Arcades, the Strategist (Commander) - Expensive Toughness Matters

Background image for Fire and Ice: Which Cards Are Hot and Cold for Arcades, the Strategist?
Julia Maddalena
Mar 6, 2026
Fire and Ice: Which Cards Are Hot and Cold for Arcades, the Strategist?
This week on Fire and Ice, we'll see which cards are getting chucked over the wall. What's hot and what's not for Arcades, the Strategist?
Deck Filters
Cardsphere
Archidekt
Commander Spellbook
Moxfield
Scryfall
MTGStocks
Great Forest Druid
6.3%inclusion1 decks16 decks
6%synergy
Gathering Stone
6.3%inclusion1 decks16 decks
5%synergy
Bark of Doran
6.3%inclusion1 decks16 decks
6%synergy
High Synergy Cards
Overgrown Battlement
95%inclusion511 decks539 decks
87%synergy
Axebane Guardian
92%inclusion498 decks539 decks
85%synergy
Wall of Denial
92%inclusion498 decks539 decks
85%synergy
Sunscape Familiar
88%inclusion475 decks539 decks
81%synergy
Stalwart Shield-Bearers
87%inclusion467 decks539 decks
80%synergy
Wall of Blossoms
84%inclusion455 decks539 decks
76%synergy
The Pride of Hull Clade
82%inclusion441 decks539 decks
75%synergy
Wall of Omens
83%inclusion447 decks539 decks
75%synergy
High Alert
80%inclusion429 decks539 decks
73%synergy
Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive
80%inclusion431 decks539 decks
73%synergy
Top Cards
Sylvan Caryatid
78%inclusion418 decks539 decks
72%synergy
Swords to Plowshares
76%inclusion409 decks539 decks
14%synergy
Crashing Drawbridge
75%inclusion404 decks539 decks
68%synergy
Shield Sphere
70%inclusion375 decks539 decks
66%synergy
Hover Barrier
68%inclusion368 decks539 decks
63%synergy
Crystal Barricade
67%inclusion151 decks227 decks
61%synergy
Jeskai Barricade
66%inclusion356 decks539 decks
61%synergy
Weathered Sentinels
66%inclusion355 decks539 decks
61%synergy
Slaughter the Strong
66%inclusion355 decks539 decks
60%synergy
Wall of Frost
65%inclusion351 decks539 decks
59%synergy
Game Changers
Cyclonic Rift
63%inclusion337 decks539 decks
44%synergy
Rhystic Study
61%inclusion331 decks539 decks
41%synergy
Teferi's Protection
60%inclusion324 decks539 decks
45%synergy
Fierce Guardianship
58%inclusion312 decks539 decks
44%synergy
Aura Shards
44%inclusion235 decks539 decks
37%synergy
Smothering Tithe
40%inclusion218 decks539 decks
24%synergy
Enlightened Tutor
37%inclusion200 decks539 decks
23%synergy
Gaea's Cradle
34%inclusion184 decks539 decks
28%synergy
Worldly Tutor
26%inclusion139 decks539 decks
15%synergy
Ancient Tomb
21%inclusion111 decks539 decks
14%synergy
Creatures
Perimeter Captain
63%inclusion341 decks539 decks
58%synergy
Tree of Redemption
61%inclusion329 decks539 decks
57%synergy
The Walls of Ba Sing Se
60%inclusion15 decks25 decks
55%synergy
Vine Trellis
59%inclusion320 decks539 decks
54%synergy
Wall of Tanglecord
58%inclusion314 decks539 decks
54%synergy
Wall of Stolen Identity
57%inclusion308 decks539 decks
53%synergy
Shield-Wall Sentinel
56%inclusion304 decks539 decks
51%synergy
Wall of Junk
56%inclusion303 decks539 decks
51%synergy
Corrupted Shapeshifter
48%inclusion212 decks446 decks
44%synergy
Wall of Glare
47%inclusion251 decks539 decks
43%synergy
