EDH Optimizer
Soldiers Commander decks
Soldiers 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 white and Boros. Its most characteristic cards are Captain of the Watch, Keeper of the Accord, Martial Coup: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain of the Watch | 17 | 46% | +77 pts |
| Keeper of the Accord | 16 | 48% | +65 pts |
| Martial Coup | 14 | 44% | +62 pts |
| Mentor of the Meek | 16 | 52% | +60 pts |
| Elspeth, Sun's Champion | 13 | 41% | +55 pts |
| Myrel, Shield of Argive | 12 | 44% | +53 pts |
| Valiant Veteran | 11 | 51% | +50 pts |
| Odric, Master Tactician | 11 | 43% | +47 pts |
| Field Marshal | 9 | 46% | +41 pts |
| Preeminent Captain | 9 | 45% | +41 pts |
| Path of Ancestry | 11 | 41% | +37 pts |
| Daru Warchief | 8 | 49% | +36 pts |
| Darien, King of Kjeldor | 8 | 39% | +36 pts |
| Horn of Gondor | 8 | 47% | +34 pts |
| Rescue Retriever | 7 | 48% | +32 pts |
| Ballyrush Banneret | 7 | 51% | +31 pts |
| Siege Veteran | 6 | 48% | +27 pts |
| Call the Coppercoats | 6 | 44% | +26 pts |
| Assemble the Legion | 6 | 58% | +25 pts |
| Bastion Protector | 7 | 51% | +25 pts |
| Flawless Maneuver | 7 | 37% | +25 pts |
| Intangible Virtue | 7 | 44% | +25 pts |
| Firemane Commando | 6 | 37% | +24 pts |
| Thalia, Heretic Cathar | 6 | 40% | +24 pts |
| Mobilization | 5 | 36% | +23 pts |
| Haazda Marshal | 5 | 40% | +23 pts |
| Cathars' Crusade | 6 | 37% | +21 pts |
| Hero of Bladehold | 5 | 38% | +21 pts |
| Frontline Medic | 5 | 36% | +20 pts |
| Minas Tirith | 7 | 35% | +20 pts |
Commanders for Soldiers
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 Best cards by color →
White · Red Best cards by color →
White · Blue Best cards by color →
White · Green Best cards by color →
White · Black Best cards by color →
White · Blue · Red 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 Soldiers deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Myrel, Shield of Argive, Immard, the Stormcleaver, Faramir, Prince of Ithilien. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 70 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Soldiers is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Soldiers deck?
The three most characteristic are Captain of the Watch, Keeper of the Accord, Martial Coup. 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 Soldiers played in?
The most common color identities are White, White · Red, White · Blue. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Soldiers 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.