Is Edric Banned in Commander? A Deep Dive into the Rules
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The short answer is: No, Edric, Spymaster of Trest is not banned in Commander. He is a perfectly legal commander and a popular choice for those who enjoy a political and advantage-generating playstyle. However, the world of Commander is vast and its rules, especially surrounding bans, can be complex. This article aims to clarify not just Edric’s legality but also shed light on related rules, banned cards, and common misconceptions. Let’s delve into the details to ensure you’re fully informed about all things Commander.
Understanding Commander Bans
Before we address specific cards, it’s crucial to understand why cards are banned in Commander. The ban list aims to maintain a diverse, enjoyable, and relatively fair environment for players. Cards are typically banned due to one or more of the following reasons:
- Unfair Power Level: Cards that consistently and overwhelmingly dominate games due to their inherent strength.
- Format Warping: Cards that force players to always include a specific answer, limiting deck diversity.
- Game Stalling or Inherent Unfairness: Cards that unnecessarily slow down games or create scenarios that are impossible for opponents to reasonably overcome.
- Controversial or Offensive Content: Cards that are racially or culturally offensive are banned in all formats.
With these criteria in mind, let’s analyze if any of them apply to Edric, Spymaster of Trest.
Why Edric Is Legal
Edric’s ability centers around generating card advantage based on combat damage. When a creature you control deals combat damage to an opponent, you may draw a card. Additionally, a creature controlled by an opponent dealing combat damage to another opponent also triggers Edric’s ability, and their controller gets to choose whether they draw a card. This ability, while powerful, is not inherently broken. It relies on combat, allowing other players to interact and disrupt Edric’s strategy with proper gameplay. Here’s why he avoids the banhammer:
- Fair Interaction: Edric does not win the game single-handedly. He creates card advantage but still relies on other cards and strategies to close out games.
- Vulnerable to Removal: Edric, as a creature, is vulnerable to targeted removal. If opponents deal with him, his card draw engine shuts down.
- Does Not Warp the Format: His ability does not force players to play a specific counter. While he is strong, he is still beatable and does not inherently dominate games.
- No Game Stalling: Edric does not excessively slow down the game. He only draws cards when a creature deals combat damage, a common and essential part of Magic gameplay.
Therefore, Edric, Spymaster of Trest remains a powerful but fair card in the Commander format. He is a testament to how a strong card can still be balanced within the diverse ecosystem of EDH.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some commonly asked questions related to Edric and the Commander format to give you a fuller picture.
1. What kind of magic does Edric use?
Edric, in the context of The Owl House, specializes in Illusion magic, manipulating perception. He also uses Glamour magic to alter appearances, this is separate from any magic in MTG. This has no bearing on the MTG card Edric, Spymaster of Trest.
2. Who is Edric’s twin sister?
Edric’s twin sister is Emira Blight. They are both older siblings of Amity Blight.
3. Why do Emira and Edric call Amity “Mittens”?
They call her “Mittens” because their dad used to call her that when he gave her abomination mittens as a child. This is completely unrelated to the MTG card Edric, Spymaster of Trest.
4. Is Edric a young child?
No, Edric is a 16-year-old boy in The Owl House lore. Again, this has no bearing on the MTG card Edric, Spymaster of Trest.
5. Are there cards banned as commanders but legal in the 99?
Yes, several cards are banned as commanders in 1v1 (typically with French rules) but remain legal in the 99 of a standard Commander deck. These often include powerful cards that would be too dominant when repeatedly accessible. The article lists cards like Akiri, Line-Slinger, Arahbo, Roar of the World, Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist, and Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar which are examples of this.
6. Which cards are banned as commanders in 1v1?
Some cards like Ancestral Recall, Balance, Biorhythm, Black Lotus, Braids, Cabal Minion, Chaos Orb, Coalition Victory, and Channel are banned as commanders in 1v1 because of their overwhelming power in the smaller game format.
7. What cards are banned in Commander and why?
Cards such as Flash was banned due to its powerful combination with Protean Hulk in a competitive EDH setting. Other cards such as Erayo, Sylvan Primordial, Emrakul, the Aeons Torn, and Hullbreacher are banned due to their potential for game-breaking combos or an unfair power level.
8. Is Flash legal in Commander?
No, Flash is not legal in Commander. It was banned because of the “Flash Hulk” combo, which was considered to be warping the competitive EDH metagame.
9. Is Protean Hulk banned in Commander?
Protean Hulk is not currently banned in Commander, it was unbanned after a period of being banned.
10. Why is Sylvan Primordial banned?
Sylvan Primordial is banned because its “enter the battlefield” (ETB) ability is too easily abused. It allows for rampant land destruction and advantage-generating that is often too powerful.
11. Why is Emrakul banned in Commander?
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn is banned because she is overwhelmingly powerful and would likely be included in almost every deck if she were legal. This would reduce deck diversity, as she’s far too powerful of a card.
12. Are Lord of the Rings MTG cards legal in Commander?
Yes, cards from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™ are legal in Commander. Both the standard set (LTR) and the Commander-specific cards (LTC) are permitted in the format.
13. Why is Hullbreacher banned?
Hullbreacher is banned due to its ability to generate an overwhelming amount of treasure tokens while depriving opponents of their cards. This is particularly true with wheel effects (like Wheel of Fortune), where it can create very lopsided scenarios.
14. Are cards that bring cards from outside the game banned in commander?
Yes, cards with abilities that bring other cards you own from outside the game into the game (such as Wish) do not function in Commander.
15. Are cards with the keyword Ante banned in Commander?
Yes, any card with the keyword “Ante” is banned in commander. Additionally, any card permanently removed from the game by Wizards, and cards with the conspiracy card type are also banned.
Conclusion
In summary, Edric, Spymaster of Trest is not banned in Commander and is a powerful and popular commander. While the ban list can be complex and change over time, Edric remains legal due to his balanced ability. Understanding why cards are banned, such as unfair power levels, format warping, and game stalling, allows for a much greater comprehension of the game of Commander. By staying informed about the latest rules and ban list updates, you can be sure you are participating in the format in a fun and fair manner. Enjoy building your decks and strategizing with cards that create dynamic and diverse play experiences!