The Top 100 White Commander Cards of All Time

These are the strongest white cards in the entire Commander format, and we're counting them down from #100 all the way to #1!
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[@broderickwinters4887]

A friend of mine bought me a Smothering Tithe for my birthday recently, I finally got to see it go off last weekend 🙌 amazing card! Great video guys!

[@NitpickingNerds]

Thank you!!

[@kilian6464]

Smothering tithe is the first staple card i bought and the first staple i got 4 times. And i have to say i do not regret it.

[@NitpickingNerds]

@@kilian6464 it’s a crazy good card!

[@LoganB591]

I got a bundle equivalent (around 9) of Ravnica Allegiance packs a few months ago in June after my birthday because my parents gave me some money to spend and I opened a Smothering Tithe. I literally yelped a bit when I opened it and my mom thought something was wrong at first 😂

[@demilembias2527]

I get why you would want a card, but you don't need to have it to see it go off in a casual format, you can just use a proxy

[@DaFKNsnowman]

Hey guys, new subscribers here. I love yall's content! I've leveled up as a commander player because of them. Keep up the good work!💪👊

[@NitpickingNerds]

Glad to hear it 😊😊😊

[@thetogtube2]

Welcome to the club 🥳

[@maxloggins2930]

Fresh Meat

[@stryider564]

This is the first time on any channel, having been on KZbin since its release, I have ever Subscribed, Turned on all notifications, Liked, and Commented, and became a member on Patreon. All because of just this one video. There is so much information here and as a W/Naya/Boros player I can really appreciate the extra information with each card. Really, great job. Thanks a ton!

[@NitpickingNerds]

Wow thank you for the kind words that means a lot 🥲 😊😊😊

[@AbyssArray]

Almost an entire hour of listening to Beezy's sweet voice, one of the best videos on the channel - love this video, I completely forgot about Dismantling Wave, just looking at it makes me wonder why I didn't put it into my decks

[@NitpickingNerds]

It is secretly amazing

[@Tyzam]

It's going to be Mana Tithe 100 times.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Not even once lol 😂

[@halvsketchy9293]

@@NitpickingNerds honorable mention

[@stryider564]

​@@halvsketchy9293 But only if it's the the player rewards textless version illustrated by Donato Giancola.

[@BstFrmThEst]

Man I’m glad I found you guys. I swear you guys have really helped me improve my decks and you work really hard to produce super high quality DAILY content! Keep it up!!

[@NitpickingNerds]

We are glad you found us! 😊

[@llowery720]

Looking forward to the green one! You guys clearly put a lot of effort into this great job!

[@NitpickingNerds]

If we continue the series, we're going in WUBRG order, so hang in there :P

[@orgazmo686971]

Pretty sure if / when they do I'm gonna disagree with half their picks. I both look forward to them picking great green cards, and am dreading their wrongness.

[@thedanath]

@@orgazmo686971 From what I can tell from watching their videos, they are on the higher end of power for playing edh. So they tend to dismiss a lot of cards outright and call them "unplayable".

[@orgazmo686971]

@@thedanath It's not a power level issue, and it's not like they're CEDH. It's a matter of everyone having their own opinion, and mine is definitely correct, always and forever. They should do pretty well overall I hope. I doubt that they'd completely miss the mark.

[@bye1551]

I normally watch yt with adblocker on (or in my case a browser that automatically blocks ads) but for creators I really appreciate, and can't support directly, I watch it without it (and usually loop it while I'm asleep to get their watch time up to say sorry for not being able to directly contribute) As I said in the community post, thank you for making longer form content, and the amount of work that goes into these is insane (doing daily content of 20-40 minute videos can't be easy).... So I guess I should put my phone on charge so it's not dead in the morning and I can use it tomorrow ;P

[@NitpickingNerds]

Thanks for the support, really appreciate all you do including just commenting! Any nonzero amount of support is much appreciated, you don't need to spend money to be awesome :D

[@Austin555661]

Luminous broodmoth also goes infinite with a mikheas the unhallowed Doesn't have flying but a +1/+1? Well it comes back with flying and without the +1+1 and vice versa With a sacrifice outlet, this can lead to some ultra busted plays

[@bububu__]

you can tell lots of time and effort have been put into this video, hope to see more of these series!

