Top 10 Commander Staples Under $5: Budget Cards Every Deck Needs
2025-10-05
Top 10 Commander Staples Under $5: Budget Cards Every Deck Needs
Building Commander decks on a budget doesn't mean sacrificing power. Some of the format's best cards cost less than your morning coffee. Here are 10 essential Commander staples under $5 that belong in almost every deck.
Prices accurate as of October 2025 via our nightly TCGplayer cache.
1. Sol Ring (~$1.50)
The most iconic Commander card ever printed. Generates {C}{C} for just {1}.
Why it's essential:
- Accelerates your game plan by 1-2 turns
- Fits in literally every deck (colorless)
- Turn 1 Sol Ring often wins games
- Multiple printings keep it affordable
Works best in: Every single Commander deck. No exceptions.
Fun fact: Sol Ring appears in 85%+ of all Commander decks on EDHREC.
2. Arcane Signet (~$0.50)
The perfect two-mana rock. Taps for any color in your commander's color identity.
Why it's essential:
- Fixes mana in 2+ color decks
- Ramps you ahead of curve
- Incredibly consistent
- Reprinted heavily = cheap
Works best in: Multicolor commanders (which is most of them).
Budget tip: Buy the plain Commander deck version for $0.25-0.50.
3. Lightning Greaves (~$2.50)
Search for Lightning Greaves →
Protects your commander and gives haste for just {2}.
Why it's essential:
- Shroud protects from removal
- Haste enables immediate value
- Free to equip (0 cost!)
- Saves commander tax
Works best in: Commander-focused decks, creature strategies, voltron builds.
Pro tip: Equip to your commander immediately when it enters to avoid removal.
4. Swiftfoot Boots (~$1.00)
Lightning Greaves' little sibling. Hexproof + haste for {2}.
Why it's essential:
- Hexproof (better than shroud in some cases)
- {1} to equip (can move around easier)
- Protects key creatures
- Budget-friendly
Works best in: Same as Greaves. Run both for redundancy!
Hexproof vs Shroud: Hexproof lets you target your own creature with buffs.
5. Swords to Plowshares (~$1.50)
Search for Swords to Plowshares →
The best one-mana removal spell in Commander. Exile any creature for {W}.
Why it's essential:
- Answers literally any creature
- Instant speed
- One mana = efficient
- Life gain doesn't matter in multiplayer
Works best in: Every white deck needs this. Period.
Budget alternative: Path to Exile (~$2) does similar work.
6. Beast Within (~$0.50)
Green's answer to everything. Destroy any permanent for {2}{G}.
Why it's essential:
- Hits creatures, enchantments, artifacts, planeswalkers, lands
- Instant speed
- Green's best catch-all removal
- 3/3 token is negligible in Commander
Works best in: Every green deck. Mono-green especially needs this.
Fun combo: Use on your own permanent pre-combat for a surprise blocker!
7. Generous Gift (~$0.75)
White's Beast Within. Exile any permanent for {2}{W}.
Why it's essential:
- White finally got flexible removal!
- Instant speed
- Hits anything (including lands)
- 3/3 elephant is adorable
Works best in: White decks that need enchantment/artifact removal beyond creatures.
Flavor win: Give someone an elephant as a "generous gift" after destroying their combo piece.
8. Counterspell (~$1.00)
The classic. Counter any spell for {U}{U}.
Why it's essential:
- Unconditional counter
- Two mana = efficient
- Stops game-ending threats
- Recently reprinted = affordable
Works best in: Blue control, tempo, or any deck that wants to say "no."
Pro tip: Hold up mana to threaten the counter. Sometimes you don't need to cast it!
9. Chaos Warp (~$1.25)
Red's best removal. Shuffle any permanent into its owner's deck for {2}{R}.
Why it's essential:
- Red can answer enchantments!
- Bypasses indestructible
- Instant speed
- Replacement is randomized (often worse)
Works best in: Red decks that need to answer enchantments or problematic permanents.
Political play: Warp an opponent's land when they're mana screwed (make friends!).
10. Cultivate / Kodama's Reach (~$0.50 each)
The green ramp classics. Get two lands for {2}{G}.
Why they're essential:
- Ramp AND fix mana
- Put one land into play, one in hand
- Guarantees land drops
- Incredibly consistent
Works best in: Green ramp decks, landfall strategies, multicolor decks.
Run both: They're functionally identical. Play both for consistency!
Honorable Mentions (Also Under $5)
These didn't make the top 10 but are also excellent:
- Chromatic Lantern (~$3) - Perfect mana fixing
- Blasphemous Act (~$2) - Best red board wipe
- Cultivator Colossus (~$4) - Landfall payoff
- Eternal Witness (~$3) - Graveyard recursion
- Reliquary Tower (~$2) - No max hand size
- Command Tower (~$0.25) - Free rainbow land
- Bojuka Bog (~$1) - Graveyard hate land
- Rogue's Passage (~$0.50) - Makes creatures unblockable
Build your budget deck with our deck builder →
How to Use These Cards Effectively
Ramp Package (6-10 cards)
- Sol Ring
- Arcane Signet
- Cultivate
- Kodama's Reach
- 2-4 more ramp spells
Goal: Hit your commander on curve or early.
