Saruman, the White Hand
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Legendary Creature — Avatar Wizard

Grixis spellslinger that builds a huge Orc Army from noncreature spells, then wipes the board around it.
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Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, Saruman amasses Orcs X, where X is that spell's mana value. That puts X +1/+1 counters on your Army, creating a 0/0 Orc Army token first if you don't have one. Goblins and Orcs you control have ward {2}, which makes the Army costly to remove. The deck rewards expensive spells, since a big sorcery grows the Army by its full mana value. Spell copying adds even more counters.
In the recorded games, board wipes did most of the work. Widespread Brutality amassed and then hit every non-Army creature, leaving the Army standing. Blasphemous Act reset the board when Saruman fell behind, and every big spell after it rebuilt the Army quickly. Chandra's Ignition with a big Army cleared the table and could finish players outright, and Thermo-Alchemist added damage on the side. In at least one game the deck never built a meaningful board, so slow draws without enough spells left Saruman as just a 2/5.
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Videos
Commander gameplay videos featuring Saruman, the White Hand.
We Play Our Favorite Characters! w/@ManaCurves | Magic: The Gathering Commander Gameplay EDH I EP 3
Middle-Earth Precon Showdown | Sunday Commander 7 | Magic Gathering EDH Gameplay | Lord of the Rings
Commander Showdown EP46: Mr. House vs Massacre Girl vs Saruman vs Obuun [EDH gameplay] #mtg
EDH Gameplay | Partner Pride | Obeka-Thassa v Mothman-Mirko v Sauron-Saruman v Haktos-Raiyuu | EP28
HOW BIG IS THAT ARMY? | Worst Possible Commander Show | Shelob, Aragorn, Nazgul, Sarumon #68
Lord of the Rings | $100 Budget Commander | EDH Gameplay Ep 26
Private video
Saruman vs Éowyn vs Frodo | Sam vs Sauron EDH / CMDR game play
Unskilled Chaos! Chaotic Commander Pure Chaos ft @UrCastPod @theunskilledcommander MTG EDH
Fan (Re)Quests | Commander VS | Magic: the Gathering Gameplay
Brackets
Brackets let a table agree on how strong their decks are before shuffling up, so a cEDH list doesn't land in a casual pod. Pick one to see what Saruman, the White Hand decks at that level play.
- 1
- Exhibition: theme first, winning second
- 2
- Core: roughly preconstructed deck power
- 3
- Upgraded: tuned decks, up to three Game Changers
- 4
- Optimized: high power, anything goes
- 5
- cEDH: built to win in competitive play
Budget
$ shows the cheapest Saruman, the White Hand builds, $$$ the most expensive ones.
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New Cards
Fresh cards from recent sets that players are experimenting with in Saruman, the White Hand decks.
High Synergy Cards
Cards that work exceptionally well with Saruman, the White Hand's abilities and overall game plan.
Orcish Siegemaster
Summons of Saruman
Treason of Isengard
Foray of Orcs
Saruman's Trickery
Barad-dûr
Flame of Anor
Orcish Medicine
Widespread BrutalityTop Cards
The most popular and reliable cards that form the backbone of successful Saruman, the White Hand decks.
Orcish Siegemaster
Summons of Saruman
Treason of Isengard
Foray of Orcs
Saruman's Trickery
Flame of Anor
Orcish Medicine
Blasphemous Act
Feed the Swarm
Arcane DenialGame Changers
Powerful cards that can single-handedly turn the tide of a game when resolved.
Orcish Bowmasters
Notion Thief
The One Ring
Jeska's Will
Mystical Tutor
Rhystic Study
Fierce Guardianship
Cyclonic Rift
Demonic TutorCreatures
Essential creatures that complement Saruman, the White Hand's strategy through synergy, utility, or raw power.
