In the realm of Magic: the Gathering, the cleric class holds a sacred place. These devout spellcasters are renowned for their unwavering faith, their ability to heal the sick and wounded, and their power to turn the tide of battle with divine interventions. Among the pantheon of legendary clerics, a select few stand head and shoulders above the rest, their names forever etched in the annals of the game.
The greatest cleric commanders possess a unique combination of abilities that make them formidable leaders on the battlefield. They command an army of faithful followers, bolstering their ranks with divine blessings and shielding them from harm. Their spells can heal the wounded, resurrect the fallen, and even banish evil spirits. In the hands of a skilled commander, a cleric army can become an unstoppable force, capable of overcoming even the most daunting challenges.
Of course, no discussion of the best cleric commanders would be complete without mentioning Serra, the Benevolent. This legendary angel is the epitome of divine power, and her presence on the battlefield can inspire even the most jaded warriors. Serra’s spells can heal the sick, protect the innocent, and even judge the wicked. With her at your side, victory is all but assured. Other notable cleric commanders include Ephara, God of the Polis, who grants wisdom and foresight to her followers; Ghave, Guru of Spores, who commands an army of saprolings; and Karlov of the Ghost Council, whose undead horde is virtually unkillable. Each of these commanders offers a unique playstyle and abilities, ensuring that there is a cleric commander for every type of player.
The Holy Enforcer: Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor
Indulge in the celestial trickery of Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor, a legendary planeswalker who masquerades as a fervent cleric. Tibalt’s deceptive nature grants him an unparalleled edge in combat, allowing him to exploit the trust of unsuspecting opponents while unleashing a torrent of unholy energy. As a cunning commander, he demands a strategic gameplay, weaving deceit, sacrifice, and fiery retribution into your every move.
The Impostor’s Guise: Cleric’s Cloaking
Tibalt’s genius lies in his ability to seamlessly blend into the ranks of pious clerics. This disguise grants him access to a vast arsenal of clerical abilities, including the power to heal, protect, and inspire his followers. However, beneath this facade lurks the true nature of an infernal deceiver, ready to turn the tide of battle against his unsuspecting foes.
When Tibalt enters the fray as a creature, he becomes a formidable force, boasting immense power and resistance to damage. His unique abilities, such as “Unholy Strength” and “Hellish Ascent,” synergize perfectly with clerical themes, allowing him to buff his allies and decimate his enemies with unholy fury. By cloaking himself as a cleric, Tibalt undermines the very foundation of trust and piety that his opponents rely upon, making him a truly formidable and unorthodox commander.
| Name | Ability |
|---|---|
| Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor | Unholy Strength: +2/+2 to all Clerics you control. Hellish Ascent: Deal 2 damage to each opponent. Create a 2/2 Devil creature token. |
The Cleric Commander of Undying Devotion: Tymna the Weaver
Tymna’s Abilities and Token Production
Tymna’s primary ability, “Undying Devotion,” grants another creature you control a persistent +1/+1 counter when it enters the battlefield. While this buff may seem modest, its cumulative effect over several turns can significantly bolster the size of your board presence. Additionally, Tymna creates a 2/2 Spirit creature token with flying whenever your Cleric creature enters the battlefield.
Tymna synergizes exceptionally well with other token-generating strategies. For instance, pairing her with cards like [Cathars’ Crusade]] or [[Divine Visitation]] can exponentially increase the number of tokens you produce. By combining multiple token sources, you can overwhelm your opponents with a vast army of creatures, making it challenging for them to withstand the onslaught.
