By the time this column goes up, you all will probably be saturated with metagame articles and decks from this weekend’s Nationals Qualifiers. Since none of my deck ideas seem to break the hammerlock Jund, U/W Control, Mythic and Planeswalkers seem to have on the format, I figured I’d focus on Elder Dragon Highlander instead.
One thing I often find myself looking for is a list of available generals to pick from. One way is to go to your favorite search engine, such as the one right here on Star City, search for Legendary creatures and then drown in the bombardment of creatures. There have been a lot of legends made over the years; some are sick beatings for EDH, some are decent, some are “challenging” and some are unplayable dreck. It recently occurred to me that this might be a bit overwhelming for newer EDHers, so I thought I’d write something that people could bookmark and refer to later, a reference guide to all the available generals, as of this writing (and to place this in time, it’s May 2010 right after Rise of the Eldrazi).
To organize the legends, I thought I’d rate them as one to four-star generals. While some can justifiably look at these ratings as bad (one-star) to good (four-star) generals, I prefer to think of these in terms of power. The four-star generals are the ones that are at the top of the heap in terms of powerful generals for EDH, with three-star generals not far below. Two-star generals are difficult to work with or just plain weak, and one-star generals are either plain vanilla or nearly unplayable. Keep in mind this important note: don’t just peruse the four-star generals and pick one willy-nilly! Any veteran of multiplayer games knows that’s it’s not always the strongest deck that wins when facing down multiple players, and it’s even tougher in EDH because everyone can see your general from the very beginning. If you lay down a general like Rofellos or Zur, most savvy EDHers are going to be put on guard against you from the beginning. If you’re ready to handle that sort of attention, have at it. But keep in mind it’s often better to play three-star generals to keep a lower profile while you execute your fiendish plans. And don’t forget that it’s often fun and worth some serious style points to build an effective and sometimes winning decks out of 2 or even 1-star generals.
4-Star Generals
Arcanis the Omnipotent: Tap, draw three cards. SICK!
Arcum Dagsson: Are there ridiculous overpowered artifacts and combos you can assemble with this guy? Why yes there are!
Azami, Lady of Scrolls: If you’re playing blue, you can easily play out some good wizards before Azami comes into play and letting you immediately tap any number of them (and Azami herself) to draw cards.
Azusa, Lost but Seeking: She’s not quite as nutty as Rofellos, but if you build your deck right Azusa can accelerate your mana to ungodly levels quickly and not be tied to the survival of a small elf with a big target on his head.
Braids, Cabal Minion: Potent in the fact that everyone else is going to have to sacrifice something before you have to worry about it, and if need be you can just sacrifice Braids herself and play her later. Odds are pretty good you can play her in the first couple of turns and lock some people out of the game, if that’s your cup of tea.
Braids, Conjurer Adept: On the flip side, if you want to kick the game into overdrive quickly, play Braids early and watch things explode. I’d pack a lot of clone effects in my deck too, to take advantage of the good stuff being played.
Erayo, Soratami Ascendant: It takes a little bit of work, but the payoff to flip this general is one of the most powerful effects in the game.
Gaddock Teeg: Teeg is a massive blow to what EDH is all about, and people who don’t pack cheap creature removal will have a hard time dealing with the rest of your deck– which will be filled with spells you can cast freely under Teeg, no doubt!
Heartless Hidetsugu: Chopping everyone’s life in half each time you tap is brutal and ends game much faster. Just don’t leave home without Loxodon Warhammer.
Horde of Notions: You can easily stock your deck with good elemental and changeling cards to make this general even more potent than he is all by himself.
Iona, Shield of Emeria: She’ll pretty much annihilate any monocolor deck that doesn’t pack some artifact (or colorless) mass removal, and certainly annoy and inconvenient a handful of other multicolor decks.
Jhoira of the Ghitu: Jhoira was a solid 3-star until Rise of the Eldrazi and the Eldrazi behemoth spells gave her a quick promotion.
Jolrael, Empress of Beasts: Talk about a devastating ability against mass removal! If you want to Wrath away Jolrael prepare to lose you lands too.
Kaervek the Merciless: One of the scariest generals around, especially if you can sweep the board and drop this guy, it makes recovery very, very painful.
Kagemaro, First to Suffer: Reusable mass creature removal attached to a general that can get pretty huge with enough card drawing.
Kamahl, Fist of Krosa: Combine Jolrael’s land-punishing ability with Overrun on demand and you’ve got an incredibly powerful general.
Kami of the Crescent Moon: There are many reasons why you’d want to play Howling Mine in EDH, and Kami of the Butt-Crack makes sure you can cast one on turn 2 every time.
Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs: If people at your table like making token swarm decks, Kazuul is the perfect remedy.
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker: This fellow has made big splashes in tournament Magic, and in EDH he can get even crazier.
Kiyomaro, First to Stand: If you can keep your hand full, Kiyomaro is chock full of potent abilities.
