Can You Exile and Return a Commander? A Comprehensive Guide
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, you can exile a commander. When a commander is exiled, its owner has the choice to either leave it in exile or return it to the command zone. If returned to the command zone, the commander tax increases by two colorless mana for each subsequent casting. Returning a commander from exile to the battlefield requires another spell or ability specifically designed to do so, such as “Rescue from the Underworld”, or if the exile was temporary, like with “Banishing Light” or “Oblivion Ring.”
Understanding Commander Exile Mechanics
Exile is one of the most common removal methods in Magic: The Gathering, and it certainly plays a role in Commander. But how does it really work with your precious commander? Let’s dive in.
Exiling a Commander
When your commander is targeted by an exile effect (like “Swords to Plowshares” or “Path to Exile”), you, as the owner, get to make a critical decision. Do you allow your commander to be exiled, or do you send it back to the command zone? This choice is a state-based action, meaning it happens immediately as the exile effect resolves. This is crucial because triggered abilities that look for a commander going to exile do trigger, even if you choose to send it back to the command zone, because the commander briefly entered the exile zone.
Returning a Commander from Exile
This is where things get interesting. Once a commander is in exile, getting it back to the battlefield depends on the specific situation.
- Conditional Exile: Some spells, like “Banishing Light”, exile a creature until the enchantment leaves the battlefield. If the enchantment is destroyed, the commander returns directly to the battlefield.
- Permanent Exile: If the commander is exiled without a return clause (e.g., “Swords to Plowshares”), you need another card or ability that can specifically retrieve cards from exile. Spells like “Riftsweeper” or “Pull from Eternity” can return exiled cards to the graveyard or library, respectively, from which you can then attempt to return the card to the battlefield.
- Command Zone Option: Remember, choosing to send the commander back to the command zone after it has been exiled does not mean it goes back to the battlefield. It simply goes to the command zone and will need to be cast again (with the increased commander tax, of course).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Exiling and Returning Commanders
Here are some common questions regarding commander exile:
1. Can I choose to let my commander be exiled even if I can return it to the command zone?
Yes. You always have the option to let your commander remain in the exile zone, which could be a strategic decision in certain scenarios, such as dodging a commander tax increase.
2. Does exiling my commander trigger “dies” abilities?
No. “Dies” abilities only trigger when a creature goes from the battlefield to the graveyard. Exile is a distinct zone, so “dies” triggers won’t activate. However, abilities that trigger when a creature is “exiled” will trigger.
3. If I exile my commander with “Banishing Light,” does the commander tax increase when it returns?
No. The commander tax only increases when you cast your commander from the command zone. Returning it to the battlefield via an effect like the destruction of “Banishing Light” doesn’t count as casting.
4. Can my opponent prevent me from returning my commander to the command zone when it’s exiled?
No. The decision to return your commander to the command zone upon being exiled is a state-based action that you, as the owner, control. Your opponent can’t interfere with this process.
5. What happens if my commander is exiled face down, like with “Manifest”?
If your commander is exiled face down, it is still considered your commander. You can still choose to send it to the command zone. The game remembers it is your commander regardless of its face-down status.
6. If my commander is exiled, can I use a Wish spell to retrieve it?
No, Wish spells in Commander can only retrieve cards from outside the game if they are companions. You cannot use wish spells to retrieve exiled cards.
7. If I Clone a commander and then exile the Clone, does the commander tax increase when I recast my original commander?
No. The commander tax only increases when you cast your commander from the command zone. Exiling a Clone (even if it’s copying your commander) doesn’t affect your commander tax.
8. Can I use “Reanimate” to bring my commander back from exile?
No. “Reanimate” specifically targets creatures in a graveyard, not the exile zone.
9. If I use a spell that shuffles my graveyard into my library, does my exiled commander also get shuffled in?
No, it does not. Your exiled commander is in the exile zone and will not be shuffled into the library. You can, however, use specific cards such as “Pull From Eternity” to put an exiled card into the graveyard and then shuffle it into your library through the other spell.
10. What happens if my commander is exiled while it is equipped with equipment or enchanted with auras?
When a commander is exiled, any equipment attached to it will become unattached and remain on the battlefield. Auras attached to it will be put into their owner’s graveyard. When the commander returns, it is a brand new object and will not have the equipment or auras attached unless you re-equip or re-enchant it.
11. Can I return my commander from exile directly to my hand?
Only if a specific card effect allows you to do so. Most cards that interact with the exile zone move the cards to the graveyard, library or the battlefield, but not the hand.
12. If my commander is exiled by a card like “Nevermore”, which names my commander, can I still cast it from the command zone?
No. “Nevermore” specifically prevents you from casting the named card. Even though you can still put your commander in the command zone, you will not be able to cast it unless “Nevermore” is removed from the battlefield.
13. Does commander damage reset when my commander is exiled and recast?
No. Commander damage is cumulative throughout the game. Even if your commander is exiled and recast, the damage it dealt previously still counts towards the 21 commander damage threshold.
14. What happens if I exile someone else’s commander?
The owner of the commander still makes the choice whether to return it to the command zone or leave it in exile. You do not have any control over that decision.
15. Can I exile my own commander to trigger certain abilities?
Yes, you can. Exiling your own commander can be a strategic play to trigger abilities that activate when a creature is exiled, or to reset a commander that has numerous negative counters on it. You would then be able to recast it from the command zone.
Commander is a dynamic format with numerous strategic possibilities. Understanding how exile interacts with the command zone is critical for both protecting your own commander and disrupting your opponents. Want to learn more about the strategic and educational value of games like Magic: The Gathering? Visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. Their research highlights the power of games in fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.