What are the best MTG commanders in 2024? Picking the right leader for your deck is essential in Magic: The Gathering’s EDH format. Your commander is the legendary creature that leads your other 99 cards into combat, dictates the colors you can use, and shapes your strategy, so it’s pretty vital to make the right choice. Read on for our expert recommendations on the strongest commanders in the game right now.
First rule: not every commander is created equal. Some are powerful deck-pilots born for the role, while others are not cut out for the pressures of leadership. When there are around 1,300 potential commanders in Magic: the Gathering, and all of them are looking at you with pleading eyes – hands, talons, or tentacles clasped earnestly – how do you pick the best MTG commander to be your champion?
With our help! This guide will clue you in to the top commanders available. Once you’ve picked a commander, we can also help you learn how to build a Commander deck. Or if that sounds like a lot of work, we can recommend some high-powered Commander precon decks.
The best MTG commanders are:
Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice
A flexible classic.
Pros
- One of the most flexible commanders on our list
- Can prop up multiple busted strategies
Cons
- Lacks the sheer power of other commander options
While not quite the dominant force she was in 2016, Atraxa still makes a great commander. With strong colors, a fairly low cost, a powerful statline, and excellent keywords for combat, this angel horror has a lot going for her even before we get to her ability.
Simply put, Atraxa lets you proliferate at the end of each turn, meaning anything with a counter on it gets another of the same type. MTG Proliferate works with everything from the classic +1/+1 counter to poison counters, if you want to get real nasty.
Remember that planeswalker loyalties can be boosted with proliferate too, so be sure to throw a few of the best MTG planeswalker cards into your Atraxa decks.
Key cards for an Atraxa Commander deck:
- Tekuthal, Inquiry Dominus
- Ezuri, Stalker of Spheres
- Evolution Sage
Edgar Markov
Does excellent work from the Command zone.
Pros
- Dangerous before you cast him
- Snowballs out of control fast
Cons
- Slow to recover
- Weak to control
The Commander 2017 set was all about tribal decks, each focused on a single MTG creature type: cats, wizards, dragons, and vampires. Edgar Markov led the cats, no, sorry, the vampires deck, and quickly rose to the status of fan favorite.
With the ability to create a swarm of little nippers, then pump them up each time he attacks, Edgar naturally works best in a horde-style deck, full of the best MTG vampires, that can swiftly overwhelm opponents.
Red, white and black (Mardu) colors give you access to all the top removal cards, and best of all, Edgar’s eminence ability means you don’t even have to put him in harm’s way. He can sit pretty in the Command zone, churning out mini-mes in safety.
Edgar later appeared on a new card in the Innistrad: Crimson Vow set. The modern version can turn into a coffin, which is a neat party trick, but it pales in comparison to the power of the original.
Key cards for an Edgar Commander deck:
- Skullclamp
- Blood Artist
- Stromkirk Captain
Kess, Dissident Mage
Sling spells from the grave.
Pros
- Powerful combo enabler
- Can be casual or cEDH level
Cons
- Players might overestimate your threat level
The next Commander on our list was also in the Commander 2017 set, but because she’s such a nonconformist, Kess, Dissident Mage was slinking around amidst the 99 instead of standing up front where she belongs. Kess, Dissident Mage is undoubtedly one of the best MTG commanders of all time, but where the strength of other commanders on this list is plain to see, Kess has a subtle kind of power.
Her effect, allowing you to play one spell a turn from your graveyard, is pretty tasty. You can build a fun deck with this commander, filled with lots of big spells that Kess can squeeze twice the juice out of. However, there are also some broken combos available to Kess that gives her dangerous game-winning potential and a firm place in cEDH (competitive EDH).
With Kess, cards like Tainted Pact can be used twice in a row to exile your entire deck, while also fetching Thassa’s Oracle, allowing you to win the game on the spot.
We’ll caution you now, that just because you can create a game-breaking combo in Commander, doesn’t mean you always should. Some playgroups don’t mind powerful MTG combos, while others loathe them. Generally, it’ll depend how often you’re pulling the same shtick.
Key cards for a Kess Commander deck:
- Brainstorm
- Dark Ritual
- Rhystic Study
Kenrith, The Returned King
Unlimited options.
Pros
- Can play any card in the format
- Unpredictable
Cons
- Doesn’t lend itself to any particular theme
- Attracts removal
Five-color commanders are some of the strongest because they allow you to use any card in the game, for ultimate flexibility. As a result, they’re a little controversial, since many lend themselves to less focused strategies and decks, where you just want to cram in all the best cards in your collection.
But we think that’s as valid a playstyle as any – and it’s hard to pass up jack-of-all-trades commanders when they’re as good as Kenrith, the Returned King.
Kenrith shines because all of his abilities are useful, and some are invaluable. You only need white mana to cast him, so you can have him out on the field and gradually unlock new abilities as you play new lands.
