EDH Optimizer
Spirits Commander decks
Spirits 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 Azorius. Its most characteristic cards are Long-Forgotten Gohei, Selfless Spirit, Kura, the Boundless Sky: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-Forgotten Gohei | 11 | 65% | +42 pts |
| Selfless Spirit | 10 | 64% | +35 pts |
| Kura, the Boundless Sky | 7 | 58% | +27 pts |
| Junji, the Midnight Sky | 7 | 63% | +26 pts |
| Guardian of Faith | 7 | 55% | +26 pts |
| Loam Dweller | 6 | 74% | +23 pts |
| Myojin of Blooming Dawn | 6 | 48% | +23 pts |
| Drogskol Reinforcements | 6 | 62% | +23 pts |
| Kokusho, the Evening Star | 6 | 45% | +23 pts |
| Windborn Muse | 6 | 64% | +21 pts |
| Elder Pine of Jukai | 5 | 82% | +19 pts |
| Kodama of the Center Tree | 5 | 70% | +19 pts |
| Petalmane Baku | 5 | 74% | +19 pts |
| Myojin of Life's Web | 5 | 71% | +19 pts |
| Lifespinner | 5 | 70% | +19 pts |
| Sekki, Seasons' Guide | 5 | 65% | +19 pts |
| Thief of Hope | 5 | 72% | +19 pts |
| Katilda, Dawnhart Martyr | 5 | 54% | +19 pts |
| Thundering Mightmare | 5 | 46% | +19 pts |
| Path of Ancestry | 8 | 47% | +19 pts |
| Primordial Sage | 5 | 67% | +19 pts |
| Clarion Spirit | 5 | 57% | +19 pts |
| Kami of False Hope | 5 | 63% | +19 pts |
| Ao, the Dawn Sky | 5 | 42% | +18 pts |
| Kodama of the East Tree | 5 | 75% | +18 pts |
| Kodama's Reach | 8 | 71% | +18 pts |
| Kodama of the West Tree | 5 | 52% | +18 pts |
| Kami of Whispered Hopes | 5 | 60% | +16 pts |
| Kodama of the South Tree | 4 | 80% | +15 pts |
| Briarknit Kami | 4 | 77% | +15 pts |
Commanders for Spirits
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is.
By color identity
White Best cards by color →
White · Blue Best cards by color →
White · Black Best cards by color →
Blue Best cards by color →
Green Best cards by color →
White · 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 Spirits deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Kyodai, Soul of Kamigawa, O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami, Millicent, Restless Revenant. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 48 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Spirits is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Spirits deck?
The three most characteristic are Long-Forgotten Gohei, Selfless Spirit, Kura, the Boundless Sky. 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 Spirits played in?
The most common color identities are White, White · Blue, White · Black. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Spirits 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.