I could start this article with the traditional click bait: "read on for the best Angels for YOUR Commander deck!" but you and I both know that's not true. First, this is my list, and it could differ from yours. Second, sometimes a deck that can run a thing doesn't need to or shouldn't, because it's contrary to the goals of the deck or doesn't match the plan. (Not every deck needs Sol Ring. I swear.) Third, Angels tend to be large fliers - that makes them generally good. Baneslayer Angel isn't on my list, but guess what? It's good! It will be good as a finisher in a deck that wants a big flying finisher.

So we're going to skip Angel Kindred - you don't need this list to determine you probably add Lyra Dawnbringer in your deck. Instead, we're going to look at Angels which are good on their own, and possibly give you a view into a card you might add to your next list!

Honorable Mention 1

You're probably playing Lands. This is a 3/3 Flier who spits out more fliers. They're great for blocking, sacrificing, and attacking, and they don't require any extra work. This card is solid in a lot of decks, whether or not they care about tokens.

Honorable Mention 2

Not every deck gains life, but those that do will likely enjoy the effect this card brings. It's kind of like Emeria Angel, except for lifegain instead of Land drops, and it spits out much more powerful tokens. If you happen to have six mana sitting around, you can always buff her up too, but really you just want to make as many tokens as possible before you get wrathed. Note Valkyrie Harbinger is similar, but is twice as expensive to cast.

Honorable Mention 3

I'm calling this the Angel Tax group - cards which punish your opponents in some way. Great for Pillow Fort decks or decks which just need to buy some time. It's amazing how quickly people will attack somewhere else when they have to pay to attack you, and shutting down activated abilities or making tough choices is a real problem for people. They'll spend resources to get rid of them.

Number 10

A bit of a hot take, but this card is very strong. Expensive, yes, but it blows up anything. Flicker it for value or just drop it and get rid of the worst thing on the field and have a 5/5 flier. A good deal any way you slice it.

Number 9

The design on this is BRUTAL for your opponents. No matter what, you'll get all the benefits you are capable of receiving assuming each of your Myriad tokens hit - if the player with the most is you, you won't get it, but you will if it's anyone else. Fairly priced and very strong, this is a solid resource engine in any deck it's in.

Number 8

Indestructible is really strong. Consider combining this with Emeria Angel to make a bunch of indestructible Birds! This is limited because it only hits other fliers, but you can cheat it out, get a really big Flying Creature with Lifelink, and protect your Flying guys. Solid.

Number 7

This card will not be good in a Creatureless deck. On the other hand, if you're running Creatures, you suddenly have a very powerful value engine. Lean into life gain for even more shenanigans; consider combining this with Sephara, Sky's Blade and Emeria Angel for absolute insanity.

Number 6

This is the kind of card that might get missed but shouldn't be slept on. That first ability is extremely strong and can absolutely hamstring a player for turn after turn. The ability to grab those abilities is fun too, and can be quite powerful, but really it's stopping others from turning on that's so good. Plus it's very fair, since you aren't taking anything they weren't intending to use against you!

Number 5

It really is this good. This can protect a blocker, save an attacker from a combat trick, reuse an Enters effect, power a combo, or just be a stunning surprise to a table. It's not too expensive, it flies, and will never be disappointing to see in your Hand. There are very few White decks which won't benefit from a Restoration Angel.

Number 4

Recursion is strong. Pro-Black is strong. This card is perfectly fine if all you do is use it as a five-mana reanimate spell, but there's a lot more you can do with it. Let it die and bring it back again in a loop? Flicker it to get back a whole team? Lots of options for a little Angel Spirit with a glowing oversized hat.

Number 3

We're entering into the "let's get aggressive" phase of this list, and you have to admit, Gisela is a big helper in that. We get a decent attacker - 5/5 First Strike - but it's the fact we get to double our damage output while halving anything we take that really makes it. Gisela will defeat a 9/9 in combat, and trade with a 10/10, with no additional help of any kind. That's super strong. Combine this with Angelic Skirmisher (which almost made the Honorable Mentions list) for extra fun.

Number 2

Aurelia is quite strong. We don't get quite the power of Gisela, but additional Attack steps are so abusable it more than makes up for it. She can attack right away, too, so set up the right board and you'll do a ton of damage the turn she arrives.

Number 1

Was there any question? Avacyn is absurd, tempered only by the fact she's 8 mana. But making everything you have Indestructible makes you very difficult to control; you can only have so many Farewells and Merciless Evictions at a table, and people even run out of Swords to Plowshares. If you cast her, you'll probably win the game - she's that strong.

And last of all, my personal favorite for a very selfish reason

It is rare Angel of Flight Alabaster will be particularly good. She's underpowered, and while the recursion isn't terrible it's really limited. But this is my favorite piece of artwork in all of Magic's history. I don't normally care about the art on my cards, but something about this card really hits me hard. I have a framed print of it I bought from the artist I like it so much.

I hope this helped you think about how you might incorporate some of these cards into your next brews!

Thanks for reading.