A description and the rules of the format can be found at the official site, mtgcommander.net (note that the name of the format has recently been changed to Commander).
In short, though:
Designed for multiplayer games, as opposed to 1v1
99-card decks, 40 starting life
Singleton - that is, you are only allowed one copy of each card besides basic lands
You choose a legendary creature as your commander. The colours of your commander determine the cards that you are allowed to put into your deck
Your commander is not, by default, part of your deck (and does not count as one of the 99 cards). You always have access to it, and can replay it if it is killed
Combat damage dealt by commanders ignores life totals - a player dealt 21 or more damage by the same commander loses
That is a gross oversimplification, but it covers most of the major differences between Commander and normal Magic.
In terms of spirit, you can think of the formats like this:
Limited - Go karts. Different tracks (sets), slow speed.
Standard - Street racing. Lots of variance, as high speed as the streets (legal cards) allow. People are always finding new shortcuts.
Legacy - Nascar. High speed, format doesn't change often. Most of the tricks have been discovered.
Vintage - Drag racing. Extremely high speed, format rarely changes.
EDH, on the other hand, is more like a monster truck rally. It's more about the spectacle than the race, the games go long, and it's not usually clear who's in the lead until there's only one truck left.*
*Note: This is for multiplayer EDH. Single player (at least, competitive single player) EDH is like two guys smacking each other with pillows... until one of them pulls out a shotgun. Stick to multiplayer.
As a connoisseur of fun, interesting matches, I still to this day have not been able to craft that "perfect deck"; the deck that I can play and have fun over time, doesn't get boring, but simultaneously is fun to play against. I honestly don't think it exists. It's like a unicorn. A ninja unicorn.
EDH, on the other hand, is more like a monster truck rally. It's more about the spectacle than the race, the games go long, and it's not usually clear who's in the lead until there's only one truck left.*
*Note: This is for multiplayer EDH. Single player (at least, competitive single player) EDH is like two guys smacking each other with pillows... until one of them pulls out a shotgun. Stick to multiplayer.
This is almost sig-worthy.
EDH is where deck-building and themes combine. That mono w angel deck you always wanted to play competetively but could never fit your favorite angels into 60 cards? You can do it now!
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Tantarus: It didn't make the gaka greifer level, so it should be fine
"I started EDH, and forgot about the other formats within a week."
This. I started in Standard and Legacy (didn't really want to spend a lot of money on either, though), and as soon as I found a sufficiently sized playgroup such that I could play EDH exclusively, I did.
As a connoisseur of fun, interesting matches, I still to this day have not been able to craft that "perfect deck"; the deck that I can play and have fun over time, doesn't get boring, but simultaneously is fun to play against. I honestly don't think it exists. It's like a unicorn. A ninja unicorn.
It isnt sanctioned but is supported by wizards (not 100% sure on that first part). Tournaments for it fall into the category of non-rated multiplayer. It is meant much more as a casual format
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
From MaRo
Every rarity gets good cards. That means that some mythic rares will be tournament quality as will some commons, some uncommons and some rares. My promise wasn't that mythic rares wouldn't get good cards but that we wouldn't limit the good cards to only being mythic rare.
Bear this in mind the next time a powerful mythic rare is spoiled
Thanks to chaostheory90 for finding this quiz for me
is edh an official format because i hear very little about it.
Yes and no. It was not created by Wizards of the Coast, nor are its rules updated and supported by them. However, they acknowledge it (including in the comprehensive rules), and MTGO supports it. I suppose you could call it official.
However much you hear about it would, I imagine, vary immensely by playgroup. It's definitely the most popular format at my LGS, for example.
This depends on how you define 'normal' Magic. As somebody who's always played unsanctioned formats like Rainbow Stairwell, 5 Colour, Type 4 and Star (REAL Star with 5 monocolour decks) way more than T2, this question looks a bit odd.
If you mean to compare it to playing with typical 60x4 decks, then no. I like Legacy the best, then Rainbow Stairwell. EDH is very cool and all, though. There's also a LOT more players for it than most other formats, which simply makes playing it easier. EDH is a very good foray into unsanctioned formats, though. If you like this approach to Magic, I really strongly recommend you look up some of the other popular unsanctioned formats, because you will probably like a lot of them too. ludd_gang, who posts on this forum, has designed a fantastic format called Big Box 7 that in particular I am really digging.
EDH is the point in your Magic career when you realise that Standard is the same three decks, Extended is the same three decks you played against four years ago, Legacy makes you wish you'd bought those Force of Will when they were £10 each, and Vintage is decided on a coin toss.
EDH, on the other hand, is more like a monster truck rally. It's more about the spectacle than the race, the games go long, and it's not usually clear who's in the lead until there's only one truck left.*
Single player EDH is like two guys smacking each other with pillows... until one of them pulls out a shotgun.
EDH, on the other hand, is more like a monster truck rally. It's more about the spectacle than the race, the games go long, and it's not usually clear who's in the lead until there's only one truck left.
Sigged. The best game has the most fistbumps and the most wreckage to clean up after it's over.
EDH is incredibly good fun. I would play it over sanctioned constructed anytime.
@Yiniscool a) it's not official, b) I prefer it to other formats... sometimes. It depends who I'm playing with, and you can see that reflected in my posts here. There are some players who I feel complain too much or are a little hypocritical with their whining about cards that should be banned, strategies that should be looked down upon, etc., but overall I love the format and want more people to get into it.
