Y'shtola, Night's BlessedY'shtola, Night's Blessed | Art by Magali Villeneuve | Celes, Rune KnightCeles, Rune Knight | Art by Néstor Ossandón Leal | Cloud, Ex-SOLDIERCloud, Ex-SOLDIER | Art by Justyna Dura | Tidus, Yuna's GuardianTidus, Yuna's Guardian | Art by Nijihayashi | Terra, Herald of HopeTerra, Herald of Hope | Art by Marta Nael

Hey, nerds! With the release of the Final Fantasy Commander decks, we're introduced to 65 new commanders. And while many people might ask which of these is the most powerful, I prefer to ask how fun they are.

Of course, each person's definition of fun differs, so I might rate a commander lower or higher than you; that doesn't mean I think it's bad or that you're bad for playing them; and to be clear, this is for casual EDH only. Because of how many commanders there are in the precons and main set, I'll be splitting my fun ranking for the set into two parts. So stay tuned for my main set fun ranking after previews are done.

The ranks are as follows:

• Want to Build: I'm interested in building these commanders. Their effect could be unique or a new take on an old mechanic I like.
• Fun: These are close to wanting to build, but I'm not going out of my way to brew a list for myself.
• Could Be Fun: These commanders are powerful and don't pull you in a single direction, but because of that, it allows you to build weird strategies with a powerful engine, or have unique build paths that could work.
• Fun in the 99: Sometimes, commanders are printed for 60-card Magic or to support a theme. I don't want to call them not fun, since they usually are fun. But just not fun as the leader of a deck.
• Not Fun: This is usually reserved for older commanders who are seven-mana vanilla creatures, something way too jank, or are too salt-inducing for my taste.

Aerith, Last AncientAerith, Last Ancient

A cool combination of life gain and reanimation. But it isn't anything that's super inspiring.

Rank: Fun

Alisaie LeveilleurAlisaie Leveilleur & Alphinaud LeveilleurAlphinaud Leveilleur

This partner pair is fine. Probably more fun in the 99 of a deck than leading one.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Ardbert, Warrior of DarknessArdbert, Warrior of Darkness

Another Ozrhov legendary matters commander, but with a focus on combat. This has the potential to be a fun deck. Catch our deck tech here.

Rank: Fun

Auron, Venerated GuardianAuron, Venerated Guardian

A temporary removal spell on a creature. Great at removing tokens, but I’d be worried about removing cards with enters triggers.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Avalanche of Sector 7Avalanche of Sector 7

If you have a lot of artifact decks at your table, this could be fun. Or maybe you build a weird red group hug deck.

Rank: Could Be Fun

Banon, the Returners' LeaderBanon, the Returners' Leader

Banon makes an interesting artifact creature commander. You can use Wheels to fill up your graveyard, then cast a threat you’ve discarded.

Rank: Fun

Barret, Avalanche LeaderBarret, Avalanche Leader

A little slow for an Equipment deck, but it makes a ton of bodies. And I like that it's in colors that aren’t usually for Equipment decks.

Rank: Fun

Bugenhagen, Wise ElderBugenhagen, Wise Elder

This is easily fun in the 99. A mana creature that just draws cards on upkeep isn’t something I want leading a deck.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Cait Sith, Fortune TellerCait Sith, Fortune Teller

Cait provides an interesting source of card advantage and can buff a creature. But it would be more fun in the 99 of a Prosper, Tome-BoundProsper, Tome-Bound or Faldorn, Dread Wolf HeraldFaldorn, Dread Wolf Herald deck.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Celes, Rune KnightCeles, Rune Knight

You can easily combo Celes with persist creatures like Murderous RedcapMurderous Redcap or just use [[Walking Ballista]]. I think I’d want to build a combo pile deck with Celes, where I shuffle in a random number of cards that combo with her. Here's our deck tech for Celes.

Rank: Want To Build

Cid, Freeflier PilotCid, Freeflier Pilot

A pretty underwhelming Equipment commander. Probably fun in the 99.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Cloud, Ex-SOLDIERCloud, Ex-SOLDIER

I love seeing an Equipment commander who wants you to go wide. It’s great with all of the Equipment that makes bodies when they enter. Here's a list of the 10 best token Equipment makers to use with Cloud.

Rank: Fun

Cyan, Vengeful SamuraiCyan, Vengeful Samurai

Not sure what I’d want to do with this commander. Seems like a Voltron commander that takes too much setup to make work.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Edgar, Master MachinistEdgar, Master Machinist

It could be cool to recast Ichor WellspringIchor Wellspring or Mycosynth WellspringMycosynth Wellspring for value. But being limited to once per our turn is too high a restriction.

Rank: Could Be Fun

Elena, Turk RecruitElena, Turk Recruit

A great support piece of a legendary or artifact matters deck, or maybe a Voltron commander.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Emet-Selch of the Third SeatEmet-Selch of the Third Seat

An interesting Dimir spells commander that wants you to mill yourself and burn opponents. I’m sure there are some great hidden gems for this.

