Top 60 EDH Tribes in Commander MTG Magic: the Gathering

Curious which tribes reign supreme in the Magic: The Gathering Commander format? You’re in the right place!

These are the top 60 tribes in commander that are shaping the current meta. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to Commander, understanding these tribes can provide a significant edge in deck building and preparing for your opponents.

From explosive synergies to formidable interaction, these tribes make for some of the most interesting and competitive decks.

Ready to enhance your Commander experience? Then let’s take a look so you can start building your next tribal commander deck!

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Why Play a Tribal Commander Deck in MTG?

Tribal (or Typal, Kindred also applies,) decks focus on utilizing creatures of a specific creature type, such as Elves, Dragons, or Zombies, to create synergies and powerful interactions within the deck.

This thematic approach not only adds flavor to the gameplay but also offers players a unique way to express their playstyle through the creatures chosen. By centering a deck around a particular tribe, players can explore different synergies, abilities, and tribal mechanics that may not be as prominent in other types of deck themes.

In the Commander format, where creativity and personalization are highly valued, tribal decks stand out for their ability to tell a cohesive story through gameplay. Players can immerse themselves in the lore of their chosen tribe, whether it’s the cunning Merfolk of the seas or the fierce Goblins of the mountains. This storytelling aspect adds a layer of immersion that resonates with many who enjoy the narrative elements of the game.

Tribal decks also offer a balance between thematic coherence and strategic depth. While focusing on a specific tribe provides a clear direction for deck construction, it also challenges players to optimize synergies, anticipate opponents’ strategies, and adapt to dynamic board states.

For instance, a dragon is clearly not a goblin, but in some cases dragons have abilities that synergize so well with goblins they fit right in, or may even be a win condition. And they have the added bonus of not always being expected when opponents see your first few goblins hit the board!

Top 60 Tribes in MTG Commander Decks

Mono Color Magic took a look at the Typal section of EDHREC and pulled the 60 best tribes together. We’ll also have write-ups for the top 5 of each tribe you can click through to check out. If you don’t yet see the link to your tribe of choice check back often as we’ll add them regularly!

1. Dragon

Dragons embody raw power and spectacle on the battlefield, commanding fear and respect in equal measure. Their ability to unleash devastating firebreathing abilities and aerial dominance makes them a formidable force to reckon with in Commander decks.

2. Elf

Known for their affinity for nature and swift agility, Elves excel at generating mana, swarming the board with creatures, and overwhelming opponents with sheer numbers. Their synergy and ramp capabilities make them a popular choice for players seeking explosive early-game plays.

3. Zombie

Zombies are relentless and resilient, often returning from the grave to haunt opponents. Their ability to exploit graveyards and overwhelm with sheer numbers makes them a formidable and persistent threat in the Commander format.

4. Vampire

Seductively sinister and eternally captivating, Vampires weave a tale of cunning manipulation and insidious allure. With lifelink, evasion, and bloodthirsty abilities, Vampires excel at draining the life force of their adversaries while bolstering their own ranks.

5. Dinosaur

Dinosaurs are prehistoric powerhouses, often featuring abilities like trample, enrage, and other combat enhancements. Their primal strength and resilience make them a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

6. Human

Humans offer strong synergy and access to nearly every color. They can adapt to a wide range of strategies, from aggressive combat to combo or control, making them flexible for different playstyles. With their broad range of abilities and interactions, Humans make a well-rounded and adaptable choice for a Commander deck.

7. Goblin

Goblins embrace chaos and unpredictability, relying on sheer numbers, haste, and explosive effects to catch opponents off guard. Their ability to flood the board with tokens and create mayhem ensures that no game involving Goblins is ever dull.

8. Angel

Angels present a divine and imposing presence, often bringing powerful abilities such as lifelink, flying, and protection. These ethereal beings serve as guardians and punishers, making them a popular choice for players who value strength and resilience.

**Mono Color Magic Alert!** Several of the top 5 Angel commanders are mono colored!

9. Eldrazi

Eldrazi are known for their high-impact abilities and game-altering presence. Many Eldrazi creatures possess traits like annihilator, which forces opponents to sacrifice permanents, and emerge, allowing them to be cast for reduced costs by sacrificing other creatures. Their colorless nature enables them to fit into any deck while offering strong synergy with mana ramp and sacrifice strategies.

10. Sliver

Slivers are unique creatures that share abilities amongst themselves, creating a myriad of powerful synergistic effects. Building around Slivers can result in incredibly potent decks that grow exponentially stronger as more Slivers enter the battlefield.

