Best Tribal Commanders

Commander (EDH) forum

Posted on March 5, 2016, 2:23 a.m. by Aztraeuz

I'm trying to compile a list of the best Tribal Commanders in order to build decks around them. I am looking for all Tribes, strong and weak. Those with a lot of support and those with little.

I am also looking for all color variations. For example I will use Zombies and my personal choices for best.

- Ghoulcaller Gisa

- Grimgrin, Corpse-Born

- Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord

- Thraximundar

- Sidisi, Brood Tyrant

So those are my examples for best Zombie Tribal Commanders for different color variations. What are your thoughts on the best Commanders for each Tribe and what is their best color variation? Which Tribes do you think are strong and which are weak?

MenacingBunny says... #2

Snake: Kaseto, Orochi Archmage

Ally: General Tazri

Bird: Kangee, Aerie Keeper

Knight: Alesha, Who Smiles at Death

March 5, 2016 2:51 a.m.

RoarMaster says... #3

Without a doubt best tribal commander Sliver Overlord. Its the most tribal of tribes there is. And the best commander for that tribe.

March 5, 2016 4:08 a.m.

Nocturnal Outcast says... #4

Sliver Queen , I run a sliver queen deck and love it, most people claim Sliver Overlord is the better choice, but queen all the way, she combos with so many things.

Horde of Notions : There is someone in my playgroup that runs Horde of Nations elemental tribal edh, its pretty strong, gives my queen deck a run for its money.

Wort, Boggart Auntie : Another tribal EDH deck from my playgroup, only faced it few times, queen overwhelmed it.

Ezuri, Renegade Leader : The last tribal deck in my playgroup, its decent, when they get the right hand they can be a huge threat.

March 5, 2016 4:20 a.m.

RoarMaster says... #5

Nocturnal_Outcast Sliver queen does combo with a ton of things, but so does overlord. Overlord has the benefit of finding the queen too, and any protection that may be required. Wheras yes, queen can potentially combo a turn or so sooner, but is far more susceptible to disruption/removal, and provides no card advantage really. Yes you can spawn 1/1 slivers, but they are just chumps unless you have other 'good' slivers in play. Those slivers most easily and reliably searched for with overlord. He is simply more resilient and reliable of a commander than queen, even though there is potential for a faster combo with her.

March 5, 2016 6:05 a.m.

Gidgetimer says... #6

The thing with slivers is that Overlord is a repeatable tutor so he is going to be the best general for them. Anything Queen can do overlord can do because you simply search out the queen when you want to combo off with her.

Now for some interesting tribal commanders-

Reaper King- Scarecrow tribal, which would probably turn out to be changeling tribal.

Sygg, River Guide or Sygg, River Cutthroat- Merfolk tribal.

Gahiji, Honored One- Beast tribal. I like Gahiji much more than Marath. I admit that I dislike Marath simply because of his day 1 errata and not for any good reason. But with me disliking him it leaves only one beast tribal commander.

March 5, 2016 6:29 a.m.

Wildsong says... #7

Rhys the Redeemed Elves
Krenko, Mob Boss Goblin
Darien, King of Kjeldor Soldiers
Avacyn, Angel of Hope Angels
Ghoulcaller Gisa Zombies

March 5, 2016 7:41 a.m.

Karns_Pyromancer says... #8

Allies: Roon of the Hidden Realm. He's better than Tazri.

Druids: Seton, Krosan Protector. Side note, you know how many Elves are druids?!

March 5, 2016 10:37 a.m.

Karns_Pyromancer says... #9

O and one last one, Clerics Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim.

March 5, 2016 10:41 a.m.

MagicalHacker says... #10

Here are the best commanders for each tribe for each color combination where possible (apologize in advance for repeating earlier comments, I just want to be thorough):

---

Ally

• {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}: General Tazri

• {R}{W}: Munda, Ambush Leader

Angel:

• {R}{W}{B}: Kaalia of the Vast

Atog:

• {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}: Atogatog

Barbarian:

• {R}: Lovisa Coldeyes

Berserker:

• {R}: Lovisa Coldeyes

Bird:

• {W}: Soraya the Falconer

• {W}{U}: Kangee, Aerie Keeper

Cat:

• {W}: Brimaz, King of Oreskos

• {G}: Jedit Ojanen of Efrava

Cephalid:

• {U}: Aboshan, Cephalid Emperor

Cleric:

• {W}: Heliod, God of the Sun

Demon:

• {B}: Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath

• {B}{R}: Boris Devilboon

• {R}{W}{B}: Kaalia of the Vast

Dragon:

• {R}: Zirilan of the Claw

• {W}{U}: Ojutai, Soul of Winter

• {U}{B}: Silumgar, the Drifting Death

• {B}{R}: Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury

• {R}{G}: Atarka, World Render

• {G}{W}: Dromoka, the Eternal

• {R}{B}{G}: Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund

• {R}{W}{B}: Kaalia of the Vast

• {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}: Scion of the Ur-Dragon

Drake:

• {U}: Talrand, Sky Summoner

Druid:

• {G}: Seton, Krosan Protector

Elemental:

• {R}: Rakka Mar

• {G}: Titania, Protector of Argoth

• {W}{U}: Noyan Dar, Roil Shaper

• {R}{G}: Omnath, Locus of Rage

• {R}{G}{W}: Marath, Will of the Wild

• {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}: Horde of Notions

Elf:

• {G}: Ezuri, Renegade Leader

• {B}{G}: Nath of the Gilt-Leaf

• {G}{W}: Rhys the Redeemed

Faerie:

• {UB}: Oona, Queen of the Fae

Fox:

• {W}: Patron of the Kitsune

Fungus:

• {G}{BG}: Thelon of Havenwood

Goblin:

