EDH Optimizer
Mutate Commander decks
Mutate stacks creatures into one and triggers every mutate ability each time. It is Voltron without auras: losing the whole pile hurts, so protection is mandatory.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auspicious Starrix | 7 | 47% | +58 pts |
| Gemrazer | 7 | 56% | +58 pts |
| Sea-Dasher Octopus | 6 | 62% | +50 pts |
| Dreamtail Heron | 6 | 57% | +50 pts |
| Pouncing Shoreshark | 6 | 56% | +50 pts |
| Migratory Greathorn | 6 | 60% | +50 pts |
| Dirge Bat | 5 | 54% | +42 pts |
| Pollywog Symbiote | 5 | 54% | +42 pts |
| Insatiable Hemophage | 5 | 51% | +42 pts |
| Kodama's Reach | 7 | 38% | +38 pts |
| Boneyard Lurker | 4 | 58% | +33 pts |
| Sawtusk Demolisher | 4 | 59% | +33 pts |
| Chittering Harvester | 4 | 55% | +33 pts |
| Glowstone Recluse | 4 | 55% | +33 pts |
| Parcelbeast | 4 | 57% | +33 pts |
| Trumpeting Gnarr | 4 | 51% | +33 pts |
| Cubwarden | 4 | 44% | +33 pts |
| Zagoth Triome | 6 | 32% | +30 pts |
| Indatha Triome | 5 | 30% | +30 pts |
| Rampant Growth | 7 | 35% | +30 pts |
| Ketria Triome | 5 | 32% | +29 pts |
| Raugrin Triome | 4 | 30% | +28 pts |
| Cavern Whisperer | 3 | 59% | +25 pts |
| Mindleecher | 3 | 54% | +25 pts |
| Souvenir Snatcher | 3 | 55% | +25 pts |
| Lore Drakkis | 3 | 58% | +25 pts |
| Porcuparrot | 3 | 51% | +25 pts |
| Everquill Phoenix | 3 | 45% | +25 pts |
| Cloudpiercer | 3 | 51% | +25 pts |
| Frontier Bivouac | 4 | 30% | +25 pts |
Commanders for Mutate
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 · Blue · Black · Red · Green
Blue · Black · Green
Blue · 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 Mutate deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Jegantha, the Wellspring, Illuna, Apex of Wishes, Cromat. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 19 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Mutate is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Mutate deck?
The three most characteristic are Auspicious Starrix, Gemrazer, Sea-Dasher Octopus. 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 Mutate played in?
The most common color identities are White · Blue · Black · Red · Green, Blue · Black · Green, Blue · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Mutate 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.