Art: Aurore Folny · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast
Niko, Light of Hope
WULegendary Creature — Human Wizard · from $0.37
When Niko enters, create two Shard tokens. (They're enchantments with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Scry 1, then draw a card.")
{2}, {T}: Exile target nonlegendary creature you control. Shards you control become copies of it until the next end step. Return it to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
A typical Commander deck
A starting template, not a rule — counts to fill in around the commander.
- Lands3736–38 for most decks; fewer with cheap curves
- Ramp10mana rocks, dorks, land ramp — mostly 2–3 mana
- Card draw10repeatable engines beat one-shot cantrips
- Targeted removal6answers for creatures AND artifacts/enchantments
- Board wipes3sweepers reset boards you've lost
- Synergy & win conditions33the deck's actual plan
Staples in these colors
The 100 cards that fit this color identity in the most EDHREC decklists (EDHREC rank via Scryfall).
Budget
51 of 100 at $5 or less · 31 at $1 or less
| # | Card | Type | MV | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sol Ring | Artifact | 1 | $1.07 |
| 2 | Command Tower | Land | 0 | $0.26 |
| 3 | Arcane Signet | Artifact | 2 | $0.34 |
| 4 | Exotic Orchard | Land | 0 | $0.19 |
| 5 | Reliquary Tower | Land | 0 | $4.28 |
| 6 | Swords to Plowshares | Instant | 1 | $0.98 |
| 7 | Swiftfoot Boots | Artifact | 2 | $1.43 |
| 8 | Lightning Greaves | Artifact | 2 | $3.86 |
| 9 | Path of Ancestry | Land | 0 | $0.16 |
| 10 | Path to Exile | Instant | 1 | $0.71 |
| 11 | Counterspell | Instant | 2 | $1.33 |
| 12 | Fellwar Stone | Artifact | 2 | $0.47 |
| 13 | Rogue's Passage | Land | 0 | $0.31 |
| 14 | Evolving Wilds | Land | 0 | $0.09 |
| 15 | Thought Vessel | Artifact | 2 | $2.23 |
| 16 | Terramorphic Expanse | Land | 0 | $0.10 |
| 17 | Myriad Landscape | Land | 0 | $0.25 |
| 18 | Mind Stone | Artifact | 2 | $0.21 |
| 19 | An Offer You Can't Refuse | Instant | 1 | $3.01 |
| 20 | Polluted Delta | Land | 0 | $19.85 |
| 21 | Flooded Strand | Land | 0 | $12.78 |
| 22 | Skullclamp | Artifact | 1 | $4.85 |
| 23 | Solemn Simulacrum | Creature | 4 | $0.27 |
| 24 | Misty Rainforest | Land | 0 | $35.98 |
| 25 | Bloodstained Mire | Land | 0 | $14.54 |
| 26 | Fabled Passage | Land | 0 | $0.65 |
| 27 | Windswept Heath | Land | 0 | $11.19 |
| 28 | Rhystic Study | Enchantment | 3 | $61.06 |
| 29 | Wooded Foothills | Land | 0 | $17.96 |
| 30 | Verdant Catacombs | Land | 0 | $29.16 |
| 31 | Scalding Tarn | Land | 0 | $36.86 |
| 32 | Marsh Flats | Land | 0 | $32.04 |
| 33 | Arcane Denial | Instant | 2 | $1.88 |
| 34 | Commander's Sphere | Artifact | 3 | $0.19 |
| 35 | Negate | Instant | 2 | $0.12 |
| 36 | Arid Mesa | Land | 0 | $31.40 |
| 37 | Cyclonic Rift | Instant | 2 | $29.75 |
| 38 | Hallowed Fountain | Land | 0 | $6.97 |
| 39 | Generous Gift | Instant | 3 | $0.93 |
| 40 | Smothering Tithe | Enchantment | 4 | $56.09 |
| 41 | Swan Song | Instant | 1 | $10.72 |
| 42 | Ancient Tomb | Land | 0 | $56.94 |
| 43 | Brainstorm | Instant | 1 | $0.56 |
| 44 | Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth | Land | 0 | $56.13 |
| 45 | Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth | Land | 0 | $16.76 |
| 46 | Esper Sentinel | Creature | 1 | $58.03 |
| 47 | Fierce Guardianship | Instant | 3 | $59.21 |
| 48 | Temple of the False God | Land | 0 | $0.19 |
| 49 | Chromatic Lantern | Artifact | 3 | $0.38 |
| 50 | Otawara, Soaring City | Land | 0 | $26.57 |
| 51 | Glacial Fortress | Land | 0 | $0.21 |
| 52 | City of Brass | Land | 0 | $9.17 |
| 53 | The One Ring | Artifact | 4 | $109.88 |
| 54 | Frantic Search | Instant | 3 | $0.82 |
| 55 | Mystic Remora | Enchantment | 1 | $10.97 |
| 56 | Prairie Stream | Land | 0 | $0.19 |
| 57 | Teferi's Protection | Instant | 3 | $34.90 |
| 58 | Cavern of Souls | Land | 0 | $47.72 |
| 59 | Propaganda | Enchantment | 3 | $1.84 |
| 60 | Mana Confluence | Land | 0 | $34.75 |
| 61 | Urza's Saga | Enchantment | 0 | $34.67 |
| 62 | Mana Drain | Instant | 2 | $50.65 |
| 63 | Lotus Petal | Artifact | 0 | $35.11 |
| 64 | Enlightened Tutor | Instant | 1 | $21.99 |
| 65 | Wayfarer's Bauble | Artifact | 1 | $0.31 |
| 66 | Roaming Throne | Creature | 4 | $47.06 |
| 67 | Ashnod's Altar | Artifact | 3 | $8.15 |
| 68 | Talisman of Progress | Artifact | 2 | $0.25 |
| 69 | War Room | Land | 0 | $0.79 |
| 70 | Adarkar Wastes | Land | 0 | $0.34 |
| 71 | Ponder | Sorcery | 1 | $1.82 |
| 72 | Herald's Horn | Artifact | 3 | $2.88 |
| 73 | Mana Vault | Artifact | 1 | $91.59 |
| 74 | Pongify | Instant | 1 | $2.21 |
| 75 | Chrome Mox | Artifact | 0 | $51.19 |
| 76 | Windfall | Sorcery | 3 | $4.78 |
| 77 | Ghostly Prison | Enchantment | 3 | $5.72 |
| 78 | Mystical Tutor | Instant | 1 | $14.99 |
| 79 | Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx | Land | 0 | $45.68 |
| 80 | Sea of Clouds | Land | 0 | $19.56 |
| 81 | Reflecting Pool | Land | 0 | $5.50 |
