I've been trying to nail down what exactly Aggro means. Is it big, stupid creatures turning sideways, how much damage you can deal in a turn, or a legion of tokens? I had to figure this out to pin down the most aggressive Commander in Magic is.

After reading a handful of lovely articles by Abe Sergant, Kristen Gregoryand A.L. Walser, I've come to a conclusion.

Aggro is how quickly, through combat, you can end the game. Aggro Commanders are trying to end the game faster than everyone else with their creature damage. How, is just transport.

Honorable Mentions

This is not a cEDH article, so I've excluded any of the Commanders that are in Tier 1-3 of cEDH meta. That means I've neglected some very strong Aggro Commanders like Winota, Joiner of Forces and Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow.

I'm not saying these decks can't be built at Bracket 4, but they are so strong that they insisted on being at the top of the list.

I wanted a new class of Aggro Commanders for this list, so I've set these aside.

Top 10 Aggro Commanders

10. Ghalta, Primal Hunger

I wanted to start with a fairly niche deck, led by Ghalta, Primal Hunger. Primal Hunger is a deck that loves putting out low-cost, high-powered Creatures in Mono-Green. Stuff like Frenzied Baloth, Topiary Stomper, and Defiler of Vigor are perfect for this deck because of the damage and cost ratio.

Card draw surrounding power like Garruk's Uprising, Elemental Bond, Up the Beanstalk, and Greater Good are great for this deck. Ramping with Fanatic of Rhonas and Llanowar Tribe is essential. The 12/12 Trample on Ghalta and Commander tax being discounted by power is insane damage, though a bit slow.

9. Henzie "Toolbox" Torre

I didn't see a ton of Henzie on a lot of lists, but he can hit very suddenly and very hard. Getting a Seedguide Ash after casting Henzie "Toolbox" Torre could mean two creatures easily Blitzed next turn. Blitz refills your hand for more the turn after.

It feels a little shields down with constantly sacing (sacrificing) you creatures as end step, but with cards like Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Evolutionary Leap, and Birthing Pod you can turn the sacs into more creatures.

8. Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm

Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm is probably one of the most insane Commanders to come out until Voja. Dragons were already strong and this card makes them stronger. Giving this Dragon Spirit Ward makes it so hard to remove.

Slamming an Ancient Copper Dragon and getting a copy is so insane. All the treasures you'd need to cast Dragons snowballs so fast. Temur Ascendancy and Dragon Tempest giving them haste makes this so crazy. It's just Miirym has a high casting cost at six, which sets this deck back.

7. Giada, Font of Hope

Giada, Font of Hope is the Angel Commander, securely ranked 12 on EDHREC. Being a mana dork for Angel spells and making Angels even bigger and stronger the more you have, is stonks. Having protection with cards like Together Forever or Clever Concealment keeps your Angels resilient

It struggles with being a bit slow, like some of my other contenders. Choosing some lower cost Angels like Holy Cow or Bishop of Wings into bigger Angels like Avacyn, Angel of Hope or Serra's Emissary might help.

6. Voja, Jaws of the Conclave

Ward 3? Trample and Vigilance too? It doesn't matter that it's five total mana to cast. Voja, Jaws of the Conclave buffs its creatures and has card draw in the Command Zone. It's usually another Elf build with a handful of Changelings like Chomping Changeling for Wolf and Elf triggers.

This deck struggles to rebuild after a board wipe. A lot of the ramp is Creature based - Elf mana dorks like Elvish Mystic and Llanowar Elves. Voja also costs 7 mana after a board wipe which sets a player behind for a bit.

5. Zada, Hedron Grinder

Zada is such an interesting little deck. It makes cheap tokens with cards like Krenko's Command and Hordeling Outburst. It's running tons of cheap spells that make Creatures bigger, draw cards, or generate mana like Fists of Flame, Sudden Breakthrough, and Expedite. Zada, Hedron Grinder wants players to go wide and fast.

The only problem with this deck is card draw. It needs cards in hand that draw or you'll burn out quickly. Mana and Creatures aren't a problem in this color. Card advantage is the biggest struggle to sink a win.

4. Jodah, the Unifier

Jodah, the Unifier is the Legendary Matters Commander. It's all colors and basically rewards you with a lower-cost legendary spell whenever you cast a legendary spell.

It goes wide quickly. It also buffs all your legendary creatures by the amount you control. Imagine using Irma, Part-Time Mutant, doubling Jodah's effects.

I sincerely think the only thing this deck struggles with is slow mana management. Five colors is tough for double pips. Lands are better than they've been, but it has limits. Jodah is also 5 mana.

