How Much Does it Cost to Summon a Commander? The Ultimate Guide
The cost to summon a Commander in Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format is its mana cost as printed on the card, plus an additional {2} (two generic mana) for each previous time you’ve cast it from the command zone this game. This additional cost is commonly referred to as the “Commander Tax.” So, the first time you cast your Commander, you just pay its normal mana cost. The second time, you pay its mana cost plus {2}. The third time, its mana cost plus {4}, and so on. Understanding this fundamental mechanic is crucial for strategizing and managing your resources effectively in any Commander game.
Understanding the Commander Tax
The Commander Tax is arguably the most defining rule of the Commander format, influencing deckbuilding, gameplay decisions, and overall strategy. It exists to prevent players from relying too heavily on their Commander as a repetitive, unbreakable engine. Without the tax, Commander games could devolve into predictable loops centered around recasting the same powerful creature or planeswalker turn after turn, diminishing the diversity and dynamism that makes Commander so appealing.
The key takeaway here is the Commander Tax only applies when casting from the Command Zone. If you manage to get your Commander into your hand and cast it from there, or put it onto the battlefield without casting it at all, the tax is bypassed.
Strategizing Around the Commander Tax
Knowing how the Commander Tax works is one thing; knowing how to strategize around it is another. Here are a few tips to consider:
- Mana Ramp: Prioritize cards that generate extra mana. The more mana you have available, the less daunting the Commander Tax becomes. Cards like Sol Ring, Cultivate, and Arcane Signet are Commander staples for a reason.
- Commander Protection: Invest in cards that protect your Commander from removal. Preventing your Commander from dying in the first place is far more economical than paying the tax repeatedly. Consider cards like Lightning Greaves, Swiftfoot Boots, and counterspells.
- Alternative Casting Methods: Explore ways to get your Commander onto the battlefield without casting it from the Command Zone. Cards like Command Beacon can return your Commander to your hand, allowing you to cast it without the tax. Other cards such as Elvish Piper or Quicksilver Amulet can put your commander directly onto the battlefield bypassing the tax entirely.
- Commander Alternatives: Some decks run Commanders that are not essential to their strategy, but rather provide support or consistency. This allows you to avoid recasting your Commander repeatedly while still progressing your game plan.
- Timing is Everything: Don’t reflexively recast your Commander the moment it dies. Assess the board state. Is it worth paying the tax? Could you better utilize your mana elsewhere? Sometimes, waiting a turn or two is the optimal play.
Ultimately, mastering the Commander Tax is about recognizing its influence on every aspect of your game and adapting your strategy accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Casting Commanders
Here are some frequently asked questions about casting commanders:
How much does it cost to cast your Commander after it dies?
Your Commander sits in their own special zone and can be cast whenever you can afford them. If they die, get exiled or anything else that removes them from the board, you can instead put them back in the Command Zone, but you have to pay two more mana to cast them – and that cost goes up every time you cast them from the Command Zone.
Can you summon your Commander?
A commander can be cast from the command zone for its normal costs, plus an additional two mana for each previous time it’s been cast from the command zone this game. If your commander would be put into your library, hand, graveyard or exile from anywhere, you may return it to your command zone instead.
Can commanders be sent to your hand?
The owner of the commander may choose to have it return to the command zone or go to hand.
Can you steal commanders from graveyards?
Yes, you absolutely can. The owner of the commander can only move it from the graveyard to the command zone as a Statebased action. And we don’t check state-based actions while spells are resolving. So, you can steal commanders.
Can commanders be shuffled into the deck?
Yes. If it goes into your hand or library, it should be indistinguishable from the other cards.
Can you counter summoning a commander?
Casting a commander is the same as casting pretty much anything else. So it can definitely be countered. Slight correction, Commander tax only applies if you are casting your Commander from the Command Zone, and only counts each time the Commander has previously been cast from the Command Zone.
Do you pay commander tax from your hand?
It’s important to note that the commander tax only applies when you’re recasting from the command zone. If you use, Command Beacon to bounce your commander, you won’t have to pay the tax to cast it from your hand. The same applies if you’re putting the commander into play but not casting it.
Can you permanently exile a commander?
The problem with getting rid of a commander permanently is rule 903.9: 903.9. If a commander would be exiled from anywhere or put into its owner’s hand, graveyard, or library from anywhere, its owner may put it into the command zone instead. This replacement effect may apply more than once to the same event.
Can your commander do commander damage to yourself?
Yes, the way the rule is worded a player who takes 21 or more points of combat damage from a single commander loses the game. This includes their own commander should it be stolen and used against them. Remember it has to be 21 damage from a single commander, not a cumulative total.
Does casting commander count as a spell?
903.3d: If an effect refers to controlling a commander, it refers to a permanent on the battlefield that is a commander. If an effect refers to casting a commander, it refers to a spell that is a command… You cannot as you do not control a Commander, you control a Commander Spell.
Are 40k cards legal in commander?
There are 168 different cards printed in the Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks. These cards are legal for play in the Commander, Vintage, and Legacy formats. They aren’t legal for play in the Standard, Pioneer, or Modern formats.
Does affinity reduce commander tax?
Yes, affinity can be used to lower commander tax. Commander tax is an additional cost while affinity is a cost-reduction mechanic, so affinity undoes what commander tax does.
Can you have 2 commanders?
A player can have two commanders if both have partner. Because both commanders start the game in the command zone, the remaining library is only 98 cards. Your two commanders are treated individually for all other Commander rules. If either leaves the battlefield, you can return it to the command zone instead.
What cards Cannot be used in Commander?
Some cards are banned in commander, including Primeval Titan, Erayo, Soratami Ascendant, Fastbond, Karakas, Tolarian Academy, Hullbreacher, Iona, Shield of Emeria, and Leovold, Emissary of Trest.
Can you draw if you go first in Commander?
Given that Commander is traditionally a multiplayer format, all players draw a card during their first turn.
Further Exploration of Commander Mechanics
Understanding the intricacies of Commander goes beyond simply knowing the cost of casting your commander. It involves delving into deckbuilding strategies, understanding color synergies, and exploring the diverse card pool available. Resources like the Games Learning Society and GamesLearningSociety.org can provide further insight into the strategic depth of the game and its community.
Conclusion
The cost to summon a Commander, including the Commander Tax, is a dynamic element that shapes every Commander game. Mastering it requires a deep understanding of the rules, strategic deckbuilding, and adaptability in gameplay. By embracing these concepts, you can elevate your Commander game and enjoy the rich, engaging experience that this unique format offers.