EDH Optimizer
Spell Copy Commander decks
Spell Copy shows up as a main archetype for 95 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in Izzet and blue. Its most characteristic cards are Archmage Emeritus, Twinning Staff, Storm-Kiln Artist: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archmage Emeritus | 19 | 58% | +59 pts |
| Twinning Staff | 14 | 48% | +55 pts |
| Storm-Kiln Artist | 16 | 61% | +49 pts |
| Frantic Search | 15 | 55% | +35 pts |
| Goblin Electromancer | 11 | 53% | +33 pts |
| Narset's Reversal | 8 | 51% | +31 pts |
| Mana Geyser | 9 | 53% | +29 pts |
| Veyran, Voice of Duality | 8 | 52% | +28 pts |
| Big Score | 9 | 50% | +25 pts |
| Snap | 8 | 50% | +23 pts |
| Seething Song | 7 | 49% | +23 pts |
| Ponder | 10 | 50% | +23 pts |
| Opt | 9 | 50% | +22 pts |
| Stormcatch Mentor | 6 | 50% | +19 pts |
| Lightning Bolt | 7 | 52% | +18 pts |
| Talrand, Sky Summoner | 6 | 42% | +18 pts |
| Reverberate | 4 | 46% | +16 pts |
| Double Vision | 4 | 46% | +16 pts |
| Thousand-Year Storm | 4 | 42% | +14 pts |
| Grapeshot | 4 | 44% | +14 pts |
| Mizzix's Mastery | 4 | 37% | +13 pts |
| Guttersnipe | 5 | 44% | +13 pts |
| Expressive Iteration | 5 | 47% | +13 pts |
| Errant, Street Artist | 3 | 45% | +12 pts |
| Manamorphose | 3 | 60% | +12 pts |
| Swarm Intelligence | 3 | 53% | +12 pts |
| Increasing Vengeance | 3 | 46% | +12 pts |
| Thrill of Possibility | 4 | 52% | +12 pts |
| Cormela, Glamour Thief | 3 | 60% | +11 pts |
| See Double | 3 | 52% | +11 pts |
Commanders for Spell Copy
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is.
By color identity
Blue · Red Best cards by color →
Blue Best cards by color →
Red Best cards by color →
Blue · Black · Red Best cards by color →
Blue · Green 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 Spell Copy deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Parnesse, the Subtle Brush, Errant, Street Artist, The Fifteenth Doctor. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 95 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Spell Copy is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Spell Copy deck?
The three most characteristic are Archmage Emeritus, Twinning Staff, Storm-Kiln Artist. 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 Spell Copy played in?
The most common color identities are Blue · Red, Blue, Red. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Spell Copy 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.