Can Commander’s Sphere Produce Colorless Mana? A Deep Dive

No, Commander’s Sphere cannot produce colorless mana. This might seem counterintuitive, especially given that it produces “mana of any color.” However, colorless is not considered a color in Magic: The Gathering. The card specifically states that it adds “one mana of any color in your commander’s color identity.” Since colorless mana falls outside the defined colors (White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green), it is not an option available to Commander’s Sphere.

Understanding the nuances of mana production, particularly concerning colorless mana and color identity, is crucial in the Commander format. This article aims to clarify why Commander’s Sphere cannot produce colorless mana and explore several related questions to enhance your Commander gameplay knowledge.

Commander’s Sphere: An Overview

Commander’s Sphere is a staple artifact in the Commander format, renowned for its mana-fixing capabilities and utility. Its primary function is to provide mana of any color within your commander’s color identity. Beyond this, it offers a useful card draw ability, letting you sacrifice it to draw a card. This dual purpose makes it a valuable inclusion in many Commander decks.

However, the limitation of its mana production capability is key: Commander’s Sphere only produces colored mana within your commander’s color identity. It’s important to note that a card specifying mana of “any color” does not include colorless. This distinction is fundamental to understanding how it functions within the game.

The Colorless Conundrum

The rules of Magic: The Gathering specifically define what constitutes a color. Colorless is not a color but rather a lack thereof. This distinction matters greatly when evaluating how cards that generate mana function.

Many players, especially newcomers, find this aspect of the game confusing. If a card says it adds mana of any color, the assumption might be that this also includes colorless. However, the game’s precise wording prevents this. Colorless mana is its own distinct entity with its own symbol and rules.

This is why lands like Command Tower or City of Brass, which are designed to produce mana of any color, also cannot produce colorless mana. These cards explicitly target the five defined colors, leaving colorless out of the mix.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To delve deeper into mana production, color identity, and other related aspects of Commander, here are 15 frequently asked questions and their detailed answers:

1. Can I Build a Commander Deck Around a Colorless Commander?

Yes, absolutely! You can build a fully functional commander deck using a colorless commander. These decks usually focus on artifacts, Eldrazi, or other cards that don’t fall into the five color categories. However, it is essential to note that if your commander has a colorless identity, then your entire deck must also be devoid of colors.

2. Does Command Tower Generate Colorless Mana?

No, Command Tower does not generate colorless mana. Similar to Commander’s Sphere, it only produces mana of a color within your commander’s color identity. This is a general rule for lands that provide mana of any color – they do not include colorless unless specifically stated.

3. What Does Commander’s Sphere Do Exactly?

Commander’s Sphere allows you to tap it to add one mana of any color in your commander’s color identity. It also has a secondary ability that allows you to sacrifice it to draw a card, making it a versatile tool for mana fixing and card advantage.

4. Can a Colorless Artifact be a Commander?

Yes, many colorless artifacts can serve as commanders. Any legendary artifact creature that is colorless, some Eldrazi titans, and various other unique artifacts can be used. This provides opportunities for diverse deck building strategies.

5. How Does Commander’s Plate Interact With Colorless Commanders?

Commander’s Plate provides protection from each color not in your commander’s color identity. If your commander is colorless, it grants protection from all colors. If you have two commanders, it protects from any colors absent in the combined identities.

6. Is Commander’s Sphere Worth Including in My Deck?

Generally, yes. Commander’s Sphere is often considered worthwhile due to its dual functionality. It helps fix your mana early game, ensuring you can cast spells, and its card draw ability provides value during the later game if you no longer require additional mana. Its ability to draw a card in response to an opponent’s board wipe can also provide additional value.

7. Are Unfinity Cards Legal in Commander?

Unfinity cards without an acorn stamp are legal in Commander. This means that many cards from this set are now part of the legal card pool for the format, offering fresh design space for deck builders. However, acorn-stamped cards remain illegal in the format.

8. Can I use Freyalise as a Commander?

Yes, Freyalise, Llanowar’s Fury can be used as your commander. She is a planeswalker with the ability to be designated as your commander.

9. What Kinds of Cards Produce Colorless Mana?

Various cards can produce colorless mana, including lands like Wastes, Eye of Ugin, Ancient Tomb and specific creatures such as Kozilek’s Channeler. These cards directly generate colorless mana and are used to pay for colorless costs.

10. Can I Produce Mana Outside of My Commander’s Color Identity?

Yes, certain specific cards will enable this. While the general rule for Commander is that you can only have cards within your commander’s color identity in your deck, there are some exceptions to this rule. If a card says “add [color outside your color identity]” you can indeed make mana of that color, even if it is outside your commander’s color identity. You just can’t include that card in your deck.

11. What is the Weakest Color in Commander?

White is often regarded as the weakest color in the Commander format. This is largely because white tends to lack card draw, selection, and mana ramp capabilities compared to other colors. This can make it more challenging to keep pace with other decks.

12. What is the Colorless Commander Rule?

If you have a colorless commander, all cards in your deck must also have a colorless color identity. This means that you can not include any cards, including basic lands, that have a color in their color identity.

13. Is Colorless a Color?

No, colorless is not considered a color in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a separate distinction indicating an absence of color. This distinction is very important to the specific wording of the rules.

14. Does Jeweled Lotus Work With Colorless Commanders?

Yes, Jeweled Lotus works perfectly with colorless commanders. You can spend the mana produced to cast your commander, irrespective of its color or color identity. This includes paying any generic costs associated with it.

15. Is Morophon the Boundless Colorless?

Yes, Morophon, the Boundless is a colorless legendary creature. Although it can technically be used in any deck and allows you to cast other creatures of a chosen type, it is technically colorless. This makes it a great option for a colorless deck but it can be used to reduce the costs of a specific tribal deck.

Conclusion

While Commander’s Sphere cannot produce colorless mana, it remains a powerful tool for mana fixing and card draw within a Commander deck. Understanding the distinction between colorless and color, as well as how color identity restricts your deck-building choices, is critical for succeeding in the format. By grasping these nuances and exploring the various related FAQs, players can refine their understanding of the Commander format and improve their overall gameplay.