What is the difference between cEDH and Commander?

The main difference between cEDH (Competitive Elder Dragon Highlander) and Commander is the level of competitiveness and the social contract between players, with cEDH focusing on winning and optimizing deck builds for efficient victories, whereas Commander is a more casual and social format where the primary goal is to have fun. The core difference lies in the playstyle and deck construction, with cEDH decks often featuring powerful combos, stax pieces, and aggressive strategies, while Commander decks may include a wider range of cards and strategies, prioritizing enjoyment over competitiveness.

Understanding cEDH and Commander

To delve deeper into the differences and nuances of both formats, let’s explore some frequently asked questions that can provide more insight into the world of Magic: The Gathering and its various playstyles.

FAQs

1. What is cEDH?: cEDH, or Competitive Elder Dragon Highlander, is a competitive take on the Commander format, focusing on efficient deck builds and strategies to win games quickly.
2. What is Commander?: Commander, also known as Elder Dragon Highlander (EDH), is a casual, multiplayer format for Magic: The Gathering, emphasizing fun and social interaction.
3. How fast are cEDH games?: cEDH games are typically very fast, often ending in just a few turns, with an average game length of around four turns.
4. What makes a cEDH deck?: A cEDH deck is characterized by its consistency, efficient mana base, and streamlined paths to victory, often including powerful combos and stax pieces.
5. Can I play proxies in cEDH tournaments?: Yes, proxies are generally allowed in cEDH tournament play, making it more accessible for players to participate without needing the exact cards.
6. How many lands should I run in a cEDH deck?: The typical land count for a cEDH deck is between 29-32 lands, with 34 lands being considered very high.
7. What happens when a commander dies?: When a commander dies, its owner can choose to either leave it in the graveyard or return it to the command zone as a state-based action.
8. Can a commander deck have two commanders?: Yes, a player can have two commanders if both are partner commanders, starting the game in the command zone and reducing the library size to 98 cards.
9. Can a Planeswalker be a commander?: Some Planeswalkers can be commanders, specifically those with the ability “[CARDNAME] can be your commander“, making for unique and interesting deck builds.
10. What is the strongest Commander in MTG?: The strength of a Commander can vary depending on the metagame and playstyle, but popular powerful Commanders include Teysa Karlov, The Ur-Dragon, and Shirei, Shizo’s Caretaker.
11. How do I know if my deck is cEDH?: A deck is considered cEDH if it prioritizes consistency and efficiency in its deck build and strategy, aiming for quick wins.
12. What is the best MTG deck ever made?: The best MTG deck can vary by format and metagame, but decks like 4c Ramp and Mono-Red Aggro have been highly successful in Standard play.
13. What cards are good in Commander?: Cards like Sol Ring, Arcane Signet, Chaos Warp, and Rhystic Study are highly valued in Commander for their ability to accelerate mana, remove threats, and generate card advantage.
14. How many of each card should be in a Commander deck?: A Commander deck must contain exactly 100 cards, with only one copy of each card (except for basic lands), and all cards must match the commander’s color identity.
15. How do I know how strong my Commander deck is?: The strength of a Commander deck can be measured by its turncount, or the turn on which it consistently wins or establishes a dominant board state, with lower turncounts generally indicating a stronger deck.