Joel, Resolute Survivor
Menace Whenever a creature token dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Joel and draw a card. This ability triggers only once each turn. Partner—Survivors (You can have two commanders if both have this ability.)
How Joel decks play in EDH
Joel, Resolute Survivor is a Golgari commander in black and green costing 3BG, and its legendary creature - human survivor line shapes the whole deck around it. It cares about +1/+1 counters, so counter-doubling effects and creatures that grow on their own carry the deck. It draws extra cards, so the deck can afford a lower curve and lean on volume. The cards below are the ones Joel, Resolute Survivor decks actually play most often, grouped by the job they do.
Most-played cards
20 cards · about $29.58Play rates from EDHREC. Prices from Scryfall, refreshed daily.
Ramp (8)
Card draw (3)
Creatures (5)
Synergy & payoffs (3)
Lands (1)
Build the full 100
Grimoire generates a complete, Commander-legal Joel, Resolute Survivor decklist with a written strategy, a full mana base and live prices — from the whole card pool, or only from cards you already own.
Start with JoelJoel deck questions
What colours can I use in a Joel, Resolute Survivor deck?
Joel, Resolute Survivor has a Golgari colour identity, so every card in the deck must be black and green or colourless. That includes mana symbols in rules text, not just casting cost.
What are the best cards for Joel, Resolute Survivor?
The cards played most often in Joel, Resolute Survivor decks include Garruk, Curse Breaker, Garruk, Veiled Butcher, Grave Birthing. The full list of staples above is grouped by the job each card does, so you can see the deck's skeleton rather than just a pile of names.
How much does a Joel, Resolute Survivor deck cost?
The 20 most-played cards shown above come to roughly $29.58 at current market prices. A complete 100-card build costs more, and Grimoire can generate a budget version instead if you set a price ceiling.
Can I build a Joel, Resolute Survivor deck from cards I already own?
Yes. Import your collection into Grimoire and choose "my cards" when you build. The generator will only use cards you actually own, and the Missing Cards page shows what you would need to buy to finish any list.