Commander 2016 = 5x 4-color decks.
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on May 16, 2016, 10:45 a.m. by Rayenous
Confirmed that the C2016 will be 4-color.
Link: Here
This is one of many product announcements being made today. - Link for the rest: Here
So I've been thinking about this for a while, and since there are 4 commanders per deck, I feel like this is how they're going to go about it.
- The face card for each commander deck will be the 4 coloured cmc commander.
- The secondary commander will be tri-coloured with the ability text containing the remaining colour.
- the third commander will be allied/enemy coloured (depending on the strategy) and will contain the two remaining colours in the ability text.
- the fourth commander will be mono-coloured (depending on the deck strategy) and will contain the remaining colours in the ability text.
- Each commander is going to have a different strategy with the corresponding colours, allowing diveresty in the choices of generals.
Thoughts?
May 23, 2016 2:15 a.m.
That would change my mind of about not buying into this at all actually
May 23, 2016 7:07 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #4
Commanders are destroyable. Id argue that if your deck can't destroy a creature, then something isn't right there. On the other hand, according to the RC, the reason that commander is 100-card singleton is so that decks are limited from being consistent, which even light tutor packages circumvent. I thought I wouldn't have to mention that Stranglehold and Aven Mindcensor aren't legal as commanders, but alas...
May 23, 2016 9:05 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #5
With four colors in each deck, the decks shall needs exceptional mana fixing, so might WotC forgo another reprint of Sol Ring in favor of Chromatic lantern in this set? That would be very nice.
May 23, 2016 1:22 p.m.
A Chromatic Lantern reprint in the decks would definitely make sense. I bought one on Friday in anticipation for the fall release, trying to stay ahead of the possible spike
May 23, 2016 2:04 p.m.
genericaura says... #7
I just can't get my head around this. I've never really cared for the nephilim since I don't see how their abilities link to their colors, heck even their names almost seem like references to what they lack (INK-treader - no black, Yore-TILLER - no green) but that doesn't quite work out. In the end, I'm doubtful it'll work, but I hope it does, and I'm probably buying the w/u/b/r one.
May 23, 2016 2:21 p.m.
iBleedPunk says... #8
genericaura the 4C Commander decks will be more about which color is missing rather than what colors are there
May 23, 2016 2:56 p.m.
genericaura says... #9
Pokemaster325 I understand that's what MaRo said about 4c design, but I don't see how they can create 4 fun commanders who play different but are just "anti-blue". The closest I can think of is a mega hypnotic specter to mess with card draw, but that's just boring and is just a black effect, so there's no reason to have green, white or red. Multiply that by the four other decks and I'm gonna be cautious until they actually show some cards.
May 23, 2016 3:40 p.m.
They'll likely(I'm hopinh anyway) have multi-part effects or maybe even something similar to Cromat and have several individual abilities that embody different color combinations.
Giving them static effects that lock down the one color they don't have would probably just make them oppressive and more of a one-trick pony.
May 24, 2016 10:17 a.m.
Hotcake_Gotsyrup says... #11
rip my horde of notions witch-maw idea. f**k that, sadly witchmaw is the least powerful imo, but his colors are so busted it doesn't even matter. Deckologist has it right, those colors have so many silly interactions it hurts, and red is only a detriment tbh. either going to be super busted or worthless (for balancing)
May 24, 2016 12:29 p.m.
genericaura - instead of continuing to assume the worst and talking crap about a set you only know ~2 sentences about, try waiting and see.
Works wonders..
May 24, 2016 4:20 p.m.
genericaura says... #13
Dreno33 I'm sorry if I came off as overly pessimistic. I do believe that the design team have put a lot of effort into the designs and I'm looking forward to what they've come up with. I was just voicing my concerns over the difficulties that come with this premise. I apologize again for giving any indication I don't have tons of respect for the people behind this. That said, abstaining from sarcasm and insults also "works wonders."
May 24, 2016 4:39 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #14
Canadion, that seems very plausible! I hope they do that.
May 24, 2016 7:58 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #15
Watch them errata the Nephilim. That would be the best.
I feel like they would be missing a huge opportunity to make one commander from each one cmc <=3. (using some kind of hybridization or putting an activated ability with the missing colors in the text box)
If they are making 4c commanders then why not for tiny leaders? Hit two birds with one stone.
May 26, 2016 12:18 a.m.
In my community, Tiny Leaders came and went so quickly that it barely feels like something that Wizards would jump on board to support. I mean, they acknowledged the format itself but in my opinion, the format hasn't gained enough of a following for product pandering.
May 26, 2016 12:35 a.m.
