EDH Optimizer
Clerics Commander decks
Clerics 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 Orzhov. Its most characteristic cards are Soul Warden, Mother of Runes, Soul's Attendant: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soul Warden | 9 | 51% | +58 pts |
| Mother of Runes | 8 | 44% | +55 pts |
| Soul's Attendant | 8 | 48% | +55 pts |
| Righteous Valkyrie | 5 | 47% | +36 pts |
| Weathered Wayfarer | 5 | 47% | +35 pts |
| Mangara, the Diplomat | 5 | 57% | +31 pts |
| Shadow-Rite Priest | 4 | 51% | +31 pts |
| Maze of Ith | 4 | 38% | +31 pts |
| Priest of Forgotten Gods | 4 | 41% | +30 pts |
| Archivist of Oghma | 4 | 40% | +28 pts |
| Cleric Class | 4 | 42% | +28 pts |
| Suture Priest | 4 | 49% | +26 pts |
| Selfless Spirit | 4 | 54% | +25 pts |
| Toxic Deluge | 4 | 30% | +23 pts |
| Battletide Alchemist | 3 | 47% | +23 pts |
| Taborax, Hope's Demise | 3 | 55% | +23 pts |
| Kor Haven | 3 | 39% | +23 pts |
| Reliquary Tower | 5 | 36% | +22 pts |
| Giver of Runes | 3 | 38% | +22 pts |
| Dawn Charm | 3 | 42% | +22 pts |
| Authority of the Consuls | 4 | 45% | +20 pts |
| Ghostly Prison | 4 | 34% | +20 pts |
| Grand Abolisher | 3 | 36% | +19 pts |
| Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx | 4 | 36% | +18 pts |
| Black Market Connections | 3 | 42% | +17 pts |
| Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose | 3 | 51% | +17 pts |
| Land Tax | 3 | 34% | +13 pts |
| Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim | 3 | 55% | +12 pts |
| Victimize | 3 | 50% | +12 pts |
| Village Rites | 3 | 46% | +12 pts |
Commanders for Clerics
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is.
By color identity
White Best cards by color →
White · Black Best cards by color →
Black Best cards by color →
White · Blue · Black Best cards by color →
White · 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 Clerics deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Orah, Skyclave Hierophant, Lady Evangela, Oriss, Samite Guardian. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 31 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Clerics is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Clerics deck?
The three most characteristic are Soul Warden, Mother of Runes, Soul's Attendant. 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 Clerics played in?
The most common color identities are White, White · Black, Black. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Clerics 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.