Mono-Red | 10 picks
Best Mono-Red Avatar Commanders
- 18 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 10 are included under the series cap.
Mono-Red commander
Avatar Roku, Firebender
Make combat reliable with haste, evasion, and protection, then let the commander turn attacks into value.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 18 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 2,076 decks.
- Build toward: haste, evasion, and combat protection, 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: Whenever a player attacks, add six {R}. Until end of combat, you don't lose this mana as steps end. {R}{R}{R}: Target creature gets +3/+0 until end of turn.
Mono-Red commander
Zuko, Firebending Master
Attack to make temporary mana, then spend it during combat before the window closes.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 18 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 1,669 decks.
- Build toward: combat-speed mana sinks, +1/+1 counter support, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Removal before combat can blank the turn. Haste and protection are real deck-building costs.
- Card text: First strike Firebending X, where X is the number of experience counters you have. (Whenever this creature attacks, add X {R}. This mana lasts until end of combat.) Whenever you cast a spell during combat, you get an experience counter.
Mono-Red commander
Longshot, Rebel Bowman
Keep Ally density high enough for the command-zone trigger to matter every turn.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 18 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 1,439 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: Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.) Noncreature spells you cast cost {1} less to cast. Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, Longshot deals 2 damage to each opponent.
Mono-Red commander
Combustion Man
Make combat reliable with haste, evasion, and protection, then let the commander turn attacks into value.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 18 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 830 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 Combustion Man attacks, destroy target permanent unless its controller has Combustion Man deal damage to them equal to his power.
Mono-Red commander
Zhao, the Moon Slayer
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 18 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 464 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: Menace Nonbasic lands enter tapped. {7}: Put a conqueror counter on Zhao. As long as Zhao has a conqueror counter on him, nonbasic lands are Mountains. (They lose all other land types and abilities and have "{T}: Add {R}.")
Mono-Red commander
Iroh, Dragon of the West
Attack to make temporary mana, then spend it during combat before the window closes.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 18 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 454 decks.
- Build toward: combat-speed mana sinks, +1/+1 counter support, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Removal before combat can blank the turn. Haste and protection are real deck-building costs.
- Card text: Haste Mentor (Whenever this creature attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on target attacking creature with lesser power.) At the beginning of combat on your turn, each creature you control with a counter on it gains firebending 2 until end of turn. (Whenever it attacks, add {R}{R}. This mana lasts until end of combat.)
Mono-Red commander
Zuko, Avatar Hunter
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 18 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 329 decks.
- Build toward: efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Sweepers reset the board that makes the commander scale.
- Card text: Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.) Whenever you cast a red spell, create a 2/2 red Soldier creature token.
Mono-Red commander
Smellerbee, Rebel Fighter
Keep Ally density high enough for the command-zone trigger to matter every turn.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 18 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 245 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: First strike Other creatures you control have haste. Whenever Smellerbee attacks, you may discard your hand. If you do, draw cards equal to the number of attacking creatures.
Mono-Red commander
Chong and Lily, Nomads
Keep Ally density high enough for the command-zone trigger to matter every turn.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 18 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 216 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 one or more Bards you control attack, choose one : • Put a lore counter on each of any number of target Sagas you control. • Creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn for each lore counter among Sagas you control.
Mono-Red commander
Ran and Shaw
Attack to make temporary mana, then spend it during combat before the window closes.
- Why it ranks: This exact identity has 18 eligible new leaders. We keep up to ten mono-color cards and the top two from each multicolor identity. EDHREC currently reports 158 decks.
- Build toward: combat-speed mana sinks, Lessons and graveyard setup, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Removal before combat can blank the turn. Haste and protection are real deck-building costs.
- Card text: Flying, firebending 2 When Ran and Shaw enter, if you cast them and there are three or more Dragon and/or Lesson cards in your graveyard, create a token that's a copy of Ran and Shaw, except it's not legendary. {3}{R}: Dragons you control get +2/+0 until end of turn.
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.
Gruul | 2 picks
Best Gruul Avatar Commanders
- 4 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Gruul commander
Toph, Hardheaded Teacher
Recover a spell, cast through a Lesson shell, and convert every spell into another animated land.
- 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 5,404 decks.
- Build toward: landfall and land-creature support, Lessons and graveyard setup, +1/+1 counter 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 Toph enters, you may discard a card. If you do, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand. Whenever you cast a spell, earthbend 1. If that spell is a Lesson, put an additional +1/+1 counter on that land. (Target land you control becomes a 0/0 creature with haste that's still a land. Put a +1/+1 counter on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.)
Gruul commander
Bumi, Unleashed
Earthbend a large attacker, connect with Bumi, and untap the land base for a land-creature combat.
- 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 4,217 decks.
- Build toward: landfall and land-creature support, haste, evasion, and combat protection, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Creature removal can become land disruption. Keep enough ordinary mana sources and recursion to recover.
- Card text: Trample When Bumi enters, earthbend 4. Whenever Bumi deals combat damage to a player, untap all lands you control. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase. Only land creatures can attack during that combat phase.
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.
Boros | 2 picks
Best Boros Avatar Commanders
- 2 eligible new commanders exist in this exact color identity.
- 2 are included under the series cap.
Boros commander
Iroh, Tea Master
Give away harmless permanents, then turn each gift into a larger Ally token.
- 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 3,766 decks.
- Build toward: artifact tokens and artifact payoffs, +1/+1 counter support, efficient interaction, independent card draw.
- Pressure point: Sweepers reset the board that makes the commander scale.
- Card text: When Iroh enters, create a Food token. At the beginning of combat on your turn, you may have target opponent gain control of target permanent you control. When you do, create a 1/1 white Ally creature token. Put a +1/+1 counter on that token for each permanent you own that your opponents control.
Boros commander
Jet, Freedom Fighter
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 74 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: When Jet enters, he deals damage equal to the number of creatures you control to target creature an opponent controls. When Jet dies, put a +1/+1 counter on each of up to two target creatures.
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}.
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.
Naya | 1 pick
Best Naya Avatar Commanders
- 1 eligible new commander exist in this exact color identity.
- 1 is included under the series cap.
Naya commander
Toph, the First Metalbender
Turn nontoken artifacts into lands, then earthbend every end step to build an artifact-land army.
- 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 32,126 decks.
- Build toward: nontoken artifacts, landfall payoffs, +1/+1 counters, land recursion.
- Pressure point: Turning artifacts into lands makes them vulnerable to land removal, while earthbent lands also die to creature removal.
- Card text: Nontoken artifacts you control are lands in addition to their other types. (They don't gain the ability to {T} for mana.) At the beginning of your end step, earthbend 2. (Target land you control becomes a 0/0 creature with haste that's still a land. Put two +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.)
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."