Ohthenoises says... #17
Even so, a <=3cmc 4 color commander is still something that should be done because the lower the cmc (in most cases) the better.
May 26, 2016 12:40 a.m.
Fair enough, I won't argue with that. I just doubt it would be with the pure intention of tiny leaders in mind.
May 26, 2016 12:45 a.m.
What they could do are abilities that benefit from a mechanic used by the colour they lack. So what I mean is stuff in the same vein as Nekusar like:
None white: Opponent gains life- they have to sacrifice permanents/creatures
Non red: Opponent deals you damage, you get to reanimate
Non Black: a creature of yours is destroyed by opponent, you get to tutor a creature of the same types.
Non Blue: Opponent casts instant/sorcery, you get to draw/tutor/attack buff etc
Non green: Opponents creature attacks, you get to draw/kill/make them pay mana or life.
That sort of stuff.
May 26, 2016 8:07 a.m.
canterlotguardian says... #20
Maybe now we'll get four-color lands? crosses fingers
May 26, 2016 11:17 a.m.
canterlotguardian maybe. Maybe four colour tap lands like Arcane Sanctum et al?
May 26, 2016 11:23 a.m.
canterlotguardian says... #22
That's what I was thinking. I mean we already have the "tap for any color" lands but actual 4-color taplands like that would be nice.
May 26, 2016 11:29 a.m.
nobu_the_bard says... #24
All of that is great but- they to print something like this.
WBRG
legendary creature
4/4
Double Strike, Flash, Flying, Lifelink, Vigilance, Deathtouch, Menace, Haste, Reach, Trample
WBRG: regenerates
Plus whatever else they need to do to make it "balanced"
May 26, 2016 2:09 p.m.
the only way i could see them adding a "balance" to a card like that is having the negative effect be in the theme of blue (U). Why? It has many of the most amazing abilities the four colors does and is very vulnerable to blue.
An example is something like...
"An opponent may return 2 creatures to his or her hand as 'name of card' is cast. If he or she does, counter 'name of card'."
this allows the opponent to counter the spell (blue ability by returning creatures to his or her hand (blue ability). It makes the card much more balanced IMO.
May 26, 2016 3:38 p.m.
nobu_the_bard says... #27
But not being blue or having hexproof/indestructible is the negative! :)
Seriously i'd play it even if it was like 9WBRG to cast. They can touch the concept with the same 10-foot pole they used for Skeleton Ship that makes it borderline useless/awesome.
I just want one commander with like, ten evergreen abilities, just because of the craziness.
I'd be willing to compromise and drop Reach I guess. :)
Maybe something like "if a permanent you control would be attached to this creature, or a +1/+1 counter would be placed on this creature, instead that doesn't happen." Some way to make it less easy to be voltron.
May 26, 2016 4:48 p.m.
nobu_the_bard - that ability is still too busted.
If I ramp I can easily play this on T4 with two mana left and play Giant Growth/Brute Force/Mutagenic Growth etc to give over 15 general damage immediately. It's very brutal. That is not a harsh enough downside, lol
May 26, 2016 6:06 p.m.
nobu_the_bard says... #29
Dreno33, Aww there you go using reasoning and logic.
:)
May 26, 2016 7:18 p.m. Edited.
Hotcake_Gotsyrup says... #30
if you add defender and make him a 0/4 it would be balanced.
May 26, 2016 9:42 p.m.
Canadion - same here about tiny leaders. It suffers from having to share many staples with legacy. It's basically legacy singleton with a commander.
Commander has the advantage of high mana cost spells in a slightly lower speed environment. Granted, in crazy competitive environments you can ramp into a kill on turn 4 but that's not the vast majority of EDH players
May 26, 2016 9:54 p.m.
iBleedPunk says... #32
Does a 
Viashino commander sound too far fetched? It may just be me but I for one would love it. I mean, we got a bad ass Frog commander in the shape of The Gitrog Monster, but alas no Viashinos :(
May 26, 2016 10:16 p.m.
MaRo hinting at functional errata for the Nephlium?
kaboom400 asked: Now that Winter Orb has shown us that Wizards can in fact do functional errata, can we have legendary nephilim? (And the "original functionality" excuse for Winter Orb doesn't fly unless all the old continuous artifacts are changed)
Rosewater's response: Because when we break a rule once, it doesnt mean the rule has no meaning and were willing to break it repeatedly. Also, there might be something for lovers of four-color commanders later in the year.
May 26, 2016 11:18 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #34
Apparently I read that response opposite of what you do. I see it as MaRo saying "no chance" to the guy. "Because when we break a rule once," with Winter Orb, "it doesn't mean the rule has no meaning and we're willing to break it repeatedly," we are not going to functional errata more cards, "also, there might be something for lovers of four color commanders later this year," the C16 product that they already announced.
