EDH Optimizer
Planeswalkers Commander decks
Each planeswalker is an advantage engine your opponents have to attack instead of attacking you. The archetype protects them with wipes and blockers, and wins by presenting threats that each demand a different answer.
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 | 18 | 60% | +50 pts |
| The Chain Veil | 12 | 58% | +36 pts |
| Flux Channeler | 11 | 50% | +31 pts |
| Evolution Sage | 8 | 54% | +22 pts |
| Onakke Oathkeeper | 7 | 57% | +21 pts |
| Oath of Gideon | 7 | 61% | +21 pts |
| Gatewatch Beacon | 7 | 52% | +21 pts |
| Ichormoon Gauntlet | 7 | 51% | +21 pts |
| Deepglow Skate | 7 | 51% | +21 pts |
| Elspeth, Sun's Champion | 7 | 64% | +20 pts |
| Thrummingbird | 7 | 56% | +19 pts |
| Interplanar Beacon | 6 | 60% | +18 pts |
| Ajani Steadfast | 6 | 56% | +18 pts |
| Cankerbloom | 6 | 40% | +17 pts |
| Doubling Season | 6 | 49% | +17 pts |
| Spark Double | 6 | 53% | +16 pts |
| Chandra, Legacy of Fire | 5 | 68% | +15 pts |
| Elspeth's Talent | 5 | 43% | +15 pts |
| Djeru, With Eyes Open | 5 | 43% | +15 pts |
| Chandra, Awakened Inferno | 5 | 68% | +15 pts |
| The Eternal Wanderer | 5 | 64% | +15 pts |
| Chandra, Torch of Defiance | 5 | 78% | +14 pts |
| Lae'zel, Vlaakith's Champion | 5 | 60% | +14 pts |
| Grateful Apparition | 5 | 54% | +13 pts |
| Chandra, Acolyte of Flame | 4 | 67% | +12 pts |
| Jaya's Phoenix | 4 | 53% | +12 pts |
| Deification | 4 | 47% | +12 pts |
| Oath of Teferi | 4 | 80% | +12 pts |
| Gideon of the Trials | 4 | 57% | +12 pts |
| Chandra, Dressed to Kill | 4 | 55% | +12 pts |
Commanders for Planeswalkers
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Red
Blue
White · Blue
White
White · Red
White · Blue · Black · Red · 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 Planeswalkers deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Esika, God of the Tree // The Prismatic Bridge, Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen, Jared Carthalion. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 91 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Planeswalkers is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Planeswalkers deck?
The three most characteristic are Karn's Bastion, The Chain Veil, Flux Channeler. 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 Planeswalkers played in?
The most common color identities are Red, Blue, White · Blue. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Planeswalkers 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.