15 Strongest Human Kindred Commanders In MTG

Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format is filled with a diverse range of deck archetypes and strategies for players to employ when constructing their decks. One of the most popular directions to take a deck is the kindred route. A kindred deck is one that is based heavily around a specific creature type, incorporating several key cards that synergize with a given type, providing you with pay-offs for primarily using creatures of that type.

Of the creature types from Magic’s history, few have seen as many cards as humans. As of now, there are nearly 3,000 human cards which are legal in the Commander format with more printed in nearly every set. So today, we’re going to examine the best options that you should consider when building a Human kindred Commander deck.

Updated on March 19, 2025 by Ryan Hay: With so many Humans flooding into Magic with every set, it only makes sense that some true powerhouses will join the kindred archetype. In line with plenty of other Human commanders, there are a lot of token-based strategies to be found in the cards Éowyn, Shieldmaiden and Caesar, Legion’s Emperor, Meanwhile, the one true ruler, Aragorn, King of Gondor, shows off the power of the monarchy with his incredibly strong abilities. If you’re looking for some new Human tech to build your deck around, you’ll have some fun with these commanders.

15

Jerren, Corrupted Bishop

A Splash Of Evil

Printed in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, Jerren, Corrupted Bishop is an underrated and unique Mono-Black option for those looking to build a Human kindred deck. A 2/3 Human Cleric for the low cost of three mana, when Jerren enters the battlefield or whenever a nontoken Human under its owner’s control dies, Jarren’s controller loses one life and creates a 1/1 Human token. Straight away, this sets Jerren apart from the traditionally aggressive Human kindred options available, as Jerren decks function as a hybrid of Human kindred and Aristocrats. The loss of life Jerren causes isn’t exactly optimal, but you can easily offset this downside — for two mana, Jerren can provide a target Human with lifelink until the end of the turn.

While it’s important to note that Jerren is a double-faced card that can be transformed if its controller’s life total is exactly thirteen, this transformation is quite difficult to trigger. In addition to not being convenient, the card’s alternate side, Ormendahl, the Corrupter, lacks synergies with Humans. Despite this, Jaren is a solid and unique option for those looking for an alternative Aristocrats spin on Human synergies for those looking to combine powerful sacrifice outlets with impressive Humans.

14

General Kudro Of Drannith

We Trade Lives

For those interested in combining the black Human options available in a Jerren deck with more traditional white Humans, the Orzhov commander, General Kudro of Drannith, may be a solid choice. A 3/3 Human Solider for three mana, General Kudro provides each other Human under its owner’s control with +1/+1. Additionally, while graveyard-based strategies are quite popular within the Commander format, General Kudro can help remove key cards from an opponent’s graveyard, as whenever it or another Human enters the battlefield under its owner’s control, its owner may exile a card from an opponent’s graveyard.

While graveyard hate and an anthem effect is an already solid use of three mana, General Kudro’s activated ability provides it with an additional layer of value. At the cost of two mana and two sacrificed Humans, its controller can destroy a target creature with a power of two or greater, with a chance of removing an opponent’s potentially game-winning creature from play. As this ability requires Humans to be sacrificed, General Kudro decks can make great use of Aristocrats staples, such as Grave Pact and Dictate of Erebos.

13

Sigarda, Champion Of Light

A Human Champion

The most recently printed iteration of Innistrad’s Selesnya Angel, Sigarda, Champion of Light is a commander that can both buff one’s Humans whilst providing card advantage and card selection. A 4/4 with flying and trample for four mana, Sigarda provides all Humans under its owner’s control with +1/+1.

While this is a solid benefit, Sigarda also has a coven ability that allows you to look at the top five cards of your library, reveal a Human, and put it into your hand – as long as you control at least three creatures with different powers. This allows you to ensure that you consistently have access to additional creatures to play.

12

Adeline, Resplendent Cathar

A Commander That Scales

Printed in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, Adeline, Resplendent Cathar is a low-mana mono-white Human kindred option that excels at creating a sizable board state filled with Humans. For three mana, while this Human’s toughness is statically four, its power is equal to the number of creatures under its owner’s control.

This is quite excellent, as whenever its controller attacks, they create a tapped and attacking 1/1 Human token for each opponent. As Commander is a multiplayer format, Adeline is capable of creating three tokens per turn.

11

Sigarda, Heron’s Grace

Look To The Skies For Saving

The first of several Selesnya Human kindred commanders on this list, Sigard, Heron’s Grace, is a creature that offers great protection for Humans under its owner’s control. Though not a Human itself, Sigarda is a 4/5 Angel with flying for four mana that offers its control and Humans they control with hexproof.

While Sigarda itself lacks hexproof, this offers great coverage that prevents key cards from being removed as long as Sigarda is still around. For the cost of two mana, Sigarda is even capable of creating a 1/1 Human token by exiling a card from its controller’s graveyard.

10

Torens, Fist Of The Angels

Train Even Harder

Torens, Fist of the Angels appeared in Innistrad: Crimson Vow. A Selesnya 2/2 Human Cleric for three mana, Torens has access to the training ability. This means that over the course of a game, Torens can grow in power with very little effort.

Most notably, whenever you cast a creature spell, you create a 1/1 Human token with training. This means that whenever you cast a Human, you receive two Humans instead, functioning quite well with kindred-based cards that are more effective with large quantities of creatures.

