How Many Cards Do You Draw in Magic: The Gathering? A Comprehensive Guide
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In Magic: The Gathering (MTG), understanding the card-drawing mechanics is crucial for strategic gameplay. Typically, at the beginning of a game, each player draws seven cards to form their starting hand. The first player in a standard game skips drawing a card on their first turn, while the second player draws a card during their first turn. Each player also draws one card during their draw step at the beginning of their turn, after their untap and upkeep steps. Knowing when and how to draw cards is fundamental to building powerful decks and executing winning strategies.
Initial Hand and Mulligan Rules
The Initial Draw
As mentioned, every game of MTG starts with each player drawing a hand of seven cards. This is the standard starting point, giving players an initial arsenal of resources.
Mulligans: Re-Drawing Your Hand
If you’re unhappy with your starting hand, you have the option to take a mulligan. A mulligan allows you to shuffle your hand back into your deck and draw a new hand. However, there’s a catch. The first mulligan is free, but subsequent mulligans result in drawing one fewer card each time. So, your second hand will have six cards, your third hand will have five, and so on. This mechanic adds an interesting risk-reward element to the game, forcing you to consider whether the potential benefit of a better hand outweighs the disadvantage of fewer cards.
Scrying After a Mulligan
With the current mulligan rule (often referred to as the “Vancouver Mulligan”), after you decide to keep a hand after a mulligan, you may scry 1. Scrying allows you to look at the top card of your library, and then decide whether to keep it on top or put it on the bottom of your library. This gives you a small amount of control over your next draw, which can be invaluable in the early game.
Drawing Cards During Gameplay
The Draw Step
After the untap and upkeep steps at the beginning of your turn, you enter the draw step. During this phase, you draw one card from the top of your library and add it to your hand. This is the primary way you replenish your resources and access new spells and abilities during the game.
Additional Card Draw
Many cards in MTG have abilities that allow you to draw additional cards. These can be in the form of instants, sorceries, enchantments, or even creature abilities. Efficient card draw is a cornerstone of many successful decks, enabling you to maintain card advantage over your opponent. Note that the term “draw” is very specific. If a card puts cards directly into your hand from your library without explicitly saying “draw”, it is not considered drawing. For example, the card “Demonic Tutor” lets you search your library for a card and put it into your hand. This is not considered drawing a card, and does not trigger any abilities that would trigger when you draw a card.
Maximum Hand Size
While you can draw as many cards as you’re able to, there’s a limit to how many you can hold onto. The maximum hand size in MTG is seven cards. If, at the end of your turn (during the cleanup step), you have more than seven cards in your hand, you must discard down to seven. This is a crucial aspect to manage, as holding onto too many cards can lead to discarding valuable resources.
Format-Specific Differences
Commander (EDH)
In the Commander format, also known as EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander), the rules for drawing cards are mostly the same. Players start with a hand of seven cards, can take mulligans (with the Vancouver Mulligan rule), and draw one card during their draw step. However, a key difference is that in Commander, all players draw a card on their first turn, regardless of who goes first. This is due to the multiplayer nature of the format.
Other Formats
While the basics remain the same, specific formats may have slight variations on these rules. Always check the format-specific guidelines before playing.
FAQ: Drawing Cards in MTG
1. How many cards do you draw at the start of a regular MTG game?
You draw seven cards at the beginning of a regular MTG game.
2. What happens if I don’t like my starting hand?
You can take a mulligan. You shuffle your hand back into your library and draw a new hand, but each mulligan after the first results in drawing one fewer card.
3. Do I draw a card on my first turn if I go first?
In standard MTG, the player who goes first skips their draw step on their first turn.
4. How many cards do you draw each turn?
You draw one card during your draw step at the beginning of each of your turns.
5. What is the maximum hand size in MTG?
The maximum hand size is seven cards. If you have more than seven cards at the end of your turn, you must discard down to seven.
6. Do all players draw on their first turn in Commander?
Yes, in Commander, all players draw a card on their first turn, regardless of who goes first.
7. What happens if I run out of cards in my library?
If you are required to draw a card and your library is empty, you lose the game.
8. Can I have more than seven cards in my hand during the game?
Yes, you can have more than seven cards in your hand at any point during the game. However, you must discard down to seven during your cleanup step.
9. What does it mean to “scry”?
To “scry” means to look at the top card of your library, and then decide whether to keep it on top or put it on the bottom of your library.
10. What is the Vancouver Mulligan rule?
The Vancouver Mulligan rule is a way to take a mulligan in MtG. The first mulligan is free, and with each subsequent mulligan, you draw one less card. Then, after you keep a hand, you may scry 1.
11. Can card abilities let me draw additional cards?
Yes, many cards have abilities that allow you to draw extra cards. These are a key component of many deck strategies.
12. What happens if I draw a card when an effect says to “put a card into your hand”?
If an effect moves cards from your library to your hand without using the word “draw”, you have not drawn those cards. This distinction is important for certain card interactions and triggers.
13. Are the rules for drawing cards the same in every MTG format?
The basic rules are generally the same, but some formats may have specific modifications. Always check the format rules before playing.
14. Why is card draw important in MTG?
Card draw is crucial for maintaining card advantage, accessing key spells, and ensuring you have a steady stream of resources throughout the game.
15. How many cards should a commander deck contain?
A Commander deck must contain exactly 100 cards, including the commander. The rest of the deck will contain lands, creatures, and other spells. Check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org to find more resources on game strategy, learning, and design.
Understanding the nuances of card drawing in MTG can significantly improve your gameplay. From the initial hand to strategic card draw during your turn, mastering these concepts is essential for success.