Still on the search for the best commander who will lead your army into glorious victory? If you have played MTG for a while now and want to take your game to the next level, then you are in the right place. CEDH is widely regarded as the most challenging way to play Magic: the Gathering. It stands for Competitive Elder Dragon Highlander and that’s exactly what it is. Here, you get to choose one of the legendary creatures in the format to lead your army of 99 cards against three other players.
The list of commanders in CEDH is very long as there are many great options to choose from. So, to help you make the right choice, we have compiled a list of some of the best cedh commanders in the format.
One of the most defining features of CEDH is that players build their decks around a single powerful commander. The commander is the most important card in your deck, and it will have a huge impact on your deck’s strategy. In CEDH, there are a few commanders that stand out as being the best of the best. These commanders are powerful, versatile, and can lead you to victory in a variety of different ways. Let’s discuss a few of the most popular and powerful CEDH commanders:
1. Winota, Joiner of Forces: Winota is a Human Soldier creature from the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths set. Her ability creates a 1/1 Human Soldier creature token with haste each time you cast a noncreature spell. This ability is incredibly powerful, as it allows you to quickly build up a large army of creatures that can overwhelm your opponents. Additionally, Winota’s second ability allows her to attack with all other Human creatures you control, making her a potent offensive threat. Overall, Winota is a versatile and powerful commander who can lead you to victory in a variety of ways.
2. Thrasios, Triton Hero: Thrasios is a Merfolk Wizard creature from the Theros Beyond Death set. His first ability allows you to draw a card whenever you cast a spell with converted mana cost 3 or greater. This ability is extremely valuable, as it allows you to maintain a high hand size and keep your options open. Additionally, Thrasios’s second ability allows you to tap him to gain 1 life and scry 1. This ability is helpful for digging for cards you need and keeping your life total high. Overall, Thrasios is a versatile and powerful commander who can provide you with a steady stream of cards and life.
The Power of Paradox: Thrasios, Triton Hero
Thrasios, Triton Hero, stands as a formidable commander in the competitive world of Commander (CEDH). His unique ability to generate an infinite amount of mana and draw a massive number of cards sets him apart as a force to be reckoned with.
Thrasios’s second ability allows him to cast a creature or planeswalker spell from your graveyard each time you cast a spell. This ability creates a self-sustaining engine, as you can repeatedly loop creatures and planeswalkers to generate value and draw cards. By carefully sequencing your spells, you can create an unstoppable combo that overwhelms your opponents.
Thrasios also has a strong synergy with the “Paradoxical Outcome” card. This enchantment grants all of your spells “jump-start.” This means that you can cast a spell from your graveyard by paying its jump-start cost. By combining “Paradoxical Outcome” with Thrasios, you can create an infinite loop that allows you to cast spells for free and draw an unlimited number of cards.
Thrasios is a versatile commander who can fit into a variety of CEDH strategies. He can be paired with partners such as Tymna the Weaver, Tymna the Weaver, or Tymna the Weaver to create powerful combos and control decks. He can also be used as the commander of a midrange deck that focuses on generating value and out-grinding your opponents.
Thrasios is a challenging but rewarding commander to play. His ability to generate infinite mana and draw a massive number of cards makes him a formidable opponent in any Commander match. If you’re looking for a commander who can take your game to the next level, Thrasios is an excellent choice.
A Perfect Partner: Tymna the Weaver |
Unmatched Aggression: Urza, Lord High Artificer
Urza, Lord High Artificer, stands as a colossal powerhouse in the competitive landscape of Commander. His unparalleled aggression and mana manipulation capabilities make him a formidable adversary in the fast-paced world of cEDH.
Urza’s prowess lies in his ability to generate vast amounts of mana through his signature artifacts and cost reducers. Artifacts like Mox Diamond, Sol Ring, and Chrome Mox grant him immediate access to mana, while cards like Mana Crypt and Thran Dynamo amplify his mana production exponentially. Cost reducers such as Voltaic Key and Frantic Search allow him to cast multiple spells per turn, creating overwhelming board states.