Kresh the Bloodbraided: Creatures die a lot in EDH, and Kresh gets bigger and bigger.
Kuon, Ogre Ascendant: This always reminds me of “qwan” from the movie Jerry Maguire, and just how awesome Cuba Gooding Jr. was in it. Anyway… It’s pretty easy for black to set up the flip condition on Kuon, and the effect of Kuon’s Essence is both incredibly powerful and incredibly annoying in EDH.
Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero: While there aren’t enough Rebel permanents to completely fill out an EDH deck, with Lin Sivvi you really only need a handful of good rebels and changelings to make her quite good. Just make sure you are fast and observe social courtesies when you do so much tutoring.
Mageta the Lion: Reusable mass creature removal attached to a general that’s immune to it is pretty darn awesome.
Merieke Ri Berit: Her ability is quite powerful, and her fragileness isn’t much of a drawback. There are plenty of ways in her colors or in artifacts to untap her too.
Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker: Talk about a rattlesnake card, waving away people from wanting to attack you! You’ll want to pair this with plenty of sweepers so that people don’t have too many extraneous permanents around.
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary: There’s a good reason I have a standing policy for killing the Momir Vig EDHer first.
Multani, Maro-Sorcerer: Yep, Multani can ginormous, and his shroud makes him quite problematic to deal with outside of chump blocking and the hope that there’s no Brawn in the graveyard.
Myojin of Life’s Web: Nine mana is a lot, but green can get there, and green also typically has plenty of gigantic green creatures you wouldn’t mind dropping into play at instant speed– say, at the end of turn before you take your turn.
Myojin of Night’s Reach: Eight mana can Mind Shatter one opponent for six… or strip all opponents of their hand in EDH. Just realize that you’ve probably made enemies of everyone at the table by doing so.
Phelddagrif: The ultimate general for political games!
Rafiq of the Many: If you’ve seen this guy operate in Standard you can imagine how sick he can get in EDH.
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary: In a word, ridiculous. Playing Rofellos means your deck’s mana curve starts at six and goes up from there.
Rune-Tail, Kitsune Ascendant: If you play white creatures that do cool stuff, and you usually haven’t lost more than 10 life by turn 3, you should strongly consider this criminally underplayed general.
Sharuum the Hegemon: Outside of just being a cost-efficient creature with a solid special ability, there are a handful of sick combos Sharuum can set off.
Sliver Legion: Slivers are terrifying in EDH, and all the Sliver legends are deadly, with Legion just being edged into second place of the three.
Sliver Overlord: Slivers are terrifying in EDH, and Sliver Overlord is the big boss daddy of them all.
Sliver Queen: The original Sliver general, the Queen is a sentimental favorite but probably the least potent of the three Sliver legends.
Sun Quan, Lord of Wu: Just think if you had a general that made all creatures you control unblockable? Well this is pretty darn close to that.
Sygg, River Cutthroat: This fellow’s power is his subtlety, given that he’s not too much a physical threat, and yet as the game goes on the odds of opponent’s taking 3 damage in a turn go up and up.
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir: As good as Teferi was in Standard, he’s 10 times that in EDH. A true powerhouse that rewrites a lot of rules in your favor.
Tomorrow, Azami’s Familiar: Yes, he’s funny looking, and yes he’ll take a really, really long time to kill someone with general damage, but you’re playing this fellow for the sick, sick, sick rules text.
Tsabo Tavoc: Everyone plays at least one Legend, so having protection from legends and being able to tap and kill legends is a pretty potent combination.
Uril, the Miststalker: Few generals are as scary as Uril, who is hard to stop and can quickly dish out 21 points of general damage.
Visara the Dreadful: 5/5, flying, and just tap to kill any creature, no regeneration allowed. For just six mana? Really?!
Zur the Enchanter: There are tons of great enchantments that Zur can search out and just take over the game.
3-Star Generals
Aboshan, Cephalid Emperor: He’s got a built-in Icy that can immediately be used, and if you have enough blue mana you can really hose a lot of players around the table, especially the player to the right of the player’s turn you used the ability on.
Adamaro, First to Desire: There’s always some bozo at the table that’s drawing tons of cards and riding a Tower of the Reliquary or Library of Leng, and those sorts of shenanigans makes Adamaro desirous of smashing face.
Adun Oakenshield: He’s quite small, a bit mana-intensive, but bring him out mid-game and you can gradually recoup your loses (or quickly if you one of those people who play Seedborn Muse…).
Akroma, Angel of Fury: Not quite as potent as her white sister, red Akroma still has a hot mix of abilities.
Akroma, Angel of Wrath: Yep, she does that too.
Alexi, Zephyr Mage: This can take control of a board, setting one or more opponents back in tempo or saving your own creatures. Well worth the two card investment.
Angus Mackenzie: He’s quite small, a bit mana-intensive, but once he’s online you can keep people from attacking you, or play the savior when someone else is being attacked.
Ascendant Evincar: Built-in defense against most token-making decks.
