EDH Optimizer
Dragon's Approach Commander decks
Dragon's Approach shows up as a main archetype for 26 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in red and Rakdos. Its most characteristic cards are Boltwave, Guttersnipe, Flame Rift: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boltwave | 6 | 45% | +73 pts |
| Guttersnipe | 6 | 54% | +66 pts |
| Flame Rift | 5 | 50% | +62 pts |
| Jeska's Will | 6 | 41% | +53 pts |
| Thermo-Alchemist | 4 | 36% | +48 pts |
| Lightning Bolt | 6 | 58% | +47 pts |
| Faithless Looting | 7 | 44% | +46 pts |
| Mind Stone | 6 | 35% | +43 pts |
| Neheb, the Eternal | 4 | 45% | +43 pts |
| Torbran, Thane of Red Fell | 4 | 45% | +39 pts |
| Dragon's Approach | 3 | 39% | +37 pts |
| Mana Geyser | 5 | 47% | +37 pts |
| Fellwar Stone | 4 | 40% | +37 pts |
| Heartless Hidetsugu | 3 | 53% | +36 pts |
| Electrostatic Field | 3 | 34% | +36 pts |
| Price of Progress | 3 | 49% | +35 pts |
| Fiery Confluence | 3 | 52% | +35 pts |
| Fiery Inscription | 3 | 36% | +35 pts |
| Descent into Avernus | 3 | 35% | +34 pts |
| Firebrand Archer | 3 | 44% | +33 pts |
| Fiery Emancipation | 3 | 45% | +31 pts |
| Seething Song | 4 | 51% | +30 pts |
| Storm-Kiln Artist | 3 | 57% | +24 pts |
Commanders for Dragon's Approach
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Red
Black · Red
Blue · Red
White · Red
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 Dragon's Approach deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Neheb, the Eternal, Florian, Voldaren Scion, Obosh, the Preypiercer. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 26 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Dragon's Approach is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Dragon's Approach deck?
The three most characteristic are Boltwave, Guttersnipe, Flame Rift. 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 Dragon's Approach played in?
The most common color identities are Red, Black · Red, Blue · Red. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Dragon's Approach 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.