EDH Optimizer
Group Slug Commander decks
Group Slug is the opposite of Group Hug: symmetric effects that damage everyone whenever anybody draws, plays a land or casts a spell. Because it hits all three opponents at once, its clock is three times faster than it looks — and that is exactly why it makes you the number one target.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torbran, Thane of Red Fell | 14 | 51% | +26 pts |
| Manabarbs | 11 | 56% | +24 pts |
| Roiling Vortex | 11 | 53% | +24 pts |
| Razorkin Needlehead | 10 | 52% | +21 pts |
| Sulfuric Vortex | 9 | 53% | +20 pts |
| Underworld Dreams | 9 | 57% | +19 pts |
| Stormfist Crusader | 9 | 41% | +19 pts |
| Solphim, Mayhem Dominus | 10 | 49% | +19 pts |
| Rakdos Charm | 15 | 58% | +18 pts |
| Harsh Mentor | 8 | 53% | +17 pts |
| Fate Unraveler | 8 | 59% | +17 pts |
| Kederekt Parasite | 8 | 53% | +17 pts |
| Scrawling Crawler | 8 | 54% | +17 pts |
| Brash Taunter | 9 | 51% | +16 pts |
| Descent into Avernus | 8 | 55% | +16 pts |
| Spellshock | 7 | 52% | +16 pts |
| Heartless Hidetsugu | 7 | 58% | +15 pts |
| Temple of Malice | 11 | 41% | +15 pts |
| Curse of Opulence | 8 | 55% | +15 pts |
| Kardur, Doomscourge | 9 | 55% | +14 pts |
| Bedevil | 11 | 46% | +14 pts |
| Painful Quandary | 7 | 53% | +14 pts |
| Spiteful Visions | 6 | 53% | +13 pts |
| Disrupt Decorum | 7 | 53% | +13 pts |
| Wound Reflection | 6 | 45% | +13 pts |
| Price of Progress | 6 | 53% | +13 pts |
| Basilisk Collar | 9 | 66% | +12 pts |
| Boltwave | 6 | 39% | +12 pts |
| Agitator Ant | 6 | 43% | +12 pts |
| Dark Deal | 6 | 51% | +11 pts |
Commanders for Group Slug
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is.
By color identity
Red Best cards by color →
Black Best cards by color →
Black · Red Best cards by color →
White · Red Best cards by color →
Red · Green Best cards by color →
Blue · Black · Red 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 Group Slug deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls, Mogis, God of Slaughter, The Lord of Pain. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 256 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Group Slug is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Group Slug deck?
The three most characteristic are Torbran, Thane of Red Fell, Manabarbs, Roiling Vortex. 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 Group Slug played in?
The most common color identities are Red, Black, Black · Red. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Group Slug 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.