EDH Optimizer
Zombies Commander decks
Zombies 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 black and Dimir. Its most characteristic cards are Gravecrawler, Undead Augur, Death Baron: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravecrawler | 28 | 61% | +68 pts |
| Undead Augur | 24 | 56% | +60 pts |
| Death Baron | 22 | 57% | +55 pts |
| Lord of the Accursed | 19 | 59% | +48 pts |
| Diregraf Colossus | 18 | 55% | +45 pts |
| Endless Ranks of the Dead | 18 | 51% | +45 pts |
| Champion of the Perished | 17 | 50% | +43 pts |
| Headless Rider | 17 | 49% | +43 pts |
| Undead Warchief | 16 | 46% | +40 pts |
| Cemetery Reaper | 16 | 58% | +40 pts |
| Zul Ashur, Lich Lord | 14 | 49% | +35 pts |
| Cryptbreaker | 14 | 50% | +35 pts |
| Fleshbag Marauder | 16 | 49% | +34 pts |
| Midnight Reaper | 14 | 46% | +32 pts |
| Grave Titan | 13 | 46% | +31 pts |
| Village Rites | 18 | 44% | +31 pts |
| Lord of the Undead | 12 | 44% | +30 pts |
| Zombie Apocalypse | 11 | 49% | +28 pts |
| Army of the Damned | 11 | 47% | +27 pts |
| Zombie Master | 10 | 52% | +25 pts |
| Rooftop Storm | 10 | 68% | +25 pts |
| Carrion Feeder | 11 | 48% | +23 pts |
| Accursed Marauder | 13 | 49% | +22 pts |
| Bontu's Monument | 14 | 44% | +21 pts |
| Necroduality | 8 | 55% | +20 pts |
| Diregraf Captain | 8 | 70% | +20 pts |
| Dreadhorde Invasion | 8 | 42% | +18 pts |
| Liliana, Dreadhorde General | 8 | 42% | +18 pts |
| Ghoulcaller Gisa | 7 | 42% | +17 pts |
| Ashnod's Altar | 11 | 41% | +17 pts |
Commanders for Zombies
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Black Best cards by color →
Blue · Black Best cards by color →
Black · Red Best cards by color →
Blue · Black · Red Best cards by color →
White · Blue · Black Best cards by color →
Blue 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 Zombies deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Sauron, the Dark Lord, The Scarab God, Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 73 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Zombies is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Zombies deck?
The three most characteristic are Gravecrawler, Undead Augur, Death Baron. 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 Zombies played in?
The most common color identities are Black, Blue · Black, Black · Red. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Zombies 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.