mtg, mtg cards, magic the gathering, gaming, geeks
The idea is simple, commander on the go. Rules are the same as EDH with a few exceptions
Deck construction.
Hero card: Like a commander but it can be any creature. except for those banned from E.D.H. a player may only have 1 copy of their Hero. Your deck is still defined by your heroes color/s
Excluding your hero, you must have 2 copies of each card in your deck, with the exception of basic lands. leaving room for anywhere between 18-20 different cards in your deck.
A deck must have and may not exceed 61 cards including your hero.
Health starts at 20 and there is no commander damage.
Above is a simple goblin deck using these rules. Red in it's simplest format, small creatures and burn.
Feel free to post your decks below or give feedback. the current banned list is the standard EDH banned list. if you feel a card is TOO powerful please leave a comment and we'll put it under consideration.
If you think that the format could be improved please let me know.
And the banned list starts
Banned list
Sol Ring , Ancestral Recall , Balance , Biorhythm , Black Lotus , Coalition Victory , Channel , Emrakul, the Aeons Torn , Fastbond , Gifts Ungiven , Karakas , Library of Alexandria , Limited Resources Metalworker ,Sundering Titan ,Mox Sapphire ,Mox Ruby ,Mox Pearl ,Mox Emerald ,Mox Jet ,Painter's Servant ,Panoptic Mirror ,Protean Hulk ,Recurring Nightmare ,Staff of Domination ,Sway of the Stars ,Time Vault ,Time Walk ,Tinker ,Tolarian Academy ,Upheaval ,Yawgmoth's Bargain ,Mana Vault
Here's a list of decks people have already created! Just copy the link, i can't figure out how to link to the forum.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-forum/general/hero-format-decks/
Someone brought it to my attention that having 2 ofs could possibly turn this into a legacy style constructed format, using impossible combo's. I want everyone to realize this is a casual, multiplayer format. Just like commander, it will be up to your playgroup to decide if a certain combo is fair, or if a card is too over powered.
Now there are only 3 ways to fix this problem. one is to make an extensive ban list as problems arise (which i really don't want to do). change the ruling to having only 1 of each card in your deck, Which i feel would take away from the feel of the format. or finally leave it up to your group to decide.
Now this doesn't mean that a ban list won't arise. There's bound to be combo's out there that no one ever thought of, or become more viable because of the way a hero deck is constructed.
Last but not least, HAVE FUN. if you aren't having fun then something is terribly wrong.
Noble limits you on rares and power. this does not. instead it forces you to focus on what are the best choices for your deck by forcing 2 of each card in your deck.
I'm not a big fan of the noble format, because it's far too limited in deck construction. I feel this format will be a lot more balanced and fun to build.
This seems like a more expensive EDH. At least in EDH I only need one copy of the expensive cards I want to play with, and with the longer games of the format, cards that aren't viable in other formats -- and thus usually very cheap -- are playable.
Does the commander zone work the same way?
It seems to me that the HERO is any creature. And isn't determined by rarity or Legend. As for the cards. The only restriction is "2 of" which unlike EDH or Noble as the '1 of' and Noble is 4 uncommons and the rest commons.
KevinLS yes the commander zone works the same way. and Jokernaught when played i'm 100% sure this will have it's own feel to it. Yes any creature can be your hero, though that doesn't mean any creature will make a good hero.
I wanted to build this format to promote faster game play while keeping everything balanced. the most expensive cards won't particularly be the best in this format, and neither will the most "powerful" cards.
Commander is my favorite format, but I find a lot of people don't want to play 1+ hour matches.
yes combo's are allowed, though it is a casual format, so if too many people complain about an unfair combo it will probably be removed. this is currently the alpha, and there are bound to be rule changes. I'm hoping to get people to test this format and give feedback. I know i'm going to make a few decks to test out at my local store.
I was just noting the similarities. It looks like it will catch on, I definitely will be building a deck around this and introducing it to my play group.
I wonder if it will catch on enough to get it's own Format button.
