EDH Optimizer
Combo Commander decks
A combo deck is not trying to win on board: it looks for the two or three cards that end the game together. Everything else is tutors, draw or protection to get there.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birds of Paradise | 54 | 47% | +11 pts |
| Inventors' Fair | 41 | 46% | +10 pts |
| Mystic Remora | 39 | 43% | +10 pts |
| Rhystic Study | 45 | 43% | +10 pts |
| Scalding Tarn | 31 | 42% | +9 pts |
| Lotus Petal | 28 | 44% | +9 pts |
| Flooded Strand | 39 | 43% | +9 pts |
| Buried Ruin | 44 | 47% | +8 pts |
| Urza's Saga | 30 | 41% | +8 pts |
| Swan Song | 36 | 40% | +8 pts |
| Demonic Tutor | 30 | 40% | +8 pts |
| Ashnod's Altar | 37 | 49% | +8 pts |
| Otawara, Soaring City | 35 | 39% | +8 pts |
Commanders for Combo
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
Black
Red
Green
Blue · Black
White
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 Combo deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Chulane, Teller of Tales, Alaundo the Seer, Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 1495 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Combo is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Combo deck?
The three most characteristic are Birds of Paradise, Inventors' Fair, Mystic Remora. 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 Combo played in?
The most common color identities are Blue, Black, Red. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Combo 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.