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Choose a background

32 commander-legal cards

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What it does

Choose a Background is a deckbuilding rule found on certain commanders (from Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate). It lets you pick two commanders for your deck: the creature with "Choose a Background" plus a legendary enchantment with the Background type. Both go in your command zone, and their combined color identities determine your deck's legal cards. The most common misunderstanding is treating it like Partner—it isn't. You can only pair a "Choose a Background" creature with an actual Background enchantment, not with another creature or a Partner card. Backgrounds aren't creatures; they sit in the command zone passively granting abilities to your commander and sometimes your whole team. In Commander, this expands your color identity and gives reliable value, since Backgrounds (like Raised by Giants or Veteran Soldier) are always accessible from the command zone, even after your creature commander dies.

Iconic cards with Choose a background

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Jaheira, Friend of the Forest
Karlach, Fury of Avernus
Lae'zel, Vlaakith's Champion
Ganax, Astral Hunter
Zellix, Sanity Flayer
Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward
Shadowheart, Dark Justiciar
Wyll, Blade of Frontiers
Baeloth Barrityl, Entertainer
Wilson, Refined Grizzly
Gale, Waterdeep Prodigy
Burakos, Party Leader
Gut, True Soul Zealot
Renari, Merchant of Marvels