<p><a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elbrus%2C%20the%20Binding%20Blade">Elbrus, the Binding Blade</a> is not a Legendary Creature, so it cannot be your Commander. It doesn't matter that it could become a creature. In fact, I'd be surprise if there is a card that couldn't become a creature.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>711.2a In every zone other than the battlefield, and also on the battlefield with its front face up, a double-faced card has only the characteristics of the front face.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-12T06:30:48.367Z
Thank you. I suspected this might be the case (though it's saddening), but I wanted confirmation from folks who understand Commander better, since I'm assembling my first-ever deck for it now.
Lord_Gareth
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-12T06:33:22.440Z
It's not really a Commander question, because you already knew the Commander part. It's really a question about double-faced cards. Added the relevant rule to the answer.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-12T06:38:04.160Z
@ikegami I think it is a Commander question. Because what it's actually asking is "Does the back of the card count _during deck-building_?" And the answer it's necessarily obvious because the precedent in Commander is that it can, based on how we handle the color identity of cards like Garruk Relentless.
Alex P
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-12T07:08:35.903Z
@Alex P, Fine, then no, it's not like color identity. It merely looks if the card is a Legendary Creature.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-12T19:53:59.417Z
@AlexP Deckbuilding isn't the issue. The issue is the Command Zone, which counts as a zone other than the battlefield. The back face doesn't show in the Command Zone, so you can't cast it as a commander.
ghoppe
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-12T19:59:34.147Z
@Alex P, Color identity has 903.4c to look at more than just the card.
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-13T05:55:39.073Z
When I said "it's" above I meant "isn't." _Isn't_ obvious. >.>
Alex P
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-13T06:17:11.383Z
@Alex P, No worries, that's what I read
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-12T06:29:37.653Z
2013-02-12T06:29:37.653Z
ikegami
<p>Here's <a href="http://mtgcommander.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&amp;t=11327&amp;start=11">an official ruling from Sheldon Mennery</a>, who is the authoritative source for Commander rulings:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[O] Elbrus is not playable as a General, and its color identity is Black.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-12T15:24:43.100Z
2013-02-12T15:24:43.100Z
Alex P
<p><a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elbrus%2C%20the%20Binding%20Blade">Elbrus, the Binding Blade</a>, is a Legendary Artifact - Equipment that transforms into Withengar Unbound, a Black Legendary Demon. Can I use Elbrus/Withengar as a Commander, and if I can, is my deck colorless or black?</p>

<magic-the-gathering><mtg-commander>
Can I use Elbrus as my Commander?
Lord_Gareth
# Can I use Elbrus as my Commander?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-02-12)

[Elbrus, the Binding Blade](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elbrus%2C%20the%20Binding%20Blade), is a Legendary Artifact - Equipment that transforms into Withengar Unbound, a Black Legendary Demon. Can I use Elbrus/Withengar as a Commander, and if I can, is my deck colorless or black?

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


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-02-12. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

Here's [an official ruling from Sheldon Mennery](http://mtgcommander.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11327&start=11), who is the authoritative source for Commander rulings:

> [O] Elbrus is not playable as a General, and its color identity is Black.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2013-02-12. Score: 10

[Elbrus, the Binding Blade](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elbrus%2C%20the%20Binding%20Blade) is not a Legendary Creature, so it cannot be your Commander. It doesn't matter that it could become a creature. In fact, I'd be surprise if there is a card that couldn't become a creature.

> 711.2a In every zone other than the battlefield, and also on the battlefield with its front face up, a double-faced card has only the characteristics of the front face.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you. I suspected this might be the case (though it's saddening), but I wanted confirmation from folks who understand Commander better, since I'm assembling my first-ever deck for it now.  
> **username_1**: It's not really a Commander question, because you already knew the Commander part. It's really a question about double-faced cards. Added the relevant rule to the answer.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 I think it is a Commander question. Because what it's actually asking is "Does the back of the card count _during deck-building_?" And the answer it's necessarily obvious because the precedent in Commander is that it can, based on how we handle the color identity of cards like Garruk Relentless.  
> **username_1**: @username_2, Fine, then no, it's not like color identity. It merely looks if the card is a Legendary Creature.  
> **username_3**: @AlexP Deckbuilding isn't the issue. The issue is the Command Zone, which counts as a zone other than the battlefield. The back face doesn't show in the Command Zone, so you can't cast it as a commander.  
> **username_1**: @username_2, Color identity has 903.4c to look at more than just the card.  
> **username_2**: When I said "it's" above I meant "isn't." _Isn't_ obvious. >.>  
> **username_1**: @username_2, No worries, that's what I read  

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