Command

The Command zone is a zone used for special objects which affect the game like permanents do, but are not actually permanents. This includes commanders, emblems, plane cards, and scheme cards. Commander 2013, Commander 2017, and Conspiracy contain cards that interact with the Command Zone.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Command: A zone for certain specialized objects that have an overarching effect on the game, yet are not permanents and cannot be destroyed. See rule 408, “Command.”

408. Command
- 408.1. The command zone is a game area reserved for certain specialized objects that have an overarching effect on the game, yet are not permanents and cannot be destroyed.
- 408.2. Emblems may be created in the command zone. See rule 114, “Emblems.”
- 408.3. In the Planechase, Vanguard, Commander, Archenemy, and Conspiracy Draft casual variants, nontraditional Magic cards and/or specially designated cards start the game in the command zone. Each variant has its own rules regarding such cards. See section 9, “Casual Variants.”

Original	Heavenly Inferno Mirror Mastery Counterpunch Political Puppets Devour for Power

2013	Evasive Maneuvers Eternal Bargain Mind Seize Power Hungry Nature of the Beast

2014	Forged in Stone Peer Through Time Sworn to Darkness Built from Scratch Guided by Nature

2015	Call the Spirits Seize Control Plunder the Graves Wade into Battle Swell the Host

2016	Entropic Uprising Open Hostility Stalwart Unity Breed Lethality Invent Superiority

2017	Draconic Domination , Dragons Feline Ferocity , Cats Vampiric Bloodlust , Vampires Arcane Wizardry , Wizards

2018	Exquisite Invention Nature's Vengeance Adaptive Enchantment Subjective Reality

2019	Faceless Menace , Morph Mystic Intellect , Flashback Primal Genesis , Populate Merciless Rage , Madness

2020	Ruthless Regiment , Humans Arcane Maelstrom , Instants Symbiotic Swarm , Counters Timeless Wisdom , Cycling Enhanced Evolution , Mutate

2021	Silverquill Statement , Politics and aggro Prismari Performance , Instants and sorceries with high mana value Witherbloom Witchcraft , Lifegain Lorehold Legacies , Artifacts and graveyard recursion Quantum Quandrix , Tokens and +1/+1 counters

Additional Products

Commander Theme Decks Commander's Arsenal Commander Legends Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate Commander Masters

Commander Starter Decks	Starter Commander Decks

Commander Anthologies	Anthology Volume II

Set Commander Decks	Zendikar Rising Commander Legends Kaldheim Forgotten Realms Midnight Hunt Crimson Vow Neon Dynasty Streets of New Capenna Dominaria United The Brothers' War Phyrexia: All Will Be One March of the Machine Commander Masters Wilds of Eldraine The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Murders at Karlov Manor Outlaws of Thunder Junction Modern Horizons 3 Bloomburrow Duskmourn: House of Horror

Commander Collection	Green Black

Universes Beyond	Warhammer 40,000 The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Doctor Who Fallout

Secret Lairs	Heads I Win, Tails You Lose From Cute to Brute Angels: They're Just Like Us but Cooler and with Wings Raining Cats & Dogs

Concepts

The Format The Commander Command Zone Color Identity

Related Formats

1v1 Commander Brawl Duel Commander Highlander Oathbreaker Pauper Commander Tiny Leaders‎

Miscellaneous

Commander Rules Committee Display Commander Face Card Group Hug Pillowfort Voltron

100. Game Concepts

The Magic Golden Rules Players Starting the Game Ending the Game Colors Mana Numbers and Symbols Cards Objects Permanents Tokens Spells Abilities Emblems Targets Special Actions Timing and Priority Costs Life Damage Drawing a Card Counters Stickers

200. Parts of a Card

Name Mana Cost and Color Illustration Color Indicator Type Line Expansion Symbol Text Box Power/Toughness Loyalty Defense Hand Modifier Life Modifier Information Below the Text Box

300. Card Types

Artifacts Creatures Enchantments Instants Lands Planeswalkers Sorceries Kindreds Dungeons Battles Planes Phenomena Vanguards Schemes Conspiracies

400. Zones

Library Hand Battlefield Graveyard Stack Exile Ante Command

500. Turn Structure

Beginning Phase Untap Step Upkeep Step Draw Step Main Phase Combat Phase Beginning of Combat Step Declare Attackers Step Declare Blockers Step Combat Damage Step End of Combat Step Ending Phase End Step Cleanup Step

600. Spells, Abilities, and Effects

Casting Spells Activating Activated Abilities Handling Triggered Abilities Handling Static Abilities Mana Abilities Loyalty Abilities Linked Abilities Resolving Spells and Abilities Effects One-Shot Effects Continuous Effects Text-Changing Effects Interaction of Continuous Effects Replacement Effects Prevention Effects Interaction of Replacement and/or Prevention Effects

800. Multiplayer Rules

Limited Range of Influence Option Attack Multiple Players Option Attack Left and Attack Right Options Deploy Creatures Option Shared Team Turns Option Free-for-All Variant Grand Melee Variant Team vs. Team Variant Emperor Variant Two-Headed Giant Variant Alternating Teams Variant

900. Casual Variants

Planechase Vanguard Commander Archenemy Conspiracy Draft