(Sire of Seven DeathsSire of Seven Deaths | Art by Lius Lasahido)

Welcome, worthy oneWelcome, worthy one

Hello there, and welcome to my latest list of most played Commander cards. This time, we're covering one of my favorite sets from the last couple of years, Foundations! This set is chock full of designs that truly walk a tightrope between nostalgia aimed at experienced players and simplicity and splashiness that is sure to entice new players to Magic.

Let's dive right in — though I would consider checking out my previous lists covering the most played cards from core sets that came before FDN.

10. Quilled GreatwurmQuilled Greatwurm - 16,440 decks

At number 10, we have Foundations' big green mythic monster, which combines late-game resilience with a snowbally combat ability. You can build around this card in different, often-synergistic ways.

Utilizing effects that grant trample and other forms of evasion like Xenagos, God of RevelsXenagos, God of Revels, Baru, WurmspeakerBaru, Wurmspeaker (who makes a sweet Commander for a Wurm kindred deck), and Herald of Secret StreamsHerald of Secret Streams will make this clunky 7/7 into a must-answer threat.

You can also go crazy with +1/+1 counters, perhaps eschewing a go-wide strategy with a go-tall build that maximizes Greatwurm's doubling effect.

Zimone, Paradox SculptorZimone, Paradox Sculptor, Bristly Bill, Spine SowerBristly Bill, Spine Sower, and Shalai and HallarShalai and Hallar all do cool things in conjunction with the Quillfather.

Whatever you decide to do, you definitely want to be utilizing green's efficient mana generation effects to make this creature a problem for your opponents well before turn 6.

9. Leyline AxeLeyline Axe - 17,379 decks

I've played a lot of FDN Limited, so I can tell you that having this put into play against you on turn zero is an absolute beating. So, I was excited to see what busted things EDHREC users are doing with Leyline Axe, even if your chances of having it in your opener are much lower with a 99-card deck.

I was not disappointed, as the first card that came up under "New Commanders" was The MindskinnerThe Mindskinner. Now, that combo on its own isn't going to threaten an immediate win, but it is hilarious.

Even if you're not relying on the Axe hitting the battlefield before a land is even played, granting double strike and trample alongside a stats boost can be a pretty compelling reason to run it in the right deck — perhaps an equipment-matters list?

There are a ton of commanders who would wield the axe with honor, including Obeka, Splitter of SecondsObeka, Splitter of Seconds (quadruple strike, kinda?) and Arna Kennerüd, SkycaptainArna Kennerüd, Skycaptain.

8. Archmage of RunesArchmage of Runes - 17,552 decks

How good is a gigantic, expensive, mono-colored Goblin ElectromancerGoblin Electromancer? I've said it before, but we must never underestimate the power of redundancy in the format.

You won't run the Archmage in every deck that plays cheaper mana generators, especially when many Spellslinger decks are lean and combo- or aggro-oriented.

But in slower decks that may be playing more expensive spells payoffs like Niv-Mizzet, VisionaryNiv-Mizzet, Visionary, Lord of the NazgûlLord of the Nazgûl, or Niv-Mizzet, ParunNiv-Mizzet, Parun, this can both set up a combo turn and keep your hand full.

EDHREC users most commonly pair Archmage with midrangey-combo (look, Izzet decks can get difficult to classify) spells cards like Whirlwind of ThoughtWhirlwind of Thought, Storm-Kiln ArtistStorm-Kiln Artist, Archmage EmeritusArchmage Emeritus, and others.

7. Twinflame TyrantTwinflame Tyrant - 21,847 decks

It's impressive how Wizards of the Coast can seemingly effortlessly churn out sweet, potentially busted Dragons for EDH (seemingly because I know a ton of work goes into card design!).

At just five mana, Tyrant enters the battlefield swiftly — with a little help — and works very well with many of the usual Dragony suspects: Miirym, Sentinel WyrmMiirym, Sentinel Wyrm quadruples your damage output, Terror of the PeaksTerror of the Peaks goes absolutely nuts distributing damage like candy, and Sarkhan, Soul AflameSarkhan, Soul Aflame can get in a giant hit on an early turn.

Of course, Tyrant isn't just a great Dragon; it's a fantastic red card as well. Doubling damage is something mono-red or two-color aggressive decks are very interested in, and having redundancy for Solphim, Mayhem DominusSolphim, Mayhem Dominus and Gisela, Blade of GoldnightGisela, Blade of Goldnight can ratchet up the power and consistency of these builds.

6. Mossborn HydraMossborn Hydra - 21,625 decks

Like Quilled Greatwurm, this Hydra can go absolutely crazy with +1/+1 counters, but unlike the 7/7, this costs only three mana and doesn't need to deal damage to grow.

EDHREC data tells us that we can build around this trampler in a few ways: first, we can slot it into a Hydra kindred deck led by Zaxara, the ExemplaryZaxara, the Exemplary and packed with Hydra goodies like Gargos, Vicious WatcherGargos, Vicious Watcher and Managorger HydraManagorger Hydra.

