The 50 Best Human Commanders in Magic Ranked

Last updated on September 10, 2025

Katilda and Lier | Illustration by Justyna Dura

One of the most exciting aspects of Magic: The Gathering is the sheer variety of creature types, and few are as versatile and powerful as humans. With strong synergies and support across nearly every set, human commanders offer something for every playstyle.

Let’s dive into some of the best human commanders ever printed and explore what makes them stand out and which strategies bring out their full potential.

Curious to see the list? Let’s jump in!

What Are Human Commanders in MTG?

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician | Illustration by Greg Staples

A human commander in Magic: The Gathering is a legendary human creature that you can use as a commander in EDH. Humans are one of the most common creature types in the game and often feature typal synergies. However, some legendary humans don’t specifically support typal strategies but instead fit into other archetypes.

In this list, I’ll rank the best human commanders based on their effectiveness in human typal decks and their overall popularity. Keep in mind that newer commanders may rank lower than more established ones simply due to popularity, but that doesn’t mean that they’re weak or ineffective.

#50. Dr. Eggman

Dr. Eggman rewards patience by letting you draw on your end step while you force each opponent into a villainous choice: Do they discard, or do they let you drop constructs, robots, or vehicles for free? The card slots perfectly into artifact builds, especially when you pair it with Wurmcoil Engine or Smuggler's Copter. Over time, the value piles up until opponents can’t keep pace.

#49. Celes, Rune Knight

Filtering your hand and turning graveyard recursion into team-wide growth makes Celes, Rune Knight stand out. Reanimator shells love it, as cards like Sun Titan or Unearth bring threats back to trigger counters across the board. The initial discard-draw ability keeps your engine humming and ensures that you always have tools ready for the grindy game plan.

#48. Yuna, Hope of Spira

Enchantress decks gain a powerhouse with Yuna, Hope of Spira. During your turn, enchantment creatures suddenly gain trample, lifelink, and ward, which makes them dangerous and tough to remove. At the end step, Yuna reanimates key enchantments like Sterling Grove or Sphere of Safety. That mix of offense and recursion cements it as a premier commander for enchantment-heavy builds.

#47. Cosmic Spider-Man

With every keyword under the sun, Cosmic Spider-Man not only dominates combat but also buffs all your spiders with the same suite. That’s flying, lifelink, trample, haste, and more on the whole squad each combat. Stack it with Arachnogenesis or Spider Spawning for massive boards. It’s the go-to spider typal commander for anyone that wants to overwhelm with sheer power and speed.

#46. Avatar Aang / Aang, Master of Elements

Avatar Aang starts off rewarding you for bending each element by drawing a card, and once you’ve bent all four in a turn, the payoff is to flip into Aang, Master of Elements. On the back side, everything you cast gets a massive discount, and each upkeep can trigger a surge of life, cards, counters, and damage to every opponent. While it takes setup, spells like Moonmist or cheap multicolor instants can help accelerate the flip. Once transformed, Aang quickly takes over games, especially in 5-color builds that thrive on explosive turns.

#45. Black Panther, Wakandan King

Black Panther, Wakandan King is one of the original Marvel Secret Lair commanders, featuring a unique but unconventional ability that interacts with lands. Whenever a creature enters the battlefield, Black Panther puts a +1/+1 counter on a land you control. This synergizes particularly well creature lands like Cave of the Frost Dragon or Mutavault. The main appeal of running this Selesnya commander () is the ability to transfer all those counters to a single creature while also drawing you a card in the process.

#44. Silk, Web Weaver

If you’re into going wide, Silk, Web Weaver really delivers. Every time you cast a creature, you get a free 1/1 Human Citizen, so your board fills up fast. The web-slinging cost is a nice trick that lets you cast it cheaper by bouncing a tapped creature. Once you’ve built up an army, its pump ability gives everything +2/+2 and vigilance to turn all those little tokens into a serious threat. Cards like Cathars' Crusade make those tokens grow even bigger, and with Chord of Calling you can keep the engine rolling.

