Is Only Combat Damage Commander Damage? The Definitive Guide
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Yes, only combat damage dealt by a commander to an opponent counts as commander damage. This is a fundamental rule in the Commander format (also known as EDH, or Elder Dragon Highlander) of Magic: The Gathering. When a player has taken 21 or more combat damage from a single commander throughout the game, that player loses the game. Let’s delve deeper into this rule and explore its various nuances, caveats, and related concepts.
Understanding Commander Damage: The Core Concept
At its heart, the commander damage rule introduces a secondary win condition in the Commander format. While reducing an opponent’s life total to zero is a common way to win, accumulating 21 combat damage from a specific commander presents an alternative, often faster, route to victory. This rule encourages proactive gameplay, rewarding players who can consistently connect with their commander in combat.
Combat Damage Defined
It’s crucial to understand what qualifies as combat damage in Magic: The Gathering. Combat damage is specifically damage dealt during the combat damage step of the combat phase, as a direct result of attacking or blocking. It excludes any damage dealt by triggered abilities, activated abilities, or spells, even if those abilities are linked to a creature.
For example, if your commander has an ability that deals damage to a player when it enters the battlefield, that damage does not count as commander damage. Similarly, if your commander is sacrificed to deal damage, that damage is not combat damage. It must be specifically combat damage dealt during the attack phase.
Commander Damage: More Than Just Life Loss
The significance of commander damage lies in its independence from a player’s life total. A player can be at a high life total and still lose the game if they’ve accumulated 21 or more combat damage from a single commander. Conversely, a player at a low life total might survive if they haven’t taken sufficient commander damage.
Tracking Commander Damage
Each player is responsible for tracking the amount of commander damage they have taken from each opposing commander. This is typically done using pen and paper, dice, or dedicated apps. It’s considered good etiquette to clearly communicate and confirm commander damage totals with your opponents throughout the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Commander Damage
Here are some frequently asked questions that help solidify the understanding of commander damage:
1. Does preventing combat damage prevent commander damage?
Yes, preventing combat damage will also prevent commander damage. If an effect prevents damage, like the Protection ability (e.g., “Protection from Red”), the damage will not be dealt, and therefore will not be counted as commander damage.
2. Is commander damage only for my commander?
Yes, commander damage is specific to each commander/player pairing. Damage from different commanders is tracked separately. You lose if you take 21 or more combat damage from one specific commander, not a combined total from multiple commanders.
3. If I steal a commander, does it still deal commander damage to its original owner?
Yes, if you gain control of an opponent’s commander and attack its original owner, the damage dealt counts as commander damage from that commander to its original owner. A player can even lose the game from their own commander’s combat damage, if someone else controls it and attacks them.
4. Does lifelink affect commander damage?
Lifelink causes you to gain life equal to the amount of damage dealt by the source with lifelink. This does not change whether or not the damage counts as commander damage. If your commander with lifelink deals combat damage to an opponent, it still counts as commander damage, and you also gain life.
5. Can Planeswalkers deal commander damage?
Planeswalkers, by themselves, cannot deal commander damage because they aren’t creatures and cannot attack unless modified. However, cards like Luxior, Giada’s Gift can turn a Planeswalker into a creature, allowing it to attack and deal combat damage. If a Planeswalker is your commander and is turned into a creature that attacks and deals combat damage, that damage does count as commander damage.
6. Do cloned commanders do commander damage?
No. Clones and copies of commanders do not count towards commander damage. Being a commander is a property of the actual commander card, not of copies or tokens. Each commander has its own separate track of commander damage dealt.
7. If I redirect damage from my commander to a planeswalker, does it count as commander damage?
No. Commander damage specifically refers to combat damage dealt to a player. Redirecting the damage to a planeswalker negates its status as commander damage.
8. What if my commander has infect?
If your commander has infect, it deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of poison counters. While poison counters can also lead to a player losing the game (at 10 counters), infect damage dealt to a player does not count as commander damage. Commander damage must be combat damage.
9. Does deathtouch affect commander damage?
Deathtouch does not directly affect commander damage. Deathtouch simply means that any amount of damage dealt by the creature is enough to destroy a creature it deals damage to. It does not change whether the damage counts as commander damage.
10. How do I track commander damage?
Players typically use pen and paper, dice, or digital apps to track the commander damage they have taken from each opposing commander. Clear communication and verification with opponents are essential.
11. Can damage from abilities that trigger upon combat damage count as commander damage?
No. For example, if your commander has an ability that says, “Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, deal 3 damage to that player,” the additional 3 damage does not count as commander damage. Only the initial combat damage dealt by the commander during the combat damage step counts.
12. Does damage dealt by equipment attached to my commander count as commander damage?
If the equipment deals combat damage directly (e.g., an equipment that grants +X/+0 and trample), the damage dealt by the equipped commander does count as commander damage. However, if the equipment has an ability that deals damage (e.g., “Whenever equipped creature attacks, it deals 1 damage to the defending player”), that additional damage is not commander damage.
13. If I block a commander with a creature, does that prevent commander damage to me?
Yes, blocking a commander with a creature prevents the commander from dealing combat damage to you directly, thereby preventing commander damage from being accumulated. The damage is instead dealt to the blocking creature.
14. What happens if two players would lose the game at the same time due to commander damage?
In a multiplayer game, if two or more players would lose the game simultaneously, the active player (the player whose turn it is) loses first. Then, the game checks for any other players who have lost. If only one player remains, that player wins. If multiple players remain, the game continues. This is per the Magic: The Gathering rules on simultaneous effects.
15. Can commander damage be used as a teaching tool for strategy?
Absolutely! The Commander format, and understanding the nuances of rules like commander damage, provides excellent opportunities for learning about strategy, resource management, and social dynamics. The Games Learning Society explores how games can be used for educational purposes. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about the intersection of gaming and learning.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the intricacies of commander damage is crucial for success in the Commander format. This rule adds a unique layer of strategy and encourages aggressive gameplay, creating dynamic and engaging matches. By mastering this concept and staying informed about related rules, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the complexities of Commander and secure your victories. Happy commanding!