EDH Optimizer
The best Esper cards for Commander
Esper is pure control: tutors, counterspells, removal for any permanent type and wipes. It is also the best artifact identity that still has answers.
Most played
Percentage of decks in this color identity that run them, according to EDHREC, with their reference price.
| Card | Played in | Price | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcane Sanctum | 27% | €0.30 | Land |
| Raffine's Tower | 23% | €11.41 | Land |
| Void Rend | 15% | €0.35 | Instant |
| Contaminated Landscape | 6% | €0.14 | Land |
| Zur the Enchanter | 3% | €0.52 | Creature |
| Zur, Eternal Schemer | 3% | €3.70 | Creature |
| The Master of Keys | 2% | €0.91 | Creature |
| Birth of the Imperium | 2% | €2.46 | Enchantment |
| Raffine, Scheming Seer | 2% | €3.50 | Creature |
| Hashaton, Scarab's Fist | 2% | €0.84 | Creature |
| Queza, Augur of Agonies | 2% | €0.11 | Creature |
| G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn | 2% | €0.52 | Creature |
| Tivit, Seller of Secrets | 2% | €3.80 | Creature |
| Aminatou, the Fateshifter | 2% | €2.53 | Planeswalker |
| Esper Charm | 1% | €0.38 | Instant |
| Enigma Sphinx | 1% | €0.24 | Creature |
| Obscura Charm | 1% | €0.08 | Instant |
| Deny the Witch | 1% | €0.40 | Instant |
| Marneus Calgar | 1% | €8.24 | Creature |
| Dromar's Cavern | 1% | €0.24 | Land |
| Elenda and Azor | 1% | €0.59 | Creature |
| Magister Sphinx | 1% | €0.34 | Creature |
| Thopter Foundry | 1% | €0.17 | Artifact |
| Obelisk of Esper | 1% | €0.17 | Artifact |
| Inquisitor Greyfax | 1% | €0.55 | Creature |
| Ratonhnhaké꞉ton | 1% | €0.32 | Creature |
| Varina, Lich Queen | 1% | €3.19 | Creature |
| Brilliant Ultimatum | 1% | €0.72 | Sorcery |
| Sharuum the Hegemon | 1% | €0.24 | Creature |
| Dakkon, Shadow Slayer | 1% | €0.41 | Planeswalker |
| Kamiz, Obscura Oculus | 1% | €0.44 | Creature |
| Splinter, Radical Rat | 1% | €0.53 | Creature |
| Urza, Chief Artificer | 1% | €2.25 | Creature |
| Aminatou, Veil Piercer | 1% | €0.68 | Creature |
| Ethersworn Adjudicator | 1% | €0.34 | Creature |
| Noctis, Prince of Lucis | 1% | €0.25 | Creature |
| Temmet, Naktamun's Will | 1% | €0.51 | Creature |
| Alela, Artful Provocateur | 1% | €0.46 | Creature |
| Y'shtola, Night's Blessed | 1% | €1.52 | Creature |
| Arna Kennerüd, Skycaptain | 1% | €0.38 | Creature |
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
By role in the deck
The same list, split by what each card actually does. That is the order to build in: cover the roles first, tune afterwards.
Best ramp cards in Esper
Tivit, Seller of Secrets · €3.80 Obelisk of Esper · €0.17 Dromar's Attendant · €0.22
Best card draw in Esper
Raffine, Scheming Seer · €3.50 Tivit, Seller of Secrets · €3.80 Marneus Calgar · €8.24 Elenda and Azor · €0.59 Brilliant Ultimatum · €0.72 Aminatou, Veil Piercer · €0.68 Temmet, Naktamun's Will · €0.51 Esper Sojourners · €0.15 Bane, Lord of Darkness · €0.21 Oloro, Ageless Ascetic · €10.21 Saruman of Many Colors · €1.12 The Celestial Toymaker · €27.69
Best removal spells in Esper
Void Rend · €0.35 Ethersworn Adjudicator · €0.34 Trial // Error · €0.12 Resounding Wave · €0.08 Esper Battlemage · €0.06 Merieke Ri Berit · €1.54 Stormscape Battlemage · €0.08
Best counterspells in Esper
Deny the Witch · €0.40 Trial // Error · €0.12 Punish Ignorance · €0.25 Obscura Interceptor · €0.09 Ertai, the Corrupted · €0.79
Best recursion cards in Esper
The Master of Keys · €0.91 Enigma Sphinx · €0.24 Sharuum the Hegemon · €0.24 Noctis, Prince of Lucis · €0.25 Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir · €0.43 Sefris of the Hidden Ways · €0.81
Best protection cards in Esper
Zur, Eternal Schemer · €3.70 Splinter, Radical Rat · €0.53 Lady Evangela · €38.25 Wandering Mage · €1.48 Esper Battlemage · €0.06 Stormscape Master · €0.34 Chromium, the Mutable · €0.64
Best lands in Esper
Arcane Sanctum · €0.30 Raffine's Tower · €11.41 Dromar's Cavern · €0.24 Ancient Spring · €0.20 Wizards' School · €0.31
Great and cheap
Heavily played cards under €2. Coming from a precon, this is the best value per euro you will find.
| Card | Played in | Price | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcane Sanctum | 27% | €0.30 | Land |
| Void Rend | 15% | €0.35 | Instant |
| Contaminated Landscape | 6% | €0.14 | Land |
| Zur the Enchanter | 3% | €0.52 | Creature |
| The Master of Keys | 2% | €0.91 | Creature |
| Hashaton, Scarab's Fist | 2% | €0.84 | Creature |
| Queza, Augur of Agonies | 2% | €0.11 | Creature |
| G'raha Tia, Scion Reborn | 2% | €0.52 | Creature |
| Esper Charm | 1% | €0.38 | Instant |
| Enigma Sphinx | 1% | €0.24 | Creature |
| Obscura Charm | 1% | €0.08 | Instant |
| Deny the Witch | 1% | €0.40 | Instant |
| Dromar's Cavern | 1% | €0.24 | Land |
| Elenda and Azor | 1% | €0.59 | Creature |
| Magister Sphinx | 1% | €0.34 | Creature |
Commanders in this identity
Each one with its recommended cards and known combos.
Paste your list and we tell you what is missing: ramp, draw, interaction and a 10,000-game simulation to see whether the deck actually gets going.
📥 Analyze my deck for free 🛠️ Build a deckFrequently asked questions
What are the best Esper cards for Commander?
The three most played right now are Arcane Sanctum, Raffine's Tower, Void Rend. This page lists the top 40 with their real inclusion rate and price, plus the breakdown by role.
How much ramp does a Esper deck need?
The most common picks are Tivit, Seller of Secrets, Obelisk of Esper, Dromar's Attendant. As a reference, a balanced Commander deck runs 8 to 12 ramp sources on top of its 36-38 lands; paste your list into EDH Optimizer and we tell you how many you have and whether that fits your curve.
Which cheap Esper cards are worth it?
Under €2, Arcane Sanctum, Void Rend, Contaminated Landscape stand out. The "Great and cheap" section on this page has the full list, ranked by how much they are played.
Can I play any Esper card in my deck?
Only if its color identity fits inside your commander's: in Commander both mana cost symbols and rules text symbols count. EDH Optimizer automatically flags cards that fall outside your commander's identity.