turn prowess into a clock.
- Card text: Menace, prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) Other Allies you control have menace and prowess. Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, create a 1/1 white Ally creature token.
Jeskai commander
Sokka and Suki
Keep Ally density high enough for the command-zone trigger to matter every turn.
- 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 3,254 decks.
- Build toward: high Ally density, artifact tokens and artifact payoffs, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Sweepers reset the board that makes the commander scale.
- Card text: Whenever Sokka and Suki or another Ally you control enters, attach up to one target Equipment you control to that creature. Whenever an Equipment you control enters, create a 1/1 white Ally creature token.
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."