What Cards Are Legal in Commander? A Comprehensive Guide
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So, you’re diving into the exciting world of Commander, also known as EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander), and you’re wondering: What cards can I actually use? The good news is, the pool is vast! But it’s also important to understand the restrictions. The quick answer is: most regulation-sized, publicly released Magic cards from Wizards of the Coast are legal, except for a few key exclusions. Let’s break it down.
The Core Rule: Eternal Format with Exceptions
Commander is an eternal format. This means there are no restrictions on which Magic: The Gathering sets cards can come from, just like Vintage and Legacy. If a card has been printed in a standard-size format and released publicly, it is generally considered fair game in Commander. However, there are specific types of cards that are not legal.
Exceptions to the Rule
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Silver-Bordered and Acorn Cards: These cards, typically from “Un-” sets like Unglued, Unhinged, and Unstable, are considered “joke cards.” They often have bizarre rules, are designed for comedy, or break the basic rules of Magic. Cards with a silver border or an acorn-shaped security stamp are not legal in Commander. Note that some cards from more recent “Un-” sets like Unfinity are legal due to having a black border, so pay attention to this distinction.
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Banned List: The Commander Rules Committee maintains a list of cards that are deemed too powerful, disruptive, or game-warping for the format. These banned cards are strictly not allowed in your Commander deck. The banned list changes periodically so it is important to keep up-to-date.
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Ante Cards: Any card that uses the keyword Ante is banned. Ante cards are legacy mechanics that involve betting cards from your deck.
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Permanently Removed Cards: Any card that Wizards of the Coast has permanently removed from the game is banned.
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Conspiracy Cards: Any card with the Conspiracy card type is banned. These cards affect the draft process and are not intended for constructed play.
What This Means for Your Deckbuilding
Understanding these rules opens up a vast playground for deck construction. You can pull cards from decades of Magic’s history! You can create unique and powerful combinations, explore creative strategies, and build decks that reflect your play style. However, it also means that you need to be mindful of the community-managed banned list to make sure that you don’t unknowingly include a card that can’t be played.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify what cards are legal in Commander and address some specific situations.
1. Are All Cards Legal in Commander MTG?
No, not all cards are legal. While the format is eternal and allows cards from almost every set, silver-bordered, acorn-stamped, conspiracy, ante, and banned cards are not legal.
2. Are the “Walking Dead” Secret Lair Cards Legal in Commander?
Yes, these are legal in Commander. While they are not part of a main set and were not legal in standard, Secret Lair cards, provided they have a black border and aren’t otherwise banned, are perfectly legal for Commander. They function like any other Magic card.
3. Is Flash Banned in Commander?
While Flash has been a problematic card in other formats, it is not currently banned in Commander. It did have a period where it was indirectly targeted by a ban on Protean Hulk, but it is currently legal, though still a card that can generate powerful combos.
4. Why is Tinker Banned in Commander?
Tinker is banned due to its ability to convert a cheap artifact on the battlefield into one of the most powerful, game-ending artifacts in the game. This makes it an easy way to pull out cards like Blightsteel Colossus for a relatively low cost, and leads to unfun scenarios. The ease of abuse means Tinker is banned in most formats, including Commander.
5. Is Skullclamp Banned in Commander?
No, Skullclamp is not banned in Commander. While it is a powerful value card that can generate lots of card advantage, the effect is not as overwhelming in a multiplayer game as it might be in a one-on-one setting, therefore it does not warp the format. It is banned in Legacy.
6. Is Field of the Dead Banned in Commander?
No, Field of the Dead is not banned in Commander. It is a powerful card that is banned in other formats because it can generate many tokens, but it is deemed fair for Commander. Its slow nature makes it less impactful compared to some of the banned options.
7. Why is Hullbreacher Banned in Commander?
Hullbreacher is banned due to its ability to heavily disrupt the game, especially when combined with wheel effects or card draw. Its combination of preventing opponents from drawing cards, and generating treasures when they discard, it warps the game in a manner that the Rules Committee decided to be unhealthy for the game.
8. Is Time Vault Banned in Commander?
Yes, Time Vault is banned in Commander. Its ability to provide an extra turn when combined with the card Voltaic Key makes it an easy and fast way to set up an infinite turn combo, which is deemed too powerful for the format.
9. Is Worldfire Banned in Commander?
Worldfire was previously banned, but it has since been unbanned. This means it is currently legal for use in Commander games.
10. Is Unfinity Banned in Commander?
Many Unfinity cards are legal in Commander. Only cards with an acorn stamp on the bottom of the card are illegal. Black border Unfinity cards are valid for use in Commander, which is a big change compared to other Un-sets.
11. Are the Power 9 Banned in Commander?
Yes, many of the Power 9 cards are banned in Commander. These cards, including Black Lotus, Mox Sapphire, Mox Ruby, Mox Pearl, Mox Emerald, Mox Jet, Ancestral Recall, Time Walk, and Timetwister are incredibly powerful and game-breaking, causing them to be banned in most formats outside of Vintage.
12. Is Paradox Engine Banned in Commander?
Yes, Paradox Engine is banned in Commander. The card allowed for powerful and game-breaking combos when combined with cards that generate mana or untap artifacts.
13. Is Mox Amber Legal in Commander?
No, Mox Amber is banned in Commander. The mana ramp it provides, especially in a format where commanders are often cheap and powerful, was deemed too much. It creates a very lopsided early game.
14. Why is Trade Secrets Banned in Commander?
Trade Secrets is banned because it undermines the nature of a multiplayer game. This card allows players to draw huge numbers of cards, effectively turning a multiplayer game into a two-player one, which gives an unfair advantage to the players involved.
15. Are Rat Colony and Relentless Rats legal in Commander?
While the general rule is that Commander decks must have a single copy of non-basic lands, Relentless Rats and Rat Colony are exceptions, and can be included in multiple numbers within your deck. Each of these cards allow the player to have as many copies of it as they want within their deck.
The Bottom Line
Commander provides a rich and varied environment for building and playing Magic: The Gathering. While the vast majority of regulation-sized, publicly released Magic cards are legal, it’s important to understand the exceptions. Keep up-to-date with the Commander Rules Committee’s banned list and stay informed about any new releases. By knowing which cards are legal, you’ll be able to build amazing and powerful decks, and most importantly, have a fantastic time with your friends. Have fun and good luck with your deckbuilding!