EDH Optimizer
Defenders Commander decks
Defenders shows up as a main archetype for 35 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in white and Abzan. Its most characteristic cards are Assault Formation, Axebane Guardian, Tower Defense: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault Formation | 7 | 65% | +58 pts |
| Axebane Guardian | 6 | 59% | +50 pts |
| Tower Defense | 6 | 61% | +50 pts |
| Crashing Drawbridge | 6 | 61% | +50 pts |
| Overgrown Battlement | 6 | 65% | +49 pts |
| Wall of Blossoms | 5 | 63% | +42 pts |
| The Walls of Ba Sing Se | 5 | 54% | +42 pts |
| Tree of Redemption | 5 | 57% | +42 pts |
| Bedrock Tortoise | 5 | 54% | +42 pts |
| Indomitable Ancients | 5 | 62% | +42 pts |
| Weathered Sentinels | 5 | 55% | +41 pts |
| Crystal Barricade | 5 | 50% | +41 pts |
| Brave the Sands | 5 | 43% | +41 pts |
| Sylvan Caryatid | 5 | 60% | +40 pts |
| Wall of Omens | 5 | 60% | +40 pts |
| Arbor Adherent | 4 | 63% | +33 pts |
| Tree of Perdition | 4 | 58% | +33 pts |
| Jaws of Defeat | 4 | 60% | +33 pts |
| Slaughter the Strong | 4 | 60% | +33 pts |
| Baldin, Century Herdmaster | 4 | 57% | +33 pts |
| Shield-Wall Sentinel | 3 | 46% | +25 pts |
| Vine Trellis | 3 | 45% | +25 pts |
| Felothar the Steadfast | 3 | 57% | +25 pts |
| Fecund Greenshell | 3 | 55% | +25 pts |
| Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper | 3 | 54% | +25 pts |
| Towering Titan | 3 | 54% | +25 pts |
| Last March of the Ents | 3 | 45% | +25 pts |
| Walking Bulwark | 3 | 70% | +25 pts |
| Fell the Mighty | 3 | 59% | +25 pts |
| Access Tunnel | 3 | 55% | +24 pts |
Commanders for Defenders
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 · Black · Green
White · Blue · Green
Blue · Green
White · Blue · Red · Green
Green
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🛠️ Build a deck like this 📥 Analyze my deckFrequently asked questions
What is the best commander for a Defenders deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Betor, Kin to All, Felothar the Steadfast, Super-Skrull. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 35 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Defenders is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Defenders deck?
The three most characteristic are Assault Formation, Axebane Guardian, Tower Defense. 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 Defenders played in?
The most common color identities are White, White · Black · Green, White · Blue · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Defenders 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.