EDH Optimizer
Toughness Matters Commander decks
Toughness Matters shows up as a main archetype for 43 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in Abzan and white. Its most characteristic cards are Assault Formation, Bedrock Tortoise, Baldin, Century Herdmaster: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault Formation | 10 | 63% | +45 pts |
| Bedrock Tortoise | 8 | 53% | +36 pts |
| Baldin, Century Herdmaster | 8 | 58% | +36 pts |
| Indomitable Ancients | 8 | 58% | +36 pts |
| Tower Defense | 7 | 62% | +32 pts |
| The Walls of Ba Sing Se | 7 | 49% | +32 pts |
| Tree of Perdition | 7 | 55% | +32 pts |
| Crashing Drawbridge | 7 | 60% | +32 pts |
| Wall of Omens | 7 | 55% | +30 pts |
| Slaughter the Strong | 6 | 55% | +27 pts |
| Crystal Barricade | 6 | 50% | +27 pts |
| Access Tunnel | 6 | 54% | +27 pts |
| Brave the Sands | 6 | 44% | +27 pts |
| Dusk // Dawn | 6 | 55% | +27 pts |
| Overgrown Battlement | 5 | 70% | +23 pts |
| Axebane Guardian | 5 | 62% | +23 pts |
| Wall of Frost | 5 | 57% | +23 pts |
| Tree of Redemption | 5 | 57% | +23 pts |
| Stoneskin | 5 | 66% | +23 pts |
| Slagwurm Armor | 5 | 59% | +23 pts |
| Wall of Blossoms | 5 | 63% | +23 pts |
| Fell the Mighty | 5 | 53% | +23 pts |
| Sylvan Caryatid | 5 | 60% | +22 pts |
| Weathered Sentinels | 4 | 56% | +18 pts |
| Bar the Door | 4 | 47% | +18 pts |
| Arbor Adherent | 4 | 63% | +18 pts |
| Doran, Besieged by Time | 4 | 56% | +18 pts |
| Jaws of Defeat | 4 | 64% | +18 pts |
| Fecund Greenshell | 4 | 53% | +18 pts |
| Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper | 4 | 53% | +18 pts |
Commanders for Toughness Matters
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 · Black · Green
White
Blue · Black
White · Blue · Green
White · Blue
Blue
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🛠️ Build a deck like this 📥 Analyze my deckFrequently asked questions
What is the best commander for a Toughness Matters deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Doran, Besieged by Time, Pramikon, Sky Rampart, Arcades, the Strategist. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 43 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Toughness Matters is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Toughness Matters deck?
The three most characteristic are Assault Formation, Bedrock Tortoise, Baldin, Century Herdmaster. 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 Toughness Matters played in?
The most common color identities are White · Black · Green, White, Blue · Black. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Toughness Matters 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.