<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crime Novelist" href="#" target="_blank">Crime Novelist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.izzymedrano.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Izzy</a></em></p>
<p>From <em>Aetherdrift</em> to <em>Avatar</em>, and all the Secret Lair drops in between, there were almost 500 new cards that can be your commander this year. So with 2025 winding down, we wanted to give our writers here at EDHREC the chance to share with you their favorite new commanders of the year.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rinoa Heartilly" href="#" target="_blank">Rinoa Heartilly</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/owain-roberts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Owain Roberts</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rinoa Heartilly"></div></div>
<p>Her card was the one that drew me into FF VIII, and while she isn't winning any popularity contests (deck-wise), it's a card that's since had a place in my heart. And it all began with the dog in the art (which also is the token she makes).</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hearthhull, the Worldseed" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthhull, the Worldseed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/joshua-nelson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Nelson</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hearthhull, the Worldseed"></div></div>
<p>At the risk of being known as a Jund aficionado (as I submitted <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coram, the Undertaker" href="#" target="_blank">Coram, the Undertaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> last time I answered this question), there are good reasons why I chose this commander for 2025. Put simply, the play that Hearthhull provides in Commander is smooth and relatively easy for newer players to understand. At the same time, new players who get the deck learn why gambits such as the daunting loss of lands (spooky!) can be extremely beneficial if the deck is geared towards that line.</p>
<p>On a less wholesome note, it can also be a ton of fun to make those gambits offensively in an effort to bring the table down. Plus, it’s extremely satisfying to station your commander to full power!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cait Sith, Fortune Teller" href="#" target="_blank">Cait Sith, Fortune Teller</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/steveheisler" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steve Heisler</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cait Sith, Fortune Teller"></div></div>
<p>My favorite aspect of Commander is the fact that the format breathes new life into old, outclassed cards from <em>Magic</em>'s 30+ year history—especially when these fossils become some of the best cards in a deck.</p>
<p>Cait Sith, Fortune Teller from <em>Final Fantasy</em> encourages us to run high-mana value cards that can be cast for cheap, thus enabling appearances by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avatar of Fury" href="#" target="_blank">Avatar of Fury</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Molten Monstrosity" href="#" target="_blank">Molten Monstrosity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Volcanic Salvo" href="#" target="_blank">Volcanic Salvo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skitterbeam Battalion" href="#" target="_blank">Skitterbeam Battalion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. That's some jank you can take to the bank!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Betor, Ancestor&#039;s Voice" href="#" target="_blank">Betor, Ancestor&#039;s Voice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/cashinds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cas Hinds</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Betor, Ancestor&#039;s Voice"></div></div>
<p>It’s such a fun life gain and drain deck. The synergies are endless like with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spore Frog" href="#" target="_blank">Spore Frog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being looped every turn cycle.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sonic the Hedgehog" href="#" target="_blank">Sonic the Hedgehog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/paul-palmer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paul Palmer</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sonic the Hedgehog"></div></div>
<p>I love going off on a tangent with commanders and I spent weeks deciding on my build for Sonic and finally landed on a list focused on indestructible creatures and effects that give your whole board haste.</p>
<p>Only managed to get a couple of games in with it but someone having to exile my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Knight of the Holy Nimbus" href="#" target="_blank">Knight of the Holy Nimbus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> like it was a real threat was the highlight of the game for me.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ragost, Deft Gastronaut" href="#" target="_blank">Ragost, Deft Gastronaut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/brian-cain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brian Cain</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ragost, Deft Gastronaut"></div></div>
<p>Boros commander that's outside the realm of attacking, and has combo potential built in. Also, a legendary Lobster is awesome for someone that lives in Maine.</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/edge-of-eternities-ragost-deft-gastronaut-deck-tech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here's my deck tech</a>.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rydia, Summoner of Mist" href="#" target="_blank">Rydia, Summoner of Mist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/jesse-plotkin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jesse Barker Plotkin</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rydia, Summoner of Mist"></div></div>