In addition to her token-generating abilities, Tymna also possesses inherent card draw capabilities. Her alternative casting cost, which allows you to pay 5 mana to cast her from your graveyard, provides a repeatable form of card advantage. This ability compensates for the potential card disadvantage incurred by using cards like [[Call to the Grave]] or [[Animate Dead]] to reanimate Tymna.
| Commander | Mana Value | Colors | Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tymna the Weaver | (2)(W)(B) | Orzhov | Undying Devotion, Spirit token creation, Card draw |
The Symbiotic Cultist: Ghave, Guru of Spores
Ghave, Guru of Spores, is a legendary Golgari cleric renowned for his mastery over fungal growth and symbiotic relationships. As a commander, he harnesses these abilities to create an army of spore tokens, bolster his creatures, and drain opponents’ life.
Spore Counter Manipulation
Ghave’s signature ability is to generate spore counters on his creatures. Each spore counter grants a +1/+1 power and toughness boost and can be used to create 1/1 Saproling tokens. By sacrificing these tokens, Ghave’s controller can draw cards.
Recursion and Proliferate
Ghave boasts exceptional recursion, allowing him to repeatedly cast creatures from graveyards. Additionally, he grants the proliferate ability to all cards you control. Proliferate allows you to add a counter to any permanent, including spore counters, loyalty counters, and poison counters.
Synergy with Spore-Themed Cards
Ghave synergizes remarkably well with cards that support spore counters and fungus tokens. Some notable examples include:
| Card | Effect |
|---|---|
| Spore Swarm | Generates a large number of spore counters on creatures. |
| Primordial Sage | Converts spore counters to +1/+1 counters. |
| Overwhelming Stampede | Grants trample to creatures with spore counters. |
The Anarchic Archangel: Vial Smasher the Fierce
Vial Smasher the Fierce: The Core of a Tribal Might
As the commander of an Angel tribal deck, Vial Smasher the Fierce excels at empowering her heavenly host. Her ability to grant all Angels under your control +2/+2 and vigilance makes them formidable threats on the battlefield. Her second ability further bolsters the tribe by allowing you to cast Angel spells for reduced costs, enabling you to flood the board with celestial warriors.
Building an Angel Army: Support and Synergies
To maximize Vial Smasher’s potential, it’s crucial to include cards that support and synergize with your Angel army. Creatures like Resplendent Angel and Angel of Invention provide additional buffs and abilities to your Angels. Cards like Luminarch Ascension and Sigarda’s Vanguard can protect your creatures while also increasing their power and utility. By combining these elements, you can create a relentless force that dominates the battlefield.
Additional Strategies: Artifact Interaction and Mana Acceleration
Beyond Angel tribal synergies, Vial Smasher also offers unique opportunities for artifact interaction and mana acceleration. Her third ability allows you to sacrifice artifacts to draw cards, enabling you to access important spells or land drops. Additionally, her color identity (Boros) provides access to efficient mana rocks like Sol Ring and Boros Signet, speeding up your mana production and allowing you to cast your Angels earlier.
Table of Suggested Support Cards for Vial Smasher the Fierce:
| Card Name | Effect |
|---|---|
| Resplendent Angel | Grants all other Angels +1/+1 |
| Angel of Invention | Can create 1/1 Angel tokens |
| Luminarch Ascension | Provides a continuous anthem effect for Angels |
| Sigarda’s Vanguard | Protects Angels from removal |
| Sol Ring | Mana acceleration |
| Boros Signet | Mana acceleration |
The Eldrazi Harbinger: Omnath, Locus of Creation
Omnath, Locus of Creation is a powerful and versatile green creature that can dominate the battlefield from the early game to the late game. As a 5/5 for only 5 mana, Omnath poses a significant threat and is hard to remove.
Power: 5/5
Omnath’s power makes him a formidable creature in the early stages of the game. He can easily overwhelm weaker creatures, protect himself from removal spells, and tank damage effectively.
Toughness: 5
With 5 toughness, Omnath is relatively durable and can withstand numerous attacks. This makes him an excellent target for buffs and allows him to survive even unfavorable encounters.
Trample
Trample grants Omnath the ability to deal excess combat damage to an opponent if the target creature has been blocked. This makes it a great way to finish off opponents who block with smaller creatures.
