EDH Optimizer
Dinosaurs Commander decks
Dinosaurs 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 green and Naya. Its most characteristic cards are Ghalta, Primal Hunger, Garruk's Uprising, Earthshaker Dreadmaw: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghalta, Primal Hunger | 15 | 62% | +73 pts |
| Garruk's Uprising | 17 | 61% | +58 pts |
| Earthshaker Dreadmaw | 9 | 65% | +50 pts |
| Apex Altisaur | 9 | 50% | +49 pts |
| Topiary Stomper | 9 | 53% | +48 pts |
| Curious Altisaur | 8 | 52% | +44 pts |
| Hulking Raptor | 8 | 63% | +43 pts |
| Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant | 8 | 49% | +41 pts |
| Wayward Swordtooth | 7 | 51% | +37 pts |
| Return of the Wildspeaker | 11 | 47% | +34 pts |
| Verdant Sun's Avatar | 6 | 49% | +33 pts |
| Wrathful Raptors | 6 | 53% | +33 pts |
| Unnatural Growth | 8 | 46% | +32 pts |
| Etali, Primal Storm | 6 | 66% | +29 pts |
| Colossal Majesty | 6 | 40% | +28 pts |
| Zetalpa, Primal Dawn | 5 | 53% | +28 pts |
| Temple Altisaur | 5 | 54% | +28 pts |
| Regisaur Alpha | 5 | 61% | +28 pts |
| Otepec Huntmaster | 5 | 50% | +28 pts |
| Thrashing Brontodon | 5 | 61% | +28 pts |
| Regal Imperiosaur | 5 | 56% | +28 pts |
| Castle Garenbrig | 7 | 41% | +27 pts |
| Regal Behemoth | 5 | 46% | +27 pts |
| Ripjaw Raptor | 5 | 62% | +27 pts |
| Ranging Raptors | 5 | 58% | +27 pts |
| Etali, Primal Conqueror | 5 | 48% | +27 pts |
| Rhythm of the Wild | 8 | 53% | +26 pts |
| Mosswort Bridge | 8 | 46% | +26 pts |
| Ram Through | 6 | 43% | +23 pts |
| Gishath, Sun's Avatar | 4 | 58% | +22 pts |
Commanders for Dinosaurs
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Green Best cards by color →
White · Red · Green Best cards by color →
Red · Green Best cards by color →
White 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 Dinosaurs deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Atla Palani, Nest Tender, Pantlaza, Sun-Favored, Zacama, Primal Calamity. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 34 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Dinosaurs is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Dinosaurs deck?
The three most characteristic are Ghalta, Primal Hunger, Garruk's Uprising, Earthshaker Dreadmaw. 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 Dinosaurs played in?
The most common color identities are Green, White · Red · Green, Red · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Dinosaurs 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.