Is Unfinity Legal in Commander? A Deep Dive
The question of Unfinity’s legality in Commander is a nuanced one, often sparking confusion among players. The short answer is: it depends on the specific card within the set. Not every card printed in Unfinity is legal in Commander. The key differentiator lies in the holofoil stamp at the bottom of the card. Cards with a silver oval holofoil stamp are legal in Commander, Legacy, and Vintage. Conversely, cards with an acorn-shaped stamp are not legal in these formats. This distinction is crucial when evaluating your Unfinity cards for Commander play.
Understanding the Nuances of Unfinity Legality
The Silver Oval Stamp vs. The Acorn Stamp
The Unfinity set introduced a new concept in its card design, utilizing different holofoil stamps to denote format legality. This is a departure from how sets have been handled historically. Here’s a breakdown:
- Silver Oval Stamp: This stamp signifies that the card is legal in Eternal formats, which include Commander, Legacy, and Vintage. These cards follow the normal rules of Magic and can be included in your Commander decks (assuming they aren’t on the banned list, more on that later).
- Acorn Stamp: Cards bearing an acorn-shaped stamp, often referred to as acorn cards, are not legal in any format other than casual play. They’re designed to be more humorous or experimental, with rules that don’t fit into the structure of more competitive play. These cards are generally considered “joke cards”.
Eternal Formats and Their Relationship to Commander
The term “Eternal” is key to understanding the legality of cards in Commander. Eternal formats, such as Commander, Legacy, and Vintage, allow cards from almost every set ever printed, with the exception of cards that are specifically banned. This makes the distinction of the holofoil stamp in Unfinity even more important.
Attractions: An Exception?
While attractions, also introduced in Unfinity, are not traditionally defined as cards, they are legal in Commander. There was some internal debate about this, but the ruling is that they function within the existing game rules, thus making them legal.
Commander: A Format of Inclusion (with Exceptions)
Commander, also known as Elder Dragon Highlander (EDH), is a unique format known for its inclusive nature. Almost every Magic: The Gathering set is legal in Commander, a significant factor in making the format so diverse and unpredictable. This broad legality contributes to the strategic depth and variety of decks.
Banned Cards and the Commander Rules Committee
While the format allows a wide array of cards, certain cards are banned by the Commander Rules Committee for various reasons, primarily to maintain balance and prevent unhealthy play patterns. Here are key card categories that are not legal:
- Cards using the keyword “Ante”: These cards involve betting cards, which are no longer legal in modern formats.
- Cards permanently removed from the game by Wizards: This refers to cards that Wizards of the Coast has deemed too problematic for any format.
- Cards with the Conspiracy card type: These cards are not legal for play in Commander
- Specific Banned Cards: The Commander banned list is constantly updated, as the committee strives to keep the format balanced.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the criteria for a card being banned in Commander?
Cards are banned in Commander if they are deemed to be too powerful, lead to monotonous or oppressive game states, or promote strategies that are considered unhealthy for the format. This often involves cards that create too much advantage too quickly or are too difficult to deal with.
2. Is Urza’s Fun House legal in Commander?
No, Urza’s Fun House is not legal in Commander. This card has the acorn-shaped stamp, making it illegal for play in any sanctioned format.
3. Is Negan legal in Commander?
Yes, despite some initial debate, Negan is legal in Commander. The Rules Committee decided against banning him, arguing that the card doesn’t glorify the character’s villainous nature.
4. Is Mox Amber legal in Commander?
No, Mox Amber is not legal in Commander. The card was banned due to its ability to provide an unfair mana advantage in the early stages of the game, limiting strategic decisions.
5. Is the new Kozilek legal in Commander?
Yes, the new version of Kozilek is legal in Commander. There is only one banned Eldrazi in Commander, Emrakul, the Aeons Torn.
6. Is Flash banned in Commander?
No, Flash is not banned in Commander, despite being banned in Legacy and restricted in Vintage. It was not immediately banned in Commander, and remains legal to this day. However, Protean Hulk, a card often played in conjunction with Flash, is banned.
7. Why is Lutri banned in Commander?
Lutri, the Spellchaser is banned in Commander because its companion ability is too easily met by Blue-Red decks, creating an unbalanced advantage, which is against the companion mechanic’s design intent.
8. Is Umezawa’s Jitte banned in Commander?
While Umezawa’s Jitte is banned in Modern, it is not currently banned in Commander.
9. Why is Tinker banned in Commander?
Tinker is banned due to its ability to tutor out a combo piece or a game-ending card for a low cost by sacrificing a weak artifact. This makes it an incredibly powerful and easily abused card.
10. Is Hullbreacher banned in Commander?
Yes, Hullbreacher is banned in Commander. This decision was made due to its disruptive nature and ability to lock players out of resources and games.
11. Is Mox Ruby legal in Commander?
No, Mox Ruby is banned in Commander due to its powerful mana acceleration capabilities, which can skew early gameplay and provide unfair advantage.
12. Is Chaos Orb banned in Commander?
Yes, Chaos Orb is banned in Commander. It’s also completely banned in Vintage, not just restricted.
13. Why is Emrakul, the Aeons Torn banned in Commander?
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn is banned due to its overwhelming power, specifically, its ability to take an additional turn and provide protection against spells. Its overwhelming nature is deemed unhealthy for the format.
14. Why is Leovold banned in Commander?
Leovold, Emissary of Trest is banned in Commander because he creates a lock-down effect, drastically limiting the ability of the other players to draw cards, which is oppressive.
15. Is Paradox Engine banned in Commander?
Yes, Paradox Engine is banned in Commander due to its ability to generate excessive card draw and mana in combination with low cost spells, and making games last longer than necessary.
Conclusion
In summary, determining the legality of Unfinity cards in Commander is straightforward once you understand the distinction between the silver oval holofoil stamp and the acorn stamp. While the format embraces the vast majority of Magic sets, specific bans are in place to ensure a healthy and balanced play environment. Always refer to the current banned list and carefully inspect your Unfinity cards before playing to avoid accidental rule violations. Enjoy your games, and remember to have fun with the ever-evolving world of Commander!