<p>I love playing Landfall decks, and I love playing with self-discard synergies, so when I saw Rydia I realized that she was all I had ever wanted. The Saga bonuses are just icing on the cake, but let me include a few more weird cards that I would never play in any other deck.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haliya, Guided by Light" href="#" target="_blank">Haliya, Guided by Light</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/arnaud-gompertz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arnaud Gompertz</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haliya, Guided by Light"></div></div>
<p>It's basically a Soul Sister in the command zone. She gains life fast, especially in conjunction with the bazillion other options out there. Which means you get to consistently draw cards and keep the flame alight.</p>
<p>I've been impressed at how consistent the list I brewed has been, all the more since I decided, as an experiment, not to play a single piece of ramp. Turns out it's fun and efficient nonetheless.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mister Negative" href="#" target="_blank">Mister Negative</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/kyle-massa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Massa</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mister Negative"></div></div>
<p>Mister Negative is my favorite commander of 2025 because he isn’t just a commander—he’s a microcosm of the Spider-Man experience.</p>
<p>We’ve come to expect great sets from Wizards, yet that set was the opposite of great. Likewise, this villain enacts the opposite of the usual plan by lowering our life total rather than defending it, all so we can swap with some unfortunate schmo.</p>
<p>In short, Mister Negative invites us to embrace the negativity. And for Spider-Man, we were happy to oblige.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teval, Arbiter of Virtue" href="#" target="_blank">Teval, Arbiter of Virtue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/cooper-gottfried" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cooper Gottfried</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Teval, Arbiter of Virtue"></div></div>
<p>I got into <em>Magic</em> when a friend gifted me his 2,000 card collection in exchange for a copy of <em>Smash Melee</em>. The vast majority of those cards came from Tarkir, and I fell in love with the block as I developed my own identity as a <em>Magic</em> player. So, when <em>Tarkir: Dragonstorm</em> released earlier this year, I was super excited for its return.</p>
<p>This commander gives access to cost reduction shenanigans and my favorite three-color wedge on a 6/6 Dragon. I couldn't ask for more, and I'm thrilled to tie together my 2015-era nostalgia and modern <em>Magic</em> sensibilities!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zurgo Stormrender" href="#" target="_blank">Zurgo Stormrender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/joshua-wood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joshua Wood</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zurgo Stormrender"></div></div>
<p>I didn't end up brewing a ton of decks this year in comparison to last, but of the few I constructed, Zurgo Stormrender has been my absolute favorite.</p>
<p>Zurgo managed to encompass many of my interests that I've been looking to build. I was in the market for a new Boros/Mardu deck. I wanted to build a token deck that also included Aristocrat/Burn effects into the mix with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nadier&#039;s Nightblade" href="#" target="_blank">Nadier&#039;s Nightblade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being a cornerstone in the strategy, and Zurgo does all that while being a cheap and powerful draw engine. What's not to love?</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hei Bai, Forest Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Hei Bai, Forest Guardian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/leviperry" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Levi Perry</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hei Bai, Forest Guardian"></div></div>
<p>At first this looks like a more powered down version of a Shrines deck, but when we consider Backgrounds, oaths, and legendary enchantment creatures, there's a lot of room to brew with this Bear. Anything from a token deck, Spirit typal, or even a Super Friends deck are all on the table.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jenova, Ancient Calamity" href="#" target="_blank">Jenova, Ancient Calamity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/mike-carrozza" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Carrozza</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jenova, Ancient Calamity"></div></div>
<p>Jenova is my most recent return to putting green in the command zone. I simply couldn’t resist that textbox. I was transfixed by this legend. The possibility of making a huge <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goldvein Hydra" href="#" target="_blank">Goldvein Hydra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, turning it into a Mutant, putting more counters on it, slamming in for damage, sacrificing it post-combat for a pile of Treasures and a grip of new cards.</p>
