EDH Optimizer
Dogs Commander decks
Dogs 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 white and Naya. Its most characteristic cards are Loyal Warhound, Selfless Savior, Animal Sanctuary: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loyal Warhound | 3 | 57% | +75 pts |
| Selfless Savior | 3 | 57% | +75 pts |
| Animal Sanctuary | 3 | 49% | +75 pts |
Commanders for Dogs
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 · Red · Green
White · Black
Green
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 Dogs deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Sophia, Dogged Detective, Tesak, Judith's Hellhound, Rin and Seri, Inseparable. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 15 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Dogs is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Dogs deck?
The three most characteristic are Loyal Warhound, Selfless Savior, Animal Sanctuary. 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 Dogs played in?
The most common color identities are White, White · Red · Green, White · Black. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Dogs 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.