MTG Oathbreaker Format
Recently, Wizard of the Coast announced Oathbreaker as the newest officially supported format. Originally tested in 2017, it gained new attention during the War of the Spark release, as planeswalkers became more prevalent, along with spells that reward having specific planeswalkers in play. Like Commander, it is a casual, multiplayer format. However, there are a number of important differences as well.
Both formats allow only 1 copy of any card that’s not a basic land, and both formats use the command zone as well. Unlike EDH, Oathbreaker requires a planeswalker in the command zone. The color identity of your oathbreaker determines the colors you can use to build your deck. You also have a signature spell, an instant or sorcery card that is playable only while the oathbreaker is in play. Finally, the rest of your deck is 58 cards, and players start with 20 life. Both oathbreakers and signature spells return to the command zone when they enter the graveyard or exile. Also, both have their costs increased by 2 each additional time they are cast from the command zone.
Gameplay is faster than commander overall, due to both the lower life totals and smaller deck sizes. There is a ban list that has a number of Commander staples. Notably, cards like Sol Ring are banned in this format. Another consideration is that 2 cards are public knowledge to all opponents, and the planeswalker and spell combination used can tell your opponent a lot about your deck and strategy. Depending on the combination used, you may also find yourself as an early, obvious target.
Supplies for the cards themselves are fairly standard; sleeves and inner sleeves. Holding decks is a little tricky. You want something to hold both the deck and tokens you need. The best option for a single deck is likely the Deck Vault LX 100. The Prime X4 Box is your best option for multiple decks.
If you enjoy fast-paced casual games, Oathbreaker may be a format for you. While it has superficial similarities to Brawl, it is quite different form Commander’s less poplar little cousin. It is a non-rotating format, with combos technically easier to use. While there are no plans for pre-constructed Oathbreaker decks or sets currently, the announcement has brought the format more attention. Now’s the best time to build a new deck and try it out.