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How four expensive cards imploded Magic: The Gathering’s most popular format

The rules committee must leave the Command Zone.

Commander started in the late ’90s as Elder Dragon Highlander, or EDH, a fan-made game mode focused on casual play with groups of friends versus the competitive, one-on-one playstyle of other Magic formats. However, unlike other Magic formats where Wizards of the Coast has the power to create or change rules and issue card bans, decisions regarding Commander would remain in the hands of its creators. “The philosophy of Commander prioritizes creativity, and one of the ways we have historically reflected that in the rules and banlist is to encourage a slower pace of game,” the committee wrote in a blog post.

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