EDH Optimizer
Forced Combat Commander decks
Forced Combat shows up as a main archetype for 102 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in red and Rakdos. Its most characteristic cards are Disrupt Decorum, Curse of Opulence, Vengeful Ancestor: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disrupt Decorum | 34 | 56% | +66 pts |
| Curse of Opulence | 23 | 50% | +43 pts |
| Vengeful Ancestor | 22 | 55% | +43 pts |
| Agitator Ant | 21 | 47% | +41 pts |
| Shiny Impetus | 20 | 58% | +39 pts |
| Bloodthirsty Blade | 16 | 51% | +31 pts |
| Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos | 16 | 48% | +30 pts |
| Spectacular Showdown | 15 | 50% | +29 pts |
| Bothersome Quasit | 15 | 51% | +29 pts |
| Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs | 12 | 51% | +23 pts |
| Kardur, Doomscourge | 12 | 54% | +21 pts |
| Brash Taunter | 12 | 53% | +19 pts |
| Death Kiss | 9 | 45% | +18 pts |
| Frontier Warmonger | 9 | 47% | +17 pts |
| Rite of the Raging Storm | 9 | 44% | +17 pts |
| Goblin Spymaster | 8 | 41% | +16 pts |
| Geode Rager | 8 | 49% | +15 pts |
| Ghostly Prison | 8 | 53% | +15 pts |
| Grenzo, Havoc Raiser | 8 | 48% | +14 pts |
| Aetherize | 8 | 49% | +14 pts |
| Take the Bait | 7 | 47% | +14 pts |
| The Sound of Drums | 7 | 51% | +14 pts |
| Propaganda | 8 | 58% | +13 pts |
| Komainu Battle Armor | 7 | 47% | +13 pts |
| Humble Defector | 7 | 42% | +12 pts |
| Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant | 6 | 45% | +12 pts |
| Taunt from the Rampart | 6 | 46% | +12 pts |
| Fumiko the Lowblood | 6 | 45% | +12 pts |
| Life of the Party | 6 | 39% | +12 pts |
| Ghoulish Impetus | 6 | 54% | +12 pts |
Commanders for Forced Combat
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
White · Red
Blue · Black
Blue · Red
Blue · Black · 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 Forced Combat deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Marisi, Breaker of the Coil, Thantis, the Warweaver, Kardur, Doomscourge. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 102 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Forced Combat is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Forced Combat deck?
The three most characteristic are Disrupt Decorum, Curse of Opulence, Vengeful Ancestor. 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 Forced Combat played in?
The most common color identities are Red, Black · Red, White · Red. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Forced Combat 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.