MTG Commander Staples By color identity

What are the best commander staples?

The best Commander staples are the cards that raise a deck's win rate the most when you add them, measured against decks running the SAME commander without them across 154,730 tracked Commander games. That commander-matched comparison is the whole point: it strips out the commander's own strength, so a card cannot look good simply because powerful decks happen to run it. Cards are ranked by the 95% lower bound of that lift, so a small, lucky sample can never top a list.

Lists last computed 31 Jul 2026 from Playgroup tracked games.

Two-color Commander staples

Colorless Commander staples

Artifacts and lands every deck can play, whatever its colors.

+9.5 pp

Top card: Sandstone Oracle

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
1	Sandstone Oracle 766 games · 106 pilots	+9.5 pp		766	106
2	The Ooze Archetype 550 games · 70 pilots · Archetype	+9.1 pp		550	70
3	Krark-Clan Ironworks 1,685 games · 237 pilots	+7.4 pp		1,685	237
4	Memnite 715 games · 98 pilots	+8.5 pp		715	98
5	Tiller Engine 1,134 games · 145 pilots	+7.4 pp		1,134	145
6	Mishra's Bauble 1,688 games · 247 pilots	+6.8 pp		1,688	247
7	Interplanar Beacon Archetype 338 games · 44 pilots · Archetype	+9.8 pp		338	44
8	Glacial Chasm 1,563 games · 163 pilots	+6.4 pp		1,563	163
9	Ashnod's Altar 12,300 games · 1495 pilots	+3.9 pp		12,300	1495
10	Stridehangar Automaton 2,031 games · 243 pilots	+5.3 pp		2,031	243

Show 15 more Colorless staples (ranks 11-25)

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
11	The Celestus Archetype 476 games · 61 pilots · Archetype	+9.9 pp		476	61
12	Ugin's Nexus Archetype 412 games · 47 pilots · Archetype	+8.3 pp		412	47
13	Portal to Phyrexia 2,421 games · 290 pilots	+4.9 pp		2,421	290
14	Retrofitter Foundry 592 games · 77 pilots	+6.7 pp		592	77
15	Honor-Worn Shaku 961 games · 125 pilots	+6.1 pp		961	125
16	Phyrexian Walker Archetype 467 games · 78 pilots · Archetype	+7.3 pp		467	78
17	Field of the Dead 6,003 games · 654 pilots	+3.6 pp		6,003	654
18	Rise of the Eldrazi Archetype 1,668 games · 227 pilots · Archetype	+5.8 pp		1,668	227
19	Marsh Flats 20,356 games · 1767 pilots	+2.9 pp		20,356	1767
20	Summon: Bahamut 2,644 games · 326 pilots	+4.1 pp		2,644	326
21	Bitterthorn, Nissa's Animus 1,565 games · 239 pilots	+4.8 pp		1,565	239
22	Polluted Delta 23,973 games · 2005 pilots	+2.6 pp		23,973	2005
23	Painter's Servant Archetype 311 games · 30 pilots · Archetype	+7.6 pp		311	30
24	Liquimetal Torque 4,558 games · 546 pilots	+3.6 pp		4,558	546
25	Twinning Staff 1,684 games · 236 pilots	+4.9 pp		1,684	236

Every row clears the same gates: at least 300 games with the card, 15 distinct commander and pod-size comparisons, 20 distinct pilots, and no single pilot above 15% of the sample.

White Commander staples

The mono-white cards with the largest measured win-rate lift.

+9.1 pp

Top card: Dismantling Wave

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
1	Dismantling Wave 731 games · 151 pilots	+9.1 pp		731	151
2	Preston, the Vanisher 744 games · 81 pilots	+8.0 pp		744	81
3	Brought Back 400 games · 58 pilots	+8.8 pp		400	58
4	Serra's Emissary Archetype 2,017 games · 224 pilots · Archetype	+6.2 pp		2,017	224
5	Angel's Grace 2,002 games · 179 pilots	+5.9 pp		2,002	179
6	Avacyn, Angel of Hope 3,762 games · 451 pilots	+5.6 pp		3,762	451
7	Salvation Colossus Archetype 850 games · 93 pilots · Archetype	+8.1 pp		850	93
8	Fanatical Devotion Archetype 555 games · 70 pilots · Archetype	+7.8 pp		555	70
9	The Legend of Yangchen // Avatar Yangchen 563 games · 108 pilots	+7.6 pp		563	108
10	Sand Scout Archetype 848 games · 98 pilots · Archetype	+7.4 pp		848	98

Show 15 more White staples (ranks 11-25)