Here's my second Hero deck Sliver Hero just showing the kind of fun people can have with this format.
Sweet. I'll be introducing this deck:golgari-hero to some friends in a few days. It does have a different feel the noble but is like shortcut EDH. I like it.
I made three decks all based off of EDH decks I already own.
What are the mulligan rules?
Same as commander
I just played a few games earlier with some friends. It was really interesting.
Whats up with the banned list? Is that what's illegal in commander? I recognize most of that list but Griselbrand ? Really?
And here's my hand at a deck. Hero of the Parish (Hero Format). I figured I'd use the fact that any creature may be the Hero. Another idea that crossed my mind was Merfolk, use a less useful lord or clone as a Hero and fill your deck up with Merfolk.
Jokernaught, Griselbrand has been banned from edh since the first week of avacyn because of crazy draw and win. I might playtest him in this format but i don't think the outcome would be any different.
That I didn't know. Griselbrand is a little uber powerful.
But it seems that this is really catching on. the Champion of the Parish on looks really cool. We need to get a specific page that we can use to post one another's decks. Somewhere in the general form, so we can have an accurate way of swapping ideas and deciding which combos need to be looked into. Rather then clutter this deck page.
I set up a page on the forum for posting decks and discussing the format. The link is in the description. I just can't get it to directly link.
It seems like Griselbrand shouldn't be banned from this format given its constructed-style decks. It's crazy in EDH because that kind of card draw when you have 40 life to start with is just madness, but if you're running it like a more restricted constructed format (in which it is not banned) then there shouldn't be any problem with it. Perhaps banning it as a general but not as an element of a deck?
Removed Griselbrand for now.
It seems like this has a much different speed and different enough format to have a different banlist.
And if there's no ban list, Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary is my hero and I wanna have my two Protean Hulk s. _
Go ahead and run whatever you want. for now i just copied the ban list from edh, though sol ring was my personal ban. having 5 mana on turn one is too much. and you could still play a 3 cost colorless. thats not fun for anyone.
turn one play a land, play Sol Ring tap it to play another Sol Ring then tap that sol ring to play lets say Azorius Signet use the last floating mana to tap the signet and play a 2 cost creature or another signet. 6 to 7 mana turn one is too much and not fun for anyone.
I agree with Sol Ring . 2 of them is way to powerful.
I agree with Sol Ring . 2 of them is way to powerful.
How does the Hero zone work? Just the same as commander zone, cause if so and without some of the ramp you can get in EDH, might it not be an idea to change the rules on Heros.
As an idea, what about letting Hero's go to the Graveyard, and be returnable to the Commander Zone by paying a mana cost? That way you can allow for more combos and reanimators. Or some other cost?
And are you going to relax the rules on card colour? For example, allow people to include lands that produce a colour according to hero and a colour that isn't a hero colour, but instead of producing the other colour, it produces colourless or something? I can just think of some good lands that are multiple coloured.
Going outside of your heroes color identity utterly breaks the format. I won't be lax on that. The commander zone has always worked the same. you can choose to not use it after your hero/commander has been cast. shenanigans will all work the same.
I feel those rules are extremely solid and work well in this format. there are always going to be crazy combo's. regardless if you change the rules on the command zone.
I see this as being a great catalyst for those going from standard of vintage play to EDH.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/grand-hero/
you guys inspired e to make one.
please take a look and give feedback
EDH is my favorite format, so i hope i can convince people to play this, to save those 1-5 hour games >.<
I like this format idea a lot. My only concern is that it only seems to heavily favor tribal and possibly mill. It also doesn't seem to be able to go more than 2 colors but I would gladly be proven wrong. In any case I'll make a mill based deck and see how it plays out.
Here's a quick attempt at a UB Mill using Szadek, Lord of Secrets http://playtest.tappedout.net/hero-mill/
Proven wrong. Haha deck:flicker-me-this-hero-format is a four color deck I built myself to see if it could be done. Check it out.
