Sideboard on Commander EDH
Asked by pedroedmarcos 7 years ago
Hey, I'm looking for the rules of EDH about sideboard but I'm not founding. Is Sideboard really allowed ond EDH? Is there any backfire on using it? (Please comment with the link showing the rules, ok?)
903.1. In the Commander variant, each deck is led by a legendary creature designated as that deckscommander. The Commander variant was created and popularized by fans; an independent rulescommittee maintains additional resources at MTGCommander.net. The Commander variant usesall the normal rules for a Magic game, with the following additions.
From :September 9th, 2009: Major changes:
- Consolidated General-choice rules. League play now an optional rule.
- Generals are not immune to the legend.
- Changed to new Brittany mulligan rule
- Optional sideboarding added to beginning of game procedure
- Generals now move to the command zone instead of Exile
- Extended General/Graveyard rule to include things which exile the General
So according to the rules you are allowed to have a sideboard for your Commander/EDH deck, you are allowed to have a sideboard.
100.4. Each player may also have a sideboard, which is a group of additional cards the player may useto modify his or her deck between games of a match.
However, the EDH events I've participated in all had their own house-rules applied with one rule similar to each other LGS I've been: Before you play, you must select your deck and stick with that deck without changing it during the event
(Some even may ask you to bring a decklist.)
That being said, you should always ask your playgroup what they think about it first before using a sideboard between each game. Also if you'd like to participate in an event, make sure to ask about the rules so you know what you're getting into.
March 25, 2018 1:07 a.m.
Edit note: the additional info from September 9th, 2009 can be found at http://mtgcommander.net/EDH_Root/changelog.php
March 25, 2018 1:14 a.m.
The changelog does not properly reflect that this rule has since been removed. The changelog also claims that "wish" cards can find cards when using the optional sideboard rule, but the current rule is that wishes do not function without prior agreement from the playgroup. The general ruling would be that sideboards are not allowed in commander play, however if your playgroup agrees to use them the general form is that players choose there decks without knowing other players commanders, then commanders are revealed and each player may modify their deck using a 15 card sideboard. If your playgroup agrees to using a sideboard but wishes to use it differently, you are of course free to do so, I've known groups to not use actual sideboards, but allow a 15 card wishboard.
March 25, 2018 3:07 a.m.
By my knowledge, I can not seem to find any rule that wouldn't allow a player to have a sideboard for an EDH deck.
So because in the rules that they have applied already in 903.1. (See above). Makes the rules 100.4. (See above) active in the EDH format aswell.
Until there is a rule that says otherwise, it is allowed.
Still if any LGS or event have a house-rule that states it's not, you'll still have to obey their rules, but that doesn't disallow you from having one anyway.
March 25, 2018 10:05 a.m.
The issue is what a sideboard does. Typically commander is played as games, not matches. As the rules describe a sideboard as modifying the deck between games within a match, unless you are playing a match or modifying the sideboard in rule, a sideboard will do nothing regardless of whether it's legal to have.
March 25, 2018 11:03 a.m.
As Neotrup and I have stated, that is incorrect. The general rule is that sideboards are not allowed in Commander, but it is left up to the individual group of players.
To draw an analogy, in the United States, there is no overarching federal rule on conjugal visits in state prisons (i.e. allowing visitors to a prisoner for romantic purposes). The vast majority of jurisdictions do not allow such visits, but you would need to know the rules of your particular jurisdiction before acting.
Such it is with sideboards in Commanderthe standard practice is they are disallowed, with very rare exceptions.
In fact, the lack of sideboard in Commander is so pervasive, it is more fair to say that; unless there is a rule allowing the use of the sideboard, it is disallowed.
March 25, 2018 11:07 a.m. Edited.
But tell me this, where does an official rule state that you're NOT allowed to have a sideboard. In other words having a sideboard is 100% allowed.
That being said, I didn't say you're allowed to use it, you're allowed to have one. Using a sideboard has to be allowed at the LGS or event you're playing at.
Until you can provide an official rule that says otherwise, having a sideboard is 100% legal. Which in my opinion is very usefull if your deck requires the "wish" rule.
Personally I don't have a sideboard for any of my EDH decks because I try to build my decks to be resistant to several situations.
In casual commander games I personally discourage sideboarding between games because it's casual and for fun. But for sanctioned EDH events where you're allowed to modify your deck in between games then you should definetly use it if needed but in my experience so far it hasn't been allowed at the events I've participated yet.
March 25, 2018 12:17 p.m.
Rule 13 explicitly states that you cannot get cards from outside the game. Even if you have a sideboard, you will not be able to wish for cards out of it without prior agreement from your play group.
March 25, 2018 12:54 p.m.
13. Abilities which refer to other cards owned outside the game (Wishes, Spawnsire, Research, Ring of Ma'ruf) do not function in Commander without prior agreement on their scope from the playgroup.
This rule does not refer to a sideboard in any way. This refers to the abilities of certain cards. If your playgroup, LGS or sanction event allows it, then it's allowed.
You're allowed to have a sideboard.
March 25, 2018 1:26 p.m.
"Which in my opinion is very usefull if your deck requires the "wish" rule." Having a sideboard is not useful for the wish rule was my point, as the wish rule is wishes don't work. You can bring 15 cards to an event and call it a sideboard if you wish, but your interactions with it will be the same as your interactions with your trade binder, so there is 0 point.
March 25, 2018 1:45 p.m.
If you thinks it's usefull or not doesn't concern me. I'm explaining that having a sideboard is 100% legal, you just need to check with your playgroup, LGS or sanctioned event if you're allowed to use it.
Sideboard - Wish rule - My opinion Show
March 25, 2018 2:05 p.m.
To summerize, you are allowed to have a sideboard, if it's something you really want, but you are not allowed to use a sideboard without prior approval from your playgroup. If your playgroup allows a sideboard you will have to hammer out what that even means, such as altering rule 13 to allow for a wishboard, or sideboarding after commanders are chosen but before the first game, or something entirely different that your group agrees to. I do apologize for acting as though having a sideboard was not allowed when in fact its merely using a sideboard that is not allowed.
March 25, 2018 3:48 p.m.
If a playgroup agrees or disagrees on the "wish" rule, you don't alter the rule. You just simply make an agreement with your playgroup, LGS or event. Because that is still part of the rule.
Also, it may be vague to explain, but it's not that using a sideboard is not allowed in EDH, you just have to check first if it is allowed to use within your playgourp, LGS or sanctioned event.
March 25, 2018 4:29 p.m.
Just an FYI, playgroups that allow sideboards in Commander typically limit them to 10 cards, rather than 15.
Caerwyn says... #1
While Wizards has embraced Commander, it was player-made and there are no Wizards-sanctioned commander events. As such, Wizards does not have extensive "official" rules for the format. That said, the generally accepted rules are that sideboards are disallowed. You can ask your playgroup if they use alternative rules and allow a sideboard--I'm guessing they will not, but it's always worth asking.
March 24, 2018 11:44 p.m. Edited.