Do You Draw a Card on Your First Turn in Magic?
The simple answer is: it depends on the format. In standard two-player Magic: The Gathering (MTG), the player who goes first does not draw a card on their first turn. This is a crucial rule designed to balance the advantage of going first. However, this isn’t universally true across all Magic formats, especially when considering multiplayer games. Let’s delve deeper into why this rule exists and how it varies in different scenarios.
The First Turn Draw: Balancing Advantage
The reason for the “no draw on the first turn” rule in two-player games is simple: going first provides an inherent advantage. You get to play a land and deploy threats or set up your strategy before your opponent. Without this rule, the first player would gain an even greater advantage, making the game less balanced. By skipping the draw step on the first turn, the game seeks to compensate for the first player’s head start.
The player going second receives the first draw action on their first turn, allowing them to catch up on resources, explore more options, and create more interaction. This is part of what makes going second a viable position.
Commander: A Different Perspective
Things shift dramatically when we enter the world of Commander (EDH). Commander is primarily a multiplayer format, usually involving three or more players. Here, the first-turn draw rule is altered. All players draw a card during their first turn in Commander, including the first player.
This change acknowledges the multiplayer nature of the game. The first player’s lead in a multiplayer setting is often less impactful than in a two-player match. By allowing everyone to draw a card on their first turn, it helps ensure that each player has more resources and choices available from the outset, which is important when dealing with multiple opponents and larger board states.
Understanding the Draw Step
To fully grasp the first-turn draw rule, it’s essential to understand the standard draw step in Magic. The draw step happens immediately after the upkeep step at the beginning of your turn. This is when you draw one card from the top of your library and add it to your hand. This fundamental action is a crucial engine of the game, providing new resources and options for players. This will occur every turn, except for the first player in a two-player game or if an effect forces the player to skip their draw step.
The Upkeep Step
Before the draw step comes the upkeep step. Any abilities that trigger on the “upkeep step” happen first, starting with the player of the current turn. These may include cards that require mana payments every turn or abilities that have triggers at the start of the upkeep.
Related FAQs
To further clarify the intricacies of drawing cards in Magic, especially on the first turn, here are some frequently asked questions:
1. What happens if I have to draw a card but have no cards left in my library?
You lose the game when you are supposed to draw a card and cannot because your library is empty. Having an empty library is acceptable until you are required to draw again.
2. Does putting a card into my hand count as drawing it?
No. Only the draw you make as a turn-based action in your draw step, and effects that explicitly use the word “draw,” count as drawing. For example, an effect that says “Search your library for a card and put it in your hand” is not a draw action.
3. What is a “mulligan,” and how does it affect my starting hand?
A mulligan is when you shuffle your opening hand back into your library and draw a new hand of cards. In most formats, you can mulligan as many times as you like, however, your hand size is reduced by one for each time you mulligan. So if your opening hand is seven, and you mulligan once, your new hand size is six.
4. What is the normal starting hand size in Magic?
Your starting hand size is **seven cards**.
5. How many cards do I draw each turn after the first turn?
You draw **one card** at the beginning of each of your turns (during your draw step), except, as previously mentioned, on your first turn as a first player in two player games.
6. Can I choose to skip drawing a card on my turn?
No, you must draw a card at the start of each of your turns (during your draw step) except for on the first turn for the first player in two-player games. It is a mandatory action.
7. What if an effect says I can draw more than one card?
If an effect states to draw additional cards outside of the usual draw step, you follow that instruction and will draw the specified number of cards. For example, if a spell states “Draw two cards,” you would draw two cards in addition to your draw step of one card during that turn.
8. What is the maximum hand size, and what happens if I exceed it?
Your maximum hand size is seven cards. If you ever have more than seven cards in your hand at the end of your turn (or if an effect causes you to have more than seven cards in your hand) you must discard down to seven cards by the end of your turn.
9. Is it better to go first or second in Magic?
While going first has a slight advantage, it’s not always strictly better. The “no-draw” rule and the different decks being played can often even out the advantage. Going first means you have an early tempo advantage. Going second means you have a card advantage and can react to the first player’s actions.
10. Does the first turn advantage apply in all formats?
The first-turn advantage is generally considered to be present in most formats, but its significance can vary depending on the game’s strategy and complexity. In multiplayer formats like Commander, the advantage is less pronounced.
11. Do I have to draw a card on my first turn in any Magic format?
Yes, you draw a card on your first turn in multiplayer formats such as Commander. The difference lies mainly in two player games.
12. What if a card says to put cards in my hand instead of draw them?
If you do not explicitly use the word draw when adding cards to your hand it will not be considered a draw action. The rule is very specific.
13. If I draw more cards than I want, can I just put them back on the library?
No, once you draw a card into your hand, you cannot put it back onto your library. However, you may be forced to discard extra cards if your hand exceeds seven at the end of your turn.
14. Is a card draw the same as card advantage?
Card advantage means having more cards available at your disposal than your opponent. Drawing a card is a way to gain card advantage, but it is not the only way. There are many other ways to generate card advantage, such as drawing multiple cards from a spell or effect or returning cards from your graveyard to your hand.
15. Why is card draw so important in Commander?
In Commander, card draw is paramount because it helps you find the key components of your deck and ensure you have the right resources. Larger multiplayer games often require drawing more cards to maintain pace with the board and develop a strategy effectively.
Conclusion
The seemingly simple question of whether you draw a card on your first turn in Magic unveils a deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics and balancing acts. The “no-draw on the first turn” rule in two-player games is a critical component of balancing the game. However, in formats such as Commander, the draw rule is altered to better suit its unique multiplayer dynamics. Understanding these rules, as well as the other nuanced interactions involved, can significantly enhance your Magic playing skills and provide a better understanding of the game overall.