Ashling the Pilgrim: I’ve written about the 99 Mountain + Ashling EDH deck before, but this fellow’s got enough going for him to warrant other cards added to the deck as well.
Ashling, the Extinguisher: Black instant-speed removal and Ashling can make everyone quite nervous about leaving behind just a single blocker.
Asmira, Holy Avenger: She flies, your creatures die, and she gets bigger; what’s not to love?
Autumn Willow: A sizeable body with shroud and conditional trollshroud that you can let other people help out can be useful in political maneuvers.
Ayumi, the Last Visitor: Most EDHers play some number of legendary lands, and Ayumi kills in three swings.
Baron Sengir: In all the time I played my Baron deck, I rarely actually played Baron and he was rarely very effective. Still, there are a so many great vampires and he’s so clearly a good Vampire lord, I’m reluctant to demote him down to 2-stars… especially once the sun goes down.
Baru, Fist of Krosa: If you play monogreen, forests, and creatures, Baru is a great general.
Bladewing the Risen: If you don’t happen to want to go Jund colors in your dragon deck, you can still see some potent dragon action in red and black.
Blind Seer: Digging into blue’s history, there are a lot of good color hosers, and the Blind Seer can turn them on for anything.
Borborygmos: He hits hard and tramples, and boosts your army when he does– what more do you want from a general?
Brigid, Hero of Kinsbaile: A lot of EDHers like to make lots of little token creatures, and Brigid can hold them off. Equip her with Loxodon Warhammer for fun; equip her with Basilisk Collar for serious fun!
Brion Stoutarm: If you tap into red’s temporary stealing abilities, Brion is just nutty.
Cao Cao, Lord of Wei: Having a reusable source of discard — two at a time — can be pretty devastating.
Cao Ren, Wei Commander: A general of significant size with horsemanship is practically unblockable at most EDH tables.
Captain Sisay: Tutoring up legends at the cost of just tapping Sisay is quite potent.
Chainer, Dementia Master: Chainer’s a bit mana-intensive, but the ability to dip into anyone’s graveyard and animate key creatures is quite potent.
Child of Alara: Child’s ability requires it to go to the graveyard, but playing five colors you should have ways to get the Child back when you need it.
Chorus of the Conclave: A bit too expensive for 3-stars, but it’s pretty easy to make those +1/+1 counters on creatures you cast matter.
Commander Greven il-Vec: Hard-hitting with evasion, he can kill in three strikes.
Cromat: Cromat is a little clunky to use, but if your mana works out, his abilities are quite potent.
Crovax, Ascendant Hero: Especially good with all the white token-making cards that have come out in recent years.
Dakkon Blackblade: Will typically be a 7/7 when he hits play and only gets bigger and bigger, scaling with the length of the game.
Dong Zhou, the Tyrant: In a word of gigantic, hard-hitting monsters making one of them smack their controller in the face can be lethal.
Doran, the Siege Tower: Doran’s a smash mouth general, and there’s a lot you can do to play off high toughness and low power. Check my archives for the Doran deck I played for a while.
Dosan the Falling Leaf: This guy has a powerful effect but is incredibly dangerous, since no one can stop another player from doing crazy things during their own turn. If you play him I’d recommend having plenty of non-spell sacrifice outlets in case of emergency.
Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief: With all the mana black can generate, this can become quite the assassinating machine, not to mention getting huge enough to kill with general damage in just a couple hits.
Eladamri, Lord of Leaves: If you want to launch aggro tribal elf beatdown, you can’t do much better than this fellow. Just be careful you don’t get hit by someone else’s elf or changeling.
Empress Galina: Stealing legends — and generals — permanently is grossly powerful, though her casting cost, small size, and cost to use keeps her from 4-star status.
Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder: There are plenty of black creatures than need sacrificial fodder, and Endrek is happy to provide them.
Eron the Relentless: Five mana, five power, and haste is pretty good already, add in the ability to regenerate and you’ve got a pretty good, aggressive option for red.
Ertai, the Corrupted: Having a counterspell on demand attached to a pretty robust body is pretty good despite the cost.
Ertai, Wizard Adept: Having a reusable counterspell is quite powerful even if it is mana-intensive and attached to a small dude.
Experiment Kraj: You can do some pretty crazy things with Experiment Kraj, check out my archives for how I built one some time ago.
Gallowbraid: He’s big and trampling, and with black easily removing blockers and boosting power, Gallowbraid can finish things quickly.
Garza Zol, Plague Queen: Five points of flying, hasty general damage, and insult to injury you get to draw a card too.
Gerrard Capashen: Gerrard will typically gain you an obscene amount of life, and his ability to tap down creatures while attacking can be very potent too.
Ghost Council of Orzhova: Color intensive and what I consider a pretty minor effect, but I’ve seen some people really work this fellow in EDH decks before.
Godo, Bandit Warlord: Godo’s got a small-man complex, but he never leaves home without some big, badass piece of equipment to make him as scary as he wants to be.
