Do backgrounds count as commander color identity?

Do Backgrounds Count as Commander Color Identity?

As we explore the world of Magic: The Gathering, Commander is a popular format that requires players to build decks around a specific legendary creature, known as the "Commander." The Commander’s color identity plays a crucial role in determining which cards can be included in the deck. Recently, the introduction of backgrounds has raised questions about how they impact the Commander’s color identity.

Direct Answer

To address the question directly, yes, backgrounds do count as part of the Commander’s color identity. According to Magic: The Gathering’s official rules, "The color identity of a card is the combination of all colors in its mana cost, any color indicator or color-setting characteristic-defining abilities on the card, and any mana symbols in the card’s rules text." [1]

Backgrounds as Part of Color Identity

Backgrounds, as a card type, can have a significant impact on the Commander’s color identity. When considering the color identity of a background, it is essential to examine its mana cost, color indicators, and mana symbols. For example, the "Ondin, Born of the Deep" background has a mana cost of "{U}{U}{U}{B}", indicating that it is a four-color card. This means that when considering Ondin’s color identity, we would include the colors blue, blue, blue, and black.

Impact on Commander Color Identity

The inclusion of backgrounds in the Commander’s color identity can significantly affect the deck’s overall color makeup. Here are some key points to consider:

• Color Count: The colors in the background’s mana cost and color indicators contribute to the overall color count of the Commander’s color identity.
• Mana Symbolism: Mana symbols in the background’s rules text, such as {U} or {R}, can also influence the Commander’s color identity.
• Color-Blocking: If the Commander’s color identity is determined to be monocolored or only includes specific colors, the inclusion of backgrounds with additional colors can create conflicts.

Key Takeaways

Here are some key takeaways to help you understand the role of backgrounds in Commander color identity:

• Backgrounds are included in the Commander’s color identity when evaluating color identity.
• Color indicators, mana costs, and mana symbols on the background card contribute to the color identity.
• The inclusion of backgrounds can significantly impact the deck’s overall color makeup, color count, and mana symbolism.

Real-World Applications

To illustrate the practical application of backgrounds in Commander color identity, let’s consider a hypothetical scenario:

• Commander: Kenrith, the Returned King (mono-white)
• Deck: You’re building a mono-white deck centered around Kenrith, but you want to include a powerful four-color artifact.
• Background: Ondin, Born of the Deep (four-color, including blue, blue, blue, and black)
• Conclusion: Since Ondin is a four-color background, its color identity would include blue, blue, blue, and black. This means that when considering the color identity of Kenrith’s deck, we would need to account for these additional colors, potentially creating color conflicts or restricting the inclusion of other cards.

Conclusion

In conclusion, backgrounds do indeed count as part of the Commander’s color identity. It is essential to carefully examine the background’s mana cost, color indicators, and mana symbols to understand its impact on the Commander’s color identity. By doing so, you can build more cohesive and powerful Commander decks that take into account the role of backgrounds in determining color identity.

References:

[1] Magic: The Gathering. (2022). Important rules note: Backgrounds do impact the color identity of your Commander deck! Retrieved from https://www.mtg.com/en/article/commander-backgrounds

Table of Contents:

• Do Backgrounds Count as Commander Color Identity?
• Backgrounds as Part of Color Identity
• Impact on Commander Color Identity
• Key Takeaways
• Real-World Applications
• Conclusion