Mardu () doesn't wait for permission - it leads the charge. This color trio blends the aggression of Red, the discipline of White, and the ruthlessness of Black to create some of the most direct, hard-hitting decks in Commander. Mardu is where aggression and strategies that involve the combat zone thrives. If you like commanding legions, reviving fallen warriors, or doubling your battlefield triggers, then Mardu is the wedge for you. And if you can't wait? Well, Mardu wins through action, not patience.

Here are the five best Mardu commanders to bring power, pressure, and precision to your table.

5. Edgar Markov

Edgar is the undisputed king of Vampire creature type - and maybe one of the most recognizable commanders ever printed. His Eminence ability creates Vampire tokens even when he's still in the command zone, allowing him to flood the board before he ever attacks or hits the field. That constant stream of tokens turns small tribal synergies into overwhelming power in just a few turns. Thematically, this is Daddy Edgar sitting back on his sanguine throne run amok.

Still, Edgar's reputation is both his strength and his curse. The deck is powerful, but predictable - it does one thing, and it does it exceptionally well. He's a lightning rod at most tables, drawing hate even before turn one. But if you want to play a fast, snowballing tribal deck that turns every 2-drop into an army, Edgar remains a top-tier option in Mardu.

Key Cards:

• Captivating Vampire - steal opposing creatures once your army grows.
• Legion Lieutenant - anthem effect that keeps your board lethal.
• Cavern of Souls - be uncounterable.
• Vanquisher's Banner - pumps your team and keeps your hand full.
• Haunting Voyage - the ultimate Vampire resurrection spell.

4. Isshin, Two Heavens as One

Isshin, Two Heavens as One brings Mardu's aggression to another level by doubling your attack triggers. That means creatures, equipment, enchantments, and even planeswalkers that trigger on attack suddenly do it twice. He's the dream general for anyone who loves relentless combat steps and value through motion.

The trick to Isshin isn't just going wide - it's knowing how to build your triggers. You can stack token generators, drain effects, or exile-cast engines to create a snowball that accelerates faster than your opponents can react. He's explosive, flashy, and deceptively synergistic... a commander that rewards clever sequencing and relentless aggression in equal measure.

Key Cards:

• Myrel, Shield of Argive - makes tokens and protects your swing.
• Adeline, Resplendent Cathar - doubles your token creation.
• Professional Face-Breaker - turns your combat wins into card advantage.
• Drana, Liberator of Malakir - doubles up on teamwide pump triggers.
• Karlach, Fury of Avernus - gives you more combat steps.

3. Kaalia of the Vast

Kaalia of the Vast is one of Magic's most iconic commanders - a turn-four threat that cheats Angels, Demons, and Dragons directly into combat. Her ability to drop massive bombs without paying their mana costs made her a Commander legend, and even after a decade, she's still one of the fastest, most explosive generals in Mardu.

The risk is obvious: if Kaalia gets removed before attacking, your deck stalls. But with proper protection and a well-built top-end, Kaalia can overwhelm the board in a single swing. She's a perfect commander for players who love high variance, big plays, and turning mythic creatures sideways for immediate impact.

Key Cards:

• Avacyn, Angel of Hope - the go-to Kaalia drop for instant insurance.
• Rakdos the Defiler - brutal attack trigger that cripples opponents.
• Terror of the Peaks - burns the table with every new creature.
• Lightning Greaves / Swiftfoot Boots - mandatory protection gear.
• Sneak Attack -redundancy for cheating out big creatures.

2. Celes, Rune Knight

Celes, Rune Knight is one of the most combo-centric Mardu commanders ever printed despite only being released in the recent Magic: The Gathering - Final Fantasy set. Her discard-and-draw ability fills your graveyard fast, while her +1/+1 counter trigger rewards both recursion and casting from the yard. The result is a deck that plays like a cross between Mardu Reanimator and Aristocrats Combo - always threatening to go off with a single graveyard loop.

She's especially dangerous because she enables one-card combos with creatures like Squee, Goblin Nabob, Desecrated Tomb, or Emrakul's Evangel, allowing her to churn out infinite creatures or counters depending on the setup. Celes doesn't need to go wide because she goes infinite easily. She's the sharp edge of modern Mardu: efficient, elegant, and lethal.

Key Cards:

• Squee, Goblin Nabob - repeatable discard outlet for triggers.
• Desecrated Tomb - combos for infinite bats and damage.
• Underworld Breach - combo enabler and recursion loop.
• Buried Alive - sets up graveyard wins in one cast.
• Cathars' Crusade - scales absurdly with her recursion triggers.

1. Caesar, Legion's Emperor

Caesar is the modern face of Mardu - a token engine, draw outlet, and damage source all in one. Every attack lets you sacrifice a creature to choose between generating Soldier tokens, drawing cards, or burning opponents based on your board size. He doesn't just make armies; he commands them like a tactician.

What makes Caesar, Legion's Emperor so dangerous is his flexibility. You can play him as a go-wide token swarm, a sacrifice aristocrat deck, or a full-on combo finisher. He provides every piece you need to win: creatures, card draw, and direct damage. The deck practically builds itself, and yet it feels fresh every game - a rare balance of fun and competitiveness that makes him the perfect Mardu commander for 2025.

Key Cards:

• Anointed Procession - doubles your Soldier output.
• Skullclamp - converts Soldiers into card advantage.
• Mondrak, Glory Dominus - backup token doubler that doubles as a threat.
• Plumb the Forbidden - instant-speed draw engine off your army.
• Impact Tremors or Purphoros, God of the Forge - easy win conditions from token floods.

Mardu Conquers

Mardu commanders don't stall, they seize. They win through battle, discipline, and relentless pressure. Every legend here captures a different face of that conquest: Isshin's calculated ferocity, Kaalia's divine wrath, Celes's precision, Caesar's empire, and Edgar's eternal hunger.

Together, they prove that in Mardu, there's no room for hesitation. Only blood, loyalty, and victory.