How to play Commander
Commander (also called EDH) is the most played format in Magic: The Gathering. It's played with friends, usually 4 players, free-for-all, with long games, spectacular cards and lots of laughs. If you've never played, it's one of the best ways to start.
The idea in one sentence
You pick a legendary creature to lead your deck (your commander) and build a 100-card deck with no duplicates around it.
The basic rules
1. The deck: 100 cards, all different
- Exactly 100 cards, counting your commander.
- Only one copy of each card. The only exception is basic lands (Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain and Forest): you can run as many as you like.
- Some cards say you can have any number of copies (for example, Relentless Rats); those are exceptions too.
2. Your commander sets the deck's colors
- Your deck can only include cards in your commander's color identity. If your commander is white and blue, you can't play red, black or green cards.
- Mana symbols in the card's rules text count too, not just the ones in its cost.
3. Your commander starts outside the deck
- Your commander starts the game in the command zone, face up, where everyone can see it.
- You can cast it from there like any other spell.
- If it dies or gets exiled, you can put it back in the command zone and cast it again later.
- Commander tax: each time you cast it again from the command zone, it costs 2 more mana than the time before.
4. Life: you start at 40
- Each player starts at 40 life (instead of 20).
- Commander damage: if a single commander deals you 21 or more combat damage over the course of the game, you lose, even if you still have life left. That's why big commanders are scary.
5. The first mulligan is free
- If you don't like your opening hand, you can shuffle it away and draw 7 new cards without losing a card the first time.
- From the second mulligan on, the normal rule applies. We explain it in the mulligan guide.
6. You win by being the last one standing
It's everyone against everyone: whoever survives wins. So just attacking the weakest player isn't enough: you have to negotiate, defend yourself and choose your targets wisely.
Power levels (brackets)
So that everyone at the table plays with similar decks, Commander uses 5 power brackets. Before the game, each player says which bracket their deck is in:
| Bracket | Name | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exhibition | Themed, very casual decks |
| 2 | Core | Simple decks, like preconstructed ones |
| 3 | Upgraded | Improved decks with good synergy |
| 4 | Optimized | Very strong, fast decks |
| 5 | cEDH | Competitive, as strong as it gets |
There's an official list of especially powerful cards called Game Changers. They're not used in brackets 1 and 2, bracket 3 allows up to 3 of them, and brackets 4 and 5 have no limit.
On SpellTavern, when you play against bots with random Commander decks, you can choose which power bracket they play at.
How do I get started on SpellTavern?
- Go to Play → Decks to get started and pick one of the 5 mono-color decks (angels, artifacts, zombies, dragons or dinosaurs).
- Click "Play with this deck": you play against a bot on easy. You don't need an account.
- Once you feel comfortable, try building your own deck in the deck builder (Decks → Create deck): find a commander you like and add cards in its colors until you reach 100.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play Commander with 2 people?
Yes. There's also Duel Commander for 1 vs 1, with a few different rules (for example, 20 life).
How long does a game last?
Between 45 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the decks and the players.
Do I need expensive cards?
No. Preconstructed decks are designed to be played without spending more, and you can upgrade them bit by bit.