• {R}: Krenko, Mob Boss

• {B}{R}: Wort, Boggart Auntie

• {R}{RG}: Wort, the Raidmother

Gorgon:

• {B}: Hythonia the Cruel

Graveborn:

• {B}{R}{G}: sek'kuar the deathkeeper

Griffin:

• {W}: Zuberi, Golden Feather

Human:

• {R}{G}: Stangg

Illusion:

• {U}: Meloku the Clouded Mirror

Knight:

• {B}: Haakon, Stromgald Scourge

Kobold:

• {B}{R}: Rohgahh of Kher Keep

• {B}{R}{G}: Prossh, Skyraider of Kher

Kor:

• {W}: Nahiri, the Lithomancer

Merfolk:

• {W}{U}: Sygg, River Guide

Minion:

• {B}: Balthor the Defiled

Moonfolk:

• {U}: Patron of the Moon

Nightmare:

• {B}: Chainer, Dementia Master

Ninja:

• {U}: Higure, the Still Wind

Ogre:

• {R}: Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs

Rat:

• {B}: Marrow-Gnawer

Rebel:

• {W}: Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero

Rogue:

• {UB}: Oona, Queen of the Fae

Samurai:

• {W}: Nagao, Bound by Honor

• {R}: Iizuka the Ruthless

• {G}: Isao, Enlightened Bushi

Sand:

• {R}{G}{W}: Hazezon Tamar

Saproling:

• {G}: Nemata, Grove Guardian

• {R}{G}: Ulasht, the Hate Seed

• {R}{G}{W}: Rith, the Awakener

• {W}{B}{G}: Ghave, Guru of Spores

Scarecrow:

• Any combination of colors: Reaper King

Shaman:

• {G}: Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro

Sliver:

• {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}: Sliver Overlord

Snake:

• {G}: Sosuke, Son of Seshiro

• {B}{G}: Pharika, God of Affliction

• {G}{U}: Kaseto, Orochi Archmage

Soldier:

• {W}: Brimaz, King of Oreskos

Spirit:

• {W}: Celestial Kirin

• {U}: Cloudhoof Kirin

• {B}: Infernal Kirin

• {R}: Skyfire Kirin

• {G}: Kodama of the South Tree

• {W}{B}: Teysa, Orzhov Scion

• {B}{G}: Iname as One

Thopter:

• {R}: Pia and Kiran Nalaar

Thrull:

• Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder

Treefolk:

• {G}: Verdeloth the Ancient

Vampire:

• {B}: Anowon, the Ruin Sage

Warrior:

• {R}: Lovisa Coldeyes

• {G}: Sosuke, Son of Seshiro

• {B}{G}: Nath of the Gilt-Leaf

• {R}{G}: Wort, the Raidmother

• {G}{W}: Rhys the Redeemed

• {G}{W}{G}: Hazezon Tamar

Wizard:

• {U}: Azami, Lady of Scrolls

Zombie:

• {U}: Stitcher Geralf

• {B}: Ghoulcaller Gisa

• {B}{G}{U}: Sidisi, Brood Tyrant

Other:

• {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}: Karona, False God

March 5, 2016 11:41 a.m.

PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #11

No Olivia Voldaren for Vampires?

March 5, 2016 12:29 p.m.

MagicalHacker says... #12

She is a liability in a vampire themed deck, because if an opponent gets her, they have the capability of getting all your sweet vampires.

March 5, 2016 1:21 p.m. Edited.

MagicalHacker says... #13

Maybe I should change my mind about Sliver Overlord and Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund for the same reason, as any Clone can make you a very sad player.

March 5, 2016 1:23 p.m.

Aztraeuz says... #14

Thank you MagicalHacker, that is what I was looking for. I need help deciding my next decks, especially Mono-White Tribal.

I have different Commanders listed on my profile as my chosen Commanders. I'm looking to complete my lists lol.

For the Tribes you listed many options, which do you think are the strongest for each color variation? Even if they are different Tribes.

March 5, 2016 2:01 p.m.

Wildsong says... #15

And MagicalHacker closed the thread lol.

March 5, 2016 2:45 p.m.

swkelly89 says... #16

i think Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim is a way better cleric commander.

March 5, 2016 7:32 p.m.

Wildsong says... #17

I don't think that Brimaz, King of Oreskos is slightly better than Darien, King of Kjeldor. Brimaz is a Voltron card.

Brimaz has a terrible time trying comeback after a wipe while darien can generate board presence instantly with the right lands.

March 5, 2016 9:50 p.m.

ComradeJim270 says... #18

Azami, Lady of Scrolls is the most powerful tribal commander, hands-down; and one of the most powerful commanders overall.

Krenko, Mob Boss is not at the same power level, but I do think he's still the runner-up for "most powerful tribal commander". He is definitely the best in mono-red and the best for goblins.

In either case, you're actually not doing anything like tribal aggro, you're using tribal synergies to enable combos.

March 5, 2016 10:58 p.m.

Wildsong says... #19

Ahhh Krenko, Mob Boss + Purphoros, God of the Forge i feel the heat of the love.

I saw this single combo end a 2 headed giant instantly.

March 6, 2016 5:31 p.m.

zcstover1 says... #20

Vela the Night-Clad is an amazing ninja commander, though not a ninja herself, she allows for the ability to use all the ninjas, and gives all the ninjas intimidate

March 10, 2016 10:44 p.m.

K1smagicbullet says... #21

Thank you so much. Ive been searching the web for all of these answers

March 16, 2016 3:50 a.m.

beakedbard says... #22

Sygg, River Cutthroat works as a decent rogue commander as well.

March 16, 2016 8:04 a.m.

MagicalHacker says... #23

If we're gonna talk about unconventional tribal commanders, Rosheen Meanderer loves Hydras.

March 16, 2016 8:48 a.m.