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.

CardCommandersAvg. inclusionExcess
Long-Forgotten Gohei 11 65% +42 pts
Selfless Spirit 9 65% +31 pts
Kura, the Boundless Sky 7 58% +27 pts
Guardian of Faith 7 54% +26 pts
Junji, the Midnight Sky 7 63% +26 pts
Loam Dweller 6 74% +23 pts
Drogskol Reinforcements 6 62% +23 pts
Kokusho, the Evening Star 6 46% +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
Myojin of Blooming Dawn 5 47% +19 pts
Thief of Hope 5 72% +19 pts
Katilda, Dawnhart Martyr 5 54% +19 pts
Thundering Mightmare 5 47% +19 pts
Primordial Sage 5 67% +19 pts
Clarion Spirit 5 58% +19 pts
Path of Ancestry 8 47% +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 72% +18 pts
Kodama of the West Tree 5 52% +17 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, according to EDHREC data.

By color identity

White

White · Blue

White · Black

White · Red

Blue

Green

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Frequently 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, Quintorius, Loremaster. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 50 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.

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