There is also a thread for Hero Decks specifically, instead of this deck.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-forum/general/hero-format-decks/
Its clickable.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/the-hedron-hero/
prototype deck, check it out you guys, let me know how you think it will do in this format.
Just threw together Zendikar's Forest (Hero). I'm kind of digging this format. Looking forward to trying it out.
If I have Dryad Arbor as my hero can I play a land and drop him turn 1? :-D
No, basic rules of magic still are active. You can only play one land per turn, and Dryad Arbor is a land, regardless of it's Hero status.
Please understand there is a forum thread for this.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-forum/general/hero-format-decks/
There you can post your deck where other Hero Format players already posted thiers.
If you want shorter Commander games, play with no more than 5 people (preferably 4), and try out 30-life life totals instead of 40. I'm not sure if a whole new Commander Lite format is needed to fix what a quick house rule could do. I'm assuming that since you didn't mention the Command Zone, that still exists in this format, in which case that's the only way the deck would play differently from a casual Krenko build, and the 2-of restriction is the only way the deck looks different on paper from casual builds. One thing I enjoyed about Commander was that it was obviously a unique format, in many ways; general/commander damage being one of them, which you've dropped (probably because you're playing 20 life instead of 40 or 30).
That said, if people like this format, enjoy. Personally, I think you should stick to the legendary creature restriction from Commander for the hero rather than leave it open to just any creature. There are plenty of legendary creatures, and while it's technically a restriction, it makes it easier for players new to the format to craft a deck, as they have a lot fewer choices than choosing from any creature in Magic. It's also a shame you can't keep in general/commander damage. I also still think just dropping Commander lifetotals to 30 is a way better way of having good, faster games than creating a new format; perhaps you should try that out at least, so you don't completely give up on Commander, as, after all, you're more likely to find games of Commander than a brand new format.
would Memnarch be a valid commander in this format? Would he be counted as blue, or colorless, or not be allowed because his ability is not in his color?
yes he'd count as blue.
thanks for the quick reply
to sarroth, i love commander, it's my favorite format. I created this to be a more open ended version of it. I wanted a good middle ground between commander and noble. more open ended but using the same rules. I wanted to keep commander damage, and i'm thinking of adding it back in, but making it so if you deal 40 commander damage the game is over. seeing as how people will use infinite lifegain and what not. let me know if you think that's a good idea.
If this keeps the same rules as EDH, I don't see how Memnarch would be legal. That's a mana symbol on the card outside of the commander's color identity. Are we not worrying about symbols on the card? Like you could use Lingering Souls in a Champion of the Parish deck?
Official Commander Color Identity rules.
"903.4. The Commander variant uses color identity to determine what cards can be in a deck with a certain commander. The color identity of a card is the color or colors of any mana symbols in that cards mana cost or rules text, plus any colors defined by its characteristic-defining abilities (see rule 604.3) or color indicator (see rule 204)."
And
"903.5c A card can be included in a Commander deck only if every color in its color identity is also found in the color identity of the decks commander."
And by this rule, Lingering Souls can not be played in an otherwise mono-white deck. And Memnarch is a Blue general.
Its considered colorless. Protection checks the colors of the source, which is colorless. Not the color Identity which is blue.
@ieanbrewman: Your motives are understandable. I like the idea of keeping Commander Damage. You might even keep it at 21, as that's not much different than doing normal damage in a 20-life format but is still a choice against life-gain decks; plus keeping it at 21 requires less extra learning for Commander players moving over to the format.
Good luck with your format! Although, selfishly, I hope it doesn't catch on as much as Commander because the last thing I need is an excuse to build 3 more decks, lol.
So with your current banned list i can play Ante cards
Is there anyway we can get a featured article for Hero? With all the official Rules, Errata, and Current Banned list? At least what has been banned so more?
This is a great deck i live it i think i will make the deck for myself i love my pesky goblins lol +1 from me
I wish i had a little more help with this. however yes, give me time and I'll get an official page going. I just don't have enough time today.
