Commander thrives on identity and especially with the flood of new legends released every year, the commanders that actually stick are the ones that make a specific playstyle feel like it's been infused with new blood. In 2025, we got generals that screamed how they wanted their decks to function and then paid players for committing to that plan.

This list focuses on one standout general for each major EDH archetype, sure there may be some archetypes missing (e.g. mill) but this should cover the list of things if you want to explore the latest and greatest from 2025. These are commanders that feel at home leading their strategy and are definite improvements to the archetype they undoubtedly helm.

And with that, let's see the cream of the crop.

Aristocrats

Sephiroth is aristocrats distilled to its essence: creatures are resources, deaths are progress, and opponents feel pressure even when nothing seems to be happening. This deck is not about explosive turns. It's about inevitability. Every sacrifice moves the game closer to a point where opponents simply can't recover. No wonder he was in my best of Magic: the Gathering - Final Fantasy article.

Key cards:

• Blood Artist - It ain't aristocrats without the OG.
• Morbid Opportunist - Lets you draw even more cards from each death.
• Midgar, City of Mako - A thematic fit and also a great utility land in the deck.

Spellslinger

Another pick from my Final Fantasy article earlier this year. Vivi Ornitier rewards sequencing and momentum like a great Spellslinging commander does. This is a deck that wants to cast multiple spells per turn, leverage the stack, and turn raw spell volume into advantage. The goal isn't one big spell. It's chaining actions until opponents fall behind the storm you've summoned.

Key cards:

• Longshot, Rebel Bowman - Discounts your spells and pings the table too.
• Redirect Lighting - An amazing redirection spell that can sit alongside Deflecting Swat.
• Thousand-Year Storm - A staple in Izzet spellslinger.

Ramp and Big Mana

This archetype exists to answer one question: what happens when you have more mana than everyone else? Hearthhull is a Jund Spacecraft that builds, stabilizes, and then converts mana into game-ending turns that opponents will have a hard time dealing with.

Key cards:

Reanimator

One of the biggest surprises this year was Muldrotha, the Gravetide being dethroned from the Sultai reanimator throne. But, this is understandable since Teval does more: he mills, reanimates (a land), and also rewards you with a token when a card leaves the graveyard. If you missed it, here's my article about Teval and the precon commanders from Tarkir: Dragonstorm.

Key cards:

• Entomb - Classic and efficient setup that puts exactly what you want where you want it.
• Avatar Destiny - Buffs, mills, and reanimates... this enchantment is pure value.

Aggressive or Combat-Oriented

Jin Sakai leads an aggression-first strategy that values tempo and pressure in Esper... which is not that common in this color combination. This deck wants to attack early, attack often, and force opponents to react. Combat isn't incidental here because it's the primary engine. Here's a deeper dive if you want more from the Ghost.

Key cards:

• Genji Glove - multiple combat steps are hard to get outside of red, so this artifact is your next best bet.
• Buster Sword - hey, Cloud Strife is great and all but Jin Sakai has double strike inherently.
• Secret Tunnel - unblockable on a land means you can select Jin's other ability instead.

Artifacts

This is an artifact deck built on synergy rather than speed. Mendicant Core rewards high artifact density, recursion, and layered engines that generate value over time. It's less about combo kills and more about board control through artifacts.

Key cards:

• Karn, Legacy Reforged - Obligatory Karn inclusion. No, but seriously, the mana that Karn gives is amazing for the deck.
• Simulacrum Synthesizer - Gives you an army by doing what your deck does naturally.
• Thopter Spy Network - a staple in artifact decks.

Blink

Blink decks want value immediately upon entering or leaving the battlefield. Aang rewards careful timing, repeatable ETB effects, and sequencing which is what blink ordered. This is a deck that accrues advantage through repetition rather than raw force. Here are other commander options from the Avatar set.

Key cards:

• Ephemerate - Cheap blink with long-term value thanks to rebound.
• Starfield Vocalist - Doubles up those ETB triggers like he's Yarok, the Desecrated's little human cousin.
• Teleportation Circle - Reliable end-step blink engine.

Tokens / Go-Wide

Zurgo leads a deck that wins by overwhelming the board. This archetype isn't subtle. It wants bodies, pressure, and the ability to turn a wide board into a lethal swing. Zurgo ensures that every token matters. If you're a Tarkir fan, the other precon commanders are definitely worth a look as well.

Key cards:

• Anointed Procession - Doubles output instantly.
• Phoenix Fleet Airship - Gives you more bodies for after you sacrifice.
• Voice of Victory - an amazing card that prevents interaction as you swing through.

Control

Y'shtola represents control well but without the hard locks. This deck slows the table, constrains options, and wins through inevitability rather than brute force. Every spell opponents cast feels taxed, delayed, or discouraged. If you want to see what other gems from Magic: the Gathering - Final Fantasy, here are my top 10 picks.

Key cards:

• Mai, Scornful Striker - bring the pain to everyone's faces.
• Avatar's Wrath - an amazing way to control the board and set people back on tempo.
• Bender's Waterskin - Lets you have at least 1 mana open every turn.

One Amazing Year

2025 gave us stellar commander options and it was no small feat narrowing down this list. Each one of these generals reinforce a distinct archetype and build on existing strategies. What you've read here are just some of the best commanders - there are others that deserve mention for sure and if you know of any, just drop them in the comments section.

Here's looking forward to 2026!