EDH Optimizer
Connive Commander decks
Connive shows up as a main archetype for 21 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in Dimir and black. Its most characteristic cards are Villainous Hideout, Moonstone, Harsh Mistress, Lethal Scheme: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villainous Hideout | 8 | 51% | +72 pts |
| Moonstone, Harsh Mistress | 6 | 54% | +54 pts |
| Lethal Scheme | 6 | 47% | +53 pts |
| Iron Monger, Sadistic Tycoon | 6 | 62% | +53 pts |
| Tombstone, Career Criminal | 6 | 77% | +53 pts |
| Leader, Super-Genius | 5 | 61% | +45 pts |
| Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord | 5 | 72% | +43 pts |
| Monument to Endurance | 5 | 51% | +43 pts |
| Kang, Temporal Tyrant | 4 | 53% | +36 pts |
| The Masters of Evil | 4 | 51% | +36 pts |
| Swarm, Being of Bees | 4 | 59% | +36 pts |
| Unstable Experiment | 4 | 56% | +36 pts |
| Madame Masque | 4 | 64% | +35 pts |
| Crossbones, Malicious Mercenary | 4 | 58% | +35 pts |
| Baron Helmut Zemo | 4 | 53% | +35 pts |
| Archfiend of Ifnir | 4 | 52% | +34 pts |
| Chameleon, Master of Disguise | 4 | 73% | +33 pts |
| Ultron, Unlimited | 3 | 57% | +27 pts |
| Kid Loki | 3 | 50% | +27 pts |
| M.O.D.O.K., Evil Intellect | 3 | 37% | +27 pts |
| Glorious Purpose | 3 | 59% | +27 pts |
| Doc Ock's Henchmen | 3 | 68% | +27 pts |
| Behold the Sinister Six! | 3 | 50% | +27 pts |
| The Spot's Portal | 3 | 51% | +27 pts |
| Visions of Villainy | 3 | 57% | +26 pts |
| Prowler, Clawed Thief | 3 | 65% | +26 pts |
| Containment Construct | 3 | 52% | +26 pts |
| M.O.D.O.K. | 3 | 50% | +26 pts |
| Scorpion, Seething Striker | 3 | 61% | +26 pts |
| Construct a Cosmic Cube | 3 | 59% | +26 pts |
Commanders for Connive
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 Best cards by color →
Black Best cards by color →
Blue · Black · Red Best cards by color →
White · Blue · Black 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 Connive deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Cyclonus, the Saboteur // Cyclonus, Cybertronian Fighter, Prowler, Clawed Thief, Kang, Temporal Tyrant. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 21 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Connive is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Connive deck?
The three most characteristic are Villainous Hideout, Moonstone, Harsh Mistress, Lethal Scheme. 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 Connive played in?
The most common color identities are Blue · Black, Black, Blue · Black · Red. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Connive 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.