20 Commander Storm Cards You Will Love

What is Storm?

Before we get into 20 commander storm cards you will love, let’s talk about what storm is. To do this we are going to answer four questions: (1) what is storm (2) what kind of players like playing storm decks,(3) what makes commander storm cards good, and (4) how does storm win.

Storm in the most simple terms is an archetype where you cast a lot of spells in one turn to win. This can be achieved with a variety of effects which will be talked about later, but let’s talk about what kinds of players like commander storm decks.

What Kind Of Players Like Playing Storm Decks?

In general, there are a few defining traits that make up a storm player in commander. These are:

• A love for value cards rather than big mana cards
• Like to win through complicated lines that are hard to keep track of
• Are not afraid to go all in.

If you notice that when you play games you love getting a ton of value off your cards and are not afraid to risk losing the game to win, then this is an mtg archetype you will love. So, let’s answer the final question, what makes commander storm cards good?

What makes commander storm cards good?

Storm cards in commander are great for generating additional value. In fact, that is what makes storm decks good in mtg. They generate so much value that it can be hard to stop once their board gets established. As such any card that generates good value for what it does will make for a good storm card. Especially if it has a low mana value. A good example of this is Krark/Sakashima whose two mana commander gets a bunch of copy effects making low-value cards with low mana costs become great. In fact, we will use krark/sakashima as an example of how storm decks in commander win. So let’s go over that now.

How Do Storm Decks Win?

So now that you know the general basis of what makes up a storm deck, let’s go over how to win. Commander storm players try to win usually by reaching what is dubbed “critical mass” in this situation, a storm player has enough cards on board to make up an “engine” that once starts is hard to stop. Because of this storm players have very little presence until their “engine” comes online. Once this happens they begin casting a series of spells to eventually draw, cast, or ramp enough to win the game.

This can be seen in krark/sakashima where a player’s goal is to get 2+ krark’s on the board. Every spell they cast has a 50% chance to come back to hand and still go off. Allowing them to solve the issue of drawing, ramping, and casting enough spells to win the game. Once they developed their “critical mass” they can then use any number of spells such as Grapeshot, Young Pyromancer, or Guttersnipe to win the game. Through this, they develop enough value that wins them the game. But now that you have a general run down of what storm is, and how it works, let’s talk about the cards that make storm decks good.

Storm Decks: Best in Class

These are the top 10 storm cards your decks will love. Ranked in order from great to broken.

10- Rite of flame

The biggest weakness to storm decks is running out of mana before you can get enough value to win. Rite of Flame, seething song, desperate ritual, and other cards are designed to help keep the mana flowing so your storm deck can… well… storm off. Making this a necessary card for any commander storm deck.

9- Bolas Citadel

To anyone familiar with storm decks, this may not be the most apparent, but works. As mentioned in rite of flame, storm decks struggle with mana generation and card draw. Because of this, storm players in commander will gladly pay life, sacrifice their board, and do all sorts of shenanigans to be able to win the turn they want to. Bolas citadel takes care of all those issues. While not in the usual storm colors (blue/red) this can be a powerhouse for any storm deck looking for a new commander storm card.

8- Harmonic prodigy

On its own, this is not great. While being able to eventually become a big enough beater that can kill a player, what you really want is that first effect. For one reason or another most creatures needed for storm in commander are either shamans or wizards. So doubling up on their abilities when casting spells make this a great include for just about any storm deck.

7- Mind’s desire

If you ever need a payoff for casting a bunch of spells, this is your go-to card. While costing 6 mana this instantly refills your storm turn by getting you easily 6+ cards you can cast for free. If you aren’t able to win immediately after that, there is a good chance you are set up to win the next turn.

6- Birgi

Show me a ruby medallion and I will show you a Birgi. While it does not reduce mana costs immediately as the medallions do, this card gives you fuel to keep your turn going well beyond the point of exhaustion. Your two mana rocks now are free, and your cantrips are now instantly reimbursed. With this card alone your decks get a huge boost to their mana cost. Plus, if you ever need more draw, her backside is draw as well making her incredibly versatile.

5- Archmage emeritus

Archmage emeritus is the draw engine storm needs. With this card, every spell you cast will cantrip allowing for the storm party to keep going the more storm cards you play. Not only can it be great refilling a hand for each cast, but grapeshot now becomes a solid way to refill your hand. This is a must for most storm decks looking to go to the mid-game.

4- Underworld breach

Underworld breach is the ultimate reanimator card. For 2 mana you can cast any spell you want in your graveyard, getting back your win-con pieces or getting your value engines to accelerate you back into the game. The amount of times someone wins off casting a value underworld breach is insane. Making this a great storm card for commander.

3- Storm-kiln artist

There have been several inclusions of ramp packages for storm decks, and that just goes to show just how important mana is for a storm deck. This is the second-best storm card for ramping and absolutely puts in work. With this card, you can now filter your mana into the colors you need, save your mana for explosive turns, or keep the engine going like Birgi does. Put this in your storm deck and you will never want to take it out.

