Quick Reference
A one-screen cheat sheet for mid-game glances. Terms link to the Glossary; fuller explanations live in the chapters.
Turn order
Section titled “Turn order”Beginning → Main 1 → Combat → Main 2 → Ending
| Phase | Steps |
|---|---|
| Beginning | Untap → Upkeep → Draw |
| Main 1 | play 1 land · cast sorcery-speed spells |
| Combat | see below |
| Main 2 | same as Main 1 (react to combat) |
| Ending | End step → Cleanup (discard to 7) |
One land per turn. Sorcery-speed only in your main phase with an empty stack; instants almost anytime. Starting player skips their first draw.
Combat sequence
Section titled “Combat sequence”- Beginning of combat
- Declare attackers — choose a target per attacker (player / planeswalker / battle)
- Declare blockers
- Combat damage — dealt simultaneously
- End of combat
Key Commander numbers
Section titled “Key Commander numbers”| Thing | Number |
|---|---|
| Deck size (incl. commander) | exactly 100 |
| Copies of a card | 1 (basic lands exempt — singleton) |
| Starting life | 40 |
| Commander damage to eliminate (per commander) | 21 combat damage |
| Poison to eliminate | 10 counters |
| Max hand size (cleanup) | 7 |
Commander tax
Section titled “Commander tax”Casting your commander from the command zone costs +{2} generic per previous cast from there (commander tax):
| Cast # | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extra cost | +0 | +2 | +4 | +6 |
If your commander would go to hand/library/graveyard/exile, you may send it to the command zone instead (command-zone replacement).
You lose if…
Section titled “You lose if…”- your life total is 0 or less, or
- you must draw from an empty library (decking out), or
- you have 10+ poison counters, or
- one commander has dealt you 21+ combat damage, or
- you concede, or a card effect says you lose.
Default win = last player standing.
Mulligan (London)
Section titled “Mulligan (London)”Don’t like your seven? Mulligan: shuffle back, draw seven again, then put N cards on the bottom — where N = how many times you’ve mulliganed. Repeat as needed.