With the hundreds of commander options available in Magic: the Gathering, every game you play will always be different. Factoring in the various kinds of builds that your opponents can run with makes a game unpredictable.

However, there are a set of commanders that are so effective when built in specific ways that play almost the same. When optimized, the legendary creatures in this list will run away with victory if not stopped. So, keep that Swords to Plowshares and Anguished Unmaking ready when you see these hit play. In no particular order, let's start!

Korvold, Fae-Cursed King

This Dragon Noble is the king of sacrificing for value. Treasure tokens have been a very popular thing in Commander since it was released. Korvold generates card advantage for every sacrifice their player makes - all the while growing big in the process.

Narset, Enlightened Master

Cheating is never a good thing. The same applies in a game of Magic, well if your opponents are doing it. Narset cheats stuff into play, regardless of mana cost, whenever she attacks. She doesn't even have to connect to do this! Hexproof on her also makes it difficult to deal with. Against a Narset player, spell cast restrictions like Rule of Law and Eidolon of Rhetoric help make Narset a more manageable threat to play against.

Urza, Lord High Artificer

As expected, one of the OG planeswalkers in Magic lore packs a powerful punch. Urza snowballs like no other as he can generate a lot of mana very quickly. Despite being a mono-colored commander, he's in Blue which is the king of permission. Do NOT expect anything other than a combo kill from the Lord High Artificer.

Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow

Miss Ninjutsu, since release has been terrorizing pods by being explosive and a pain to deal with. Her ability, commander ninjutsu, makes killing her pointless as she can just be brought back in for 2 mana completely circumventing any commander tax. To deal with her, try cards that prevent her from being cast like Phyrexian Revoker and Pithing Needle.

Atraxa, Praetors' Voice

One of the most infamous commanders of all time. This proliferating monstrosity is powerful in almost every way she's built: superfriends, counters, and the hated infect build. Fortunately, Atraxa doesn't have any innate protection so killing her early and often is the order of the day.

Atla Palani, Nest Tender

Who knew eggs could be so scary? Well, not to be confused with that Eggs deck in Standards past. Atla with a Mirror Entity in play can pull the most absurd and powerful creatures that the Naya wedge has. One moment you're looking at several eggs and the next you're facing down Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Vorinclex, Voice of Hunger, and Blightsteel Colossus.

K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth

Phyrexian mana is one of the strongest mechanics in the entirety of Magic. This mono-Black legendary creature lets you pay life instead of tapping a swamp for black mana. In a 40-life format like Commander, this is insane value. Despite being a 7-mana value commander, 3 of those pips are Phyrexian, which means that K'rrik can hit the field fast.

Chulane, Teller of Tales

It's hard to outvalue a Bant deck especially when it's led by this Druid as he draws you cards AND ramps you. Enters the battlefield effects abound when you face Chulane and when they get a Shrieking Drake and an Aluren into play? Forget winning. Remove him at once.

Krenko, Mob Boss

This goblin gets exponentially strong every turn as he makes exponentially more 1/1s every time he taps. Red has no shortage of damage effects like Impact Tremors and Purphoros, God of the Forge. Wanna be more mean and in theme? Goblin Bombardment. 'Nuff said.

Omnath, Locus of Creation

This Elemental's Landfall ability rewards its player just for breathing. Well, almost. He gains life, adds mana, and for the third trigger, sweeps the board free of every creature with 4 toughness. Oh, and deals 4 damage to Planeswalkers too. He even has an ETB effect that draws a card which Blue and White can abuse to the high heavens.

Tergrid, God of Fright

A game with Tergrid is NEVER a good time. There's something to be said for having your stuff stolen - there's a reason why It That Betrays was a feared creature years ago. But Tergrid is only 5 mana, sits in the command zone, and can also steal permanents that are discarded. A game where a fast Tergrid hits the field is the worst-case scenario...unless you're a glutton for pain.

Remove or be Removed

There you have it, a list of commanders that you have to kill on sight. Some newer commanders that are creeping up on my radar such as Pantlaza, Sun-Favored, Baylen, the Haymaker, and Ulalek, Fused Atrocity.

When all else fails, and your removal spells and permission spells fizzle, player removal works best. Remember, Commander is a multiplayer format - get the table to focus on the player running the above as their commander and you might snatch victory yet.