Tasha, the Witch QueenTasha, the Witch Queen | Art by Martina Fackova

With the Secrets of Strixhaven reveals, a brand-new Boros planeswalker card featuring loxodon mage Quintorius Kand has been unveiled with the notable text “Quintorius, History ChaserQuintorius, History Chaser can be your commander.”

While employing planeswalkers as commanders is commonplace for MTG Arena players (the Brawl format allows any planeswalker to be a commander), this is a far rarer ability in paper Commander. Remove any transforming planeswalkers, and you’re down to only 22 planeswalkers that can legally be your commander.

So with the latest one revealed, let’s rank them based on how good they are. Shall we?

21. Rowan KenrithRowan Kenrith and Will KenrithWill Kenrith

While technically two different cards, since these have the partner mechanic only for each other, they’re paired here as well. Ultimately, the massive mana investment (total of ) to cast both of these – even one time each – is simply not worth it, as their abilities are fairly underwhelming and each only comes in with four loyalty.

Hard pass.

20. Ob Nixilis of the Black OathOb Nixilis of the Black Oath

The first-ever black planeswalker that could be your commander was unveiled in Commander 2014, and it has since been outclassed by a number of different “sacrifice-matters” commanders, as well as more powerful printings of the character itself (most notably Ob Nixilis, Captive KingpinOb Nixilis, Captive Kingpin in Rakdos colors.

19. Sivitri, Dragon MasterSivitri, Dragon Master

While Dragon-related commanders are usually pretty hot commodities, this planeswalker’s Dimir () coloration means it misses out on some of the best Dragon payoffs.

While a pseudo-PropagandaPropaganda with life loss is a cool effect, this walker is better suited to the 99 of a The Ur-DragonThe Ur-Dragon deck rather than leading the charge as a commander.

18. Jared CarthalionJared Carthalion

As a card-carrying Kavu enjoyer, it’s nice to see a WUBRG () commander that plays in that typal space. While Jared’s ultimate is fairly underwhelming (why not five Treasure tokens, in keeping with the five-color theme?), his +1 and -3 abilities are nothing to scoff at.

Load up your deck with CromatCromat, ChromanticoreChromanticore, and ProgenitusProgenitus and have fun.

17. Nahiri, the LithomancerNahiri, the Lithomancer

Mono-white commanders can be tough to build around, even if they involve strategies that lend themselves to such color identities – such as Nahiri’s focus on Equipment.

Much like Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath, Nahiri’s age shows here, as power creep has made her a bit antiquated when compared to more modern Equipment commanders, like Captain America, First AvengerCaptain America, First Avenger, Ardenn, Intrepid ArchaeologistArdenn, Intrepid Archaeologist, or even a newer printing of Nahiri, Nahiri, Forged in FuryNahiri, Forged in Fury.

16. Jeska, Thrice RebornJeska, Thrice Reborn

This mono-red planeswalker from Commander Legends is an intriguing card. Not only does it have partner, giving it more flexibility, but it actually gets more powerful the more times you’ve cast your commander(s) from the command zone throughout the game.

Beyond that, this walker has a fun group politics element, as helping any creature deal triple damage to a foe can be a favor that gets repaid in full down the line.

15. Tasha, the Witch QueenTasha, the Witch Queen

A fun card to play with and an eminently annoying one to play against, this planeswalker is all about stealing stuff from your opponents, especially spells.

While cards like Siphon InsightSiphon Insight, Chaos WandChaos Wand, and Memory PlunderMemory Plunder pair beautifully with this Dimir () commander, the Arena-exclusive heist mechanic actually works best with Tasha. Or just employ this combo:

14. Estrid, the MaskedEstrid, the Masked

As a sucker for Auras ever since playing a very primitive Ancestral MaskAncestral Mask deck in one of his earliest Magic experiences, this writer couldn’t have Estrid too low on the list – despite not being a real dynamo on the battlefield.

While Estrid does enable some finicky combos (see below), the ultimate is still a strong payoff for self-mill strategies or for a Voltron setup in which all of your best Auras are gently resting in the graveyard, waiting to be returned.

13. Quintorius, History ChaserQuintorius, History Chaser

The newest (and heretofore unreleased) card on this list is the newest rendition of Quintorius. Because this version of Quint features the same triggered ability as Quintorius’s first printingfirst printing in Strixhaven: School of Mages, it features the same combos as that card, such as the one below.

However, this five-mana planeswalker also comes in with five loyalty, meaning it can use its powerful -4 ability right away, which makes him a potent finisher in dedicated Spirit decks.

12. Freyalise, Llanowar's FuryFreyalise, Llanowar's Fury

Mono-green commanders might not be the most popular around (Fynn, the FangbearerFynn, the Fangbearer is tops at #102 overall), but Freyalise certainly delivers the goods in a dedicated Elf shell.

While three starting loyalty is low for these days, producing a Llanowar ElvesLlanowar Elves every turn with her +1 ability and generating enough loyalty to -6 and draw a card for each green creature you control is a solid endgame strategy.

