EDH Optimizer
Phyrexians Commander decks
Phyrexians 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 white and black. Its most characteristic cards are Karn's Bastion, Metastatic Evangel, White Sun's Twilight: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karn's Bastion | 8 | 63% | +86 pts |
| Metastatic Evangel | 7 | 55% | +76 pts |
| White Sun's Twilight | 6 | 63% | +66 pts |
| Skrelv, Defector Mite | 6 | 65% | +66 pts |
| Phyrexian Censor | 5 | 59% | +55 pts |
| Norn's Decree | 5 | 56% | +55 pts |
| Skrelv's Hive | 5 | 71% | +55 pts |
| Cankerbloom | 5 | 70% | +54 pts |
| Mite Overseer | 4 | 57% | +44 pts |
| The Seedcore | 4 | 49% | +44 pts |
| Crawling Chorus | 4 | 54% | +44 pts |
| Mirrex | 4 | 44% | +44 pts |
| Myr Convert | 4 | 46% | +44 pts |
| Bloated Contaminator | 4 | 61% | +44 pts |
| Norn's Choirmaster | 4 | 57% | +44 pts |
| Unnatural Restoration | 4 | 71% | +44 pts |
| Blightbelly Rat | 4 | 56% | +44 pts |
| Phyrexian Vindicator | 4 | 51% | +44 pts |
| Evolution Sage | 4 | 64% | +43 pts |
| Essence of Orthodoxy | 3 | 69% | +33 pts |
| Grafted Butcher | 3 | 62% | +33 pts |
| Charge of the Mites | 3 | 52% | +33 pts |
| Glistening Sphere | 3 | 62% | +33 pts |
| Contaminant Grafter | 3 | 62% | +33 pts |
| Throne of Geth | 3 | 50% | +33 pts |
| Basilica Shepherd | 3 | 46% | +33 pts |
| Filigree Vector | 3 | 59% | +33 pts |
| Infectious Inquiry | 3 | 72% | +33 pts |
| Vraska's Fall | 3 | 67% | +33 pts |
| Vraska, Betrayal's Sting | 3 | 49% | +33 pts |
Commanders for Phyrexians
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is.
By color identity
White Best cards by color →
Black Best cards by color →
Green Best cards by color →
White · Black Best cards by color →
White · Black · Green Best cards by color →
Black · Green Best cards by color →
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 Phyrexians deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos, Valko Indorian, Migloz, Maze Crusher. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 32 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Phyrexians is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Phyrexians deck?
The three most characteristic are Karn's Bastion, Metastatic Evangel, White Sun's Twilight. 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 Phyrexians played in?
The most common color identities are White, Black, Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Phyrexians 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.