Bitterbloom BearerBitterbloom Bearer | Art by Chris Rahn

Welcome to Too-Specific Top 10, where if there isn’t a category to rank our pet card at the top of, we’ll just make one up! (Did you know that Krang, Master MindKrang, Master Mind is the only commander with affinity for artifacts that is himself an artifact?)

Well that about sums up 2025. What else you got? Oh, there's already 30 cards spoiled for 2026*, even though we've still got a month before New Years? And they've been "out" long enough that we have significant play numbers on them?

Who am I to stand in the way of more spoiler season?

*This article was written before the previews of Marvel Super Heroes on December 9th.

Top 10 Cards of 2026

Criteria: Cards spoiled as of 12/1/2025 (the writing of this article), but not released until 2026. As is tradition, all results are ordered by EDHREC score.

10. Raphael, the MuscleRaphael, the Muscle

(Partners 189 Decks; 440 Inclusions, 0.08% of 556K Decks)

Everyone's least favorite Ninja Turtle, Raphael, the MuscleRaphael, the Muscle lives up to that reputation by opening the bottom of our list. That said, he did make the list, even if that's only because he brings another Turtle with him.

Looking at Raphael's commander page, the two partners that make +1/+1 counters are the most popular with Raphael. If you want five colors and go-wide aggro that feels inevitable, then pairing Raphael up with Leonardo, the BalanceLeonardo, the Balance makes for a deck that's going to win almost immediately upon resolving Raphael (if you haven't been board wiped by then).

There's still something to be said for selecting Michelangelo, the HeartMichelangelo, the Heart, however, given how low to the ground he is and that he comes with trample. Either way, you've got a damage doubler in the command zone, and that can get ugly fast.

9. Ashling's CommandAshling's Command

(499 Inclusions, 0.16% of 316K Decks)

I love Commands, but this one doesn't strike me as particularly good. The most guaranteed thing on here is drawing two cards and making two Treasures, a category where Ashling's Command feels far behind cards like Inspired TinkeringInspired Tinkering and Big ScoreBig Score. There is something else that Ashling's Command is good at, though:

Elementals are the 34th ranked creature type for kindred decks, right behind Frogs, and ahead of Warriors. It's a bit surprising, then, that Ashling's Command is seeing significant play in Elemental decks that are looking to make copies of their Elementals and also get some slight upside with card draw, Treasures, or removal. That's a bit pricey at five mana, but it turns out that Elemental decks are usually also very good at creating insane amounts of mana, so...

8. Leonardo, the BalanceLeonardo, the Balance

(Partners 338 Decks; 225 Inclusions, 0.31% of 72.2K Decks)

When I heard that they were going to do Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a magic set, I don't know that I would have pegged any of them for being five-color, or even all of them together. Despite that, however, TMNT brings us both Leonardo, the BalanceLeonardo, the Balance and Heroes in a Half ShellHeroes in a Half Shell as new five-color commanders, with the former breaking the five-color partner scene wide open to the point that we can almost do a top ten on it.

Ask me how I know.

Top 10 Five-Color Partner Pairings

1. Cecily, Haunted MageCecily, Haunted Mage & Othelm, Sigardian OutcastOthelm, Sigardian Outcast: 2,145 Decks
2. The Fourteenth DoctorThe Fourteenth Doctor & Clara OswaldClara Oswald: 1,800
3. The Fourteenth DoctorThe Fourteenth Doctor & Vislor TurloughVislor Turlough: 215
4. Leonardo, the BalanceLeonardo, the Balance & Michelangelo, the HeartMichelangelo, the Heart: 126
5. Leonardo, the BalanceLeonardo, the Balance & Raphael, the MuscleRaphael, the Muscle: 106
6. Leonardo, the BalanceLeonardo, the Balance & Donatello, the BrainsDonatello, the Brains: 68
7. Leonardo, the BalanceLeonardo, the Balance & Splinter, the MentorSplinter, the Mentor: 42
8. ...

Prior to Leonardo, there were only three partner pairings that would allow you to play five colors. With Leonardo, that number is now more than doubled.

All that said, what does Leonardo actually bring to the table? Well, he cares about tokens and +1/+1 counters, and has a keyword soup activated ability that, between menace and trample, will absolutely end games.

In other words, if you can bring another Turtle to the party that will set up some pins, then Leonardo will be happy to knock them down.