Gladly, I already have someone in mind.
WANT
seriously, commander/EDH is one of my favorite formats because of the combos and the gameplay, especially in multiplayer. Hero format, especially if it became endorsed or something, would be amazing. Even more amazing for TappedOut, since it would all start here and generate a lot of traffic
I'll get right on the changes. I think ianbrewman will have a side sight up(?) not sure. But I think the list of banned cards here is up to date. We will add to the list as the format is better explored. (like what as been down with the Noble Format)
I have been asked to help and have gladly excepted.
It is in the format list. I think* Graft was the one that ran it. But it has kind of died down in popularity I guess?
Sorry http://tappedout.net/users/graft/
That works too.
Color Identity? what's that?
deck:colorless-heros
Hey go check out my format roulette please! I think you'll like it
Rule on lengendary creatures, only able to run 1 or can you run 2?
nevermind im being retarted
Look! I made Affinity. It's really good. HERO Affinity
Is there still "depth counters" on your hero when it dies?
Indeed their are.
Personally I think that forcing 2 of each card is brilliant, it forces people to double up on what they think is good, if you change it to up to one of each you are playing just a smaller deck version of EDH, which granted is what i gather part of the point is, but still. It's just going to be EDH with 40 less cards.
It has a real under ground movement here where I'm at, the fact that it is possible less money then most EDH decks are great. It is attracting people to both EDH and Hero formats.
You should make it SINGLETON 60.here are some cards that you should think about banning.Dreaded returnlife/deathall dredge cardsdark ritualCabal ritualskull clamp
the reason it should be singleton 60 is because a deck thats singleton is pretty much the same price as a deck that isn't.
Um? Could you clarify your agreement better? Maybe make a claim, a statement that 60 singleton is better. Then provide the evidence to support that claim, like facts and things. Then provide with a firm reason why this is better. If we are going to edit the format, please provide us with at least this.
As for the suggested banned list cards, please us the [ [Brackets] ] (without spaces) and provide a reason why we should ban them.
I see no reason as of now to ban skull clamp, as it's not the main problem. being able to draw cards shouldn't be frowned upon, especially in a 60 card deck where you can be milled quite easily.
As joker said please explain why you think those cards should be banned and please use the brackets to make it easier for us to review them.
This format is specifically not singleton because it forces the player to make crucial and much more difficult decisions while building there hero deck.
My exact reason for making this format was to let the lesser creatures everyone knows are awesome shine. that Vampire Nighthawk ? yeah he can be a commander now, that card:Ajani's Pridemate? yeah he can be a commander now. how about things like Restoration Angel ? playing at instant speed from the command zone? how freaking crazy would that be? the whole idea is to build a deck around that ONE creature you fell in love with when you started playing commander. but at the same time not making it super tedious to build or play.
now tell me how making this format singleton would in any way make games shorter, or decks easier to build? i'm not trying to exactly copy EDH, Hero has it's own feel. and needs to be experienced as such. with the idea of commander far far in the distance.
I'm thinking Necropotence and Demonic Tutor may be worth a ban.
Especially because you can have a commander zur -> necropotence -> win game type deck atm. Or dark ritual necro if you have it, and tutor is just... yeah, since this is a 61 card format with doubles. Basically, with demonic tutor in the doubles 61 card format you can essentially run an effective necropotence deck.
| Date added | 9 months |
| Last updated | 6 months |
| Legal formats | None |
| Sets | Magic 2013, Planechase 2012 Edition, Avacyn Restored , 2012 Core Set , MTG: Commander, Mirrodin Besieged, 2011 Core Set, Archenemy, Zendikar, Conflux, Shadowmoor, Lorwyn, Scourge, Onslaught, Portal Second Age, Fallen Empires |
| Cards | 60 |
| Avg. CMC | 2.32 |
| Top rank | #3 on 2012-08-06 |
Embed code |
|
LeaPlath says...
What makes this diffrent from something like Noble?
August 1, 2012 6:41 p.m.