EDH Optimizer
Scry Commander decks
Scry shows up as a main archetype for 26 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in blue and Simic. Its most characteristic cards are Serum Visions, Castle Vantress, Preordain: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum Visions | 6 | 65% | +83 pts |
| Castle Vantress | 6 | 50% | +81 pts |
| Preordain | 6 | 75% | +72 pts |
| Opt | 6 | 70% | +71 pts |
| Rivendell | 5 | 59% | +69 pts |
| Cryptic Annelid | 4 | 49% | +57 pts |
| Planetarium of Wan Shi Tong | 4 | 56% | +57 pts |
| Deliberate | 4 | 61% | +57 pts |
| Jace's Sanctum | 4 | 46% | +57 pts |
| Sigiled Starfish | 3 | 48% | +43 pts |
| Zhalfirin Void | 3 | 40% | +43 pts |
| Crystal Ball | 3 | 48% | +43 pts |
| Mystic Speculation | 3 | 57% | +43 pts |
| Foresee | 3 | 54% | +43 pts |
| Sphinx of Foresight | 3 | 51% | +42 pts |
| Dissolve | 3 | 53% | +42 pts |
| Thassa, God of the Sea | 3 | 65% | +42 pts |
| Matoya, Archon Elder | 3 | 69% | +42 pts |
| Elvish Mariner | 3 | 62% | +42 pts |
| Faerie Seer | 3 | 44% | +42 pts |
Commanders for Scry
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is.
By color identity
Blue Best cards by color →
Blue · Green Best cards by color →
White · Blue 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 Scry deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Matoya, Archon Elder, Proft, Consulting Detective, Denzilore Fatehold. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 26 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Scry is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Scry deck?
The three most characteristic are Serum Visions, Castle Vantress, Preordain. 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 Scry played in?
The most common color identities are Blue, Blue · Green, White · Blue. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Scry 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.