Best Commanders
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Dec. 25, 2015, 6:13 a.m. by Aztraeuz
I would like to start a discussion on who people think are the best Commanders for each color/combination. I have my own personal preferences, like everyone else but I was curious who we as a community could agree on.
Examples, for Mono-Blue I like Arcum Dagsson. Mono-Red I like Krenko, Mob Boss. Esper(WUB) I feel as though Zur the Enchanter is at the top. Simic I feel is insanely powerful with Kruphix, God of Horizons.
Obviously I am biased towards Tribal decks as noted by my favorite Commander choices. In certain cases I can't look past a certain character and try to build around them, like Grixis I can't help but prefer Nicol Bolas to all others. Same with Orzhov, I just love Athreos, God of Passage.
With all of our choices, color combinations, etc, I expect we should hear a lot of different answers. Who are your favorite Commanders and why?
My choices tend to be who I think makes for the most powerful deck in a competitive environment.
cerealkyra says... #3
- Probably Kemba, Kha Regent. Or Avacyn, Angel of Hope. Mono white is kinda a wash.
- Arcum, Azami, Lady of Scrolls or Talrand, Sky Summoner. I really like Stitcher Geralf and Lorthos, the Tidemaker.
- At some point, the Mono B control list barely needs a commander, but its probably Erebos, God of the Dead. Ghoulcaller Gisa if you want to go the zombie route. Personal fave is Toshiro Umezawa
- Krenko for goblins, Purphoros, God of the Forge as his understudy/lieutenant, with Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker being a close runner up, and personal favourite.
- Easily the most contentious(mono-colour), I'd vote Omnath, Locus of Mana or Titania, Protector of Argoth. Personal favourite: Seton, Krosan Protector, because winning with Helix Pinnacle, Hurricane or the vitriol-inciting Gilt-Leaf Archdruid is my kind of fun.
December 25, 2015 7:32 a.m.
Omnath, Locus of Mana, Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest, and for white, Hokori, Dust Drinker
December 25, 2015 7:55 a.m.
CharlesMandore says... #5
EDH Generals by Tier is something a lot similar to this, but a lot more in depth.
December 25, 2015 8:08 a.m.
NoSoyYucateco says... #7
Obviously this is going to be extremely subjective, but for me, the best commanders are 1) effective at what they do, 2) contribute significantly to a cohesive strategy or play style, and 3) have some degree of flavor. Many might disagree with the last one, and that's fine. The reason I like commander is that you can do so many things you can't reliably/competitively/legally do in other formats, and that it tends to be more sociable and friendly than 1v1.
So, like you, I love tribal commanders. I have a Kodama of the South Tree spirit deck. Kodama's very weak in terms of mono-green commanders, and green spirits tend to not be great (especially in comparison to elves), but I freaking love playing that deck. It's fun, fair, and nobody else plays it--mainly because it's really not that great!
That said, I still pull off wins fairly reliably with it if I can Greater Good into my Iname, Life Aspect, then drop a Myojin of Life's Web bomb.
December 25, 2015 10:11 a.m.
poopiepoopiepants1 says... #8
Oloro, Ageless Ascetic. My personal favorite is Mizzix of the Izmagnus because Izzet, and casting thousands of spells I think is really fun!
December 25, 2015 10:39 a.m.
canterlotguardian says... #10
I usually tend to default to 3-color Commanders, so I'll chime in on that front.
Temur- Riku of Two Reflections
Jeskai- Narset, Enlightened Master
Sultai- Damia, Sage of Stone
Mardu- Tariel, Reckoner of Souls
Abzan- Teneb, the Harvester
Jund- Xira Arien (personal favorite; strongest would probably be Prossh, Skyraider of Kher)
Esper- Sen Triplets
Naya- Gahiji, Honored One
Grixis- Sedris, the Traitor King
Bant- Rafiq of the Many
December 25, 2015 11:01 a.m. Edited.
You'd be hard pressed to convince me that Teneb is better than Karador, Ghost Chieftain. The same is true with Tariel and Kaalia.