7. Donatello, the BrainsDonatello, the Brains

(Partners 183 Decks; 412 Inclusions, 0.08% of 543K Decks)

Donatello, the BrainsDonatello, the Brains does a decent job of setting pins up, so long as someone else brings the pins. In a deck built around tokens, Donatello will shine in the same fashion that Peregrin TookPeregrin Took has for years now: doubling up tokens. This leads us directly to Peregrin Took's 101 combos on Commander Spellbook, but it turns out that Mutagen tokens are a lot less useful than Food.

Nuka-Cola Vending MachineNuka-Cola Vending Machine doesn't care about Mutagen, Academy ManufactorAcademy Manufactor doesn't care about Mutagen, Camellia, the SeedmiserCamellia, the Seedmiser doesn't care about Mutagen - really, nothing cares about Mutagen.

Artifacts and +1/+1 counters, though? There might be some things that care about that.

Summoning StationSummoning Station isn't quite a two-card combo, but it's close. You can tap it to make a Pincher token, and Donatello will make a Mutagen token. From there, you can pay each for 2/2 Pincers, or have a sac outlet for your Mutagen and just go infinite. Sounds annoying.

Probably better, however, is the more mundane interaction Donatello has with Urza, Lord High ArtificerUrza, Lord High Artificer and Jaheira, Friend of the ForestJaheira, Friend of the Forest. If Mutagen tokens tap for mana, who cares if they're a "bad" token?

Finally, the best interaction I was able to find with Donatello was Basking BroodscaleBasking Broodscale, which immediately gets you infinite enters, leaves, and dies triggers, not to mention an infinitely large Broodscale. Cracking a Mutagen to put a +1/+1 counter on Broodscale starts the whole thing off, making an Eldrazi Spawn that will then make a Mutagen that you can then sac the Spawn to crack the Mutagen to put a counter on Broodscale with.

Rinse, repeat, have something that cares about it. Boom.

6. Michelangelo, the HeartMichelangelo, the Heart

(Partners 241 Decks; 606 Inclusions, 0.12% of 492K Decks)

Michelangelo, the HeartMichelangelo, the Heart is the most popular pairing for the Turtles at large, and it's not hard to see why. A 2/1 trampler for two, he's efficiently costed, and his Raid (the Fridge) ability hits the ground running, able to be used immediately if you have a creature to attack with.

If you care about Food, most "make a Food a turn" cards cost three to five mana, whereas Michelangelo can do that and throw out a +1/+1 counter to boot for only two. Combine all that with him coming with a partner for extra colors? And people are excited about this Turtle, for good reason.

5. Eirdu, Carrier of DawnEirdu, Carrier of Dawn

(Helms 551 Decks, Rank #1,768; 496 Inclusions, 0.17% of 294K Decks)

When Eirdu, Carrier of DawnEirdu, Carrier of Dawn got spoiled, it lit the Magic internet on fire. Could this card be any more pushed? Five mana for a 5/5 flier with lifelink that makes your creature spells "free" would've been popular already, but there's a whole other side that's Cauldron of SoulsCauldron of Souls on a stick? Yes please!

4. Mutable ExplorerMutable Explorer

(1.08K Inclusions, 0.18% of 587K Decks)

At first, I struggled to see why Mutable ExplorerMutable Explorer was here. It's expensive for a mana dork; it's expensive for a changeling; it just didn't seem that exciting to me.

When you do put the whole package together, however, Mutable Explorer is basically Wood ElvesWood Elves mixed with Irregular CohortIrregular Cohort, cards that both see quite a bit of play. With the MutavaultMutavault token entering tapped, I do feel like they could have pushed things a little harder, but all in all, this is a fun card with a fun callback; it doesn't need to be the most pushed thing ever.

3. Super ShredderSuper Shredder

(Helms 251 Decks, Rank #2,246; 843 Inclusions, 0.15% of 548K Decks)

Besides, if you were looking for pushed, then you need go no further than the so-far chase mythic of the set for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Super ShredderSuper Shredder.

Naturally getting huge on any board, and with built-in evasion, Super ShredderSuper Shredder is going to be a threat from Limited to Standard to Commander. I think that he might be more of a good time in those other formats, however. So far in Commander, Shredder has been Grave PactGrave Pact.dec, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Still, in the 99 he should be a great boon to +1/+1 counter decks, blink decks, reanimator decks, and probably more. So it's not all bad?

