EDH Optimizer
Anthems Commander decks
An anthem pumps your whole team at once, so its value grows with every creature you add. It is the natural finisher for tokens and kindred: it turns a wide board into lethal damage without needing one more card.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honor of the Pure | 6 | 54% | +48 pts |
| Heraldic Banner | 6 | 40% | +46 pts |
| Mass Calcify | 5 | 46% | +39 pts |
| Glorious Anthem | 4 | 43% | +33 pts |
| Benalish Marshal | 4 | 49% | +32 pts |
| Brave the Elements | 4 | 39% | +31 pts |
| Unbreakable Formation | 4 | 36% | +30 pts |
| Flowering of the White Tree | 4 | 39% | +28 pts |
| Divine Sacrament | 3 | 38% | +25 pts |
| Paragon of New Dawns | 3 | 42% | +25 pts |
| Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon" | 3 | 39% | +25 pts |
| Dictate of Heliod | 3 | 37% | +25 pts |
| Celestial Crusader | 3 | 39% | +25 pts |
| Paladin Class | 3 | 40% | +24 pts |
| Evangel of Heliod | 3 | 32% | +24 pts |
| Spear of Heliod | 3 | 40% | +24 pts |
| Archetype of Courage | 3 | 40% | +24 pts |
| Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite | 3 | 35% | +22 pts |
| Odric, Master Tactician | 3 | 43% | +22 pts |
| Herald's Horn | 3 | 53% | +21 pts |
| Path of Ancestry | 4 | 53% | +20 pts |
| Oketra's Monument | 4 | 44% | +18 pts |
| Adeline, Resplendent Cathar | 3 | 35% | +15 pts |
| Castle Ardenvale | 3 | 36% | +14 pts |
Commanders for Anthems
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
White Best cards by color →
White · Green Best cards by color →
Green Best cards by color →
White · Red Best cards by color →
White · Blue Best cards by color →
Red Best cards by color →
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 Anthems deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Crovax, Ascendant Hero, Kongming, "Sleeping Dragon", Pianna, Nomad Captain. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 151 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Anthems is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Anthems deck?
The three most characteristic are Honor of the Pure, Heraldic Banner, Mass Calcify. 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 Anthems played in?
The most common color identities are White, White · Green, Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Anthems 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.