EDH Optimizer
Insects Commander decks
Insects is a kindred archetype: the deck is built around one creature type and the cards that pay you for having many of them. It is mostly played in Golgari and Jund. Its most characteristic cards are Swarmyard, Hornet Nest, Caustic Caterpillar: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swarmyard | 8 | 51% | +76 pts |
| Hornet Nest | 6 | 50% | +60 pts |
| Caustic Caterpillar | 6 | 52% | +60 pts |
| Hornet Queen | 6 | 61% | +58 pts |
| Scute Swarm | 6 | 64% | +54 pts |
| Haywire Mite | 6 | 55% | +52 pts |
| Grist, the Hunger Tide | 5 | 66% | +47 pts |
| The Swarmweaver | 4 | 46% | +40 pts |
| Zask, Skittering Swarmlord | 4 | 48% | +40 pts |
| Grist, Voracious Larva | 4 | 56% | +40 pts |
| Springheart Nantuko | 4 | 46% | +40 pts |
| Giant Adephage | 4 | 59% | +40 pts |
| Fumulus, the Infestation | 4 | 53% | +39 pts |
| Aatchik, Emerald Radian | 4 | 56% | +39 pts |
| Crawling Sensation | 4 | 57% | +38 pts |
| Crawling Infestation | 4 | 61% | +37 pts |
| Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest | 4 | 48% | +37 pts |
| Skullclamp | 5 | 51% | +33 pts |
| Amzu, Swarm's Hunger | 3 | 51% | +30 pts |
| Giant Ankheg | 3 | 45% | +30 pts |
| Ant Queen | 3 | 48% | +30 pts |
| Izoni, Thousand-Eyed | 3 | 49% | +28 pts |
| Icetill Explorer | 3 | 56% | +26 pts |
| Victimize | 4 | 44% | +23 pts |
| Ashnod's Altar | 3 | 38% | +21 pts |
| Mirkwood Bats | 3 | 47% | +19 pts |
| Deadly Dispute | 3 | 49% | +19 pts |
| Blood Artist | 3 | 46% | +16 pts |
| Path of Ancestry | 3 | 41% | +16 pts |
Commanders for Insects
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 · Green
Black · Red · Green
Blue · Green
White · Black · Green
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 Insects deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Zask, Skittering Swarmlord, Aatchik, Emerald Radian, Amzu, Swarm's Hunger. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 21 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Insects is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Insects deck?
The three most characteristic are Swarmyard, Hornet Nest, Caustic Caterpillar. 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 Insects played in?
The most common color identities are Black · Green, Black · Red · Green, Blue · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Insects 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.