[@NitpickingNerds]

Oh they are coming!

[@yumyumeatemup]

Always LOVE these long form videos where you guys do a deep dive on a mass amount of cards and pick out the best. Please continue and I can't wait to see what you have in store for the top 100 cards in the other colors!

[@NitpickingNerds]

We are currently working on blue 😊

[@FloydMcRyan7]

Awesome list, guys! Although I gotta admit, I think Akroma's Will and maybe Approach of the Second Sun should have cracked the list. Especially Will, as it is the best Overrun effect of all time imho and doubles as a protection spell.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Will was just sitting in the outside of this list

[@kaszael]

That's a pretty solid list. I'd have put Reconnaissance much higher on my list. It's useful in so many instances. At it's worst, it's a 1 mana gives virtual vigilance to your *NON-SHROUD* creatures. It also helps commanders that need their attack triggers to not suicide themselves or other creatures into blockers. Taigam or Zur, Kaalia, Linden, Narset and even Winota could use it. However, since damage doesn't use the stack, if your creature deals combat damage, unless it's first strike damage, it will also be dealt damage if blocked and you won't be able to respond to the damage before it dies, as you seemed to say in the video. Also a big fan of Sevinne's Reclamation.

[@JCTheaterYGO]

13:50 ayyyyyyy 1997 gang 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (Also, great video guys-super polished and very concise yet packed with good info!)

[@NitpickingNerds]

24 year-olds RULE! Thanks :D

[@plain6677]

When I compare you guys to the MTG Goldfish Commander people - and I have respect for all of them - it’s crazy how better you are at analyzing the cards. They are wayyyy off and mostly wrong in everything. You guys make more sense for the common folks who don’t have thousands of dollars to put in mtg. Honestly you guys are awesome and very useful for the community. Thank you so much, I really appreciate

[@NitpickingNerds]

Thanks so saying so, we really appreciate your kind words :D

[@DylanDarkWorld2]

Super super excited for this entire SERIES! 🔥❤️

[@NitpickingNerds]

Get hype cuz we are already working on blue

[@collinthomson7942]

@@NitpickingNerds yesss! I love when y’all release any long video because y’all are my favorite youtubers to listen to as I do anything

[@NitpickingNerds]

@@collinthomson7942 we got you!

[@crashking9930]

@@NitpickingNerds will this series be extended into multi-color cards?

[@Dreisgen]

@@NitpickingNerds Oh, interesting, unfortunately, Timetwister won't be #1 (as CEDH isn't valued), right :)

[@CmdrUD87]

The more I see this, the more I want to build UW hate bears... that deck's got sooo many tools now

[@jcstaff1007]

Im sad Council’s Judgement isn’t here. Probably the most fun and effective removal spell against any permanent. You CHOOSE what permanent to exile, put a “VOTE” counter and you most likely will be in agreement with the rest of your play group on what to exile as the current biggest threat on the field. Gets past hexproof and shroud, hits any permanent and it never exiles ANYTHING YOU OWN. Great fun and effective spot removal for any emergencies you may have. Deserved at least an honorable mention. :(

[@jasonupton2765]

Thank you so much for making this content. 100 card list really gives me lots of ideas, for all of the decks i have containing white. Angels, blink, counters, vampires. Take your time... but please give us the other colors, artifacts and multicolors!!!

[@NitpickingNerds]

You will see it all 😊

[@jesse8654]

That must have taken so much work! Very impressive and each card summary was quick and fast paced. Very much enjoyed!

[@Luke_Powers]

Really nice job with this one, the amount of work and passion put into it is evident. I love path to exile though, I know you guys weren’t too high on it in your top card from each set video. I’m wondering if you changed your minds or if I misinterpreted your opinions. Also, totally agree with Vanquish the Horde, that card is Powerful.