With his mana advantage, Urza can deploy a plethora of potent threats. Affinity creatures like Frogmite and Ornithopter become formidable attackers, while Planeswalkers like Karn Liberated and Teferi, Time Raveler provide game-ending abilities. Urza’s signature combo, involving Codex Shredder and Aetherflux Reservoir, can instakill opponents from a distance, making him a deadly finisher.
| Artifact | Effect |
|---|---|
| Mox Diamond | Adds {C} to your mana pool. |
| Sol Ring | Adds {2} to your mana pool. |
| Voltaic Key | Reduces the cost of artifacts you cast by {1}. |
Combo Maestro: Tymna the Weaver
With Tymna the Weaver at the helm, players embark on a perilous path where combos reign supreme. This legendary creature offers an unparalleled synergy with other powerful partners, such as Thrasios, Triton Hero. Together, they form a formidable duo, capable of generating overwhelming card advantage and executing lethal combos with ease.
Commanding Presence
Tymna the Weaver’s unique ability grants a significant advantage in the opening stages of the game. When she enters the battlefield, a player can immediately draw a card. This early card advantage sets the stage for powerful follow-up plays and disrupts opponents’ strategies by denying them vital resources.
Combo Engine
Tymna the Weaver truly shines as a combo maestro when she pairs up with Thrasios, Triton Hero. Their abilities synergize perfectly to create an unstoppable engine that generates infinite mana and draws the entire deck. Tymna’s ability to draw a card on each combat triggers Thrasios’s ability, allowing players to generate copious amounts of mana. This mana can then be used to cast devastating spells, such as Thrasios’s ultimate, which exiles the entire deck and creates a massive army of tokens.
Navigating the Perils
While Tymna the Weaver presents immense combo potential, she also comes with certain risks. Her low toughness makes her vulnerable to removal spells, and her dependence on Thrasios can lead to dead draws. It is crucial to build a deck that mitigates these risks, including cards that provide protection and redundancy for Tymna and Thrasios.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Early card advantage | Vulnerable to removal |
| Powerful combo engine | Can be slow and inconsistent |
| Resilient card draw | Requires specific combo pieces |
Versatile Dominance: Kenrith, the Returned King
Political Prowess
Kenrith’s political prowess stems from his ability to manipulate the board state and negotiate with other players. His anthem effect incentivizes opponents to form alliances with him, as doing so increases the power of their own armies. By playing cautious and selective, Kenrith can navigate political landscapes effectively, forging temporary alliances to advance his own agenda.
Unstoppable Value Engine
Kenrith’s activated abilities provide him with unparalleled value generation. The ability to create an army of 1/1 Knight tokens fuels his token-based strategies, while the threat of a board wipe keeps opponents on edge. Kenrith can repeatedly generate advantage by flickering his utility creatures, gaining consistent card draw, artifact recursion, and land ramp.
Flexible Win Conditions
Kenrith’s versatility extends to his win conditions. He can grind opponents down with his relentless token swarm, overwhelm them with a massive army of pumped-up creatures, or achieve infinite mana to cast devastating spells like [[Exsanguinate]]. His ability to adapt to changing game states and exploit weaknesses makes him a formidable adversary in any situation.
Optimal Card Choices
| Card | Effect |
|---|---|
| [[Smothering Tithe]] | Tax opponents’ spells, generating mana and slowing their progress. |
| [[Teferi’s Protection]] | Protects Kenrith and his army from removal and counterspells. |
| [[Dockside Extortionist]] | Generates treasures upon entering the battlefield, fueling Kenrith’s mana production. |
Indomitable Control: Teferi, Time Raveler
Teferi, Time Raveler stands as the epitome of control in Commander, with an array of abilities that effectively stifle opponents’ plans and secure victory. His signature card, Time Raveler, grants hexproof and shroud, rendering him untouchable by most spells and abilities. This immunity ensures that Teferi can consistently exert his influence throughout the game.