#43. Captain America, First Avenger

Captain America, First Avenger is another versatile commander to build around equipment synergy. Its Throw… ability lets you detach an equipment for 3 mana to deal its mana value in damage, splitting it among up to three targets. Meanwhile, the …Catch ability ensures that Captain America, First Avenger is always armed, automatically reattaching an equipment at the start of combat. Cap’ is perfect for decks that focus on powerful equipment like Colossus Hammer or Sunforger, letting you dish out big hits while staying ready for battle

#42. Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate

With first strike, Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate is tough to block effectively, and every attack makes it stronger with a +1/+1 counter. Alesha’s raid ability rewards you for staying on the offensive, reanimating a creature from your graveyard at the end of any turn you attacked. Since its power grows over time, this warrior can bring back bigger threats as the game progresses, and you can use cheap creatures like Mire Triton or Stitcher's Supplier to mill cards earlier in the game to fuel your graveyard.

#41. Pia Nalaar, Chief Mechanic

Pia Nalaar, Chief Mechanic is an energy-based commander who rewards artifact aggression. Whenever your artifact creatures deal combat damage, you generate two energy counters, fueling its powerful end step ability. You can then create an X/X flying vehicle token that scales its size based on the energy used.

#40. Saheeli, Radiant Creator

Saheeli, Radiant Creator is a powerful Temur commander () who creates temporary copies of other permanents at the beginning of combat by spending 3 energy. These copies become 5/5 artifact creatures with haste, ready to attack immediately. Plus, Saheeli generates energy whenever you cast an artificer or artifact spell, so it’s both an enabler and a payoff for energy and artifact-focused decks.

#39. Terra, Magical Adept / Esper Terra

Terra, Magical Adept starts by milling cards and fishing up enchantments, then it flips into Esper Terra to unleash saga-like chapters of value. Copying enchantments is already strong, but duplicating sagas like Summon: Bahamut can be game-breaking and snowball your board state into overwhelming dominance. In grindy duels, the ability to copy key enchantments repeatedly turns Terra into a relentless win condition.

#38. Narset, Jeskai Waymaster

Narset, Jeskai Waymaster turns spellslinging into explosive card draw. Discarding your hand for fresh cards equal to the number of spells cast rewards storm-like builds. Tools like Faithless Looting or Young Pyromancer synergize beautifully here to fuel more spells and more draw. It excels in aggressive, spell-heavy lists that thrive on chaining spells to refill and pressure opponents nonstop.

#37. Sensational Spider-Man

Whenever Sensational Spider-Man attacks, it disables threats with stun counters and can cash them in for card draw. Every swing becomes a mix of control and value. Pair it with cards like Verity Circle to maximize locking down the board while you draw into fresh gas. This commander thrives in tempo-oriented decks where the game plan is to keep enemies slowed while you pull further ahead in cards.

#36. Norman Osborn / Green Goblin

One of the most hyped cEDH options from the Spider-Man set, Norman Osborn slips in unblocked to connive, which lets you filter cards and build value right away. Once it transforms or you cast it as Green Goblin, the graveyard becomes a second hand thanks to mayhem. With engines like Faithless Looting and Underworld Breach to restock the ‘yard constantly, Norman fuels fast, explosive combo lines that thrive at competitive tables.

#35. Samut, the Driving Force

Samut, the Driving Force is the perfect aggressive choice to show off the start your engines! mechanic from Aetherdrift. It boosts your entire party based on the speed you have, and if that weren’t enough, this Naya commander also gives your noncreature spells cost reduction for each point of speed you gain.

#34. Halana and Alena, Partners

With first strike and reach, Halana and Alena, Partners can tussle with a wide variety of threats. This card’s true power lies in boosting other creatures at the beginning of combat, so it’s an excellent enabler and support card for aggressive strategies. Think of Etali, Primal Storm, who has an excellent attack trigger but sorely needs a haste enabler.