Grand Arbiter Augustin IV: A powerful mix of abilities that help you and slow everyone else down.
Greel, Mind Raker: A reusable Mind Shatter? Yes, please.
Guan Yu, Sainted Warrior: A good sized creature with Horsemanship is always helpful.
Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer: I like the subtle power and political implications of this little-played gem. Look for a deck based around Gwafa soon!
Halfdane: He may just be a two-star, but there are a lot of creatures that get really huge in EDH, and Halfdane can piggy back off one long enough to possibly general-rule somebody to death.
Hanna, Ship’s Navigator: If you wanna do artifact or enchantment shenanigans, Hanna is your gal.
Hazezon Tamar: The past few times I’ve played EDH it seems people have died beneath a Sand Warrior onslaught. Just sayin’…
Heidar, Rimewind Master: If you can scrounge up enough Snow-Covered Islands, this bouncer is incredibly potent.
Higure, the Still Wind: While you won’t typically use the Ninjutsu ability, the fact that he makes himself unblockable is good all by himself, though make sure to pepper in a couple Ninjas and Changelings into your deck.
Hokori, Dust Drinker: A powerful effect that can strongly combine with a lot of white’s mana-taxing cards, and you can break the symmetry with plenty of artifact mana sources and ways to tap down permanents. Just keep in mind that you’re likely to anger the entire table with this fellow, and everyone can see him coming.
Homura, Human Ascendant: Speaking of red fire-breathing… all you gotta do is figure out a way to get a creature to die at the EDH table. Hmm…
Horobi, Death’s Wail: Combine with any reusable targeting effects like Icy Manipulator and any sized creature is as fragile as glass.
Hua Tuo, Honored Physician: There are a lot of great green creatures, and they often die, so why not play a general that can bring them back? Hua Tuo is cheap to cast and cheap to use.
Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni: While you’re rarely using the Ninjutsu ability, Ink-Eyes is still big, regenerates, and has a very potent special ability.
Iwamori of the Open Fist: Iwamori hits fast, hits hard and tramples, and most of the legends you need to worry about are typically in the Command Zone.
Jareth, Leonine Titan: He blocks like a champ, and has virtual unblockability; if you can just give him vigilance he’d be the perfect general…
Jaya Ballard, Task Mage: Once she’s over being summoning sick, Jaya’s got a lot of flexibility, especially if you pack cards like Distorting Lens to make any permanent blue.
Jedit Ojanen of Efrava: Like Mirri’s big brother…
Johan: Vigilance is quite potent in multiplayer.
Jugan, the Rising Star: Good with no special effort, if you want to make +1/+1 counters “matter” you certainly can go so in green.
Kaho, Minamo Historian: Are there blue instants you’d like to tutor up and have at the ready? Why yes I think there are!
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet: Pricey to cast, and a bit of a mana hog for its ability, assuming your opponents are playing sizeable creature, bringing them over to your side as black Vampire tokens feels pretty good.
Kamahl, Pit Fighter: Kamahl’s tap ability isn’t as potent as Visara, but a free Lightning Bolt isn’t bad and neither is haste on a six-power body.
Karn, Silver Golem: It’s hard to make a Karn deck, but it’s often quite worth the trouble.
Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund: Hasty dragons are just serious beatings. Just a little too slow to make it to 4-stars.
Keiga, the Tide Star: Keiga is an exercise in frustration, since if you don’t kill her she’ll kill you, and if you do kill her, she’ll steal your best creature and then she’ll be back soon enough.
Kiku, Night’s Flower: The creatures you tend to worry about typically have at least as much power as toughness, so she can really gun down threats if she sticks around. I little fragile, and a little mana-intensive, but I thought it powerful enough to squeak into the 3-stars.
Kira, Great Glass-Spinner: While mass removal is the rule in EDH, people do play some pinpoint creature control, and Kira makes sure those precious spells or abilities aren’t directed at your creatures.
Kodama of the North Tree: He’s cheap for his size and incredibly tough to handle. If you’re playing a more “controlling” green deck this makes a good finisher.
Konda, Lord of Eiganjo: Vigilance and indestructibility are a potent combination, and if some dares cross it in the Red Zone, they’re probably going to die.
Kongming, “Sleeping Dragon”: Pretty good as a living Glorious Anthem for your weenie horde.
Korlash, Heir to Blackblade: Will probably be pretty gigantic when you cast him with regen mana up.
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth: I suspect people who’ve made Karn decks might swamp Karn into the maindeck and give this guy a try. Seems good if you can accelerate quickly enough.
Kumano, Master Yamabushi: If you’ve got a lot of red mana lying around, Kumano makes a good sink for it. He’s particularly good for butting into other creature’s combat to make sure one or both ship off to exile instead of the graveyard.
Kuro, Pitlord: Black has lots of ways to gain life, so by the time Kuro hits the board you can pretty much have your way with any problematic creatures on the board in exchange for precious life points.
