Poll: Would you allow a Rule 0 EDH deck with hybrid symbols that partially match color identity?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Oct. 7, 2025, 6:40 a.m. by StopShot
A player at the table has a rule 0 commander deck that includes cards that they know break their commander's own color identity, but all cards that have off-color symbols in their deck are all hybrid symbols that can still be played with colored mana within their commander's color identity.
For example, a Rise of the Hobgoblins in a Krenko, Mob Boss deck or a Nature's Chant in a Kwain, Itinerant Meddler deck as long as all hybrid symbols have an on-color half. Neither example deck would run off-color hybrid cards such as Cease / Desist due to the .
Would you allow a rule 0 deck that abides by this slight change in color identity? Would you find it more acceptable for them to play that deck than a rule 0 deck that doesn't care about color identity at all or would it not make a difference to you assuming all other deck-building rules are followed?
Crow_Umbra says... #3
I think if this was brought up by one my friends in my close play group, none of us would have much issue about it. This is mostly since we all have a really good read on each others' play styles and deck building tendencies. We know each other well enough at this point that it wouldn't be a huge deal, and we would each be transparent if the included card was part of a combo.
I think if this question was brought up with randos at a LGS, I'd probably ask first about combos or other general details about the deck to get an idea about it. If everything seems on the level based on additional info, I wouldn't mind playing a game with that person to find out firsthand. Worst case scenario is that person misrepresented what their intentions were and I know to not play with them again.
EDHRECast just dropped a video yesterday on house rules. Hybrid Mana gets brought up very briefly in the back half of the video, but it's barely more than a 1 minute discussion. There was a MTG content channel that looked at Hybrid mana cards and what they would potentially add to decks that have at least one of their colors, but I can't remember who made it. That video was from at least 2-3 years ago, if not a bit more. If I find it I'll link it here.
October 7, 2025 2:06 p.m.
TypicalTimmy says... #4
The original intent of hybrid mana, if I recall, is that it's not "both", it's "either".
is both red and white.
can be but it can ALSO be OR .
I would be 100% perfectly okay with it being in a mono-red deck, or a mono-white deck
October 7, 2025 2:51 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #5
One thing we aren’t really touched on is how the other players may feel a little put out because they made their decks under the assumption that everyone had to follow that rule. There may very well be cards that they passed on specifically because of that rule… only to get to the LGS and find that others just put it/them in anyways. This is where having a regular group helps, as mentioned above, because you can build a more resilient dynamic. If it’s three randos… the chances that variants like this will not go well. I also wanted to agree with TypicalTimmy about the difference between multicolored and this-of-that. I work specifically with legal terminology (which is why I refer to magic as a training opportunity lol) and “shall vs may” is something I get to talk about a lot. I think it’s a worthwhile consideration.
October 7, 2025 5:16 p.m.
Coward_Token says... #6
Side note: my niche complaint about Spider-Man is that I can't use Spider-Woman, Stunning Savior as a marginal upgrade for my Marisi
deck
FormOverFunction says... #2
I don’t know if I’ve ever taken a hard stance on an opponent’s deck. Having said that, I’m torn on this. I think this is going to end up being like proxies; they’re no big deal until they are. It took me years to find an Iceberg for my ocean deck. No one would have cared if I had proxied it because it wouldn’t make my deck super unstoppable amazing. If you proxy a Candelabra of Tawnos you’re probably going to get some eye rolls as your deck spirals into something insane. If you play one of those hybrid cards and everyone claps because it fits the theme so well… that’s great. If it works TOO well, people will resort to saying “yeah, that’s why you’re not actually allowed to have that card” and be salty. As a general rule, if I think to myself “should I mention this to my wife?” the answer is automatically “yes.” This isn’t QUITE as cut and dried, but it’s close. “Do you think people would let me get away with breaking this rule.. even though it’s only, like, half-breaking it? That way I can do X and Y and Z and dominate the table…” the answer is probably going to end up “no.”
October 7, 2025 9:11 a.m.