Self-Discard Commander decks

Self-Discard shows up as a main archetype for 50 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in red and Rakdos. Below are its commanders and the cards that set it apart from the rest of the format.

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
Monument to Endurance	3	67%	+72 pts

Commanders for Self-Discard

Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.

Misty Knight, Hero for HireRed Moonstone, Harsh MistressBlack Green Goblin, RevenantBlack · Red Power PackGreen · Red · Blue · White Carnage, Crimson ChaosBlack · Red Spider-Man, New ChampionRed Captain Howler, Sea ScourgeRed · Blue Anje FalkenrathBlack · Red Gavi, Nest WardenRed · Blue · White Ultimate Green GoblinBlack · Red Green Goblin, NemesisBlack · Red Songbird, Sonic ScreamerBlack The Fugitive DoctorGreen · Red Joshua, Phoenix's Dominant // Phoenix, Warden of FireRed · White Toluz, Clever ConductorBlack · Blue · White Ivora, Insatiable HeirRed Yidaro, Wandering MonsterRed Banon, the Returners' LeaderRed · White Mishra, Excavation ProdigyRed Norman Osborn // Green GoblinBlack · Red · Blue Oskar, Rubbish ReclaimerBlack · Blue Olivia, Mobilized for WarBlack · Red Balin, LoremasterRed Urgoros, the Empty OneBlack

By color identity

Red

Black · Red

Black

White · Red

Blue · Black

Blue · Red

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best commander for a Self-Discard deck?

The most-built commanders for this archetype are Misty Knight, Hero for Hire, Moonstone, Harsh Mistress, Green Goblin, Revenant. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 50 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Self-Discard is to their decks.

Which cards are must-haves in a Self-Discard deck?

The three most characteristic are Monument to Endurance. 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-Discard played in?

The most common color identities are Red, Black · Red, Black. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.

How much does a Self-Discard 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.