Is a Mutate Creature still your Commander?
When playing with mutate creatures, a common question arises: what happens to the mutate creature’s status as the commander of the game if it gets mutated? Does the new creature take over as the commander, or does the original creature retain its title? In this article, we’ll explore the rules surrounding mutate creatures and the commander role.
Answer: Yes, it’s still your Commander
According to the Magic: The Gathering official website and rulebook, if you mutate a creature on top of your commander, it is still considered your commander. This means that even after mutation, the original creature retains its role as the commander of the game.
Mutate and Commander Rule
702.3a: "If an ability refers to the controlling player’s commander, the controller’s commander is considered the commander until the ability’s effect resolves."
704.5j: "The controlling player’s commander is the commander until the game is won or lost or the commander is no longer in the game."
The above-mentioned rules imply that once a creature has become the commander, it will retain that status until either the game is won or lost or the creature leaves the game. Since the mutate effect doesn’t make the new creature the commander, the original creature’s commander status remains intact.
Practical Examples
- Imagine you have Maelstrom Pulse, a commander that allows you to add a random basic land from your deck to the battlefield. You play it on top of Tezzeret, your initial commander. When Maelstrom Pulse triggers, it mutates onto Elvish Mystic. Although Elvish Mystic is now the creature on top, it doesn’t become the new commander; Tezzeret still retains its title as your commander.
- Consider playing Vizkopa Guildmage on top of your initial commander Kraumagg, the Hive, with the mutate cost paid. Vizkopa Guildmage, once in play, is not recognized as the new commander. Kraumagg remains the commander of your game.
Conclusion
To summarize, when you mutate a creature on top of your commander, it does not change the commander role. The original creature remains the commander, unless it leaves the game or the game is won or lost. When making your mutate decisions, remember that the commander remains with the original creature.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers related to this topic:
What if my mutate creature dies and leaves the game?
Answer: If the mutated creature dies and leaves the game, the original creature that was mutated may re-enter the game, returning to its former role as the commander.Can I have multiple mutate creatures on the battlefield at the same time?
Answer: No, a creature can only be mutated once. Subsequent mutations will not affect the original creature’s status as commander.- How do I determine the commander role if multiple mutate creatures are mutated onto each other?
Answer: In the event of multiple mutate creatures, follow the order of play as usual. Determine which creature was played most recently (i.e., mutated on top of others), and that creature is considered the commander.
For further reading and clarification on the topic, refer to the Magic: The Gathering official rules and FAQs page, specifically the sections related to "Commander" and "Mutate."
I hope this article provides valuable insight into the fascinating world of Magic: The Gathering commanders and mutate creatures!