Best Commander Cards Under $1: 30 Budget Staples You Need

Commander doesn't have to be expensive. Some of the format's best cards cost less than a pack of gum. Here are 30 budget staples that punch way above their price tag.

Ramp (Mana Acceleration)

• Sol Ring — The most played card in Commander. Often under $1 for non-foil printings.
• Arcane Signet — Produces any color your commander has. Auto-include in every deck.
• Mind Stone — Ramp early, draw a card late. Simple and effective.
• Commander's Sphere — Three mana for any color plus a draw when you don't need it.
• Fellwar Stone — Two-mana rock that usually taps for what you need.

Card Draw

6. Read the Bones — Scry 2, draw 2 for three mana. Better than it looks. 7. Sign in Blood — Two cards for two mana. Can also finish off an opponent at 2 life. 8. Night's Whisper — Same as Sign in Blood but can't target opponents. 9. Harmonize — Green's best straightforward draw spell. 10. Painful Truths — Three colors means three cards. Excellent in 3+ color decks.

Removal

11. Swords to Plowshares — One mana, exile a creature. The gold standard. 12. Go for the Throat — Two mana, destroy a non-artifact creature. 13. Chaos Warp — Red's best catch-all removal. Hits anything. 14. Beast Within — Green removal that hits any permanent. 15. Generous Gift — White Beast Within. Hits anything, gives them a 3/3.

Board Wipes

16. Blasphemous Act — Often costs just one red mana. 13 damage to everything. 17. Crux of Fate — Five mana, choose dragons or non-dragons. Usually just Wrath of God. 18. Farewell — Six mana but incredibly flexible. Choose what to exile.

Utility & Protection

19. Swiftfoot Boots — Hexproof and haste for your commander. Two to cast, one to equip. 20. Lightning Greaves — Free to equip, gives haste and shroud. Staple. 21. Command Tower — Taps for any color in your commander's identity. Every deck needs this. 22. Exotic Orchard — Usually taps for 3-4 colors at a multiplayer table. 23. Rogue's Passage — Makes any creature unblockable. Sneaks in commander damage.

Synergy & Value

24. Sakura-Tribe Elder — Ramp on a stick. Blocks, then sacrifices for a land. 25. Eternal Witness — Gets back any card from your graveyard. Three mana, 2/1 body. 26. Reclamation Sage — Naturalize on a creature. ETB destroys an artifact or enchantment. 27. Thrilling Discovery — Draw 3, discard 2 in Boros. Great for graveyard decks. 28. Counterspell — The original. Two blue mana, counter anything. 29. Negate — Counters non-creature spells for just two mana. 30. Return of the Wildspeaker — Draw cards equal to your biggest creature's power, or pump your team.

Most of these cards are available in our shop. Build a full deck of budget staples and you'll be competitive at any casual table.