Protection Package (2-4 cards)
- Lightning Greaves
- Swiftfoot Boots
- 1-2 counterspells or protection spells
Goal: Keep your commander alive.
Removal Package (8-12 cards)
- Swords to Plowshares (white)
- Beast Within (green)
- Chaos Warp (red)
- Counterspell (blue)
- 4-8 more removal spells
Goal: Answer threats efficiently.
Budget Commander Deck Formula
Use these staples as your foundation:
10 cards = Ramp (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, lands, etc.)
10 cards = Removal (Swords, Beast Within, etc.)
10 cards = Card Draw (varies by color)
37 cards = Lands (basics + utility)
32 cards = Synergy pieces (cards that work with your commander)
1 card = Commander
Total = 100 cards
Use our assistant to find synergy pieces: "Cards that work with [your commander]"
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Use our scanner to check prices before buying!
Option 3: Trade
Benefits:
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Use our assistant to evaluate trades: "Cards similar to [card name]"
Upgrading Beyond $5
Once you've got these staples, consider upgrading to:
Next Tier ($5-$15):
- Rhystic Study (~$45) - Oops, spiked hard!
- Cyclonic Rift (~$30) - Best blue board wipe
- Smothering Tithe (~$38) - White ramp engine
- Esper Sentinel (~$15) - White card draw
View Rhystic Study price history →
Premium Tier ($15+):
- Mana Crypt (~$180) - Faster Sol Ring
- Fierce Guardianship (~$15) - Free counterspell
- Deflecting Swat (~$12) - Free redirect
- Jeska's Will (~$18) - Red ritual
Pro tip: Wait for reprints! These cards drop significantly when reprinted.
Building a Complete $50 Commander Deck
Challenge: Can you build a playable Commander deck for $50?
Answer: Absolutely! Here's how:
$15 = These 10 staples (buy the cheapest versions)
$5 = Removal package (cheap spot removal)
$5 = Card draw (Divination effects, read the bones, etc.)
$5 = Synergy pieces (depends on commander)
$20 = Lands (basics are free, add a few tapped duals)
Total = $50 for a functional deck
Use our deck builder to calculate exact costs!
Price Tracking Tips
Prices fluctuate! Here's how to get the best deals:
Track Cards Over Time
- Bookmark cards you want to buy
- Check prices weekly using our site
- Buy during reprint announcements (prices drop)
- Avoid buying during spoiler season (hype inflates prices)
Set Price Alerts
Use TCGplayer's price alerts (free) to get notified when cards drop.
Buy in Bulk
Order multiple cards at once to save on shipping and get bulk discounts.
Consider Condition
- Near Mint: Tournament play
- Light Play: Commander (no one cares)
- Moderate Play: Budget option
- Heavy Play: Maximum savings
Commander is a casual format. Heavily played cards work fine and save money!
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Skipping Ramp
Problem: You can't cast your commander or spells.
Solution: Run 10+ ramp sources. Sol Ring + Arcane Signet are non-negotiable.
Mistake 2: Not Enough Removal
Problem: Opponents combo off and you can't stop them.
Solution: Run 10-12 removal spells. Swords, Beast Within, Counterspell are your friends.
Mistake 3: Greedy Mana Base
Problem: You're running Ramos Dragon Engine with 10 basics and nothing else.
Solution: Even budget mana bases need fixing. Run tapped duals, evolving wilds, terramorphic expanse.
Mistake 4: Focusing on Big Splashy Cards
Problem: Your deck is all 7+ CMC haymakers.
Solution: Run a curve! Cheap interaction wins games, not just big creatures.
Mistake 5: Not Running Card Draw
Problem: You run out of gas by turn 6.
Solution: Every deck needs 8-10 card draw sources. Don't skip this!
Building Your First Budget Commander Deck
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Choose a Commander
Pick a commander under $5. Options:
- Krenko, Mob Boss (~$2) - Goblin tribal
- Ezuri, Renegade Leader (~$3) - Elf tribal
- Talrand, Sky Summoner (~$0.50) - Spellslinger
- Gisa and Geralf (~$1) - Zombie tribal
Use our assistant to explore commanders → "Budget commanders under $5"
Step 2: Add These 10 Staples
Buy all 10 cards from this list. Cost: ~$15
Step 3: Add Theme Cards
Depending on your commander:
- Tribal: 20-30 creatures of that tribe
- Spellslinger: 20-30 instants/sorceries
- Voltron: 15-20 equipment/auras
Use our deck builder to plan →
Step 4: Add Lands
37 lands total:
- 30 basics (free!)
- 3-5 tapped duals ($0.25 each)
- 2-4 utility lands ($0.50-2 each)
Step 5: Playtest & Iterate
Play the deck, identify weaknesses, make targeted upgrades.
Use our scanner to evaluate cards you open in packs!
Conclusion
You don't need a $500 deck to have fun in Commander. These 10 staples under $5 will make any deck more consistent, powerful, and enjoyable to play.
Total investment: ~$15
Impact: Massive
Start with these cards, then build around your favorite commander. The best part of Commander is expressing your personality through your deck, and you don't need to break the bank to do it.
Ready to build?
Happy brewing! 🎴✨
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