<p>Yes, they do have to pay extra mana.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>903.8. A player may <strong>cast</strong> a commander they own from the command zone. A commander cast from the command zone costs an additional {2} for each previous time the player casting it has cast it from the command zone that game. This additional cost is informally known as the “commander tax.”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>(emphasis mine)</p>

<p>It's a creature spell, just not cast from their controller's hand as normal.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>701.4a To cast a spell is to take it from the zone it's in (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect. A player may cast a spell if he or she has priority. See rule 601, "Casting Spells."</p>
</blockquote>

<p></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>701.4b To cast a card is to cast it as a spell.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-03T19:39:49.130Z
2019-07-04T08:12:20.537Z
2019-07-04T08:12:20.537Z
Glorfindel
<p>For example, say I have <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=God-Pharaoh%27s%20Statue" rel="noreferrer">God-Pharao's Statue</a> in play:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Spells your opponents cast cost {2} more to cast.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Would my opponents have to pay the two extra mana when playing their commander from the command zone?</p>

<magic-the-gathering><mtg-commander>
Is casting a commander from the command zone considered casting a spell?
Lainathiel
# Is casting a commander from the command zone considered casting a spell?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-03)

For example, say I have [God-Pharao's Statue](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=God-Pharaoh%27s%20Statue) in play:

> Spells your opponents cast cost {2} more to cast.

Would my opponents have to pay the two extra mana when playing their commander from the command zone?

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


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-07-03. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Yes, they do have to pay extra mana.

> 903.8. A player may **cast** a commander they own from the command zone. A commander cast from the command zone costs an additional {2} for each previous time the player casting it has cast it from the command zone that game. This additional cost is informally known as the “commander tax.”

(emphasis mine)

It's a creature spell, just not cast from their controller's hand as normal.

> 701.4a To cast a spell is to take it from the zone it's in (usually the hand), put it on the stack, and pay its costs, so that it will eventually resolve and have its effect. A player may cast a spell if he or she has priority. See rule 601, "Casting Spells."

> 701.4b To cast a card is to cast it as a spell.


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