Landfall
Omnath’s landfall ability, which triggers whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, provides him with additional stats or effects. This makes him a powerful late-game threat, as it encourages you to play more lands into play.
Table of Omnath’s Landfall Effects
| Number of Lands | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1+ | +1/+1 counter |
| 3+ | Scry 2 |
| 5+ | Draw a card |
| 7+ | All lands you control become mountains and gain “{T}: Add {R}.” |
The Devout Ascetic: Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
Early Game Dominance
Derevi’s static ability grants her +1/+1 for each creature you control at the beginning of your combat phase, making her a formidable early-game threat. Her starting power and toughness of 2/2 allow her to attack and block reasonably early on, and her power can quickly grow to formidable levels with the help of tokens or other creature-generating effects.
Token Generation
Derevi’s activated ability allows you to create a 1/1 white Bird creature token whenever you cast a creature spell. This ability synergizes well with creature-based decks and enables you to swarm the battlefield with a steady stream of tokens to bolster Derevi’s power and provide additional attackers and blockers.
Evasion and Flickering
Birds have flying, giving Derevi and any Bird tokens you control evasion. This allows them to bypass ground blockers and target opponents directly, making them a potent threat even against decks with strong ground defenses.
Additionally, Derevi’s second activated ability allows you to flicker any creature you control, including herself. Flickering a creature removes it from the battlefield and then returns it, which can reset its abilities or effects, remove counters, and dodge removal spells.
Derevi’s ability to flicker creatures can be particularly valuable for protecting your key units or resetting your own abilities, such as Derevi’s +1/+1 anthem effect.
Token Sacrifice
Derevi’s final activated ability allows you to sacrifice two Bird tokens to put a +1/+1 counter on another creature you control. This ability can be used to pump up your commander or other powerful creatures to take out larger threats or finish off opponents.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Early-game dominance | Reliance on token generation |
| Token generation | Vulnerability to board wipes |
| Evasion and flickering | Limited late-game potential |
| Token sacrifice | Mana-intensive abilities |
The Fungal Overlord: Ezuri, Claw of Progress
Ezuri, Claw of Progress is a formidable cleric commander for those who seek to unleash the power of the fungal horde. With its unique combination of token generation, +1/+1 counter manipulation, and damage redirection, Ezuri offers a versatile and potent playstyle.
Token Generation
Ezuri excels at creating fungal creature tokens upon entering the battlefield and when creatures are cast. These tokens provide an army of expendable creatures to sacrifice for various effects or overwhelm opponents.
+1/+1 Counter Manipulation
Ezuri’s other core ability is its prowess in distributing +1/+1 counters among its allies. By sacrificing fungal creatures, players can move counters between creatures, boosting their power and resilience.
Damage Redirection
Ezuri provides a unique twist by redirecting damage dealt to creatures with counters to other fungal creatures. This allows players to protect their more valuable creatures while thinning out their opponents’ boards.
Synergistic Creatures
Ezuri’s strength lies in its synergy with other fungal and spore-producing creatures. Cards like Spore Cloud and Mycologist can provide additional tokens and trigger Ezuri’s abilities multiple times.
Overrun Potential
With a swarm of fungal tokens and +1/+1 counters spread among them, Ezuri can lead to explosive overrun wins. By giving trample to its team, players can crush through opponents’ defenses with ease.
Deck Composition
To maximize Ezuri’s potential, consider a deck that prioritizes fungal creature generation, +1/+1 counter support, and damage redirection. Include cards like Parallel Lives and Doubling Season for exponential growth and consider Blood Artist variants for additional value.
Additional Considerations
Ezuri can be susceptible to board wipes, so consider protective measures like Heroic Intervention or Diplomatic Immunity. Additionally, enchantments like Fungal Bloom and Concordant Crossroad can provide additional synergy and protection.
