EDH Optimizer
Rat Colony Commander decks
Rat Colony shows up as a main archetype for 16 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in black and Golgari. Its most characteristic cards are Pack Rat, Piper of the Swarm, Swarmyard: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pack Rat | 8 | 64% | +99 pts |
| Piper of the Swarm | 8 | 72% | +99 pts |
| Swarmyard | 8 | 58% | +99 pts |
| Ogre Slumlord | 8 | 66% | +98 pts |
| Persistent Marshstalker | 7 | 45% | +87 pts |
| Marrow-Gnawer | 7 | 72% | +87 pts |
| Karumonix, the Rat King | 7 | 65% | +87 pts |
| Lord Skitter, Sewer King | 7 | 64% | +86 pts |
| Rat Colony | 6 | 62% | +75 pts |
| Lord Skitter's Butcher | 6 | 50% | +74 pts |
| Skullclamp | 6 | 48% | +66 pts |
| Tangled Colony | 5 | 49% | +62 pts |
| Revenge of the Rats | 5 | 40% | +62 pts |
| Valley Rotcaller | 5 | 43% | +62 pts |
| Voracious Vermin | 5 | 46% | +62 pts |
| Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm | 5 | 46% | +62 pts |
| Typhoid Rats | 5 | 44% | +61 pts |
| Herald's Horn | 5 | 47% | +61 pts |
| Mudflat Village | 4 | 41% | +50 pts |
| Ratcatcher | 4 | 41% | +50 pts |
| Swarmyard Massacre | 4 | 40% | +50 pts |
| Crypt Rats | 4 | 48% | +49 pts |
| Kindred Dominance | 4 | 35% | +49 pts |
| Village Rites | 5 | 44% | +45 pts |
| Bontu's Monument | 5 | 57% | +44 pts |
| Path of Ancestry | 4 | 40% | +41 pts |
| Three Tree City | 3 | 41% | +38 pts |
| Swarm of Rats | 3 | 34% | +38 pts |
| Azure Beastbinder | 3 | 46% | +38 pts |
| Shoreline Looter | 3 | 49% | +37 pts |
Commanders for Rat Colony
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Black
Black · Green
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🛠️ Build a deck like this 📥 Analyze my deckFrequently asked questions
What is the best commander for a Rat Colony deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Marrow-Gnawer, Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm, Wick, the Whorled Mind. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 16 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Rat Colony is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Rat Colony deck?
The three most characteristic are Pack Rat, Piper of the Swarm, Swarmyard. 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 Rat Colony played in?
The most common color identities are Black, Black · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Rat Colony 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.