Can you interact with a Commander in the graveyard before it's moved to the command zone?
Asked by 0011110000110011 3 years ago
With the rule change to commander in June where commanders are now moved to the graveyard before the command zone, could I interact with another olayer's commander in the graveyard before they move it to the command zone? With Nezumi Graverobber, for example. Is it just a matter of who has priority first?
VampDemigod says... #2
The commander going to the Command Zone is now a state-based action. This means that the only thing that can target a commander in a graveyard is the card that sent it there in the first place.
Basically, everything on a card triggers at one point in time, even if multiple things happen in a specific order at that point in time. State-based actions happen every time priority passes to or from a player. This means that after a spell has fully resolved, when a spell is cast, an ability triggers or is activated, or a phase or a step is about to end, all state-based actions happen (another example is losing the game if you’re at 0 life).
September 8, 2020 6:23 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #3
0011110000110011: Answers to your question have been up for a while. Since there don't seem to be any follow-ups or corrections to be made, I marked one of them as the "Accepted answer" so that this topic can move out of the list of unanswered questions. Please remember to take care of this yourself in the future.
Tylord2894 says... Accepted answer #1
There are only a few cards that can interact with a commander due to the rules change. Necromantic Selection is one of them.
Provided that someone doesn't want their commander in the graveyard, they will get a chance to move their commander when state-based actions are checked and performed. This happens before anyone gets priority. This happens anytime after a non-mana ability or a spell resolves. For example, if I cast Murder targeting your commander, it will go to the graveyard during the resolution of Murder and will go the command zone when SBAs are performed.
So, you need an effect that will kill and steal a creature during the resolution of the same spell/ability (such as Necromantic Selection).
Hope this helps!!
September 3, 2020 11:36 a.m.