Can You Have Any Planeswalker as a Commander?
The short answer is: No, not in traditional Commander (EDH). While the idea of leading a deck with your favorite planeswalker might be enticing, the rules of the standard Commander format are very clear. A commander must be a legendary creature or a card that specifically states “This card can be your commander” in its text. Most planeswalkers do not meet these criteria.
However, the Magic: The Gathering universe is vast and diverse, offering different formats with varying rules. Let’s delve deeper into the intricacies of planeswalkers as commanders and explore the different scenarios.
Planeswalkers and Commander: The Core Rules
The primary reason most planeswalkers cannot be commanders is that they are not legendary creatures. The Commander format, also known as EDH, has long been built around legendary creatures leading the charge. These creatures define a deck’s color identity and provide a thematic focus for the strategy.
To allow planeswalkers as commanders would require a specific rule exception or explicit card text. While some planeswalkers do have this exception (such as Teferi, Temporal Archmage), they are the minority. These cards will clearly state, usually near the bottom of the card text box, something to the effect of “This card can be your commander.” Without this clause, even a legendary planeswalker cannot be a commander in standard Commander play.
The Exceptions: Brawl and Special Cases
While standard Commander adheres to its rules strictly, alternative formats offer a bit more flexibility when it comes to using planeswalkers as commanders:
Brawl
Brawl is a format similar to Commander but built around Standard-legal cards. In Brawl, any planeswalker can be designated as a commander, regardless of whether they have the ability to be a commander on the card. This opens up a world of strategic possibilities, allowing players to build decks around planeswalkers who would otherwise never lead an army. This freedom comes with its own constraints, as Brawl decks are limited to the cards legal in the Standard format, and also has its own banned list to keep the format balanced.
The Mystery Booster Test Card: “You’re in Command”
Another notable exception exists in the form of a very specific card: the Mystery Booster test card “You’re in Command”. This unique card allows you to turn any of your creatures into your commander, regardless of whether that card was previously eligible or not. This would even allow for non-legendary and otherwise non-commander eligible planeswalkers to lead. This is considered a fringe case, as it relies on a very specific and somewhat obscure card.
Oathbreaker
Oathbreaker is a popular fan-made format focused on planeswalkers. It was an unoffical format until 2022, and has since been adopted as an official, but different format to commander. It follows a similar singleton, 60-card format similar to commander, but requires that each deck has one planeswalker to lead their deck and a signature instant or sorcery to build around. Oathbreaker emphasizes building a deck around the planeswalker’s abilities and the interactions with the signature spell, and further solidifies that any planeswalker can be a leader.
Considerations for Planeswalker Commanders
Whether through Brawl, special test cards or a fan format like Oathbreaker, it is worth considering the effect of a planeswalker commander on the game. Planeswalkers have abilities that are unique to them; they tend to interact with loyalty counters, which can drastically change the tempo of a game. The impact of having a planeswalker be the focus of a game can lead to diverse deck archetypes and strategies. The main strategy surrounding a commander planeswalker is to keep them on the field as long as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can a non-legendary planeswalker be a commander?
In standard Commander (EDH), no. Commanders must be legendary creatures or have the specific text stating they can be commanders. However, in Brawl, any planeswalker can be a commander, regardless of their legendary status or text.
2. Can any planeswalker be a commander in Brawl?
Yes, in Brawl, any planeswalker can be chosen as your commander.
3. How many planeswalkers can you have in a Commander deck?
There is no limit to the number of planeswalkers you can have in a Commander deck, aside from the singleton rule. This means you can only have one copy of each unique planeswalker (unless the card specifically says otherwise). You can have duplicates of nonlegendary copies of a planeswalker, as they are not subject to the legendary rule.
4. Why can’t planeswalkers be commanders in standard Commander?
Because standard Commander rules state that commanders must be legendary creatures, and most planeswalkers are not creatures.
5. Can you kill a planeswalker before it uses its ability?
Yes, you can interact with a planeswalker before it activates its abilities. You can attack it with creatures or use spells that target planeswalkers.
6. Can Urza the planeswalker be a commander?
Yes, but only because his card text states “Urza, Planeswalker can be your commander”. Without this specific text, he could not be used as the commander.
7. Are Oathbreakers considered commanders?
Yes, Oathbreakers are the equivalent of a commander in the Oathbreaker format, however it is a planeswalker, not a creature.
8. Does deathtouch work on planeswalkers?
No, deathtouch only affects creatures. You cannot kill a planeswalker with deathtouch unless an additional effect allows it to.
9. Can you have two planeswalkers with the same name on the field at once?
No, because of the “legend rule.” If you control two or more legendary planeswalkers with the same name, you must choose one to keep and put the rest in your graveyard. However, you may have both legendary and nonlegendary versions of the same planeswalker simultaneously.
10. Can any legendary card be a commander?
No, a card must be a legendary creature or have the text “This card can be your commander” to qualify as a commander in standard EDH.
11. Are Unfinity cards legal in Commander?
Yes, Unfinity cards with the acorn symbol are not legal in Commander, however any Unfinity cards that do not have the acorn symbol are legal in Commander.
12. Can you target a commander like a planeswalker?
Yes, anything that could target a planeswalker, can target the commander.
13. Can an enchantment be a commander?
No. Enchantments are not creatures or have the text “This card can be your commander” so they cannot be used as a commander.
14. How do you protect planeswalkers in Commander?
You can protect planeswalkers with counterspells like Swan Song or Counterspell, as well as any cards that prevent damage or make your planeswalker untargetable.
15. Does indestructible prevent deathtouch?
Yes, Indestructible creatures ignore the deathtouch ability. Indestructible planeswalkers will still lose loyalty counters, but they will not die to damage.
Conclusion
While most planeswalkers cannot be commanders in standard Commander, formats like Brawl and Oathbreaker offer alternatives. The choice to have a planeswalker as a commander fundamentally changes the strategic landscape of a game, opening up new and exciting possibilities for deck construction. Understanding the nuances of each format’s rules will ensure you are ready to enjoy all that the MTG universe has to offer.