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-Red — picks 1–10
Mono-Red commanders
13 eligible new commanders exist in this exact printed identity; 10 are included under the series rules.
Mono-Red commander
Smaug the Magnificent
A hasty Dragon turns an unspent Treasure hoard into immediate damage.
What the card does: Flying, haste Whenever Smaug attacks, he deals damage equal to the number of Treasures you control to any target. At the beginning of your upkeep, create a Treasure token.
Four mana and haste make this Smaug easier to deploy than his larger counterparts. His attack trigger rewards keeping Treasure on the battlefield, while the upkeep trigger builds the hoard slowly without extra help. Treasure production matters more than simply having many Dragons. The attack damage can remove a blocker or hit a player, giving the same engine different uses across a game.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Red identity, 13 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 3,046 decks for this commander.
Mono-Red commander
Gandalf, Goblins' Bane // Flameshape
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: Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, Gandalf gets +1/+1 until end of turn and deals 1 damage to each opponent. // Look at the top two cards of your library and exile them face down. For as long as they remain exiled, you may play them if you control a Wizard.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Red identity, 13 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 412 decks for this commander.
Mono-Red commander
Thorin, Mountain-king
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: Trample When Thorin enters, attach any number of target Equipment you control to target creature you control. When one or more Equipment become attached to that creature this way, that creature deals damage equal to its power to up to one target creature.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Red identity, 13 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 281 decks for this commander.
Mono-Red commander
Balin, Loremaster
Establish an enduring story with three separate qualifying permanents, then build around the bonus that remains enabled for the rest of the game.
What the card does: Storied (If you control three or more artifacts, legendaries, and/or Sagas, you have an enduring story for the rest of the game.) Whenever Balin or another Dwarf you control enters, you may discard your hand. Draw X cards, where X is the number of cards discarded this way. If you have an enduring story, Balin deals X damage to each opponent.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Red identity, 13 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 246 decks for this commander.
Mono-Red commander
Fíli and Kíli, Joyous
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: Haste {T}: Add {R}{R}. Spend this mana only to cast Dwarf, Equipment, and Saga spells.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Red identity, 13 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 52 decks for this commander.
Mono-Red commander
Thorin, Company's Leader
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: Whenever a Dwarf you control deals combat damage to a player or battle, create two Treasure tokens. {10}: Creatures you control gain double strike until end of turn.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Red identity, 13 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 16 decks for this commander.
Mono-Red commander
Glóin the Mighty // Easy Pickings
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: At the beginning of your first main phase, add {R}{R}. // Easy Pickings deals 1 damage to each creature your opponents control. (Then exile this card. You may cast the creature later from exile.)
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Red identity, 13 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 13 decks for this commander.
Mono-Red commander
Dáin Ironfoot
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 Dáin enters, create a colorless Equipment artifact token named Axe with "Equipped creature gets +1/+0" and equip {2}. When you do, attach it to target creature you control. Whenever Dáin attacks, each equipped attacking creature gains double strike until end of turn.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Red identity, 13 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.
Mono-Red commander
Smaug, the Great Calamity // Spew Flame
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 // Spew Flame deals 5 damage to target creature. (Then exile this card. You may cast the creature later from exile.)
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Red identity, 13 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 7 decks for this commander.
Mono-Red commander
Gandalf, Spark Starter
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 When Gandalf enters, he deals 3 damage divided as you choose among one, two, or three targets.
Why it ranks: Within the Mono-Red identity, 13 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the complete mono-color field up to ten. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 7 decks for this commander.
Rakdos — picks 11–12
Rakdos commanders
6 eligible new commanders exist in this exact printed identity; 2 are included under the series rules.
Rakdos commander
Smaug the Impenetrable
Noncombat damage becomes Treasure on an indestructible Dragon.
What the card does: Flying, indestructible, haste Whenever Smaug is dealt noncombat damage, create that many Treasure tokens.
This Smaug rewards damage spells that can hit your own commander. Indestructible lets him survive ordinary lethal damage while the trigger produces Treasure equal to the damage actually dealt. Seven mana is a substantial starting cost, so the list needs ramp and useful damage effects even when Smaug is unavailable. His haste also gives the deck a straightforward combat plan.
Why it ranks: Within the Rakdos identity, 6 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two highest-adoption multicolor leaders. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 4,248 decks for this commander.
Rakdos commander
The Great Goblin
Counters deal damage while creature deaths keep cards available to play.
What the card does: Whenever you put one or more counters on a Goblin, Orc, or Army you control, The Great Goblin deals 2 damage to target opponent. Whenever another Goblin, Orc, or Army you control dies, exile the top card of your library. You may play it until the end of your next turn.
The Great Goblin connects two plans that already fit Rakdos: growing Goblins or Armies and sacrificing creatures for value. Adding several counters to one creature at once is one trigger, not one trigger per counter. The death ability gives a generous play window through your next turn, but you still need mana and normal timing permission to use those exiled cards.
Why it ranks: Within the Rakdos identity, 6 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two highest-adoption multicolor leaders. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 3,719 decks for this commander.
Boros — picks 13–14
Boros commanders
6 eligible new commanders exist in this exact printed identity; 2 are included under the series rules.
Boros commander
Thorin, King of Durin's Folk
Dwarves make Treasure, and the Treasure makes the next attack much larger.
What the card does: Whenever Thorin or another Dwarf you control enters, create a Treasure token. Other Dwarves you control get +1/+0 for each artifact token you control.
Thorin gives a Dwarf deck a resource engine and a damage payoff in the same slot. Dwarf tokens also trigger his Treasure ability, while every artifact token contributes to the power bonus on your other Dwarves. Decide when to spend Treasure on development and when to keep it for combat: the mana you cash in also reduces the team's damage.
Why it ranks: Within the Boros identity, 6 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two highest-adoption multicolor leaders. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 4,340 decks for this commander.
Boros commander
Dáin of the Ancient Halls
A hasty Dwarf commander turns a wide board into damage to every opponent.
What the card does: Vigilance, haste Whenever Dáin attacks, he deals damage equal to the number of Dwarves you control to each opponent.
Dáin does not need to connect in combat for his attack trigger to deal damage. He rewards assembling Dwarves first, then using haste to get a payoff on the turn he enters. Token production helps rebuild after removal, while additional combats give the same board another damage trigger.
Why it ranks: Within the Boros identity, 6 eligible new options exist; this guide keeps the two highest-adoption multicolor leaders. The saved EDHREC snapshot reports 1,269 decks for this commander.
Jeskai — pick 15
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.