2. Formidable SpeakerFormidable Speaker

(2.04K Inclusions, 0.36% of 567K Decks)

Another creature tutor on a creature wasn't enough, we also needed it to untap things? Even this card's downside in discarding a card is going to be an upside in a lot of black decks that are going to put a huge reanimator target in the graveyard.

Mostly though, where you're going to see Formidable Speaker is in decks that both want a creature tutor and an untap effect. In other words, high-powered green decks looking to untap Gaea's CradleGaea's Cradle and search for combos that make it go infinite with creatures like Cloud of FaeriesCloud of Faeries or Oboro BreezecallerOboro Breezecaller.

As for more fair usage, I'm sure we'll get quite a bit of that as well, but it will definitely be one of those contentious cards that will feel out of place in Bracket 2.

1. Bitterbloom BearerBitterbloom Bearer

(3.37K Inclusions, 0.51% of 659K Decks)

What is there to say about Bitterbloom BearerBitterbloom Bearer other than the obvious "It's BitterblossomBitterblossom, but on a stick"? How about "It's Bitterblossom on a stick, except at flash speed"?

I'm not sure why what's considered one of the best enchantments in the game needed an upgrade, but here we are. It wouldn't surprise me if we get to this point next year, and right there at the top of the list of 2026 cards (once we have them all), lies this little Faerie. ...Spouting more Faeries.

Honorable Mentions

We've got 20 more cards that are already out for next year!

Top Cards of 2026 (So Far)

11. Ashling, RekindledAshling, Rekindled
12. Heroes in a Half ShellHeroes in a Half Shell
13. Raphael, Tag Team ToughRaphael, Tag Team Tough
14. Splinter, the MentorSplinter, the Mentor
15. Michelangelo, On the SceneMichelangelo, On the Scene
16. Morningtide's LightMorningtide's Light
17. Sygg, Wanderwine WisdomSygg, Wanderwine Wisdom
18. EmptinessEmptiness
19. Krang, Master MindKrang, Master Mind
20. Bebop & RocksteadyBebop & Rocksteady
21. Raphael's TechniqueRaphael's Technique
22. Leonardo, Sewer SamuraiLeonardo, Sewer Samurai
23. Turtles ForeverTurtles Forever
24. Donatello, Rad ScientistDonatello, Rad Scientist
25. Leonardo, Worldly WarriorLeonardo, Worldly Warrior
26. Donnie & April, Adorkable DuoDonnie & April, Adorkable Duo
27. April O'Neil, HacktivistApril O'Neil, Hacktivist
28. DeceitDeceit
29. Casey Jones, Jury-Rig JusticiarCasey Jones, Jury-Rig Justiciar
30. Figure of FableFigure of Fable

Noting that all of these cards are likely to end up lower and lower on this list as more and more cards are printed in 2026 (you know, once we actually get there), there are some standouts that I expect to improve in their play numbers, if not their actual ranking.

The flip commanders seem fun and interesting, all at once. Ashling, RekindledAshling, Rekindled is an efficiently costed take on Izzet Spellslinger that'll gather some interest once it actually gets printed, for instance, while Sygg, Wanderwine WisdomSygg, Wanderwine Wisdom actually presents a fairly aggro version of Azorius draws cards, protects itself, and is unblockable.

TMNT also plays a role, with Splinter, the MentorSplinter, the Mentor being the last of the character select partners that we know about, with a rarely seen "leaves the battlefield" trigger. Additionally, Leonardo, Sewer SamuraiLeonardo, Sewer Samurai presents a uniquely similar-but-different take on Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerShirei, Shizo's Caretaker in white.

If I actually had to pick a card that I think will see the most play outside of our current top ten, however, it would be Morningtide's LightMorningtide's Light, without question. Don't get me wrong, it's in no way a second Teferi's ProtectionTeferi's Protection. What it is, however, is half board-wipe, half mass blink, and half Teferi's ProtectionTeferi's Protection. That's three halves, you'll note, all of which have significant reason to see play in a lot of different decks.

Nuts and Bolts

There always seems to be a bit of interest in how these lists are made (this seems like a good time to stress once again that they are based on EDHREC score, NOT my personal opinion…), and people are often surprised that I’m not using any special data or .json from EDHREC, but rather just muddling my way through with some Scryfall knowledge! For your enjoyment/research, here is this week’s Scryfall search.

What Do You Think?

And finally, what is your favorite card that's coming in 2026? Are you excited about the announced sets for next year, or a bit worn down by it all?

Let us know in the comments, and we'll see you at the FuTuRe table.