EDH Optimizer

Black commanders

Black pays life for what other colors cannot do: tutors for any card, unlimited draw and graveyard recursion. It has the cheapest unconditional removal, at the cost of not being able to touch artifacts or enchantments. Best cards for this identity.

Common archetypes among these commanders

The themes that show up most often in decks of this identity. Each one links to its archetype guide.

Reanimator · 151 Aristocrats · 144 Combo · 86 Graveyard · 79 Sacrifice · 73 +1/+1 Counters · 70 Control · 70 Lifegain · 66 Tokens · 60 Discard · 52

All commanders

312 commanders

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPRSTUVWXYZ

A

Acererak the Archlich Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal // Temple of the Dead Agent Venom Akuta, Born of Ash Alpharael, Stonechosen Anowon, the Ruin Sage Anrakyr the Traveller Aphemia, the Cacophony Ardyn, the Usurper Armaggon, Future Shark Armix, Filigree Thrasher Arnim Zola, Bio-Fanatic Arnyn, Deathbloom Botanist Arvinox, the Mind Flail Ascendant Evincar Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm Ashling, the Extinguisher Ashnod, Flesh Mechanist Asmodeus the Archfiend Ayara, First of Locthwain Azog, Moria's Ruin Azula, On the Hunt Azula, Ruthless Firebender

B

Balthor the Defiled Baron Helmut Zemo Baron Sengir Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord Bebop, Skull & Crossbones Bebop, Warthog Warrior Black Cat, Cunning Thief Black Widow, Daring Operative Black Widow, Deadly Hunter Black Widow, Super Spy Blitzwing, Cruel Tormentor // Blitzwing, Adaptive Assailant Bob, Reluctant HYDRA Agent Bontu the Glorified Boomerang, Blade Flinger Braids, Arisen Nightmare Braids, Cabal Minion Burakos, Party Leader Butch DeLoria, Tunnel Snake

C

Cabal Patriarch Cao Cao, Lord of Wei Cao Ren, Wei Commander Chainer, Dementia Master Citizen V, Helmut Zemo Commander Greven il-Vec Count Nefaria Crimson Cowl, Master of Evil Crossbones, Malicious Mercenary Crovax the Cursed

D

Demonlord Belzenlok Desmond Miles Doctor Doom Doctor Doom, Unrivaled Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief Drana, Liberator of Malakir Drana, the Last Bloodchief Drivnod, Carnage Dominus

E

Ebondeath, Dracolich Egon, God of Death // Throne of Death Elektra, Daughter of the Hand Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder Erebos, Bleak-Hearted Erebos, God of the Dead Evin, Waterdeep Opportunist

F

Fain, the Broker Falthis, Shadowcat Familiar Fandaniel, Telophoroi Ascian Fang, Fearless l'Cie Fixer, Techno Terror Francisco, Fowl Marauder Fumulus, the Infestation

G

Gaius van Baelsar Gallowbraid Geth, Lord of the Vault Geth, Thane of Contracts Ghoulcaller Gisa Gisa, Glorious Resurrector Gisa, the Hellraiser Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor Go-Shintai of Hidden Cruelty God-Eternal Bontu Gollum, Obsessed Stalker Gollum, Patient Plotter Gollum, Riddle Master Gollum, Scheming Guide Gollum, Silent Slinker // Meager Meal Gollum the Abandoned Gonti, Lord of Luxury Gonti, Night Minister Gorbag of Minas Morgul Gorex, the Tombshell Gothmog, Morgul Lieutenant Grandmother Sengir Greel, Mind Raker Green Goblin, Back for More Grendel, Spawn of Knull Grim Reaper, Lethal Legionnaire Gríma Wormtongue Gwenom, Remorseless

H

Haakon, Stromgald Scourge Hammerhead, Maggia Boss Hancock, Ghoulish Mayor He Who Hungers Henrika Domnathi // Henrika, Infernal Seer Horobi, Death's Wail Hythonia the Cruel