Lady Evangela: She’s small and color-intensive to use, but she doesn’t do a bad job of waving attackers away or stepping in to be someone’s hero on occasion.
Lady Zhurong, Warrior Queen: A sizeable unblockable creature is quite helpful for a green deck’s general.
Latulla, Keldon Overseer: Instant speed X damage to someone’s dome could be good with enough mana.
Lieutenant Kirtar: Kirtar is quite potent as a reusable creature-control spell no matter who the creature is attacking.
Lim-DÔl the Necromancer: Black kills creatures pretty easily, and Lim-DÔl makes them an offer they can’t refuse… BRAINS!
Linvala, Keeper of Silence: This is pretty brutal and non-symmetrical, I suspect it might be 4-star but I want to see it in action first.
Liu Bei, Lord of Shu: Horsemanship is always good, and if you happen to own at least one of his good buddies than he gets even better.
Livonya Silone: Another legendary landwalker that gives you access to another color, she doesn’t hit as hard as Ayumi but she does have first strike.
Llawan, Cephalid Empress: Depending on your metagame, this could be just a 2-star if few people play blue creatures, but typically this is going to be pretty powerful.
Lord of Tresserhorn: This dude packs a powerful punch, is pretty cheap to cast and pretty easy to mitigate his drawbacks or even make them advantageous (I’m thinking of red’s temporary stealing effects, and then sacrificing them to cast Lord).
Lorthos, the Tidemaker: Eight mana is a lot for both a general and to activate an ability, but man– what a powerhouse you get for the investment!
Lu Bu, Master-at-Arms: Horsemanship and haste, two great tastes in one!
Lu Meng, Wu General: Good size with Horsemanship.
Lu Xun, Scholar General: An unblockable general who gives you a card when he hits? Sign me up!
Ma Chao, Western Warrior: He toes the line, 3/3 for five is a bit small, but with Horsemanship and lots of ways to give creatures firebreathing in red, I slip him up to 3-stars.
Maga, Traitor to Mortals: Can black make enough mana to make a virtual Drain Life whenever you want one useful? Does Charlie Daniels play a mean fiddle?
Mangara of Corondor: Keep in mind that sending Magara to Exile isn’t a cost it’s an effect, and you can move him instead to the Command Zone to recast. A great way to keep recursion shenanigans under control. You’ll want to make sure your white deck can make lots of mana if you want to use Mangara multiple times.
Maraxus of Keld: When you untap with Maraxas he will often be bigger than any creature on the board. That’s some serious beatings.
Márton Stromgald: Red has a surprising number of ways to make lots of tokens, and Marton comes along to make them a gigantic army.
Masumaro, First to Live: Yep, this can get pretty big.
Meloku the Clouded Mirror: If you’re playing a lot of lands you don’t want to see get Stripped or Wasted, Meloku can do the job while making the occasional token flier.
Mirri the Cursed: She comes out early, attacks immediately, and hits relatively hard. Pretty good aggressive general.
Mirri, Cat Warrior: Lots of EDHers play forests, and with a piece of equipment or two you’ve got quite a clock under the Legend Rule.
Molimo, Maro-Sorcerer: Typically a 7/7 by the time you play him, he tramples and scales larger the longer the games go.
Morinfen: Like Gallowbraid, if you want an efficient black beatdown creature this is a good choice, especially if your group doesn’t necessarily have a ton of fliers.
Myojin of Cleansing Fire: Not as good as Mageta because it’s a bit more expensive, but it can be used right away if need be… or saved for emergencies.
Nath of the Gilt-Leaf: The ability is powerful, especially if you have a lot of ways in your deck to force mass discarding (think Memory Jar, Syphon Mind). Just keep in mind how annoying random discard is and just pick on the helpless guy.
Nebuchadnezzar: A great “regulator” general, if someone always brings an annoying combo to the table, ol’ Nebby can help reveal his hand to the table to see if he needs to be taken out.
Nemata, Grove Guardian: If you like fun with Saproling tokens — and who doesn’t? — Nemata is your man… er, plant.
Nicol Bolas: The only original Elder Dragon with an ability that’s well worth the heavy mana commitment to playing and keeping him around.
Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind: Card-draw in blue, Wheel of Fortune-type cards in red… yeah, Niv-Mizzet can get pretty silly.
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen: Even in monoblack, you can stuff a lot of fetch lands in your deck, and sometimes people are kind enough to play Rites of Flourishing for you.
Omnath, Locus of Mana: I may be slightly undervaluing Omnath here, but when I compare him to Rofellos and Azusa I think he comes in third.
Oona, Queen of the Fae: Play Oona and watch the monocolor generals quake in their boots.
Patron of the Kitsune: While you probably won’t be playing many foxes, this Patron’s special ability and size are well worth the reasonable mana cost.
Patron of the Orochi: Who cares about the snake offering ability (though it’s nice if you can sneak it in)? It’s a potent untapping-engine that’s not quite as blatantly gross as Seedborn Muse.
