Unleashing the Swarm: Rat Colony in Commander – How Many is Too Many?

Yes, you absolutely can have more than one Rat Colony (or Relentless Rats, or Persistent Petitioners, or Nazgûl) in your Commander deck. In fact, you can have a lot more than one! These cards are explicitly designed to circumvent the usual singleton rule of the format, opening up some truly unique and potentially overwhelming strategies. This exception makes building a potent rat-themed (or similar) deck in Commander a viable and entertaining option.

Building Your Rodent Horde: Bending the Rules of Commander

Commander, or EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander), is known for its emphasis on singleton decks – one copy of any non-basic land card. This rule promotes diversity and strategic deckbuilding. However, certain cards, such as Rat Colony, explicitly ignore this restriction. The card text states something along the lines of, “You may have any number of cards named [card name] in your deck.” This exception allows for strategies centered around swarming the battlefield with a seemingly endless supply of identical creatures. The card Nazgûl has specific rules that can be used in the same manner as the Rat Colony, allowing up to 9 in the deck.

This opens up interesting deckbuilding possibilities and offers a distinct flavor compared to typical Commander decks. A dedicated rat deck often relies on overwhelming numbers, anthem effects (cards that boost the power and toughness of your creatures), and potentially even sacrificing large numbers of rats for powerful effects.

Strategic Considerations for Rat Swarms

While a swarm of identical creatures can be powerful, building a successful Commander deck with this strategy requires careful consideration:

• Anthem Effects: Since your creatures are inherently weak individually (particularly Rat Colony with its 2/1 stat line), anthem effects are critical. Cards like Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite (although expensive and potentially drawing hate) or more budget-friendly options like Obelisk of Urd can significantly boost your army.
• Card Draw: Generating and maintaining a large army requires consistent card draw. Black has several excellent options, such as Phyrexian Arena or the newer Sign in Blood.
• Board Wipes: Be prepared to rebuild after a board wipe. This makes recursion strategies and having multiple ways to restock your hand essential.
• Commander Choice: Your choice of commander is crucial. While Marrow-Gnawer is a classic choice due to its ability to create more rats, other options exist that provide card draw, anthem effects, or other strategic advantages.
• Mana Fixing: If your commander requires colors other than black (for example, a Rakdos, black/red, commander for burn damage), you will have to be able to have the mana available to get him on the field.
• The Fun Factor: Embrace the absurdity! Rat Colony decks can be incredibly fun and surprising to play.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rat Colony in Commander

Here are some common questions about using Rat Colony (and similar cards) in Commander:

1. Can I have 99 Rat Colonies in my Commander deck? Yes, you can theoretically have 99 Rat Colonies (or Relentless Rats, or Persistent Petitioners) in your deck, provided you meet the minimum 100-card deck requirement, including your commander.

2. Does the color identity of Rat Colony restrict my commander choices? Yes, Rat Colony is a black card, so your commander must include black in its color identity.

3. If I have multiple Rat Colonies on the battlefield, do their abilities stack? The abilities of Rat Colony state “Rat Colony gets +1/+0 for each other creature on the battlefield named Rat Colony.” The more rats, the stronger each individual rat becomes.

4. What happens if my Rat Colony deck is targeted by a board wipe? Board wipes are a weakness of this strategy. Include cards that allow you to rebuild your army quickly, such as graveyard recursion or efficient card draw.

5. Can I use cards like Mirror Box to bypass the legend rule with my legendary commander? No, Mirror Box only prevents the legend rule from applying to nonlegendary permanents. However, if your deck runs many legendary creatures as well as your commander, it can allow you to have duplicates of non-legendary creatures on the battlefield.

6. Are there cards that specifically counter Rat Colony decks? Yes, cards that exile all creatures, such as Farewell, are particularly effective. Cards that give -1/-1 tokens to all creatures can also wipe out the Rat Colony relatively easily.

7. Can I use cards that copy creatures to create more Rat Colonies? Yes! Cards that create token copies of your Rat Colonies can be very powerful.

8. Does Rule 0 affect my ability to play a Rat Colony deck? Rule 0 is more about gameplay. As long as your playgroup is fine with it, play the deck!

9. What is the best land count for a Rat Colony Commander deck? Aim for around 36-38 lands, depending on your mana curve and the amount of ramp you include in your deck.

10. Can you have more than one commander in a Rat Colony deck? Yes, you can have two commanders if they both have the “partner” ability.

11. Can I use Companions in a Rat Colony deck? Yes, you can use a Companion, but it must adhere to Commander color identity rules and be revealed from outside the game. Commander Rule 11 dictates that only Companions are allowed from outside the game.

12. Are there other cards besides Rat Colony and Relentless Rats that allow multiple copies in Commander? Yes, Persistent Petitioners and Nazgûl have similar abilities.

13. What are some good budget anthem effects for a Rat Colony deck? Obelisk of Urd, Coat of Arms, and similar cards are excellent budget-friendly options.

14. Is a Rat Colony deck competitive in Commander? It depends on your playgroup’s power level. While not top-tier, a well-built Rat Colony deck can be surprisingly effective and can definitely steal wins.

15. What are some resources for learning more about Commander deckbuilding? Websites like EDHREC and the Games Learning Society offer valuable resources and deck ideas. GamesLearningSociety.org provides a community to better learn the strategies of Magic: The Gathering, as well as other card games.

Embracing the Chaos: Rat Colony as a Unique Commander Experience

Building a Rat Colony deck in Commander is an exercise in bending the rules and embracing a unique strategy. While it may not be the most competitive deck in every meta, it offers a refreshing and often hilarious way to play the format. The swarming power of the rats, combined with the right support cards, can create a truly memorable and overwhelming gameplay experience. So, unleash the horde, and let the rats take over!