Kodama of the East Tree — ruling 1

If a permanent or a permanent card in your hand has {X} in its mana cost, {X} is considered to be 0.

Kodama of the East Tree — ruling 2

If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can only include cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders' combined color identities. If Falthis and Kediss are your commanders, your deck may contain cards with black and/or red in their color identity, but not cards with green, white, or blue.

Kodama of the East Tree — ruling 3

Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library.

Kodama of the East Tree — ruling 4

To have two commanders, both must have the partner ability as the game begins. Losing the ability during the game doesn't cause either to cease to be your commander.

Kodama of the East Tree — ruling 5

Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won't have to pay an additional {2} the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 damage from any one of them, not from both of them combined.

Kodama of the East Tree — ruling 6

If something refers to your commander while you have two commanders, it refers to one of them of your choice. If you are instructed to perform an action on your commander (e.g. put it from the command zone into your hand due to Command Beacon), you choose one of your commanders at the time the effect happens.

Kodama of the East Tree — ruling 7

An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders.

Kodama of the East Tree — ruling 8

You can choose two commanders with partner that are the same color or colors. In Commander Draft, you can even choose two of the same commander with partner if you drafted them. If you do this, make sure you keep the number of times you've cast each from the command zone clear for "commander tax" purposes.

Kodama of the East Tree : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Kodama of the East Tree is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Reach Whenever another permanent you control enters, if it wasn't put onto the battlefield with this ability, you may put a permanent card with equal or lesser mana value from your hand onto the battlefield. Partner (You can have two commanders if both have partner.)

Complete guide

Kodama of the East Tree is a powerhouse of momentum, allowing you to flood the battlefield with permanents in rapid succession. As long as you have cards in hand, every play can lead to another, creating explosive turns that are difficult for opponents to match.

How the Ability Triggers

Whenever another permanent you control enters the battlefield, Kodama's ability triggers. It doesn't matter if that permanent was played from your hand, returned from the graveyard, or even a token created by another effect. The only restriction is that the ability will not trigger if the permanent entering was the one you just put down using Kodama's own effect, preventing an infinite loop from a single trigger.

Resolving the Trigger Step-by-Step

When a permanent enters, Kodama's ability is placed on the stack. Upon resolution, you check the mana value of the permanent that just entered. You may then choose a permanent card from your hand with a mana value equal to or less than that number and put it onto the battlefield. Note that if a card has {X} in its mana cost, X is treated as 0 for this comparison.

Common Mistakes

Players often forget that Kodama's ability can trigger off of tokens. Since tokens generally have a mana value of 0, they allow you to put any permanent with mana value 0 (like a land) from your hand onto the battlefield. Another common error is trying to chain Kodama's effects together; remember that a permanent put onto the battlefield by this ability cannot trigger the ability again itself, though it can trigger other effects that might start a new Kodama chain.

When to Play Kodama

Kodama of the East Tree is best played when you have a hand full of high-impact permanents. Because it has Reach, it serves as a solid defensive wall while you setup. It is particularly effective in Commander decks where you can pair it with another Partner to expand your color identity and strategic options.

Interaction examples

Scaling Up with Creatures

Seedborn Muse

If you cast Seedborn Muse (mana value 5) while Kodama of the East Tree is on the battlefield, the Muse entering will trigger Kodama. On resolution, you can put any permanent with mana value 5 or less from your hand directly onto the battlefield for free.

Token Swarms and Land Drops

Avenger of Zendikar

When Avenger of Zendikar enters, two things happen: Kodama triggers for the Avenger, and the Avenger's own ability triggers to create Plant tokens. If you resolve the Avenger's token trigger first, each 0/1 Plant token will trigger Kodama separately. Since tokens usually have a mana value of 0, each Plant token entering allows you to put a land card (mana value 0) from your hand onto the battlefield.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Kodama of the East Tree

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If a permanent or a permanent card in your hand has in its mana cost, is considered to be 0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If your Commander deck has two commanders, you can only include cards whose own color identities are also found in your commanders' combined color identities. If Falthis and Kediss are your commanders, your deck may contain cards with black and/or red in their color identity, but not cards with green, white, or blue.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Both commanders start in the command zone, and the remaining 98 cards (or 58 cards in a Commander Draft game) of your deck are shuffled to become your library.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
To have two commanders, both must have the partner ability as the game begins. Losing the ability during the game doesn't cause either to cease to be your commander.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
Once the game begins, your two commanders are tracked separately. If you cast one, you won't have to pay an additional the first time you cast the other. A player loses the game after having been dealt 21 damage from any one of them, not from both of them combined.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
If something refers to your commander while you have two commanders, it refers to one of them of your choice. If you are instructed to perform an action on your commander (e.g. put it from the command zone into your hand due to Command Beacon), you choose one of your commanders at the time the effect happens.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
An effect that checks whether you control your commander is satisfied if you control one or both of your two commanders.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8November 10, 2020· Wizards of the Coast
You can choose two commanders with partner that are the same color or colors. In Commander Draft, you can even choose two of the same commander with partner if you drafted them. If you do this, make sure you keep the number of times you've cast each from the command zone clear for "commander tax" purposes.
No other card is named in this ruling.