[@NitpickingNerds]

We just don’t feel the need to ever play path though we acknowledge it is strong

[@starmanda88]

Mitch from commanders quarters is going to put a hex on you for including reconnaissance

[@NitpickingNerds]

We are already feeling the effects of his curse

[@chaeritea]

I just want to say how much I appreciated your commentary on hour of revelation :)

[@NitpickingNerds]

That was super fun :P

[@atxplex]

Ballin outta control as always brothers! Keep up the baller content. Can’t wait for the full baller cycle with every color.

[@NitpickingNerds]

How baller of you to say

[@poofypeanut0221]

Love the long work videos! I’m sure this took you guys a while. I would love to see in the future having one of this where it features you and Joe like other videos and talk about each one briefly. This would obviously take way way longer, but I’d be cool if it was a top 50 in exchange for some convo in between. Just a small thought, and I love it either way! Good work guys.

[@NitpickingNerds]

These videos are intended to be less opinion based and more information

[@monomanamaniac]

I'm excited for this video, white is by far my favorite color

[@spanky2078]

be careful where you say that xD

[@monomanamaniac]

@@spanky2078 being native American I think I could get away with it lol.

[@damienkai651]

I'm sorry for you

[@monomanamaniac]

@@damienkai651 I don't see why, white is a great color abd has a lot going for it

[@mattpotts995]

Awesome list, added some ideas for my W+ decks. Great work guys!

[@aevenova9780]

Celestial Dawn is one of my favs. It rly cool art, and oneof the most powerful effects in the game. Power, as in it hass a massive effect. First time mana symbols were ever messed with too. Its pretty awesome.

[@Buchaus]

With 17 spots in this list, 2020 definitely was the year of commander for white, with 2019 being not too far behind. Great list!

[@NitpickingNerds]

Zendikar Rising carried hard for white!

[@mth4456]

LMAO the -3 years old hit me right in the "I now feel old" because I was alive for the release of all of these cards :/

[@williamcecil4265]

I wonder if these cards would work together well? We'll have to see.

[@NitpickingNerds]

only 36 hours

[@krypto32123]

I think Elesh Norn just works. Period.

[@pitpiccione1191]

@@NitpickingNerds now 2

[@abiggs4828]

I have a Mothra deck and it's so good to see her make the top 25, AND to get more great ideas on what mono-white powerhouses to add =) Thanks guys =)

[@demolisherman1763]

In shuffle scuffle will you play mono colored decks with the top cards of each color in these videos?

[@NitpickingNerds]

Oooo maybe!

[@chuckturdburger4612]

I think this is your best video yet, looking forward to the rest in the series!

[@NitpickingNerds]

Us too, thank you!

[@chuckturdburger4612]

@@NitpickingNerds ok, I've been patient, where is the top 100 Blue Cards video?

[@jasonst.george5799]

Good list. My top three would be in a different order however you guys justified every spot with solid reasons so I can't argue there

[@NitpickingNerds]

You can argue 😊 we are not an authority 😊 we live open discussion

[@starmanda88]

This was great. Cannot wait to see the rest of the colors!!!

[@NitpickingNerds]

Us too!

[@SimpleVisionVideos]

Thank you for making this video, I'm really starting to love playing white and I now have a lengthy wishlist

[@DstileSK8]

Oh thank you! You guys are awesome, some of those I have never even heard of, going to add them to my decks for sure, keep up the good work.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Super glad this helped you out!

[@akc12]

I'm shocked Akroma's Will didn't make it in. Slightly overcosted board protection at worst, and one of White's best win cons with a large board making your creatures almost nearly unblockable at its best. It's gone into nearly all of my decks that has a white pip since its release.

[@NitpickingNerds]

It is pretty solid!

