FAQ
Does recasting a commander for an alternative cost avoid the "commander tax?"
No, you cannot get out of paying the extra 2 mana each time you recast your commander from the command zone. This applies to Qasali Ambusher and all evoke creatures like Shriekmaw and Nevermaker. Alternative costs (like evoke, bestow, or casting a spell without paying its mana cost) are still subject to additional costs.
Are cards with "special" rarity like Strip Mine considered commons?
No, special rarities are not considered commons. To be legal, they must also be listed as common in a Vintage-legal set per the Gatherer. (You'll see Strip Mine is listed as uncommon and rare now, even if obsolete printing procedures gave it a "special" rarity at some point.)
Is a card legal on paper if it was only ever printed as a common/uncommon online?
Yes, online editions are valid for determining the rarity of a card, even if the card was never the same rarity on paper. If the Gatherer lists it at common or uncommon in any set, then it's legal.
Are non-legendary commanders subject to the legendary rule?
No special rules exist for forcing a non-legendary commander to be treated as legendary. The few legendary creatures at uncommon rarity that could be commanders are subject to the legendary rule like normal. More than one player can use the same non-legendary commander at the same time, and Clone (the only "copy a creature" spell that exists in this format) does not kill them.
Does graveyard order matter?
Yes, graveyard order matters in this and all formats that allow cards from sets before Urza's Saga. This means you should not reorder your graveyard. If no one is playing cards that care about graveyard order, your playgroup can agree to ignore this rule.
No, you cannot get out of paying the extra 2 mana each time you recast your commander from the command zone. This applies to Qasali Ambusher and all evoke creatures like Shriekmaw and Nevermaker. Alternative costs (like evoke, bestow, or casting a spell without paying its mana cost) are still subject to additional costs.
Are cards with "special" rarity like Strip Mine considered commons?
No, special rarities are not considered commons. To be legal, they must also be listed as common in a Vintage-legal set per the Gatherer. (You'll see Strip Mine is listed as uncommon and rare now, even if obsolete printing procedures gave it a "special" rarity at some point.)
Is a card legal on paper if it was only ever printed as a common/uncommon online?
Yes, online editions are valid for determining the rarity of a card, even if the card was never the same rarity on paper. If the Gatherer lists it at common or uncommon in any set, then it's legal.
Are non-legendary commanders subject to the legendary rule?
No special rules exist for forcing a non-legendary commander to be treated as legendary. The few legendary creatures at uncommon rarity that could be commanders are subject to the legendary rule like normal. More than one player can use the same non-legendary commander at the same time, and Clone (the only "copy a creature" spell that exists in this format) does not kill them.
Does graveyard order matter?
Yes, graveyard order matters in this and all formats that allow cards from sets before Urza's Saga. This means you should not reorder your graveyard. If no one is playing cards that care about graveyard order, your playgroup can agree to ignore this rule.