EDH Optimizer
Donate Commander decks
Donate shows up as a main archetype for 36 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in Rakdos and white. Its most characteristic cards are Humble Defector, Homeward Path, Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humble Defector | 7 | 63% | +57 pts |
| Homeward Path | 6 | 46% | +50 pts |
| Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos | 6 | 42% | +48 pts |
| Steel Golem | 5 | 60% | +42 pts |
| Rust Elemental | 5 | 55% | +42 pts |
| Akroan Horse | 5 | 52% | +41 pts |
| Grid Monitor | 4 | 49% | +33 pts |
| Harmless Offering | 4 | 58% | +33 pts |
| Bazaar Trader | 4 | 56% | +33 pts |
| Khârn the Betrayer | 4 | 46% | +33 pts |
| Reliquary Tower | 6 | 53% | +28 pts |
| Archfiend of the Dross | 3 | 57% | +25 pts |
| Abyssal Persecutor | 3 | 56% | +25 pts |
| Aggressive Mining | 3 | 52% | +25 pts |
| Nine Lives | 3 | 72% | +25 pts |
| Wrong Turn | 3 | 46% | +25 pts |
| Pendant of Prosperity | 3 | 61% | +25 pts |
| Yes Man, Personal Securitron | 3 | 63% | +25 pts |
| Bucknard's Everfull Purse | 3 | 49% | +25 pts |
| Xantcha, Sleeper Agent | 3 | 58% | +24 pts |
| Ghostly Prison | 3 | 60% | +23 pts |
| Curse of Opulence | 3 | 39% | +23 pts |
| Propaganda | 3 | 57% | +19 pts |
| Thought Vessel | 4 | 50% | +19 pts |
| Thrill of Possibility | 3 | 49% | +15 pts |
| Big Score | 3 | 52% | +13 pts |
Commanders for Donate
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Black · Red
White
Blue
Black
Red
Blue · Black
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 Donate deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Jon Irenicus, Shattered One, Blim, Comedic Genius, Iroh, Tea Master. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 36 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Donate is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Donate deck?
The three most characteristic are Humble Defector, Homeward Path, Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos. 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 Donate played in?
The most common color identities are Black · Red, White, Blue. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Donate 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.