Agrus Kos, Wojek VeteranAgrus Kos, Wojek Veteran | Art by Donato Giancola

Ravnica in 2005 –> Commander in 2025

I remember October 2005 well. I had just moved to a new state and was connecting with new classmates. Having just been introduced to Magic the previous summer at home, I was thrilled to learn that plenty of the kids in my grade played the game as well.

I was just starting to build out my collection, and, for my 12th birthday, I was ecstatic to be gifted Charge of the Boros, a theme deck from the new set that had been released mere days before: Ravnica: City of Guilds.

I'll never forget the feeling of opening up this deck and seeing the beautiful cityscape PlainsPlains and MountainMountain, new guild lands like Boros GarrisonBoros Garrison and Sunhome, Fortress of the LegionSunhome, Fortress of the Legion, and multicolored Soldier and Knight creatures like Thundersong TrumpeterThundersong Trumpeter and Skyknight LegionnaireSkyknight Legionnaire.

I also remember opening Agrus Kos, Wojek VeteranAgrus Kos, Wojek Veteran and later realizing that each of these theme decks also contained a legendary creature to represent their guild.

In October 2025, the 20-year anniversary of Ravnica's original release, I thought it would be fun to check in with these ten legendary theme deck creatures, rank them by popularity as Commanders, see what the decks built around them look like, and try to find any hidden synergies others have missed.

10. Agrus Kos, Wojek VeteranAgrus Kos, Wojek Veteran – 93 decks

While I was excited to see Agrus Kos in a theme deck way back in 2005, it looks like there are simply too many stronger options for a go-wide strategy today.

Arabella, Abandoned DollArabella, Abandoned Doll, Anim Pakal, Thousandth MoonAnim Pakal, Thousandth Moon, Neyali, Suns' VanguardNeyali, Suns' Vanguard, and other Ravnica character Aurelia, the Law AboveAurelia, the Law Above are some of the more popular commanders if you want a big Boros board.

Even as an Eternal SoldierEternal Soldier or Spirit of JusticeSpirit of Justice, Agrus Kos isn't seeing much play these days.

9. BorborygmosBorborygmos – 172 decks

These low numbers aren't surprising to me. It's hard to justify a seven-mana commander that needs to attack to have a significant effect on the game.

Looking at EDHREC's synergy numbers, it appears many decks with this Cyclops in charge are going for "Gruul across the years of Ravnica blocks" flavor. This explains the inclusion of cards like Gruul RagebeastGruul Ragebeast, Gruul CharmGruul Charm, and Gruul War ChantGruul War Chant in a lot of these builds.

If you're drawn to this character, there are some more competitive options in the land-heavy Borborygmos EnragedBorborygmos Enraged strategy or access to a third color and grindy card advantage when he teams up with FblthpFblthp.

8. Tolsimir WolfbloodTolsimir Wolfblood – 234 decks

This deck seems like an awesome time – just slap together big pump cards like Wilt-Leaf LiegeWilt-Leaf Liege, Collective BlessingCollective Blessing, and Knight of New AlaraKnight of New Alara and make some giant, multicolored tokens!

However, just like with Agrus Kos, there are a ton of tokens commanders in this color pair fighting over the same space, and it looks like Tolsimir (all three versions) has lost out.

I do like the idea of having three differentdifferent versionsversions of Tolsimir and three differentdifferent versionsversions of VojaVoja all in play at the same time, though.

Also, wait a second. Can't you equip Thornbite StaffThornbite Staff on this commander and create infinite Vojas entering and dying? This Equipment isn't showing up on Tolsimir's page at all.

7. Szadek, Lord of SecretsSzadek, Lord of Secrets – 263 decks

Just like with BorborygmosBorborygmos, this commander has a high mana value and must also connect to start having an effect on the game.

With that being said, this looks really fun in slower-paced settings. While other mill players will have settled on commanders like Captain N'ghathrodCaptain N'ghathrod, Phenax, God of DeceptionPhenax, God of Deception, or Anowon, the Ruin ThiefAnowon, the Ruin Thief, it's a way better story to threaten opponents with a Vampire whose strength functionally doubles each turn.

The synergy numbers back up the idea that this commander is meant to work with a Voltron strategy, with classic cards like FireshriekerFireshrieker and Whispersilk CloakWhispersilk Cloak showing up alongside theme-specific ones like NighthowlerNighthowler and BonehoardBonehoard.

Also important to note: You can counter Szadek's damage prevention ability if you want to dispatch a threatening opponent in one hit. Why not have your blue disruption package include cards like DisallowDisallow, Louisoix's SacrificeLouisoix's Sacrifice, and the new Spider-SenseSpider-Sense for a sneaky normal damage kill option?

6. Lyzolda, the Blood WitchLyzolda, the Blood Witch – 437 decks

Not too much to say here. Lyzolda works at the helm of a classic Aristocrats strategy, but other Rakdos commanders like Juri, Master of the RevueJuri, Master of the Revue, Evereth, Viceroy of PlunderEvereth, Viceroy of Plunder, Totentanz, Swarm PiperTotentanz, Swarm Piper, Garna, Bloodfist of KeldGarna, Bloodfist of Keld, Mahadi, Emporium MasterMahadi, Emporium Master, Lagomos, Hand of HatredLagomos, Hand of Hatred, and Judith, the Scourge DivaJudith, the Scourge Diva are winning out in popularity with >1000 decks each.

This is in the Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran category for me, where there isn't a clear reason beyond nostalgia/appreciating iconic art to choose this commander over the other available options.