Another potent ability of Teferi is his Static Orb effect, which prevents players from casting more than one spell each turn. This drastically slows down opponents’ tempo and forces them to carefully consider their limited options. The orb effect also interacts synergistically with cards like Windfall and Narset, Parter of Veils, creating devastating effects that cripple opposing decks.
Teferi’s +1 ability is equally potent, allowing him to bounce permanents to their owners’ hands. This effect can effectively remove threats, disrupt combos, and reset the board to Teferi’s advantage. The ability’s cost is minimal, making it easy to activate repeatedly throughout the game.
In addition to his suite of control abilities, Teferi also possesses a powerful ultimate that can end games swiftly. His -8 ability creates an emblem that prevents damage from opponents’ noncreature sources. This protection essentially makes Teferi and his team invulnerable to most forms of damage, paving the way for a crushing victory.
Key Combos and Synergies
Teferi’s control capabilities synergize exceptionally well with a variety of cards. Some notable combinations include:
| Card | Synergy |
|---|---|
| Windfall | Returns opponents’ hands to their libraries, exacerbating the impact of Static Orb. |
| Narset, Parter of Veils | Prevents opponents from casting noncreature spells, further restricting their options under Static Orb. |
| Vedalken Orrery | Allows Teferi to use his abilities at instant speed, enabling surprise disruptions. |
Explosive Potential: Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy
Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy, is an explosive commander that can quickly overwhelm opponents with an army of mana dorks. His ability allows you to draw a card whenever you cast a creature spell with a mana value less than or equal to its power, and his power is equal to the number of mana dorks you control. This means that as you cast more mana dorks, Kinnan’s power increases, allowing you to draw more cards and cast even more creatures. With a few well-timed mana doublers, you can quickly build a massive army of creatures and take control of the game.
Sample Decklist:
| Commander | Creatures | Spells | Lands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy | Birds of Paradise, Llanowar Elves, Elvish Archdruid, Bloom Tender, Zendikar Resurgent | Sol Ring, Mana Crypt, Mox Diamond, Commander’s Sphere, Brainstorm | Forest, Island, Plains, Mountain, Swamp |
Key Combos:
Kinnan can be combined with various cards to create devastating combos:
– Kinnan + Seedborn Muse: This combo allows you to draw your entire deck and cast all of your creatures for free.
– Kinnan + Doubling Season: This combo doubles the number of mana dorks you control, which in turn doubles Kinnan’s power and the number of cards you draw.
– Kinnan + Ezuri, Renegade Leader: This combo gives all of your creatures trample and increases their power by X, where X is the number of mana dorks you control.
With these combos, Kinnan can quickly turn a seemingly harmless board state into a lethal threat.
Eternal Recurrence: Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow
Overview
Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow is a ruthless and cunning ninja commander in Magic: the Gathering. With her ability to perpetually return to the battlefield, she orchestrates deadly sneak attacks that devastate opponents.
Gameplay
Yuriko focuses on evasive creatures and ninjutsu. Her ability triggers when a creature with ninjutsu enters the battlefield, forcing opponents to sacrifice a creature or discard three cards. This repeated denial of resources quickly depletes their defenses.
Card Draw
Yuriko generates immense card advantage through her ninjutsu triggers. Creatures like Thoughtseize, Hymn to Tourach, and Raven’s Crime provide recurring disruption and replenish her hand.
Combo Potential
Yuriko’s repeated returns to the battlefield create windows of opportunity for game-ending combos. Cards like Phyrexian Altar, Blood Celebrant, and Pitiless Plunderer generate infinite mana and draw the entire deck, leading to decisive victories.
Protection
Yuriko’s evasiveness and unblockability make her resilient. Cards like Whispersilk Cloak, Trailblazer’s Boots, and Curiosity protect her from harm, ensuring she can consistently execute her game plan.