[@DHGcrimson]

ive won with that card so many times the double strike and protection from colors is brutal

[@zerceassking1662]

Love the vid, have u thought about adding the prices when taking about the card

[@NitpickingNerds]

I really like that suggestion

[@RazgrizAce67]

Great video guys. Cataclysm is going into my Rafiq deck now because of it.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Evil!

[@erickcolon1670]

I remember having that discussion for the top 3 with you guys! I couldn't agree more!

[@NitpickingNerds]

It was super close

[@jordankirby7632]

With Catastrophe you should of mentioned how it works as I think it's a lot of the power of the card. When you cast catastrophe your opponents don't know what you are choosing when they have priority as it's not a choose card. So once you "choose" the effect happens and your opponents cannot respond anymore. This can lead to them responding in the wrong way. This doesn't always matter but it definitely comes up when we played the card all the time back in the day.

[@LPchief]

Number 35 wordplay level maximum 🔥

[@trehenry413]

I know! That was a nice, creative touch!

[@NitpickingNerds]

Thanks, I enjoyed scripting that one!

[@fatboySRK]

This is great content! I am reminded every week why I support you guys! Keep it up! A+.

[@doombot2405]

Great job guys!! Funny, informative and edited perfectly!

[@pauldyson8098]

#35 was poetic fucking excellence.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Thank you, I liked throwing in that random easter egg for those listening closely 😂

[@derHexenhammer]

Does Mystic Decree stop flying counters from giving flying? I'm not sure the interaction there.

[@rteishe]

Hard to disagree with any of this. Great list

[@NitpickingNerds]

We thought it came out great!

[@kristennorth3268]

Yay! You started with my favorite color. Very curious to see how many I still need to buy.

[@NitpickingNerds]

How many is it?

[@cc8879]

Reconnaissance still allows you do deal damage in rules lawyering

[@MTG69]

Mitch should of never made that video. Some knowledge should be kept from the public.

[@NitpickingNerds]

It isn’t rules lawyering. It is just how the game works. There is nothing wrong with playing by the rules of the game.

[@cc8879]

@@NitpickingNerds I never said there was, that was just the term I heard describing explaining the rules of the text. I apologize for the misunderstanding of the word and hope this will allow us both to be more delicate in delivery and correction.

[@JaimeAGB-pt4xl]

Respect the time investment and research... Thank you for the Amazing video guys 👍

[@NitpickingNerds]

Happy to make it, thanks for watching!

[@FaLLeNxSkyHigH]

I just played someone who dropped a hushbringer the other day and I was playing Meren. I don’t run a lot of spot removal because it’s an everyone sacrifices a creature. Sadly, I was locked out for half the game.

[@NitpickingNerds]

It hoses some decks so hard. Card is very strong

[@henrymarshall8825]

Im fairly certain thats not how the notification bot is supposed to work lol

[@NitpickingNerds]

Yeah the bot messed this one up lol

[@Munchie3777]

@@NitpickingNerds was wondering what happened

[@ethantroxel1036]

Anyone else forget that karmic guide has echo? Usually doesn’t need to make it back to your upkeep

[@NitpickingNerds]

That's true!

[@McButterflyone]

I love you guys too! Big thanks for all of your Videos! I normally do hate the "What about ... card"-comments! But did I miss Restoration Angel? Or is there a reason why Felidar Guardian made the list instead?

[@MintyMagicMTG]

Teferi's Protection is no doubt a great card, but play a Sands of Time (or anything that skips untap step, such as Yosei) after they cast TP and their stuff never phases in. Also It makes me happy to see Tragi Arrogance so high on the list. My problem with Humility is it shuts off your commander too. So if you need your commander to win then this card is bad. I totally agree with top 4 though.

[@jimmyb2655]

I love my mono white heliod deck...nobody else does...but i sure do. Most underrated mono color, heliod pushes it to the lifegain max. I ultimate Ajani pretty much every time i get him out and get a ton of value out of him.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Ajani is amazing!

