EDH Optimizer
Balthor the Stout
Legendary Creature — Dwarf Barbarian · 1RR
Color identity: Red
Balthor the Stout is red: its deck can only run cards of that color plus colorless ones.
Rules text:
Other Barbarian creatures get +1/+1.
{R}: Another target Barbarian creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
Reference price of the card: €0.60
Average lands in decks for Balthor the Stout: 35
BarbariansAggroDiscardAnthemsCommander MattersEquipmentFirebendingRamp
Build your Balthor the Stout deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.
🛠️ Build a deck for Balthor the Stout 📥 Analyze my deck🎲 How the average Balthor the Stout deck starts over 4,000 games
The list people actually play per EDHREC (the 99 most-included cards, with its average land count), simulated with the EDH Optimizer engine: hands, mulligans, lands, curve and commander. It does not model opponents; it measures whether the plan gets going.
Deck health of the average list: C (51/100)
- Consistency56
- Speed56
- Interaction35
- Resilience60
- Closing50
See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 35 lands (12 nonbasic, 23 Mountain)
Plundering Barbarian · Sardian Cliffstomper · Kamahl, Pit Fighter · Reckless Barbarian · Jeska, Warrior Adept · Hell-Bent Raider · Lovisa Coldeyes · Hobgoblin Captain · Keldon Warlord · Balduvian Warlord · Jurin, Leading the Charge · Karlach, Fury of Avernus · Tiger-Tribe Hunter · Caves of Chaos Adventurer · Zalto, Fire Giant Duke · Halberdier · Sol Ring · Pardic Arsonist · Taurean Mauler · Balduvian Barbarians · Arcane Signet · Barbarian Lunatic · Barbarian Bully · Chaos Warp · Adaptive Automaton · Godo, Bandit Warlord · Keldon Champion · Shared Animosity · Hazoret's Monument · Vanquisher's Banner · Blasphemous Act · Archetype of Aggression · Ruby Medallion · Abrade · Barbarian Riftcutter · Herald's Horn · Spellgorger Barbarian · Balduvian Horde · Vandalblast · Battle Hymn · Fire Diamond · Faithless Looting · Heraldic Banner · Metallic Mimic · Unexpected Windfall · Berserkers' Onslaught · Big Score · Balduvian War-Makers · Pardic Lancer · Rage Reflection · Thrill of Possibility · Bloodline Pretender · Mana Geyser · Mind Stone · Pillaging Horde · Anger · Lightning Bolt · Patchwork Banner · Demand Answers · Mizzium Mortars · Wayfarer's Bauble · Crash Through · Gauntlet of Power · Hall of Triumph · Castle Embereth · Path of Ancestry · War Room · Barbarian Ring · Rogue's Passage · Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle · Myriad Landscape · Dwarven Mine · Spinerock Knoll · Forgotten Cave · Arena of Glory · Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
🃏 Recommended cards for Balthor the Stout
The highest-synergy cards in decks for Balthor the Stout, with their inclusion rate.
| Card | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Sardian Cliffstomper | 87% | +86% |
| Kamahl, Pit Fighter | 84% | +83% |
| Jeska, Warrior Adept | 82% | +82% |
| Plundering Barbarian | 88% | +82% |
| Reckless Barbarian | 84% | +81% |
| Hell-Bent Raider | 81% | +81% |
| Lovisa Coldeyes | 80% | +79% |
| Hobgoblin Captain | 78% | +77% |
| Keldon Warlord | 77% | +77% |
| Balduvian Warlord | 74% | +74% |
| Jurin, Leading the Charge | 74% | +74% |
| Tiger-Tribe Hunter | 72% | +72% |
| Zalto, Fire Giant Duke | 71% | +71% |
| Caves of Chaos Adventurer | 71% | +70% |
| Halberdier | 69% | +69% |
| Pardic Arsonist | 67% | +67% |
| Karlach, Fury of Avernus | 72% | +66% |
| Balduvian Barbarians | 66% | +66% |
| Taurean Mauler | 67% | +64% |
| Barbarian Lunatic | 63% | +63% |
| Barbarian Bully | 62% | +62% |
| Keldon Champion | 57% | +57% |
| Adaptive Automaton | 60% | +56% |
| Godo, Bandit Warlord | 57% | +54% |
💰 The best cards for your Balthor the Stout deck, by budget
Three tiers based on the maximum price PER CARD you are willing to pay. Paste your list and hit Optimize: you pick that cap and the AI only suggests swaps that fit under it.
Tier 1 · Budget up to €2/card
The most value for almost nothing. Coming from a precon? Start here.
- Sardian Cliffstomper
- Kamahl, Pit Fighter
- Jeska, Warrior Adept
- Plundering Barbarian
- Reckless Barbarian
- Hell-Bent Raider
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Vanquisher's Banner
- Shared Animosity
- Herald's Horn
- Battle Hymn
- Barbarian General
- Unexpected Windfall
Tier 3 · No cap no cap
The cards your price cap was hiding from you.
- Karlach, Fury of Avernus
- Molten Echoes
- Urza's Incubator
- Chronicle of Victory
- Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
♾️ Known combos with Balthor the Stout
- Dualcaster Mage + Twinflame → Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite magecraft triggers
- Blasphemous Act + Repercussion → Near-infinite damage to all players
- Dualcaster Mage + Heat Shimmer → Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite creature tokens with haste, Infinite magecraft triggers
- Combat Celebrant + Helm of the Host → Infinite combat phases, Infinite ETB, Infinite mana creatures you control can produce, Infinite tapped creature tokens, Infinite untap of creatures you control
- Godo, Bandit Warlord + Helm of the Host → Infinite combat phases, Infinite death triggers, Infinite ETB, Infinite LTB, Infinite sacrifice triggers, Put all Equipment cards from your library onto the battlefield
- Toralf, God of Fury + Blasphemous Act → Near-infinite damage
Other commanders
Frequently asked questions
What is Balthor the Stout's color identity?
Balthor the Stout is red: its deck can only run cards of that color plus colorless ones. Color identity comes from every mana symbol on the card, including those in the rules text, not just the casting cost.
What turn does Balthor the Stout come down, and how often does the deck get stuck?
In the average Balthor the Stout deck (the 99 most-included cards per EDHREC, with 35 lands), simulated 4,000 times, the commander comes down on turn 3.0 on average and is on the battlefield before turn 7 in 100 % of games. It misses at least one land drop in the first six turns 36 % of the time and floods 10 %. Deck health: C (51/100).
How many lands should a Balthor the Stout deck run?
Real Balthor the Stout decks run 35 lands on average. That is a starting point, not a rule: a lower curve can shave one or two, big-mana builds want more. The EDH Optimizer simulator tells you, over 10,000 games, how often you get mana screwed or flooded with your exact count.
What are the best cards for Balthor the Stout?
The three highest-synergy cards are Sardian Cliffstomper, Kamahl, Pit Fighter, Jeska, Warrior Adept. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Balthor the Stout decks.
What combos does Balthor the Stout have?
Balthor the Stout has 6 known combos. The most popular one is Dualcaster Mage + Twinflame. Note that two-card combos raise your deck's bracket, so it is worth knowing which ones you are running before you sit down.
How much does a Balthor the Stout deck cost?
You can start cheap: Sardian Cliffstomper, Kamahl, Pit Fighter, Jeska, Warrior Adept are under €2 each. The "Level up" section on this page splits the best cards into three price caps PER CARD (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.