EDH Optimizer
Self-Damage Commander decks
Self-Damage shows up as a main archetype for 97 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in black and Orzhov. Its most characteristic cards are K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth, Font of Agonies, Toxic Deluge: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth | 16 | 54% | +56 pts |
| Font of Agonies | 13 | 54% | +52 pts |
| Toxic Deluge | 17 | 50% | +47 pts |
| Exsanguinate | 16 | 56% | +47 pts |
| Bolas's Citadel | 13 | 48% | +46 pts |
| Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose | 13 | 46% | +45 pts |
| Vilis, Broker of Blood | 11 | 52% | +41 pts |
| Whip of Erebos | 11 | 50% | +41 pts |
| Reliquary Tower | 13 | 54% | +41 pts |
| Night's Whisper | 14 | 45% | +33 pts |
| Dread Presence | 10 | 44% | +31 pts |
| Greed | 8 | 52% | +31 pts |
| Infernal Grasp | 11 | 43% | +30 pts |
| Thought Vessel | 9 | 54% | +28 pts |
| Wall of Blood | 7 | 56% | +28 pts |
| Profane Transfusion | 6 | 60% | +24 pts |
| Consuming Corruption | 7 | 46% | +22 pts |
| Sanguine Bond | 7 | 50% | +21 pts |
| Sheoldred, the Apocalypse | 6 | 45% | +21 pts |
| Magus of the Mirror | 5 | 56% | +20 pts |
| Black Market Connections | 8 | 46% | +18 pts |
| Nighthawk Scavenger | 5 | 49% | +17 pts |
| Twilight Prophet | 5 | 48% | +16 pts |
| Repay in Kind | 4 | 69% | +16 pts |
| Soul Conduit | 4 | 65% | +16 pts |
| Children of Korlis | 4 | 63% | +16 pts |
| Vampire Nighthawk | 5 | 50% | +16 pts |
| Imp's Mischief | 6 | 41% | +16 pts |
| Pact Weapon | 4 | 58% | +15 pts |
| Dark Confidant | 4 | 47% | +15 pts |
Commanders for Self-Damage
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
White · Black
Red
White · Blue · Black
Black · Red
Black · 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 Self-Damage deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Greven, Predator Captain, Gallowbraid, Seymour Flux. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 97 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Self-Damage is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Self-Damage deck?
The three most characteristic are K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth, Font of Agonies, Toxic Deluge. 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 Self-Damage played in?
The most common color identities are Black, White · Black, Red. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Self-Damage 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.