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
11	Visions of Glory Archetype 801 games · 124 pilots · Archetype	+6.6 pp		801	124
12	Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd 1,581 games · 192 pilots	+5.3 pp		1,581	192
13	Teferi's Protection 16,067 games · 1509 pilots	+3.2 pp		16,067	1509
14	Avatar's Wrath 2,007 games · 301 pilots	+4.8 pp		2,007	301
15	Ancient Gold Dragon Archetype 2,437 games · 247 pilots · Archetype	+4.6 pp		2,437	247
16	Citywide Bust Archetype 411 games · 48 pilots · Archetype	+7.8 pp		411	48
17	Will of the Mardu 1,942 games · 249 pilots	+4.7 pp		1,942	249
18	Esper Sentinel 16,886 games · 1547 pilots	+2.8 pp		16,886	1547
19	Loran of the Third Path 7,288 games · 884 pilots	+3.3 pp		7,288	884
20	Grand Crescendo 2,844 games · 342 pilots	+4.1 pp		2,844	342
21	Galadriel's Dismissal 2,326 games · 293 pilots	+4.0 pp		2,326	293
22	Flagstones of Trokair 968 games · 108 pilots	+5.2 pp		968	108
23	Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines 2,298 games · 276 pilots	+4.1 pp		2,298	276
24	Witch Enchanter // Witch-Blessed Meadow 9,674 games · 880 pilots	+2.9 pp		9,674	880
25	Dalkovan Packbeasts Archetype 446 games · 67 pilots · Archetype	+6.6 pp		446	67

Every row clears the same gates: at least 300 games with the card, 15 distinct commander and pod-size comparisons, 20 distinct pilots, and no single pilot above 15% of the sample.

Blue Commander staples

The mono-blue cards with the largest measured win-rate lift.

+12.9 pp

Top card: Emeritus of Ideation // Ancestral Recall

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
1	Emeritus of Ideation // Ancestral Recall 332 games · 44 pilots	+12.9 pp		332	44
2	Deliberate 432 games · 51 pilots	+11.9 pp		432	51
3	Mnemonic Deluge 489 games · 77 pilots	+10.2 pp		489	77
4	Vronos, Masked Inquisitor Archetype 444 games · 72 pilots · Archetype	+10.2 pp		444	72
5	Temporal Manipulation 597 games · 66 pilots	+7.9 pp		597	66
6	Peregrine Drake 2,709 games · 366 pilots	+5.8 pp		2,709	366
7	Renari, Merchant of Marvels Archetype 334 games · 50 pilots · Archetype	+9.0 pp		334	50
8	Cyclonic Rift 20,848 games · 1832 pilots	+4.2 pp		20,848	1832
9	Mana Drain 11,804 games · 1159 pilots	+4.3 pp		11,804	1159
10	Abstract Performance Archetype 393 games · 104 pilots · Archetype	+10.4 pp		393	104

Show 15 more Blue staples (ranks 11-25)

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
11	Naga Fleshcrafter 433 games · 46 pilots	+8.0 pp		433	46
12	Time Spiral Archetype 427 games · 37 pilots · Archetype	+7.9 pp		427	37
13	Volatile Stormdrake 1,939 games · 191 pilots	+5.3 pp		1,939	191
14	Snapcaster Mage 1,704 games · 168 pilots	+5.2 pp		1,704	168
15	Stifle 466 games · 45 pilots	+7.3 pp		466	45
16	Fierce Guardianship 17,832 games · 1495 pilots	+3.5 pp		17,832	1495
17	Aminatou's Augury 1,199 games · 183 pilots	+5.9 pp		1,199	183
18	Spelltwine 361 games · 41 pilots	+8.3 pp		361	41
19	Stubborn Denial 3,170 games · 354 pilots	+4.4 pp		3,170	354
20	Sea Gate Restoration // Sea Gate, Reborn 3,325 games · 368 pilots	+4.4 pp		3,325	368
21	Hammerhead Tyrant Archetype 1,222 games · 145 pilots · Archetype	+6.2 pp		1,222	145
22	Tandem Lookout Archetype 1,470 games · 195 pilots · Archetype	+6.1 pp		1,470	195
23	Nulldrifter Archetype 1,511 games · 218 pilots · Archetype	+5.4 pp		1,511	218
24	Aether Spellbomb 636 games · 93 pilots	+6.9 pp		636	93
25	Unctus, Grand Metatect 527 games · 72 pilots	+7.1 pp		527	72

Every row clears the same gates: at least 300 games with the card, 15 distinct commander and pod-size comparisons, 20 distinct pilots, and no single pilot above 15% of the sample.

Black Commander staples

The mono-black cards with the largest measured win-rate lift.