Corsairs of Umbar
Guttersnipe
Bothersome Noisemaker
Goblin Electromancer
Warg Rider
Harmonic Prodigy
Archmage Emeritus
Orcish Bowmasters
Moria Scavenger
Treasure Nabber
Goblin Dark-Dwellers
Great Ugly-Looking Goblin
Misty Mountains Raider
Dunland Crebain
Archmage of Runes
Gleaming Overseer
Fearsome Goblin Pair
Notion Thief
Storm-Kiln Artist
Moria Marauder
Siege-Gang Commander
Cavern-Hoard Dragon
Stormcatch Mentor
Anger
Hostage Taker
Hexing Squelcher
Nightscape FamiliarInstants
Key instant-speed responses for protection, removal, and keeping Saruman, the White Hand safe.
Fling
Lazotep Plating
Consider
Commence the Endgame
Kazuul's Fury
Fact or Fiction
Dig Through Time
Thrill of Possibility
Mana Sculpt
Press the Enemy
Deceive the Messenger
Temur Battle Rage
Sauron's Ransom
Bitter Downfall
Forbidden Alchemy
Frantic Search
Opt
Display of Power
Mystic Confluence
Nasty End
Glorious Gale
Brainstorm
Bolt Bend
Go for the Throat
Negate
Waterlogged Teachings
Flashback
Big Score
The Last Agni Kai
Fell the Profane
Seething Song
Counterspell
Abrade
Sink into Stupor
Unexpected Windfall
Deadly Rollick
Lightning Bolt
Bedevil
Mana Drain
Withering Torment
Rakdos Charm
Swan Song
Mystical Tutor
Deflecting Swat
Fierce Guardianship
Cyclonic Rift
Terminate
An Offer You Can't Refuse
Chaos Warp
Dark RitualSorceries
Important sorcery spells that advance Saruman, the White Hand's game plan and control the board.
Widespread Brutality
Chandra's Ignition
Assault on Osgiliath
Deep Analysis
Ringsight
Surrounded by Orcs
Rage into the Valley
Mordor Muster
Swarming of Moria
Treasure Cruise
Wake the Dragon
Tidings of War
Gathering of Darkness
Subjugate the Hobbits
Languish
Too Greedily, Too Deep
Extract from Darkness
Faithless Looting
Call Forth the Tempest
Soul Immolation
Lidless Gaze
Lórien Revealed
Boon of the Wish-Giver
Decree of Pain
Isengard Unleashed
Preordain
The Torment of Gollum
Enter the God-Eternals
Mizzix's Mastery
Improvisation Capstone
Decorum Dissertation
Ponder
Sorcerous Squall
Mana Geyser
Honor the God-Pharaoh
Night's Whisper
Claim the Precious
Fire of Orthanc
Enter the Enigma
Birthday Escape
Expressive Iteration
Stock Up
Living Death
Diabolic Tutor
Reanimate
Jeska's Will
Vandalblast
Toxic Deluge
Demonic Tutor
WindfallUtility Artifacts
Versatile artifacts that provide ongoing value, card selection, or strategic advantages.
Wizard's Staff
Glamdring, Foe-hammer
The Ozolith
Goblin Plate Mail
Palantír of Orthanc
Glamdring
Shadowspear
The One Ring
My Precious
Mithril Coat
Mindsplice Apparatus
The Reaver Cleaver
Primal Amulet
Mask of Griselbrand
Embercleave
Maskwood Nexus
Whispersilk Cloak
Wayfarer's Bauble
Swiftfoot Boots
Lightning GreavesEnchantments
Powerful enchantments that support Saruman, the White Hand's strategy and create lasting battlefield effects.
Fiery Inscription
March from the Black Gate
Dreadhorde Invasion
Fall of Cair Andros
Storm of Saruman
Book of Mazarbul
All Will Be One
Uncover the Moon-Letters
In the Darkness Bind Them
Shark Typhoon
Along the Crooked Way
Arcane Bombardment
Call of the Ring
Revenge of Ravens
Spiteful Banditry
Rite of the Dragoncaller
Shiny Impetus
Down, Down to Goblin-town
There and Back Again
One Ring to Rule Them All
Phyrexian Arena
Black Market Connections
Propaganda
Rhystic Study
Mystic RemoraPlaneswalkers
Planeswalkers that work alongside Saruman, the White Hand to provide ongoing value and board presence.
