Can You Put Colorless in a Commander Deck? The Definitive Guide
Absolutely! You can build a Commander deck around a colorless commander, and include colorless cards within decks that feature a commander with a color identity. This opens a fascinating avenue of deckbuilding focused on artifacts, lands, and creatures devoid of traditional colors. However, it’s crucial to understand the nuanced rules surrounding color identity and how they impact your card choices when venturing into the world of colorless Commander. Now, let’s dive deep into the details.
Understanding Color Identity vs. Color
Before we go any further, it’s paramount to grasp the distinction between a card’s color and its color identity. A card’s color is determined by the mana symbols in its mana cost or by a color indicator. Colorless cards have no colored mana symbols in their mana cost and no color indicators.
Color identity, however, is a broader concept. It encompasses the mana symbols in a card’s mana cost, any colored mana symbols in its rules text, and any color indicators. This means a card can be colorless but still have a color identity if it contains colored mana symbols within its text box. This subtlety is critical in Commander deck construction.
Building a Colorless Commander Deck
The key takeaway is this: If your commander has a colorless color identity, such as Kozilek, the Great Distortion, your entire deck must also consist of cards with a colorless color identity. This drastically limits your card pool, but also offers a unique deckbuilding challenge.
Key restrictions for colorless commander decks:
- No Colored Mana Symbols: You can’t include cards with colored mana symbols in their mana cost or rules text.
- No Basic Lands (Except Wastes): Traditional basic lands like Plains, Islands, Swamps, Mountains, and Forests are forbidden. You can include Wastes, which are basic lands that produce colorless mana.
- Artifact Focus: Colorless decks lean heavily on artifacts for mana ramp, card draw, and interaction.
Colorless Cards in Colored Decks
Conversely, colorless cards can be included in any Commander deck, regardless of the commander’s color identity, so long as the rest of the deck adheres to the commander’s color identity. This is one of the best ways to include artifacts. A green/white commander deck can include the Sol Ring artifact that helps produce colorless mana for any of the deck’s spells. This opens the door for powerful utility cards, mana rocks, and game-ending threats that don’t rely on specific colors.
FAQs: Colorless Commanders and Deckbuilding
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the rules and strategies surrounding colorless commanders and colorless card inclusions in your commander decks:
1. Can I Use Colored Mana to Cast a Colorless Spell?
Yes, generic mana costs (represented by numbers within a grey circle) can be paid with any color of mana, including colorless mana. Only costs specifically requiring colorless mana (represented by the diamond symbol) require colorless mana.
2. Does Colorless Count as a Color for Protection Effects?
No. Colorless is not a color. Cards with protection from a specific color are not protected from colorless permanents or spells. However, effects that grant protection from all colors will provide protection from colored permanents.
3. Can I Use Devoid Cards in a Colorless Commander Deck?
No. Although Devoid cards are technically colorless, many have colored mana in the cost that define the identity of the card. This makes it illegal for a deck that has a colorless commander.
4. If My Commander is Colorless, Can I Use Lands that Produce Colored Mana?
No. Lands with basic land types or lands with color identities other than colorless cannot be included in your Commander deck when you have a colorless commander.
5. Does Jeweled Lotus Work With a Colorless Commander?
Yes. Jeweled Lotus can be used to generate mana to cast your commander, even if your commander is colorless.
6. Can Command Tower Add Colorless Mana in a Colorless Commander Deck?
No. Unless you and your playgroup agree on a house rule, Command Tower cannot tap for mana in a colorless commander deck. This is because Command Tower’s ability specifies tapping for a color in your commander’s color identity.
7. What Are Some Good Colorless Commanders?
Some popular and powerful colorless commanders include:
- Kozilek, the Great Distortion: A powerful reanimator threat that can destroy your opponent’s hand.
- Emrakul, the Promised End: Forces your opponent to take an extra turn while you control them.
- Hope of Ghirapur: A cheap colorless card that can affect what types of spells your opponent can cast.
8. Are There Any Colorless Lands that Are Also Basic Lands?
Yes. Wastes are basic lands that produce colorless mana. They are the only basic land type that can be included in a colorless commander deck.
9. Can I Run Cards with “Colorless Matters” Abilities in a Colored Deck?
Yes. Cards with abilities that care about colorless permanents or spells (like the Eldrazi processors) can be included in any Commander deck, as long as they adhere to the commander’s color identity.
10. Does Commander’s Plate Protect My Colorless Commander from Colored Spells?
Yes. Commander’s Plate grants protection from all colors not in your commander’s color identity. Since a colorless commander has no colors in its color identity, it gains protection from all colors.
11. How Do I Deal With Colored Decks When Playing a Colorless Commander?
Colorless decks often struggle against colored decks due to a lack of color-specific interaction. Focus on:
- Generic Removal: Cards that can destroy or exile any permanent, regardless of color.
- Artifact Board Wipes: Effects that destroy all artifacts and/or creatures, allowing you to reset the board.
- Mana Ramp: Get ahead on mana to cast your powerful colorless threats before your opponents can develop their board.
12. Can I Include Cards with Hybrid Mana Symbols in a Colorless Commander Deck?
No. Hybrid mana symbols represent a choice between two different colors of mana. Therefore, any card with a hybrid mana symbol has a color identity that is not colorless.
13. What Role Does Mana Ramp Play in a Colorless Commander Deck?
Mana ramp is absolutely crucial. Colorless decks often rely on expensive, game-ending threats. You’ll need to generate a significant amount of mana quickly to cast them ahead of your opponents. Artifact mana sources like Sol Ring, Mana Vault, and Grim Monolith are staples.
14. Can You Use Any Color Land in Commander?
Color identity forms one of the the key deck construction rules for Commander formats as players are not allowed to use any card whose color identity is not included in the color identity of their commander.
15. What are the Commander deck rules?
The Commander format has specific rules and guidelines. Some notable rules for deck construction include:
1. Format Legality: Only allowed cards can be added into a Commander deck. 2. 100 Card Limit: A commander deck must have exactly 100 cards, including the commander. 3. Single Cards Only: Unless the card states otherwise, you can only use one copy of a specific card into a Commander deck. 4. Commander Identity: All cards in your deck must be legal based on the commander’s color identity.
The Allure of Colorless Commander
Building a colorless Commander deck presents a unique challenge that forces players to think outside the traditional color pie. It emphasizes resource management, strategic card selection, and a deep understanding of artifact synergies.
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Whether you’re drawn to the raw power of the Eldrazi titans or the subtle synergies of artifact-based strategies, colorless Commander offers a refreshing and rewarding experience for any Magic player. Embrace the challenge, master the restrictions, and unleash the colorless menace upon your playgroup!