question about the new companion zirda
Asked by koylucumert 3 years ago
can I play cards that dont have any activated abitities on the front but does on the back in a deck where my companion is Zirda, the Dawnwaker. Lets take Storm the Vault Flip as an example
koylucumert says... #2
Tylord2894 in that sense yes but isnt this a deckbuilding restriction like commander itself defines the color identity? commander color identity rule does check the back of the card and in theory the physical card Storm the Vault Flip has activated abilities.
May 6, 2020 10:26 a.m.
Tylord2894 says... #3
koylucumert, while there are similarities between Companion cards and a Commanders, they are not the same mechanics, and comparing them can be tricky.
Color identity is determined before the game starts. In other words, the color identity of a card is an indelible trait of that card. This is why a Pious Evangel Flip is always a color-identity card, even outside the current game.
On the other hand, the Companion mechanic doesn't "check" the characteristics of a card until after you have decided what cards will make up your library. By this point, Storm the Vault Flip has the characteristics of only its front face.
This is an understandably confusing interaction (or lack thereof), but the key difference is when we are determining the traits of a card. Does that make things a little clearer?
May 6, 2020 10:47 a.m.
koylucumert says... #4
Tylord2894 I see but I'm not happy about it :( I really wanted that storm the vault in my breya deck
Tylord2894 says... Accepted answer #1
You can not have cards like Storm the Vault Flip in a deck where Zirda is your companion. A double-faced card only has the characteristics of the front face unless it is on the battlefield and transformed. The official rule for this is below in case you're curious.
711.4a While a double-faced card is outside the game, in a zone other than the battlefield, or on the battlefield with its front face up, it has only the characteristics of its front face.
Hope this helps!!
May 6, 2020 9:34 a.m.