Are Companions Legal in Oathbreaker? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer: No, Companions do not function as Companions in Oathbreaker. However, they are legal to include in your deck, provided they adhere to your Oathbreaker’s color identity. They simply become regular cards within your 60-card deck.
Oathbreaker is a fantastic Magic: The Gathering format known for its strategic depth and unique deck-building constraints, so it’s natural to have questions about how certain card mechanics translate. Let’s dive into the details and address some common questions about Companions and other aspects of the Oathbreaker format.
Decoding Companions in Oathbreaker
The Companion mechanic, introduced in the Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths set, promised an exciting twist: a card starting outside your deck, ready to join the fray if you met certain deck-building conditions. However, Oathbreaker operates under a different set of rules than formats like Commander, Standard, or Modern.
In Oathbreaker, your deck revolves around your Oathbreaker, a planeswalker, and your Signature Spell, an instant or sorcery. Every card in your deck, including your Signature Spell and any potential Companion cards, must adhere to your Oathbreaker’s color identity. This means any mana symbols appearing on those cards must also appear on your Oathbreaker.
Since Oathbreaker doesn’t recognize the Companion mechanic’s “outside the game” zone, the strict deck-building restrictions of Companions become irrelevant. You are perfectly welcome to play cards with the Companion ability in your deck, just be aware that the Companion ability does not work in the format. You will have to include it in your starting 60-card deck.
This opens up interesting deck-building possibilities! You can include powerful Companions like Lurrus of the Dream-Den or Gyruda, Doom of Depths if their color identity fits your strategy. They simply become powerful tools within your 60-card arsenal, not a guaranteed starting hand advantage.
Oathbreaker FAQs: An Expert’s Perspective
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Oathbreaker to further enhance your understanding of this exciting format:
1. What exactly is Oathbreaker, and what makes it different?
Oathbreaker is a 60-card, 20-life format centered around a planeswalker (your Oathbreaker) and an instant or sorcery (your Signature Spell) that fall within the same color identity. The format emphasizes strategic deck-building with tighter restrictions than Commander, encouraging creative and synergistic combinations. GamesLearningSociety.org can provide additional insight on the mechanics of popular card games.
2. Can I use any planeswalker as my Oathbreaker?
No. While almost every planeswalker is legal, some are banned. These bans typically target planeswalkers whose interactions with specific Signature Spells proved overly dominant. Saheeli, the Gifted, for instance, is banned because of the consistency her signature spell provides.
3. What card sets are legal in Oathbreaker?
Every set in Magic’s history is legal! This expansive card pool is a huge part of the format’s appeal. Cards from Alpha to the latest set are eligible for inclusion in your deck, provided they follow your Oathbreaker’s color identity.
4. What are the color identity rules in Oathbreaker?
Your Oathbreaker’s color identity dictates which cards are legal in your deck. This identity is determined by the mana symbols in your Oathbreaker’s mana cost and any mana symbols within its rules text. Every card in your deck, including your Signature Spell, must only contain mana symbols that are present in your Oathbreaker’s color identity. For example, if your Oathbreaker is Teferi, Hero of Dominaria (white and blue), your deck can only contain cards with white, blue, or colorless mana symbols.
5. How do the “Partner” commanders work in Oathbreaker?
The Partner mechanic allows you to have two Oathbreakers. This means you also get two Signature Spells, one for each Oathbreaker. Each Signature Spell must, of course, adhere to the color identity of its respective Oathbreaker. It provides added flexibility in deck building.
6. Can I change my Signature Spell during the game?
No. Your Signature Spell is fixed before the game begins. The unique nature of each Oathbreaker’s interaction with their Signature Spell is part of what makes Oathbreaker interesting.
7. What happens if my Oathbreaker dies?
Your Oathbreaker goes back to the Command Zone. You can cast it again for its mana cost plus an additional two generic mana for each time you’ve cast it from the Command Zone this game.
8. Is there “Oathbreaker damage” like Commander damage?
No. Oathbreaker does not include Oathbreaker damage as a win condition. Players win by reducing their opponents’ life totals to zero.
9. Are there any cards banned in Oathbreaker?
Yes, there’s a ban list. It’s crucial to consult the most current ban list before building your deck. This list is often maintained by the community. Common reasons for banning cards include their ability to consistently generate fast wins or lock opponents out of the game. Sol Ring is banned because it can easily lead to explosive early game advantages.
10. Why is Saheeli, the Gifted banned?
Saheeli, the Gifted has a uniquely problematic relationship with Signature Spells that generate extra turns. Due to the consistency of Saheeli, these decks were very consistent and unfun to play against.
11. Can I use cards that refer to “your commander” in my Oathbreaker deck?
Yes. Cards that reference “your commander” simply refer to your Oathbreaker in the context of an Oathbreaker game.
12. Can I use a creature as my Signature Spell if it’s an instant or sorcery?
While there are a handful of creatures that are also instants or sorceries (such as the creature lands in Zendikar Rising), your Signature Spell must be an actual instant or sorcery card. A creature card, even if it has flash, cannot be your Signature Spell.
13. Are cards from “Un-sets” legal in Oathbreaker?
Generally, no. Silver-bordered or acorn-stamped cards from “Un-sets” are not legal in constructed formats, unless a specific card has been declared legal for tournament play.
14. How do I decide what Signature Spell to use with my Oathbreaker?
The choice of Signature Spell is critical. It should synergize well with your Oathbreaker and the overall strategy of your deck. Consider factors like card advantage, removal, or win conditions when selecting your Signature Spell.
15. Where can I find a community to play Oathbreaker?
Online forums, Discord servers, and local game stores are great places to find other Oathbreaker enthusiasts. Many communities have dedicated channels for discussing deck-building strategies, organizing games, and staying up-to-date on format news.
In summary, while Companions don’t function as Companions in Oathbreaker, they can still be powerful additions to your deck. Remember to check the ban list and adhere to color identity rules. Oathbreaker’s unique combination of strategy and creativity makes it a format worth exploring! By understanding the core rules and nuances, you can build engaging and powerful decks that provide hours of fun.