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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roiling Vortex | 10 | 55% | +26 pts |
| Razorkin Needlehead | 10 | 51% | +25 pts |
| Manabarbs | 9 | 62% | +23 pts |
| Underworld Dreams | 9 | 56% | +23 pts |
| Torbran, Thane of Red Fell | 11 | 54% | +23 pts |
| Solphim, Mayhem Dominus | 10 | 49% | +23 pts |
| Stormfist Crusader | 9 | 41% | +22 pts |
| Descent into Avernus | 9 | 57% | +22 pts |
| Fate Unraveler | 8 | 59% | +21 pts |
| Harsh Mentor | 8 | 51% | +21 pts |
| Brash Taunter | 9 | 51% | +19 pts |
| Painful Quandary | 8 | 50% | +19 pts |
| Spellshock | 7 | 51% | +18 pts |
| Kederekt Parasite | 7 | 56% | +18 pts |
| Sulfuric Vortex | 7 | 52% | +18 pts |
| Heartless Hidetsugu | 7 | 58% | +18 pts |
| Scrawling Crawler | 7 | 55% | +18 pts |
| Rakdos Charm | 13 | 61% | +17 pts |
| Spiteful Visions | 6 | 53% | +16 pts |
| Basilisk Collar | 9 | 66% | +15 pts |
| Price of Progress | 6 | 53% | +15 pts |
| Temple of Malice | 10 | 43% | +15 pts |
| Dictate of the Twin Gods | 6 | 46% | +14 pts |
| Bedevil | 10 | 47% | +13 pts |
| Curse of Opulence | 6 | 57% | +13 pts |
| Kardur, Doomscourge | 7 | 55% | +13 pts |
| Rampaging Ferocidon | 5 | 50% | +13 pts |
| Wound Reflection | 5 | 41% | +13 pts |
| Witch's Clinic | 5 | 57% | +12 pts |
| Kaervek the Merciless | 5 | 58% | +12 pts |
Commanders for Group Slug
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
Black · Red
White · Red
Red · Green
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 Group Slug deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls, Yurlok of Scorch Thrash, Mogis, God of Slaughter. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 236 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 Roiling Vortex, Razorkin Needlehead, Manabarbs. 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.