December 25, 2015 11:30 a.m.
I'm usually against these types of lists, but I'll bite. These are my picks for the tri-color combos:
Esper - Zur the Enchanter
Grixis - Marchesa, the Black Rose
Jund - Prossh, Skyraider of Kher
Naya - Marath, Will of the Wild
Bant - Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
Mardu - Kaalia of the Vast
Temur - Animar, Soul of Elements
Abzan - Ghave, Guru of Spores
Jeskai - Narset, Enlightened Master
Sultai - Damia, Sage of Stone
December 25, 2015 11:42 a.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #13
What do you mean by 'best'? Most powerful? Most competitive? Easiest to cast? Most fun to play? something else entirely?
December 25, 2015 12:02 p.m.
Well the entire list is subjective but I suppose to me the idea of most powerful would mean the most competitive. The most competitive isn't necessarily the most fun.
I also asked the question because when I see certain colors, I can't unsee certain Commanders. Like in Jeskai, who doesn't run Narset, Enlightened Master?
On the flip side, I find that Grixis is really lacking in just one overwhelmingly powerful Commander. Grixis answers will depend on the person which is why I said I prefer Nicol Bolas, he is just my favorite character in Magic. I don't believe that most Grixis has very competitive Commanders.
December 25, 2015 5:53 p.m.
griffstick says... #15
@canterlotguardian I agree with your list on every color except Grixis the best grixis is Thraximundar.
December 26, 2015 12:13 a.m.
griffstick says... #16
- : Maralen of the Mornsong
- : Omnath, Locus of Mana
- : Purphoros, God of the Forge
- : Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
- : Avacyn, Angel of Hope
- : Sapling of Colfenor
- : Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts
- : Olivia Voldaren
- : Phenax, God of Deception
- : Xenagos, God of Revels
- : Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
- : Selvala, Explorer Returned
- : Mizzix of the Izmagnus
- : Iroas, God of Victory
- : Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
December 26, 2015 1:04 a.m.
freezerboy says... #17
Really? Teysa, Envoy of Ghosts? Not Teysa, Orzhov Scion?
December 29, 2015 1:15 p.m.
griffstick says... #18
Yea. no your right. I'm going from personal experience. I have not gone against Teysa, Orzhov Scion yet. Your right she is the better teysa
December 29, 2015 2:33 p.m.
griffstick I'm having problems understanding your choices. I know you agreed with the three color combos as well.
Do you really find Tariel, Reckoner of Souls to be better than Kaalia of the Vast?
Is Maralen of the Mornsong really your idea of the best Black Commander? Maybe I'm missing how she works but it seems counterproductive to give your opponents combo pieces.
December 29, 2015 5:32 p.m.
griffstick says... #20
Nope Kaalia of the Vast is better. You could argue Maralen of the Mornsong is not the best commander cause other good ones. Witch ones are you having a a hard time agreeing with?
December 29, 2015 5:46 p.m.
The only problem with this thread is that this community is posting their favorite cards, not the best ones in their opinion. However, there is a blurred line between the Favorite and Best commanders, so...
December 29, 2015 6:35 p.m.
I can see that. I don't personally see how any Simic Commander can beat Kruphix, God of Horizons. I find he is just so strong. I need to probably look at other deck lists to see why other people like certain other Commanders.
What I was really trying to do was stimulate conversation. Find out why people made their choices.
December 29, 2015 8:26 p.m.
griffstick says... #23
Pretty much all the gods are very strong commanders I could have made my list all the gods and not much complaints would have followed cause they are all great. I wanted to stay away from the gods a lil bit but leaving the ones I feel I have liked and played against the most.
December 29, 2015 8:36 p.m.
freezerboy says... #24
It also depends on the style of gameplay you prefer, whether it's combo, control, etc. Some would say that Kaalia of the Vast is too gimmicky to be the best choice if you find yourself unable to play her. I've seen many people with that deck get easily thwarted once her casting costs gets too high and are left with a hand full of high cost creatures.
