Something's off about Devoid...
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Aug. 18, 2015, 2:14 p.m. by Phaetion
As everyone knows, Devoid is the new mechanic spoiled in the latest duel deck. It states that cards with devoid has no color...except in the case of Dominator Drone and Forerunner of Slaughter, they have color(s) in their mana costs.
Is this yet another attempt of MaRo's to distort the color identity rule? I feel like it is because they have color(s), but they have no color ala Devoid.
What do you guys think?
PasorofMuppets says... #3
I mean, having a color and having a color identity (for commander) are two entirly different things.
So while they are colorless, they're color identity wouldn't be (I think).
August 18, 2015 2:23 p.m.
GreenGhost says... #4
It's like how Yasova Dragonclaw is green but her color identity is temur.
August 18, 2015 2:25 p.m.
CastleSiege says... #5
Color Identity also includes activated abilities if they require colored mana. Cards with Devoid can't be targeted by color-specific spells but they can only be put into commander decks that include their color identity.
August 18, 2015 2:25 p.m.
I thought colour identity was specifically related to the mana symbols on the card. Like you can't run Golgari Signet in a Wort, Boggart Auntie deck. So, I imagine you won't be able to run a card with a cost of 2U with Devoid if blue is not in your commander's colour identity.
I'm curious about how Devoid will interact with cards like Ruby Medallion, or cards that "Counter target red spell". Is Devoid in effect no matter which zone the card is in?
August 18, 2015 2:26 p.m.
Either way, it doesn't matter. You cant produce mana outside of your generals colours. You're still not able to cast the devoid eldrazi...
August 18, 2015 2:27 p.m. Edited.
canterlotguardian says... #8
Color identity is determined by mana symbols in mana costs and activated abilities. The Forerunner has a 
/
color identity, same as Ghostfire is colorless yet has a color identity.
August 18, 2015 2:27 p.m.
GreenGhost says... #9
Also even if you could put them in a deck you would need some way of producing their colors of mana to play them. So in other words unless your commander is that color there is almost no way of playing them aside from cheating them in.
August 18, 2015 2:27 p.m.
The last time this came up was when Extort was released in Gatecrash, and MaRo did say that Extort was created in an attempt to get the Rules Committee to change the rule about color identity.
It's just bizarre looking at them, because they can be run in colored decks, but Devoid also states that they have no color, which is a slap in the face.
August 18, 2015 2:27 p.m.
canterlotguardian: Ok, so I forgot that Ghostfire existed, and the card just answered my question. Thanks guys.
August 18, 2015 2:29 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #12
It'd be cool if ghostfire was reprinted with devoid. I'm pretty sure that devoid works in all zones, similar to changeling and the pacts.
To add to the conversation though, any color changing abilities/effects also add to color identity, so Transguild Courier can only be played in commander decks if the commander is 5 color.
August 18, 2015 2:48 p.m.
Tabak already ruled on this. Cards with Devoid are colorless in all zones of the game, but they have a color identity in formats where that matters. So Forerunner of Slaughter is colorless in the hand, library, stack, graveyard, and battlefield, but has a 
color identity for Commander and Tiny Leaders.
August 18, 2015 3:43 p.m.
RoarMaster says... #14
To be on topic, MaRo is the guy who tries to keep the color pie in line, not distort it. Hes always complaining about cards being printed outside of their color. So I would say no, its not him trying to distort the color pie, probably the opposite. As in development probably wanted colorless creatures in the set to represent eldrazi, but due to the fact you just cant tack any ability onto a colorless guy without really messing with the color pie, Id assume MaRo was all like "Byaaah! We will make them colorless, BUT! We will make it so that you need colors to cast them so they stay in their proper color placement!"
Gotta say, devoid kinda sucks in my eyes, like a lot. Little design room, and its an ability that inherently does nothing without other cards to help them out.
August 18, 2015 4:18 p.m.
ComradeJim270 says... #16
Color identity doesn't care what color the card is. It cares what mana symbols are on it. Cranial Plating may be colorless, but it has on it, so its color identity is black. Devoid doesn't create any new situations in this regard.
August 19, 2015 12:55 p.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #17
Yeah, just to echo, Devoid doesn't distort colour identity, because it doesn't interact with colour identity at all.
Further, even if they made a legendary with Devoid, you'd have a colourless general with a coloured colour identity (much like Bosh, Iron Golem is colourless with a red colour identity).
ABadMagicPlayer100 says... #2
I'm not an expert by any means, but I believe color identity is determined by mana symbols, which would mean that Forerunner of Slaughter would only be playable in
decks.
August 18, 2015 2:21 p.m.