Card Guides
Best Board Wipes in Commander
Wrath of God and Toxic Deluge first, then the scalable and modal wipes that adapt to exactly what the board needs. Every real shape of mass removal.
What makes a board wipe good
- Unconditional versus scalable. A flat 'destroy all creatures' is simple; a scalable wipe can be sized to exactly what the board needs.
- What it gets around, since indestructible and hexproof are both real answers to a wipe in this format.
- Whether it hits permanents other than creatures, for the games where an artifact or enchantment is the actual problem.
The classics
Simple, affordable, and the baseline the rest of the category answers to.
Scalable wipes
Sized to the board rather than fixed. Some scalable wipes get around indestructible, depending on whether they reduce toughness or use damage rather than destroy.
Modal wipes
Choose what you're clearing, for the games where creatures aren't the actual problem.
Austere Command ↗
Choose two of four modes to destroy creatures, artifacts, or enchantments, including a choice between smaller artifacts and larger creatures.
Farewell ↗
Choose one or more of exile all artifacts, creatures, enchantments, or graveyards. The most comprehensive single card in the category.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best board wipe in Commander?
Wrath of God is the standard for unconditional, affordable mass removal. Toxic Deluge and Blasphemous Act are close behind for their scalability, and Farewell for sheer flexibility if you can afford six mana.
How many board wipes should a Commander deck run?
2 to 4 for most decks, see how many board wipes to run for the full breakdown and when a control-leaning deck wants more.
Why do some wipes get around indestructible?
Toxic Deluge gets around indestructible because enough -X/-X reduces a creature's toughness to 0 or less, which is a state-based action rather than destruction. Blasphemous Act deals damage, but indestructible creatures survive lethal damage, so it does not inherently beat indestructible. A wipe that says 'destroy' (Wrath of God) also does nothing to an indestructible creature.
Should I run modal wipes over unconditional ones?
Modal wipes like Austere Command and Farewell are more flexible but usually cost more mana. A deck that can afford the extra cost gets more value; a deck that needs a wipe on curve is often better served by a cheaper, unconditional one.
Track when a wipe actually won or lost you the game.
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