[@johngagon]

Thank you. I like this kind of list. I also recently saved the top 100 commanders ranks you did. It's nice to have the different perspective apart from the diluted standard list. Although, now sad I missed out on Moat. :P At least I got an Island Sanctuary (will that ever reprint?). Now you could do one for worst 100, Fasting, Alabaster Leech (antistax), Farmland or the fave background Abbey Matron. I wonder how I got stuck with a lot of the old worst cards since revised.

[@NitpickingNerds]

We are glad you enjoy the content! Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@eveljkov]

whew that was a lot! Robe of Stars is even better, not only does it protect your creature, it protects all the equipment and/or auras on that creature.

[@Salvazar1000]

Explain the "12 point life swing on turn 2" for me please? Does it's ability give it +6/+6 again to itself kn the subsequent turn or am I just misunderstanding how you worded it? Sorry, I'm just confused as I thought it would only be a 6/6 on turn 2 so long as you still had over 30 life.

[@Salvazar1000]

This was a question for the #14 spot, Serra Ascendant. Apologies in advance if my question sounded rude or was worded as such.

[@NitpickingNerds]

When you deal 6 and gain 6, there's a total of 12 life difference, so we say it was a 12 point life swing

[@Salvazar1000]

Thank you for clarification. Love the channel, you guys are great. :)

[@zerowolf0006]

White is my favorite color in Mtg really liking this list

[@NitpickingNerds]

So glad to hear that!

[@thechefhans739]

Been waiting for this series- nice job duuuudes

[@NitpickingNerds]

I think it came out awesome!

[@n.m5253]

I hope this series gets continued one day.

[@epicness877]

The only thing missing from this video is more of joe cherries also beautiful, though maybe not as fast, voice

[@Cantthinkofname-rp3iw]

Comment for the algorithm, really hyped for this series

[@NitpickingNerds]

Thanks 😊

[@BriceBeNic3]

Hello, I'm new to magic and I really like Abzan and this really helped me with the white cards. I hope you do every color and maybe in the order of the color's I love playing.

[@thetogtube2]

Well done fellas! I would love to see a GE Oketra deck tech to follow this episode up.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Never! Lol

[@thetogtube2]

@@NitpickingNerds hahahha

[@TheRedGauntlet]

hmmm expected Esper's sentinel and Hour of Revelation to be higher hmmm

[@NitpickingNerds]

Esper boy was pretty high

[@jessem2929]

Very comprehensive list you guys did an excellent job with this one unfortunately I've got to put swords to plowshares at number 1

[@NitpickingNerds]

Too 3 ain’t bad

[@the_zombie_ritual897]

This was great guys, please can you do the other colours? :)

[@samuelphillips8776]

is there a top 100 for the other colours on the horizon?

[@brendans1983]

Felidar retreat got some love, bloody great card 👍

[@NitpickingNerds]

We love that card

[@chrishiggins2651]

I personally would’ve put Tithe at 2 and Teferi’s Protection at 1, but great list guys!

[@NitpickingNerds]

Nothing wrong with disagreeing

[@jameskelly2559]

Absolutely brilliant this. It is hard to follow though...why not make a slightly longer video and slow down the commentary a little?

[@Telomerase9]

I'm surprised that Ghostly Prison isn't on this list

[@NitpickingNerds]

Yeah we don't like it 😂

[@thepopeofchilitown9143]

I guessed the top 3 right (in the wrong order) Entertaining video, goes to show that there's some really crazy stuff in "the worst commander color" Thanks for the post, cheers.

[@NitpickingNerds]

White is the second worst color but don’t tell red

[@MrCelloRocker]

As a data scientist, I'd love to know if there's a spreadsheet that exists that has your rating criterion numerically expressed. I'd love to see a "castability" optimized deck and it's make up vs something like a "most impactful" on the game list.

[@NitpickingNerds]

We do not have that information. We won’t with more of what we thought. Those were just all the things we considered

[@MrCelloRocker]

@@NitpickingNerds ahh! Ok. I figured that was going to be an unbelievable labor of love if it did exist. Even so, I absolutely love your guys's thoughts and opinions on the commander rankings, and really enjoyed this one!