From a creative standpoint it's also much more engaging. With Standard there is "play these 3 decks or lose every single time." With EDH you can play so many more decks and still be part of the game every time. You may not win often, but you at least get to play and be part of the game. I also love that you can have 2 people with the same general and same theme and only 70-80 cards that are the same.
I am on the verge of getting rid of all my Type-2 stuff to get my decks totally tuned, but it's crazy how much you can get for hot Type-2 singles. I traded a Baneslayer Angel for the bulk of a Mono-white deck back when she was worth $60. I have since enjoyed my deck a lot more than I ever would have enjoyed the Angel.
That said, get ready for EDH staples to start climbing fast. The trade forum here used to be loaded with all the good stuff and people would part with it easily. It's not that way anymore and the demand for junk rares of yesteryear is changing things a lot. Sensei's Divining Tops are selling for $8-$10 and a year ago they were half that. As we get closer to EDHSummer it could be rough for people used to the cheap crap we've all loved.
Finally, as a card alterer I wish I had more time to paint. The popularity of EDH in recent months has seen more and more people looking for "pimped" cards. I think there is a lot of money for people that can do it over the next 6 months.
Commander (EDH) is an official, non-sanctioned format according the Wizards web site. I believe a format is sanctioned only if it has sanctioned tournaments.
In short, though:
That is a gross oversimplification, but it covers most of the major differences between Commander and normal Magic.
Limited - Go karts. Different tracks (sets), slow speed.
Standard - Street racing. Lots of variance, as high speed as the streets (legal cards) allow. People are always finding new shortcuts.
Legacy - Nascar. High speed, format doesn't change often. Most of the tricks have been discovered.
Vintage - Drag racing. Extremely high speed, format rarely changes.
EDH, on the other hand, is more like a monster truck rally. It's more about the spectacle than the race, the games go long, and it's not usually clear who's in the lead until there's only one truck left.*
*Note: This is for multiplayer EDH. Single player (at least, competitive single player) EDH is like two guys smacking each other with pillows... until one of them pulls out a shotgun. Stick to multiplayer.
This is almost sig-worthy.
EDH is where deck-building and themes combine. That mono w angel deck you always wanted to play competetively but could never fit your favorite angels into 60 cards? You can do it now!
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
To quote a friend:
"I started EDH, and forgot about the other formats within a week."
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
This. I started in Standard and Legacy (didn't really want to spend a lot of money on either, though), and as soon as I found a sufficiently sized playgroup such that I could play EDH exclusively, I did.
Bear this in mind the next time a powerful mythic rare is spoiled
Thanks to chaostheory90 for finding this quiz for me
Yes and no. It was not created by Wizards of the Coast, nor are its rules updated and supported by them. However, they acknowledge it (including in the comprehensive rules), and MTGO supports it. I suppose you could call it official.
However much you hear about it would, I imagine, vary immensely by playgroup. It's definitely the most popular format at my LGS, for example.
This depends on how you define 'normal' Magic. As somebody who's always played unsanctioned formats like Rainbow Stairwell, 5 Colour, Type 4 and Star (REAL Star with 5 monocolour decks) way more than T2, this question looks a bit odd.
If you mean to compare it to playing with typical 60x4 decks, then no. I like Legacy the best, then Rainbow Stairwell. EDH is very cool and all, though. There's also a LOT more players for it than most other formats, which simply makes playing it easier. EDH is a very good foray into unsanctioned formats, though. If you like this approach to Magic, I really strongly recommend you look up some of the other popular unsanctioned formats, because you will probably like a lot of them too. ludd_gang, who posts on this forum, has designed a fantastic format called Big Box 7 that in particular I am really digging.
Fixed.
EDH is the point in your Magic career when you realise that Standard is the same three decks, Extended is the same three decks you played against four years ago, Legacy makes you wish you'd bought those Force of Will when they were £10 each, and Vintage is decided on a coin toss.
On building a Celestial Kirin Stax EDH:
Sigged. The best game has the most fistbumps and the most wreckage to clean up after it's over.
EDH is incredibly good fun. I would play it over sanctioned constructed anytime.
:symu::symr: Melek WheelStorm
:symw::symg: Trostani Enchantress (updated 6/5)
:symg::symr::symu: Unexpected Results.dec
Thada Adel Stax WIP
@Yiniscool a) it's not official, b) I prefer it to other formats... sometimes. It depends who I'm playing with, and you can see that reflected in my posts here. There are some players who I feel complain too much or are a little hypocritical with their whining about cards that should be banned, strategies that should be looked down upon, etc., but overall I love the format and want more people to get into it.
Lover of EDH, hater of whiny EDH players.
I am on the verge of getting rid of all my Type-2 stuff to get my decks totally tuned, but it's crazy how much you can get for hot Type-2 singles. I traded a Baneslayer Angel for the bulk of a Mono-white deck back when she was worth $60. I have since enjoyed my deck a lot more than I ever would have enjoyed the Angel.
That said, get ready for EDH staples to start climbing fast. The trade forum here used to be loaded with all the good stuff and people would part with it easily. It's not that way anymore and the demand for junk rares of yesteryear is changing things a lot. Sensei's Divining Tops are selling for $8-$10 and a year ago they were half that. As we get closer to EDHSummer it could be rough for people used to the cheap crap we've all loved.
Finally, as a card alterer I wish I had more time to paint. The popularity of EDH in recent months has seen more and more people looking for "pimped" cards. I think there is a lot of money for people that can do it over the next 6 months.
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
(Multiplayer)
BRGKarrthus, Tyrant of Jund
WUBSharuum the Hegemon
(American 1v1)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking Grave
WUGDerevi