EDH Optimizer
Storm Commander decks
Storm counts spells cast this turn and finishes with one that copies itself for each. It is a deck of rituals, cheap draw and a chain you have to rehearse: it either resolves entirely or it does not.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm-Kiln Artist | 32 | 64% | +59 pts |
| Guttersnipe | 22 | 52% | +45 pts |
| Lightning Bolt | 24 | 55% | +39 pts |
| Grapeshot | 17 | 55% | +39 pts |
| Birgi, God of Storytelling | 17 | 51% | +39 pts |
| Seething Song | 20 | 60% | +37 pts |
| Jeska's Will | 20 | 51% | +36 pts |
| Preordain | 18 | 51% | +33 pts |
| Ponder | 19 | 52% | +33 pts |
| Pyretic Ritual | 13 | 61% | +30 pts |
| Brainstorm | 20 | 59% | +29 pts |
| Frantic Search | 20 | 59% | +28 pts |
| Archmage Emeritus | 19 | 53% | +28 pts |
| Past in Flames | 12 | 52% | +28 pts |
| Desperate Ritual | 12 | 57% | +27 pts |
| Opt | 16 | 53% | +26 pts |
| Gitaxian Probe | 11 | 50% | +26 pts |
| Runaway Steam-Kin | 12 | 55% | +25 pts |
| Lotus Petal | 11 | 44% | +25 pts |
| Mana Geyser | 18 | 53% | +25 pts |
| Goblin Electromancer | 15 | 49% | +25 pts |
| Coruscation Mage | 11 | 46% | +24 pts |
| Electro, Assaulting Battery | 11 | 55% | +23 pts |
| Firebrand Archer | 10 | 48% | +22 pts |
| Snap | 11 | 52% | +22 pts |
| Flashback | 9 | 48% | +20 pts |
| Mizzix's Mastery | 10 | 44% | +20 pts |
| Deflecting Swat | 11 | 45% | +19 pts |
| Consider | 11 | 42% | +19 pts |
| Strike It Rich | 8 | 47% | +18 pts |
Commanders for Storm
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Blue · Red
Red
Blue
White · Blue · Red
Green
Black · Red
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 Storm deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Prismari, the Inspiration, Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty, Thrasta, Tempest's Roar. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 195 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Storm is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Storm deck?
The three most characteristic are Storm-Kiln Artist, Guttersnipe, Lightning Bolt. 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 Storm played in?
The most common color identities are Blue · Red, Red, Blue. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Storm 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.