Can There Be Two Commanders? Exploring the World of Dual Leadership in Magic: The Gathering
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Yes, you absolutely can have two commanders in a Magic: The Gathering Commander deck, under specific circumstances. This is primarily achieved through the Partner mechanic, first introduced in the Commander 2016 set. In addition, the “Choose a Background” mechanic, found on certain legendary creatures and backgrounds, offers another path to dual commandership. This opens up a fascinating world of strategic deckbuilding and gameplay possibilities. Let’s delve deeper into the intricacies of commanding with two at the helm.
Understanding the Two Commander Rule
The core principle behind having two commanders revolves around specific keywords or abilities printed on the cards themselves. Here’s a breakdown of the most common methods:
Partner
The Partner ability is straightforward: if two legendary creatures both have the keyword “Partner,” they can both be your commanders. The colour identity of your deck is then determined by the combined colour identities of both commanders. You may use any two cards with “Partner” as long as they both have the mechanic printed on the cards. These commanders start the game in the command zone, just like a single commander. A deck with two commanders with partner will contain 98 other cards.
“Choose a Background”
The “Choose a Background” mechanic, introduced in Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate, offers a different approach. If a legendary creature has the text “Choose a Background”, you can pair it with a legendary Background enchantment as a second commander. This provides unique synergy opportunities and allows for further customization of your deck’s strategy. The enchantment starts the game in the command zone along side the creature commander.
Strategic Implications of Two Commanders
Having two commanders significantly impacts deckbuilding and gameplay strategy. Here are a few key considerations:
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Expanded Colour Identity: Two commanders, especially those with Partner, allow you to access a wider range of colours for your deck. This opens up a broader pool of cards to choose from, enabling more diverse and powerful strategies.
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Increased Resilience: With two commanders, you have more options available if one is removed from the battlefield. This makes your deck more resilient to targeted removal and board wipes.
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Synergistic Interactions: Carefully selecting two commanders with complementary abilities can create powerful synergistic interactions, allowing you to dominate the game.
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Mana Curve Considerations: Balancing the mana costs of your two commanders is crucial. You want to ensure you can consistently cast them early in the game without overextending your resources.
FAQs: Mastering the Dual Commander Landscape
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the rules and nuances of having two commanders:
1. What do you call a second commander?
While there isn’t an official term in the game rules, the second commander is commonly referred to as a co-commander or simply the second commander. The article you provided suggests that a common usage of the term refers to a deputy. Its basic meaning is “someone who relieves a commander.”
2. How many commanders are allowed in a Commander deck?
A standard Commander deck consists of exactly 100 cards, including one commander and 99 other cards, or two partner commanders and 98 other cards.
3. Can any commander have a Partner?
No. Only legendary creatures that specifically have the keyword “Partner” are eligible to be paired as commanders.
4. Is it possible to have three commanders?
While it’s not possible in the traditional sense, some players explored the idea of using Companion cards alongside two Partner commanders. However, Companion has been heavily restricted in Commander, making this strategy impractical.
5. Can Partner commanders be different colors?
Absolutely! As long as both commanders have the “Partner” ability, they can be of different colours. The colour identity of your deck will then be determined by the combined colour identities of both commanders.
6. Can you have two commanders and a Background?
You can have more than one background card as part of your 99 cards, but you can only have one background as a second commander using the “choose a background” mechanic.
7. Can you have 2 Faceless Ones as your commanders?
Yes, in a Commander Draft using Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate booster packs, you can use two copies of Faceless One as your commanders. Faceless One is unique in that it has the ability to choose a background and is itself a background.
8. Can Planeswalkers be commanders?
A planeswalker can only be a commander if it specifically states on the bottom of the card, “this card can be your commander.”
9. How do Partner commanders work?
During a game of Commander, your partners function just like a single commander would. They both use the command zone, they’re each subject to commander tax, and they keep separate tallies for commander damage. If a card effect refers to “your Commander,” you get to choose which partner it applies to.
10. What happens when a commander dies?
If your commander moves to the graveyard or exile, you may choose to put it into the command zone as a state-based action. Abilities that trigger when a creature dies or is exiled work as normal when a commander dies or is exiled, but the commander will still end up in the command.
11. Can a commander go to your hand?
The owner of the commander may choose to have it return to the command zone or go to the hand. If the owner chooses hand they may play that card from hand without paying the tax.
12. Can a legendary enchantment be a commander?
A legendary Background enchantment can be a commander if paired with a legendary creature with the “Choose a Background” ability. If a card refers to your Commander, it means either the legendary creature or the legendary Background enchantment.
13. Can Prismatic Piper be multiple colors?
Your commander can be paired with a The Prismatic Piper if they are mono-colored, dual-colored or even no-colored (Mono-U Traxos?). This is designed to expand colors for players and make color identities more manageable.
14. Can I have 3 commanders with Faceless One?
No. Faceless One both has choose a Background and is itself a Background. This means that you may have two commanders if one of them is Faceless One and the other is either a Legendary Creature with the choose a background ability OR is a legendary Background enchantment. It does not allow you to have three commanders.
15. Do Backgrounds count as casting a Commander?
Backgrounds follow the same rules as any other card when determining whether it is being cast as a commander. If a card refers to your Commander, it means either the legendary creature or the legendary Background enchantment.
Conclusion: Embrace the Power of Two
Commanding with two legendary creatures adds a layer of complexity and excitement to the Commander format. By understanding the Partner and “Choose a Background” mechanics, you can build incredibly powerful and versatile decks. Experiment with different combinations, explore synergistic interactions, and master the art of dual leadership to dominate your next Commander game.
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