+6.1 pp

Top card: Yawgmoth, Thran Physician

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
1	Yawgmoth, Thran Physician 3,069 games · 398 pilots	+6.1 pp		3,069	398
2	Grave Researcher // Reanimate 1,838 games · 215 pilots	+6.3 pp		1,838	215
3	Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel 1,848 games · 229 pilots	+6.3 pp		1,848	229
4	Umbral Collar Zealot 2,687 games · 404 pilots	+6.0 pp		2,687	404
5	Priest of Gix 514 games · 68 pilots	+8.3 pp		514	68
6	Overlord of the Balemurk 1,834 games · 184 pilots	+5.6 pp		1,834	184
7	Warren Soultrader 6,086 games · 699 pilots	+4.6 pp		6,086	699
8	Crypt Ghast 3,669 games · 484 pilots	+5.1 pp		3,669	484
9	Fell the Profane // Fell Mire 12,255 games · 1060 pilots	+3.7 pp		12,255	1060
10	Make an Example 673 games · 75 pilots	+6.9 pp		673	75

Show 15 more Black staples (ranks 11-25)

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
11	Sorin the Mirthless Archetype 359 games · 51 pilots · Archetype	+7.8 pp		359	51
12	Gonti, Night Minister Archetype 1,173 games · 150 pilots · Archetype	+5.8 pp		1,173	150
13	Rain of Filth 1,099 games · 86 pilots	+5.9 pp		1,099	86
14	The Meathook Massacre 5,822 games · 665 pilots	+4.0 pp		5,822	665
15	Darkstar Augur 1,113 games · 126 pilots	+5.6 pp		1,113	126
16	Demonic Tutor 15,733 games · 1432 pilots	+3.3 pp		15,733	1432
17	Scheming Silvertongue // Sign in Blood 1,065 games · 145 pilots	+5.3 pp		1,065	145
18	Emeritus of Woe // Demonic Tutor 936 games · 123 pilots	+5.5 pp		936	123
19	Toxic Deluge 19,405 games · 2052 pilots	+3.0 pp		19,405	2052
20	Snuff Out 4,329 games · 554 pilots	+4.1 pp		4,329	554
21	Reprocess Archetype 348 games · 43 pilots · Archetype	+7.5 pp		348	43
22	Withering Torment 6,726 games · 807 pilots	+3.4 pp		6,726	807
23	Diabolic Intent 6,813 games · 752 pilots	+3.4 pp		6,813	752
24	Carrion Feeder 3,840 games · 534 pilots	+3.9 pp		3,840	534
25	Takenuma, Abandoned Mire 8,234 games · 853 pilots	+3.2 pp		8,234	853

Every row clears the same gates: at least 300 games with the card, 15 distinct commander and pod-size comparisons, 20 distinct pilots, and no single pilot above 15% of the sample.

Red Commander staples

The mono-red cards with the largest measured win-rate lift.

+8.4 pp

Top card: Mana Echoes

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
1	Mana Echoes 849 games · 133 pilots	+8.4 pp		849	133
2	The Rollercrusher Ride 492 games · 60 pilots	+7.6 pp		492	60
3	Goblin Bombardment 6,172 games · 755 pilots	+4.6 pp		6,172	755
4	Purphoros, God of the Forge 5,461 games · 587 pilots	+4.2 pp		5,461	587
5	Brazen Cannonade Archetype 308 games · 34 pilots · Archetype	+8.2 pp		308	34
6	Devilish Valet 1,543 games · 225 pilots	+5.1 pp		1,543	225
7	Goblin Lackey Archetype 890 games · 133 pilots · Archetype	+6.3 pp		890	133
8	Hanweir Battlements 1,363 games · 143 pilots	+4.9 pp		1,363	143
9	Parapet Thrasher Archetype 1,798 games · 221 pilots · Archetype	+4.9 pp		1,798	221
10	Increasing Vengeance 888 games · 110 pilots	+5.6 pp		888	110

Show 15 more Red staples (ranks 11-25)

