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Already regarded as MTG's most interactive way to play, Commander has received a seasonal update perfect for the holidays. In a recent show, personalities from a popular channel played a four-player match titled "Holiday Countdown."

The Mechanics of the Holiday Format Works

Fundamentally involves a straightforward layer added on top of a regular Commander match. A designated token moves around the table. Once it arrives at the current player's turn, the action briefly pauses. Every player privately decides if they will be being Nice or Naughty with the help of indicator cards.

Everyone turn over their choice simultaneously. Next, they resolve the effect associated with their selection, starting with the player who has the token. The token then gets passed clockwise. The holiday round counter moves forward one notch, and normal gameplay carries on.

These decisions do escalate as the rounds progress, designed to be well-balanced.

Escalating Outcomes

The initial phases granted modest, shared boons for being Nice, including gaining life or investigation clues. Conversely, The Naughty paths often gave personal benefits, often targeting someone else. One round allowed players who picked Naughty receive a 4/4 flying Reindeer token. Those who picked Nice created a 1/1 Toy creature token for each player.

Santa's Big Finale

During the last phase, Saint Nick personally made an appearance, turning the game. According to the tally of a participant was Nice versus Naughty, Santa handed out mystery presents. Outwardly, these were small containers, but inside were MTG booster packs of varying value.

• The kindest player received a premium Collector Booster.
• The next kindest player got a different Collector Booster.
• A special guest got a mid-range booster pack.
• The very naughty player got the worst prize: a notoriously weak booster pack which is basically a gag.

Every card unwrapped could then be used for the remainder of the match, played from outside the game by spending mana considered to be all colors. The kinder players, their gift wound up being a huge power spike. Whereas, those who chose Naughty were given a disadvantage.

Playing the Variant at Home

While the demonstration match featured considerable polish and preparation, the format is something any group can adapt at home. Each player uses their usual Commander deck, and the only extra items required would be four different MTG packs with different worth.

One potential drawback could be that if everyone know the rewards in advance what being nice gets you, players might might aim for the best booster pack. You could add variety in different ways, such as doing a mini-draft together or enabling gamers to include cards they own from their binders.

From the successful demonstration, this holiday variant proves to be a fun method to add holiday cheer when playing with friends. It changes the strategy between players in a uniquely festive way, making it a special experience for MTG players in their playgroups.