Wall of Runes
46%inclusion248 decks539 decks
42%synergy
Flumph
41%inclusion223 decks539 decks
37%synergy
Wall of Roots
41%inclusion219 decks539 decks
37%synergy
Wingmantle Chaplain
39%inclusion211 decks539 decks
35%synergy
Plagon, Lord of the Beach
39%inclusion86 decks221 decks
37%synergy
Walking Bulwark
39%inclusion208 decks539 decks
35%synergy
Drift of Phantasms
36%inclusion195 decks539 decks
33%synergy
Carven Caryatid
35%inclusion189 decks539 decks
32%synergy
Wall of Shards
35%inclusion187 decks539 decks
32%synergy
Angelic Wall
31%inclusion168 decks539 decks
28%synergy
Wall of Mulch
29%inclusion154 decks539 decks
26%synergy
Riptide Turtle
29%inclusion154 decks539 decks
26%synergy
Resolute Watchdog
28%inclusion151 decks539 decks
25%synergy
Towering Titan
28%inclusion150 decks539 decks
25%synergy
Fortified Rampart
26%inclusion140 decks539 decks
23%synergy
Fog Bank
26%inclusion139 decks539 decks
23%synergy
Mnemonic Wall
26%inclusion138 decks539 decks
23%synergy
Fecund Greenshell
25%inclusion92 decks371 decks
23%synergy
Wall of Nets
22%inclusion119 decks539 decks
21%synergy
Towering Viewpoint
22%inclusion90 decks411 decks
20%synergy
Steel Wall
22%inclusion118 decks539 decks
20%synergy
Wall of Tears
22%inclusion117 decks539 decks
20%synergy
Rune-Sealed Wall
21%inclusion46 decks220 decks
20%synergy
Orator of Ojutai
20%inclusion109 decks539 decks
18%synergy
Noble Hierarch
18%inclusion96 decks539 decks
-8%synergy
Rampart Architect
18%inclusion6 decks34 decks
16%synergy
Bedrock Tortoise
18%inclusion95 decks539 decks
15%synergy
Birds of Paradise
17%inclusion94 decks539 decks
-17%synergy
Sokrates, Athenian Teacher
17%inclusion72 decks413 decks
14%synergy
Glacial Wall
16%inclusion88 decks539 decks
14%synergy
Jungle Barrier
16%inclusion86 decks539 decks
14%synergy
Esper Sentinel
15%inclusion81 decks539 decks
0%synergy
Charix, the Raging Isle
14%inclusion73 decks539 decks
12%synergy
Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa
13%inclusion72 decks539 decks
12%synergy
Gatecreeper Vine
13%inclusion71 decks539 decks
11%synergy
Rigo, Streetwise Mentor
13%inclusion69 decks539 decks
11%synergy
Guard Gomazoa
13%inclusion68 decks539 decks
11%synergy
Arbor Adherent
12%inclusion4 decks34 decks
10%synergy
Suspicious Bookcase
12%inclusion63 decks539 decks
10%synergy
Wall of Kelp
11%inclusion59 decks539 decks
10%synergy
Instants
Heroic Intervention
63%inclusion339 decks539 decks
32%synergy
Tower Defense
62%inclusion334 decks539 decks
56%synergy
Path to Exile
50%inclusion271 decks539 decks
2%synergy
Akroma's Will
50%inclusion269 decks539 decks
42%synergy
Counterspell
46%inclusion248 decks539 decks
8%synergy
Mana Drain
44%inclusion236 decks539 decks
34%synergy
Beast Within
42%inclusion225 decks539 decks
14%synergy
Eerie Interlude
37%inclusion197 decks539 decks
31%synergy
Dovin's Veto
29%inclusion157 decks539 decks
13%synergy
Flawless Maneuver
26%inclusion139 decks539 decks
18%synergy
Generous Gift
24%inclusion129 decks539 decks
-2%synergy
Swan Song
23%inclusion123 decks539 decks
6%synergy
Eladamri's Call
18%inclusion95 decks539 decks
7%synergy
Force of Will
