EDH Optimizer
Activated Abilities Commander decks
Activated Abilities shows up as a main archetype for 80 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in blue and Simic. Its most characteristic cards are Marvin, Murderous Mimic, Thousand-Year Elixir, Ioreth of the Healing House: not the most-played cards in the format, but the ones that appear in these decks far above what is normal for the same colors.
Cards that define the archetype
Ranked by how much MORE they are played inside the archetype than in the rest of Commander. Generic staples (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet…) fall out for exactly that reason: they are played everywhere equally.
| Card | Commanders | Avg. inclusion | Excess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin, Murderous Mimic | 7 | 41% | +43 pts |
| Thousand-Year Elixir | 5 | 43% | +30 pts |
| Ioreth of the Healing House | 4 | 42% | +23 pts |
| Wayfarer's Bauble | 4 | 54% | +20 pts |
| Umbral Mantle | 3 | 51% | +19 pts |
| Agatha's Soul Cauldron | 3 | 45% | +19 pts |
| Staff of Domination | 3 | 46% | +19 pts |
| Svella, Ice Shaper | 3 | 56% | +19 pts |
| Captivating Crew | 3 | 54% | +18 pts |
| Arcanis the Omnipotent | 3 | 65% | +18 pts |
| Training Grounds | 3 | 51% | +16 pts |
| Burnished Hart | 3 | 50% | +16 pts |
| Forgotten Ancient | 3 | 61% | +16 pts |
| Academy Ruins | 3 | 28% | +15 pts |
| Polluted Delta | 3 | 47% | +14 pts |
| Frantic Search | 4 | 47% | +14 pts |
| Exsanguinate | 3 | 46% | +13 pts |
Commanders for Activated Abilities
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Blue
Blue · Green
White
Red · Green
White · Red
Black
Paste your list and we tell you whether the deck actually does what it wants to do: curve, ramp, interaction and a 10,000-game simulation.
🛠️ Build a deck like this 📥 Analyze my deckFrequently asked questions
What is the best commander for a Activated Abilities deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Tazri, Stalwart Survivor, Ertha Jo, Frontier Mentor, Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 80 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Activated Abilities is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Activated Abilities deck?
The three most characteristic are Marvin, Murderous Mimic, Thousand-Year Elixir, Ioreth of the Healing House. They are not the most-played cards in the format, but the ones that appear far more inside this archetype than in the rest of Commander — which is what actually makes them essential here.
What colors is Activated Abilities played in?
The most common color identities are Blue, Blue · Green, White. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Activated Abilities deck cost?
It depends on the price cap PER CARD you set. Each commander page lists the best cards in three tiers (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.