Progenitus: Wow, is he tough to cast, but man, when you cast him, oh the stories you’ll tell!
Radiant, Archangel: A lot of EDHers neglect the sky, so a Radiant deck can really punish them. Just keep your eyes peeled for pesky spiders.
Rakka Mar: Think of this as a five drop… can you imagine uses for a free 3/1 dude each turn?
Rasputin Dreamweaver: Rasputin is a pretty good mana source if he doesn’t get pinged down like he’s prone to do.
Rayne, Academy Chancellor: If ever you pay attention to how many times you or your permanents get targeted, you’ll see how awesome Rayne can be.
Razia, Boros Archangel: I rarely see her played, but she’s got a pretty potent package of abilities for a general.
Reaper King: You can cobble together enough changelings across five colors to do some ugly Scarecrow shenanigans!
Reki, the History of Kamigawa: I recently built a Reki deck, and even restricted to just green and artifacts you can really stuff a deck chock full of good legends, and making them all cantrip can get ridiculous.
Reya Dawnbringer: She’s a little too slow to cast fairly from the Command Zone, and her ability won’t typically win the game right away, but she’ll will let you grind away at the board.
Rhys the Redeemed: If you want to go elf tribal or just love token creatures, Rhys is your elf!
Rorix Bladewing: Hasty 6 points of damage flying through the air is a pretty good general for a red deck.
Rosheen Meanderer: I’ve been waiting to see someone break this off with green and red X-spells; maybe I’ll do it myself!
Rubinia Soulsinger: Being able to steal a creature at instant speed is a pretty potent ability.
Ryusei, the Falling Star: Quite the spiteful general, when he dies he razes the ground as he goes.
Sachi, Daughter of Seshiro: It’s surprisingly easy to find lots of green Shaman creatures, and making lots of mana leads to lots of big spells.
Saffi Eriksdotter: There are plenty of green and white creatures that you’d like to keep on the board, and Saffi as your general makes sure you can do so, over and over again.
Sakashima the Impostor: If your metagame is filled with hard-hitting generals, Sakashima can get in on the fun too.
Sakiko, Mother of Summer: If you’ve got a good number of hard-hitting green creatures, Sakiko can feed you quite a bit of mana to keep the beats coming.
Sapling of Colfenor: An indestructible general that can sometimes draw you cards? Sign me up!
Sasaya, Orochi Ascendant: It takes some work to get the flip condition, but green’s the color to make it happen, and when she becomes Sasaya’s Essence, the power in a monogreen deck is pretty ridiculous.
Savra, Queen of the Golgari: Does green and black have plenty of ways to sacrifice creatures? Why yes they do…
Scion of the Ur-Dragon: Wizards has made some really potent dragons lately, but don’t forget the ability to fetch up Changelings too!
Sedris, the Traitor King: When one life isn’t enough service out of your creatures.
Seizan, Perverter of Truth: If you want to accelerate the game, Seizan can definitely do that, along with a sizeable body attached.
Sek’Kuar, Deathkeeper: Does green, black and red have creatures that die and come back to die again? Why yes, I think they do…
Sen Triplets: This card toes the edge of 4-stars, but the fact that you need to wait a full turn around the table before using his ability gives people plenty of time to deal with him, deal with you, or just brace for it.
Seshiro the Anointed: An excellent general for snakes and changelings.
Seton, Krosan Protector: Green’s got a ton of druids, even more than you think if you go and check the oracle text on older cards. Seton lets them pull double duty as mana producers, which is always handy.
Shauku, Endbringer: What’s better than just tapping to destroy a creature? Tapping to exile the creature. Well worth the drawbacks on this big, bad vampire.
Shirei, Shizo’s Caretaker: This card was great in my Doran deck, but there are plenty of other fun things enterprising deck builders can cook up in monoblack.
Shisato, Whispering Hunter: The snake tribe isn’t exactly plentiful, but the ability of Shisato is worth the effort.
Silvos, Rogue Elemental: Kills in three hits, check; evasion, check; regenerates, check.
Sisters of Stone Death: Man, is she a mana-hog, but if you build your deck to accommodate her, she will rule the Red Zone.
Skeleton Ship: Since Shadowmoor and Eventide, there are lots of things you can do with -1/-1 counters now, aren’t there?
Sol’kanar the Swamp King: Black is a pretty popular color in EDH, and gaining little pips of life here and there while being able to swampwalk in for sizeable smashes is a potent combination.
Soramaro, First to Dream: A flying Maro that can easily boost his own size? Yep, that can be problematic for some decks to handle.
Sosuke, Son of Seshiro: Search card databases for green warriors and let your imagination run wild.
Spirit of the Night: Expensive, but black can handle it, and Spirit is of sufficient size and chock full of special abilities to make him worth it sometimes.
Squee, Goblin Nabob: There are lots of great uses for Squee if you look hard enough, even in a monored deck.
