<p>You can only use cards with a colorless color identity with a commander that has a colorless color identity.</p>
<p><a href="http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Commander_(format)" rel="noreferrer">Rule 903</a> has the rules for the commander format, and the following subrules are relevant here:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li><p><strong>903.4.</strong> The Commander variant uses color identity to determine what cards can be in a deck with a certain commander. <strong>The color identity of a card is the color or colors of any mana symbols in that card’s mana cost or rules text, plus any colors defined by its characteristic-defining abilities (see rule 604.3) or color indicator (see rule 204).</strong></p>
</li>
<li><p><strong>903.5.</strong> Each Commander deck is subject to the following deck construction rules.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>903.5c</strong> A card can be included in a Commander deck only if every color in its color identity is also found in the color identity of the deck’s commander.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>&quot;Colorless&quot; color identity means that the card has <strong>no colors</strong> in its color identity. If you tried to put a card in your deck that had any colors in its cost or rules text or indicator, then it would have a color in its color identity that is not in the commander's color identity.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-05T19:12:50.260Z
I don't know if this is worth noting, but you couldn't use cards with Devoid in a deck with a commander that has no colors in its color identity, unless those cards had no color identity themselves.
SocioMatt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-05T19:51:24.867Z
I think it should be pretty clear, from the explicit mention of "colors of any mana symbols in that card's mana cost". Plus, there are multiple exceptions: cards with Deviod can't be used for one reason, Transguild Courier can't be used for another, and Elbrus, the Binding Blade isn't allowed for yet another reason.
murgatroid99
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-05T18:45:12.593Z
2016-12-16T20:29:56.343Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
murgatroid99
<p>In Commander, your General's color identity defines what other cards you get to use, but what happens when you have a colorless General? Can you play any other colors of cards (WUBRG), or are you stuck playing only colorless?</p>

<magic-the-gathering><mtg-commander>
If I use a colorless commander, can I use colored spells?
CPP
# If I use a colorless commander, can I use colored spells?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-05)

In Commander, your General's color identity defines what other cards you get to use, but what happens when you have a colorless General? Can you play any other colors of cards (WUBRG), or are you stuck playing only colorless?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, mtg-commander


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-06-05. Score: 13

You can only use cards with a colorless color identity with a commander that has a colorless color identity.

[Rule 903](http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Commander_(format)) has the rules for the commander format, and the following subrules are relevant here:

> * **903.4.** The Commander variant uses color identity to determine what cards can be in a deck with a certain commander. **The color identity of a card is the color or colors of any mana symbols in that card’s mana cost or rules text, plus any colors defined by its characteristic-defining abilities (see rule 604.3) or color indicator (see rule 204).**
> * **903.5.** Each Commander deck is subject to the following deck construction rules.
>
>   + **903.5c** A card can be included in a Commander deck only if every color in its color identity is also found in the color identity of the deck’s commander.

"Colorless" color identity means that the card has **no colors** in its color identity. If you tried to put a card in your deck that had any colors in its cost or rules text or indicator, then it would have a color in its color identity that is not in the commander's color identity.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I don't know if this is worth noting, but you couldn't use cards with Devoid in a deck with a commander that has no colors in its color identity, unless those cards had no color identity themselves.  
> **username_1**: I think it should be pretty clear, from the explicit mention of "colors of any mana symbols in that card's mana cost". Plus, there are multiple exceptions: cards with Deviod can't be used for one reason, Transguild Courier can't be used for another, and Elbrus, the Binding Blade isn't allowed for yet another reason.  

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