EDH Optimizer
Rhys the Exiled
Legendary Creature — Elf Warrior · 2G
Color identity: Black · Green · Golgari
Rhys the Exiled is Golgari (black and green): its deck can only run cards of those colors plus colorless ones.
Rules text:
Whenever Rhys attacks, you gain 1 life for each Elf you control.
{B}, Sacrifice an Elf: Regenerate Rhys.
Reference price of the card: €0.94
Average lands in decks for Rhys the Exiled: 35
ElvesLifegainTokensSelf-DamageAristocrats+1/+1 CountersComboMidrange
Build your Rhys the Exiled deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.
🛠️ Build a deck for Rhys the Exiled 📥 Analyze my deck🎲 How the average Rhys the Exiled 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+ (65/100)
- Consistency58
- Speed63
- Interaction31
- Resilience68
- Closing97
See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 35 lands (24 nonbasic, 3 Swamp, 8 Forest)
Elvish Archdruid · Imperious Perfect · Llanowar Elves · Priest of Titania · Lys Alana Huntmaster · Elvish Mystic · Reclamation Sage · Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen · Prowess of the Fair · Wellwisher · Beast Whisperer · Elvish Warmaster · Lathril, Blade of the Elves · Marwyn, the Nurturer · Fyndhorn Elves · Sol Ring · Elvish Promenade · Leaf-Crowned Visionary · Shaman of the Pack · Elven Ambush · Elves of Deep Shadow · Essence Warden · Elvish Champion · Ezuri, Renegade Leader · Champions of the Perfect · Tyvar Kell · Wolverine Riders · Morcant's Loyalist · Virulent Emissary · Assassin's Trophy · Sanguine Bond · Arbor Elf · Miara, Thorn of the Glade · Poison-Tip Archer · Putrefy · Skemfar Avenger · Heroic Intervention · Skemfar Shadowsage · Elvish Harbinger · Immaculate Magistrate · Wirewood Channeler · Elderfang Venom · Abomination of Llanowar · Enduring Tenacity · Mortality Spear · Canopy Tactician · Elvish Visionary · Golgari Charm · Arcane Signet · Beast Within · Timberwatch Elf · Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury · Wirewood Herald · Wood Elves · Circle of Dreams Druid · Well of Lost Dreams · Heritage Druid · Moldervine Reclamation · Sylvan Library · Selfless Safewright · Shamanic Revelation · Swiftfoot Boots · Exsanguinate · Glissa Sunslayer · Command Tower · Llanowar Wastes · Path of Ancestry · Woodland Cemetery · Wirewood Lodge · Gilt-Leaf Palace · Overgrown Tomb · Twilight Mire · Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth · Undergrowth Stadium · Golgari Rot Farm · Verdant Catacombs · Rogue's Passage · Bojuka Bog · Tainted Wood · Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth · Deathcap Glade · Viridescent Bog · Cavern of Souls · Temple of Malady · Wastewood Verge · Darkbore Pathway // Slitherbore Pathway · Jungle Hollow · Necroblossom Snarl
🃏 Recommended cards for Rhys the Exiled
The highest-synergy cards in decks for Rhys the Exiled, with their inclusion rate.
| Card | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Elvish Archdruid | 86% | +74% |
| Imperious Perfect | 84% | +74% |
| Priest of Titania | 83% | +71% |
| Lys Alana Huntmaster | 74% | +66% |
| Prowess of the Fair | 65% | +60% |
| Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen | 67% | +60% |
| Wellwisher | 62% | +59% |
| Lathril, Blade of the Elves | 61% | +57% |
| Elvish Warmaster | 61% | +53% |
| Reclamation Sage | 69% | +52% |
| Marwyn, the Nurturer | 61% | +51% |
| Elvish Promenade | 57% | +50% |
| Beast Whisperer | 61% | +48% |
| Leaf-Crowned Visionary | 56% | +48% |
| Llanowar Elves | 83% | +47% |
| Wirewood Lodge | 51% | +45% |
| Shaman of the Pack | 52% | +45% |
| Elven Ambush | 51% | +44% |
| Fyndhorn Elves | 60% | +43% |
| Elvish Champion | 49% | +43% |
| Gilt-Leaf Palace | 48% | +43% |
| Elvish Mystic | 71% | +43% |
| Ezuri, Renegade Leader | 49% | +42% |
| Essence Warden | 50% | +42% |
💰 The best cards for your Rhys the Exiled 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.
- Elvish Archdruid
- Imperious Perfect
- Priest of Titania
- Lys Alana Huntmaster
- Prowess of the Fair
- Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Elvish Warmaster
- Marwyn, the Nurturer
- Elvish Promenade
- Beast Whisperer
- Leaf-Crowned Visionary
- Wirewood Lodge
Tier 3 · No cap no cap
The cards your price cap was hiding from you.
- Wolverine Riders
- Enduring Tenacity
- Circle of Dreams Druid
- Sylvan Library
- Cavern of Souls
- Aetherflux Reservoir
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
Other commanders
Frequently asked questions
What is Rhys the Exiled's color identity?
Rhys the Exiled is Golgari (black and green): its deck can only run cards of those colors 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 Rhys the Exiled come down, and how often does the deck get stuck?
In the average Rhys the Exiled deck (the 99 most-included cards per EDHREC, with 35 lands), simulated 4,000 times, the commander comes down on turn 2.8 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 27 % of the time and floods 11 %. Deck health: C+ (65/100).
How many lands should a Rhys the Exiled deck run?
Real Rhys the Exiled 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 Rhys the Exiled?
The three highest-synergy cards are Elvish Archdruid, Imperious Perfect, Priest of Titania. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Rhys the Exiled decks.
What combos does Rhys the Exiled have?
We have no known combos catalogued for Rhys the Exiled. That does not mean there are none — just that they do not show up in the public combo databases.
How much does a Rhys the Exiled deck cost?
You can start cheap: Elvish Archdruid, Imperious Perfect, Priest of Titania 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.