Stonebrow, Krosan Hero: If you search, you can certainly find plenty of good tramplers in red and green.
Sun Ce, Young Conqueror: Horsemanship plus Man o’ War? Sign me up!
Sygg, River Guide: Sygg’s good at protecting himself, and has evasion, which makes him good all by himself, and if you want to go tribal Merfolk his power increases even further.
Tahngarth, Talruum Hero: I rarely see Flametongue Kavu getting played at the EDH table, so maybe it’s time for poor ol’ Tahngarth to come out of hiding.
Teysa, Orzhov Scion: She’s subtly very powerful, especially if you design your deck to maximize her abilities.
Thada Adel, Acquisitor: Plenty of people play must-have artifacts, so send your general out to acquire them! Start with Sol Ring and work your way up from there…
Thraximundar: Effectively a hasty 7/7 for seven mana is pretty good, and if you or other players have sacrifice effects he gets bigger and better.
Thriss, Nantuko Primus: Pretty expensive to cast, once Thriss is passed summoning sickness you can play political, placing +5/+5 for just one green mana wherever it might be most useful.
Tibor and Lumia: The abilities on this legend (legends?) are surprisingly helpful.
Tolsimir Wolfblood: A green/white general that boosts your green and white creatures’ sizes, and then taps to make a 4/4 green and white Wolf… named Voja! Yes, please.
Ulasht, the Hate Seed: I’ve seen this guy get really out of hand with a Gaea’s Cradle— make a bunch of dudes, he dies, then replay him even bigger, make a bunch more dudes, rinse, repeat.
Uyo, Silent Prophet: The only thing better than someone playing an ultracool haymaker spell is being able to copy and play it too.
Vendilion Clique: Particularly good for cycling your own cards in EDH, and still good at checking out what your opponents might be up to.
Venser, Shaper Savant: The ability to flash in to temporary counter an expensive haymaker spell or bounce a problematic permanent is incredibly useful and makes you not mind Venser dying.
Verdeloth the Ancient: All sorts of fun things to do with a Treefolk/Saproling lord.
Vhati il-Dal: In a word of gigantic, hard-hitting monsters making them 1 power ticklers or 1 toughness pushovers is incredibly useful.
Volrath the Fallen: With Volrath in play, those Eldrazi you drew a little early don’t look too bad now do they?
Wort, Boggart Auntie: If goblins are your thing, it’s hard to argue against playing Wort as your general.
Wort, the Raidmother: Once I make a Wort, the Raidmother deck, I think I may end up promoting her to 4-stars, but as of right now I’ve not seen anyone play her yet.
Wrexial, the Risen Deep: Outside of being a pretty decent-sized body for six mana, if one or more opponents happen to be playing swamps or islands, and happen to be playing instants or sorceries, I suppose this Kraken might be pretty good.
Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed: Horsemanship is always good, and its ability is just a bonus even if the timing is problematic.
Xira Arien: She’s quite small, rather mana-intensive, but drawing a card is pretty helpful and you can even play at politics with her.
Yosei, the Morning Star: Talk about revenge! Kill him and you’ll be hurting for what seems like forever…
Yuan Shao, the Indecisive: Horsemanship toes this one slightly into 3-star territory, especially if you combine with firebreathing and happen to have Goblin War Drums in play.
Zhang Fei, Fierce Warrior: Hard-hitting with horsemanship, yes please!
Zhang He, Wei General: High power with Horsemanship and a pretty good extra ability.
Zhao Zilong, Tiger General: Another Horsemanship card toes the line into 3-star territory.
Zirilan of the Claw: Mix in lots of potent dragons, a way to sacrifice them before the next end step, and you got the makings for a pretty good EDH stew.
Crosis, the Purger; Darigaaz, the Igniter; Dromar, the Banisher; Intet, the Dreamer; Numot, the Devastator; Oros, the Avenger; Rith, the Awakener; Teneb, the Harvester; Treva, the Renewer; Vorosh, the Hunter: All of the “junior Elder Dragons” are efficient creatures and good choices as general.