He’s a great beginner commander, since you can experiment to your heart’s content, and it’s hard to go too wrong. Synergy is not required – just brute strength!
Key cards for a Kenrith Commander deck:
- Agatha of the Vile Cauldron
- Your pick of the best MTG cards of all time!
Muldrotha, The Gravetide
Bring everything back, again and again.
Pros
- Enables lots of different permanent based strategies
- Can win the game quickly once she arrives
Cons
- Very high mana cost
- Could do with extra protection
Do you hate it when your opponents’ blow up your stuff? Then Muldrotha, the Gravetide is the best commander for you. Allowing you to play one card of each permanent type from your graveyard each and every turn, this noxious elemental turns your graveyard into an extension of your hand.
Unfortunately, with a high cost and incredible ability, Muldrotha is one of those commanders that attracts removal like a magnet. On the bright side, her Sultai colors (black, green and blue) give you access to a ton of power outside of her own impressive strength, including excellent creatures, removal, and card draw.
And when you do manage to protect her for long enough to make good use of her resurrection powers, your opponents are going to have a bad time.
Key cards for a Muldrotha Commander deck:
- Sakura-Tribe Elder
- Seal of Primordium
- The Git-Rog Monster
Korvold, Fae-Cursed King
Sacrifice for fun and profit.
Pros
- Incredible value engine
- Can kill players with Commander damage
Cons
- You’ll always be the table’s Big Bad
Originally designed to lead a Brawl deck, Korvold, Fae-Cursed King is just as good when playing the role of commander. We suppose when you’re a monarch, being in charge just comes naturally.
Korvold’s insatiable demand for sacrifices, which at first appears to be a drawback – perhaps even some sort of curse of fae origin – can, with a little deckbuilding finesse, be turned into a great asset. Korvold does half the work for you, since his ability draws cards each time you sacrifice a permanent.
If you want to play with cards from Korvold’s home set, Throne of Eldraine, there’s some definite potential for an amusing food-themed deck, helmed by a greedy dragon king that just wants snacks. However, a deck that revolves around creature tokens, death triggers and treasure is probably the more optimal choice. Korvold is a good commander pick if you enjoy crafting synergies and having lots of toys to play with.
Key cards for a Korvold Commander deck:
- Mayhem Devil
- Tireless Provisioner
- Mirkwood Bats
Tymna the Weaver
The most powerful partner.
Pros
- Works well with any partner
- Provides lots of fun brewing opportunities
Cons
- Not so strong outside of cEDH
Tymna the Weaver may not look like much from the outset – sure, she draws cards when you hit people, whatever. But never underestimate the power of friendship. Tymna is a winning commander choice because she has the Partner ability, which – like Tymna herself – was introduced in the Commander 2016 set. That means you can pair her up with any legendary creature that also has ‘Partner’ to give them joint leadership of your commander deck.
Two commanders are better than one, since they unlock new card options and new synergies, as well as ensuring you always have a creature to play out. Tymna makes this list simply because she’s one of the most versatile creatures with the Partner ability. The card draw she provides will be valuable, whatever strategy you’re going for.
Tymna the Weave is most often paired up with the MTG merfolk card Thrasios, Triton Hero. That’s because this combination gives you access to four colors and two commanders with generically powerful abilities. They don’t make Partners like this anymore, and for good reason.
Key cards for a Tymna Commander deck:
- Thassa’s Oracle
- Birds of Paradise
- Orcish Bowmasters
Niv-Mizzet, Parun
Spell sling, spell ping.
Pros
- Can’t be countered, so you’ll always get value
- Can often win games on the spot
Cons
- High mana cost
- Removal spell lightning rod
Another dangerous dragon for your perusal, Niv-Mizzet, Parun is a top-tier commander for players who like to sling spells and unleash game-winning combos. Allowing you to deal damage each time you draw a card, and draw a card each time anyone casts an instant or sorcery spell, it’s hard not to get value out of this commander.
Whenever a player tries to kill Niv-Mizzet, the blow is softened a little by the extra card their attempt rewards you with.
Niv-Mizzet can’t be countered, which is excellent on a hard-to-cast commander. Your own counter spells, meanwhile, become a joy to use, as each one now draws you two cards: one for your counter spell, one for your opponent’s fizzled spell. The two damage you can then zap them with really just adds insult to injury.
All the card draw Niv provides will help you dig for one of the unstoppable combos you can play in this deck. Here’s one – enchant Niv-Mizzet with Curiosity for one mana, draw a single card however you choose, then draw your whole deck and dish out about 70 damage. Hooray!
Key cards for a Niv-Mizzet Commander deck:
- Counterspell
- Guttersnipe
- Goblin Electromancer
The Gitrog Monster
Destroying your own lands never felt so good.
Pros
- Ramp and card draw makes deck very resilient
- High meme potential
- Unique and powerful toolkit
Cons
- Can get very complex to play
A froggy chap with a winning smile, The Gitrog Monster has a series of unique, versatile abilities that make for a powerful MTG commander. It lets you play more lands, allowing for copious ramp, and you get to draw cards each time you put lands in the graveyard.
