EDH Optimizer
Graveyard Commander decks
For this archetype the graveyard is a second hand: you fill it on purpose and cash it in for value. Its only real fear is graveyard hate, so bring an answer or a plan B.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buried Alive | 37 | 51% | +39 pts |
| Stitcher's Supplier | 34 | 54% | +36 pts |
| Reanimate | 45 | 51% | +30 pts |
| Syr Konrad, the Grim | 35 | 45% | +29 pts |
| Victimize | 40 | 50% | +27 pts |
| Entomb | 21 | 39% | +22 pts |
| Eternal Witness | 22 | 49% | +19 pts |
| Ripples of Undeath | 19 | 46% | +19 pts |
| Faithless Looting | 19 | 68% | +17 pts |
| Animate Dead | 20 | 41% | +17 pts |
| Dread Return | 19 | 46% | +17 pts |
| Sakura-Tribe Elder | 22 | 51% | +16 pts |
| Accursed Marauder | 21 | 43% | +15 pts |
| Skull Prophet | 15 | 43% | +14 pts |
| Living Death | 14 | 46% | +14 pts |
| Grisly Salvage | 14 | 42% | +13 pts |
| Millikin | 12 | 47% | +13 pts |
| Massacre Wurm | 16 | 44% | +12 pts |
| Golgari Thug | 11 | 41% | +12 pts |
| Vile Entomber | 11 | 44% | +12 pts |
| Mire Triton | 10 | 47% | +11 pts |
| Aftermath Analyst | 12 | 39% | +11 pts |
| Anger | 11 | 61% | +10 pts |
| Stinkweed Imp | 9 | 42% | +10 pts |
| Ravenous Chupacabra | 9 | 36% | +9 pts |
| Crypt of Agadeem | 9 | 47% | +9 pts |
| Wight of the Reliquary | 9 | 37% | +9 pts |
| Sevinne's Reclamation | 8 | 60% | +9 pts |
| Twilight Diviner | 8 | 49% | +8 pts |
| Songs of the Damned | 8 | 49% | +8 pts |
Commanders for Graveyard
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 Best cards by color →
Blue · Black Best cards by color →
Black · Green Best cards by color →
Black · Red Best cards by color →
Green Best cards by color →
White · Black 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 Graveyard deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Disa the Restless, Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord, Quintorius, Field Historian. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 452 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Graveyard is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Graveyard deck?
The three most characteristic are Buried Alive, Stitcher's Supplier, Reanimate. 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 Graveyard played in?
The most common color identities are Black, Blue · Black, Black · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Graveyard 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.