2-Star Generals
Agrus Kos, Wojek Veteran
Ambassador Laquatus
Anowon, the Ruin Sage
Arashi, the Sky Asunder
Arcades Sabboth
Atalya, Samite Master
Axelrod Gunnarson
Ayesha Tanaka
Balthor the Defiled
Balthor the Stout
Barrin, Master Wizard
Bartel Runeaxe
Ben-Ben, Akki Hermit
Boris Devilboon
Bounteous Kirin
Cabal Patriarch
Chandler
Chisei, Heart of Oceans
Cho-Manno, Revolutionary
Chromium
Cloudhoof Kirin
Commander Eesha
Crovax the Cursed
Darien, King of Kjeldor
Diaochan, Artful Beauty
Dralnu, Lich Lord
Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn
Fumiko the Lowblood
Gabriel Angelfire
General Jarkeld
Glissa Sunseeker
Gosta Dirk
Grandmother Sengir
Gwendlyn Di Corci
Hakim, Loreweaver
Hazduhr the Abbot
He Who Hungers
Hikari, Twilight Guardian
Hisoka, Minamo Sensei
Huang Zhong, Shu General
Hunding Gjornersen
Ib Halfheart, Goblin Tactician
Ihsan’s Shade
Iizuka the Ruthless
Iname as One
Iname, Death Aspect
Iname, Life Aspect
Infernal Kirin
Irini Sengir
Isamaru, Hound of Konda
Isao, Enlightened Bushi
Isperia the Inscrutable
Ith, High Arcanist
Ixidor, Reality Sculptor
Jacques le Vert
Jenara, Asura of War
Jeska, Warrior Adept
Jiwari, the Earth Aflame
Joven
Kangee, Aerie Keeper
Karona, False God
Kataki, War’s Wage
Kaysa
Kei Takahashi
Kentaro, the Smiling Cat
Kodama of the Center Tree
Kodama of the South Tree
Lady Caleria
Lady Sun
Linessa, Zephyr Mage
Lord Magnus
Lovisa Coldeyes
Lu Su, Wu Advisor
Lyzolda, the Blood Witch
Major Teroh
Malfegor
Maralen of the Mornsong
Marhault Elsdragon
Marrow-Gnawer
Masako the Humorless
Mayael the Anima
Meng Huo, Barbarian King
Mistform Ultimus
Myojin of Infinite Rage
Myojin of Seeing Winds
Nagao, Bound by Honor
Norin the Wary
Opal-Eye, Konda’s Yojimbo
Orim, Samite Healer
Oriss, Samite Guardian
Palladia-Mors
Patron of the Akki
Patron of the Moon
Patron of the Nezumi
Pavel Maliki
Pianna, Nomad Captain
Princess Lucrezia
Purraj of Urborg
Radha, Heir to Keld
Ragnar
Rakdos the Defiler
Raksha Golden Cub
Ramirez DePietro
Ramses Overdark
Rashka the Slayer
Reveka, Wizard Savant
Riven Turnbull
Sekki, Seasons’ Guide
Selenia, Dark Angel
Sensei Golden-Tail
Shimatsu the Bloodcloaked
Shizuko, Caller of Autumn
Sidar Jabari
Sima Yi, Wei Field Marshal
Skyfire Kirin
Slobad, Goblin Tinkerer
Soraya the Falconer
Stangg
Starke of Rath
Sunastian Falconer
Szadek, Lord of Secrets
Takeno, Samurai General
Taniwha
Tarox Bladewing
Telim’Tor
Tetsuo Umezawa
The Unspeakable
Tivadar of Thorn
Tor Wauki
Toshiro Umezawa
Tuknir Deathlock
Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
Ur-Drago
Vaevictis Asmadi
Veldrane of Sengir
Wydwen, the Biting Gale
Xun Yu, Wei Advisor
Yomiji, Who Bars the Way
Yukora, the Prisoner
Zhang Liao, Hero of Hefei
Zhou Yu, Chief Commander
Zhuge Jin, Wu Strategist
Zo-Zu the Punisher
Zuo Ci, the Mocking Sage
1-Star Generals
Akuta, Born of Ash
Atogatog
Barktooth Warbeard
Brothers Yamazaki
Celestial Kirin
Circu, Dimir Lobotomist
Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
Hivis of the Scale
Ishi-Ishi, Akki Crackshot
Jasmine Boreal
Jedit Ojanen
Jerrard of the Closed Fist
Kasimir the Lone Wolf
Kyoki, Sanity’s Eclipse
Lady Orca
Mannichi, the Fevered Dream
Mishra, Artificer Prodigy
Oyobi, Who Split the Heavens
Pang Tong, “Young Phoenix”
Phage the Untouchable
Rashida Scalebane
Rohgahh of Kher Keep
Sir Shandlar of Eberyn
Sivitri Scarzam
The Lady of the Mountain
Tobias Andrion
Torsten Von Ursus
Tuktuk the Explorer
Zuberi, Golden Feather
I was actually intending to comment on each of the generals, but late in the game I realized that this column was getting way too huge as it is, and to prevent my editor from flying over the big pond to beat me to a bloody pulp I cut off the comments at four and three-star generals. If you have any questions or comments about why certain generals ended up in my groupings hit me up in the forums and I’ll be happy to explain my reasoning.
That’s it for this week. Good luck to everyone competing in their Nationals Qualifier. I will be attending the one right here in Richmond Virginia, and I can certainly use whatever luck you can toss my way!
Take care!
Bennie
starcitygeezer AT gmail DOT com
New to EDH? Be sure to check out my EDH Primer, part 1, part 2, and part 3.
My current EDH decks:
Jacques Le Vert (lots of legends, good stuff)
Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund (DRAGONS, RAHRRR!!)
Halfdane (Clone ‘n’ Kaldra)
Reki, the History of Kamigawa (more legends than you can shake a stick at)