I

Ihsan's Shade Illuminor Szeras Imotekh the Stormlord Iname, Death Aspect Infernal Kirin Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni Interceptor, Shadow's Hound Irini Sengir Iron Monger, Sadistic Tycoon Isareth the Awakener

J

Jacob Frye Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia Jecht, Reluctant Guardian // Braska's Final Aeon Jerren, Corrupted Bishop // Ormendahl, the Corrupter Josu Vess, Lich Knight June, Bounty Hunter Junji, the Midnight Sky

K

K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth Kaervek, the Punisher Kaervek, the Spiteful Kagemaro, First to Suffer Kain, Traitorous Dragoon Kalakscion, Hunger Tyrant Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet Kamber, the Plunderer Karumonix, the Rat King Keskit, the Flesh Sculptor Kiku, Night's Flower King Macar, the Gold-Cursed Kingpin, Wilson Fisk Kinzu of the Bleak Coven Klaw, Master of Sound Klaw, Sonic Subjugator Koh, the Face Stealer Kokusho, the Evening Star Korlash, Heir to Blackblade Kothophed, Soul Hoarder Krav, the Unredeemed Kuon, Ogre Ascendant // Kuon's Essence Kuro, Pitlord Kyoki, Sanity's Eclipse

L

Liliana, Heretical Healer // Liliana, Defiant Necromancer Lim-Dûl the Necromancer Lo and Li, Twin Tutors Lobelia, Defender of Bag End Lobelia Sackville-Baggins Lorcan, Warlock Collector Lord Skitter, Sewer King

M

M.O.D.O.K. M.O.D.O.K., Evil Intellect MACH-1, Swooping Scoundrel Madame Hydra, Reanimated Madame Masque Madame Null, Power Broker Maga, Traitor to Mortals Maha, Its Feathers Night Mai, Scornful Striker Maralen of the Mornsong Mari, the Killing Quill Marrow-Gnawer Massacre Girl Massacre Girl, Known Killer Mastermind Plum Miara, Thorn of the Glade Mikaeus, the Unhallowed Minotaur, Roxxon CEO Mirri the Cursed Moira, Urborg Haunt Moonstone, Harsh Mistress Morinfen Morlun, Devourer of Spiders Mortarion, Daemon Primarch Moseo, Vein's New Dean Myojin of Grim Betrayal Myojin of Night's Reach

N

Nadier, Agent of the Duskenel Nashi, Moon Sage's Scion Nazar, the Velvet Fang Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis Nikara, Lair Scavenger Nyla, Shirshu Sleuth

O

Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath Ob Nixilis, the Fallen Ob Nixilis, Unshackled Old Flitterfang Oroku Saki, Shredder Rising Ozox, the Clattering King

P

Patron of the Nezumi Phage the Untouchable Purraj of Urborg

R

Radioactive Man Rankle, Master of Pranks Rat King, Pale Piper Rat King, Verminister Razaketh, the Foulblooded Reno and Rude Rev, Tithe Extractor Ronin, Shadow Stalker Roshan, Hidden Magister

S

Safana, Calimport Cutthroat Sarevok, Deathbringer Sauron, the Necromancer Savanti Romero, Time's Exile Scorpion, Seething Striker Seizan, Perverter of Truth Sengir, the Dark Baron Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel Seymour Flux Shadow, Mysterious Assassin Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar Shark Shredder, Killer Clone Shauku, Endbringer Shelob, Dread Weaver Sheoldred, the Apocalypse Sheoldred // The True Scriptures Sheoldred, Whispering One Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker Shredder, Shadow Master Shredder, Unrelenting Sidisi, Regent of the Mire Sidisi, Undead Vizier Siegfried, Famed Swordsman Sima Yi, Wei Field Marshal Sivriss, Nightmare Speaker Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon Songbird, Sonic Screamer Spider-Man Noir Spirit of the Night Splinter, Hamato Yoshi Splinter, the Mentor Starscream, Power Hungry // Starscream, Seeker Leader Super Shredder Swarm, Being of Bees Swordsman, Sharp Scoundrel Syr Konrad, the Grim Szarekh, the Silent King

