Are Conspiracy Cards Legal in Commander? A Deep Dive
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The short answer is: Conspiracy cards are generally NOT legal in Commander unless your playgroup specifically agrees to allow them. While they offer unique and intriguing gameplay possibilities, their official status in the format is clear: they are banned from official Commander play. This article delves deeper into the nuances of Conspiracy cards, their limitations in Commander, and other related questions you might have.
The Official Stance: Conspiracies and Commander
The core issue stems from the nature of Conspiracy cards. These cards, introduced in the Conspiracy and Conspiracy: Take the Crown sets, are designed to function outside the normal game rules of Magic: The Gathering. Unlike standard cards, Conspiracies are not permanents, don’t go into your deck, and are revealed to all players at the start of the game. They provide unique, global effects that can drastically alter how a game unfolds.
The Commander format, with its focus on pre-constructed decks and specific rules, hasn’t been built to accommodate these cards. This is why the Commander Rules Committee has explicitly banned Conspiracy cards from the format.
Why Are They Banned?
There are several reasons why Conspiracy cards are excluded from the official Commander rules:
- Outside the Normal Rules: Conspiracy cards exist outside the normal structure of a deck and the way cards interact on the battlefield. This makes them difficult to integrate into a format focused on deck construction and strategic interaction between players.
- Global, Game-Altering Effects: These cards often have effects that drastically change game rules, potentially creating imbalances and unpredictable gameplay. This conflicts with the generally accepted aim of a relatively balanced and repeatable gameplay experience in Commander.
- Designed for Limited Play: Conspiracy cards were specifically designed for the Conspiracy Limited formats, where drafting and in-game choices involving these cards are the core gameplay elements. Their inclusion in Commander disrupts the careful balance built around the format’s specific structure.
- Lack of Interactive Nature: Once revealed at the start of the game, Conspiracy cards are essentially immune to interaction. No other player can destroy them, counter them or otherwise get rid of them. This means some players could have a massive disadvantage due to a bad draw of Conspiracy cards.
- Unpredictability: The effects of Conspiracy cards can be very powerful and very disruptive, often introducing randomness and unpredictability that Commander is not geared to handle.
The “House Rules” Exception
While officially banned, many playgroups still enjoy experimenting with Conspiracy cards by implementing their own “house rules.” If you and your friends agree to use them, feel free to do so. However, keep in mind that these are exceptions to the rules, not officially sanctioned Commander play.
This can lead to a lot of fun and unique gameplay experiences. The important thing is to establish clear guidelines and be upfront about how you plan to use the Conspiracy cards before starting a game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To clarify further, here are some frequently asked questions regarding Conspiracy cards and their legality in Magic: The Gathering, especially in Commander:
1. What exactly are Conspiracy cards?
Conspiracy cards are a special card type introduced in the Conspiracy and Conspiracy: Take the Crown sets. They are not permanents, are revealed at the start of the game, and typically have global effects that apply throughout the game. They don’t go into your deck, and they don’t enter the battlefield in the traditional sense.
2. Are all Conspiracy cards banned in Commander?
Yes, all cards with the “Conspiracy” card type are banned in Commander. This includes every Conspiracy card from both the Conspiracy and Conspiracy: Take the Crown sets.
3. Can I use Conspiracy cards if my playgroup agrees?
Absolutely! Many playgroups enjoy using house rules, and allowing Conspiracy cards within your playgroup is entirely acceptable if everyone agrees. However, this is an informal and unsanctioned practice that falls outside the official rules of Commander.
4. Why can’t I use Conspiracy cards in other Constructed formats like Modern?
Conspiracy cards are not legal in any sanctioned Constructed format, including Modern. Their design is not conducive to the deckbuilding principles and balanced gameplay expected in those formats. They are limited to draft-based formats within the Conspiracy sets.
5. Are Conspiracy cards considered “permanents”?
No. Conspiracy cards are not permanents. They function outside of typical Magic card interactions and are not affected by most card effects.
6. Can my opponent interact with my Conspiracy card?
No, once a Conspiracy card is revealed, it cannot be targeted or interacted with in any standard way. They are immune to effects that would destroy, counter, or otherwise affect other card types.
7. Are other types of banned cards in Commander also banned in the 99?
Not always. Some cards are banned specifically as commanders, but not as part of the 99-card deck. However, for Conspiracy cards, they are banned entirely from the format.
8. What are the specific cards banned in Commander?
The banned list is extensive and can be found on the official Commander Rules Committee website. It includes cards with the Ante mechanic, cards that were permanently removed from the game by Wizards, and Conspiracy cards. Other significant bans include Expressive Iteration, Field of the Dead, Kethis, the Hidden Hand, Braids, Cabal Minion, Erayo, Soratami Ascendant, and many others, though some of these may be specific bans as a Commander.
9. What about The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™ cards? Are those legal?
Yes, cards from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™ with the LTR set code are legal in Commander, as well as Modern, Legacy, and Vintage. The Commander cards from that set, which have the LTC set code, are legal in Commander, Legacy, and Vintage.
10. Is Field of the Dead still banned in Commander?
Yes, Field of the Dead remains banned in Commander due to its potential to generate excessive tokens, quickly overwhelming the board.
11. Why is Braids, Cabal Minion banned in Commander?
Braids, Cabal Minion is banned as it’s a powerful card that allows players to disrupt the game in an unrecoverable way very early. If unchecked, Braids can severely hinder the ability of all other players to deploy creatures, which violates the spirit of the Commander format.
12. Why is Erayo, Soratami Ascendant banned in Commander?
Erayo, Soratami Ascendant is banned because her transformation is too easy and drastically changes the game rules, locking other players out of the ability to cast spells.
13. What is the difference between a bilateral and unilateral conspiracy in legal terms?
In legal terms, a bilateral conspiracy requires an agreement between two or more parties to commit a crime, whereas a unilateral conspiracy involves one person who intends to commit a crime but mistakenly believes they are acting with others. These legal definitions are unrelated to Magic: The Gathering cards.
14. What should I do if I suspect I have a counterfeit MtG card?
You should first compare your card to an authentic one. Look for signs of poor printing, incorrect colorations, or strange textures. A quick light test can also help; holding your card up to a light source will reveal if the light passes through the card evenly, with fakes usually showing opacity or too much light passing through. If you have doubts about authenticity, contact your local game store or a professional card grader.
15. Can you use the Conspire keyword multiple times in a turn?
You can only use Conspire once for each instance of the keyword on a card. If a spell has multiple instances of Conspire (for example, thanks to Wort, the Raidmother), you can Conspire for each of those instances on the card.
Conclusion
While Conspiracy cards might seem like an interesting addition to Commander, their unique nature and disruptive effects led to them being officially banned from the format. However, if you choose to play with them with your playgroup’s consensus, that’s a different story! Remember to establish clear house rules and enjoy the chaotic fun they can bring. Always respect the format’s rules and strive for a balanced and engaging experience for all players involved.