#33. Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy / Jace, Telepath Unbound

While being mono-blue is somewhat limiting for deck-building options, Jace, Vryn's Prodigy offers great versatility. This flipwalker’s ability to loot cards and transform into Jace, Telepath Unbound allows you to control the board with powerful spells that you can reuse from the graveyard while fueling your cards with effects such as delve.

#32. Chulane, Teller of Tales

Chulane, Teller of Tales mostly serves as a card draw engine that lets you ramp further ahead the more creature spells you cast. Furthermore, for only 3 mana, you get to return a creature to your hand to re-trigger Chulane’s ability and any enters the battlefield abilities that your creatures may have.

#31. Captain Sisay

Captain Sisay is one of my favorite legends-matter commanders because it lets you fetch a wide variety of cards from your deck, including creatures, artifacts, and even lands that are legendary. This requires little to no investment, and it’s also a powerful tutor for any missing pieces in the broken combos you might be running.

#30. Azusa, Lost but Seeking

While Azusa, Lost but Seeking doesn't synergize well with other humans or human-based strategies, it’s one of the best ramp commanders you can run in a lands-focused deck.

#29. Cloud, Midgar Mercenary

Equipment players love Cloud, Midgar Mercenary. Tutoring an equipment right away sets up your plan, while doubling triggers once Cloud is equipped pushes value through the roof. Cards like Sword of Fire and Ice or Skullclamp that fire twice can turn small plays into massive advantage. That’s why Cloud has quickly become one of the best new legends for Duel Commander—drawing piles of cards off Skullclamp and fodder like Doomed Traveler gives unmatched consistency and pressure.

#28. Kefka, Court Mage / Kefka, Ruler of Ruin

Another top dog in Duel Commander, Kefka, Court Mage gives discard strategies teeth by forcing everyone to pitch cards while it rewards you with flexible draws based on what was lost. Flip it into Kefka, Ruler of Ruin, and suddenly every point of life drained is more cards for you. Backed by engines like Waste Not or punishing payoffs like Megrim, Kefka snowballs quickly and locks opponents out while you dig into answers and threats. The mix of disruption and relentless card advantage makes this one of the scariest choices at competitive tables.

#27. Tifa Lockhart

Few commanders embody raw aggression like Tifa Lockhart. With landfall to double its power, even a simple fetch land makes this tiny monk a massive beater. Combine with Rancor or Temur Battle Rage to turn those bursts into lethal swings. As a landfall-focused commander, it thrives in green shells that want to keep dropping lands while rewarding you with high-voltage damage each turn.

#26. Godo, Bandit Warlord

Godo, Bandit Warlord is a powerful combo enabler, particularly when paired with Helm of the Host to enable infinite combat phases and creature tokens. Outside of that, it acts as an excellent equipment tutor for 6 mana.

#25. Yawgmoth, Thran Physician

Pairing Yawgmoth, Thran Physician with Nest of Scarabs is a brutal combo that can wipe out any creature-based deck by flooding the board with insects and shrinking enemy creatures into oblivion. To turn it into a win condition, just add Blood Artist or Vein Ripper—each sacrifice drains your opponents, letting you control the board while chipping away at your opponents’ life totals.

#24. Baral, Chief of Compliance

Baral, Chief of Compliance, the counterspell commander, is infamous for being a cost-reducing powerhouse in control decks. Whenever a spell or ability you control counters a spell, you can loot a card, smoothing your hand with more answers while keeping the board locked down.

#23. Kaalia of the Vast

If you love cheating massive creatures into play, Kaalia of the Vast is the commander for you. Swinging in with Kaalia of the Vast lets you drop an angel, demon, or dragon directly onto the battlefield with no mana required, which means you can unleash game-ending threats like Balefire Dragon way ahead of schedule.