December 29, 2015 8:48 p.m.
The main reason I asked about Maralen of the Mornsong is I just honestly can't see why anyone would give that answer. It has me curious.
December 29, 2015 9:06 p.m.
I agree on the Kaalia point. Kaalia should be running things to help her if she can't stick on the field. Her colors fit good tutors and board wipes. I personally believe that a successful Kaalia has to run Land Destruction. Once she sticks to the field you have to blow lands. That enables her to stay on the field due to a lack of mana for your opponents to clear her with.
Kaalia should also run stuff like Quicksilver Amulet for those times when she isn't on the field. Command Beacon is also a great tool for almost any EDH deck.
December 29, 2015 11:36 p.m.
griffstick says... #27
If you get her out on turn one with a Dark Ritual you can tutor for hand destruction before your opponent has a way to deal with it and you'll be tutoring for lands while he tutors for the answer because you have no cards in your hand you have to get lands
December 30, 2015 12:28 a.m.
freezerboy says... #28
As plausible as that is, it's pretty specific for a first hand. Suppose you'd have to put resources into haste abilities as well as land destruction to counter the downfalls of using a commander like that. It would be interesting to have this list be commanders and their subsequent requirements for competitiveness. Like Kruphix, God of Horizons needing card draw to be useful. Or Teysa, Orzhov Scion needing white creatures or token generation.
December 30, 2015 12:33 p.m. Edited.
The problem I see is that Maralen of the Mornsong is a Mono-Black Commander. My knowledge is really being tested here but I can't think of LD cards in Mono-Black. How many turns have to be wasted tutoring for the mana to play such a card?
December 30, 2015 1:16 p.m.
Sinkhole Befoul Grip of Desolation all come to mind.
December 30, 2015 1:41 p.m.
NecroPony Those are indeed LD but the mana costs for only one land each seems excessive and not a viable strategy.
griffstick said Hand Disruption. Then you would have to tutor for lands.
It was freezerboy that suggested the LD route.
My real questions lie within the Win Conditions. How would she win? I expect that after what we have all said already we are looking at a 1v1 only Commander. She gets exponentially worse the more opponents you have.
December 30, 2015 9:21 p.m.
griffstick says... #32
iAzire you are 100% correct. Its the one on one game where she shines. Usually Ob nixilis, the unshackled or Painful Quandary is great after any mass card discard spell like Dark Deal cause no one is drawing cards now. There are many ways to do this that works great to her advantage. After dark deal cast Ensnaring Bridge ext ext you build her right you understand. Plus the mind games she creates at the table is fun. It's like poker
December 31, 2015 1:26 a.m. Edited.
freezerboy says... #33
I was talking about Kaalia of the Vast, not Maralen of the Mornsong. Of course you'd need to have a discard mechanic for her. That's the only way to control a game where people get to tutor every turn.
December 31, 2015 12:36 p.m.
freezerboy says... #35
I suppose a Maralen of the Mornsong deck would be the only real way to keep the game fun while abusing discard mechanics. I've wanted to make a deck like that, but found that people tend to get real unhappy when using discard mechanics...especially with cards like Tainted AEther etc. Going to have to put that one in the works.
December 31, 2015 2:52 p.m.
NoSoyYucateco says... #36
Yeah, Maralen of the Mornsong + Teferi's Puzzle Box = a table full of unhappy players.
December 31, 2015 5:41 p.m.
The funniest way I have seen Maralen played is cards that make everyone reveal their hands, then play cards like Phyrexian Revoker to suck them from everyone's hands. It was horrible to play against, but hilarious to watch.
January 1, 2016 1:07 a.m.
NoSoyYucateco says... #39
Necropotence is fantastic against Maralen of the Mornsong, but you basically need it out turn 3 or you're stuck.
K34 says... #2
It's really all just up to personal preference. Like, Sydri, Galvanic Genius; I think she's great, and easy to combo with. Other people think she's junk.
December 25, 2015 7:17 a.m.