11. Merfolk

Merfolk embody the grace and fluidity of the seas, utilizing sleight of hand abilities to outmaneuver foes and control the tempo of the game. Their tribal buffs, evasion, and disruptive elements make them a versatile and challenging tribe to navigate in Commander matchups.

12. Cat

Cats often come with a mix of agility and strength, featuring abilities that include lifelink, first strike, and other combat enhancements. They can be both cuddly and ferocious, striking a fine balance between offense and defense in Commander decks.

13. Phyrexian

Phyrexians are known for their themes of corruption, resilience, and synergy with life manipulation. They often feature abilities that allow you to pay life instead of mana, proliferate to increase counters on permanents, and infect, which deals damage in the form of poison counters.

14. Pirate

Pirates bring a swashbuckling flair to the game, often involving stealing, plundering, and disruption. Their cunning abilities allow for unexpected plays and strategic advantages, embodying the spirit of adventure.

15. Knight

Knights represent honor and valiant combat, often featuring abilities that enhance their skills in battle such as first strike and color protection. Their chivalrous demeanor and tactical prowess make them a stable and reliable choice for structured and synergistic decks.

16. Wizard

Wizards bring spellcasting prowess and intellectual strategy to the table, often featuring abilities to draw cards, manipulate the battlefield, and control the game. Their versatility in spellcasting and providing additional resources make them highly adaptable to various game situations.

17. Horror

Horrors make for a strong EDH tribe due to their disruptive and often unpredictable abilities. They commonly feature effects that force opponents to discard cards, lose life, or sacrifice creatures, creating a chaotic battlefield that can be difficult for others to manage.

Horrors also tend to interact with the graveyard, enabling a variety of reanimation and resource-denial strategies. Their synergy with discard, mill, and life-draining effects allows you to build a deck that wears down opponents over time, making them an ideal choice for a control-oriented, attrition-based game plan.

18. Demon

Demons offer immense power and dark abilities, usually at a cost. Their high-risk, high-reward nature makes them enticing for players who enjoy commanding powerful creatures with potentially game-changing effects.

19. Faerie

Faeries are whimsical and often tricksy, employing evasive maneuvers and disruptive abilities. They can control the tempo of the game and create frustrating obstacles for opponents with their mystical magic.

20. Spirit

Spirits offer ethereal abilities and often interact with graveyards and the afterlife. Their transient nature allows for strategic flexibility, often featuring flying and other evasion tactics to strike from the shadows.

21. Soldier

Soldiers are a strong tribe for EDH due to their focus on teamwork and battlefield presence. They often come with abilities that enhance combat effectiveness, like creating additional tokens, boosting power and toughness, and providing combat-related benefits such as first strike or vigilance.

Soldiers excel in swarming the battlefield with a well-coordinated force. Their synergies often revolve around going wide with an army of creatures that can be buffed by various effects.

22. Hydra

Hydra are known for their numerous heads and the ability to grow stronger as the game progresses. They often expand their power through +1/+1 counters, creating a growing threat that can quickly spiral out of control. A couple on the battlefield can mean game over if they avoid a board wipe.

**Mono Color Magic Alert** the top Hydra commander is mono green!

23. Rat

**Mono Color Magic Alert** Several of the best Rat commanders are mono black!

Rats have the ability to swarm the board and disrupt opponents. They often have abilities that generate additional Rat tokens, allowing you to quickly amass a large, menacing board state. Rats also excel at attrition strategies, with many having effects that force opponents to discard cards, sacrifice creatures, or lose life.

Rats also have a very unique play in that some cards specifically say you can have any number of them in a deck. This goes all the way back to the Alpha release Plague Rats.

24. Myr

Myr are not only their own tribe, but they’re an artifact tribe. These creatures often function as mana accelerators, helping you ramp into more powerful plays quickly. Myr also have great potential for creating combo engines, as many of them interact well with artifact-based effects and recursion.

25. Rogue

Rogues are known for evasiveness and disruption. They frequently have abilities like unblockable, flying, or deathtouch, allowing them to slip past defenses and apply consistent pressure. Rogues also excel at causing opponents to lose cards from their hand or library, often benefiting from these disruptions with bonuses or synergies that trigger when they connect with players.

