What are the rules for the Commander deck?
The Commander deck format is a popular casual Magic: The Gathering multiplayer format that allows players to build a deck around a specific legendary creature, known as the "Commander". When building a Commander deck, it’s essential to understand the rules that govern the format. In this article, we’ll cover the key rules you need to know to build and play a Commander deck.
Exactly 100 cards in a Commander deck
The most crucial rule for building a Commander deck is that it must contain exactly 100 cards. This includes the Commander, as well as any other cards that you add to your deck. Exactly 100 cards, no more, no less. If you’re playing a companion, it’s worth noting that the companion is effectively a 101st card.
Unique Cards by Name
A second crucial rule is that no two cards with the same name can be included in your Commander deck. This includes all types of cards, such as creatures, lands, and instants. This means you can only include one copy of each unique card by name in your deck.
No more than four copies of a single card
Cards can be repeated up to four times, with the exception of basic lands. Basic lands can be played as many times as you like. However, even for non-basic lands, the four copy limit still applies. If you include more than four copies of a card, it’s considered an illegal deck.
Card advantage and singleton lands
A crucial aspect of Commander decks is card advantage, which refers to gaining more value from your cards than your opponents. Singleton lands, which can only be played once in your deck, can provide card advantage by allowing you to cast spells more quickly or consistently. Card advantage pieces, such as cards that give you more mana or allow you to draw extra cards, can also contribute to card advantage.
Commander Deck Structure
A Commander deck typically follows a 33-37 land, 55-63 non-land card ratio. Land count may vary depending on the deck’s theme, playstyle, and mana requirements. Here’s a breakdown of a typical Commander deck structure:
| Category | Typical Range | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lands | 33-37 | 32 | 38 |
| Non-lands | 55-63 | 54 | 64 |
| Total | 88-100 | 86 | 102 |
Color Identity
When choosing a Commander, you need to consider color identity. Color identity refers to the colors that your Commander has printed in its mana cost and/or ability. The colors that your Commander has in its mana cost or ability cannot be in the deck, except as lands. For example, if your Commander has a blue mana cost, you can include blue spells and lands, but not cards that have no mana cost.
Colorless Mana Sources
If you’re playing a Commander with no colored mana costs, you can include cards that don’t have colored mana in their costs. These cards can still benefit from your Commander’s abilities. However, be careful not to accidentally create colored mana that your Commander can’t use.
Mana Consistency
When building a Commander deck, mana consistency is key. Make sure that you have enough mana to cast your spells reliably. Consider the mana curves of your spells, which refer to the amount of mana needed to cast each spell.
Card Interactions
A final key consideration is card interactions, which refer to how your cards work together with other cards in your deck and the game state. Make sure that you’re not inadvertently creating conflicts between your cards, and that you’re getting the most value from each card.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve covered the key rules for building and playing a Commander deck. Exactly 100 cards, unique cards by name, and a 33-37 land, 55-63 non-land ratio are the building blocks of a Commander deck. Card advantage, color identity, and mana consistency are all crucial considerations. By understanding these rules, you can build a deck that is fun, interactive, and competitive. Happy gaming!