Emeritus of WoeEmeritus of Woe | Art by Jodie Muir

Are you a fan of salty food? A good potato chip, or maybe a nice hot pretzel? Everyone likes a different amount of salt on their food, just as everyone enjoys a different level of salt in their game of Commander. Every year, EDHREC puts out a vote to gauge how un-fun (i.e., salty) cards are to play against. That vote is then turned into the Salt Score, and every single year the same type of cards rise to the top of the rankings. But should they? I have taken it upon myself to tell you, the community: you got it wrong!

That's right, the 2025 votes may be in, but they are not as salty as you think. So let's change up the seasoning of this dish while I tell you the 10 High-Salt Cards the Community Got Wrong last year.

The Cards

Cyclonic RiftCyclonic Rift

Salt Score: 2.36

Time to start with the biggest and baddest card on the list: Cyclonic RiftCyclonic Rift. One of the saltiest cards year after year, a card on the Game Changers list, and a constant topic of a card that should be banned. So why would I say that the community got this one wrong?

There are a few reasons. The first is a bit of a memory issue. There was a time when Cyclonic Rift might have been the single best card in Commander. Today, I don't think that could be said with any real seriousness. Crazy cards are printed multiple times a year, and while Rift is still good, it has fallen off as the years go on.

Secondly, people play this card wrong all the time. While overloading this card and bouncing everyone's boards, using this as just a bounce spell is often better than hoping you can hold out and get to the overload.

Lastly, decks today don't need to branch out to as many permanent types as they used to when searching for specific effects.

Redundancy in card effects means that for some decks it might be better to run cards like EvacuationEvacuation or Wash OutWash Out and get that Game Changer slot back.

Aura ShardsAura Shards

Salt Score: 2.18

When was the last time that you saw this card in play? When you did, how long did it take for the person controlling this card to stop using it?

I'd say the answer to my first question is no, and the answer to the second is very quickly.

The easiest reason the community got this card's salt rating wrong is that it comes with a may ability. Most decks would be better off running creatures or single-target removal to pick off pesky artifacts and enchantments.

You don't need this card in your decks. If anything, it puts a massive target on your back for the other three players because the effect is strong, but the person who should be salty about it is the card's controller.

MindslaverMindslaver

Salt Score: 1.98

The only situation where this card should be considered salty is if a player can loop it and turn a Commander game into a true game of solitaire.

I'll admit I don't like my turn being stolen, but when you get down to the nitty-gritty of it, this card is not that much different than someone taking all your creatures with InsurrectionInsurrection. If a player wanted to make a four-player pod a single-player experience, they should just play cards like Temporal ManipulationTemporal Manipulation or Nexus of FateNexus of Fate.

Cards like Mindslaver and others sharing the same effects (Worst FearsWorst Fears and Emrakul, the Promised EndEmrakul, the Promised End) make for some of the most memorable game moments.

Deadpool, Trading CardDeadpool, Trading Card

Salt Score: 1.90

Is this card a bit of an annoyance? Yes, but not for the reason that you want it to be.

The effect is pretty trivial. When used on your commander, it is about the same as getting hit with a Darksteel MutationDarksteel Mutation or a Song of the DryadsSong of the Dryads. What actually makes you think this card is salty is the strategy that often dominates red deck strategies: clones.

Yes, you are reading that correctly: clones in red. While blue will never be outdone when it comes to clones, just look at some of the top commanders for the strategy.

My point is that you don't hate Deadpool, Trading Card, because it is good. You hate playing against clones, and to a lesser extent, you might hate this card because it is a Universes Beyond card, and I don't have time to get into that.

BoilBoil / Boiling SeasBoiling Seas / TsunamiTsunami

Salt Score: 1.87 / 1.76 / 1.64

For as much as people say they hate the color blue, I was surprised that all of these destroy-all-Island cards were not higher on the list.

Could it be that all of these cards are bad? Or maybe, thanks to the Bracket system, mass land destruction is relegated to Bracket 4 and above, and these cards are even worse at higher power?

The answer is yes to both. If you truly want to play some land hate similar to the cards above, here is what you should play.

