Imprinting a commander?
Asked by crabopolis 11 years ago
Can you use cards such as Mimic Vat on your commander? I would say no because to imprint the card must remain exiled, and you cannot exile a commander? I am sure there is a rule that covers this, but we could not find it.
Rhadamanthus says... #2
Moving a Commander to the command zone instead of the graveyard or exile is completely optional. If you want to, you're allowed to simply let the Commander go to the graveyard (good for reanimating) or to exile (good for imprinting, etc.).
Note that after you make that choice, the Commander will stay in exile (or the graveyard) until some other effect specifically moves him somewhere else. You don't get to move it back to the command zone just whenever you feel like it.
August 23, 2013 4:43 p.m.
ForPsionics says... #3
or you can leave it in your graveyard, i forgot to say that.
also, if you want to exile someone else's commander, they have to announce that they are putting it into their graveyard in the first place, because putting your commander into the commander zone is a replacement effect.
August 23, 2013 4:43 p.m.
RedKunoichi says... #4
But then when you choose to imprint their commander they will again get to choose whether they let it get exiled or if it goes to the commander zone. And honestly who would let someone mimic vat their commander
August 23, 2013 4:48 p.m.
ForPsionics says... #5
at least you can do it against a Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord type of deck
August 23, 2013 4:51 p.m.
I think a Jarad deck would just toss him in the Command Zone rather than let him be exiled until they switch imprints.
August 23, 2013 4:54 p.m.
You can imprint a Commander. Returning the Commander to the commander zone is an optional replacement effect. In order:
1) Commander dies & you "exile" with Mimic Vat .2) You have the option to put your commander into the command zone instead of exile. You choose to do so.3) The effect resolves and your commander is placed into the command zone. Enjoy you're imprinted pseudo-commander generator.
August 23, 2013 7:38 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #8
@yungxak: If you move the Commander to the command zone, there's no "exiled card" for the activated ability of Mimic Vat to refer to. You have to let the Commander go to exile if you want to be able to make token copies.
August 23, 2013 8:57 p.m.
Better take that one up with Epoch, bub. Replacement effects are replacement effects.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-questions/mimic-vat-and-a-dead-commander/
August 24, 2013 1:42 a.m.
Ah hell. Never mind. Making a fool of myself before reading into it further.
"Ignore me, I'm just comical relief."
ForPsionics says... #1
yes and no. when your commander dies, you have a choice as to where it goes. you can exile it with mimic vat, or you can return it to your command zone. IF you exile it, then again, you have a choice to return it to the commander zone. if you don't, you can then start imprinting your commander to kingdom come!
because the commander zone is separate from exile, it can either be imprinted, or you can return it to the commander zone.
August 23, 2013 4:41 p.m.