Can Grist, the Hunger Tide Be Your Commander? A Deep Dive
Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.
- Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
- Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
- Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.
- Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
- Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
- Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.
Yes, Grist, the Hunger Tide can absolutely be your commander in a Commander (EDH) game. This unique planeswalker breaks traditional rules with its unusual characteristic: it’s a legendary creature when not on the battlefield, making it a legal commander. This makes Grist an intriguing option for players looking for a different spin on their Commander experience. Grist, as a planeswalker, presents a complex yet rewarding strategy for deck building. Let’s delve deeper into why and how Grist can lead your army.
Understanding Grist’s Unique Rules
Grist’s first ability, “As long as Grist isn’t on the battlefield, it’s a 1/1 black legendary creature Insect,” is the key to its commander legality. This ability functions in all zones except the battlefield. Therefore, while in the command zone, it’s treated as a creature, satisfying the commander requirement. Once Grist enters the battlefield, this first ability is no longer applicable; it will transform into a standard planeswalker. This unique dual nature significantly impacts how Grist functions as a commander.
Grist’s Impact on the Command Zone
Due to its being a legendary creature in the command zone, Grist can be chosen as your commander. This has direct implications for deck building. All the cards in your deck must adhere to Grist’s color identity, which is black. This means your deck can only consist of black mana symbols or colorless cards. Once in the game, it’s crucial to remember that Grist’s creature status is temporary; upon casting, it’s only a planeswalker. Therefore, you may use the commander tax rules that apply to planeswalkers.
Grist’s Strategic Advantages and Disadvantages
Playing Grist as your commander offers both unique advantages and challenges. The commander tax applies to Grist as a planeswalker. For each time you cast Grist from the command zone it will cost an additional {3} mana, compared to the normal {2} for creature commanders. This can lead to significant mana investment when it dies repeatedly. However, the ability to include creature-themed cards, since it is a legendary creature while in the command zone, and a planeswalker when it enters the battlefield offers a powerful combination.
Grist’s ability to create insect tokens and its potent ultimate makes it a powerful commander when it lands. Its minus ability also provides card advantage. These attributes make it rewarding to play a strategy that focuses on getting the planeswalker into play and protecting it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grist as a Commander
Here are some frequently asked questions about Grist as a commander, to clear up any confusion:
1. What is the Commander Tax for Grist?
Grist, despite being a creature in the command zone, is taxed as a planeswalker. The first time you cast Grist, it costs its base mana cost. Each subsequent casting from the command zone will increase the cost by {3} mana. This is because Grist is still a Planeswalker in your command zone (in addition to being a creature).
2. Can I counter Grist as a creature while it’s on the stack?
No. While Grist is on the stack, it is a card and not on the battlefield. It is only a creature while not on the battlefield. When cast, Grist is a planeswalker, so cannot be countered by a spell like Negate. However, spells like Essence Scatter, can counter Grist because it counters a creature spell.
3. Does Grist enter the battlefield as a creature?
No, Grist does not enter the battlefield as a creature. Its creature ability only applies when it is in any zone other than the battlefield. The moment Grist resolves and enters the battlefield, it becomes solely a planeswalker.
4. Can any planeswalker be a commander?
No. Generally, planeswalkers can only be commanders if they explicitly state on the card, “this card can be your commander.” Grist is an exception, not because it states that, but because its first ability treats it as a legendary creature in other zones, and therefore legal to be a commander.
5. Can a non-creature be a commander?
Yes, under certain circumstances. Some legendary non-creature cards (usually planeswalkers) have abilities that allow them to be chosen as a commander. Also, pairs of cards with the “Partner” ability can sometimes be a player’s commanders.
6. Can an enchantment be a commander?
No. In the core rules of Commander, enchantments cannot be commanders unless they also have another type such as a legendary creature.
7. Can partner creatures be commanders?
Yes, if each creature has the “Partner” ability or a variant of that ability, they can be designated as your commanders. You may not designate two legendary cards as your commander if one has a “partner with [name]” ability and the other isn’t the named card.
8. What is Grist’s gender?
Not much is known definitively, but Grist is an insectoid planeswalker that’s both a single organism and the queen of a hive. Grist uses swarms to assemble its form when travelling to new planes.
9. What is illegal in commander?
Cards that use the keyword Ante, cards permanently removed by Wizards, and cards with the Conspiracy card type are all banned in Commander. Other cards are banned on a regular basis for competitive balance.
10. Can a commander be colorless?
Yes. A commander can be colorless, allowing a player to build a deck using only colorless mana symbols. A commander’s color identity will dictate which cards are legal to be in the deck.
11. Can you have a copy of your commander in your deck?
No, you cannot include a copy of your commander in the deck, as being a commander is a property of the physical card, not a characteristic that can be copied.
12. Can you have a land as a commander?
No. In the core rules of Commander, a land cannot be a commander unless it also has another type such as a legendary creature.
13. Is an Oathbreaker a commander?
No, they are separate. In Oathbreaker, cards that refer to “your commander” instead refer to “your Oathbreaker”. Additionally, the rules and deck construction are slightly different for each format.
14. Can Nicol Bolas, the Ravager be a commander?
Yes, Nicol Bolas, the Ravager is a legendary creature and therefore can be chosen as a commander.
15. Can any legendary card be a commander?
Not all legendary cards can be commanders. To be a commander, a card must be either a legendary creature or specifically state “this card can be your commander.”
Conclusion
Grist, the Hunger Tide offers a unique commander experience. Its unusual transformation between a creature and a planeswalker provides an exciting twist for deck builders. This flexibility can lead to some truly innovative strategies that are fun to build and play. Hopefully this detailed explanation has made understanding this powerful planeswalker a little easier.