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.
Mono-Blue — picks 1–7
Mono-Blue commanders
7 eligible new commanders exist in this exact printed identity; 7 are included under the series rules.
Mono-Blue commander
Bilbo, Thief in the Night
An attack opens another spell from the graveyard while off-hand spells get cheaper.
What the card does: Spells you cast from anywhere other than your hand cost {1} less to cast. Whenever Bilbo attacks, you may cast an artifact, instant, or sorcery spell from your graveyard. If an instant or sorcery spell cast this way would be put into your graveyard, exile it instead.
Bilbo combines a discount with a repeatable opportunity to cast an artifact, instant, or sorcery from the graveyard. The attack trigger does not make that spell free, so reserve mana after deploying and protecting him. Cheap artifacts and useful interaction keep the graveyard stocked without demanding an all-in combo plan.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Blue identity, 7 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 689 decks for this commander.
Mono-Blue commander
The Lord of the Eagles
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: Flash This spell costs {X} less to cast, where X is the total power of creatures you control with flying. Flying
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Blue identity, 7 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 407 decks for this commander.
Mono-Blue commander
Gandalf, Shadow's Foe
Repeatable card flow is the engine; the best builds maximize the trigger while protecting the commander that keeps the hand moving.
What the card does: Vigilance When Gandalf enters, exile up to three target lands you control, then return them to the battlefield tapped under their owner's control. Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, draw a card and put a +1/+1 counter on Gandalf.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Blue identity, 7 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 193 decks for this commander.
Mono-Blue commander
Elrond, Moon-Reader
Repeatable card flow is the engine; the best builds maximize the trigger while protecting the commander that keeps the hand moving.
What the card does: Whenever you activate an ability of a creature, draw a card. This ability triggers only once each turn. {5}{U}{U}: Exile up to two other target nonland permanents you control. Return those cards to the battlefield under their owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Blue identity, 7 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 149 decks for this commander.
Mono-Blue commander
Bilbo, Luckwearer // Burglar's Plot
Repeatable card flow is the engine; the best builds maximize the trigger while protecting the commander that keeps the hand moving.
What the card does: Bilbo can't be blocked. Whenever Bilbo deals combat damage to a player, draw a card, then discard a card. // Exchange control of two target nonland permanents that share a card type. (Then exile this card. You may cast the creature later from exile.)
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Blue identity, 7 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 126 decks for this commander.
Mono-Blue commander
Gandalf, Wandering Wizard
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: Ward {3} (Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays {3}.) {6}: Gandalf's owner shuffles him into their library and draws three cards.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Blue identity, 7 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 20 decks for this commander.
Mono-Blue commander
Bilbo Baggins, Burglar // Take a Glance
Repeatable card flow is the engine; the best builds maximize the trigger while protecting the commander that keeps the hand moving.
What the card does: When Bilbo Baggins enters, draw a card. // Scry 2. (Then exile this card. You may cast the creature later from exile.)
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Blue identity, 7 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 8 decks for this commander.
Simic — picks 8–9
Simic commanders
2 eligible new commanders exist in this exact printed identity; 2 are included under the series rules.
Simic commander
Thranduil the Strategist
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: Other Elves you control have "{T}: Add {G} or {U}." Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, create a 1/1 green Elf creature token.
Why it ranks: Within the Simic identity, 2 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two highest-adoption multicolor leaders. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 759 decks for this commander.
Simic commander
Thranduil, Sindarin Liege // Silvan Rally
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: Other Elves you control get +1/+1. Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, create a 1/1 green Elf creature token. // Mill four cards, then put up to two land cards from among them into your hand. (Then exile this card. You may cast the creature later from exile.)
Why it ranks: Within the Simic identity, 2 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two highest-adoption multicolor leaders. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 608 decks for this commander.
Azorius — picks 10–11
Azorius commanders
3 eligible new commanders exist in this exact printed identity; 2 are included under the series rules.
Azorius commander
Bard, King of Dale
Azorius gets both a token multiplier and a draw multiplier in one commander.
What the card does: Reach, vigilance If you would draw a card except the first one you draw in each of your draw steps, draw two cards instead. If one or more tokens would be created under your control, twice that many of those tokens are created instead.
Bard rewards effects that draw outside the first draw of your draw step and effects that make tokens of any kind. Recruit is a natural fit because it draws and can produce a Soldier after the discard. Token-producing draw engines let the two replacement effects support the same plan, but six mana means the deck should function before Bard arrives.
Why it ranks: Within the Azorius identity, 3 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two highest-adoption multicolor leaders. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 2,410 decks for this commander.
Azorius commander
Bard the Bowman
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: Reach Whenever you draw your second card each turn, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. It gains lifelink until end of turn.
Why it ranks: Within the Azorius identity, 3 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two highest-adoption multicolor leaders. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 70 decks for this commander.
Sultai — pick 12
Sultai commanders
1 eligible new commander exists in this exact printed identity; 1 is included under the series rules.
Sultai commander
Thranduil, the Elvenking
Sultai Elves gain a command-zone toolbox built from the graveyard.
What the card does: Thranduil has all activated abilities of all Elf cards in your graveyard. Whenever another legendary Elf you control enters, draw two cards, then discard a card.
Thranduil turns discarded or milled Elves into activated abilities, so the graveyard doubles as a menu of tools. The legendary-Elf trigger supplies the draw and discard needed to keep that menu growing. Start with abilities you actually want to activate and enough legendary Elves to sustain the hand; an ordinary Elf pile will not exploit both halves equally well.
Why it ranks: Within the Sultai identity, 1 eligible new option exists; this guide keeps the two highest-adoption multicolor leaders. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 6,062 decks for this commander.
Jeskai — pick 13
Jeskai commanders
1 eligible new commander exists in this exact printed identity; 1 is included under the series rules.
Jeskai commander
Gandalf, Party Guest
Legendary Wizards turn the beginning of combat into a free-spell window.
What the card does: At the beginning of combat on your turn, you may cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value X or less from your hand without paying its mana cost, where X is twice the number of legendary Wizards you control.
Gandalf asks for legendary Wizards rather than a generic spellslinger board. Each one increases the mana-value ceiling of the instant or sorcery you can cast from hand at the beginning of your combat. Because this does not require attacking, you can keep utility Wizards safe. The deck still needs card draw: free casting does little when the right spell is not in hand.
Why it ranks: Within the Jeskai identity, 1 eligible new option exists; this guide keeps the two highest-adoption multicolor leaders. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 2,684 decks for this commander.