[@NitpickingNerds]

@@MrCelloRocker i think even if we did quantify it all. Knowing what numbers or star to consider is harder

[@MrCelloRocker]

@@NitpickingNerds Oh, no question. You'd have to arbitrarily assign a scale and then consider each stat in a vacuum. Like avacyn, castability is dependant on mana base and impact is only defined by what's printed on the card. If paired with ravages of war, She is hugely impactful, otherwise in a combo deck might just be an evasive, indestructible beat-stick. Depending on what someone would consider, the quantified number would be super subject only to the experience of the person producing it. Naturally I feel you guys both have really interesting and considerate experience so anything that would have been produced would have had this disclaimer. As defined by the nitpicking nerds, here's 3 cards that have the highest impact to mana value, to castability in general in a vacuum. Presented not as a rule, but mearly for consideration.

[@matthewloughnane7153]

I love you guys. PS when are you doing the top 100 green cards??

[@futurfry]

Lunarch veteran is the best 1 drop soul warden right?

[@NitpickingNerds]

It only works for your creatures so it is a worse

[@toppo8091]

Can you guys do this with every color?

[@narutokillimagaro5489]

When are you doing green?

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

Moat is also good if your creatures have flying such as spirits

[@mmartak]

Didn't make the cut: Tithe, Endless Horizons, Finale of Glory --> hey I like these Very glad to see: Esper Sentinel, Smothering Tithe Very glad to not see: Monologue Tax Would have skipped all the MLD cards and put win conditions like Approach of the Second Sun, Felidar Sovereign, but that's a personal preference

[@jajahatman8842]

Yeah I was wondering where Approach of the Second Sun was

[@NitpickingNerds]

Sun was just outside the list for us personally. We don’t like MLD but we can’t deny it’s power.

[@Igor369]

Was the pseudo vigilance part of Reconnaisance instended by its devs?

[@NitpickingNerds]

It’s impossible to say but either way we play with what we get :D

[@davea99]

Awesome vid!!! Love your guys content, helps me so much with my cube.

[@andrewrockwell1282]

I appreciate the info. But I am saddened that so many of the best cards say "your opponents can't play the game".

[@NitpickingNerds]

White has a lot of mean cards sadly

[@jedmorada4772]

Great list! I agree with the top 3 🙂

[@Teebs1996]

White is my favorite color, and I love your vids. This'll be fun!

[@NitpickingNerds]

Hope you enjoyed!

[@RealClassixX]

Just in time for me to build my Adeline deck.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Perfect!

[@TheBobtheratkiller]

Love this video, looking forward to the sequels :)

[@djbisson9819]

Dang bz got bars well done on the hour of revelation explanation!

[@NitpickingNerds]

Thank you, thank you 😂 little Easter egg for anyone paying attention there

[@Nr4747]

Great list, but I personally would have swapped #1 and #2 (no spoilers). Your #1 is obviously an incredible card, but so is your #2 - and I've honestly seen many more games being won straight after your #2 "did its thing" than your #1.

[@NitpickingNerds]

Fair take! Those final choices are so close and i feel like it could go either way!

[@septred3]

Knight of the White Orchid was reprinted in the set Magic Origins too.

[@nickhughes8179]

You forgot to mention Ranger of Eos tutors up Shadowborn Apostles.

[@sebastiangomezbotero7765]

Omfg I just made an elesh norn last week this is gonna be fire

[@NitpickingNerds]

She is definitely on the list

[@magnarkorsmo1894]

Karmic guide has one of the best power to dollar cost ratios in the game

[@caetanoba1]

Ephemerate isn't from zendikar?

[@pickle-shoemarvin7574]

Where would farewell fit?

[@FelipeLundgreen]

As a monowhite player, this is my favorite Magic video of all time. ❤️

[@NitpickingNerds]

So glad to hear that! :D