| 82 | Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs | Instant | 3 | $9.68 |
| 83 | Austere Command | Sorcery | 6 | $0.33 |
| 84 | Flawless Maneuver | Instant | 3 | $9.24 |
| 85 | Mystic Sanctuary | Land | 0 | $1.01 |
| 86 | Farewell | Sorcery | 6 | $4.44 |
| 87 | Three Tree City | Land | 0 | $29.09 |
| 88 | Gemstone Caverns | Land | 0 | $62.05 |
| 89 | Command Beacon | Land | 0 | $7.99 |
| 90 | Akroma's Will | Instant | 4 | $16.21 |
| 91 | Idol of Oblivion | Artifact | 2 | $2.40 |
| 92 | Prismatic Vista | Land | 0 | $28.10 |
| 93 | Buried Ruin | Land | 0 | $0.38 |
| 94 | Thran Dynamo | Artifact | 4 | $1.94 |
| 95 | Force of Will | Instant | 5 | $26.56 |
| 96 | Stroke of Midnight | Instant | 3 | $0.20 |
| 97 | Patchwork Banner | Artifact | 3 | $1.52 |
| 98 | Mox Amber | Artifact | 0 | $86.45 |
| 99 | Karn's Bastion | Land | 0 | $2.51 |
| 100 | Rapid Hybridization | Instant | 1 | $0.81 |
Curve of these staples
4
0
16
1
13
2
16
3
6
4
1
5
2
6
7+
Most played with Niko, Light of Hope
The 25 most-played cards in 5 settled top-16 lists running Niko, Light of Hope at 16+ player events since Mar 13, 2026, ranked by lists played — top-4 counts shown for context. Results from Topdeck.gg.
| # | Card | Played in | Top 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adarkar Wastes | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 2 | Arcane Signet | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 3 | Azorius Signet | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 4 | Bender's Waterskin | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Candlekeep Sage | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Cloudshift | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 7 | Command Tower | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 8 | Curiosity Crafter | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 9 | Dour Port-Mage | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 10 | Dream Trawler | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 11 | Entity Tracker | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 12 | Ephemerate | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 13 | Essence Flux | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 14 | Ghostway | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 15 | Glacial Fortress | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 16 | Hero of Bladehold | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 17 | Irrigated Farmland | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 18 | Island | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 19 | Parting Gust | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 20 | Plains | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 21 | Prairie Stream | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 22 | Reliquary Tower | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 23 | Silent Hallcreeper | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 24 | Skybind | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
| 25 | Skycloud Expanse | 100% · 5 of 5 | 4 |
Combos with Niko, Light of Hope
The 10 most popular of 13 combos (by EDHREC decklist count) using this commander that fit its color identity, from Commander Spellbook.
Niko, Light of Hope + Soulherder + Timestream Navigator
Infinite turns · Lock
Niko, Light of Hope + Teleportation Circle + Timestream Navigator
Infinite turns · Lock
Niko, Light of Hope + Thassa, Deep-Dwelling + Timestream Navigator
Infinite turns · Lock
Conjurer's Closet + Niko, Light of Hope + Timestream Navigator
Infinite turns · Lock
Brago, King Eternal + Niko, Light of Hope + Timestream Navigator
Infinite turns · Lock
Deadeye Navigator + Niko, Light of Hope + Timestream Navigator
Infinite turns · Lock
Airbender Ascension + Niko, Light of Hope + Timestream Navigator
Infinite turns · Lock
Eldrazi Displacer + Niko, Light of Hope + Timestream Navigator
Infinite turns · Lock
Niko, Light of Hope + Timestream Navigator + Y'shtola Rhul
Infinite turns · Lock
Niko, Light of Hope + The Mind Stone + Timestream Navigator
Infinite turns · Lock
Top finishes
5 finishes placing top 16 at 16+ player events with this commander. Results from Topdeck.gg.
- 11th of 19 — Commander Casual - Magic Barcelona on Topdeck.ggJul 31, 2026 · 0–2–0 · by Mauro LB
- 3rd of 20 — Commander Casual - Magic Barcelona on Topdeck.ggJul 24, 2026 · 1–1–0 · by Mauro LB
- 2nd of 18 — Commander Casual - Magic Barcelona on Topdeck.ggJun 26, 2026 · 1–1–0 · by Mauro LB
- 2nd of 19 — Commander Budget - Magic Barcelona on Topdeck.ggMay 23, 2026 · 1–1–0 · by Arnau Castelló Garcia
- 1st of 21 — Magic Barcelona - Commander Casual on Topdeck.ggMar 13, 2026 · 1–1–0 · by Mauro LB
Card data and images courtesy of Scryfall; popularity ranking from EDHREC decklist data included in Scryfall bulk. Combo data courtesy of Commander Spellbook. Tournament results courtesy of Topdeck.gg. Deckwarden is unofficial Fan Content and is not endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.