Do Legendary Creatures Count as Commanders?
Yes, legendary creatures absolutely count as commanders in the Commander format of Magic: The Gathering. In fact, they are the most common type of card used as a commander. The very foundation of the format is built upon the concept of using a legendary creature as the central piece of your deck. When constructing a Commander deck, the primary requirement is choosing a legendary creature card that will be your designated leader, dictating the color identity and strategic direction of your deck. This commander card starts the game in the command zone, a special area separate from your hand or library, and can be cast repeatedly, subject to increasing costs. It’s crucial to understand that while the commander is a card, its designation as a commander is an attribute of the card itself, not of the object it represents within the game’s lore. This means that even when your commander changes zones (such as being exiled or returned to your hand), it still retains its commander status.
Commander Basics and Legendary Creatures
The Essence of Commander
Commander, also known as EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander), is a popular multiplayer format in Magic: The Gathering known for its diverse gameplay, strategic depth, and social interactions. At its core, it’s a format that celebrates creativity and player expression. Each player begins the game with 40 life and chooses a legendary creature as their commander. The commander, as established, is the focal point of the deck, dictating the permissible colors and often guiding deck construction around its unique abilities.
Why Legendary Creatures Are Key
The requirement for your commander to be a legendary creature adds a significant layer of complexity and flavor to the format. Not all creatures in the Magic universe are legendary, thus adding the ‘legendary’ card constraint narrows the pool of potential commanders and encourages players to consider strategic choices very carefully. This limitation promotes a unique deckbuilding experience different from other Magic formats, where one might be able to have any creatures included.
The Commander’s Impact
Your commander isn’t just a card you play. It’s a cornerstone of your entire strategy, a repeatable resource you can leverage throughout the game. You can cast it as many times as you’d like, provided you can afford to pay the “commander tax.” This tax increases the casting cost by two generic mana every time you cast your commander from the command zone after the first time. This mechanic means that, although powerful, commanders are subject to diminishing returns, and there are strategic reasons for not constantly recasting it if it is removed or dealt with by other players. This promotes the idea that your commander isn’t just a single, powerful entity to carry your deck to victory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions players have about using legendary creatures as commanders, along with detailed answers.
Can I Use Legendary Planeswalkers as Commanders?
Generally, no. While all planeswalkers are legendary, only those that explicitly state “this card can be your commander” on the bottom of the card can be used as commanders. If a legendary planeswalker does not contain this line of text, it cannot be your commander. Always check the card text carefully!
Can I Include Other Legendary Creatures in My Commander Deck?
Absolutely! Your Commander deck can include other legendary creatures, in addition to the one you chose as your commander, and even any number of legendary planeswalkers as well, as long as they all adhere to your commander’s color identity. The only restriction is the “singleton” rule, which means you can only have one copy of a card (other than basic lands) within your deck. This makes deckbuilding very diverse.
Does My Commander’s Designation Change When It Changes Zones?
No, the designation of a card being a commander is an attribute of the card itself and not a characteristic of the object it represents. Therefore, even if your commander moves to your graveyard, exile, or hand, it still retains its commander status.
Can the Prismatic Bridge Be My Commander?
Yes, The Prismatic Bridge can be used as your commander, although it is actually a double-sided card. In the case of The Prismatic Bridge, the flip side is considered to be the “true” commander. This makes it unusual but legal.
Is Karn, the Great Creator Legal in Commander?
While Karn, the Great Creator is legal in Commander, its abilities to fetch cards from outside the game do not function. In Commander, cards cannot be brought in from outside the game, except when using a Companion. This also affects cards like Living Wish, Spawnsire of Ulamog, and the card, simply called “Wish.”
What About Banned Cards Like Sundering Titan?
Sundering Titan is banned in Commander due to its powerful and easily exploitable ability. Players can use effects like clone, blink, flicker, or reanimation to trigger its ability multiple times, creating an unbalanced gameplay experience.
Is Skullclamp Banned in Commander?
No, Skullclamp is not banned in Commander. Although it is a powerful draw engine, it is not considered broken or format-warping within the format. Although it is banned in Legacy, and other formats, it is fair in Commander.
Are Unfinity Cards Legal in Commander?
Yes, Unfinity eternal cards are legal in Commander. This includes cards printed at common rarity, which are also legal in the Pauper format. This expands the pool of cards that can be used in Commander and adds a bit of fun.
Who is the Best “Superfriends” Commander?
Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice is considered to be one of the best “superfriends” commanders. Despite usually being the second best in most ranking lists, if you are playing a “superfriends” deck (a deck based around planeswalkers) Atraxa is almost certainly the commander you are looking for.
Can I Have Two of the Same Legendary Creatures as Commanders?
If you have two legendary creatures with the partner ability that have the same colors, yes, you can have two of the same commander. In Commander Draft, it’s even possible to have two copies of the same commander with partner. However, you need to keep track of how many times each was cast from the command zone separately for the purposes of the commander tax.
Can Nicol Bolas, the Ravager be a Commander?
Yes, Nicol Bolas, the Ravager is a powerful and popular commander. Its flexibility and low cost make it a strong contender in both regular Commander and the Brawl format. Its transformation makes it unique and fun to play with.
Can a Legendary Vehicle be a Commander?
Yes, a legendary Vehicle can be your commander if its text explicitly states that it can be your commander, such as Shorikai, Genesis Engine. The rules were tweaked to ensure these cards function correctly as commanders.
What is the “Legend Rule” in Commander?
The legend rule in Commander states that if you have two or more legendary permanents with the same name in play, you must choose one to keep and sacrifice the rest. This applies to both commanders and other legendary creatures and planeswalkers in your deck. Remember that you can play more of the same subtype planeswalker (i.e., Jace) as long as they don’t share a name.
What are the Commander Rules about Bringing Cards in From Outside of the Game?
Commander Rule 11 states that the only cards that can be brought into the game from outside of the game are Companions. This rule prevents the abuse of powerful wish-like effects that could fetch specific cards from your sideboard or collection.
Are Warhammer 40,000 Decks Legal in Commander?
Yes, cards from the Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks are legal in the Commander, Vintage, and Legacy formats, but not in Standard, Pioneer, or Modern. This adds a vast array of cards and options to the commander format.
Hopefully, this helps answer any questions that you have had about how legendary creatures work within the commander format! Remember that the commander is not just a single card, but rather is the foundation for a unique deckbuilding experience within Magic the Gathering.