EDH Optimizer
Lessons Commander decks
Lessons shows up as a main archetype for 9 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in Simic. Its most characteristic cards are Aang's Journey, Zuko's Exile, White Lotus Hideout: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aang's Journey | 5 | 55% | +100 pts |
| Zuko's Exile | 5 | 60% | +100 pts |
| White Lotus Hideout | 4 | 48% | +80 pts |
| True Ancestry | 4 | 72% | +80 pts |
| Seismic Sense | 4 | 64% | +80 pts |
| Cycle of Renewal | 4 | 78% | +79 pts |
| Shared Roots | 4 | 76% | +79 pts |
| Origin of Metalbending | 4 | 80% | +79 pts |
| Accumulate Wisdom | 3 | 80% | +60 pts |
| It'll Quench Ya! | 3 | 74% | +60 pts |
| Octopus Form | 3 | 71% | +60 pts |
| Boomerang Basics | 3 | 67% | +60 pts |
| Hermitic Herbalist | 3 | 59% | +60 pts |
| Waterbending Lesson | 3 | 68% | +60 pts |
| Gran-Gran | 3 | 55% | +60 pts |
| Match the Odds | 3 | 48% | +60 pts |
| Sokka's Haiku | 3 | 53% | +60 pts |
| Bumi, King of Three Trials | 3 | 47% | +60 pts |
| Lost Days | 3 | 44% | +60 pts |
| Chakra Meditation | 3 | 43% | +60 pts |
| Elemental Teachings | 3 | 50% | +60 pts |
| Energybending | 3 | 52% | +60 pts |
| Combustion Technique | 3 | 75% | +60 pts |
| Iroh's Demonstration | 3 | 82% | +60 pts |
| Price of Freedom | 3 | 70% | +60 pts |
| Firebending Lesson | 3 | 72% | +60 pts |
| Earthbending Lesson | 3 | 53% | +60 pts |
| Redirect Lightning | 3 | 71% | +58 pts |
Commanders for Lessons
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
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 Lessons deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Iroh, Grand Lotus, Guru Pathik, Jeong Jeong, the Deserter. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 9 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Lessons is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Lessons deck?
The three most characteristic are Aang's Journey, Zuko's Exile, White Lotus Hideout. 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 Lessons played in?
The most common color identities are Blue · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Lessons 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.