16%inclusion88 decks539 decks
10%synergy
An Offer You Can't Refuse
15%inclusion79 decks539 decks
-12%synergy
Mystical Tutor
14%inclusion77 decks539 decks
9%synergy
Bar the Door
14%inclusion76 decks539 decks
11%synergy
Ghostway
14%inclusion76 decks539 decks
12%synergy
Arcane Denial
14%inclusion74 decks539 decks
-3%synergy
Force of Negation
13%inclusion69 decks539 decks
8%synergy
Negate
12%inclusion67 decks539 decks
-2%synergy
Nature's Claim
9.3%inclusion50 decks539 decks
4%synergy
Stroke of Midnight
8.9%inclusion48 decks539 decks
0%synergy
Growth Spiral
8.2%inclusion44 decks539 decks
-6%synergy
Sink into Stupor
7.1%inclusion31 decks437 decks
1%synergy
Auroral Procession
5.9%inclusion2 decks34 decks
5%synergy
Solidarity
5.8%inclusion31 decks539 decks
5%synergy
Krosan Grip
5.6%inclusion30 decks539 decks
3%synergy
Flusterstorm
5.4%inclusion29 decks539 decks
1%synergy
Brainstorm
5.2%inclusion28 decks539 decks
-3%synergy
Sorceries
Dusk // Dawn
63%inclusion342 decks539 decks
57%synergy
Farseek
50%inclusion269 decks539 decks
6%synergy
Fell the Mighty
44%inclusion239 decks539 decks
39%synergy
Nature's Lore
43%inclusion234 decks539 decks
16%synergy
Three Visits
41%inclusion219 decks539 decks
15%synergy
Last March of the Ents
33%inclusion180 decks539 decks
30%synergy
Cultivate
28%inclusion150 decks539 decks
-10%synergy
Wave of Reckoning
22%inclusion117 decks539 decks
19%synergy
Rampant Growth
19%inclusion105 decks539 decks
-6%synergy
Kodama's Reach
19%inclusion104 decks539 decks
0%synergy
Expel the Interlopers
19%inclusion100 decks539 decks
16%synergy
Triumph of the Hordes
18%inclusion99 decks539 decks
16%synergy
Raise the Past
18%inclusion39 decks220 decks
16%synergy
The Battle of Bywater
17%inclusion90 decks539 decks
15%synergy
Retribution of the Meek
13%inclusion68 decks539 decks
12%synergy
Farewell
11%inclusion61 decks539 decks
-6%synergy
Bala Ged Recovery
8.7%inclusion47 decks539 decks
3%synergy
Destined Confrontation
8.0%inclusion2 decks25 decks
6%synergy
Skyshroud Claim
7.8%inclusion42 decks539 decks
4%synergy
Finale of Devastation
7.6%inclusion41 decks539 decks
0%synergy
Ascend from Avernus
5.9%inclusion32 decks539 decks
4%synergy
Austere Command
5.6%inclusion30 decks539 decks
-4%synergy
Green Sun's Zenith
5.2%inclusion28 decks539 decks
1%synergy
Utility Artifacts
Meekstone
64%inclusion343 decks539 decks
59%synergy
Rammas Echor, Ancient Shield
55%inclusion299 decks539 decks
51%synergy
Lightning Greaves
53%inclusion285 decks539 decks
34%synergy
Swiftfoot Boots
32%inclusion171 decks539 decks
4%synergy
Slagwurm Armor
13%inclusion71 decks539 decks
11%synergy
Panharmonicon
12%inclusion66 decks539 decks
5%synergy
The One Ring
11%inclusion58 decks539 decks
5%synergy
Colfenor's Urn
7.8%inclusion42 decks539 decks
7%synergy
Robe of Stars
6.9%inclusion37 decks539 decks
5%synergy
Cloudstone Curio
5.4%inclusion29 decks539 decks
4%synergy
Enchantments
Assault Formation
65%inclusion350 decks539 decks
59%synergy
Brave the Sands
56%inclusion302 decks539 decks
51%synergy
Stoneskin
40%inclusion217 decks539 decks
36%synergy
Guardian Project
19%inclusion105 decks539 decks
12%synergy
Primal Rage
