How do the flip-walkers work as commanders?

Asked by Chandrian 9 years ago

It's obvious to me that I can use Kytheon, Hero of Akros  ^Flip as a commander, but what happens when his flip condition triggers? Will Gideon, Battle-Forged  ^Flip be my "new" commander in play or not? (I chose Kytheon as an example, obviously this question extends to all flip-walkers)

Epochalyptik says... #1

When a double-faced card transforms or when a flip card flips, that permanent is still the same object. It just has a new set of characteristics. "Commanderness" is tied to the physical card, not to a set of characteristics, so Gideon, Battle-Forged  ^Flip is still your commander.

July 12, 2015 2:01 p.m.

Chandrian says... #2

Great, a one-mana Commander-Planeswalker! Thanks for the answer.

July 12, 2015 2:11 p.m.

Chandrian says... #3

Aditionnaly... what happens when Gideon, Battle-Forged  ^Flip is in play and is returned to his/her owner's hand? Do I have to replay Kytheon, Hero of Akros  ^Flip or can I cast Gideon for 0 mana?

July 12, 2015 2:16 p.m.

Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #4

Gideon, Battle-Forged  ^Flip doesn't exist outside of the battlefield. In all zones except the battlefield, double-faced cards have only the properties of their default front face. The other face only exists when the card is on the battlefield and transformed.

As such, you can't cast Gideon, Battle-Forged  ^Flip. You need to cast Kytheon, Hero of Akros  ^Flip and transform it.

July 12, 2015 2:27 p.m. Edited.