The Angelic Protector: Karlov of the Ghost Council
Karlov of the Ghost Council, the exemplary Orzhov cleric commander, embodies the balance between order and compassion within the Orzhov Syndicate. Once a devout cleric of the Church of Orzhov, he became the leader of the Ghost Council after witnessing the corruption and hypocrisy within the church’s ranks.
Confession to Truth
Karlov’s ability to reveal the truth is a testament to his unwavering faith. Whenever a creature dies, if its controller has more life than starting life, they reveal the top card of their library. This ability punishes opponents for gaining too much life while rewarding Karlov players for staying on the defensive.
Undying Loyalty
Karlov’s followers are fiercely loyal to him, as evidenced by his undying ability. When a creature you control dies, if it was a cleric, you gain 2 life. This synergy with clerics further emphasizes Karlov’s role as the protector of his flock.
Ascendant Aristocrat
Karlov’s aristocrat abilities reward you for controlling creatures with high power. For each creature you control with power 4 or greater, Karlov gets +1/+1 and gains lifelink. This encourages you to play cards that can boost the power of your creatures, such as Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord.
Holy Avenger and Debilitating Angel
Karlov’s embodiment as both a holy avenger and a debilitating angel is evident in his two major abilities.
Whenever Karlov attacks, each creature your opponents control gets -1/-0 until end of turn. This ability weakens your opponents’ defenses, making it easier for you to deal combat damage.
Additionally, clerics under Karlov’s command deal damage equal to their power to a planeswalker you control instead of their controller if you would gain life from them. This ability redirects damage from your life total to planeswalkers, protecting them and allowing you to maintain control of the game.
| Ability | Description |
|---|---|
| Confession to Truth | Reveal top card of opponent’s library if they have gained life. |
| Undying Loyalty | Gain 2 life if a cleric dies. |
| Ascendant Aristocrat | Karlov gets +1/+1 and lifelink for each creature you control with power 4 or greater. |
| Holy Avenger | Opponents’ creatures get -1/-0 until end of turn when Karlov attacks. |
| Debilitating Angel | Clerics deal damage equal to their power to your planeswalkers instead of your life total. |
The Necromantic Bishop: Mathas, Fiend Seeker
Mathas is a legendary cleric commander known for his mastery of necromancy and his unwavering determination to vanquish fiends from the realm. As a servant of the Raven Queen, Mathas wields immense power over life and death, commanding armies of undead minions to his bidding.
9. Army of the Damned
Mathas’s greatest asset is his ability to summon vast hordes of undead creatures. Each time a creature under his control dies, there is a chance that it will return as a zombie or skeleton under Mathas’s command. This relentless army grows stronger with each fallen foe, making it virtually impossible to overwhelm.
Summoning Waves
Mathas’s summoning capabilities are relentless. Each turn, he can raise a number of creatures equal to his devotion. This means that if he has three devotion, he can summon three creatures. As the game progresses and Mathas’s devotion increases, so does the size of his undead legion.
Undying Loyalty
Mathas’s undead minions are not only numerous but also incredibly loyal. They never waver in their allegiance and will fight to the bitter end. This unwavering loyalty ensures that Mathas’s army is a formidable force to be reckoned with.
Eternal Torment
Mathas’s undead summons are not merely mindless cannon fodder. They are imbued with his necromantic power, granting them immunity to pain and terror. This makes them immune to many of the spells and effects that would normally cripple an army.
| Creature | Power/Abilities |
|---|---|
| Zombie | Undying, low attack, high defense |
| Skeleton | Undying, ranged attack, medium defense |
| Ghoul | Undying, low attack, regeneration |
| Wight | Undying, medium attack, lifelink |
The Lantern-Bearing Oracle: Tymna the Weaver
Tymana the Weaver is an excellent commander for Orzhov decks that focus on lifegain, tokens, or blink effects. Her abilities synergize well with several strategies, making her a versatile and powerful choice for a variety of decks.
