cEDH Analysis - Where do Commanders with High CMCs Go in cEDH?

In my opinion, cEDH still hasn't stabilized completely after last year's bans. Some people say turbo is dead, and that now all you can find is midrange, though we have evidence that this is not entirely true. In any case, in this article, I would like to explore another popular topic of debate nowadays: how viable are "chonky" commanders (those that have a converted mana cost of 6 or higher).

If you play cEDH often, then you already know this golden rule: you have a short, narrow window to win most games. Creatures that are too expensive are easy targets for counters and removals, and are often just too slow.

At the same time, many players say the game is slower now, that it focuses more on value, and everyone is trying to fill their hand with cards all the time. If that's the case... shouldn't we have more space to play our big threats? What is happening with these chonkers?

Let's take a look at a few commanders with a CMC of 6 or higher that tried to conquer some space competitively. Namely, we'll go over Atraxa, Grand Unifier, Etali, Primal Conqueror, Lumra, Bellow of the Woods, and Tivit, Seller of Secrets. We set K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth aside because he sees play without forcing you to pay the actual mana he costs because of his Phyrexian cost.

The names above have terrorized many tables across the world - particularly Atraxa and Tivit - but now they are struggling to stay relevant. Is there still hope for them?

Note: No, Dargo isn't a chonker.

Atraxa, Grand Unifier

When Atraxa first came out, she was very promising. She has a 7/7 body, evasion, four colors, and her ETB fills your hand. Everything indicated she would be an unstoppable grind machine. And, for a while, she was. Many swore she would replace Tymna the Weaver and Thrasios, Triton Hero (like me).

But she has a problem, and it is actually pretty simple. In cEDH, trying to get seven mana, including four very specific colors, many times means you've already lost or are severely behind. Back when we could easily get this mana with Jeweled Lotus and Mana Crypt, this wasn't such a big deal. Today, everything is different. Using Atraxa as just a value-focused ETB doesn't seem viable anymore. But that doesn't mean she is a bad choice overall.

Atraxa is still relevant: she is part of a combo in the command zone, has an extremely strong ETB, and an excellent color base. But she struggles compared to her main competitor. According to recent data, Atraxa is seven times less popular than Tymna, The Weaver and Thrasios, Triton Hero in tournaments, and usually converts 4% less into Day 2.

Etali, Primal Conqueror

Etali is the only card in this list that seems to stand out among the rest of the meta, though barely. Recently, some lists have leaned on asymmetrical Stax effects (like Blood Moon) and getting as much of its insane ETB as you can with copies, rituals, and a lot of speed to put it as fast on the board as possible and win. This last part of the strategy isn't new, but Stax effects and clones are a relatively new idea.

Does it work? Sometimes. Sometimes, you only see mana rocks, dorks, and lose horribly, it happens. But, despite its somewhat volatile nature, Etali has performed well in the last few months, which is more than we can say about the others in this list.

It is far from a "tier-1" card, and actually converts 3% less than Atraxa. Ok, you got me - saying it is the only functional commander with this type of CMC was quite a stretch. But, as an Etali player, I must confess: I'd rather place all my bets on it than the other cards.

In any case, which of these commanders actually won the most matches in big tournaments in the last few months?

Lumra, Bellow of the Woods

Lumra was a marvel straight away. In every store, online table, or YouTube channel, people are playing this big green bear. And it makes sense: Lumra, Bellow of the Woods really is impressive.

But, what about results? Its conversion rate is terrible. How about its popularity in competitive events? Even worse.

The idea of a commander that has vigilance and reach, grows with lands, ramps, can combo and win with commander damage sounds perfect. It is unlike anything in this format. And that might be the issue.

Lumra is, by far, the least popular card in this list in tournaments. It is also the newest in this list, of course, but still... It has yet to win an official match in big events. The fact it is just green does make it all harder. This color has issues both with speed and interaction, and victory lines with Lumra are complex and not as linear as we'd like to, which may drive away players who are used to simpler strategies.

Maybe we just haven't gotten used to it. I want to believe. #TeamBear.

Tivit, Seller of Secrets

Tivit is a complex case. For a long time, Tivit, Seller of Secrets was the king of Esper midrange. The line with Time Sieve, the resilient flying body, the absurd amount of value it created with extra turns (like just plainly winning the game with them)... It all pointed to an efficient, inevitable game plan.

But time went on. And the meta moved on too.

Tivit's issue is that it didn't actually become bad - far from it. Actually, I believe in it way more than I believe in its replacement. Its game plan is still solid, and its conversion rate is still great. But it was replaced in the hearts of players. The new guy on the block is Marneus Calgar, which is more explosive and has modern synergies with tokens, though it is less consistent. Marneus gets better whenever a new set comes along, and, though it is a bit too early to tell, it seems to be on the path to dethrone Tivit for good.

Still, Tivit is still an excellent option. The truth is, it was once a cornerstone of this format, but now it is just one choice among many.

Commanders with a CMC of 6 or higher are, presently, at a clear disadvantage in cEDH, both in popularity and win rate. They have powerful effects, unique interactions, and promise to grind value for you to infinity and beyond, but that's not always enough in a format that focuses more and more, day after day, on efficiency, speed, and flexibility.

Can they still find space? Yes. All the cards we listed see play in functional decks in the hands of dedicated pilots. Etali, in particular, has been proving to us that, with the right strategy and a bit of luck, it can compete with the rest of the meta. But the current format punishes delays: if you need six or seven mana to make your deck work, you'll always be a step behind. Matches are often decided by Rhystic Study, and not by a grand ETB.

If the meta stays as it is, these commanders will stay behind. But, formats change, new cards come along, others are unbanned, and unexpected engines show up. When all of that eventually happens again, we might see these chonkers leave their bench and start shining again.

What do you think? Am I right about Tivit? Is Marneus really replacing it? What about the others? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below!

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!