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
11	Arena of Glory 7,047 games · 773 pilots	+3.0 pp		7,047	773
12	Seize the Day 2,128 games · 259 pilots	+4.1 pp		2,128	259
13	Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak 5,773 games · 559 pilots	+3.1 pp		5,773	559
14	General Kreat, the Boltbringer Archetype 1,812 games · 256 pilots · Archetype	+4.5 pp		1,812	256
15	Dragonhawk, Fate's Tempest 2,423 games · 249 pilots	+3.8 pp		2,423	249
16	Krark, the Thumbless Archetype 532 games · 105 pilots · Archetype	+7.2 pp		532	105
17	Terror of the Peaks 7,446 games · 798 pilots	+2.9 pp		7,446	798
18	Nahiri's Lithoforming Archetype 1,157 games · 152 pilots · Archetype	+5.1 pp		1,157	152
19	Valakut Exploration 2,413 games · 299 pilots	+3.8 pp		2,413	299
20	Orthion, Hero of Lavabrink 1,132 games · 160 pilots	+4.9 pp		1,132	160
21	Deflecting Swat 17,623 games · 1598 pilots	+2.3 pp		17,623	1598
22	Electrodominance 1,819 games · 269 pilots	+4.1 pp		1,819	269
23	Raphael, the Nightwatcher Archetype 481 games · 54 pilots · Archetype	+5.8 pp		481	54
24	Scourge of Valkas Archetype 3,269 games · 403 pilots · Archetype	+3.8 pp		3,269	403
25	Harmonic Prodigy 3,532 games · 556 pilots	+3.4 pp		3,532	556

Every row clears the same gates: at least 300 games with the card, 15 distinct commander and pod-size comparisons, 20 distinct pilots, and no single pilot above 15% of the sample.

Green Commander staples

The mono-green cards with the largest measured win-rate lift.

+11.3 pp

Top card: Michelangelo, Weirdness to 11

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
1	Michelangelo, Weirdness to 11 535 games · 78 pilots	+11.3 pp		535	78
2	Bower Passage Archetype 460 games · 45 pilots · Archetype	+11.0 pp		460	45
3	Steely Resolve Archetype 687 games · 78 pilots · Archetype	+9.3 pp		687	78
4	Lumra, Bellow of the Woods 2,933 games · 315 pilots	+5.8 pp		2,933	315
5	Walk-In Closet // Forgotten Cellar 2,119 games · 248 pilots	+5.8 pp		2,119	248
6	Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger 1,390 games · 176 pilots	+6.1 pp		1,390	176
7	Open the Way 3,398 games · 362 pilots	+5.1 pp		3,398	362
8	Icetill Explorer 5,282 games · 599 pilots	+4.8 pp		5,282	599
9	Burgeoning 3,193 games · 368 pilots	+4.9 pp		3,193	368
10	Tireless Provisioner 10,897 games · 1287 pilots	+4.3 pp		10,897	1287

Show 15 more Green staples (ranks 11-25)

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
11	Threats Around Every Corner Archetype 663 games · 89 pilots · Archetype	+7.9 pp		663	89
12	Great Forest Druid Archetype 430 games · 73 pilots · Archetype	+8.3 pp		430	73
13	Bloom Tender 8,869 games · 956 pilots	+4.0 pp		8,869	956
14	Old Gnawbone 4,113 games · 460 pilots	+4.6 pp		4,113	460
15	Flare of Cultivation 1,843 games · 156 pilots	+5.0 pp		1,843	156
16	Chittering Dispatcher Archetype 1,075 games · 164 pilots · Archetype	+6.8 pp		1,075	164
17	Horizon Explorer 2,563 games · 337 pilots	+5.4 pp		2,563	337
18	Scapeshift 3,050 games · 335 pilots	+4.7 pp		3,050	335
19	The Great Henge 9,082 games · 1007 pilots	+3.7 pp		9,082	1007
20	Majestic Genesis Archetype 981 games · 114 pilots · Archetype	+6.0 pp		981	114
21	Scryb Ranger Archetype 388 games · 48 pilots · Archetype	+9.2 pp		388	48
22	Food Chain 1,711 games · 162 pilots	+5.4 pp		1,711	162
23	Life Finds a Way Archetype 549 games · 66 pilots · Archetype	+6.8 pp		549	66
24	Azusa, Lost but Seeking 6,600 games · 817 pilots	+3.7 pp		6,600	817
25	Ranger's Path 472 games · 50 pilots	+7.6 pp		472	50

Every row clears the same gates: at least 300 games with the card, 15 distinct commander and pod-size comparisons, 20 distinct pilots, and no single pilot above 15% of the sample.

Multicolor Commander staples

Every card with two or more colors in its identity, pooled into one ranking.

