EDH Optimizer
Shapeshifters Commander decks
Shapeshifters is a kindred archetype: the deck is built around one creature type and the cards that pay you for having many of them. It is mostly played in five colors and blue. Its most characteristic cards are Maskwood Nexus, Bloodline Pretender, Universal Automaton: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maskwood Nexus | 9 | 56% | +63 pts |
| Bloodline Pretender | 7 | 57% | +50 pts |
| Universal Automaton | 5 | 61% | +35 pts |
| Realmwalker | 5 | 40% | +35 pts |
| Taurean Mauler | 4 | 53% | +28 pts |
| Graveshifter | 4 | 51% | +28 pts |
| Mirror Entity | 4 | 45% | +28 pts |
| Clone | 4 | 45% | +28 pts |
| Clever Impersonator | 4 | 63% | +27 pts |
| Phyrexian Metamorph | 4 | 59% | +23 pts |
| Cryptoplasm | 3 | 48% | +21 pts |
| Gigantoplasm | 3 | 41% | +21 pts |
| Rogue's Passage | 5 | 46% | +21 pts |
| Arcane Adaptation | 3 | 39% | +21 pts |
| Undercover Operative | 3 | 49% | +21 pts |
| Amoeboid Changeling | 3 | 66% | +21 pts |
| Metallic Mimic | 3 | 58% | +21 pts |
| Vesuva | 3 | 59% | +21 pts |
| Stunt Double | 3 | 59% | +21 pts |
| Mocking Doppelganger | 3 | 45% | +21 pts |
| Mirage Mirror | 3 | 53% | +21 pts |
| Changeling Outcast | 3 | 58% | +21 pts |
| Reflections of Littjara | 3 | 37% | +20 pts |
| Thespian's Stage | 3 | 59% | +20 pts |
| Glasspool Mimic | 3 | 51% | +20 pts |
| Rite of Replication | 3 | 59% | +20 pts |
| The World Tree | 4 | 38% | +19 pts |
| Spark Double | 3 | 51% | +18 pts |
Commanders for Shapeshifters
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
White · Blue · Black · Red · Green Best cards by color →
Blue Best cards by color →
Black · Red Best cards by color →
Black Best cards by color →
White Best cards by color →
Blue · Green 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 Shapeshifters deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Morophon, the Boundless, The Dalek Emperor, Bebop, Warthog Warrior. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 35 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Shapeshifters is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Shapeshifters deck?
The three most characteristic are Maskwood Nexus, Bloodline Pretender, Universal Automaton. 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 Shapeshifters played in?
The most common color identities are White · Blue · Black · Red · Green, Blue, Black · Red. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Shapeshifters 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.