Archive: Shuffle. Split. Play.

Rules & reference

Unless these rules say otherwise, normal Commander rules apply.

Release: Alpha
Website: playarchivemtg.com

Archive is a variant of Commander designed to be played with an existing legal Commander deck. Unless these rules say otherwise, normal Commander rules apply.

1. Deck

Each player brings a normal legal Commander deck of 100 cards, including their commander or commanders.

Archive does not require players to rebuild or modify their Commander decks.

2. Setup

  1. Remove your commander or commanders from the deck and place them in the command zone as normal.
  2. Shuffle all remaining cards.
  3. Without looking at or choosing cards, make the top 50 cards your Library.
  4. Place all remaining cards face down as your Archive.
  5. Each player begins the game with 30 life.
  6. Continue normal Commander setup and begin the game.

Your starting Library is always 50 cards. Your Archive is the rest of the shuffled deck, usually 49 cards.

The Archive is separate from the Library. Cards in the Archive can only be accessed or moved by Archive-specific rules.

3. Discovery

Whenever you search your Library and that search finds zero cards, put the top card of your Archive into your hand.

A search that finds one or more cards does not cause Discovery, even if the effect allowed or instructed you to find more cards than you actually found.

Normal Magic rules determine whether a player is permitted to find zero cards during a particular search.

4. Exchange

Once during each of your turns, as a sorcery, you may put a card from your hand on the bottom of your Archive. If you do, put the top card of your Archive into your hand.

Exchange does not discard or exile the card placed into the Archive.

5. Research

Once during each of your turns, as a sorcery, you may pay 4 mana of any type. If you do, put the top card of your Archive into your hand.

Research and Exchange have separate once-per-turn limits. You may use both during the same turn.

6. The Archive

The Archive is kept face down.

Putting a card from your Archive into your hand through Discovery, Exchange, or Research is not drawing a card.

A card placed into the Archive by Exchange is placed on the bottom, and the card received is taken from the top.

Ordinary Magic effects do not treat the Archive as the Library, hand, graveyard, exile, command zone, or any other normal game zone. The Archive can only be interacted with as specifically provided by Archive rules.

7. Library and Losing the Game

The Archive is not a backup Library.

Normal Magic rules for drawing from an empty Library continue to apply. Cards do not automatically move from the Archive to the Library when the Library becomes empty.

8. Commander Rules

Except for the changes stated in this document, normal Commander rules apply.

This includes normal rules governing the command zone, commander tax, commander damage, color identity, deck construction, mulligans, and other Commander game rules.

GAMEPLAY EXAMPLES

Discovery: Evolving Wilds

Evolving Wilds Magic card

You already have enough lands. Tap and sacrifice Evolving Wilds to search your Library, choosing to find no basic land. This is legal even if basic lands remain in your Library, because the search specifies a kind of card.

Finding zero cards gives you the top card of your Archive through Discovery. You still shuffle your Library as Evolving Wilds instructs. You trade the land on the battlefield for an unknown card in hand, which could still be another land.

Exchange: Commander's Sphere

Commander’s Sphere Magic card

Commander's Sphere is in your hand, but you don't need more mana. On your turn, at sorcery speed, use your Exchange for the turn: put the Sphere on the bottom of your Archive and put its top card into your hand.

You replace the Sphere without spending three mana to cast it first. Unlike casting it and using its sacrifice ability, this moves it from your hand into your Archive and puts a card from your Archive into your hand. It isn't a sacrifice or a card draw.