Rank: Want to Build

Estinien VarlineauEstinien Varlineau

I’d be interested in building an Orzhov Dragons deck. We have a ton of new cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm, and this might be a good home for them.

Rank: Fun

Fandaniel, Telophoroi AscianFandaniel, Telophoroi Ascian

It's an underexplored color option for a spellslinger commander and seems incredibly powerful. I’m glad it specifies nontoken creatures so it doesn’t get hosed by token decks. Here's a Fandaniel deck tech for you.

Rank: Want to Build

Gatta and LuzzuGatta and Luzzu

Not interested in having a one-off protection spell in the command zone.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Gau, Feral YouthGau, Feral Youth

Gau wants you to fill your graveyard to burn out the table. Seems like an incredibly fun commander and can get even better with keywords like lifelink or infect. Check out our artifact-themed deck tech for Gau here.

Rank: Want to Build

General Leo CristopheGeneral Leo Cristophe

This could be a good Blink commander, but five mana seems steep for this effect. I’d still be willing to give them a shot, mostly because I love Martyr of SandsMartyr of Sands.

Rank: Fun

Gogo, Mysterious MimeGogo, Mysterious Mime

Gogo seems fun in combination with powerful attack triggers from cards like Etali, Primal StormEtali, Primal Storm and Godo, Bandit WarlordGodo, Bandit Warlord. Getting free spells and additional combat steps should help you close out the game.

Rank: Want to Build

G'raha Tia, Scion RebornG'raha Tia, Scion Reborn

This could make a fun Esper Superfriends, artifact, or spellslinger deck. But I’m sure there are going to be builds that are counterspell dense, and that seems less fun.

Rank: Could Be Fun

Heidegger, Shinra ExecutiveHeidegger, Shinra Executive

A pretty underwhelming Soldier commander. Creature decks tend to go wide, so I don’t know how often that last ability will trigger.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Hermes, Overseer of ElpisHermes, Overseer of Elpis

An almost strictly better Murmuring MysticMurmuring Mystic in the command zone seems fun. It could be I just like Birds, but it can be at the helm of a ton of decks and slots into the 99.

Rank: Fun

Hildibrand MandervilleHildibrand Manderville

Has a cute way to get around commander tax and has a solid enough effect. I’d be interested in trying this commander as a Lurrus of the Dream-DenLurrus of the Dream-Den companion deck.

Rank: Fun

Hraesvelgr of the First BroodHraesvelgr of the First Brood

I’d love to play this in a Dragon deck. There might be some combat-focused blue deck I’m missing.

Rank: Could Be Fun

Interceptor, Shadow's HoundInterceptor, Shadow's Hound

It seems fun in a Ezio Auditore da FirenzeEzio Auditore da Firenze deck.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Kefka, Dancing MadKefka, Dancing Mad

Big Rakdos commander that has a powerful effect and scales with the power of the table.

Rank: Fun

Kimahri, Valiant GuardianKimahri, Valiant Guardian

Another commander that scales with the power of the table. I want to make non-legendary token copies of this so I can get multiple copies of other people’s legends.

Rank: Fun

Krile BaldesionKrile Baldesion

An underwhelming effect that only triggers once each turn. But goes hard with Martyr of SandsMartyr of Sands.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Locke, Treasure HunterLocke, Treasure Hunter

I want to play Heartless SummoningHeartless Summoning with this commander. And just like Kefka and Kimahri, it scales with the power of the table.

Rank: Want to Build

Lord Jyscal GuadoLord Jyscal Guado

If you can find a way to put a counter on Jyscal each turn, you can get a lot of Clues. And cracking Clues seems fun.

Rank: Fun

Lulu, Stern GuardianLulu, Stern Guardian

It doesn’t stop the attack, but it stops at least one creature from attacking again. I’d rather put her in a Hylda of the Icy CrownHylda of the Icy Crown or an infect deck.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Lyse HextLyse Hext

An underwhelming commander that's just cost reduction in the command zone. You might be able to build a combat trick deck, but there are better options.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Maester SeymourMaester Seymour

I want a copy of this for my Cleopatra, Exiled PharaohCleopatra, Exiled Pharaoh. It can also make a great Elfball commander with a focus on counters.

Rank: Fun

Mog, Moogle WarriorMog, Moogle Warrior

I love this card so much. It feels like the perfect middle ground of a group hug commander, and makes sure people get to play the game.

Rank: Want to Build

O'aka, Traveling MerchantO'aka, Traveling Merchant

I’m sure there's some infinite combo with this, but I’ll pass on this one.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Papalymo TotolymoPapalymo Totolymo

Another great Lurrus of the Dream-DenLurrus of the Dream-Den companion deck. Make sure to add Tainted StrikeTainted Strike so you can cheese out the table.

Rank: Fun

Professor HojoProfessor Hojo

This is a fixed mono-green Nadu, Winged WisdomNadu, Winged Wisdom. Notably, it also reduces the cost to less than one.