26. Insect

Insects may quickly multiply and adapt to different situations. Many Insects can generate tokens or grow stronger over time, making them well-suited for strategies that focus on overwhelming opponents with sheer numbers. Insects often have abilities that interact with graveyards, life gain, or sacrifice effects, creating synergy with a variety of game plans. Their resilience and ability to exploit resources in unconventional ways make them a flexible tribe, capable of supporting both aggressive and attrition-based tactics in a Commander deck.

27. Werewolf

Werewolves are a dynamic tribe in EDH, offering a unique playstyle that revolves around transformation and timing. Their daybound and nightbound mechanics allow them to shift between forms, often gaining significant power and abilities when conditions are right. Werewolves typically excel in aggressive strategies, with many of them becoming stronger and more threatening as the game progresses. They also benefit from synergies with spells and effects that manipulate the game’s tempo, making it easier to trigger their transformations.

28. Shapeshifter

Shapeshifters have ability to copy or mimic other creatures on the battlefield. This flexibility allows them to fit into a wide range of strategies, enhancing the strengths of whatever tribe or creatures are present. Shapeshifters can adapt to changing board states, either by replicating key abilities or by filling gaps in your own lineup. Their capacity to become any creature type also opens up tribal synergies that might otherwise be difficult to access.

29. Spider

Spiders are a solid tribe for EDH, particularly valued for their defensive prowess and control elements. They often come with reach, allowing them to block and neutralize flying threats effectively, though they themselves rarely if ever fly. Many Spiders also have abilities that interact with creature combat, such as generating tokens or benefiting from opponents’ creatures being sent to the graveyard. This makes them well-suited for decks that focus on controlling the battlefield and slowly grinding down opponents.

30. Assassin

Assassins are an intriguing tribe known for their ability to eliminate specific threats with pinpoint precision. They often come with abilities that allow them to destroy creatures, especially those that are tapped or damaged, making them excellent at controlling the board and dealing with key enemy pieces. Assassins synergize well with strategies that focus on attrition and targeted removal, allowing you to keep opponents’ boards in check while setting up your own win conditions.

31. Wall

Walls are unique for their strong defensive capabilities and ability to stall the game. Typically possessing high toughness and the defender ability, Walls excel at blocking and protecting your life total, making them ideal for strategies focused on control and outlasting opponents. They often synergize with effects that leverage their defensive nature, such as those that allow you to draw cards, generate value, or even turn their toughness into an offensive weapon.

32. Elemental

Elementals thrive on the natural energies of fire, earth, water, and air. Despite not making the top 25, Elementals bring a dynamic flair to Commander decks, offering abilities and synergies tied to the forces of nature. They have exceptional mana abilities, pump abilities, and can play both aggressively and control the board. There are several fantastic combos elementals can pull off as well.

33. Bear

Bears are a straightforward and efficient tribe and have been since their inception (Grizzly Bears,) known for their balance of power and simplicity. While often appearing as cost-effective creatures, Bears excel in strategies that focus on consistent, aggressive play. They tend to benefit from that strategies such as token generation or power boosts.

Bears can quickly amass a solid board presence, making them ideal for decks that aim to apply steady pressure and overwhelm opponents through sheer numbers and efficient combat. Their straightforward nature makes them easy to build around, offering a reliable and aggressive game plan.

34. Tyranid

Tyranids are a formidable tribe in Commander. Known for their ability to rapidly grow and overwhelm opponents with powerful, adaptable creatures, they often have mechanics that allow them to scale in power as the game progresses. Either through counters, ramp, or generating additional threats, Tyranids can build a massive, unstoppable force on the battlefield.

35. Ninja

Ninjas are a highly tactical tribe known for their ability to slip past defenses and trigger powerful effects through their signature mechanic, ninjutsu. This ability allows Ninjas to be swapped onto the battlefield for unblocked attackers, creating opportunities for surprise damage and value generation.

36. Cleric

Clerics are known for their strong synergy with life gain, protection, and reanimation strategies. They often have abilities that heal, prevent damage, or bring creatures back from the graveyard, making them ideal for decks that focus on sustainability and outlasting opponents. Clerics can also provide valuable support to other creatures, enhancing their abilities or keeping them alive longer.

37. Warrior

Warriors excel in aggressive strategies that focus on combat and battlefield dominance. They often come with abilities that boost their power, enhance other Warriors, or provide combat-related bonuses like first strike or trample. Warriors also synergize well with effects that reward attacking, allowing them to generate additional value during combat.

