EDH Optimizer
Toughness Matters Commander decks
Toughness Matters shows up as a main archetype for 42 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in Abzan and white. Its most characteristic cards are Assault Formation, Indomitable Ancients, 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 | 62% | +43 pts |
| Indomitable Ancients | 9 | 58% | +39 pts |
| Baldin, Century Herdmaster | 9 | 57% | +39 pts |
| Bedrock Tortoise | 8 | 53% | +35 pts |
| The Walls of Ba Sing Se | 8 | 51% | +35 pts |
| Crashing Drawbridge | 8 | 63% | +34 pts |
| Tower Defense | 7 | 62% | +30 pts |
| Slaughter the Strong | 7 | 55% | +30 pts |
| Crystal Barricade | 7 | 54% | +30 pts |
| Access Tunnel | 7 | 54% | +30 pts |
| Dusk // Dawn | 7 | 54% | +30 pts |
| Brave the Sands | 7 | 45% | +30 pts |
| Wall of Omens | 7 | 61% | +28 pts |
| Stoneskin | 6 | 65% | +26 pts |
| Tree of Perdition | 6 | 57% | +26 pts |
| Fell the Mighty | 6 | 53% | +26 pts |
| Overgrown Battlement | 5 | 69% | +22 pts |
| Axebane Guardian | 5 | 62% | +22 pts |
| Wall of Frost | 5 | 57% | +22 pts |
| Tree of Redemption | 5 | 57% | +22 pts |
| Nyx-Fleece Ram | 5 | 61% | +22 pts |
| Bar the Door | 5 | 48% | +22 pts |
| Wall of Blossoms | 5 | 63% | +22 pts |
| Slagwurm Armor | 5 | 58% | +22 pts |
| Sylvan Caryatid | 5 | 60% | +21 pts |
| Daxos, Blessed by the Sun | 5 | 57% | +19 pts |
| Weathered Sentinels | 4 | 64% | +17 pts |
| Arbor Adherent | 4 | 63% | +17 pts |
| Doran, Besieged by Time | 4 | 56% | +17 pts |
| Jaws of Defeat | 4 | 63% | +17 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 Best cards by color →
White Best cards by color →
Blue Best cards by color →
White · Blue · Green Best cards by color →
White · Blue Best cards by color →
Blue · Black 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 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 42 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, Indomitable Ancients, 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. 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.