Commander's Authority MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
| Released | 2012-05-04 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Avacyn Restored |
| Set code | AVR |
| Number | 13 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Johannes Voss |
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature has "At the beginning of your upkeep, put a 1/1 white Human creature token onto the battlefield."
"Wear her symbol with honor, a sign of faith upheld and honest deeds bravely done."
Cards like Commander's Authority
Commander’s Authority is an intriguing enchantment option in MTG, allowing a player to muster a token army over multiple turns. A comparable card is Sigil of the Empty Throne, which spawns 4/4 angel tokens whenever you cast an enchantment. Commander’s Authority differs as it creates 1/1 Human creature tokens but does so at every upkeep, guaranteeing token generation without additional enchantment plays.
Another parallel can be drawn with Mobilization, which also facilitates the creation of soldier tokens, but at the cost of 3 mana per token and without the enchantment-permanent presence on the battlefield. Unlike Commander’s Authority, Mobilization doesn’t automatically yield tokens each turn, requiring a continual mana investment.
Assessing the advantages, Commander’s Authority shines in decks focused on consistent token production and is excellent in long-drawn games. Though it lacks the immediate impact of Sigil of the Empty Throne or the flexibility of Mobilization, its persistent effect can steadily tip the scales in a player’s favor.
Cards similar to Commander's Authority by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Commander’s Authority is a card that can gradually offer a significant advantage by creating numerous 1/1 white Human creature tokens each turn. This increment in army size can provide players with the upper hand especially in longer, strategy-focused matches where maintaining board presence is crucial.
Resource Acceleration: While Commander’s Authority itself doesn’t directly accelerate mana resources, a consistent and increasing number of creatures can be tactically used to fuel convoke spells or abilities that benefit from a high creature count. The tokens thus serve as a pseudo acceleration by giving additional leverage.
Instant Speed: Although Commander’s Authority is not an instant, its ability to consistently populate the board at the beginning of your upkeep creates a cumulative effect that can be as impactful as many instant speed interactions. The constant threat of additional creature tokens can pressure opponents to respond, impacting their mana and resource planning.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Commander’s Authority doesn’t directly mandate a discard, it implies a heavy commitment to a single creature. This can be disadvantageous in situations where you would benefit more from retaining a full hand for flexibility and reaction to opponents’ actions.
Specific Mana Cost: Commander’s Authority has a specific mana cost that requires both white and generic mana, thus it’s naturally tailored to white-centric or multicolored decks. This can potentially limit its inclusion only to those decks that can reliably produce white mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Five mana for an enchantment that grants incremental advantage can be a tall order, especially when other spells or creatures could offer immediate impact on the game state. The enchantment must also survive a full turn cycle to start generating value, making it a less appealing option when faster, low-cost alternatives are available.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Commander’s Authority offers a unique way to amass an army, making it a viable inclusion in token strategies or decks angling for a relentless board presence.
Combo Potential: With every upkeep, you get a new Human token, presenting opportunities to engage with engines that thrive on creature casting or sacrificial mechanics to unlock powerful synergies.
Meta-Relevance: Considering evolving metas that are often creature-centric, having a consistent token generator can give you a significant advantage, ensuring an unending stream of creatures for various tactical approaches.
How to beat
Commander’s Authority is an enchantment card that can stack the odds in your favor by providing a recurring source of creature tokens in MTG. When attached to a creature, it creates a 1/1 white Human creature token during your upkeep, a crucial component for strategies revolving around creature numbers. Nevertheless, this advantage can be systematically dismantled.
Several strategies are useful when faced with Commander’s Authority. Abrupt Decay, for instance, is a reliable removal spell that can target the enchanted creature or the Authority itself. It operates at an efficient cost and, being uncounterable, secures the removal. Alternatively, board wipes like Wrath of God can clear the tokens and the enchanted creature, nullifying the incremental advantage Commander’s Authority provides. When dealing with token strategies, Ratchet Bomb is handy, allowing you to set it to one and eliminate all tokens without affecting your board significantly.
In essence, while Commander’s Authority offers a steady stream of creatures, understanding its mechanics opens up various pathways to counter it effectively. Employing spot removals, sweepers or preemptive measures can ensure you maintain control over the game and are not overwhelmed by the growing army of tokens.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Commander's Authority MTG card by a specific set like Avacyn Restored, 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 Commander's Authority 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Commander's Authority has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Commander's Authority card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2012-05-01 | The controller of the enchanted creature gets the token. |