Does Your Commander Count as a Card in MTG Commander?
Yes, your Commander absolutely counts as a card in the Magic: The Gathering (MTG) Commander format. It’s a foundational element of your deck, and its presence influences everything from deck construction to gameplay strategy. The Commander rule is a critical element of the game.
Understanding the Commander as a Card
The Commander format is a unique way to play Magic, built around the idea of a legendary creature (or, in some specific cases, a planeswalker with the explicit text “this card can be your commander”) that leads your deck. This Commander isn’t just any card; it’s the cornerstone of your strategy and the heart of your deck’s identity.
Inclusion in the 100-Card Limit
The most direct confirmation of your Commander’s status as a card comes from the deckbuilding rules. A Commander deck must contain exactly 100 cards, including the commander. This means you have 99 other cards to build a deck around your commander. It sounds simple, but it has ramifications.
A Permanent Feature, Not a Sideboard
Unlike a card in your hand, library, or graveyard, your Commander starts the game in the Command Zone. This zone is a distinct area outside of the main battlefield. While the Commander sits in the command zone, it’s still considered part of your deck from the start. It’s not a separate entity like a companion, which exists outside the deck until you choose to bring it in.
Color Identity and Deckbuilding
Your Commander’s color identity dictates which cards you can include in your deck. Color identity considers the colors in the Commander’s mana cost and any mana symbols in its rules text. This restriction applies to all the cards in your deck, including lands. This restriction makes the Commander a pivotal card in your deck!
The Commander Tax
Each time you cast your Commander from the Command Zone after the first time, it costs an additional {2} generic mana. This cost, known as the “Commander tax,” is designed to prevent players from repeatedly casting their Commander without any drawback. The existence of this tax, and how it affects the mana you need to manage, is a very critical element of the gameplay.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Commanders
Here are some frequently asked questions to clarify the rules and nuances surrounding your Commander in MTG:
1. Does My Commander Count Towards the 100-Card Limit?
Yes, as previously mentioned, your Commander is one of the 100 cards. You need to have 99 other cards to create a full deck that is ready to play against other players.
2. Can My Commander Be an Artifact Creature?
Yes, your Commander can be an artifact creature as long as it meets the primary requirement of being a legendary creature (or a planeswalker with the specified text allowing it to be your commander). Colorless decks are common in Commander!
3. What Happens if My Commander Would Go to the Graveyard?
If your Commander would be put into your graveyard, exile, hand, or library from anywhere on the battlefield, you have the option to return it to the Command Zone instead. This is a replacement effect, meaning it doesn’t actually go to the graveyard first; it’s immediately placed in the Command Zone if you choose.
4. Can Someone Steal My Commander?
Yes, another player can gain control of your Commander through spells or abilities. The crucial point is that the owner of the Commander (the player who included it in their deck) is the only one who can choose to return it to the Command Zone when it changes zones. This choice is made when the effect resolves that moves the Commander.
5. Does My Commander Have Summoning Sickness?
Yes, your Commander is subject to summoning sickness just like any other creature. It cannot attack or use activated abilities with the tap symbol in their cost on the turn it enters the battlefield unless it has haste or is unaffected by summoning sickness.
6. Can I Have Two Commanders?
You can have two Commanders if they both have the Partner ability. In this case, the deck must still contain exactly 100 cards including both Commanders. Your remaining library will include 98 cards in this situation.
7. Can My Commander Be a Planeswalker?
Yes, some planeswalkers can be Commanders, but only if the card specifically states “[CARDNAME] can be your commander.” This text is an exception to the usual legendary creature requirement.
8. Can I Put My Commander into My Library?
Under normal circumstances, when your Commander would be put into your library, you can choose to put it into the Command Zone instead. However, there might be situations where you want it in your library (for example, to use a card that lets you search your library for a specific card). In such cases, you can allow it to be shuffled into your library. You would want to use a token to represent the card.
9. Does Chaos Warp Affect My Commander?
If you target your Commander with Chaos Warp, the spell will resolve as normal. You shuffle your commander into your library, and your commander’s owner will be able to select whether they want to place their commander into the command zone.
10. Does Commander Damage Include Damage from My Own Commander?
Yes, the Commander damage rule states that a player loses the game if they have been dealt 21 or more combat damage from the same Commander over the course of the game. This includes damage from their own Commander if it has been stolen and used against them.
11. What Is a Commander’s Color Identity?
A commander’s color identity dictates which cards can be in your deck. For example, if your Commander is blue and white, your deck can only consist of cards that are blue, white, or colorless.
12. Can I Play Two-Player Commander?
Yes, you can play a two-player version of Commander. It’s often referred to as Duel Commander. There may be slight variations in the ban list compared to the standard multiplayer Commander format.
13. Do I Draw on My First Turn in Commander?
In Commander, all players draw a card on their first turn. This is a standard rule designed to create a more balanced and engaging experience in multiplayer games.
14. Can I Have Duplicate Non-Basic Land Cards in My Commander Deck?
No. While you can have multiple basic lands (Plains, Islands, Swamps, Mountains, and Forests), every other card in your deck must have a different name. This is part of the “singleton” rule of Commander.
15. Does Commander Rule 11 Restrict What Cards I Can Bring From Outside The Game?
Yes, Commander Rule 11 is a specific rule that limits the cards that can be brought in from outside the game. This rule is intended to prevent players from accessing cards that are not part of their initial decklist during a game. The rule allows a player to bring in their companion as long as it is included on the original decklist.
Conclusion
The Commander is more than just a card in your deck; it’s the heart and soul of your strategy. Understanding its role and how it interacts with the rules of the format is crucial for success in Commander. It’s a format that encourages creativity, interaction, and strategic deckbuilding.
Understanding the intricacies of the Commander format can be challenging, but it offers a rewarding experience for players of all skill levels. The Games Learning Society understands the complexity of the Commander format, and other MTG rules. For more insights into the world of gaming and learning, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.