EDH Optimizer
Zoo Commander decks
Zoo shows up as a main archetype for 24 Commander commanders. It is mostly played in green and Gruul. Its most characteristic cards are End-Raze Forerunners, Birds of Paradise, Garruk's Uprising: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| End-Raze Forerunners | 3 | 58% | +99 pts |
| Birds of Paradise | 3 | 51% | +78 pts |
| Garruk's Uprising | 3 | 51% | +63 pts |
Commanders for Zoo
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Green
Red · Green
White · Green
Blue · Green
Blue
White · Red · Green
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 Zoo deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Radagast the Brown, Volo, Guide to Monsters, Spider-Ham, Peter Porker. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 24 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Zoo is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Zoo deck?
The three most characteristic are End-Raze Forerunners, Birds of Paradise, Garruk's Uprising. 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 Zoo played in?
The most common color identities are Green, Red · Green, White · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Zoo 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.