5. Tibor and LumiaTibor and Lumia – 446 decks

This Human Wizard pair looks really fun to build around. As we can see from synergy numbers, it's all about giving Tibor and LumiaTibor and Lumia deathtouch with Equipment like Basilisk CollarBasilisk Collar, Gorgon's HeadGorgon's Head, and Gorgon FlailGorgon Flail. Just don't forget to give your own commander flying or it will shoot itself down!

Another way to turn this commander into a one-sided board wipe is by using blue spells like Mass DiminishMass Diminish and FlatlineFlatline.

The highly popular Ghyrson Starn, KelermorphGhyrson Starn, Kelermorph and Niv-Mizzet, ParunNiv-Mizzet, Parun also offer a combination of Spellslinger and board control in , but I think this commander is still underrated, especially in more casual pods.

For me, a lot of the joy of Commander is about assembling fun combos that do something cool but don't automatically end the game on the spot. That's what brewing with Tibor and Lumia represents.

4. Isperia the InscrutableIsperia the Inscrutable – 547 decks

Everything about this card is so sweet: the art, the mana cost, the 3/6 power and toughness, the mini-mind games, and having a toolbox enabler in the command zone – not to mention the fact that flying is super underrated.

The synergy numbers point towards other brewers including cards like Gitaxian ProbeGitaxian Probe, PeekPeek, TelepathyTelepathy, and Glasses of UrzaGlasses of Urza to make sure that you always know what to name. To me, that takes the fun away from this card; I'd have way a way more enjoyable time guessing blind, remembering from previous hits, and/or trying to make a deal with an opponent to search for a flying answer to the biggest threat at the table.

Flying creatures offer all sorts of options, whether it's cost reductioncost reduction, protectionprotection, staxstax piecespieces, graveyard hategraveyard hate, stealing artifactsstealing artifacts, or simply drawing cardssimply drawing cards. Finally, don't forget how awesome double strike makes this commander!

3. Experiment KrajExperiment Kraj – 1,229 decks

We're in the home stretch now, with the final three commanders all leading over 1,000 decks. If you like your whole deck comboing with itself, this Simic commander is right for you!

Two of the top cards in this strategy are Horseshoe CrabHorseshoe Crab and Simic RagwormSimic Ragworm. These aren't just to make Kraj able to untap itself to get more +1/+1 counters, they allow you to easily create infinite mana with cards like Incubation DruidIncubation Druid or Gyre EngineerGyre Engineer.

Once you have infinite mana, you can put infinite +1/+1 counters on your creatures with your commander, draw your whole deck with something like Zameck GuildmageZameck Guildmage, and win with something like the classic TriskelionTriskelion.

The downside of all this when you show up with Kraj in the command zone is –whether or not your deck is actually built this way – you are broadcasting that you are here to do some comboing. If you're ok with the rest of the table ganging up on you to try to stop you and like lots of synergies and outright game-ending combos, this deck might be for you.

2. Teysa, Orzhov ScionTeysa, Orzhov Scion – 3,765 decks

Way back in 2006 when I first saw this card, I remember thinking "What if you make the tokens black?" As it turns out, making the tokens black means you get infinite Spirits entering and dying, which is easy enough to exploit with something like Blood ArtistBlood Artist.

That's why Darkest HourDarkest Hour, a card I didn't realize even existed at the time, holds the number one spot for most synergy with Teysa today.

Teysa, Orzhov ScionTeysa, Orzhov Scion has since been eclipsed by Teysa KarlovTeysa Karlov as the most popular Orzhov Aristocrats commander (it's actually the most popular commander overall), but the Scion is still a great choice if you want that classic sacrificing tokens energy with cards like SkullclampSkullclamp, Viscera SeerViscera Seer, Zulaport CutthroatZulaport Cutthroat, VictimizeVictimize, Lingering SoulsLingering Souls, and more!

1. Savra, Queen of the GolgariSavra, Queen of the Golgari – 4,146 decks

This Aristocrats commander is a worthy recipient of the top slot, boasting a powerful Grave PactGrave Pact ability in the command zone.

Savra's art is super nostalgic and belongs in my memory alongside other cards from the early 2000s like Viridian ShamanViridian Shaman and Imperious PerfectImperious Perfect with the same aesthetic. I guess Scott M. Fischer just knows how to make Elves look cool! Not to mention other types of cards from the era like Meloku the Clouded MirrorMeloku the Clouded Mirror, Time StopTime Stop, Serra AvengerSerra Avenger, or Bogardan HellkiteBogardan Hellkite.

Since Ravnica first came out, Savra has been given all sorts of extra toys, including Creakwood LiegeCreakwood Liege, Blight MoundBlight Mound, Beledros WitherbloomBeledros Witherbloom, and Izoni, Thousand-EyedIzoni, Thousand-Eyed to ensure a steady stream of creatures, and Dina, Soul SteeperDina, Soul Steeper as a way to both drain out opponents and serve as a sacrifice outlet at the same time.

With the introduction of expendable PestPest tokens that are both black and green, Strixhaven was an absolute gold mine for this commander.

Ravnica's Impact on the Game

I'm very biased due to when I started playing Magic, but I feel like there are few other sets that have since contributed to Magic what the original Ravnica block did.

Starting in 2005, we have been blessed by amazing mana fixing like Signets, Bouncelands and Shocklands, competitive staples like RemandRemand, Lightning HelixLightning Helix, and Dark ConfidantDark Confidant, and Commander all-stars like FarseekFarseek, Doubling SeasonDoubling Season and multicolored legendary creatures like the ones listed above.

Thank you for joining me in this celebration of Ravnica, and see you next article!

Read More: