Does Commander Count as 1 of the 100 Cards?

The Commander does indeed count as one of the 100 cards in a Commander deck, as stated in the official Magic: The Gathering rules, specifically 903.5a, which dictates that each deck must contain exactly 100 cards, including its commander. This means that when building a Commander deck, players must include their chosen commander as part of the overall 100-card limit, leaving 99 slots for other cards, with the exception of partner commanders, which would occupy two of the 100 slots.

Understanding Commander Decks

Building Your Deck

To build a successful Commander deck, it’s essential to understand the rules and guidelines that govern the format. One key aspect of Commander deck building is the card ratio, with most experienced players agreeing that a good balance of lands and spells is crucial. The general consensus is that Commander decks should contain around 35% to 40% land cards, though this can vary depending on the specific strategy and commander being used.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the ratio of cards in Commander? The ratio of cards in Commander is generally considered to be around 35% to 40% land cards, with the remaining 60% to 65% consisting of ** creatures**, *spells*, and other *non-land cards*.
2. Are Commander decks 99 or 100 cards? Commander decks are exactly 100 cards, including the commander.
3. Can you have more than 1 of the same card in Commander? No, with the exception of basic lands, players are only allowed one of each card in their Commander deck.
4. What is the Commander rule 11? Commander Rule 11 states that the only cards that can be brought in from outside the game are Companions.
5. Can any legendary creature be a commander? Almost any legendary creature can be a commander, although there are some exceptions, such as planeswalkers without the explicit “this card can be your commander” wording.
6. Are Commander decks 100 cards or 101? Commander decks are exactly 100 cards, including the commander or commanders.
7. Can legendary Planeswalkers be commanders? Some legendary planeswalkers can be commanders, but only if the card explicitly states that it can be used as a commander.
8. What is the Commander rule of 8? The 8×8 Theory is a deckbuilding approach that involves choosing 8 different kinds of effects and 8 individual cards for each effect, resulting in a total of 64 spells.
9. What is a good mana curve for Commander? A good mana curve for Commander typically involves having a balanced mixture of two, three, and four-mana spells, with a limited number of one-mana and five-plus-mana spells.
10. How many Planeswalkers can you have in a Commander deck? There is no limit to the number of planeswalkers you can have in a Commander deck, as long as you abide by the singleton and color identity rules.
11. What cards should be in every Commander deck? Certain cards, such as Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Chaos Warp, Rhystic Study, Heroic Intervention, and Swiftfoot Boots, are considered staples and should be included in every Commander deck.
12. Can a commander be returned to hand? Yes, the owner of the commander can choose to have it return to the command zone or go to hand.
13. Can you reduce commander tax? Yes, commander tax can be reduced using certain cost reduction effects, such as affinity.
14. Do backgrounds count as commanders? Backgrounds can be considered commanders if they are legendary and have the “this card can be your commander” wording.
15. Can you exile a commander? Yes, a commander can be exiled with a spell or ability, but the owner can choose to return it to the command zone instead of leaving it in exile.