#22. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben is the ultimate Death & Taxes commander, and it makes life difficult for opponents by taxing their noncreature spells. Thalia’s first strike gives it an edge in combat, while its tax ability slows down removal and combo decks.

#21. Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward

Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward is my favorite among Pauper commanders, and it’s probably the strongest due to acting as a pseudo Yorion, Sky Nomad blink powerhouse. Whether you pair it with blue or black, it keeps the value train going by repeatedly flickering key permanents, letting you reset ETB effects, generate an army of soldiers, and outvalue your opponents with ease.

#20. Torens, Fist of the Angels

If you’re into creature-based strategies, Torens, Fist of the Angels is a great choice. Its training ability helps this cleric to grow alongside your stronger creatures, and every time you cast a creature, Torens gives you a 1/1 soldier token with training to flood the board.

#19. General Kudro of Drannith

General Kudro of Drannith is a great commander for human decks. Not only does this Orzhov commander () pump all your other humans, but it also acts as graveyard hate that target’s your opponents’ bins whenever Kudro or another human enters the battlefield. If that weren’t enough, its ability to sacrifice two humans and destroy creatures with power 4 or greater makes it a solid removal option, offering both synergy and utility.

#18. Queen Marchesa

The monarch is a strong 1v1 ability and one that can quickly turn your Commander table into a politics game, and Queen Marchesa takes full advantage of it. If someone else claims the title, this Mardu commander () creates 1/1 black assassin tokens with deathtouch and haste during your upkeep to help you keep the pressure on your opponents.

#17. Winota, Joiner of Forces

Banned from Pioneer, Winota, Joiner of Forces’ ability can quickly flood the field with humans, turning your attacks into overwhelming waves of power with the likes of other powerful human creatures. This ability triggers for each attacking non-human creature, which is why it’s so deadly.

#16. Théoden, King of Rohan

Théoden, King of Rohan is perfect for any human-focused deck, especially if you want to give your creatures a combat boost. This Boros commander () can give a target creature double strike whenever Théoden itself or another human enters the battlefield. Your attacks can hit extra hard and you can push through more damage, especially if you manage to give your humans trample.

#15. Adeline, Resplendent Cathar

Adeline, Resplendent Cathar’s ability to create human tokens whenever one or more creatures attack makes it a serious threat. While Adeline’s power scales with the number of creatures you control, it doesn’t need to join the battle itself to start flooding the board as turns go by.

#14. Leinore, Autumn Sovereign

Coven is a mechanic introduced in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt that rewards you for controlling creatures with different powers, and Leinore, Autumn Sovereign is a great addition to any deck that loves playing with a board full of creatures. At the beginning of combat on your turn, Leinore lets you put a +1/+1 counter on one of your creatures and rewards you with a card for controlling creatures with three or more different powers.

#13. Jodah, the Unifier

If you love playing legendary creatures, Jodah, the Unifier is an absolute powerhouse. For 5 mana, you get a 5/5 (functionally 6/6) creature that turns your legends into serious threats with a +X/+X pump based on the number of legendary creatures you control. The real fun comes from Jodah, the Unifier’s cascade-like ability: Whenever you cast a legendary spell from your hand, you get to exile cards until you hit another legendary spell with a lower mana value and cast it for free, snowballing into even more value.

#12. Kenrith, the Returned King

Kenrith, the Returned King is another 5-color commander with a different approach than Jodah, the Unifier. While similar in stats, Kenrith has five different activated abilities, each tied to a different color. It can pump creatures, give them trample and haste, gain life, draw cards, or even reanimate them, making it the ultimate toolbox commander.

#11. Saskia the Unyielding

It's often difficult to attack two players at the same time to put pressure on both. Saskia the Unyielding bypasses this thanks to its ability to choose a player when it enters the battlefield and deal damage to them whenever your creatures hit another player. The drawback is that you can also turn into the target of the whole table. The other way to use it is to focus on a single player, dealing double the damage if the plan is to quickly take out the bigger threat.