Weaknesses
Yuriko struggles against heavy creature removal and mass board wipes. Targeted removal or countermagic can easily disrupt her ninjutsu triggers and slow her down. Additionally, her reliance on creatures can make her vulnerable to board control strategies.
Sample Decklist
| Card Name | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow | 1 |
| Thoughtseize | 4 |
| Hymn to Tourach | 3 |
| Raven’s Crime | 4 |
| Phyrexian Altar | 1 |
| Blood Celebrant | 1 |
| Pitiless Plunderer | 1 |
| Whispersilk Cloak | 1 |
| Trailblazer’s Boots | 1 |
| Curiosity | 1 |
Mana Domination: Golos, Tireless Pilgrim
Golos, Tireless Pilgrim is a 5-color commander who excels at generating and utilizing ridiculous amounts of mana. With his activated ability, you can fetch any land card from your library, opening up a vast toolbox of lands to power up your strategies.
Rampant Mana Production
Golos’s ability allows you to rapidly ramp up your mana production. By fetching dual lands, fetch lands, or mana dorks, you can quickly establish a dominant mana base that fuels explosive threats.
Recursion and Flexibility
Golos synergizes exceptionally well with cards that flicker or otherwise allow you to reuse his ability. With cards like Restoration Angel or Ghostly Flicker, you can repeatedly fetch key lands, disrupting your opponents’ plans and building your own.
Land-Based Strategies
Golos is particularly potent in decks built around land-based strategies. By fetching utility lands like Gaea’s Cradle or Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, you can amplify your mana production or gain powerful abilities.
Interaction and Control
Golos’s ability is also useful for fetching interaction and control elements. By fetching lands like Scavenger Grounds or Bojuka Bog, you can disrupt graveyard-based strategies or remove cards from your opponents’ hands.
Recursion Engine
In certain builds, Golos can act as a recursion engine. By fetching a land like Crucible of Worlds or Ramunap Excavator, you can repeatedly return lands from your graveyard to your hand, ensuring a steady stream of mana.
Field of the Dead Synergy
Golos pairs exceptionally well with Field of the Dead. By fetching basic lands with his ability, you can rapidly generate an army of massive Zombies, overwhelming your opponents with sheer numbers.
Golos, Tireless Pilgrim’s Impact on cEDH
Golos, Tireless Pilgrim has revolutionized cEDH. His ability to generate and manipulate mana has made him a staple in many winning decklists. Players have devised innovative strategies that leverage Golos’s power, making him a formidable force in the competitive Commander format.
Unconventional Aggression: Najeela, the Blade-Blossom
As the leader of the Temur Ascendancy, Najeela, the Blade-Blossom, embodies the ferocity and unpredictability of her people. Her unique ability, Warrior’s Oath, allows her to create an army of fierce warriors that can overwhelm opponents with relentless attacks.
Warrior Tokens
Najeela’s main strategy revolves around generating vast numbers of Warrior tokens. Each time she attacks, she creates a 1/1 Warrior token with haste.
Unpredictability and Protection
Beyond her Warrior summoning ability, Najeela grants her Warriors two crucial advantages. Firstly, her ability to give them haste ensures they can attack immediately, allowing for surprise attacks and quick strikes.
Overwhelming Advantage
Najeela’s true power lies in her ability to scale her army exponentially. Her “Warrior’s Oath” ability triggers each time she attacks, regardless of whether she connects with an opponent. This means that even if she is blocked, she still creates a Warrior token.
Agile Flexibility
Najeela’s strength also lies in her versatility. Her ability to create Warriors from any non-creature spell, including instants, sorceries, and planeswalkers, allows her to quickly adapt to changing situations.
Exploiting Combat Triggers
Many Warrior tokens have combat triggers that can provide additional value. Najeela’s ability to generate a large number of Warriors enables her to maximize the impact of these triggers, such as creating more Warriors, drawing cards, or dealing damage.
