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Cake day: May 27th, 2024

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  • It is one of the most popular formats. Qualifying cards in a 100 card deck are designated a “commander” (typically a legendary creature or other card with text explicitly allowing them to be such). The mana cost determines a “color identity” which limits you to cards of those colors only. Only lands can be duplicated. And there are special rules for casting a commander and additional damage they deal that can end a match.

    So this deck is a precon called Federation Fleet. The commander is “Jean-Luc Picard, Luminary”. That card has generic mana, Blue mana, Red mana and White mana. So only cards of those colors can be used on top of not being duplicated. Lands can have unlimited copies as long as the deck is 100 cards total. No more, no less.

    You cast the commander normally but you get the option to return them to the “command zone” or graveyard if they are killed. If they return to the command zone, they incure a tax of 2 generic mana that doubles each time they are cast from the command zone. That “command tax” is waived if they are cast by other means.

    When a commander deals damage you take “command damage” on top of your 40 life points. Reach zero life points you lose the same as in Standard. If you take 21 command damage you lose as well. A match of Commander can have 2-4 players. You can play 5+ players but a match can be incredibly slow.

    I’m brand new to MTG. Hopefully I explained that well enough.