May 27, 2016 5:11 a.m.
Not sure if this has been posted yet so here it is.
...well it has been 2 days since it was posted so it probably was. Anyways, enjoy.
May 27, 2016 7:35 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #36
Making the nephilim legendary is not the only way to make the nephilim legal as commanders. In fact, there are at least two other ways that C16 could do that.
May 27, 2016 8:21 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #37
Adding rules text counts as errata. And I don't know what the other method you are going to propose is.
May 27, 2016 8:24 a.m.
Gidgetimer - I doubt that MagicalHacker is referring to this method...but...
A 0/0 Legendary creature that costs the same as it's respective Nephilim...
It has the text:
"If ~ would enter the battlefield, exile ~ and search your library for (respective Nephilim) and put on the battlefield instead, then shuffle your library.
(Respective Nephilim) is your commander so long as ~ is in exile.
While in exile, ~ cannot be the target of spells of abilities."
May 27, 2016 8:45 a.m. Edited.
@Rayenous, then suddenly... Infinite Obliteration!
lol ;P
May 27, 2016 8:55 a.m.
When can we expect to see an option to preorder the decks?
May 27, 2016 8:59 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #41
You guys got both of them.
Also, is adding rules text of "~ can be your commander" that game-changing that it alters the design of the nephilim? Well, since Guildpact was not a commander product, the nephilim couldn't have that text until they were errata' for a commander set.
May 27, 2016 9:05 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #42
I believe that yes adding that they can be the commander is changing the functionality of the card enough to be considered "functional errata". If it didn't change the function then why would it need done? I also think that the other option is needlessly complex. They are printing 4-color legendaries, why do they need to jump through hoops to make the Nephilim eligible to be commanders?
Now to be clear as I have stated I don't have any stake in this. I am perfectly apathetic about this product at this time. However, I am trying to make the case for there being no need. I would like to know one reason beyond "I want it" for them to make the Nephilim eligible commanders. I want them to reprint good removal and counters and support combo in standard. I have accepted that they won't though.
May 27, 2016 9:22 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #43
Whether or not nephilim could be commanders in Guildpact was irrelevant, but now it's not. I would hope WotC likes likes clean, simple solutions to close the book when it comes to players that have taken it on themselves to pave the way for the desire for four-colored commanders by playing a nephilim in the downtime.
May 27, 2016 9:40 a.m.
Chances are it will be simple like the example given by mtggoldfish.
Basically like the mythics from Fate Reforged.
May 27, 2016 9:46 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #45
I'm curious how many users remember when I talked about this exact solution to the 4C commander problem two years ago...
May 27, 2016 10:59 a.m.
Ohthenoises says... #46
Just gonna point out adding "~ can be your commander" is absolutely beyond broken with Ink-Treader Nephilim, without making him a legend you drastically increase his ability.
May 27, 2016 12:37 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #47
What is really like to see is a 2cmc commander that has hybrid mana of two guilds to reinforce the whole "guilds working together" thing.
Like
Legendary creature - Thrull Wierd
[Ability here]
2/2
Something created with both guilds working together.
May 27, 2016 1:50 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #48
I would like it better if it were
Teysa, Now With 100% More Looting
Legendary Creature- Human Advisor
: Draw a card, then discard a card.
May 27, 2016 2:46 p.m.
JohnnyBaggins says... #49
I had really hoped for an awesome commander in Jeskai colours. None of those that exist really does what I want to do with Jeskai. Well, we'll see. Out of the cards that would be implied, the 
seems like the card I'm most interested in.
May 27, 2016 2:56 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #50
Ohthenoises, how would commander Inky be advantageous as a nonlegendary?
Also, I designed this card a couple of years ago for two guilds working together (technically the golgari reanimated a Boros general for their own purposes, but... Pfft, details...):
Wyoryn'vili Reanimated 
Legendary Creature - Zombie Viashino
First strike, deathtouch
: Target creature with first strike or double strike gains deathtouch until end of turn.
: Target creature with deathtouch gains first strike until end of turn.
4/4
RoarMaster says... #1
Bellock86 Lots of commanders nerf other commanders to the point of uselessness or worse. Anafenza, the Foremost nerfs every reanimator deck in existence for example.
You could temper magicalhackers nerfing ability if you wanted by making it only stop things getting tutored to hand. Leaving a little leeway for the searches, but then I would want the guy to do something else aswell, as thats pretty situational.
But really, Stranglehold is a thing.
May 23, 2016 12:16 a.m.