Can You Steal a Commander from a Graveyard? Decoding the Rules of Commander Theft
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The question of whether you can steal a commander from a graveyard in Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format is a common point of confusion, steeped in the nuances of specific rules and interactions. The short answer is: Generally, no, you cannot directly steal a commander from a graveyard. While you might think a card like It That Betrays or similar effects could pilfer a commander, the way the game handles commanders prevents this in most cases. This is because of a crucial rule surrounding the command zone and state-based actions. Let’s delve into why and how the rules work to prevent such graveyard theft.
Understanding the Commander’s Journey
The Command Zone and State-Based Actions
The core of the issue lies in how commanders move to the command zone. When a commander would be put into a graveyard or exile from anywhere, its owner has a choice. They can choose to have their commander go to the graveyard or exile, and then a state-based action puts it into the command zone. This occurs before anyone would receive priority, and therefore, before any triggers could resolve.
State-Based Actions vs. Triggered Abilities
It’s essential to distinguish between state-based actions and triggered abilities. A state-based action is something the game automatically does based on the current game state. For example, a creature with 0 toughness dying is a state-based action. Triggered abilities, on the other hand, are abilities that happen when a specific event occurs. These abilities use the words “when,” “whenever,” or “at.”
Because moving a commander to the command zone is a state-based action, it sidesteps any triggered abilities that would occur after it goes to the graveyard. Therefore, cards like It That Betrays, which trigger upon creatures being put into a graveyard from the battlefield, won’t interact with a commander going to the graveyard since it is almost immediately moved to the command zone. The commander essentially makes a pitstop in the graveyard before immediately moving to safety.
Why Commanders Can’t Be Stolen from the Graveyard
The critical point is that the owner’s choice to return the commander to the command zone is not a triggered ability, but a state-based action. This happens instantaneously (without going on the stack), which means that effects that would try to steal the commander from the graveyard are too late. By the time the “dies” trigger is trying to put the effect onto the stack the card is already in the command zone, meaning the ability doesn’t find the target it’s looking for.
Edge Cases and Workarounds
While directly stealing a commander from the graveyard is usually not possible, some specific scenarios and card interactions exist. These don’t involve directly stealing the commander but are related to how commanders are handled:
- Exiling From Graveyard: If a commander ends up in the graveyard and then is exiled, there is technically no rule that states the commander has to go back to the command zone in that particular case. Cards like Rest in Peace would not stop a commander from being placed in the graveyard but would prevent that commander from returning to the command zone if its owner chooses not to move the card to the command zone before the exile. If the player wants, they can keep their commander exiled after it is in the graveyard. In other words, once a card hits the graveyard the state-based action of choosing to move it to the command zone only exists at that moment, if you do not do it at that time, there is no ability to trigger it ever again. However, you can still choose to have your commander return to the command zone when being moved from the exile zone to another zone.
- Stealing and Copying: While you can’t take a commander from the graveyard, you can gain control of a commander that is on the battlefield through effects like Desertion or other similar effects. Additionally, you can deal commander damage with an opponent’s commander if you’ve gained control of it. While a clone of a commander does not carry the “commander-ness”, a cloned commander can still deal commander damage if controlled by you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about commanders and graveyard interactions to further clarify the rules:
1. Can you choose to keep your commander in the graveyard?
Yes, you can choose to keep your commander in the graveyard or exile zone instead of immediately moving it to the command zone as a state-based action. However, remember that the state based action is only available at the point of entering the graveyard or exile, if you miss that moment, you cannot chose that state based action again.
2. Can grave betrayal take commanders?
No, It That Betrays and similar cards cannot directly steal a commander due to the state-based action rule. The commander will be in the command zone by the time it is done triggering.
3. What happens if a commander is exiled from the graveyard?
The owner may still choose to have their commander return to the command zone even if it was moved to the exile zone after its brief stay in the graveyard.
4. Can a commander be copied?
Yes, a commander can be copied. However, the copied version will not have the inherent “commander” status. It will not gain the inherent commander benefits such as always returning to the command zone on being exiled or dying, or having commander tax applied when playing it.
5. Do stolen commanders do commander damage?
Yes, players can be dealt commander damage with commanders that are not their own if you control them. This includes their own.
6. Can desertion steal a commander?
Yes, Desertion does work against commanders on the battlefield. You can gain control of an opponent’s commander, making it your own temporarily.
7. Can a planeswalker be a commander?
Yes, some planeswalkers explicitly state they can be commanders on their card.
8. Can you exile an indestructible commander?
Yes, an indestructible permanent can be exiled. Indestructibility only prevents it from being destroyed.
9. What happens if a commander is sent to your hand?
The owner may choose to have it return to the command zone or go to hand. If the owner chooses hand they may play that card from hand without paying the tax, and if the commander returns to the command zone then the tax is increased by 2 colourless mana.
10. Can you be killed by commander damage from your own commander?
Yes, if you take 21 or more damage from your own commander (if it is under an opponents control) you will lose the game.
11. Do commanders count as dying?
Yes, according to the rules, “dies” means “is put into a graveyard from the battlefield.” Your commander dies according to the rules but, before anyone can receive priority, you can move it out of the graveyard before any effects can try to interact with it.
12. Are companions legal in commander?
Yes, you may have one companion in the Commander format, as long as your deck meets the companion’s requirements.
13. Can a legendary enchantment creature be a commander?
Yes, any legendary creature is eligible to be a commander.
14. Does Deathtouch beat indestructible?
No, indestructible creatures ignore damage from creatures with deathtouch.
15. Does Hexproof stop exile?
Hexproof does not stop exile unless the card directly targets. Effects that say “exile all” or similar effects will still work.
Conclusion
Understanding the subtle nuances of Commander rules, especially concerning the command zone, is essential for playing the format correctly. While the idea of stealing commanders from the graveyard might seem like a powerful strategy, the state-based action rule is designed to prevent exactly this kind of interaction. So, when your commander is about to face its demise, remember: the command zone awaits, a safe haven for your legendary leader.