Rank: Fun

Red XIII, Proud WarriorRed XIII, Proud Warrior

A straightforward modified commander that would be more fun as the 99. But it has good keywords, so if you like smashing faces, you’ll like this.

Rank: Fun

Rikku, Resourceful GuardianRikku, Resourceful Guardian

Another great roleplayer in a counters deck. It can also be used as a political tool to move detrimental counters from your opponents' creatures.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Sabin, Master MonkSabin, Master Monk

Nothing is appealing about this as a commander.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Sephiroth, Fallen HeroSephiroth, Fallen Hero

At the time of writing, there is no payoff for cell counters aside from triggering modified. That being said, turning random cheap creatures into big beaters seems fun.

Rank: Fun

Setzer, Wandering GamblerSetzer, Wandering Gambler

I love that this triggers whenever you win a coin flip. There's a surprising number of coin flip cards in Rakdos colors. Not sure how good it would be, but it would be fun.

Rank: Fun

Shadow, Mysterious AssassinShadow, Mysterious Assassin

I don’t like it when commanders need to deal combat damage to trigger. This effect is pretty good, but would be more fun in the 99.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Shelinda, Yevon AcolyteShelinda, Yevon Acolyte

A generic +1/+1 counter commander. Nothing inspiring about this as a commander.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Siegfried, Famed SwordsmanSiegfried, Famed Swordsman

Siegfried seems great in a The MimeoplasmThe Mimeoplasm deck. But I don’t want it at the helm.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Sin, Unending CataclysmSin, Unending Cataclysm

Seems fun in the 99 of a sea creature deck. I could see building this as a group hug commander that spreads counters then takes them back too.

Rank: Could Be Fun

Strago and RelmStrago and Relm

A Chaos WandChaos Wand on a stick that scales with the table. I probably won’t build them, but I’m excited to see them across from me.

Rank: Fun

Tataru TaruTataru Taru

A fixed Smothering TitheSmothering Tithe that you can play from the command zone.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Terra, Herald of HopeTerra, Herald of Hope

Feels like a lot of setup for a mediocre payoff. I’m sure people will love the flavor of this commander.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Thancred WatersThancred Waters

Solid in a legendary matters deck. But not an interesting commander.

Rank: Fun in the 99

The Warring TriadThe Warring Triad

A colorless mana dork with keywords.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Tidus, Yuna's GuardianTidus, Yuna's Guardian

Moving anything aside from +1/+1 counters around might be a pain to track on paper. But I do love drawing cards and proliferating.

Rank: Fun

Tifa, Martial ArtistTifa, Martial Artist

Extra combats if you have big creatures. Attacking more than once is almost always fun.

Rank: Fun

Tromell, Seymour's ButlerTromell, Seymour's Butler

A unique Elfball commander option. You can also use it as a combo payoff in an artifact deck using a Myr RetrieverMyr Retriever combo with Walking BallistaWalking Ballista.

Rank: Fun

Umaro, Raging YetiUmaro, Raging Yeti

This could be a fun extra combat commander. There is the possibility you deck yourself, but I love embracing the random.

Rank: Fun

Urianger AugureltUrianger Augurelt

Azorious has tons of ways to tap and untap creatures, so it should be trivial to get multiple activations of this. I have a feeling this might become a Thassa's OracleThassa's Oracle combo deck.

Rank: Could Be Fun

Vincent, Vengeful AtonerVincent, Vengeful Atoner

One of the less exciting combat-focused commanders. But I’d happily play this in the 99.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Wakka, Devoted GuardianWakka, Devoted Guardian

A +1/+1 counter commander that needs to deal damage to get benefit and only removes artifacts. Great roleplayer and removal piece, not so fun as a commander.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Y'shtola, Night's BlessedY'shtola, Night's Blessed

I love the idea of building Esper Burn. But it's also possible people end up building some artifact storm deck with Y’shtola. Here's our deck tech for her.

Rank: Could Be Fun

Yuffie, Materia HunterYuffie, Materia Hunter

Can’t use the ninjutsu ability from the command zone since it isn’t commander ninjutsu.

Rank: Fun in the 99

Yuna, Grand SummonerYuna, Grand Summoner

Seems like a solid precon commander, but there are more interesting counter commander options. But I’m sure my inner Timmy would enjoy having a mana dork that buffs my creatures. Here's our combo-centric deck tech for Yuna.

Rank: Fun

Conclusion

Overall, the Final Fantasy Commander deck legends are solidly fun. Some standouts will be more loved than others because of their lore or power level. But with this many options, I think every legend will have someone who wants to build them. I'm excited to see what crazy builds people make, and I'd love to hear what commander you're looking forward to building.

Do you disagree with any of my takes? Let me know in the comments under the article. And make sure to come back every day for more Final Fantasy commander articles! There are a ton of deck techs, set reviews, and more in the works from amazing authors you won't want to miss.

Alrighty nerds, I'll see you in the next one!