How Does the Command Zone Work in EDH?

Alex Barker September 17, 2024 Commander, MTG Rules

Last updated on September 17, 2024

Commander's Insight | Illustration by Mike Jordana

Elder Dragon Highlander. EDH. Commander. Whatever you like to call it, this format is easily one of the best ways to play Magic, whether you’re looking for tough competition or a friendly game at the kitchen table. It’s also the most customizable format, with tons of cards to pick from when deckbuilding and the ability to build your deck around a particular legendary creature as your commander.

That commander gets to lead the charge by starting in your “command zone,” which is what I’m here to talk about today! Let’s get right to the fun stuff and dig into it all.

Table of Contents show

What Is the Command Zone in Commander?

Commander's Authority | Illustration by Johannes Voss

The command zone is a special area for cards that have an impact on the game but aren’t treated as permanents. In the Commander format it’s where your commander starts the game. From there you can cast your commander as if you were casting it from your hand, except it’s not from your hand. Analogous formats like Oathbreaker and Brawl also use this area for similar purposes.

This zone isn’t limited to just the Commander format, though. The “dungeon” card type was introduced with the Forgotten Realms set in July 2021. When you use the associated “venture into the dungeon” mechanic, a dungeon card of your choice is placed in the command zone until it’s completed.

What Are the Rules of the Command Zone?

It’s a game area reserved for special objects that have an effect on the game but aren’t permanents on the battlefield.

Emblems are created in the command zone and non-traditional Magic cards as well as cards with special designations in the Commander, Planechase, Vanguard, Archenemy, and Conspiracy Draft formats start the game in the command zone.

There are very few rules about the zone itself but a lot of rules about the cards that use it.

Where Is the Command Zone Located?

The command zone is its own location and it’s most commonly placed in front of your deck on the playmat. At the very least it needs to be somewhere where all of your opponents can see it!

Is the Command Zone Outside of the Game?

No, the command zone is not outside of the game. The command zone has unique properties as its own zone in the game. It isn’t considered a part of your hand or “outside of the game” or “in exile.” It’s its own place with its own interactions.

When Can You Put Your Commander in the Command Zone?

You can put your commander in the command zone if it would change from any zone other than the command zone to another. Whenever your commander dies and goes to the graveyard or is exiled or gets put in your hand or is shuffled into your library (basically if it’s removed from the field in any way) you can put it back in the command zone.

Keep in mind that if you do this when your commander is returned to your hand or sent to your library, the commander doesn’t go to those places first. While it would usually hit the graveyard or exile zone if it were sent there, it doesn’t do so for the hand and library. There may be a time where that matters somehow. I can’t predict the future so it’s just handy knowledge to have.

Can You Choose to Have Your Commander in the Graveyard?

Yes, you can choose to have your commander put into the graveyard if it dies. If you have a reason that you’d like to let your commander rest in peace (say to revive it or cast it without paying commander tax), feel free to let your commander die.

It’s a choice you get whenever your commander moves zones. So don’t be afraid to let it hang around sometimes. You can still send your commander back to the command zone afterward if it gets exiled from the graveyard.

Not that there was a rules change not too long ago that allowed a commander to die while still returning to the command zone. It used to be that putting the commander in the command zone was a replacement effect, and the commanders never hit the graveyard, but they now properly die, then give you the choice to return them to the command zone.

Does the Command Zone Count as “In Exile?”

No, the command zone doesn’t count as in exile, just like it doesn’t count as being outside of the game. Its rule still applies that it’s a unique zone within the game.

If it were counted as being in exile these zones would overlap and intrude on each other, leading to some potentially wacky combos depending on how the rulings work out. And quite frankly I’m glad that the zones in MTG are as secluded and separate as they are. It makes it nice and simple to keep track of things.

Which Abilities Work in the Command Zone?

I’m glad you asked! I was about to mention that while you might want to keep your commander in your graveyard given the chance, there are some commanders that like to stay in the command zone because of their abilities.

Eminence is the most prominent ability that relies on the command zone. It’s essentially an effect that’s always active from the field or the command zone. Edgar Markov and The Ur-Dragon are the two most popular eminence commanders. They're especially powerful thanks to their ability to constantly affect the game at all times, even if they aren’t on the field.