11. Commodore GuffCommodore Guff

A fun Jeskai Superfriends build-around, Commodore Guff (of Wild ResearchWild Research and Planeswalker's MirthPlaneswalker's Mirth fame) produces mana dorks to help you cast more planeswalkers and also keeps ticking up the loyalty of other planeswalkers you control during your end step.

Activating Guff’s -3 ability multiple times during a game is pretty common, especially if your board is packed with these powerful permanents.

10. Aminatou, the FateshifterAminatou, the Fateshifter

One of only two three-mana Esper () planeswalkers (the other being Dakkon, Shadow SlayerDakkon, Shadow Slayer), Aminatou is the only one that can be your commander. Though her ultimate is not game-breaking – in fact, it’s kind of weird – her first two modes are quite strong, especially in Blink shells.

9. Saheeli, the GiftedSaheeli, the Gifted

Nabbing a 1/1 Servo token for +1 is nifty, but it’s Saheeli’s other +1 that really shines. Giving any spell you control affinity for artifacts (that includes creatures, by the way) once per turn can snowball out of control swiftly.

Your foes will be so focused on stopping that affinity-imbued spell from resolving, they won’t notice you putting more artifacts into play… meaning this card’s -7 ultimate ability will likely win you the game on the spot if it resolves.

8. Dihada, Binder of WillsDihada, Binder of Wills

Cards that care about other legendary spells can be a bit gimmicky. Dihada from Dominaria United Commander surely is, but she also backs it up with strong stats (five loyalty for ), as well as an ultimate that grants you control of all nonland permanents until end of turn.

If you can’t win the game from there, buddy, I don’t know what to tell you.

7. Lord WindgraceLord Windgrace

While it does border on “durdling,” Lord Windgrace is a strong Landfall commander and the #5 overall commander in the Jund wedge. Chucking a land to draw two cards while ticking up the Lord’s loyalty by two is pretty sweet, as it can get to the nuke of its ultimate more quickly than you might realize.

Also, this card is home to sick artwork from Bram Sels.

6. Grist, the Hunger TideGrist, the Hunger Tide

A supremely weird card that is a 1/1 Insect creature except when it’s on the battlefield (meaning it bypasses the planeswalker-as-commander limitation), this Golgari () walker boasts arguably the most terrifying artwork in Magic history and wants you to be playing a deck full of Insects (like my garden shed) and be willing to chuck creatures into the graveyard with reckless abandon so you can blast your opponents with its -5 ability.

5. ElminsterElminster

Scrying is so commonplace these days in Magic, it’s surprising that there aren't more scry-focused commanders to choose from. As it stands, Elminster from Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate is an enjoyable Azorius () build-around that wants you to be playing weird cards like Netherese Puzzle-WardNetherese Puzzle-Ward, Diviner's PortentDiviner's Portent, and Graven LoreGraven Lore, all leading to a lethal MathemagicsMathemagics (once it’s been released, that is).

4. Minsc & Boo, Timeless HeroesMinsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes

Awesome characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 as well as a potent Gruul () commander, Minsc is a fun and flavorful aggressive planeswalker that more or less wants you to be producing a new Boo every few turns, then sacrificing it shortly thereafter for maximum gains.

If only there were enough room on the card for Boo to gain its true creature type: Miniature Giant Space Hamster.

3. Teferi, Temporal ArchmageTeferi, Temporal Archmage

While some of the “OG” planeswalker-commanders have been thoroughly outclassed (Nahiri, Ob Nixilis), others, like Teferi, Temporal Archmage and the next card herein, remain potent threats over 10 years after they debuted.

A mini-BrainstormBrainstorm for +1 and a mass-untapping for -1 means it's trivial for this card to go infinite – including with another card on this list (Aminatou):

2. Daretti, Scrap SavantDaretti, Scrap Savant

A Goblin WelderGoblin Welder every other turn that filters your hand with its +2 ability? Yes please! Simply -2 this Goblin planeswalker, chuck a Claws of GixClaws of Gix or Fountain of YouthFountain of Youth in your ‘yard, and return a Platinum AngelPlatinum Angel, MindslaverMindslaver, or Portal to PhyrexiaPortal to Phyrexia to the battlefield in order to completely swing a game in your favor.

1. Tevesh Szat, Doom of FoolsTevesh Szat, Doom of Fools

As a Timmy/Tammy player, huge, splashy effects are my jam. And what’s splashier than gaining control of all commanders – even those that are safely tucked away inside the command zone? A +1 ability that nets you two cards is pretty sick, and a +2 that protects itself with some disposable 0/1 Thrull bodies pairs perfectly with its +1.

Of course, that ultimate is absolutely the reason to play this card, and in the right build, you’ll get to 10 loyalty rather quickly… dooming many fools who dare stand against your might.

What Say You?

What do you think of this list? Do you agree or disagree with the order? Would you like to see more planeswalkers that can be your commander in the future, or is this mechanic diluting the game?

Either way, thanks for reading and stay tuned for more news and updates. Happy flopping!