Commanders start the game in the command zone and can be cast from there at any time for their mana cost, plus an additional two mana for each time they have been cast from the command zone that game. They act as the centerpiece of your strategy, often enabling unique synergies and guiding how your deck functions. Managing your commander effectively is key to executing your game plan and adapting to the challenges of the match.

The color identity of a card is determined by all the mana symbols present on the card, including its casting cost and any symbols in its rules text. Every card in a Commander deck must align with the mana symbols found on the commander’s card. Colorless cards are also permitted.

Commander is a 100-card singleton format, meaning each deck must contain exactly 100 cards, with no duplicates allowed aside from basic lands. This restriction fosters deck diversity and creativity, encouraging players to explore a wide array of cards and strategies. Unlike traditional formats, the singleton rule ensures that games are less predictable, leading to unique and dynamic interactions every time you play.

Commander uses a modified mulligan rule called the "Commander Mulligan" or "Free Mulligan" system. Each player may take one free mulligan, allowing them to shuffle their opening hand back into their deck and draw a new hand of seven cards. After the first mulligan, subsequent mulligans follow the London Mulligan rule, where players draw a new hand of seven cards but place one card on the bottom of their library for each mulligan taken.

The command zone serves as the designated area where a commander resides when not in play. At the start of the game, each player places their commander face-up in this zone. Commanders can be cast from the command zone for their normal mana cost, with an additional two mana for each prior time the commander has been cast from the command zone this game. If a commander would be moved to the library, hand, graveyard, or exile, the player may choose to return it to the command zone instead.

A player loses the game if they take 21 or more combat damage from the same commander during the course of the game. Commander damage is cumulative and tracked across zone changes. For instance, if control of a commander changes between players, the damage that commander has already dealt remains tracked.

In Commander, each player starts with a life total of 40. Players often treat their life total as a resource, strategically spending it to gain advantages such as drawing cards, activating abilities, or casting powerful spells.

Each game of Commander is typically a four-player free-for-all multiplayer match, although it can also be played with three participants. Players are seated randomly around the table, and turns proceed in a clockwise order. During gameplay, players can attack any opponent, regardless of their seating position, and may target multiple opponents during their attack phase. Additionally, permanents, spells, and abilities can affect any player, as long as the card does not specify that it must be used on "you."