What is the London Mulligan in MTG? A Comprehensive Guide

The London Mulligan is the current mulligan rule used in Magic: The Gathering (MTG). It allows a player, upon being dissatisfied with their opening hand of seven cards, to return that entire hand to their deck, shuffle it, and then draw a fresh hand of seven cards. The key difference from previous mulligan rules is that after keeping a new hand, you then place a number of cards from that hand on the bottom of your library equal to the number of times you’ve taken a mulligan. Essentially, you get a fresh start, but at the cost of card disadvantage each time you mulligan. This rule was initially used at a Mythic Championship tournament held in London, hence the name. It aimed to provide players with a more consistent starting hand and reduce games that were decided solely by unfortunate draws in the opening hand.

Understanding the Mechanics of the London Mulligan

How it Works

1. Initial Draw: You begin a game of MTG by drawing an initial hand of seven cards.

2. Mulligan Decision: If you’re unhappy with this hand, you may choose to mulligan.

3. Shuffling and Redraw: To take a mulligan, you shuffle your entire hand back into your deck, then draw a new hand of seven cards.

4. Keep Decision: After the redraw, you can choose to keep your hand or take another mulligan, repeating steps 2 and 3.

5. Card Placement: Once you are satisfied with your hand, you choose a number of cards from that hand to put on the bottom of your deck equal to the number of mulligans you have taken. So, if you’ve taken one mulligan, you put one card on the bottom; if you’ve taken two mulligans, you put two on the bottom, and so on.

6. Start of Game: Once everyone has made their mulligan decisions, the game begins.

The Impact of Card Disadvantage

The London mulligan differs significantly from previous mulligan rules by not directly reducing the number of cards you draw each time you mulligan. However, by placing cards on the bottom of your deck after keeping a hand, it ensures that each mulligan comes with an associated card disadvantage. The idea is that while you get a better hand (potentially) you start the game with fewer opportunities to draw cards.

Why the London Mulligan?

The primary reason for implementing the London mulligan was to address issues of inconsistency in opening hands, especially those lacking lands, or a suitable mana curve. This rule change was made to create more dynamic and strategic games where players weren’t often losing due to a poor initial draw. By allowing for a more consistent starting hand, the rule shift promotes game play focused more on strategy and less on the luck of the draw.

London Mulligan MTG: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the London Mulligan rule to provide further clarity:

1. Why is it called the London Mulligan?

The London Mulligan is named after the location where the rule was first used in a high-profile Magic: The Gathering event, a Mythic Championship tournament in London.

2. How many cards do I draw after a London Mulligan?

You draw a fresh hand of seven cards each time you take a London Mulligan before deciding whether to keep it.

3. What do I do with the cards after I keep a hand?

After keeping a hand, you place a number of cards on the bottom of your library equal to the number of mulligans you’ve taken that game.

4. Can I mulligan down to zero cards?

Yes, you can continue to take mulligans until your opening hand would be zero cards, although it’s rarely advisable to do so.

5. Do I shuffle after taking a mulligan?

Yes, you shuffle your hand back into your deck before drawing a new hand of seven cards. This ensures proper randomization.

6. Is the London Mulligan the only mulligan rule in MTG?

The London Mulligan is the current standard rule for most constructed formats. There are some older formats or casual rules that might use different mulligan rules.

7. Can I choose which cards to put on the bottom of the deck?

Yes, when you keep a hand and are putting cards on the bottom, you get to choose which cards from your hand are placed there. This allows for a small amount of card selection.

8. Does the London Mulligan apply to Commander?

Yes, the London Mulligan is used in the Commander format, which is one of the most popular formats of MTG. A multiplayer “free” mulligan is also usually granted in the first round.

9. Is there a free mulligan in MTG?

In games with more than two players, you get a free mulligan. When you take your first mulligan in these types of games, you simply draw seven new cards and keep that hand if you so choose. The standard procedure applies for every mulligan taken after that.

10. When should I take a mulligan?

You should consider taking a mulligan if your hand has no lands, too many lands, or no early plays that fit with your deck’s strategy. You should not rely on drawing into a particular card that you need.

11. What’s the maximum hand size after mulligans?

Your hand size is only reduced by putting cards at the bottom of your deck. Your hand size is still capped at seven during the clean up phase of each turn.

12. Is the London Mulligan used in official tournaments?

Yes, the London Mulligan is the current rule used in official Magic: The Gathering tournaments, as well as most casual settings.

13. Does the London Mulligan make the game more fair?

The London Mulligan aims to make the game more consistent and less dependent on the first draw. While it does reduce instances where a player is dead in the water from their first draw, it also introduces the challenge of assessing the card disadvantage that comes with repeated mulligans, so it is difficult to say whether it makes the game more fair.

14. What is the old mulligan rule?

The old rule varied by format, but the previous standard mulligan rule allowed a player to return their hand to their deck, shuffle, and draw one fewer card than the hand they returned (from 7 down to 6, then 5, etc.)

15. Does the London Mulligan have any impact on deck building?

While the London Mulligan mostly impacts how you start the game, it may also have some impact on how you build a deck. Because it reduces the chance of having a truly bad starting hand, deck building is less focused on mitigating poor luck and allows for a sharper focus on the deck’s specific strategy.

Conclusion

The London Mulligan has become an integral part of modern Magic: The Gathering, promoting more consistent and strategic gameplay. Understanding the mechanics of the London Mulligan, including how to best assess the card disadvantage that comes with it, is critical to playing the game effectively. By understanding the how and why of the London Mulligan, you can further elevate your gameplay and strategic thinking in Magic: The Gathering.