All 3 Otter Commanders in Magic Ranked

Last updated on February 4, 2026

Alania, Divergent Storm | Illustration by Issei Murakami

Bloomburrow released hundreds of cards supporting several underrepresented fuzzy and friendly creature types including rabbits, raccoons, mice, and otters.

Otters are the blue/red creatures of Bloomburrow, and 14 otter cards were released in the main set. That’s the same number of known species of actual otters!

While there are about 30 actual otter creatures in Magic: The Gathering, the desire to build an entirely otter deck is irresistible. Who could lead such a romp? Let’s decide once and for all who the best otter commander is!

What Are Otter Commanders?

Kitsa, Otterball Elite | Illustration by Zoltan Boros

Otter commanders are any Commander-legal legendary creature with the otter creature type. That only leaves us with three possible commanders, but EDHREC reflects how lots of folks brew otter decks with other commanders.

Every otter legend is either a mono-blue commander or an Izzet commander. This means that, without a Temur commander, we omit at least one otter card, Elusive Otter. I’ve included one Temur () commander here, even though it isn’t technically an otter. Although I’d love to see that card altered, or imagined as a Courageous Critter.

Honorable Mentions: Non-EDH Otters

First, let’s talk about Lutri, the Spellchaser. If you’re new to this game, you may not have been around for the 2020 controversy surrounding the companion cards. Lutri was straight-up banned in Commander within days of its release. This otter from Ikoria wasn't that bad in the command zone, but its companion restriction that requires a singleton deck is, well, not really a restriction in EDH.

I can’t in good conscience even recommend you make a Rule 0 deck with Lutri. Folks just won’t go for it; a guaranteed Fork in the command zone is just too useful and too perfect for an allegedly casual format. Indris, the Hydrostatic Surge is a big card that wants to storm off with Lightning Bolt, but Brawl is the main format for it to be your digital only commander.

Honorable Mention: Surrak Dragonclaw

Surrak Dragonclaw has been the home to leaderless typal decks for at least a decade now. A 6/6 uncounterable commander with flash that makes your other creatures uncounterable, and grants them trample is just about as generically good as you can get. While its abilities aren’t super relevant to otters, or even “creature type matters” decks, it’s just that much extra insurance that your otters will hit the field. That said, a Surrak Dragonclaw deck wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen someone build a Commander deck with the intent of never casting their commander.

#3. Kitsa, Otterball Elite

The worst of the otter commanders, at least for an otter-themed deck, is Kitsa, Otterball Elite. Kitsa’s not a bad card per se, but it lacks an additional color outside of blue, locking you out of 12 of the 19 otter creatures.

Kitsa is also so, so clearly a card designed for the 99 of the other two otter commanders as support for those spellslinger builds.

With an activated ability to loot or copy an instant or sorcery, Kitsa is a little too slow for your command zone. Working to get its power up to 3 before you can start copying spells is a bit of a pain, especially if the implication is you’ll be burning your instants and sorceries to temporarily buff Kitsa before copying those spells.

#2. Bria, Riptide Rogue

Bria, Riptide Rogue is an Izzet () otter with prowess and a prowess anthem. In addition, a creature you control becomes unblockable whenever you cast a noncreature spell. Many of the non-legendary otters have effects that trigger when you cast noncreature spells, so doubling down on this prowess theme mixes well with a deck full of these creatures.

Harnesser of Storms and Kindlespark Duo both play well with Bria, as does Valley Floodcaller. Multiple instances of prowess stack, so the two already prowess-based otters become significantly better.

Ultimately, what drags Bria, Riptide Rogue down is the fact that it’s not explicitly an otter commander. It’s great for a prowess-y spellslinger deck, but it doesn’t lend itself directly to a deck stocked full of otters like Alania does. I would like to see Bria at the helm of a “hot dogs” deck with Kiln Fiends and Nivix Cyclops-type cards, though.

#1. Alania, Divergent Storm

Alania, Divergent Storm has got to be the best otter commander of the three. Besides being one of the best spellslinger commanders, it also copies your otter spells. Making those measly 18 blue/red otter cards feel like 38.

This Izzet otter lets you copy the first instant, first sorcery, and first otter spell you cast each turn. Not “or.” Optimal Alania turns see you casting a sorcery (and copying it), then casting something like Fork (and copying it) for four instances of that same spell all at once. If you start out with a medium-sized Fireball, you’re looking at 20+ damage all at once.

And that's not even counting the otter that Alania copies!

Another copy of Coruscation Mage means you could end up with four whole copies of that effect on the battlefield, shooting off 4 damage for each noncreature spell you cast. Or, what if you storm off while your Stormsplitter and a copy are on the field? Despite the slim pickings for otter creatures, almost all of them have some utility in Commander, and more so if you can get two copies for the price of one.

Best Otter Commander Payoffs

If you’re looking to build a Commander deck with Alania at the helm and entirely consisting of otters, you’re in for a bad time. There are only 17 other otters that fit into Alania, Divergent Storm’s color identity. Instead, consider filling the deck with changeling cards for that extra bit of consistency.

Spider-Ham, Peter Porker swings in as one of the best animal leaders in Magic, and you'll likely need to go the Temur route to benefit from the otters included in it's May-Ham list.

Some of the best changelings are in blue and red, including Taurean Mauler, Orvar, the All-Form, and Shapesharer. Or, run whichever creatures you want and include an Arcane Adaptation and Maskwood Nexus.

In addition, no typal deck is complete without the traditional suite of Coat of Arms, Door of Destinies, and Adaptive Automaton.

Commanding Conclusion

Bria, Riptide Rogue | Illustration by Borja Pindado

They’re small, they’re few, but they’re mighty! The otters from Bloomburrow have opened up an entirely new creature type to build around, and I’m excited to see where Wizards takes their theme in the coming years.

How will otters define themselves versus the other blue/red creature types? What will a Temur otter commander look like? Take some guesses down in the comments, or shoot them at us over on Draftsim's Twitter/X.

Thanks for reading!