<p>While the deck makes great use of Mutants that weren’t “touched by an angel” like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Feral Ghoul" href="#" target="_blank">Feral Ghoul</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it brings me great joy to make <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lotleth Troll" href="#" target="_blank">Lotleth Troll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> a huge Mutant thanks to Jenova’s blessing.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaws, Relentless Predator" href="#" target="_blank">Jaws, Relentless Predator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/bennie-smith" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bennie Smith</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jaws, Relentless Predator"></div></div>
<p>I'm not really into most Secret Lair offerings these days, but the flavor design for this card is a home run. Trample and haste is perfect for a Shark built to attack out of nowhere, and it's flawless that Jaws generates Blood tokens when it deals combat damage to a player. Watching the movie, you're on the edge of your seat dreading the appearance of Jaws, and it generates dread just sitting in the command zone as opponents worry about when it's going to show up.</p>
<p>As soon as I got the Lair I started pulling the deck together and can't wait to play it!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hydro-Man, Fluid Felon" href="#" target="_blank">Hydro-Man, Fluid Felon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/nicholas-lucchesi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nicholas Lucchesi</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hydro-Man, Fluid Felon"></div></div>
<p>The design of the card is so neat. You have a blue creature that grows who then hides out in your lands when it isn’t your turn. Just a silly goofy card that people want to work at and figure out a way to break it.</p>
<p>I don’t think it's the strongest, but it is one of a handful of cards this year that made me stop and think about it for a good while.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Choco, Seeker of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Choco, Seeker of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/jeff-girten" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeff Girten</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Choco, Seeker of Paradise"></div></div>
<p>Choco represents the type of commander I love and frequently feature in <em>Plot Twist</em>: It's a powerful payoff for multiple archetypes that ask your deck to do different things. It can easily helm Bird kindred, Landfall, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dovescape" href="#" target="_blank">Dovescape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> secret commander, flyers, and more, all of which would run different cards in their deck lists.</p>
<p>Choco is the sort of commander that pairs well with other <em>Final Fantasy</em> cards as well as bulk that's been sitting in your binder for 20 years, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kangee, Aerie Keeper" href="#" target="_blank">Kangee, Aerie Keeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I hope we see WotC print even more flexible, yet odd commanders like Choco in 2026.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Szarel, Genesis Shepherd" href="#" target="_blank">Szarel, Genesis Shepherd</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/alexwicker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alex Wicker</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Szarel, Genesis Shepherd"></div></div>
<p>In addition to leading a really fun precon to play out of the box, Szarel has been the introduction into Jund that I've been waiting for. I was already a big fan of lands-matters strategies, but now I get a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crucible of Worlds" href="#" target="_blank">Crucible of Worlds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in my command zone?? Szarel is a great median between my slower artifact ramp strategies and my faster <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait" href="#" target="_blank">Aesi, Tyrant of Gyre Strait</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> list. Legally Szarel's a Bracket 2 list, but Szarel is the Bracket 3 experience for me!</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Garland, Knight of Cornelia" href="#" target="_blank">Garland, Knight of Cornelia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/ben-macready" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Macready</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Garland, Knight of Cornelia"></div></div>
<p>Garland's ability to transform into Chaos is cool, but his ability to surveil every time you cast a noncreature spell is secretly way cooler. Garland can rapidly fill up your graveyard, letting you reanimate your biggest creatures, and flashback your most explosive spells.</p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hearthhull, the Worldseed" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthhull, the Worldseed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>- <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/zoe-ley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Command Zoe</a></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hearthhull, the Worldseed"></div></div>
<p>The introduction of the station mechanic adds such an interesting wrinkle to the game. I really enjoyed the play pattern of starting with a card that doesn't do much, but can quickly become a problem if the proper resources are invested into it. And the fact that it plays off lands speaks to my inner child, who is a dredge player.</p>
<p>What were <em>your</em> favorite commanders of the year? Let us know in the comments.</p>


best new commanders

The EDHREC Writers' Favorite New Commanders of 2025