16%inclusion87 decks539 decks
15%synergy
Angelic Chorus
16%inclusion86 decks539 decks
14%synergy
Mystic Remora
15%inclusion82 decks539 decks
4%synergy
Sylvan Library
15%inclusion79 decks539 decks
9%synergy
Smile at Death
14%inclusion5 decks35 decks
13%synergy
Unnatural Growth
14%inclusion74 decks539 decks
11%synergy
Propaganda
11%inclusion61 decks539 decks
0%synergy
Ghostly Prison
11%inclusion59 decks539 decks
1%synergy
Restricted Office // Lecture Hall
11%inclusion30 decks285 decks
10%synergy
Assemble the Players
8.3%inclusion45 decks539 decks
7%synergy
Teferi's Ageless Insight
8.3%inclusion45 decks539 decks
2%synergy
Vault 75: Middle School
8.2%inclusion44 decks539 decks
7%synergy
Angelic Shield
8.0%inclusion43 decks539 decks
7%synergy
Spidersilk Armor
7.8%inclusion42 decks539 decks
7%synergy
Aluren
7.4%inclusion40 decks539 decks
6%synergy
Rolling Stones
7.4%inclusion40 decks539 decks
7%synergy
Freed from the Real
6.5%inclusion35 decks539 decks
3%synergy
Serra's Blessing
6.3%inclusion34 decks539 decks
6%synergy
True Conviction
6.1%inclusion33 decks539 decks
5%synergy
Court of Ardenvale
5.8%inclusion31 decks539 decks
5%synergy
Concordant Crossroads
5.8%inclusion31 decks539 decks
3%synergy
Exploration
5.6%inclusion30 decks539 decks
1%synergy
Mirari's Wake
5.6%inclusion30 decks539 decks
0%synergy
The Birth of Meletis
5.0%inclusion27 decks539 decks
4%synergy
Planeswalkers
Huatli, the Sun's Heart
16%inclusion88 decks539 decks
14%synergy
Teyo, Geometric Tactician
15%inclusion83 decks539 decks
14%synergy
Teyo, the Shieldmage
12%inclusion64 decks539 decks
10%synergy
Utility Lands
Reliquary Tower
63%inclusion337 decks539 decks
19%synergy
Boseiju, Who Endures
55%inclusion297 decks539 decks
37%synergy
Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
45%inclusion240 decks539 decks
29%synergy
Otawara, Soaring City
35%inclusion189 decks539 decks
20%synergy
Access Tunnel
24%inclusion128 decks539 decks
20%synergy
Rogue's Passage
14%inclusion76 decks539 decks
0%synergy
Three Tree City
14%inclusion53 decks385 decks
8%synergy
Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
12%inclusion64 decks539 decks
8%synergy
Mistrise Village
12%inclusion4 decks34 decks
5%synergy
Urza's Saga
11%inclusion58 decks539 decks
7%synergy
Alchemist's Refuge
9.3%inclusion50 decks539 decks
3%synergy
Command Beacon
8.0%inclusion43 decks539 decks
6%synergy
Temple of the False God
6.5%inclusion35 decks539 decks
-2%synergy
Mana Artifacts
Sol Ring
92%inclusion498 decks539 decks
11%synergy
Arcane Signet
83%inclusion446 decks539 decks
11%synergy
Thought Vessel
23%inclusion123 decks539 decks
3%synergy
Chromatic Lantern
16%inclusion86 decks539 decks
9%synergy
Mana Crypt
15%inclusion83 decks539 decks
14%synergy
Azorius Signet
15%inclusion80 decks539 decks
5%synergy
Selesnya Signet
13%inclusion72 decks539 decks
6%synergy
Fellwar Stone
13%inclusion70 decks539 decks
-1%synergy
Simic Signet
12%inclusion66 decks539 decks
2%synergy
Talisman of Curiosity
12%inclusion63 decks539 decks
1%synergy
Talisman of Unity
12%inclusion63 decks539 decks
2%synergy
Mox Diamond
12%inclusion62 decks539 decks
8%synergy