38. Dwarf

**Mono Color Magic Alert!** The best Dwarf commander is mono red! Dwarves are often associated with mechanics that support artifacts, resource generation, and combat strength. They frequently have abilities that enhance or interact with artifacts, making them ideal for decks that focus on building and utilizing powerful artifact engines. Dwarves also bring strong combat capabilities, with many offering buffs to other Dwarves or abilities that improve efficiency in battle.

39. God

Gods are known for their indestructibility and game-changing abilities. They often require specific conditions to fully activate, but once met, they provide immense value through abilities that can dominate the battlefield, control the game, or generate substantial advantage. Gods typically synergize well with devotion, enchantments, or specific themes tied to their color identity

40. Bird

The Bird tribe is known for its flying abilities, which make them excellent at evasion and aerial combat. This natural evasion allows Birds to apply consistent pressure while avoiding many ground-based threats. They often synergize with strategies that focus on control, card draw, and tempo, as many Birds have abilities that support these themes, such as tapping down opponents’ creatures, drawing extra cards, or providing battlefield-wide buffs.

41. Wurm

Wurms are a powerful and imposing tribe with their massive size and ability to dominate the battlefield. They typically have high power and toughness, making them excellent at dealing significant damage and controlling combat. Wurms also often come with trample or other combat-enhancing abilities, allowing them to push through defenses and apply constant pressure. They also synergize well with strategies that focus on ramping mana and bringing out large creatures quickly.

42. Treefolk

Treefolk are a sturdy and resilient tribe in EDH, known for their high toughness and strong defensive capabilities. Similar to spiders, their toughness usually overshadows their power. They often feature abilities that boost their durability, protect other creatures, or generate value based on their toughness, making them ideal for decks focused on defense and attrition.

43. Giant

Giants’ imposing presence deserves a mention. These colossal creatures epitomize raw power and strength, often commanding respect on the battlefield with their sheer size and formidable abilities. Giants offer a straightforward yet impactful playstyle, emphasizing brute force to overwhelm opponents.

44. Ape (Monkey)

Get your bananas ready, it’s time to go ape%#!*. Apes are known for their raw power and ability to dominate in combat, while monkeys are evasive thieves. Apes often have abilities that enhance their strength, trample over defenses, or generate additional value when they deal damage. Monkeys have sillier monkey-centric abilities. Apes synergize well with strategies that focus on ramping mana to bring out big threats quickly, as well as those that capitalize on direct combat and damage. Monkeys do a lot to support Apes!

45. Ooze

**Mono Color Magic Alert!** The best Ooze commander is mono green! Oozes are a highly adaptable and resilient tribe, known for their ability to grow and multiply over time. They often have abilities that allow them to absorb or copy the strengths of other creatures, generate additional Ooze tokens, or interact with the graveyard by consuming or recycling resources.

46. Samurai

Samurai are a disciplined and tactical tribe in EDH, known for their emphasis on honorable combat and strategic defense. They often have abilities that reward attacking alone, bolster their strength in one-on-one combat, or provide bonuses for blocking, making them well-suited for decks that focus on precise, controlled aggression and strong battlefield presence.

47. Fungus

Fungus are typically played for their ability to proliferate and create an ever-growing presence on the battlefield. They often generate Saproling tokens or benefit from spore counters, allowing them to steadily build up an army or ability over time. Fungus creatures synergize well with strategies that focus on token generation, sacrifice effects, and gradual value accumulation, making them ideal for decks that thrive in long games and attrition warfare.

48. Mutant

Mutants are known for their ability to evolve and modify themselves through a variety of effects. They often possess abilities that allow them to gain or shift power, toughness, or other traits, making them highly flexible in response to different game situations. Mutants synergize well with strategies focused on +1/+1 counters, transformation effects, and modular abilities.

49. Frog

Frogs in commander typically have deathtouch or pump abilities. While not always working together, many do have ways of growing considerably stronger under certain conditions. They typically are Simic (blue/green) and have abilities you’d expect for those colors such as drawing cards and bouncing creatures. Some are black or Golgari (black/green) and similarly have expected abilities for a such colored frog like deathtouch, drain life effects and graveyard interaction.

50. Sphinx

**Mono Color Magic Alert!** The best sphinx commander is mono blue! Sphinxes are a powerful and enigmatic tribe in EDH, known for their flying abilities and strong focus on card advantage and knowledge-based effects. They often have abilities that draw cards, scry, or manipulate the top of the library, making them ideal for strategies that prioritize control, resource management, and long-term planning.

