MTG Salvation

I’de like to say first that I am new to the forum so if I’m putting this in the wrong place, I’m sorry.

I realized that I can use more than 100 cards in commander by using cards that let me put cards from outside the game into the game. But sadly, the only cards that I could find are the sideboard cards. That only increases the number of cards I can use by 15. Does anyone know of another way to stick cards outside the game or if there are any specific cards that do this?

So, this is a problem I've actually worked on myself for some time. Unfortunately, the only way I've succeeded in cheating the 100 card rule (wishes aside) is by playing cards which allow me to cast my opponents' spells. Take Gonti for example. While Gonti doesn't allow me to choose exactly which card I'd like to draw like a Wish does, Gonti does do something few other Magic cards do: allow me to "draw" cards from decks other than my own. In doing so, Gonti gives me access to cards in excess of the 100 I initially started the game with. Yes, I don't have much control over what those cards are; my opponents got to choose them, but still. To the best of my ability, this has been the only way I've managed to cheat the 100 card rule so far.

What about Spawnsire of Ulamog?
It lets you play as many eldrazi as you own :D.

Oh, there's also Research // Development.

For the love of Gaea, do not try Sen Triplets.

Well if contraptions become legal in commander (for real) that would be more than 100

In the 7 years of Commander I have played, I have only been asked twice how I felt about people having sideboards. The thing is, it's an optional rule (10 cards) for Commander. If everybody did it, it would be one thing, but I always disagree with people having wishboards because I have not built my decks with wishboards. I would if it would be generally accepted.

Thus, I think you're basically stuck with 100 cards unless you have a playgroup that allows a sideboard.

Why do you want more cards? It doesn't sound like you want to be able to have graveyard hate and storm hate and artifact hate in your sideboard, or you would be content with the options at hand. So... why do you need more?

What about "cheating" in the other direction? Street Wraith and Gitaxian Probe let you play a virtual 98-card deck. Fetches are a bit more of a stretch, but with a full set of fetches and assuming you play enough lands to fetch for, you could say you have an 88-card deck. More consistently draw your bombs than a full 100 card deck, which is also the point of tutors I suppose. Or Mastermind's Acquisition, for that matter.

Possibly the best way to "cheat" the 100 card deck limit rule is by running a Commander with Black in it's color identity with cards such as Demonic Consultation, Plunge into Darkness, Spoils of the Vault, and Tainted Pact. There's similar cards for other colors however they're few and far between. Green is arguably the second color aside from Black that has it the easiest with Genesis Wave and Primal Surge.

The idea is to mill or exile enough cards from your library until you get the card in hand to win on the same turn unless you're able to buy yourself an extra turn with Mirror of Fate for exile or Elixir of Immortality/Feldon's Cane for mill. Dredge also works in a similar fashion but doesn't exile while digging through your library for cards If you're running The Gitrog Monster, Meren of Clan Nel Toth, or Karador, Ghost Chieftain as your Commander.

You could cheat and put more cards into your deck. I have sometimes had 101 decks, you know because cutting cards is hard

If you don't sleeve them then you'll be able to get away with at least 50 more cards before somebody calls you out.

Quote from Demonologo Uriel »

Because there's no other way you can legitimately, under the current rules,

I thought SBs were an officially endorsed optional rule?

Quote from crimhead »

Quote from Demonologo Uriel »

Because there's no other way you can legitimately, under the current rules,

I thought SBs were an officially endorsed optional rule?

If it's a sanctioned event, which I personally feel that EDH should never be, you have to have a recognized SB. I don't for the one Eldrazi deck that run. Mainly because if I get Spawnsire off, then I deserve to drop the 20+ Eldrazi that didn't make it into the initial list. (Becuase the deck is trash)

Quote from Demonologo Uriel »

I thought SBs were an officially endorsed optional rule?

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.

(from mtgcommander.net rules)

The Comprehensive Rules themselves recognize the RC as the ultimate rules authority for the format (see 903.1), so what we find here is the official, definitive word.


The optional rule was an old rule, they change that some years ago. Now sideboards works effectively as house rules, in the same fashion of a customizable banlist (both can't be changed unless the prior agreement of the local playgroup).

If it's a sanctioned event, which I personally feel that EDH should never be, you have to have a recognized SB.

Ruleswise, this is not supported at all currently.

Dang. First they kill the partial-paris, and now this.

Funny thing is, I can't find the removal anywhere in the change log. I see this:

May 19th, 2010: Re-clarified "Wish rule" that wishes may retrieve cards from the sideboard if the optional sideboard rule is in use

But no record of the retraction. Obviously I see the optional rule isn't there anymore, but it looks lime the sneaked it out in secret.

Quote from Demonologo Uriel »

And yes, Battle of Wits is completely useless in Commander.

Actually, you can with with Battle of Wits in EDH...

Quote from sleeper agent 2.0 »

What about "cheating" in the other direction? Street Wraith and Gitaxian Probe let you play a virtual 98-card deck. Fetches are a bit more of a stretch, but with a full set of fetches and assuming you play enough lands to fetch for, you could say you have an 88-card deck.

Use partners as your commanders for another -1 to the size of your library. Urza's Bauble and Mishra's Bauble are two more free cantrips.

You could also look at cmc 1 cantrips: https://magiccards.info/query?q=o:"draw+a+card"+cmc=1

Quote from PhroX »

Quote from Demonologo Uriel »

And yes, Battle of Wits is completely useless in Commander.

Actually, you can with with Battle of Wits in EDH...

Beat them to death with it when you have Opalescence out

I have witnessed this happen. It's amusing.

Quote from Ryperior74 »

Well if contraptions become legal in commander (for real) that would be more than 100

Or planes or schemes, if you're into that.

I take issue with conspiracies because there's no real way to balance them in Constructed.

Quote from Demonologo Uriel »

And I think this should cover pretty much all the remaining doubts about the matter.

No doubts here, just profound disappointment.