Why are both of these just okay cards, and why should you play them? You can force them to work against the entire table no matter what colors they are or aren't playing, thanks to Yavimaya, Cradle of GrowthYavimaya, Cradle of Growth and Urborg, Tomb of YawgmothUrborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth.

While I wouldn't suggest playing any of this land-type hate, playing the ones you can force to work is better than the ones you can't.

Emrakul, the World AnewEmrakul, the World Anew

Salt Score: 1.83

One of the weakest of the giant spaghetti monsters, Emrakul, the World AnewEmrakul, the World Anew doesn't need to be close to the salty cards.

It is one of the worst ways to steal all of the creatures that a single player controls. There are many better things that you can do for 12 mana.

Sure, it has a madness cost, but even then you need six ◊ mana specifically to cast it that way. If this card is your commander, then it might as well not even have the madness ability.

If this were any of the other versions of the Eldrazi Mom, I could see them making the list — even the brand new one, Emrakul, the Exigent DoomEmrakul, the Exigent Doom. But not here, not the World Anew.

Consecrated SphinxConsecrated Sphinx

Salt Score: 1.80

This card only draws cards.

for a 4/6 flyer that draws you some extra cards. I'd never call this card bad, but seeing this card on not only the Game Changers list, but the saltiest cards list is baffling to me.

Like Cyclonic Rift, this card holds a spot deep within the minds of long-time Commander players. Those who were around when the game was referred to as EDH exclusively still remember this card being a menace.

But as I said above for Rift, this card just hasn't held up over time. Unlike Rift, this card has held up even worse. I haven't seen this card hit a table in more than five years, and I don't expect to see it outside of a Cube Draft or someone playing Sphinx typal.

Oko, Thief of CrownsOko, Thief of Crowns

Salt Score: 1.71

We all need to forget the crimes this card committed when it was legal in Standard.

In a one-vs.-one setting, this card is a menace to society and should be treated with the highest hostility. When it comes to Commander, this card should see more play.

This is an underplayed card in Commander because it is better than most planeswalkers at staying alive thanks to high loyalty and two abilities that add loyalty.

However, with how little people play planeswalkers, and for the few who reach for this card when they do, it shouldn't be considered a salty card. I can't stop you from punishing it for the crimes it committed in other formats, however.

The Tabernacle at Pendrell ValeThe Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale

Salt Score: 2.68

I try my best to avoid factoring in price when talking about cards. But for this card, you have to consider price.

This isn't a card you see at the table. If you tell me that you see it at the table, I don't believe you. If you tell me you play this card, I want you to show it to me. After that, I require a detailed essay on why this card is worth running in your deck above anything else you could play. Sure, it can cripple a token deck, and if for some reason you are playing no creatures at all, then why not run it?

Maybe because it costs $3,000.

For a land that doesn't tap for mana and, in most cases, doesn't push your game plan forward, this card is not even worth it to Sharpie onto a basic land. While MLD is frowned upon, more people should be playing single-target land hate, not for this card but for Nykthos, Shrine to NyxNykthos, Shrine to Nyx, or Cabal CoffersCabal Coffers. Pack a Ghost QuarterGhost Quarter or a Field of RuinField of Ruin, or any of the other cards like them, and hit someone who plays this card where it hurts: their wallet.

Wrap Up

The Salt Score will look different for every player. Something that bothers me might be no big deal to you. But as a community of players, we need to admit that some of these cards may be on the list because of overreactions or misplaced feelings. Subpar play, memories of a time gone by, misplaced format hate, and some people just being wrong have affected the rankings found on the list.

I believe we can fix this in 2026 if we work together. So this year, vote with your head, not just your heart. When you see Vivi OrnitierVivi Ornitier or Tergrid, God of FrightTergrid, God of Fright come up during the vote, please vote accordingly. When Rhystic StudyRhystic Study appears on the screen, vote... the same way you always do; that card is the worst.

Don't for a second believe that I would tell you how to vote. Vote with your heart and your head. I promise you that if Zacama, Primal Calamity comes up, I will give it the highest score possible. Use salt sparingly when cooking and voting on Magic cards.

The 2026 Salt Score polls are now open. Vote now! Vote often!