It has been almost exactly one year since Wizards of the Coast took over the Commander format. In that time, not a whole lot has changed. The controversial bans that caused this dramatic move are still in effect, and only five other cards have been unbanned. With no further changes planned until 2026, it seems the brackets system is the only major change so far.
While this is good news for MTG players looking for stability, there’s a lot that could be done to revitalize Commander. Talk of sideboards in Commander hasn’t gone anywhere just yet, for instance, despite positive support from fans. Frustratingly, the same is true for the once-planned Silver-Bordered Project, which has seemingly all but disappeared.
Suspect Silence
First announced in mid-2024, the Silver-Bordered Project was the next big thing for the old Commander Rules Committee. As the name somewhat suggests, this project aimed to assess all the old silver-bordered cards to see what’s realistically playable. This was ultimately intended to lead to a three-tiered classification, which states what works and what doesn’t.
Notably, this project wouldn’t change the legality of any silver-bordered or Acorn cards in Commander. These cards would still be opt-in, requiring Rule Zero conversations before a game’s start. While these are already possible, the Silver-Bordered Project was intended to streamline the process so that every card doesn’t require vetting.
For a lot of MTG players, the Silver-Bordered Project was a very exciting development. While some Un-Set cards really push the boundaries, a lot of Silver-Bordered/Acorn cards are surprisingly playable. Cards like Surgeon General Commander, for instance, just work within MTG’s rules and would be a fantastic five-color Commander option.
Sadly, despite the hype initially surrounding this project, it was quickly swept up in the post-ban chaos and controversy. Since then, Wizards of the Coast has barely said a word about the project under their stewardship of the format. The only time it was briefly mentioned was during a WeeklyMTG livestream, but that wasn’t great news.
“I think it’s a cool project, as a lot of players do enjoy silver-bordered cards. Not everyone wants them in their games, but having that discussion and figuring out the details around that is still going to be important. I’ll be candid, it’s not as important as a lot of the other stuff we’re trying to figure out right now. […] But at some point in the future, I do think it’s a thing we’ll resume and take a look at.”
Gavin Verhey | Via: WeeklyMTG in October 2024
While this statement wasn’t all bad, it did dash the hopes of excited players somewhat. Unfortunately, since then, Wizards hasn’t mentioned this project once, so it certainly seems like it’s on the back burner. Sadly, as if this wasn’t bad enough, MTG’s Head Designer, Mark Rosewater, has just given a disappointing update on the project.
Dead in the Water
“Poweroffriendship: Is the silver-bordered project still a thing, with people deciding which Un-cards are ok in Commander, or did that fade away when WotC took over Commander?
Mark Rosewater: I don’t think anyone is currently working on that. At least not that I know of.”
Via: Blogatog
It seems not much has changed in the year since Verhey’s statement on the Silver-Bordered Project. According to Mark Rosewater, no one is working on this project at the moment, implying it’s somewhat dead in the water. Obviously, this isn’t good news for anyone who had been looking forward to this project, but it’s not an outright cancellation.
From Verhey’s past statement, we already know what Wizards is, or was, working on more important things. Naturally, the bracket system comes to mind first, and it makes sense that it would take precedent. In theory, the brackets are still being refined and tweaked over time, so this could still be the format panel’s focus.
On top of the brackets that are still being ironed out, there’s a non-zero chance that Wizards is working on other major changes too. Since Wizards mostly works behind closed doors, there’s no telling what’s going on until official announcements happen. Furthermore, any changes that the Commander format panel is working on could be slow due to the frequency of meetings.
Realistically, there are plenty of reasons why progress on the Silver-Bordered Project has been so slow. Chances are, it’s still at the bottom of a sizable to-do list, but Wizards should get around to it eventually. That’s the hope, at least, as this project does have a lot of interesting potential.
Do it Yourself
Thankfully, while progress is slow on Wizards’ side, MTG players can solve this problem themselves. As mentioned, Rule Zero conversations already exist, and they allow players to use silver-bordered cards when agreed upon. Currently, this can add a little bit of time when setting up a game, but most players are well-versed in these conversations.
Beyond Rule Zero being commonplace around a lot of tables, it’s worth remembering that tons of silver-bordered cards are totally playable. Border aside, cards like Chicken Egg and most of the dice-rolling cards from Unglued work without issue in MTG’s rules nowadays. If you’re building a dice-rolling-themed deck, there really shouldn’t be an issue playing these cards around most tables.
Ultimately, even if MTG players can use Rule Zero, we can only hope that the Silver-Bordered Project does get revived and finished. Having a go-to list of usable cards would help to streamline things massively, while also likely improving sentiment around these cards. Who knows, the Silver-Bordered Project could even be the first step toward getting another Un-Set greenlit.
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