2- Treasonous ogre

This card is Treasonously good. Puns aside this is the best ramp in the game for storm cards. For a simple cost of 3 life, you can gain red mana. You only need to play this card once to realize that the turn it comes down is the turn you win. While 3 life may seem like a lot, when you have 40 life, it becomes easy to use, and more importantly, easy to abuse.

1- Krark, The Thumbless

Now for the best storm card for commander storm decks; Krark. Upon its first announcement, people have constantly found ways to make this card good. Warping formats and making decks that were once weak into powerhouses people fear. With this card, you get your spell cast triggers, thus feeding all the cards previously mentioned. After that, you will either get it back to hand to allow you to recast it, or get a copy making your cards twice as effective. Combine this with duplicate effects from harmonic prodigy or sakashima, and coin flipping becomes one of the most powerful decks for commander.

Win cons

Now that we have discussed the 10 best storm cards for commander. Let’s go over some additional cards that are great for storm. More importantly, Storm win-cons.

1. Temporal fissure

Temporal fissure is a great win-con. Serving as removal in a pinch, this can remove pesky threats from the board in an emergency. Or force the opponents to concede by bouncing all their lands, threats, etc back to hand. I have played this many times and it serves as a really solid way to win.

2. Mizzix Mastery

Much like underworld breach, this card wins games. Overloading Mizzix Mastery usually creates such an intertwining stack that most players just lose from the value your deck is suddenly creating. This is a card that people love to put in their storm decks and you probably won’t be different.

3. Aetherflux reservoir

A lot of times, storm decks have great value, but little pay-offs. This on the other hand serves as a great payoff. Not only does it reward you for casting more spells per turn, but this serves as a great way to just win the game by burning 50 life to kill a player that refuses to die. Combine this with being able to hold a nuclear option for anyone who tries to mess with you, and you are in a good position.

4. Thousand-year storm

While aetherflux reservoir gives you the payoff you need. This card gives you the value you need to win. Copying cards in storm decks is great. The value per cast becomes much higher the more copies you get. So being able to get more copies the more your deck storms, is a great way to just win for a storm deck. There is nothing like looping an extra turn card 10 times to just win a game. A great win-con in most storm decks for commander.

5. Brainfreeze

This card is bonkers for several reasons. One this gets rid of top deck tutors, two this can debilitate enemies with a high enough storm count, and three this fuels your storm turns. Before Underworld breach was made, Grapeshot would take up the last spot as a win-con for storm. That said, Underworld breach + lotus petal + brain freeze gets you the storm count you need to just mill every player and win. The fact that none of these cards are dead in storm, and the combo can be achieved easily unlike grapeshot, submits this in the final slot for a great storm win con.

Budget Storm Cards

Finally, we have great budget cards for commander storm decks. I understand that while all the cards mentioned above are great, some are a bit pricey. As such, I figured I would help those who want to play storm but can’t afford all those cards. 

The only thing to note is that while these are cheaper, these are still very effective ways to end a game just a little bit different than those mentioned above. These usually try to develop a board of tokens that then proceed to go wide for the kill. Making these great options for the non-combo players.

1. Goblin electromancer

A great mana reducer for decks that have about 30-40 instant and sorcery cards in them. This card will help make sure all those 2+ CMC cards are now easier to cast and allow you to cast more cards on your storm turn.

2. Crackling Drake

A solid finisher when you are spent. If for one reason or another your storm turn fizzles out and you have not been able to kill the board. Play this card and get a powerful card that can avoid most blocks. 

3. Young pyromancer

The best token generator for Commander storm decks. Cheap to cast, and easy to swarm, this card makes a serious threat by developing a swarm of 1/1 that you can make bigger with proper instant and sorceries. Making this a great way to swing for the kill.

4. Guttersnipe

Burn hurts and guttersnipe can do the trick. Guttersnipe may be tempting to cast in the early game, but it should be held onto as once you play it, every board perceives you as a threat. Playing this means that anyone below 20 life is in easy kill range with the proper storm cards. Making this a terrifying goblin to your enemies.

5. Surge to victory

Finally, we have one of the best budget storm cards for your commander deck. Surge to Victory is a card that wins games. With this, your board state can easily swing for lethal while also getting a ton of value off being able to cast your most valuable spell multiple times with each hit. This is a card that does not see the most play in storm decks but is a great storm card that many players are sleeping on. Definitely recommend it as a great budget win-con for storm.

Conclusion: 20 Commander Storm Cards You Will Love

There you have it! 20 storm cards your commander decks will love. This should give you enough storm cards to work off to build a proper storm deck for EDH. Though if you are looking for ways to make sure your decks can do well, I strongly suggest getting my FREE Rule 20 book. This teaches you all the knowledge that professionals use to deck building as well as giving you exercises to improve your play patterns to make you a rival at any table and have the joy of letting your deck do what it wants every time. I cannot recommend it enough. I hope you have a great day and happy storming!