EDH Optimizer
Cascade Commander decks
Cascade turns every expensive spell into two cards. The archetype warps its own curve on purpose so that whatever comes off the top for free is always the best possible hit.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Devastator | 9 | 55% | +44 pts |
| Aurora Phoenix | 6 | 52% | +30 pts |
| Etali, Primal Storm | 6 | 56% | +24 pts |
| Imoti, Celebrant of Bounty | 5 | 65% | +24 pts |
| Skyshroud Claim | 5 | 55% | +24 pts |
| Annoyed Altisaur | 4 | 61% | +20 pts |
| Bloodbraid Elf | 4 | 56% | +20 pts |
| Ancestral Vision | 4 | 40% | +20 pts |
| Sunbird's Invocation | 4 | 49% | +20 pts |
| Wild-Magic Sorcerer | 4 | 62% | +19 pts |
| Hullbreaker Horror | 4 | 52% | +18 pts |
| Mosswort Bridge | 4 | 51% | +17 pts |
| Brainstorm | 4 | 49% | +16 pts |
| Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma | 4 | 47% | +16 pts |
| Bigger on the Inside | 3 | 58% | +15 pts |
| Bloodbraid Challenger | 3 | 54% | +15 pts |
| Green Slime | 3 | 46% | +15 pts |
| Profane Tutor | 3 | 43% | +15 pts |
| Inevitable Betrayal | 3 | 41% | +15 pts |
| Search for Tomorrow | 3 | 51% | +15 pts |
| Natural Reclamation | 3 | 61% | +15 pts |
| Monstrous Vortex | 3 | 43% | +15 pts |
| Call Forth the Tempest | 3 | 46% | +15 pts |
| Circuitous Route | 3 | 53% | +14 pts |
| Trumpeting Carnosaur | 3 | 53% | +14 pts |
| Nalfeshnee | 3 | 55% | +14 pts |
| Kogla, the Titan Ape | 3 | 44% | +13 pts |
| Maelstrom Wanderer | 3 | 65% | +12 pts |
| Mossfire Valley | 3 | 51% | +11 pts |
| Rampaging Baloths | 3 | 45% | +11 pts |
Commanders for Cascade
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Red Best cards by color →
Blue · Green Best cards by color →
White · Blue · Black · Red · Green Best cards by color →
Blue · Red · Green Best cards by color →
Blue · Red Best cards by color →
Red · Green 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 Cascade deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder, Maelstrom Wanderer, Abaddon the Despoiler. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 62 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Cascade is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Cascade deck?
The three most characteristic are Apex Devastator, Aurora Phoenix, Etali, Primal Storm. 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 Cascade played in?
The most common color identities are Red, Blue · Green, White · Blue · Black · Red · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Cascade 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.