#10. Jirina Kudro

At 4 mana, Jirina Kudro gives you extra bodies based on the number of times you’ve cast your commander in this game. It's a human lord that makes humans, so it’s a deadly threat with the potential to go infinite with cards like Anointed Procession, Phyrexian Altar, and Ashnod's Altar if that's what you’re up to.

#9. Greymond, Avacyn's Stalwart

Originally printed as Rick, Steadfast Leader, Greymond, Avacyn's Stalwart is the ultimate human lord, granting a choice between first strike, vigilance, and lifelink. On top of that, if you control four or more humans, each of them gets an additional +2/+2 buff, which can quickly turn the tide of the game and often becomes a game-ending threat.

#8. Katilda, Dawnhart Prime

Katilda, Dawnhart Prime is a solid commander that not only gives your tokens the ability to add mana, but it also buffs them over time. You can exploit Katilda with untap effects like Puppet Strings to use its ability multiple times in a turn.

#7. Katilda and Lier

Katilda and Lier is a very strange mash-up that combines human typal synergies with spellslinging. Mass Appeal rewards you for playing a human deck, and you can play this Bant commander () as a Persistent Petitioners deck, using that relentless card to fill your graveyard with flashback cards.

#6. Aragorn, King of Gondor

As another monarch commander, Aragorn, King of Gondor excels at pushing damage through due to its ability to prevent select creatures from blocking. Or rather, all creatures, if you’re the monarch.

#5. Aragorn, the Uniter

Aragorn, the Uniter is another version of the iconic Lord of The Rings character that plays a bit differently. This 4-color commander gives value based on the colors your spells have: The more colors, the more effects you trigger, and Aragorn's EDH deck is direct in how it wins.

#4. Trynn, Champion of Freedom + Silvar, Devourer of the Free

When you partner it with Silvar, Devourer of the Free, Trynn, Champion of Freedom is a solid commander that can generate tokens each turn that you attack. You can use these tokens as fodder for its partner cat to help you push damage through.

#3. Caesar, Legion's Emperor

Caesar, Legion's Emperor is the ultimate token commander. You get multiple effects through Caesar, Legion's Emperor’s sac outlet ability, ranging from creating more creatures to dealing damage, or simply drawing an extra card.

#2. Kyler, Sigardian Emissary

Kyler, Sigardian Emissary ranks highly among human commanders due to its innate synergies with other humans. Kyler acts as a powerful lord that can pump your entire board based on the number of counters it has (which includes +1/+1 counters and other kinds of counters too).

#1. Éowyn, Shieldmaiden

Éowyn, Shieldmaiden is definitely up there as one of the best human commanders. It packs a punch with both power and token creation, giving you extra 2/2 tokens on turns where humans entered the battlefield under your control. If you control six or more humans, Éowyn lets you draw a card, so it’s an awesome engine for both flooding the board and gaining card advantage.

Best Human Commander Payoffs

Humans are one of the strongest and most supported creature types in Commander. Depending on the effects you’re after, there are plenty of payoffs that you can use in human-themed decks.

Cards like Dire Tactics and Mass Appeal reward you directly for controlling humans, while others like Banner of Kinship or Roaming Throne are must-have colorless cards for general typal support.

You can use some non-human creatures like Sigarda, Champion of Light as pseudo-lords, as well.

On top of that, newer cards like Silk, Web Weaver, and Cosmogrand Zenith give you easy ways to crank out free human tokens just by casting spells. That’s a big boost for any human-focused deck since it keeps your board full and your strategy humming.

Commanding Conclusion

Kyler, Sigardian Emissary | Illustration by Dmitry Burmak

I'm really happy with how diverse and powerful human commanders have become, offering a mix of abilities to brew with. What do you think? Do you have a favorite human commander, or are there any relevant ones I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments or over on the Draftsim Discord!

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Take care, and see you next time!