EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander), also known as Commander, is the perfect format for custom Magic cards. With its casual nature and focus on unique strategies, many playgroups welcome custom commanders and cards. This guide covers everything you need to know about creating custom cards for EDH.

Why Custom Cards Work in EDH

EDH is ideal for custom cards because:

Casual format - More flexible than competitive formats
Unique strategies - Custom cards enable new archetypes
Playgroup approval - Groups can set their own rules
Creative expression - Design cards that fit your playstyle
Testing ground - Try new mechanics safely

Understanding EDH Design Principles

Power Level Considerations

EDH cards should be:

Powerful but fair - Strong enough to matter, not broken
Interactive - Encourage gameplay, not solitaire
Balanced - Comparable to real EDH cards
Fun - Enhance the game experience

Typical EDH Card Costs

Commanders: Usually 3-6 mana
Ramp: 1-4 mana
Removal: 2-5 mana
Bombs: 6+ mana for big effects

Designing Custom Commanders

Commander Design Checklist

A good EDH commander should:

Enable a strategy - Support a specific archetype
Be castable - Reasonable mana cost (usually 3-6)
Provide value - Worth building around
Be unique - Offer something new
Be balanced - Not too powerful or weak

Commander Color Identity

Choose colors that:

Support your strategy
Provide necessary tools
Match your playstyle
Fit your deck's needs

Examples:

Aggro: Red, White, or Red-White
Control: Blue, Black, or Blue-Black
Ramp: Green or Green-X
Combo: Usually multicolor

Commander Ability Design

Example - Aggro Commander: "Whenever you attack with three or more creatures, draw a card and each attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn."

Example - Value Commander: "Whenever you cast your second spell each turn, create a 1/1 token and you gain 1 life."

Example - Combo Enabler: "

: Add one mana of any color. Spend this mana only to cast spells with converted mana cost 3 or less."

Designing Support Cards

Ramp Cards

Custom ramp for EDH:

Mana dorks: 1-2 mana creatures that tap for mana
Ramp spells: 2-4 mana spells that fetch lands
Rocks: Artifacts that produce mana
Land-based: Cards that put lands into play

Removal Cards

Custom removal options:

Flexible removal: "Destroy target creature or planeswalker"
Conditional removal: "Destroy target creature with power 4 or greater"
Repeatable removal: Activated abilities on permanents

Card Draw

Custom card draw:

Conditional draw: "Draw a card if you control three or more creatures"
Repeatable draw: "At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card"
Synergy draw: "Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery, draw a card"

Power Level Guidelines

Low Power (Battlecruiser)

Simple, straightforward effects
Moderate power level
No infinite combos
Focus on fun interactions

Example: "Creatures you control get +1/+1."

Mid Power (Focused)

Strong but fair effects
Enables strategies
Some combo potential
Interactive gameplay

Example: "Whenever you cast a spell, if it's your second spell this turn, draw a card."

High Power (Optimized)

Powerful effects
Strong synergies
Combo potential
Requires answers

Example: "Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay

. If you do, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy."

Common EDH Mechanics

Themed Abilities

Tribal: Support specific creature types
Artifact/Enchantment: Focus on permanent types
Spellslinger: Reward casting spells
Graveyard: Interact with graveyard

Value Engines

Card draw: Consistent card advantage
Token generation: Create board presence
Mana generation: Ramp and acceleration
Recursion: Return cards from graveyard

Win Conditions

Combat: Large creatures or many tokens
Combo: Infinite or near-infinite loops
Alternate: Win through card text
Value: Overwhelm with advantage

Playgroup Considerations

Getting Approval

Before using custom cards:

Ask your playgroup - Get explicit permission
Show the cards - Let others see what you're using
Explain the purpose - Why you want to use them
Be flexible - Willing to adjust or remove if needed

Power Level Matching

Ensure custom cards:

Match your playgroup's power level
Don't dominate games
Encourage fun interactions
Are answerable by opponents

Transparency

Always:

Clearly mark custom cards
Explain what they do before playing
Allow opponents to read them
Be honest about their effects

Design Examples

Example 1: Aggro Commander

Name: Valen, Battle Leader Cost:

Type: Legendary Creature — Human Warrior Stats: 3/3 Text: "Whenever you attack, if you attacked with three or more creatures this turn, creatures you control get +2/+0 until end of turn."

Analysis: Enables aggro strategy, reasonable cost, provides value, balanced power level.

Example 2: Value Commander

Name: Thalia, Arcane Scholar Cost:

Type: Legendary Creature — Human Wizard Stats: 2/3 Text: "Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, if it's your second spell this turn, draw a card and create a 1/1 Spirit token."

Analysis: Rewards spellslinging, provides card advantage and tokens, balanced for mid-power.

Example 3: Combo Enabler

Name: Zara, Mana Weaver Cost:

Type: Legendary Creature — Elf Druid Stats: 1/3 Text: "

: Add one mana of any color. Spend this mana only to cast spells with converted mana cost 3 or less. Whenever you tap ~ for mana, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card."

Analysis: Provides mana fixing, enables low-cost strategies, includes card selection, balanced with discard.

Testing Custom Cards

Goldfishing

Test your custom cards by:

Playing solitaire games
Testing mana curves
Checking card interactions
Verifying power level

Playtesting

Test with your playgroup:

Start with one custom card
Get feedback from opponents
Adjust power level if needed
Iterate based on results

Iteration

Refine your designs:

Adjust costs if too strong/weak
Modify abilities based on feedback
Simplify if too complex
Balance for your playgroup

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Too Powerful

Mistake: Creating unbeatable cards Fix: Include weaknesses or costs Example: Add mana costs, life payments, or restrictions

Too Weak

Mistake: Cards that never matter Fix: Increase power level appropriately Example: Make effects more impactful

Too Complex

Mistake: Overly complicated text Fix: Simplify to essential effects Example: Reduce number of abilities

Not Fun

Mistake: Cards that frustrate opponents Fix: Focus on positive gameplay Example: Reward your strategy, don't just punish others

Resources for EDH Design

Reference Real Cards

EDHREC - See popular commanders and cards
Scryfall - Search for similar effects
Commander format guides - Understand the format
Power level guides - Match your playgroup

Design Tools

TCGCustom - Create your custom cards
Magic Set Editor - Alternative tool
Custom card communities - Get feedback

Creating Custom Sets for EDH

Themed Sets

Design sets around:

Specific strategies
Creature types
Mechanics
Flavor themes

Power Level Consistency

Ensure all cards:

Match intended power level
Work well together
Don't create broken combos
Are fun to play

Conclusion

Creating custom Magic cards for EDH is a rewarding way to enhance your Commander experience. Focus on balanced design, get playgroup approval, and iterate based on feedback. Use TCGCustom to bring your custom EDH cards to life, and remember: the goal is to have fun and create memorable gameplay experiences.

Whether you're designing a custom commander, support cards, or entire custom sets, keep power level, playgroup preferences, and fun in mind. With careful design and testing, your custom cards can become beloved additions to your EDH games.

How to Create Custom Magic Cards for EDH/Commander