Is Morophon Considered Colorless? A Deep Dive into Magic: The Gathering’s Unique Commander
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The question of whether Morophon, the Boundless is considered colorless is a common point of confusion among Magic: The Gathering (MTG) players, particularly those new to the Commander format. The short answer is: Yes, Morophon is a colorless creature. However, the full picture is a bit more nuanced, involving a key distinction between a card’s color and its color identity.
Understanding Color vs. Color Identity
To understand Morophon’s colorless nature, we first need to differentiate between a card’s color and its color identity. A card’s color is determined by the colored mana symbols in its mana cost, any color indicator on the card, or any effect that explicitly sets or modifies its color. Morophon has a mana cost of {7}, which contains no colored mana symbols, and it does not have a color indicator. Therefore, it is considered colorless.
However, a card’s color identity is determined by all the colored mana symbols that appear on the card, including those in its mana cost and in the rules text of the card. Morophon’s rules text states, “You may choose a creature type as Morophon enters the battlefield. It’s all creature types in addition to that type.” While this text doesn’t use colored mana symbols, Morophon’s color identity is WUBRG (white, blue, black, red, and green) as confirmed in its official ruling. This is often the source of the confusion for players.
Therefore, Morophon, the Boundless is a colorless creature, with a five-color color identity. This distinction is crucial for understanding how it can be used in Commander decks.
Morophon in Commander: A Colorless Chameleon
The unique combination of a colorless body with a five-color identity makes Morophon an exceptional Commander. While it is colorless, the commander can only be used in decks that include all five colors (WUBRG), because of its color identity. This allows you to have access to the full color pie while your commander is a colorless card. This allows Morophon to be a powerful and versatile tribal commander, able to lead any type of creature deck, taking advantage of the ability of costing {1} less to cast for each creature on the battlefield that shares a creature type with Morophon.
FAQs: Further Clarifying Morophon’s Color
To further clarify Morophon’s complex nature, here are 15 frequently asked questions:
1. Can Morophon be put in any Commander deck?
No. Despite being colorless, Morophon, the Boundless has a WUBRG color identity, meaning it can only be the commander of a five-color deck.
2. How does Morophon’s cost reduction ability work?
Morophon’s cost reduction ability means you can play creature spells that share the chosen creature type at a reduced cost. This reduction is applied to both the normal cost and alternative costs.
3. Does Fist of Suns work with Morophon?
Yes. Fist of Suns allows you to pay an alternative mana cost, and cost reduction effects like Morophon’s apply to these alternate costs. This means you can cast creatures for {0} if they share the creature type selected, allowing you to play them much more easily.
4. Can Morophon be a Shrine?
No, Morophon can not be a Shrine type. Shrine is not a creature type. Morophon becomes all creature types as well as any selected creature type upon entering the battlefield.
5. Is Morophon a good commander?
Yes, Morophon is an excellent commander, especially for tribal decks. Its ability to become any creature type and reduce the cost of creature spells of that type makes it very powerful.
6. Can you build a deck around colorless commanders?
Yes, you can, though the card pool is smaller. Colorless commanders, including Morophon, do not have to adhere to a specific color in their card choices. Their decks have to only be colorless. However, Morophon’s color identity is WUBRG, meaning you must include all 5 colors in the deck.
7. Does “colorless” count as a color in MTG?
No. Colorless is not a color, and it is not represented on the color wheel. It is considered a type of object or a type of mana in the game.
8. Does colorless count as monocolored?
No. Monocolored refers to a card with a single color. Colorless is not a color, so it cannot be monocolored.
9. How does Jeweled Lotus work with Morophon?
Jeweled Lotus allows you to pay for your Commander regardless of its color. Therefore, you can use the mana from Jeweled Lotus to cast Morophon even though it is a colorless creature.
10. Does Commander tax affect Morophon with Fist of Suns?
Yes. While Fist of Suns lets you pay an alternate cost, Commander tax is an additional cost that is not affected. So, you’ll still pay any additional tax based on the number of times you’ve cast Morophon from the command zone.
11. Does Fist of Suns change Morophon’s converted mana cost (CMC)?
No, Fist of Suns only changes the mana you pay for a spell. The converted mana cost of a card remains constant, regardless of the mana you pay to cast it.
12. Why is White considered weak in Commander?
White struggles in Commander due to its lack of card advantage, card selection, and mana ramp compared to other colors. White is often forced to hide it’s power.
13. Can you have two commanders?
Yes, a player can have two commanders if both have the Partner ability. Morophon does not have the partner ability.
14. Are there any other colorless commanders?
Yes, there are other colorless legendary creatures you can choose as your commander. However, most of them will not have a 5-color identity like Morophon.
15. Why is Morophon so popular?
Morophon is popular because it is a powerful and flexible commander that supports any creature type. It is often used for a diverse range of tribal decks, providing lots of versatility. Its ability to reduce the cost of creature spells is also highly valued.
Conclusion
Morophon, the Boundless is a fascinating example of how color and color identity interact in Magic: The Gathering. It is a colorless creature with a five-color identity, which opens up many unique deck-building opportunities in the Commander format. By understanding these subtle but essential distinctions, you can fully appreciate the strategic potential and enjoy the versatility that Morophon offers.