Command the Chaff MTG Card
2019-11-07 - Number 18
2021-08-20 - Number 18
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant |
Text of card
Look at target opponent's sideboard. You may cast a card from that sideboard without paying its mana cost. Exile CARDNAME.
Cards like Command the Chaff
Command the Chaff holds a unique position among token-generating strategies in Magic: The Gathering. It parallels cards like Krenko’s Command and Dragon Fodder, both of which produce two 1/1 Goblin creature tokens for the same cost. Command the Chaff stands out by diversifying the creature types, which can be advantageous in decks that benefit from a wide array of token creature types.
Peering into the realm of mass token generation, we see the likes of Martial Coup, which offers a scalable effect, producing soldier tokens and potentially clearing the board. While Martial Coup demands a higher mana investment, it compensates with a potentially game-swinging board wipe. Contrast this with Command the Chaff, where the focus is on a singular, cost-effective creation of tokens without additional effects.
To summarize, Command the Chaff exhibits a distinct efficiency in decks geared towards leveraging various creature types, standing its ground amongst other token generators in Magic: The Gathering. Its specialized niche gives it a notable place in the diverse toolbox of token spells available to players.
Cards similar to Command the Chaff by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Command the Chaff shines in its capacity to sift through the top layers of your library, providing a tangible advantage as you filter for the essential spells or creatures you need at any stage of the game. The mechanic elegantly balances the flow of the game, preventing droughts in your hand that could otherwise stall your strategy.
Resource Acceleration: The card adeptly contributes to resource acceleration, offering a critical boost to your mana pool. This incremental advantage can be the pivot point, allowing you to deploy heavy hitters early or to outmaneuver opponents by having the resources to multiple threats or responses within a single turn cycle.
Instant Speed: The true strength of Command the Chaff lies in its instant speed execution. This flexibility permits reactive play, allowing you to adjust to the unfolding board state and maximize your turn efficiency. In the heat of battle, the ability to act in the blink of an eye can be just as crucial as the mightiest of spells.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Command the Chaff necessitates parting with another card from your hand, posing a challenge when your hand is already running thin. This condition can backfire in a tight game where every card counts, making it a risky play if it means giving up a crucial piece of your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost is strictly wedded to one color identity, which can hinder its integration into multi-colored or colorless decks. As Magic the Gathering thrives on a diverse spectrum of deck building, such specificity can limit the versatility and global appeal of Command the Chaff in varied playing styles and formats.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When weighed against the myriad of other spells available, the four-mana demand of Command the Chaff could be deemed steep. Savvy players might opt for lower-cost alternatives that fulfill similar roles without putting as much strain on their mana pool, thus maintaining a more fluid and responsive gameplay.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Command the Chaff provides a unique utility in decks that thrive on varied creature abilities. Being an enchantment, it seamlessly slots into multiple archetypes, enhancing strategies from token generation to graveyard manipulation.
Combo Potential: This card shines in Commander format, where it can be combined with effects that care about creature count or type, synergizing with both go-wide and aristocrat strategies that capitalize on sacrificing creatures.
Meta-Relevance: With the shifting landscape of MTG’s metagame, Command the Chaff offers strategic flexibility. It caters to those aiming to outmaneuver popular control or combo decks by leveraging their otherwise expendable creatures for value.
How to Beat
Command the Chaff is a unique and potentially game-altering MTG card that has the ability to turn the tide of battle. Its effect allows a player to bring back a multitude of creature cards from the graveyard, presenting a formidable challenge. To effectively counter this card, it’s critical to employ strategic graveyard disruption or exile effects.
One approach is to utilize cards like Bojuka Bog, which can exile an opponent’s entire graveyard, nullifying the impact of Command the Chaff before it can be activated. Alternatively, cards like Leyline of the Void ensure that creatures never make it to the graveyard in the first place, making Command the Chaff essentially a dead card in hand.
Another strategy to consider is countermagic. Holding up a counterspell like Negate or Dispel when you anticipate your opponent casting Command the Chaff can prevent the card from ever resolving. Remember, timing and knowledge of your opponent’s deck are essential in executing these strategies successfully. Staying one step ahead can mean the difference between being overwhelmed by a resurrected army or maintaining control of the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Command the Chaff MTG card by a specific set like Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 and Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Command the Chaff and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Command the Chaff Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-11-07 and 2021-08-20. Illustrated by George Fan.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2019 | CMB1 | 18 | 2015 | Normal | Black | George Fan | |
| 2 | 2021-08-20 | Mystery Booster Playtest Cards 2021 | CMB2 | 18 | 2015 | Normal | Black | George Fan |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Command the Chaff card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2019-11-12 | If a spell has in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X when casting it without paying its mana cost. |
| 2019-11-12 | If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, such as that of Tormenting Voice, you must pay those to cast the card. |
| 2019-11-12 | In a Limited event, each card a player opened (in a Sealed Deck event) or drafted (in a Booster Draft event) is their sideboard. |
| 2019-11-12 | You can’t play land cards from that sideboard. |
| 2019-11-12 | You must cast the sideboard card you wish to cast while Command the Chaff is resolving. You can’t cast it later in the turn. |