If your opponent gained infinite life, that’s super cool, but they could still be a few combat steps away from getting slapped out of the game. The rule works well because it means games always have some form of “clock” or endgame plan. As the format evolved and shifted, the rule became a mainstay feature to add an alternate win condition. Like I said, commander damage originated from the elder dragon Highlander rules where your commander could only be one of the elder dragons from Legends. Why Does the Commander Damage Rule Exist?Ĭommander’s Plate | Illustration by Volkan Baga Basically, you probably lost the game already anyway if you managed to get smacked by an elder dragon like Palladia-Mors or Vaevictis Asmadi three times. This was originally because commanders could only be elder dragons from the Legends set, which were all 7/7s. How Much Commander Damage Is Lethal?Ģ1 is the lucky number, just like blackjack. Her second ability is unfortunately not considered combat damage and doesn’t double commander damage on a player. Our dear Viking warrior Saskia the Unyielding is a little different, though. This means that Furnace of Rath can quickly apply pressure to your opponent.

What about Damage Doublers like Furnace of Rath or Redirects Like Saskia?Ĭards that double the damage dealt do in fact double the commander damage dealt, meaning you can easily take out an opponent in one go if you’ve got a big enough commander on the field. Their abilities don’t deal combat damage, just regular damage. Just like with Xantcha and Yuriko, Vial Smasher the Fierce and Niv-Mizzet, Parun also don’t count as commander damage. What About Abilities Like Vial Smasher or Niv-Mizzet, Parun? While combat damage is still loss of life, regular damage and combat damage aren’t the same thing. Xantcha, Sleeper Agent and Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow’s abilities don’t involve combat damage, so they don’t have anything to do with commander damage. I’ll cover some of the specific questions further on, so keep reading! Does Life Loss (Like Xantcha or Yuriko) Count as Commander Damage?

If a player has been dealt 21 or more combat damage over the course of the game, they lose. When your commander hits a player for combat damage (i.e., only during combat when the commander is attacking and is unblocked), notate how much damage that player has taken from your commander. How Does Commander Damage Work?Ĭommander damage is a pretty simple rule. It’s been in place since the format’s beginning and I wouldn’t expect it to go anywhere anytime soon. It sure is! Commander damage is one of the cornerstones of the format for the community outside of the competitive scene. Collateral Damage | Illustration by Ryan Barger

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