Yes, you can definitely include multiple legendary creatures in your Commander deck.
Understanding Legendary Creatures in Commander Decks
While your deck is built around a single commander (or a legendary creature pair in the case of partner commanders) that defines your deck's color identity and can be cast from the command zone, the rules of the Commander format allow for the inclusion of other legendary creatures within the remaining 99 cards of your deck. This means that beyond your chosen commander, you are free to add any number of other legendary creatures to your deck, as long as they adhere to your deck's color identity and contribute to the deck's total of exactly 100 cards.
The Role of Legendary Creatures
Your primary commander dictates the color identity of your entire deck and is the card you can cast from the command zone. However, other legendary creatures function just like any other non-land card in your deck. They start in your library and can be drawn and cast, providing additional strategic depth and synergy.
Deck Building Considerations
Including multiple legendary creatures can significantly enhance your deck's power and flexibility. Here are some key considerations when incorporating them:
- Color Identity: Every card in your 99-card deck, including other legendary creatures, must be within the color identity of your chosen commander. For instance, if your commander is a Red and White creature, you cannot include a Blue legendary creature in your deck.
- Synergy: Many legendary creatures have powerful abilities that can synergize exceptionally well with your commander or the overall theme of your deck. For example, a legendary creature might provide an anthem effect for a specific creature type your commander cares about, or offer a unique activated ability that complements your strategy.
- Redundancy and Flexibility: Including multiple legendary creatures can provide redundancy for key effects or offer alternative strategies if your commander becomes too expensive to cast repeatedly due to the "commander tax." They can also offer diverse answers to different board states.
- Commander vs. Others: Remember that only your designated commander can be cast from the command zone. Other legendary creatures follow normal game rules and will go to the graveyard or exile if destroyed or removed, not back to the command zone.
Commander Deck Composition Overview
To clarify the distinction between your chosen commander and other legendary creatures, consider the following breakdown:
| Card Type | Location/Role |
|---|---|
| Commander | One (or two with the "partner" ability) legendary creature(s) chosen at the start of the game. They define the deck's color identity and can be cast from the dedicated command zone, incurring an additional cost each time they're cast after the first. |
| Other Legendary Creatures | Any number of legendary creatures (besides your commander) that fit within your deck's color identity. These cards are part of your 99-card main deck, starting in your library like any other non-land card. They can be drawn and cast, but do not have access to the command zone. |
For a comprehensive understanding of the Commander format rules, you can refer to the official Magic: The Gathering Wiki on Commander.