Other commanders that have abilities that are active in or used from the command zone are Derevi, Empyrial Tactician, Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow, Liesa, Shroud of Dusk, and Oloro, Ageless Ascetic. While not quite eminence, these abilities are cracked in their own way.

Yuriko and Derevi have abilities that essentially eliminate commander tax since they can enter play without being cast. Oloro passively gains you life while they're in the command zone, and Liesa gives you the option to pay life instead of traditional commander tax.

Can You Exile a Commander from the Game? Does it Go to the Command Zone?

Yes, and yes.

You can exile a commander with a spell or ability just like any other creature. But the owner of that commander gets to choose if they want to leave their leader in exile or send it back to the command zone. That said, it’s still going to the command zone nine times out of ten unless you’ve got something like Pull from Eternity to bring it back to the graveyard so you can revive it.

Does Going to the Command Zone Count as Dying?

No, moving to the command zone doesn’t count as dying since the commander has already left the battlefield in some way, shape, or form. However, if the commander was killed by a spell or through combat, the game recognizes that the commander died. It goes to the graveyard and then its owner moves it to the command zone if they want to. The death part already happened.

Does the Command Zone Count as Your Hand?

That’s another no, chief. Just as the command zone doesn’t count as “outside of the game” or “in exile” it also doesn’t count as being in your hand. Abilities and spells that care about your hand in some way don’t care about the command zone. It’s unfortunate but it’s the world we live in.

How Does Dash Work with the Command Zone?

The dash mechanic is a tad quirky. Your commander returns from the battlefield to your hand at the end of the turn that you dashed your commander. Then it just sticks around in your hand for you to dash over and over or just to cast normally if you don’t return it to the command zone.

While dashing from your hand won't rack up commander tax, dashing from the command zone does in fact count as casting your commander, and will tick up the commander tax. Commanders that use this mechanic include Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, Zurgo Bellstriker, and Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury.

Dose Oloro Work in the Command Zone?

Yes, Oloro, Ageless Ascetic works in the command zone, but only because the card explicitly says it can. Oloro's concept is to always gain you life each turn, no matter what, and part of that means it gets to be an exception to the rule!

Cards That Use the Command Zone

Cards don’t often use the command zone unless they’re your commander, have a special designation, or explicitly state that they interact with the command zone. Here’s a list of everything that uses the command zone, including some cards I’ve already mentioned.

Creatures

Technically I could write a list of every legendary creature in MTG history, but… No.

What I will list for creatures is those that interact with the command zone. Some are cards that rely on how often your commander has been cast rather than the command zone specifically, but I’ve given them the benefit of the doubt and included them as well.

Planeswalkers

Instant

Sorcery

Enchantment

Artifact

Land

Dungeon

As mentioned earlier, when instructed to “venture into the dungeon,” you'll pick a dungeon to enter, placing that dungeon face-up in the command zone where it can't be interacted with or removed until you complete the dungeon.

Conspiracy

Conspiracies are cards unique to the Conspiracy Draft format and aren’t used anywhere else. While very niche, they do use the command zone to affect the game.

The Ring

When “The Ring tempts you” for the first time in a game, you'll create The Ring, an emblem that exists within your command zone and remains there for the rest of the game.

Commanding Conclusion

Myth Unbound | Illustration by Alexander Forssberg

And that’s that. Do you have any favorite commanders? I’m particularly fond of Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow. Yuriko was the first commander deck that I ever built around and is easily my most powerful with tons of tricks up its sleeve thanks to its commander ninjutsu ability. I’ve also been looking at building a deck around Oloro, Ageless Ascetic to use its lifegain synergies with cards that give me bonuses for gaining life.

What about you? Do any commanders I’ve mentioned here strike your fancy? Is there a card I forgot to list here that messes with the command zone? Let me know in the comments below and start up a discussion!

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Stay safe and I’ll see you next time!

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Alex Barker

Alex has been playing Magic since 2012 and grew up playing Draft at the game store in his hometown. When he’s not busy studying, he can be found experimenting across the Standard and Modern formats or tinkering with a new cat tribal deck to torment his friends.