Are Partners Legal in Commander? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, partner commanders are indeed legal in Commander! The Partner ability opens up exciting deckbuilding possibilities, allowing you to strategically combine two legendary creatures (or even a creature and a Background enchantment) as your commanders. However, there are specific rules and considerations that govern their use. This article will delve into the intricacies of Partner commanders and address frequently asked questions to help you navigate this fascinating aspect of the format.
Understanding the Partner Mechanic
The Partner ability first appeared in the Commander Legends set and has significantly impacted the Commander landscape. Cards with Partner allow you to have two commanders instead of the usual one, dramatically expanding your color identity and strategic options. The color identity of your deck is determined by the combined color identities of both commanders. This opens up a wider range of strategies and allows for unique deck archetypes.
While Partner doesn’t explicitly prohibit a card from partnering with itself, the Commander format’s singleton rule (only one copy of each nonbasic land card is allowed in your deck) prevents this. You can, however, pair two different versions of the same character if they have different names and both possess the Partner ability.
Key Rules and Considerations
- Commander Tax: Each Partner is subject to the commander tax, which increases the cost of recasting them from the command zone by {2} for each previous time they’ve been cast from the command zone. They each have their own separate tax.
- Commander Damage: Each Partner tracks its commander damage separately. A player loses the game if they have been dealt 21 or more combat damage from any one of your commanders throughout the game.
- Color Identity: The combined color identity of your Partner commanders determines the legal cards you can include in your deck.
- Deck Construction: The rest of your deck must adhere to the usual Commander rules, including the 99-card limit (excluding your commanders).
- Backgrounds: You can pair a legendary creature with the Partner ability with a legendary enchantment that has the “Choose a Background” ability. This functions similarly to two creatures with Partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Partners in Commander
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Partner commanders, offering further insight into this compelling aspect of the Commander format.
Q1: Can I have more than two commanders with the Partner ability?
No. While the individual card text may mention “partner,” the rules explicitly state that a player can only have a maximum of two commanders using the Partner ability or a combination of Partner and “Choose a Background”. The comprehensive rules stipulate a hard limit of two.
Q2: Does the Commander tax apply separately to each Partner?
Yes. Each Partner is treated as an individual commander for the purposes of the commander tax. If you cast one Partner from the command zone, and then it is removed and you recast it, the cost increases by {2}. The same holds true separately for the second Partner.
Q3: Can my Partner commanders be different colors?
Absolutely! This is one of the major advantages of the Partner mechanic. You can pair a mono-red Partner with a mono-white Partner, for example, resulting in a red-white (Boros) deck. The resulting deck’s color identity becomes all colors present in your Partner commanders’ mana costs and rules text.
Q4: Are all cards with the Partner ability legal in Commander?
Yes, as long as they are structurally playable in sanctioned Magic: The Gathering formats and are not on the Commander ban list. Cards with silver borders or acorn-shaped security stamps are not legal in Commander.
Q5: If one of my Partner commanders is exiled, can I still cast the other from the command zone?
Yes, absolutely. The remaining Partner remains in the command zone and can be cast as normal, subject to the commander tax. The exile of one Partner does not affect the status of the other.
Q6: Do Partner commanders share commander damage?
No. Each Partner tracks its own commander damage. You need to deal 21 combat damage with a single Partner to cause a player to lose the game. Damage from different commanders does not combine.
Q7: Can I use a planeswalker with Partner as one of my commanders?
Yes. Some planeswalkers in the Commander Legends set have the Partner ability and can be used as one of your commanders.
Q8: Can I use the “Choose a Background” mechanic with a Partner commander?
Yes! The “Choose a Background” mechanic, found on some legendary creatures, functions similarly to the Partner ability. You can pair a legendary creature with “Choose a Background” with a legendary enchantment that has the Background subtype. This opens up even more deckbuilding possibilities.
Q9: Is there a ban list specific to Partner commanders?
No, there isn’t a separate ban list just for Partner commanders. However, the standard Commander ban list applies, so any card on that list is illegal, regardless of whether it’s being used with Partner commanders or not.
Q10: If I use Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow as one of my commanders, does her ninjutsu ability avoid the commander tax for my other partner?
Yes, if Yuriko is one of your partners and you use her ninjutsu ability to bring her onto the battlefield from your hand, you do not have to pay the commander tax for that activation. Furthermore, using ninjutsu does not increase the tax for when you eventually cast the other partner from the command zone.
Q11: Are silver-bordered cards with Partner legal in Commander?
No. Silver-bordered cards, often referred to as “joke cards,” are not legal in Commander. Only black-bordered cards that are legal in other Magic: The Gathering formats are typically allowed.
Q12: Does flickering one of my Partner commanders reset the commander tax?
No. The commander tax is based on the number of times you’ve cast a specific commander from the command zone this game. Flickering or otherwise removing a commander from the battlefield does not reset the tax.
Q13: Can I have a Partner commander and a Companion?
No, You can not pair a commander with partner with a companion. You are only allowed two cards in the command zone.
Q14: What are some popular Partner commander combinations?
Some popular Partner commander combinations include Tymna the Weaver and Kraum, Ludevic’s Opus, Thrasios, Triton Hero and Tymna the Weaver and Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh and Silas Renn, Seeker Adept. These pairings offer strong color combinations and synergistic abilities. You can find articles about deck archetypes and suggestions at websites like EDHREC.
Q15: Where can I find more information on the Commander format and its rules?
You can find the official Commander rules and ban list on the Wizards of the Coast website or the Commander Rules Committee website. Additionally, communities like the Games Learning Society and EDHREC offer valuable insights, strategies, and deckbuilding ideas for Commander players. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for resources on game-based learning and community engagement.
Conclusion
Partner commanders offer a unique and exciting dimension to the Commander format, allowing for creative deckbuilding strategies and powerful synergies. By understanding the rules and considerations outlined in this article, you can effectively utilize the Partner mechanic to create compelling and competitive Commander decks. So, embrace the power of partnership and explore the endless possibilities that await!