I'm truly confused at this point. The card rulings on Shadowborn Apostle say that the line saying "You may have any number of Shadowborn Apostles in your deck" only counts for the standard "four-of" rule, yet I see decklists for EDH running him. Is it legal to play multiples of him in EDH?
Yes, in most versions of EDH you are allowed to play any number of Shadowborn Apostle, same as with Relentless Rats. I say "most versions" because EDH is very frequently house-ruled.
"When the cards contradict the rules, the cards trump the rules" used to be a "truism" in TCGs, with the comprehensive rules in magic it's not quite as clear cut, but in this case it's true.
The ruling does not say 'only'. It just talks about two specific rules: the card does ignore the 'four-of' rule of most constructed formats, but doesn't ignore any format legality rule (post-rotation, a Standard deck will not be able to run this card).
The ruling does not talk about other rules. You need to read the actual Magic rules to know how this card's ability works (rules wins against rulings, anyway).
In Commander, you can have a deck with up to 99 Adepts, plus a commander whose color identity includes black.
In other words, you cannot play Shadowborn Apostle in formats where it is illegal to do so. Since it is legal to play in Commander, you may play any number, per the wording on the card.
"7/1/2013 Shadowborn Apostle’s first ability lets you ignore only the “four-of” rule. It doesn’t let you ignore format legality."
It does say only. And Commander is a format. Hence my confusion.
Format legality is different than the "four of" rule. The "four of" rule is shorthand for the rules that limit the quantity of a card you can have in a deck. In commander, it's singleton instead of 4 of, but the ability of Shadowborn Apostle applies similarly. The legality rule applies in scenarios such as being banned in a format or not being able to use it in Standard once M14 rotates out (assuming it isn't reprinted in M15).
My art blog
Claims:
The kicker variant in WWK will be "Kicker without a kicked effect." - proven wrong Jan 2010 : 2 wrongs
Decks:
:symu::symb: Bloodchief Ascension - Modern
:symb::symr: Rakdos, the Defiler - EDH
:symu::symb::symw: Sharuum the Hegemon - EDH
:symw::symu::symb: Zur the Enchanter - EDH
"When the cards contradict the rules, the cards trump the rules" used to be a "truism" in TCGs, with the comprehensive rules in magic it's not quite as clear cut, but in this case it's true.
The ruling does not talk about other rules. You need to read the actual Magic rules to know how this card's ability works (rules wins against rulings, anyway).
In Commander, you can have a deck with up to 99 Adepts, plus a commander whose color identity includes black.
It does say only. And Commander is a format. Hence my confusion.
My art blog
Claims:
The kicker variant in WWK will be "Kicker without a kicked effect." - proven wrong Jan 2010 : 2 wrongs
Decks:
:symu::symb: Bloodchief Ascension - Modern
:symb::symr: Rakdos, the Defiler - EDH
:symu::symb::symw: Sharuum the Hegemon - EDH
:symw::symu::symb: Zur the Enchanter - EDH
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
My art blog
Claims:
The kicker variant in WWK will be "Kicker without a kicked effect." - proven wrong Jan 2010 : 2 wrongs
Decks:
:symu::symb: Bloodchief Ascension - Modern
:symb::symr: Rakdos, the Defiler - EDH
:symu::symb::symw: Sharuum the Hegemon - EDH
:symw::symu::symb: Zur the Enchanter - EDH