3. Bello, Bard of the Brambles

Bello, Bard of the Brambles is such a nutty card, like I've said before, may be one of the most diabolical Commanders. Bello is sneaky. What makes it so strong and insidious is that Creatures gain Haste and draw cards if they connect.

Cards like Berserkers' Onslaught and Gratuitous Violence make them deal so much damage and draw tons of cards.

This deck struggles with target removal of Bello and lack of blockers. Running cards like Tamiyo's Safekeeping and Fog are great ways to survive this. It only takes Bello one turn to kill the table. Bello ramps with Thran Dynamo and Rain of Riches to be lethal on turn five.

2. Isshin, Two Heavens as One

The true king of attack triggers is Isshin, Two Heavens as One - sorry Wulfgar. Attacking with Krenko, Tin Street Kingpin, Mardu Ascendancy, and Adeline, Resplendent Cathar could be something like five tokens attacking each of your opponents every attack. Imagine an additional combat with a Karlach, Fury of Avernus.

Being in Mardu, which is , makes ramp a little difficult. I'm not sure how to ramp outside of mana rocks like Talisman of Conviction. You can't do too much on a particular turn, but Isshin isn't too pricy, mana value wise, to play.

1. Arabella, Abandoned Doll

Arabella, Abandoned Doll becomes unstoppable with Delney, Streetwise Lookout. Arabella being unblockable and triggering an additional time combine for an insanely solid effect. Mixing Impact Tremors with Secure the Wastes along with an unblockable Arabella with double triggers could just be game ending.

It's so incredibly fast that it might happen before anyone can stop it. If someone can stop it, take out Arabella, then you just recast her. Unless you can give her Haste, you're out 4 mana and a turn. But then you're back to being the threat. Crazy. Unstoppable.

The Real Top 5

So, technically, this is a top 15 list. I decided to put these Commanders off on their own because these are tried and true Aggro Commanders. But, I will say, they're Boomer Commanders. They're dated. It's not interesting.

Anyway, I set them aside because while they are totally busted, they're nothing new.

5. The Ur-Dragon

The Ur-Dragon is the number one most built commander on EDHREC. It is considered the Dragon Commander. It discounts all your Dragon spells - which dragons desperately need because of their high casting cost - all from the Command Zone because of Eminence.

It is five colors so you can play any Dragon in the format you want. That's Ganax, Astral Hunter to make treasures when you cast Dragons. That's Goldspan Dragon to make your Treasures tap for one additional. That's Dragon Tempest with Ancient Gold Dragon for a wincon.

4. Kaalia of the Vast

Kaalia of the Vast is incredible. No question. Playing her with Arena of Glory to go to combat the turn you play her to slam a Master of Cruelties on turn four and maybe even eliminating a player is an ureal play.

Even if you just put Gisela, Blade of Goldnight or Aurelia, the Warleader into play, you're looking at 14 or 10 damage respectively on turn four. It's no joke.

3. Edgar Markov

Edgar Markov has Eminence, just like The Ur-Dragon, but this guy is the Vampire Commander. He's also the second-place Commander on EDHREC. Playing anthem effects like Captivating Vampire and Legion Lieutenant makes the 1/1s that Edgar makes more menacing.

There is a sub-theme of Aristocrats here because of how easy it is to make a Vampire. Vengeful Bloodwitch and Cruel Celebrant drain the table. Drawing cards with Champion of Dusk and making more 1/1s with Mavren Fein, Dusk Apostle is nothing to ignore.

2. Lathril, Blade of the Elves

It's called Elf-ball for a reason. It's like Katamari. One Elvish Mystic becomes a Marwyn, the Nurturer that becomes a Priest of Titania that becomes a Beast Whisperer. After that every Elf is card draw and more mana. That's all without Lathril, Blade of the Elves. She is the premier Elf Commander.

Throw in Lathril, Dwynen, Gilt-leaf Daen, and Elvish Archdruid and you could have 10 life points lost sooner than you think. With a Seedborn Muse, that's a win in one turn cycle.

1. Krenko, Mob Boss

Krenko is king if you're looking for a Goblin Commander. Krenko, Mob Boss is an interesting inclusion because he's capable of so much Aggro but he's also capable of pulling off a combo if he gets locked out of combat. He's versatile.

With Goblin Warchief, Goblin Chieftain, Impact Tremors, and Goblin Bombardment on field. Krenko can be very deadly with even five Goblins out. All the things that make Krenko scary are low cost like Marvin, Murderous Mimic or Sting, the Glinting Dagger.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed my little list. I enjoy providing a list of different perspectives, but without gaslighting about what is tried and true. I hope this was helpful. Let me know what you think about the most Aggro Commanders. I'm @Strixhavendropout on everything. Here is my linktree: https://linktr.ee/strixhavendropout.