EDH Optimizer
Assassins Commander decks
Assassins is a kindred archetype: the deck is built around one creature type and the cards that pay you for having many of them. It is mostly played in Dimir and black. Its most characteristic cards are Mari, the Killing Quill, Desmond Miles, Royal Assassin: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mari, the Killing Quill | 11 | 65% | +78 pts |
| Desmond Miles | 10 | 71% | +71 pts |
| Royal Assassin | 10 | 69% | +71 pts |
| Cover of Darkness | 10 | 53% | +70 pts |
| Brotherhood Headquarters | 9 | 59% | +64 pts |
| Assassin Initiate | 9 | 69% | +64 pts |
| Brotherhood Regalia | 9 | 54% | +63 pts |
| Rogue's Passage | 11 | 57% | +53 pts |
| The Revelations of Ezio | 7 | 59% | +50 pts |
| Hidden Blade | 7 | 55% | +50 pts |
| Chain Assassination | 7 | 62% | +50 pts |
| Hired Poisoner | 7 | 56% | +50 pts |
| Restart Sequence | 7 | 70% | +50 pts |
| Eagle Vision | 7 | 62% | +50 pts |
| Ramses, Assassin Lord | 7 | 66% | +50 pts |
| Basim Ibn Ishaq | 7 | 62% | +50 pts |
| Ezio, Blade of Vengeance | 6 | 65% | +43 pts |
| Rooftop Bypass | 6 | 65% | +43 pts |
| Lydia Frye | 6 | 63% | +43 pts |
| Evie Frye | 6 | 59% | +43 pts |
| Jacob Frye | 6 | 63% | +43 pts |
| Unstoppable Slasher | 6 | 51% | +42 pts |
| Go for the Throat | 7 | 50% | +41 pts |
| Path of Ancestry | 8 | 53% | +39 pts |
| Changeling Outcast | 6 | 58% | +38 pts |
| Brotherhood Spy | 5 | 71% | +36 pts |
| Poison-Blade Mentor | 5 | 70% | +36 pts |
| Merciless Harlequin | 5 | 65% | +36 pts |
| Etrata, the Silencer | 5 | 58% | +36 pts |
| Achilles Davenport | 5 | 69% | +36 pts |
Commanders for Assassins
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is.
By color identity
Blue · Black Best cards by color →
Black Best cards by color →
Black · Red Best cards by color →
White · 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 Assassins deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Etrata, Deadly Fugitive, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 25 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Assassins is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Assassins deck?
The three most characteristic are Mari, the Killing Quill, Desmond Miles, Royal Assassin. 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 Assassins played in?
The most common color identities are Blue · Black, Black, Black · Red. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Assassins 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.