T

Taborax, Hope's Demise Tergrid, God of Fright // Tergrid's Lantern Tetzimoc, Primal Death Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools Thanos, Death's Consort The Destined Black Mage The Frightful Four The Ghoul, Gunslinger The Haunt of Hightower The Master of Lake-town The Masters of Evil The Meep The Raven Man The Sackville-Bagginses The Speed Demon Timothar, Baron of Bats Tinybones, Bauble Burglar Tinybones, the Pickpocket Tinybones, Trinket Thief Titanium Man Tivash, Gloom Summoner Tombstone, Career Criminal Torgaar, Famine Incarnate Tormod, the Desecrator Toshiro Umezawa Tourach, Dread Cantor Trazyn the Infinite Tymaret, Chosen from Death

U

Ultimo, Civilization's End Ultron the Annihilator Urgoros, the Empty One

V

Vadmir, New Blood Valentina Allegra de Fontaine Valgavoth, Terror Eater Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire Veldrane of Sengir Venom, Eddie Brock Venom, Evil Unleashed Viconia, Drow Apostate Vilis, Broker of Blood Vincent Valentine // Galian Beast Viper, Cruel Conspirator Virtus the Veiled Visara the Dreadful Vislor Turlough Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose Vogar, Necropolis Tyrant Volrath the Fallen Vraan, Executioner Thane

W

Whiplash, Vengeful Engineer Whisper, Blood Liturgist White Widow, Yelena Belova Witch-king, Bringer of Ruin Witch-king of Angmar

X

Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed Xu-Ifit, Osteoharmonist Xun Yu, Wei Advisor

Y

Yahenni, Undying Partisan Yargle, Glutton of Urborg Yawgmoth, Thran Physician Yellowjacket, Heartless Marauder Yukora, the Prisoner

Z

Zenos yae Galvus // Shinryu, Transcendent Rival Zhang He, Wei General Zhang Liao, Hero of Hefei Zodiark, Umbral God Zul Ashur, Lich Lord

Other color identities

White commanders346 commanders Blue commanders295 commanders Red commanders343 commanders Green commanders274 commanders Colorless commanders47 commanders Azorius commanders133 commanders Dimir commanders124 commanders Rakdos commanders139 commanders Gruul commanders112 commanders Selesnya commanders130 commanders Orzhov commanders108 commanders Izzet commanders114 commanders Golgari commanders109 commanders Boros commanders145 commanders Simic commanders117 commanders Bant commanders47 commanders Esper commanders51 commanders Grixis commanders58 commanders Jund commanders39 commanders Naya commanders55 commanders Mardu commanders37 commanders Abzan commanders24 commanders Jeskai commanders50 commanders Sultai commanders35 commanders Temur commanders33 commanders Four-color (no green) commanders1 commander Four-color (no white) commanders1 commander Four-color (no blue) commanders1 commander Four-color (no black) commanders11 commanders Four-color (no red) commanders2 commanders Five-color commanders59 commanders

Frequently asked questions

How many black commanders are there?

EDH Optimizer has a deck guide for 312 black commanders: the legendary creatures (and the planeswalkers that allow it) in that color identity with enough real deck data. Each guide lists its highest-synergy cards, its known combos and three price tiers to build it.

Which archetypes are typical of a black deck?

Among black commanders, the most common archetypes are Reanimator, Aristocrats, Combo, Graveyard. Each archetype has its own guide with the cards that push it hardest and the commanders that carry it best.

How do I pick a black commander?

Decide how you want to win first (tokens, combo, commander damage, control…) and then pick the commander that pushes it hardest: every guide in this list shows its themes and combos. Not sure? The EDH Optimizer quiz (/en/test) recommends a commander in eight questions.

Keep exploring

Best cards in its colors Archetypes Commanders