EDH Optimizer
Monarch Commander decks
Monarch shows up as a main archetype for 31 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in white and Selesnya. Its most characteristic cards are Throne of the High City, Court of Ire, Champions of Minas Tirith: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throne of the High City | 5 | 52% | +38 pts |
| Court of Ire | 5 | 63% | +38 pts |
| Champions of Minas Tirith | 5 | 66% | +38 pts |
| Court of Grace | 5 | 62% | +38 pts |
| Archon of Coronation | 4 | 56% | +31 pts |
| Archivist of Gondor | 3 | 46% | +23 pts |
| Fealty to the Realm | 3 | 50% | +23 pts |
| Skyline Despot | 3 | 49% | +23 pts |
| Court of Bounty | 3 | 67% | +23 pts |
| Court of Ardenvale | 3 | 56% | +23 pts |
| Dawnglade Regent | 3 | 62% | +23 pts |
| Court of Garenbrig | 3 | 61% | +23 pts |
| Court of Vantress | 3 | 51% | +23 pts |
| Court of Locthwain | 3 | 59% | +23 pts |
| Court of Ambition | 3 | 62% | +23 pts |
| Beregond of the Guard | 3 | 54% | +23 pts |
| Lossarnach Captain | 3 | 55% | +23 pts |
| Regal Behemoth | 3 | 66% | +22 pts |
| Horn of Gondor | 3 | 61% | +22 pts |
| Boromir, Warden of the Tower | 3 | 45% | +21 pts |
| Mangara, the Diplomat | 3 | 57% | +21 pts |
| Ohran Frostfang | 3 | 43% | +21 pts |
| Generous Gift | 4 | 42% | +17 pts |
| Thought Vessel | 4 | 54% | +16 pts |
| Birds of Paradise | 3 | 54% | +15 pts |
| Farseek | 3 | 56% | +14 pts |
Commanders for Monarch
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
White
White · Green
White · Blue
White · Blue · Red
Black
Blue · Black
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 Monarch deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Queen Marchesa, Obeka, Splitter of Seconds, Aragorn, King of Gondor. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 31 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Monarch is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Monarch deck?
The three most characteristic are Throne of the High City, Court of Ire, Champions of Minas Tirith. 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 Monarch played in?
The most common color identities are White, White · Green, White · Blue. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Monarch 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.