Talisman of Progress
11%inclusion58 decks539 decks
0%synergy
Chrome Mox
10%inclusion55 decks539 decks
6%synergy
Decanter of Endless Water
10%inclusion52 decks539 decks
5%synergy
Mana Vault
6.3%inclusion34 decks539 decks
2%synergy
Commander's Sphere
5.0%inclusion27 decks539 decks
-1%synergy
Lands
Command Tower
95%inclusion513 decks539 decks
5%synergy
Savannah
93%inclusion500 decks539 decks
80%synergy
Tropical Island
93%inclusion500 decks539 decks
80%synergy
Tundra
92%inclusion498 decks539 decks
80%synergy
Plains
89%inclusion481 decks539 decks
-4%synergy
Forest
89%inclusion479 decks539 decks
-5%synergy
Breeding Pool
89%inclusion478 decks539 decks
44%synergy
Island
88%inclusion476 decks539 decks
-5%synergy
Temple Garden
88%inclusion476 decks539 decks
45%synergy
Hallowed Fountain
88%inclusion472 decks539 decks
44%synergy
Flooded Strand
81%inclusion436 decks539 decks
49%synergy
Windswept Heath
80%inclusion433 decks539 decks
47%synergy
Misty Rainforest
80%inclusion432 decks539 decks
50%synergy
Spara's Headquarters
72%inclusion386 decks539 decks
32%synergy
Bountiful Promenade
69%inclusion374 decks539 decks
39%synergy
Sea of Clouds
68%inclusion367 decks539 decks
38%synergy
Rejuvenating Springs
68%inclusion364 decks539 decks
33%synergy
Exotic Orchard
47%inclusion251 decks539 decks
-10%synergy
Sunpetal Grove
43%inclusion231 decks539 decks
0%synergy
Seaside Citadel
42%inclusion228 decks539 decks
-10%synergy
Hinterland Harbor
42%inclusion227 decks539 decks
-6%synergy
Glacial Fortress
41%inclusion219 decks539 decks
-6%synergy
Overgrown Farmland
35%inclusion187 decks539 decks
12%synergy
Deserted Beach
32%inclusion174 decks539 decks
12%synergy
Dreamroot Cascade
27%inclusion144 decks539 decks
0%synergy
Mana Confluence
22%inclusion118 decks539 decks
14%synergy
City of Brass
22%inclusion117 decks539 decks
13%synergy
Floodfarm Verge
20%inclusion58 decks292 decks
11%synergy
Verdant Catacombs
19%inclusion103 decks539 decks
12%synergy
Prismatic Vista
19%inclusion101 decks539 decks
14%synergy
Reflecting Pool
19%inclusion100 decks539 decks
13%synergy
Yavimaya Coast
18%inclusion99 decks539 decks
-12%synergy
Marsh Flats
18%inclusion96 decks539 decks
12%synergy
Scalding Tarn
18%inclusion95 decks539 decks
11%synergy
Polluted Delta
17%inclusion92 decks539 decks
10%synergy
Brushland
17%inclusion91 decks539 decks
-11%synergy
Arid Mesa
17%inclusion90 decks539 decks
11%synergy
Wooded Foothills
16%inclusion85 decks539 decks
8%synergy
Hushwood Verge
16%inclusion46 decks292 decks
6%synergy
Branchloft Pathway
16%inclusion84 decks539 decks
9%synergy
Adarkar Wastes
16%inclusion84 decks539 decks
-9%synergy
Prairie Stream
15%inclusion83 decks539 decks
-30%synergy
Hengegate Pathway
15%inclusion82 decks539 decks
10%synergy
Urban Retreat
15%inclusion4 decks27 decks
5%synergy
Barkchannel Pathway
14%inclusion78 decks539 decks
8%synergy
Cavern of Souls
14%inclusion78 decks539 decks
10%synergy
Canopy Vista
14%inclusion75 decks539 decks
-32%synergy
Lush Portico
14%inclusion73 decks539 decks
3%synergy
Hedge Maze
12%inclusion67 decks539 decks
2%synergy
Meticulous Archive
12%inclusion65 decks539 decks
3%synergy