Looking beyond strictly kindred payoffs, Bennie Smith has an article over on Commander's Herald about you can play a couple of these Hydras in a counters deck, and with a sweet commander to boot.

We can also stick to more flexible themes and run this as a cheap threat in a Landfall deck. There are tons of great commander options to choose from, but Omnath, Locus of CreationOmnath, Locus of Creation would be my pick, as it's my favorite card in Magic.

This deck also benefits from another green card from FDN that's made a splash in the format so far.

5. Bloodthirsty ConquerorBloodthirsty Conqueror - 22,477 decks

I wrote a beginner's guide on building a Vampires deck in EDH. This slots right in for many reasons, including its combo potential alongside other Vampires and synergy cards. It's unsurprising, then, that the most popular commander for Conqueror by far is Edgar MarkovEdgar Markov.

If you're looking for other ways to sate your thirst for this card, there is a Hobbit-focused, Lord of the Rings-oriented deck that plays Abzan colors () led by Frodo, Adventurous HobbitFrodo, Adventurous Hobbit and Sam, Loyal AttendantSam, Loyal Attendant.

The deck tends to be Food- and lifegain-focused, so you'll have no shortage of ways to delay the game while you assemble the infinite combo with Sanguine BondSanguine Bond, Vito, Thorn of the Dusk RoseVito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose or Enduring TenacityEnduring Tenacity or incrementally drain your opponents to death.

4. Scrawling CrawlerScrawling Crawler - 25,558 decks

Foundations is a fantastic set for giving popular decks more redundancy. Scrawling CrawlerScrawling Crawler gifts Nekusar, the MindrazerNekusar, the Mindrazer yet another toy in the form of a Howling MineHowling Mine-Underworld DreamsUnderworld Dreams mashup.

The fact that it's an artifact does mean it's also a viable option in artifact-matters decks that want to draw cards. But what it does is make this powerful, annoying creature a riskier investment, because it can also be hit with DisenchantDisenchant effects on top of kill spells.

I'm glad Crawler is more vulnerable than just a creature would be, and I love that its typing is a nod to the archetype's other synergy cards being mostly artifacts and enchantments.

3. Loot, Exuberant ExplorerLoot, Exuberant Explorer 24,078 decks, 1,667 as commander

Loot is a cutie (I don't care what some Twitter users say!) that also slots right into all manner of landfall decks. I love this theme because it's so richly supported, and in a ton of colors, too!

I mentioned Omnath before, but you can also just build a black deck with The NecrobloomThe Necrobloom, Glarb, Calamity's AugurGlarb, Calamity's Augur, or Thalia and The Gitrog MonsterThalia and The Gitrog Monster.

Just as Scrawling Crawler combines two of that deck's most desirable effects, Loot presents a wonderful package of landfall-enabler-plus-creature-filter.

A deck that wants a bunch of lands in play is also likely to run a slew of big hits, including theme favorites Avenger of ZendikarAvenger of Zendikar, Omnath, Locus of RageOmnath, Locus of Rage, and Titania, Protector of ArgothTitania, Protector of Argoth, among others.

2. Banner of KinshipBanner of Kinship - 34,892 decks

This artifact has made such waves in the format that it made Commander's Herald list of favorite cards from 2024. It's easy to see why, as Banner is a slam dunk in all manner of kindred decks, especially those that play cheaper creatures.

I'm talking about Vampires, Elves, Goblins, Saprolings, Cats, Squirrels... the list goes on! Of course, you want to have built a board by the time you cast this. But, if you do have a bunch of stuff in play, this can turbocharge you combat step!

1. Blasphemous EdictBlasphemous Edict - 46,232 decks

If you had read my list of most played mono-red cards, or if you have experience playing the format, you might have guessed that this Blasphemous ActBlasphemous Act callback would perform well in EDH.

Now, sacrificing 13 creatures isn't exactly the same as straight up dealing 13 damage to every creature, but neither effect is strictly better! Sacrifice gets around indestructible abilities, protection, and regeneration shields.

Making you sacrifice your own creatures can even pay you off, thanks to Wilhelt, the RotcleaverWilhelt, the Rotcleaver and other permanents that trigger off dying or sacrifices. Edict is also pretty sweet alongside Tergrid, God of FrightTergrid, God of Fright.

Continuing with the theme of redundancy, decks playing both red and black will probably be happy running both Act and Edict, depending on the particular build and speed. This is just a fantastic sweeper and an excellent addition to EDH.

Job only paid enough for one head. I'm out.Job only paid enough for one head. I'm out.

What an incredible collection of core set cards! As with other current-set top 10 lists, it will be interesting to revisit this a few years down the road and see how different the list looks.

There are so many more sweet cards from this set that I think could see more play, like High-Society HunterHigh-Society Hunter, Rite of the DragoncallerRite of the Dragoncaller, and Abyssal HarvesterAbyssal Harvester, just to name three. What's your favorite Commander card from the set?

Nick Price