Cards like Crucible of Worlds will help you bring valuable MTG lands back to the battlefield so you can sacrifice them again and again for endless utility, and even a simple Evolving Wilds can be extremely useful for Gitrog.
Whether you’re using discard outlets or sacrificing lands, there’s plenty of ways to generate absurd value with this commander. You can also abuse infinite combos, which makes The Gitrog Monster a viable combo deck in cEDH.
Key cards for a Gitrog Monster Commander deck:
- Crucible of Worlds
- Azusa, Lost But Seeking
- Ramunap Excavator
Isshin, Two Heavens as One
Twice the attack triggers.
Pros
Cons
Isshin, Two Heavens as One has just one simple ability, but its elegance and simplicity belies its power. This high tech samurai doubles up all your attack triggers, letting you generate absurd value whenever you swing at your opponents.
Not the MTG commander for anyone who likes playing a slower, defensive game, Isshin wants you to strike hard and strike fast. While all Isshin decks will want to be attacking, this is another commander that can be built in a few ways, as there are loads of strong creature cards to choose from, and plenty of room for building up subthemes.
Even better, the very affordable mana cost of three means you don’t have to worry too much about incoming removal, as you’ll be able to play Isshin, Two Heavens as One a few times before it becomes too taxing.
Key cards for an Isshin Commander deck:
- Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin
- Sword of the Animist
- Aurelia, the Warleader
Obeka, Splitter of Seconds
Endless triggers.
Pros
- Lots of deckbuilding flexibility
- Makes some unusual cards really strong
Cons
- Fairly commander-centric
- Obeka needs some help to survive and connect
Obeka, Splitter of Seconds was the commander everyone went wild for in Outlaws of Thunder Junction, and it’s not hard to see why. Generating multiple upkeep steps is just such a weird ability, and there’s no end to the number of interesting, unique strategies you could try with her.
There’s plenty of obvious stuff, like gaining a ton of value from cards like Phyrexian Arena, which are good even when they only trigger once a turn. But you could also try to win with Mechanized production, take advantage of Suspend to cheat permanents out, or load Obeka up with as much equipment as possible and see if you can take someone out with commander damage.
The only trouble with this strategy is that some Obeka cards may feel a little anaemic if you’re unable to keep her alive and make contact in combat. You’ll need to think carefully, and split your deck between payoffs, and support for Obeka’s attacks.
Still, you always get at least one upkeep step a turn, so even if your commander gets removed, you’re likely to generate incremental value each and every turn.
Key cards for an Obeka Commander deck:
- Swiftfoot Boots
- Dragonmaster Outcast
- Replicating Ring
- Aether Tunnel
Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow
Leaps from the Command zone.
Pros
- Can cheat around commander tax
- Your card draw can kill people
Cons
- Relies on vulnerable little creatures
- Predictable play pattern
If you like ninjas, then Magic: The Gathering has a brilliant commander option. With Yuriko, your whole deal is striking with low-cost, evasive creatures, then launching your commander into play with ninjitsu, and reaping the rewards: plenty of card draw, and plenty of pain.
The best thing about Yuriko, is that as long as you have an unblocked creature, you can always get her into play for two mana. This is huge – it means no matter how many times your opponents deal with your commander, it’s always a threat.
The rest of your deck is not so resilient to a board wipe – and a board wipe can seriously set you back, though you can usually hold up a counterspell or two to protect your ninja army.
Yuriko makes for a good budget Commander deck too – little unblockable guys don’t tend to cost too much.
Key cards for a Yuriko Commander deck:
- Ingenious Infiltrator
- Changeling Outcast
- Brainstorm
- Ornithopter
- Counterspell
Sauron, the Dark Lord
Builds an unstoppable orc army.
Pros
- Hard to remove
- Several synergistic abilities
Cons
- High mana cost
- Can be slow to get started
A six-cost commander in an MTG color combination not exactly known for ramp is a tough sell, but if you can hang on and play Sauron, you’re all set to have a great time, as he’s a self-fuelling engine.
Once Sauron comes down, he starts to roll what can feel like an unstoppable boulder. No one wants to pay the MTG Ward cost and sacrifice a valuable permanent, perhaps their commander, to try and get rid of him, and every time anyone casts a spell, you get another Amass trigger.
Soon your Orcs will be enormous, something on your board will be very hard to block, and you’ll be drawing several cards a turn. Sauron works great with several cards from the Lord of the Rings set, which have a very high power level. And you can bring in all the old Amass cards from War of the Spark, too.
Key cards for a Sauron Commander deck:
- Dreadhorde Invasion
- Barad-dûr
- Call of the Ring
If you really want to enter the big leagues, check out our cEDH tier list, for truly competitive commanders. And if Commander isn’t the only MTG format you play, you might also be interested in our guide to the best MTG Arena decks.
Source: Wargamer