Efficient Beatdown
Najeela excels at beating opponents down with an overwhelming horde of Warriors. Her ability to create a large number of creatures for a relatively low mana investment makes her a formidable threat in aggressive decks.
Mana Acceleration
To support her aggressive game plan, Najeela benefits from Mana acceleration strategies such as rituals, mana rocks, and land ramp. This allows her to cast multiple spells in a turn and quickly deploy her Warrior army.
Protection Magic
While Najeela’s Warriors have haste and protection, they can still be vulnerable to board wipes and targeted removal. To mitigate this threat, decks that focus on Najeela often include protection spells and effects that can shield her army from destruction.
Conclusion
Najeela, the Blade-Blossom, is a commander that embodies the essence of unconventional aggression. Her ability to generate vast numbers of Warriors with haste and unpredictable triggers makes her a formidable threat, capable of overwhelming opponents with relentless attacks.
Resilient Aggressor: Magda, Brazen Outlaw
Magda, Brazen Outlaw is a resilient and aggressive commander that utilizes the power of treasure tokens to fuel her strategies.
Key Abilities
Treasure Generation: Magda creates treasure tokens whenever a Dwarf enters the battlefield under her control, granting her access to a steady supply of mana.
Artifact Synergy: Magda cares about artifacts, gaining power and additional abilities from their presence on the battlefield.
Strengths
- Consistently High Damage: Magda’s ability to generate treasure tokens allows for consistent high damage output, even early in the game.
- Resistant to Board Wipes: Magda can quickly rebuild her board state after a board wipe, thanks to her treasure generation and artifact synergy.
- Diverse Win Conditions: Magda offers multiple win conditions, including combat damage, artifact combos, and land destruction.
Weaknesses
- Susceptible to Removal: Magda herself is vulnerable to removal spells, which can disrupt her strategies.
- Limited Card Draw: Magda’s deck lacks inherent card draw, relying on other sources to maintain a steady supply of cards.
10 Key Cards for Magda, Brazen Outlaw
| Card | Effect |
|---|---|
| Dockside Extortionist | Creates treasure tokens equal to the number of opponents you have. |
| Smothering Tithe | Taxes opponents for each spell they cast, creating treasure tokens. |
| Saffi Eriksdotter | Allows you to repeatedly blink creatures, generating treasure tokens. |
| Goblin Welder | Recurs artifacts from your graveyard, including Magda herself. |
| Urza’s Saga | Provides a steady supply of artifacts, granting Magda additional bonuses. |
| Teshar, Ancestor’s Apostle | Recurs artifact and enchantment creatures, synergizing with Magda’s strategies. |
| Hammer of Nazahn | Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control. |
| Sword of Truth and Justice | Grants protection, evasion, and additional combat abilities. |
| Helm of the Host | Creates copies of your creatures, increasing your damage output. |
| Strionic Resonator | Copies Magda’s abilities, doubling her treasure generation potential. |
Best cEDH Commanders
cEDH, or competitive Commander, is a popular format of Magic: the Gathering that emphasizes high-powered decks and strategic play. Choosing the right commander is crucial in cEDH, as it sets the tone for the deck’s strategy and capabilities. Here are some of the most popular and effective cEDH commanders:
- Thassa’s Oracle
- Najeela, the Blade-Blossom
- Kenrith, the Returned King
- Urza, Lord High Artificer
- Muldrotha, the Gravetide
People Also Ask
Who is the strongest cEDH commander?
The strongest cEDH commander depends on the meta and personal preference, but Thassa’s Oracle, Najeela, and Urza are consistently among the most powerful.
What is the most common cEDH commander?
Thassa’s Oracle is currently the most common cEDH commander due to its ability to combo kill opponents quickly and efficiently.
Which color combination is best for cEDH?
Blue is considered the strongest color in cEDH due to its powerful spells, card draw, and counterspells. However, other color combinations such as Black/Red, Red/Green, and White/Blue also have strong cEDH decks.
