Decoding Commander Damage: Separating Fact from Fiction
Yes, commander damage is tracked separately from a player’s life total in the Magic: The Gathering format known as Commander (or EDH, Elder Dragon Highlander). While commander damage does reduce your life total like any other form of damage, its cumulative nature and distinct win condition make it a critical element to understand. In short, losing life and accruing commander damage are parallel events, each having the potential to lead to your defeat.
Understanding the Fundamentals of Commander Damage
To fully grasp the concept, let’s dive into the specifics. Each player begins the game with 40 life points (or 30 in 1v1 Commander). As the game progresses, players will lose life through various means, including combat damage, spells, and abilities. However, damage dealt by a commander is unique.
A commander is a legendary creature card that a player designates before the game begins. It starts in a special zone called the command zone, and can be cast from there multiple times, although the cost increases each time it is cast after the first. The crucial distinction is that damage dealt by a commander is tracked separately for each opponent.
The 21 Damage Threshold
This is the key element that separates commander damage from regular life loss. If a player is dealt 21 or more combat damage by the same commander over the course of a game, that player loses the game, regardless of their remaining life total. This means that even if you are sitting pretty at 20 life, 21 combat damage from a single commander will result in your defeat.
Why Track Commander Damage Separately?
This rule creates a strategic layer to the game, forcing players to consider not only their overall life total but also the threat posed by each opponent’s commander. It influences deck building decisions, gameplay strategies, and target selection, preventing games from becoming endless stalemates.
The rule exists to ensure that commanders are significant threats, encouraging players to interact with them, either by removing them from the battlefield or by preventing them from dealing damage.
Commander Damage FAQs: Your Comprehensive Guide
To further clarify the intricacies of commander damage, here’s a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions.
1. Does Commander Damage Contribute to Overall Life Loss?
Absolutely. When a commander deals damage, it reduces your life total just like any other source of damage. The difference is that this damage is also tracked separately as “commander damage.” So, if you are at 30 life and receive 5 combat damage from an opponent’s commander, your life total becomes 25, and you also have 5 commander damage from that specific commander.
2. How is Commander Damage Tracked?
Each player is responsible for tracking the commander damage they have received from each individual opponent’s commander. This is often done using dice, pen and paper, or dedicated apps. Remember to track damage separately for each player!
3. What Happens if I Take 21 Commander Damage from Multiple Commanders?
The 21 damage rule applies to a single commander. If you take, for example, 10 damage from Commander A and 11 damage from Commander B, you have not lost the game due to commander damage. You need 21 from just one commander to lose this way.
4. Does Commander Damage Reset if a Commander Leaves the Battlefield?
No. Commander damage is cumulative throughout the game. Even if a commander is destroyed, exiled, or returned to the command zone, the damage it has already dealt remains. It is a property of the commander.
5. Does Commander Damage Apply to Non-Combat Damage?
No. The rule specifically states combat damage. Effects that deal non-combat damage like abilities and spells do not count as commander damage, even if the source is a commander.
6. If My Commander is Stolen and Used Against Me, Does That Damage Count?
Yes! If your commander is stolen and used to attack you, that damage counts as commander damage from your own commander. This scenario can be particularly devastating and highlights the risks of playing powerful commanders.
7. Do Token Copies of Commanders Deal Commander Damage?
No. Token copies of commanders do not deal commander damage. Being a commander is a property of the card, not the permanent. Tokens are not cards.
8. Does Commander Damage go Through Protection?
Yes, protection makes you cannot be dealt damage including combat damage. Do note if some effect says damage can’t be prevented then you still take the commander damage even though no life change occur.
9. Can Commander Damage be Prevented or Reduced?
Yes, effects that prevent or reduce combat damage, such as Fog or Angelic Wall, will work against commander damage. Preventing the damage also prevents the life loss associated with it. However, remember that the damage has to be fully prevented for it to not affect your life total.
10. Does Lifelink Affect Commander Damage?
Yes. If a commander with lifelink deals combat damage, the controller of that commander gains life equal to the damage dealt, in addition to the life loss and possible accumulation of commander damage for the player receiving the damage.
11. Does Deathtouch Affect Commander Damage?
Yes, if a commander has deathtouch and deals combat damage, only 1 point of damage dealt will be needed to destroy the target creature. The rest of the damage from the commander will be applied towards life loss and commander damage.
12. How Does Commander Damage Interact with Infect/Poison Counters?
Infect and poison counters are separate mechanics that function independently of commander damage and regular life loss. Infect damage is not Commander Damage.
13. In 1v1 Commander, How Much Damage is Required to Lose?
The same rule applies to 1v1 Commander: 21 combat damage from a single commander will result in a loss, despite the lower starting life total of 30.
14. What About Partners? Do Their Damage Totals Combine?
No, if your commander pairings are using the partner mechanic their damages are tracked independently.
15. Does Commander Damage Influence Deck Building?
Absolutely! The threat of commander damage significantly influences deck building. Players often include cards that can protect them from commander attacks, remove opposing commanders, or deal damage quickly themselves. It’s a critical element to consider when crafting a successful Commander deck. If you want to learn more about card games and the impact they have on learning, please visit the Games Learning Society website. The URL for the site is GamesLearningSociety.org.