Tymna’s Abilities
- Partner: Tymna can be paired with any other partner commander to enhance your deck’s capabilities. Some popular partners for Tymna include Tymna the Weaver, Kraum, Ludevic’s Opus, and Silas Renn, Seeker Adept.
- Lifelink: All creatures you control gain lifelink, allowing you to gain life whenever they deal damage.
- +1/+1 Counters: When a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may put a +1/+1 counter on another creature. This ability can help you build up a formidable board presence.
- Blink Synergy: Tymna allows you to "blink" creatures, or return them to their owner’s hand and then immediately replay them. This ability triggers the "enters the battlefield" abilities of creatures, allowing you to gain even more value from them.
10 Strategies for Tymna the Weaver Decks
- Lifegain: Utilize creatures with lifelink, lifegain spells, and enchantments to amass life total quickly.
- Tokens: Generate tokens through cards like Lingering Souls, Midnight Reaper, and Suture Priest to swarm the battlefield.
- Blink: Take advantage of cards like Flickerwisp, Restoration Angel, and Ephemerate to blink creatures and trigger their abilities multiple times.
- Graveyard Shenanigans: Use cards like Corpse Knight, Eternal Witness, and Sedris, the Traitor King to interact with the graveyard and disrupt your opponents’ strategies.
- Artifacts: Include artifacts that support your token strategy or provide additional value, such as Academy Manufactor, Skullclamp, and Strionic Resonator.
- Removal: Control the board and protect your creatures with removal spells like Swords to Plowshares, Path to Exile, and Damnation.
- Recursion: Recover creatures and other important cards from the graveyard using cards like Sun Titan, Eternal Witness, and Dictate of Erebos.
- Counters: Ward off threats and protect your creatures with counter spells like Counterspell, Swan Song, and Negate.
- Stax: Use cards like Ghostly Prison, Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, and Rule of Law to hinder your opponents’ strategies and slow down the game.
- Voltron: Equip Tymna with powerful equipment, grant her abilities, and support her with combat tricks to turn her into a formidable attacker.
Best Cleric Commanders
Clerics are a versatile class in Magic: The Gathering, able to heal, buff, and control the battlefield. As a commander, they offer a wide range of playstyles, from aggressive to defensive to combo-oriented. Here are some of the best cleric commanders in the format:
- Heliod, Sun-Crowned: Heliod is a powerful commander that can quickly overwhelm opponents with his army of tokens. He can also provide them with lifelink, making it difficult for opponents to kill you.
- Oloro, Ageless Ascetic: Oloro is a great commander for control decks. He can draw you cards, gain you life, and exile your opponents’ creatures. He’s also very difficult to kill, making him a resilient commander.
- Rhys the Redeemed: Rhys is a great commander for token decks. He can create tokens of any creature type, making him very versatile. He can also buff your tokens, making them a powerful force on the battlefield.
- Karlov of the Ghost Council: Karlov is a great commander for lifegain decks. He can drain your opponents’ life, gain you life, and make your creatures indestructible. He’s a great choice for decks that want to grind out their opponents.
- Athreos, God of Passage: Athreos is a great commander for reanimator decks. He can bring back your creatures from the graveyard, and he can also give them undying. This makes him a great choice for decks that want to keep their creatures coming back from the dead.
People Also Ask
What is the best budget cleric commander?
The best budget cleric commander is probably Orah, Skyclave Hierophant. She’s a 3 mana commander that can draw you cards and create tokens. She’s a great choice for decks that want to swarm the battlefield with clerics.
What is the best competitive cleric commander?
The best competitive cleric commander is probably Heliod, Sun-Crowned. He’s a powerful commander that can quickly overwhelm opponents with his army of tokens. He can also provide them with lifelink, making it difficult for opponents to kill you.
What is the best cleric commander for beginners?
The best cleric commander for beginners is probably Oloro, Ageless Ascetic. He’s a great commander for control decks, and he’s very difficult to kill. This makes him a great choice for players who are new to the format.