Angrath, Captain of ChaosUtility Lands
Non-basic lands that offer additional utility beyond just mana production.
Barad-dûr
The Black Gate
Rogue's Passage
Desolate Lighthouse
Field of Ruin
Mines of Moria
Minas Morgul, Dark Fortress
Rivendell
Boseiju, Who Shelters All
Mystic Sanctuary
Lindblum, Industrial Regency
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Bojuka Bog
Otawara, Soaring City
Reliquary TowerMana Artifacts
Artifacts focused on mana acceleration and color fixing for consistent gameplay.
Relic of Sauron
Commander's Sphere
Mind Stone
Worn Powerstone
Resonating Lute
Everflowing Chalice
Tablet of Discovery
Basalt Monolith
Inherited Envelope
Arcane Signet
Chromatic Lantern
Izzet Signet
Sol Ring
Dimir Signet
Rakdos Signet
Talisman of Creativity
Thought Vessel
Fellwar Stone
Talisman of Indulgence
Talisman of DominanceLands
The mana base foundation for Saruman, the White Hand decks, ensuring smooth and reliable mana development.
Frostboil Snarl
Choked Estuary
Foreboding Ruins
Kazuul's Fury
Sulfurous Springs
Sulfur Falls
Underground River
Smoldering Marsh
Sunken Hollow
Evolving Wilds
Dragonskull Summit
Crumbling Necropolis
Drowned Catacomb
Terramorphic Expanse
Mount Doom
Goblin-town
Path of Ancestry
Mountain
Island
Swamp
Waterlogged Teachings
Cascade Bluffs
Fell the Profane
Seething Landscape
Myriad Landscape
Command Tower
Temple of Epiphany
Sink into Stupor
Izzet Boilerworks
Temple of Malice
Shivan Reef
Dimir Aqueduct
Temple of Deceit
Darkwater Catacombs
Stormcarved Coast
Haunted Ridge
Shipwreck Marsh
Volcanic Island
Badlands
Training Center
Xander's Lounge
Morphic Pool
Luxury Suite
Scalding Tarn
Exotic Orchard
Polluted Delta
Bloodstained Mire
Steam Vents
Blood Crypt
Watery GraveSaruman, the White Hand Deck Stats
Based on 11,846 Saruman, the White Hand decks.
| Mana value | Cards |
|---|---|
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 19 |
| 3 | 16 |
| 4 | 11 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 6 | 2 |
| 7 | 1 |
| 8 | 1 |
| 9 | 1 |
- Creature 16
- Instant 15
- Sorcery 15
- Artifact 11
- Enchantment 6
- Planeswalker 1
- Land 35
| Card type | Cards |
|---|---|
| Creature | 16 |
| Instant | 15 |
| Sorcery | 15 |
| Artifact | 11 |
| Enchantment | 6 |
| Planeswalker | 1 |
| Land | 35 |
Lands: 16 basic, 19 nonbasic
| Month | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 216 |
| 2024-11 | 230 |
| 2024-12 | 233 |
| 2025-01 | 197 |
| 2025-02 | 254 |
| 2025-03 | 185 |
| 2025-04 | 246 |
| 2025-05 | 224 |
| 2025-06 | 211 |
| 2025-07 | 199 |
| 2025-08 | 223 |
| 2025-09 | 217 |
| 2025-10 | 218 |
| 2025-11 | 299 |
| 2025-12 | 240 |
| 2026-01 | 264 |
| 2026-02 | 278 |
| 2026-03 | 238 |
| 2026-04 | 248 |
| 2026-05 | 229 |
| 2026-06 | 271 |
| 2026-07 | 196 |
| 2026-08 | 102 |
| 2026-09 | 77 |
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