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, White Sun's Twilight, Metastatic Evangel: 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% | +77 pts |
| White Sun's Twilight | 7 | 60% | +70 pts |
| Metastatic Evangel | 6 | 55% | +58 pts |
| Norn's Decree | 5 | 56% | +50 pts |
| Skrelv's Hive | 5 | 71% | +50 pts |
| Skrelv, Defector Mite | 5 | 66% | +49 pts |
| Path of Ancestry | 6 | 50% | +42 pts |
| Mite Overseer | 4 | 57% | +40 pts |
| Crawling Chorus | 4 | 53% | +40 pts |
| Phyrexian Censor | 4 | 56% | +40 pts |
| Mirrex | 4 | 44% | +40 pts |
| Bloated Contaminator | 4 | 61% | +40 pts |
| Myr Convert | 4 | 46% | +40 pts |
| Unnatural Restoration | 4 | 71% | +40 pts |
| Blightbelly Rat | 4 | 56% | +40 pts |
| Norn's Choirmaster | 4 | 57% | +40 pts |
| Phyrexian Vindicator | 4 | 52% | +39 pts |
| Evolution Sage | 4 | 64% | +39 pts |
| Cankerbloom | 4 | 73% | +39 pts |
| Mondrak, Glory Dominus | 4 | 52% | +37 pts |
| Grafted Butcher | 3 | 62% | +30 pts |
| Charge of the Mites | 3 | 51% | +30 pts |
| The Seedcore | 3 | 41% | +30 pts |
| Glistening Sphere | 3 | 63% | +30 pts |
| Contaminant Grafter | 3 | 62% | +30 pts |
| Throne of Geth | 3 | 50% | +30 pts |
| Basilica Shepherd | 3 | 46% | +30 pts |
| Infectious Inquiry | 3 | 72% | +30 pts |
| Vraska's Fall | 3 | 67% | +30 pts |
| Filigree Vector | 3 | 59% | +30 pts |
Commanders for Phyrexians
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
Black
Green
White · Black
White · Black · Green
Black · Green
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🛠️ 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, Migloz, Maze Crusher, Vishgraz, the Doomhive. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 29 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, White Sun's Twilight, Metastatic Evangel. 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.