
Mana Value
9
Popularity
#113
of 3,381 commanders · via EDHREC
Legendary Creature — Elder Demon
Flying, lifelink
Ward—Sacrifice three nonland permanents.
If a card you didn't control would be put into an opponent's graveyard from anywhere, exile it instead.
During your turn, you may play cards exiled with Valgavoth. If you cast a spell this way, pay life equal to its mana value rather than pay its mana cost.
9/9
Control · Steady · Heavy interaction · Wins by combat
Lifegain decks are for players who want each point of life to become a resource, not just a larger cushion against attacks. This strategy wants to gain life in steady repeatable triggers, using lifegain commanders, Soul Warden effects, and payoff cards, to win through life drain, oversized creatures, or a charged Aetherflux Reservoir. Unlike Group Hug, it keeps the resources for itself, and unlike Aristocrats it is driven by life gained rather than death triggers. The best lifegain decks EDH players build feel patient early, then convert a safe life total into pressure.
Mill decks are for players who want to pressure a different resource: the cards left in each library. This strategy wants to put cards from libraries into graveyards, using repeatable mill commanders, doublers, and self-mill engines, to win by emptying opponents' decks or by converting stocked graveyards into value. Unlike Reanimator, Mill is not mainly trying to cheat one creature into play, and unlike Graveyard value it treats milling as the weapon or fuel source rather than the recursion engine itself. The best mill decks EDH players build respect the multiplayer math by multiplying output, protecting engines, or turning every milled card into another resource.
Reanimator decks are for players who want to turn the graveyard into a shortcut for creatures that should cost far more mana. This strategy wants to load its own graveyard with high-impact targets, using discard, self-mill, and Entomb-style tutors, to win by casting cheap reanimation spells that cheat creatures into play ahead of schedule. Unlike Graveyard value decks, Reanimator is less about recurring small resources every turn, and unlike Mill it is not trying to empty libraries as the primary weapon. The best reanimator commanders and graveyard commanders help discard threats, return them, or convert each reanimated creature into immediate pressure.
Control decks are for players who enjoy deciding which threats matter, spending answers carefully, and winning after the table has slowed down. This strategy wants to stabilize the game, using control commanders, counterspells, removal, sweepers, and card-draw engines, to win through a protected finisher, planeswalker, combo finish, or long-term card advantage. Unlike Stax, Control answers threats on the stack or battlefield instead of locking everyone out of resources. The best control decks EDH players build accept that multiplayer control cannot counter everything, so they lean on sweepers and engines that trade across several opponents.
| # | Commander | Identity | Strategy | Price | Price Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Mill | $1.08 | ▲ 80.0% | ||
| 02 | Extra Combats | $0.51 | ▲ 6.3% | ||
| 03 | Treasure | $42.33 | ▼ 0.5% | ||
| 04 | Aristocrats | $4.76 | ▲ 6.2% | ||
| 05 | Lands Matter | $12.84 | ▼ 0.7% | ||
| 06 | Group Hug | $5.63 | ▲ 110.1% | ||
| 07 | Equipment | $7.99 | ▲ 238.6% | ||
| 08 | +1/+1 Counters | $3.94 | ▼ 3.7% |