EDH is a real format
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on April 7, 2016, 8:23 a.m. by dritchie
ok so very recently I just had two rather high level judges tell me that commander/edh is not a real format and I got really angry at them because wizard see it as a real format what is peoples thoughts about this
BrutalNoob says... #3
How can they say it's not a real format if Wizard is going to ban cards for it.
April 7, 2016 8:39 a.m.
Wizards doesn't actually handle balancing EDH. Even if they did, that wouldn't make EDH a 'proper' format (whatever the hell that means). Wizards makes bans for Block Constructed. Does that make it a real format? I'd disagree.
April 7, 2016 8:42 a.m.
the thing is I agree that its not an easily accessible in a competitive environment but we have still managed to play it where I play, we did it on a points based system much like the commander vs series and split it up into two groups who ever won the most points won the event
April 7, 2016 8:49 a.m.
Ender666666 says... #6
The fact that Wizards prints product designed for Commander, and that Commander is now a format that is allowed for FNM confirms to me that it is an official format. Just because it's not designed for competitive play, in a tournament structure, doesn't mean that it's not official.
April 7, 2016 8:59 a.m.
The Duel Commander format finds your lack of faith... disturbing :)
In other words, DC is the competitive version of EDH... Having said that it has a slightly different banlist (eg Sol Ring isn't banned in EDH, but it is in DC).
April 7, 2016 9:28 a.m.
Is there a version of duel commander that's made for more than 2 players? (Aside from the original commander format).
April 7, 2016 9:36 a.m.
To me it is the only constructed Format I play in.
Some people think that a format is not a "real format" unless it is supported by tournaments in the pro tour or other widely held tournament. With this definition, legacy and vintage are not real formats anymore either. So it really just depends on what criteria you are using to define real format.
Does wizards support it with product: Yes, yearly with supplemental products and with cards in each set
Does wizards define what is legal: NO, as they are not the ones who invented the format, so it is not their IP.
Can it be played as a FNM event: Yes, but so can any format the store wishes to sanction for the event.
Is there a set format structure? Yes, but again it was not set up nor controlled by wizards.
I could keep going, but you get my point that depending on your definition of "real format", EDH can be considered either as one or not.
I play FNM drafts, Saturday causal commander at one store, and Monday EDH event at another.
April 7, 2016 9:56 a.m.
@Ravolt no that's the point of duel commander, it adjust the rules and ban list of the multiplayer game EDH to fit a 1v1 match. I suppose you could play with 3 or more players and use the Duel Commander (french commander) rules and ban list. But the ban list for DC is more to create a fair environment among 2 players since you don't have the benefit of multiple players keeping anyone in check who gets out to an early advantage.
April 7, 2016 9:59 a.m.
logansullivan says... #11
pskinn01 okay so I think that gp seatac last year would disagree with you on the legacy front and then you get into the scg legacy tournaments and that kind of thing under the definition of major tournaments legacy is a real format
April 7, 2016 10:25 a.m.
logansullivan: ok, someone told me that SCG stopped doing legacy tournaments And I had not seen any gp events that had it, so I guess it is a regional thing (as Washington has a lot of legacy players from my understanding.) But my point was that any format being a real format depends on how you define real format.
April 7, 2016 10:34 a.m.
Ohthenoises says... #13
They didn't stop doing legacy they just cut back to like 1-2 events a year which is ESSENTIALLY stopping support.
April 7, 2016 11:07 a.m.
logansullivan says... #14
Scg started doing legacy tournaments again this year they stopped doing it for some reason pertaining to trying to make money some how.
April 7, 2016 11:14 a.m.
DERPLINGSUPREME says... #15
I think we can all agree that EDH is a real format.
however, we can more accurately say that while it s REAL, it isn't a very SUPPORTED one. Its a format dictated more by the individual players rather than the hivemind version that standard and modern are dictated by.
For example: Noble. Noble is a format, but it isn't supported by wizards at all and not many players play it, but the fact is that it still exists.
So, dritchie, I agree wholeheartedly. Anyone who disapproves of a format that I love and actively tells me I'm wrong about it would piss me off, But so long as you have a playgroup you can factually prove them wrong.
April 7, 2016 11:21 a.m.
griffstick says... #16
I'd like to think it goes standard, modern, then edh as the #1, 2, and 3 most played formats. And it feel that since fate reforged every magic set that came out had a bunch more cards that felt like they fit right into commander. So what I'm saying is even though they make commander sets they also for each set make cards for commander weather you see it or not. Also the new modern set coming out, wizards anounced that it will support modern edh and legacy further more the next conspiracy set is gonna compliment commander. So what Im saying is commander is everywhere. In my defence it's a real format
April 7, 2016 11:50 a.m.
Duel commander is represented in a lot of DC tournaments and has a good and 1v1 suitable banlist. On the other hand I wouldn't care to much about a dude telling bullshit. If you like it, play it and ignore such people. At least to me EDH and duel commander are the best formats whatever people say
April 7, 2016 11:59 a.m.
I think your argument with the judge was more about what defines a "REAL" format. I think the judge might have defined a real format as any format for which exists regular tournament support that provides Pro Points.
Arvail says... #2
I mean, EDH is a massively popular format played at kitchen tables and shops across the world. Still...
It's not a format in the sense that it doesn't have a large, well-supported, and easily accessible competitive environment. In fact, most EDH players shun competitive commander like it's the fucking plague.
None of that is a bad thing, per se, but I can see why people deeply invested in competitive formats could look down upon EDH.
April 7, 2016 8:36 a.m. Edited.