Sphinxes synergize well with decks that seek to outmaneuver opponents through superior card selection and tempo control, often enabling you to maintain a steady flow of answers and threats.

51. Ally

Allies are a cooperative tribe in Commander, known for their ability to grow stronger as more of them join the battlefield. They often have abilities that trigger when they enter play, providing buffs to all other allies in play. They may also replace themselves in your hand, allowing you to search for another Ally when they come into play.

52. Minotaur

Minotaurs embody a ferocious and combative spirit, excelling in aggressive tactics and battlefield prowess. Although they haven’t clinched a spot in the top 25, Minotaurs showcase relentless playstyle, revolving around strength and tribal interactions. With a focus on battlefield dominance, Minotaurs offer a straightforward yet impactful approach to Commander gameplay. Their ability to charge into battle adds a thrilling dimension to tribal decks.

53. Necron

**Mono Color Magic Alert!** Necrons are almost always mono black! They synergize with artifacts, graveyard recursion, and relentless board presence. They often have abilities allowing them to return from the graveyard, create artifact tokens, and manipulate resources, making them ideal for strategies focused on attrition and long-term value. Necrons maintain a steady flow of threats and recover quickly from setbacks.

54. Snake

**Mono Color Magic Alert!** Several of the best snake commanders are mono green! Snakes are a versatile and cunning tribe in EDH, known for their strong synergy with deathtouch, token generation, and counter manipulation. Many Snakes have abilities that create additional tokens or provide powerful defensive options, making them ideal for decks focused on attrition and controlling the battlefield. They often interact with +1/+1 counters and benefit from strategies that enhance their growth and resilience such as proliferate.

55. Druid

**Mono Color Magic Alert!** The best Druid commander is mono green! Druids are known for their strong synergy with mana generation, land interaction, and creature support. Many Druids have abilities that ramp mana, untap lands, or fetch additional lands from your deck, making them ideal for strategies focused on accelerating your game plan and casting large spells ahead of the curve. Druids also often support other creatures with buffs or by enabling powerful synergies, particularly in decks that emphasize nature and growth.

56. Scarecrow

You could use a shapeshifter, but there’s really only one Scarecrow Commander, and Reaper King is a great one! Scarecrows are a unique tribe in Commander, known for their strong interactions with artifacts and colorless strategies. They often have abilities that disrupt opponents or provide versatile utility, such as removing threats or offering protection.

57. Beast

Beasts are an older tribe that’s rarely if ever seen on new cards. You’ll notice that several commanders for the tribe are not Beasts themselves. But they have a strong and versatile presence on the battlefield and synergy with ramp and token generation. They often come with high power and toughness, making them formidable in combat, and many Beasts have abilities that enhance their strength, generate additional Beast tokens, or interact positively with lands and mana production. This makes them well-suited for decks that focus on ramping up quickly and overwhelming opponents with large, impactful creatures.

59. Phoenix

Phoenixes are a resilient and aggressive tribe in EDH, known for their ability to return from the graveyard and repeatedly impact the battlefield. (I have Tenacious D’s “Rize of the Fenix” playing in my head while writing this.) Their recurring nature makes them difficult for opponents to permanently remove, allowing you to maintain constant pressure throughout the game. Phoenixes often synergize with strategies that involve discard, self-sacrifice, or direct damage, making them a natural fit for decks that thrive on aggression and resource recovery.

60. Dog

Dogs are a loyal tribe, known for their strong support abilities and synergy with other creatures. They often provide buffs to your team, enhance combat effectiveness, or offer protective abilities, making them ideal for decks that focus on building a cohesive, creature-based strategy. Dogs excel in creating a unified battlefield presence, where their abilities often complement and strengthen other creatures. But most importantly, they’re all good boys and deserve lots of belly rubs!

BONUS! 61. Halfling

Hailing from the Universes Beyond: the Lord of the Rings set, Halflings are all about second breakfast. They excel at creating food tokens, and the best Halfling decks take full advantage. They may also create lots of mana and Halfling tokens, overwhelming your opponents with an army of hobbits. One fun advantage they carry into battle, some of the best Halfling commanders partner! You can bring Frodo and Sam together on your kitchen table around some Po-Tay-Toes, though Merry would probably appreciate your kitchen more.

So that’s a wrap on the 60 best tribes or types out there to choose from in EDH. What’s your favorite current tribal commander, and which one will you be building next? Let me know in the comments!

Big thanks to EDHREC for compiling all the decks and card stats to make looking this up and writing about it so easy!

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