9

Jirina Kudro

A Token Machine

A Maru Human kindred commander that was printed in Commander 2020, Jirina Kudro is a simple yet effective option for an aggressive Human deck that offers access to three colors.

A 3/3 for four mana, when Jirina enters the battlefield, its controller creates a 1/1 Human token for each time Jirina had been cast throughout the game. This means that each subsequent cast will net more and more Humans. While 1/1 tokens are far from worth writing home about, Jirina provides all other Humans with +2/+0, meaning even these small tokens can efficiently deal noteworthy damage.

8

Saskia The Unyielding

Four-Color Synergies

Saskia the Unyielding is an excellent option for a Human kindred commander for those who wish to have access to every color save for blue. For four mana, Saskia is a 3/4 Human Warrior with vigilance and haste that has its controller choose a player when it enters the battlefield.

Whenever a creature under your control would deal damage to a player, it also deals that much damage to the chosen player. Not only does this mean that your Humans can deal damage to a defensive player by simply attacking another opponent, but if the chosen player is attacked, they effectively sustain twice as much damage. While Saskia lacks any specific Human kindred synergies, its color access and aggressive nature make it a solid choice for the tribe.

7

Katilda, Dawnhart Prime

She Does Pleny

An incredibly underrated Selesnya commander, Katilda, Dawnhart Prime is an efficient Human kindred commander capable of generating impressive quantities of mana. A 1/1 Human Warlock with protection from Werewolves for the low cost of two mana, Katilda allows all Humans under its owner’s control to be tapped to produce one mana of any color.

This means that when paired with Human token generators and low-mana Humans, Katilda can provide a substantial mana ramp. This creature even provides an outlet for all this mana, allowing six mana to be spent to put a +1/+1 counter on each Human its owner controls.

6

Caesar, Legion’s Emperor

They’re Disposable

Attacking is all Caesar, Legion’s Emperor, cares about and for good reason. When Caesar attacks, you get to pick two of three options if you choose to sacrifice a creature along with the attack. Your choices are:

• Make two 1/1 red and white Soldier creature tokens with haste, and they come into play tapped and attacking.
• You can draw a card and lose one life.
• Caesar will deal damage equal to the number of creature tokens you control to any opponent.

You can push some serious damage with Ceasar, especially if you spend a few turns racking up the tokens and then launching into Caesar’s final ability. With plenty of ways to multiply the number of tokens you make, you can put your army to good use.

5

Winota, Joiner Of Forces

A Mix Of Everything

A Boros commander option for four mana, Winota, Joiner of Forces uniquely incentivizes you to build a deck that contains a high number of Human and non-Human creatures alike.

This is because whenever a non-Human creature you control attacks, you get to look at the top six cards of their library and put a tapped, attacking Human directly onto the battlefield. It even provides them with indestructible until the end of the turn. This allows you to cheat several Humans into play while ignoring mana costs, offering card advantage in an aggressive manner.

4

Rick, Steadfast Leader / Greymond, Avacyn’s Stalwart

Humans Within And Beyond

Perhaps the most polarizing entry on this list, Rick, Steadfast Leader is a mono-white Human kindred commander that was printed as a part of Secret Lair x The Walking Dead. A 3/4 Human Soldier for four mana, upon entering the battlefield, Rick’s controller chooses two abilities from among first strike, vigilance, and lifelink, providing all Humans under their control with the chosen abilities.

While flexible access to useful keywords is already quite potent, as long as Rick’s owner controls four or more Humans, all Humans under their control get +2/+2. This provides a substantial boost to your damage output.

3

Aragorn, King Of Gondor

The Return Of The King

One of the most powerful Monarch commanders around also makes for a very strong Human kindred commander. Aragorn, King of Gondor, is a blue, red, and white creature that has a tricky ability that can slip a ton of damage past your opponent’s defenses when they’re least expecting it. Aragorn makes you the monarch, which is a fun ability that crowns you as the king, at least until an opponent deals combat damage to you.

As the monarch though, you can have all your creatures become unblockable when Aragorn attacks. Otherwise, Aragorn can make it so just one creature can’t attack. Having an unblockable army and commander gives you a few different options, pumping up Aragorn and winning through Commander Damage or a massive wave of Humans.

2

Kyler, Sigardian Emissary

Watch Those Counters Grow

For those looking to deal substantial damage with their Humans, Kyler, Sigardian Emissary may be the commander for you. A 2/2 Human Cleric for five mana, whenever another Human enters the battlefield under its owner’s control, a +1/+1 counter is put on Kyler. While this ability would be solid by itself, it is made significantly more impactful by the fact that other Humans under its owner’s control get +1/+1 for each counter on Kyler.

This means that when paired with sizable quantities of Human tokens, other efficient Humans, or even proliferating effects, Kyler can cause even the smallest of Human tokens to become sizable threats.

1

Eowyn, Shieldmaiden

A True Powerhouse

Five mana is a touch higher than many other commanders on this list, but few can provide quite as much power in a single turn as Eowyn, Shieldmaiden. This 5/4 creature with first strike has a very strong combat trigger that has a very easy condition to fulfill to make the most of it.

If you have had a creature come into play before you choose to attack, Eowyn makes two 2/2 Human Knight tokens that have both trample and haste.

If you have six or more Humans out when the trigger resolves, you also get to draw a card. So that’s four power split across two creatures and some card advantage packed into a single creature. Eowyn synergizes with token strategies, excels with multiple combat tricks, and works nicely with any sort of enter-the-battlefield triggers to put you ahead of your opponents.