EDH Optimizer
Cats Commander decks
Cats 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 white and Selesnya. Its most characteristic cards are Felidar Retreat, Regal Caracal, King of the Pride: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Felidar Retreat | 17 | 50% | +60 pts |
| Regal Caracal | 15 | 61% | +60 pts |
| King of the Pride | 13 | 58% | +52 pts |
| Arahbo, the First Fang | 12 | 55% | +48 pts |
| Leonin Warleader | 11 | 53% | +44 pts |
| Brimaz, King of Oreskos | 11 | 48% | +43 pts |
| Jazal Goldmane | 9 | 50% | +36 pts |
| White Sun's Zenith | 9 | 44% | +36 pts |
| Path of Ancestry | 12 | 45% | +36 pts |
| Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist | 8 | 53% | +31 pts |
| Lion Sash | 8 | 44% | +31 pts |
| Helpful Hunter | 8 | 47% | +29 pts |
| Feline Sovereign | 7 | 56% | +28 pts |
| Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar | 11 | 59% | +27 pts |
| Heroic Intervention | 11 | 42% | +25 pts |
| Skyknight Squire | 6 | 41% | +24 pts |
| Sovereign Okinec Ahau | 6 | 41% | +23 pts |
| Ajani's Pridemate | 6 | 47% | +22 pts |
| Caretaker's Talent | 6 | 36% | +20 pts |
| Oreskos Explorer | 5 | 49% | +20 pts |
| Keeper of Fables | 5 | 50% | +20 pts |
| Kodama's Reach | 9 | 37% | +20 pts |
| Prava of the Steel Legion | 5 | 49% | +19 pts |
| Ocelot Pride | 5 | 50% | +19 pts |
| Sword of the Animist | 6 | 50% | +18 pts |
| Intangible Virtue | 6 | 42% | +17 pts |
| Pride Sovereign | 4 | 53% | +16 pts |
| Sigarda's Aid | 5 | 46% | +16 pts |
| Prideful Parent | 4 | 43% | +16 pts |
| Leonin Shikari | 4 | 55% | +16 pts |
Commanders for Cats
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
White · Green
White · Red · Green
Green
Black
White · Red
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 Cats deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Rin and Seri, Inseparable, Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist, Arahbo, Roar of the World. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 41 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Cats is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Cats deck?
The three most characteristic are Felidar Retreat, Regal Caracal, King of the Pride. 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 Cats played in?
The most common color identities are White, White · Green, White · Red · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Cats 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.