+10.3 pp

Top card: Jirina, Dauntless General

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
1	Jirina, Dauntless General Archetype 620 games · 79 pilots · Archetype	+10.3 pp		620	79
2	Squandered Resources Archetype 700 games · 84 pilots · Archetype	+8.8 pp		700	84
3	Questing Druid // Seek the Beast Archetype 374 games · 44 pilots · Archetype	+10.5 pp		374	44
4	Waterlogged Teachings // Inundated Archive 2,457 games · 290 pilots	+6.5 pp		2,457	290
5	Jetmir, Nexus of Revels Archetype 1,956 games · 246 pilots · Archetype	+7.3 pp		1,956	246
6	Maelstrom Wanderer Archetype 2,007 games · 349 pilots · Archetype	+7.6 pp		2,007	349
7	Turbulent Fen 1,083 games · 234 pilots	+7.8 pp		1,083	234
8	Carth the Lion Archetype 414 games · 49 pilots · Archetype	+8.9 pp		414	49
9	Spider-Woman, Stunning Savior Archetype 477 games · 79 pilots · Archetype	+8.9 pp		477	79
10	Emergent Ultimatum 532 games · 66 pilots	+8.3 pp		532	66

Show 15 more Multicolor staples (ranks 11-25)

#	Card	Lift Win-rate lift	Confidence	Games	Pilots
11	Oko, Thief of Crowns 1,427 games · 151 pilots	+6.3 pp		1,427	151
12	Brokers Ascendancy Archetype 1,450 games · 173 pilots · Archetype	+6.4 pp		1,450	173
13	Professor Dellian Fel Archetype 413 games · 77 pilots · Archetype	+8.5 pp		413	77
14	Koma, Cosmos Serpent 2,046 games · 260 pilots	+6.1 pp		2,046	260
15	Aragorn, King of Gondor Archetype 1,526 games · 212 pilots · Archetype	+7.2 pp		1,526	212
16	Cauldron of Essence 1,460 games · 286 pilots	+6.1 pp		1,460	286
17	Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser Archetype 698 games · 93 pilots · Archetype	+7.2 pp		698	93
18	Oath of Teferi Archetype 885 games · 138 pilots · Archetype	+7.3 pp		885	138
19	Temur Battlecrier Archetype 2,069 games · 264 pilots · Archetype	+5.7 pp		2,069	264
20	Watery Grave 21,742 games · 2131 pilots	+3.8 pp		21,742	2131
21	Cruel Celebrant 4,035 games · 520 pilots	+5.2 pp		4,035	520
22	Vivi Ornitier 1,454 games · 205 pilots	+5.6 pp		1,454	205
23	Éomer, King of Rohan Archetype 1,279 games · 179 pilots · Archetype	+7.0 pp		1,279	179
24	Doppelgang 1,534 games · 176 pilots	+5.4 pp		1,534	176
25	Underground Mortuary 6,483 games · 650 pilots	+4.0 pp		6,483	650

Every row clears the same gates: at least 300 games with the card, 15 distinct commander and pod-size comparisons, 20 distinct pilots, and no single pilot above 15% of the sample.

How these Commander staples are ranked

Every tracked game is sorted into groups of "same commander, same pod size". Inside each group we compare decks that run the card against decks that do not, which is the only comparison where the commander cannot take credit for the card. Those per-group differences are pooled with Mantel-Haenszel weighting, a standard method for combining many small matched comparisons without letting one big group dominate, and each card gets a win-rate lift with a 95% confidence interval. Lists are ordered by the LOWER bound of that interval, so a card with a huge but uncertain number sits below a card with a smaller, well-measured one.

One honest caveat: this is an observational estimate, not a randomized experiment. Decks that run a card differ from decks that do not in more ways than the card, and the builder's skill travels with the deck. Ranking on the lower bound also guards against the winner's curse, the tendency for whatever sits at the top of any list to be the luckiest estimate as well as a good one.

A card also needs at least 25 distinct decks running it, and a commander / pod-size group only counts when it has at least 5 games on both sides of the comparison. Miss any gate and the card is not published at all.

What the "Archetype" tag means

A synergy card is only measured against the commanders that actually play it, so a large lift can belong to one shell rather than to Commander in general. Rows carry the Archetype tag when that evidence is concentrated: fewer than 20 distinct commanders, or more than 45% of the weight sitting in the top three. The tag does not change the ranking and it is not a warning: it tells you the card is excellent in a specific deck, and says nothing about the rest.

Why this is not "win rate when cast"

Win-rate-when-cast metrics overrate finishers. Craterhoof Behemoth wins a huge share of the games where it resolves, but that is survivorship: you cast it in the games you were already winning. Measured at the deck level against the same commander without it, the effect is about one percentage point. Adding a card to your deck is a deck-level decision, so it deserves a deck-level number, and that is the only number on this page.

Popularity is a different question, and EDHREC answers it better than we do: it measures how many decklists contain a card. Rules-defined power level is another question again, answered by the official Commander Brackets announcement and the Game Changers list . This page only answers the third: does the card win games.

Lift measured from Commander games tracked on Playgroup.gg. Every card name links to its full stat page.