Can All Legendary Planeswalkers Be Commanders? A Comprehensive Guide
The short answer is: no, not all legendary planeswalkers can be commanders. While the legendary supertype has been applied to all planeswalkers past, present, and future, becoming a legendary planeswalker is just one part of the equation. The critical determining factor is whether a planeswalker card specifically states, “[CARDNAME] can be your commander.” This clause is the golden ticket, granting a planeswalker the unique ability to lead your deck in a game of Commander.
This rule might seem restrictive, but it exists to preserve the core identity of the Commander format, which traditionally revolves around a legendary creature as its commander. The exception for certain planeswalkers adds a layer of complexity and diversity to deck-building, but it’s not an all-access pass for every legendary planeswalker.
The Commander Rules and Planeswalkers
The Commander format, also known as Elder Dragon Highlander (EDH), is a popular Magic: The Gathering variant where players construct a 100-card deck (with no duplicates, besides basic lands) around a chosen commander. This commander traditionally must be a single legendary creature.
The Exception: “Can Be Your Commander”
However, Wizards of the Coast introduced an exception. Some planeswalkers were explicitly designed to be commanders, and this was clearly stated on their card: “[CARDNAME] can be your commander.” These cards, like Aminatou, the Fateshifter, Daretti, Scrap Savant, and Freyalise, Llanowar’s Fury, immediately become eligible for the commander slot. These planeswalkers break the mold and offer unique gameplay possibilities.
Brawl and Other Formats
Notably, the Brawl format is more lenient, allowing any planeswalker to be designated as a commander, even if it lacks the “can be your commander” text. Additionally, the Mystery Booster test card You’re in Command has created unique scenarios, allowing players to temporarily turn creatures into commanders even if they’re not legendary. The Oathbreaker format also focuses on Planeswalkers, though those formats are not what this article is focusing on.
Understanding the Legend Rule
It’s also important to understand the “legend rule.” All planeswalkers are now legendary, which means that if a player controls multiple legendary planeswalkers with the same name on the battlefield, they must choose one to keep and put the rest into their owner’s graveyard. This rule applies even if the planeswalkers are different versions of the same character (e.g., you can’t have two versions of “Jace”). However, you can have as many different named planeswalkers in play as you can cast.
Why Some Planeswalkers Can’t Be Commanders
The primary reason not all legendary planeswalkers are commanders is to maintain the identity of the format, which is rooted in legendary creatures. Planeswalkers, being non-creature permanents, occupy a different design space and don’t have the same interactive qualities that creature commanders often have.
The Importance of Balance
Granting every legendary planeswalker the commander status would drastically alter the dynamics of the game. Commander is balanced around the strategic limitations that come with the format, such as having the commander always available to cast as a creature. If every planeswalker could be a commander, the format would likely be flooded with overly powerful strategies that lean on powerful planeswalker abilities to dominate the game, leading to less diversity and more homogenous gameplay.
Design Intent
The “can be your commander” clause is a design choice, allowing specific planeswalkers to break the rules and become commanders while preventing the format from spiraling into a chaos of planeswalker-dominated gameplay.
List of Known Planeswalkers That Can Be Commanders
The list of planeswalkers with the “can be your commander” clause is relatively small. As of the current sets, here are some of the most prominent examples:
- Aminatou, the Fateshifter
- Commodore Guff
- Daretti, Scrap Savant
- Dihada, Binder of Wills
- Elminster
- Estrid, the Masked
- Freyalise, Llanowar’s Fury
- Grist, the Hunger Tide
- Garruk, the Slayer
- Mordenkainen
This is not an exhaustive list, and new planeswalkers with this ability may be released in future sets. Always check the card text to confirm if a planeswalker can be your commander.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can a non-legendary planeswalker be a commander?
No, in the standard Commander format, a planeswalker must be legendary and have the text “[CARDNAME] can be your commander” to be a legal commander. Brawl is an exception.
2. How many legendary planeswalkers can be in a commander deck?
You can include as many different legendary planeswalkers as you like in your 99 card deck as long as they don’t violate your commander’s color identity.
3. Why can’t all planeswalkers be commanders?
The Commander format is designed to have legendary creatures as commanders to add a unique layer to the deck building and game play experience. Planeswalkers are not creatures.
4. Are Oathbreakers considered commanders?
Oathbreakers are not considered commanders. It is a separate format that uses a planeswalker and a signature spell as its central mechanic, but it is not the same as the commander.
5. Can Urza, Planeswalker be a commander?
Yes, Urza, Planeswalker can be your commander if you want to do so.
6. What is the legendary planeswalker rule?
The legendary planeswalker rule dictates that if a player controls more than one legendary planeswalker with the same name (e.g., two different Jace cards), that player must choose one and put the others into the graveyard.
7. Does Deathtouch work on planeswalkers?
Deathtouch does not directly affect planeswalkers. Deathtouch works by destroying creatures. Planeswalkers are not creatures, so the deathtouch effect doesn’t apply. However, if a planeswalker takes damage equal to its loyalty counters, the planeswalker is put into the graveyard.
8. Can you have two of the same legendary planeswalker on the field?
No, you cannot control two legendary planeswalkers with the same name, even if they are different cards. The “legend rule” applies to all planeswalkers. You can however, have different planeswalkers on the field that have different names, as long as they do not violate the color identity of your commander.
9. Does indestructible override Deathtouch?
Yes, an indestructible creature or planeswalker ignores the destruction effects of deathtouch damage. Indestructible does not prevent damage, but it prevents destruction.
10. What does indestructible do to planeswalkers?
Indestructible prevents a planeswalker from being destroyed. However, loyalty counters will still be removed from planeswalkers that receive damage or effects that cause the removal of loyalty counters. If a planeswalker with indestructible has no loyalty counters, it will still be put into its owner’s graveyard.
11. Are old planeswalkers legendary?
Yes, all planeswalkers are now legendary, a change that came with the Dominaria set and any sets released after it.
12. Can planeswalkers be killed?
Yes, planeswalkers can be destroyed by effects like damage or spells that directly target planeswalkers. If damage results in a planeswalker having 0 loyalty counters, it is then put into the owner’s graveyard.
13. Can you control two planeswalkers at once?
Yes, you can control multiple planeswalkers at the same time as long as they don’t have the same name. The legend rule prevents you from having two of the same planeswalkers out at one time.
14. Can the Prismatic Bridge be your commander?
The Prismatic Bridge can only be used as a commander on it’s backside. The front of the card has no color identity, therefore cannot be a commander.
15. Can Nicol Bolas the Ravager be a commander?
Yes, Nicol Bolas, the Ravager can be a commander.
In conclusion, while all planeswalkers are now legendary, only those with the specific text “[CARDNAME] can be your commander” can lead your forces in a Commander game. This exception creates opportunities for unique gameplay while respecting the format’s established principles. This ruling adds strategic depth for deck builders and should always be considered when determining whether your favorite planeswalker can take its place as a commander. Always check the card text closely!