EDH Optimizer
Clones Commander decks
Copying is the most profitable removal in the format: you keep the best creature on the board without spending a card to kill it. The archetype abuses enter-the-battlefield effects by copying them over and over.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spark Double | 31 | 52% | +25 pts |
| Phyrexian Metamorph | 33 | 52% | +25 pts |
| Solemn Simulacrum | 43 | 55% | +22 pts |
| Clever Impersonator | 23 | 54% | +20 pts |
| Rite of Replication | 21 | 58% | +18 pts |
| Glasspool Mimic | 19 | 45% | +17 pts |
| Cursed Mirror | 21 | 53% | +16 pts |
| Helm of the Host | 17 | 48% | +14 pts |
| Mirror Box | 16 | 47% | +14 pts |
| Sakashima of a Thousand Faces | 15 | 48% | +13 pts |
| Cackling Counterpart | 14 | 54% | +12 pts |
| Idol of Oblivion | 15 | 51% | +11 pts |
| Irenicus's Vile Duplication | 13 | 50% | +11 pts |
| Panharmonicon | 17 | 50% | +11 pts |
| Quasiduplicate | 12 | 59% | +11 pts |
| Clone | 12 | 50% | +10 pts |
| Twinflame | 12 | 53% | +10 pts |
| Jaxis, the Troublemaker | 12 | 56% | +10 pts |
| Mirror Image | 11 | 48% | +10 pts |
| See Double | 11 | 55% | +10 pts |
| Orthion, Hero of Lavabrink | 11 | 57% | +10 pts |
| Phantasmal Image | 11 | 56% | +9 pts |
| Chameleon, Master of Disguise | 12 | 54% | +9 pts |
| Auton Soldier | 11 | 45% | +9 pts |
| Molten Duplication | 10 | 49% | +9 pts |
| Blade of Selves | 10 | 55% | +9 pts |
| Flameshadow Conjuring | 10 | 43% | +9 pts |
Commanders for Clones
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Blue Best cards by color →
Blue · Black Best cards by color →
Blue · Green Best cards by color →
Red Best cards by color →
Blue · Red Best cards by color →
Blue · Black · 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 Clones deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Deadpool, Trading Card, Orvar, the All-Form, Obeka, Brute Chronologist. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 348 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Clones is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Clones deck?
The three most characteristic are Spark Double, Phyrexian Metamorph, Solemn Simulacrum. 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 Clones played in?
The most common color identities are Blue, Blue · Black, Blue · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Clones 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.