Alternative ways to build decks and play
There are a variety of deckbuilding variants available for playing Commander: Dollar Commander, Brawl, Oathbreaker, Pauper Commander, Modern Commander, Frontier Commander, and Canadian Commander.
Commander variant where each card in your deck must be no higher than the dollar tier you choose — $1, $2, $3, $4, $5, or $10. Your commander can be allowable up to a higher agreed-to amount, or can be exempted from this rule altogether.
You can find more information on this format at the official Dollar Commander web page.
Commander variant that is played for 2-player games. Duel Commander has its own ban list. If you choose to play other variants in a 2-player game, you may choose to adopt the Duel Commander ban list.
You can find more information on this format at the official Duel Commander website.
60-card Commander-like singleton format where you choose a planeswalker or legendary creature to be your commander. All cards must be Standard legal.
You can find more information on this format at Wizards’ Brawl web page.
60-card Commander-like singleton format where you choose a planeswalker to be your commander, and an instant or sorcery card to be your signature spell that must also follow the commander’s color identity. Like your commander, it can be cast multiple times from your command zone, and is subject to its own “commander tax” independently from your commander.
You can find more information on this format at the official Oathbreaker website.
Commander variant that follows the rules of Pauper, where each card in your deck must be a common card (through any printing), and the commander can be any uncommon creature, legendary or not. There is currently no ban list.
Commander variant where each card in your deck must be Modern-set legal, or printed in a Commander product. Cards printed before Eighth Edition are not allowed unless reprinted in a Modern-legal set. There is currently no ban list, except for the standard Commander ban list.
Commander variant where each card in your deck must be legal in Pioneer, or printed in a Commander product. Cards printed before Return to Ravnica are not allowed unless reprinted in a Pioneer-legal set.
You can find more information on this format at Wizards’ Pioneer web page.
Commander variant where each card in your deck must have a printing with a M15 border. This means any cards printed since Magic 2015, not as a promo, are legal.
Commander variant that follows the rules of Canadian Highlander, where you have 10 points to spend up to a select number of powerful cards to add to your deck.
You can find more information on this format at the official Canadian Highlander website.