What cards are banned as commanders?

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The Commander format in Magic: The Gathering has a specific list of banned cards that cannot be used as commanders, including cards like Iona, Shield of Emeria, Leovold, Emissary of Trest, and Erayo, Soratami Ascendant, due to their potential to create an unfair advantage or disrupt the balance of the game. These banned cards are restricted from being used as commanders to ensure a more enjoyable and balanced gameplay experience for all players.

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Commander Format

Basic Rules

1. What is the Commander format in Magic: The Gathering? The Commander format is a casual, multiplayer format where players create decks around a specific legendary creature or planeswalker that serves as the commander of their deck.

Card Restrictions

2. What cards are allowed in a Commander deck? A Commander deck can include any Magic: The Gathering card, except for banned cards, silver-bordered cards, and acorn cards, with the exception of basic lands, no two cards in the deck may have the same English name.

Banned Cards

3. Why are some cards banned in Commander? Cards are usually banned from play if they enable a deck or play style that heavily skews the play environment, creating an unfair advantage or disrupting the balance of the game.

Commander Eligibility

4. What makes a card eligible to be a commander? A card can be a commander if it is a legendary creature or if it specifically states “this card can be your Commander” on the card.

Specific Card Bans

5. Is Iona, Shield of Emeria banned in Commander? Yes, Iona, Shield of Emeria is banned in Commander due to its potential to create an unfair advantage and disrupt the balance of the game.

planeswalkers as Commanders

6. Can planeswalkers be commanders? Yes, planeswalkers can be commanders if they specifically state “this card can be your Commander” on the card.

Old and New Cards

7. Are old cards allowed in Commander? Yes, old cards are allowed in Commander, and players can use cards from throughout Magic: The Gathering’s history.

Acorn Cards

8. Are acorn cards legal in Commander? No, acorn cards are not legal in Commander or any other Constructed format.

Commander Rule 11

9. What is Commander Rule 11? Commander Rule 11 states that the only cards that are allowed to be brought in from outside the game are Companions.

Planeswalkers and Commanders

10. Can any planeswalker be a commander? No, only planeswalkers that specifically state “this card can be your Commander” on the card can be commanders.

Flash Cards

11. Are flash cards banned in Commander? Yes, Flash is banned in Commander due to its potential to create an unfair advantage and disrupt the balance of the game.

Worldfire

12. Is Worldfire banned in Commander? No, Worldfire is not banned in Commander, but it has been banned and unbanned in the past due to its potential impact on the game.

Leovold, Emissary of Trest

13. Why is Leovold, Emissary of Trest banned in Commander? Leovold, Emissary of Trest is banned in Commander because it can create an unfair advantage and disrupt the balance of the game, especially in control decks.

Time Vault

14. Is Time Vault banned in Commander? Yes, Time Vault is banned in Commander due to its potential to create an unfair advantage and disrupt the balance of the game.

Grindstone

15. Is Grindstone banned in Commander? No, Grindstone is not banned in Commander, but Painter’s Servant is banned to prevent an infinite combo with Grindstone.