Is Oathbreaker better off further distancing itself from Commander?
Oathbreaker forum
Posted on March 22, 2023, 2:38 p.m. by Toleezu
I looked up the format post WotC announcement and now that I've looked over the rules I'm wondering if its a better move for the format to further differentiate itself from Commander.
Specifically, Rule 906.14 allows for all cards and mechanics that mention 'Commander' can be transferred to 'Oathbreaker', but based on the card pool that we have been graced with since 2022, I see a lot of potential if that rule were to be abolished.
Here is a list of cards whose power levels would be improved by ditching the rule versus those with power hurt or remaining neutral by a move in this way. See for yourself if the format looks more interesting without 'Commander' mechanic cards at full power (Lieutenants, Wills, etc.):
Positively Affected:
Negatively Affected
Neutral
-
- Jeweled Lotus *since its already banned
I'm a little hazy on the rules of Oathbreaker. Would casting the instant/sorcery count as casting the commander, or is it only the planeswalker?
March 22, 2023 3:40 p.m.
legendofa You can only cast your signature spell when your commander/oathbreaker is in play... for every time you cast your signature sell after the 1st time its been cast an additional tax of must be paid in addition to any other casting cost just like your commander/oathbreaker.
Im not sure if distancing or further differentiating from EDH/Commander is a good move for Oathbreaker... I think the main draw to the format is how similar it is to EDH/Commander and not having a rule 0 exception/explanation for planswalkers...the diffenece of certain fast mana like Sol Ring and such and lower life totals life are pretty big differences on there own let alone the at the ready PW and Signature spell shenanigans.
March 22, 2023 4:02 p.m.
FormOverFunction says... #5
I like the idea of having more formats, but the distinctions need to be easy to understand. Going all the way back to Type 1, tracking what’s allowed or banned is more of a hurdle than one might expect. If the distinction between Oathbreaker and Commander is what card you can pick to be your commander, and that you get to pick a spell (that would already have been allowed in the deck) as your “commander spell”... then it’s pretty easy to understand; you’re piggybacking on all the (hopefully) pre-understood knowledge about Commander. In my opinion, if Oathbreaker is going to divert further from Commander it needs to be a big enough change to completely break out of the gravity well of Commander. Anything less than that will be too confusing. Planechase works because it’s “play magic, but you have one of these cards revealed, and here are the two (or whatever) rules for getting a new plane.” That Standard-version of Commander, whatever it’s called, is too much (in part) because few will tolerate the list-maintenance needed to cycle cards out of your deck. If you’ve gone to the work of making a Commander deck, you’re probably not going to scrap a third of it in two months because a new set came out. Conversely: if you make a new deck for some yet-to-be-invented format, that only has 25 cards and three wooden pegs that you position on the table for different effects (or whatever) you’ll keep that in a box somewhere as well. Assuming they don’t make you carve new pegs every few months ;p TLDR: if there’s going to be a successful new format, to me, it has to be either effectively the same as commander or WILDLY different.
March 22, 2023 4:21 p.m.
Icbrgr Good information, but my intent was more like, does the instant/sorcery tick up the Skull Storm copy count? Does it reduce the cost of Visions of Glory? Or would those be based on the number of times you cast the planeswalker, or the planeswalker's mana cost?
March 22, 2023 4:38 p.m.
Oatherbreaker and commander are synonymous with existing cards printed but a signature spell are not to my knowledge... with that Im pretty sure whatever cost alterations/reductions you see with those cards would refer to your oathbreaker and not the chosen signature spell.
March 22, 2023 5:21 p.m.
plakjekaas says... #8
The exact wording of the rule is:
906.14 If another rule or effect refers to your commander, it instead refers to your Oathbreaker.
The Signature Spell would have had to be explicitly named there to be included in your Skull Storm count and such. The planeswalker, and only the planeswalker that is your Oathbreaker, is what's referenced to in this format as a "Commander" on commander-specific cards like Arcane Signet.
March 23, 2023 1:35 a.m.
TypicalTimmy says... #9
Oathbreaker and Commander are the exact same, with subtle differences:
- Oathbreaker is a 60 card deck, not 100
- Oathbreaker only allows Planeswalkers as your Commander (Called an "Oathbreaker")
- You get a Signature Spell in your Command Zone, which is an instant or sorcery that shares it's colors with your chosen Oathbreaker.
- Both your Oathbreaker and Signature Spell are subject to the "Commander Tax" of additional mana per casting beyond the first, assuming it is cast from the Command Zone.
- You may only cast your Signature Spell if you have your Oathbreaker on the battlefield and control it
- A slightly different banlist
Otherwise it's the exact same format. Multiplayer, 40 life, singleton
This means that YES, if you want Path to Exile to be your Signature Spell, you absolutely can. Or Demonic Tutor. or Lightning Bolt.
Or God forbid Counterspell
March 23, 2023 1:37 a.m.
plakjekaas says... #10
After Counterspell is cast twice as a signature spell, it costs you which is not that scary anymore. Also, you need your Oathbreaker in play, the cheapest blue planeswalker is at least 3 mana. Keep up t4 counterspell doesn't sound as scary as you're making it out to be '^^
Also, the oathbreaker format website states that your starting life is 20, not 40
March 23, 2023 1:48 a.m.
What are the rules on Jeska, Thrice Reborn and Tevesh Szat, Doom of Fools partnering?
March 24, 2023 3:49 a.m.
plakjekaas says... #12
Rule 906.3b: if using the Partner mechanic, you may have 2 Oathbreakers.
The Signature Spell is linked to the deck, not the Oathbreaker per se, so you can play Jeaska & Tevesh with any Signature Spell in the Rakdos color identity.
I suppose the same goes for Will Kenrith & Rowan Kenrith, but in Izzet
March 25, 2023 6:11 a.m.
Plajekas
906.4b states that each oathbreaker (with partner mechanic) has its own signature spell according to it's specific color identity, not that of the deck.
March 26, 2023 10:56 a.m.
Why is Jirina Kudro on this list? There is no RWB planeswalker.
March 26, 2023 11:04 a.m.
906.3b If using the Partner mechanic, you may have two Oathbreakers. See rule 702.12
906.4a The signature spell may only be cast when its Oathbreaker is on the battlefield under its owner's control.
906.4b When using the Partner mechanic, each Oathbreaker will have its own Signature Spell. Each Signature Spell is limited to its Oathbreaker’s color identity.
So it looks like Onizuma's right. Each planeswalker has their own signature spell that must be in their individual color identity. The rest of the deck can use their combined color identities.
Onizuma It's not unreasonable to assume that a planeswalker that can use Jirina Kudro will be printed at some point.
March 26, 2023 12:27 p.m.
legendofa that's true that there may be a planeswalker in the future that has . My bad
March 26, 2023 12:43 p.m.
Dihada, Binder of Wills is an already existing WBR planeswalker
March 27, 2023 1:46 p.m.
Toleezu my bad. I keep forgetting the app I always use hasn't been updated in almost a year. Mtg tracker.
March 27, 2023 2:47 p.m.
I'd like to point out that, as written, the Background enchantments from CLB are useless in Oathbreaker. Unless, at some point, we get creature cards that say "this card can be your Oathbreaker".
RiotRunner789 says... #2
Would recommend editing and placing double brackets around the card names. This would provide links to be able to see each one.
March 22, 2023 3:16 p.m.