Do You Get a Free Mulligan in Commander?
In Magic: The Gathering, a mulligan is a crucial aspect of the game, allowing players to redraw their starting hand if they’re not satisfied with the initial seven cards. But, do you get a free mulligan in Commander? The answer is yes, but with some caveats.
The Free Mulligan in Commander
In Commander, the free mulligan rule is in place to ensure that players have a fair chance to build a cohesive deck and make the most of their commander. This rule is particularly important in Commander, as the format is designed for casual, social play.
How the Free Mulligan Works
When you’re playing Commander, you start with a random draw of seven cards from your deck. If you’re not satisfied with your hand, you can take a mulligan, which allows you to redraw your hand and put the cards you don’t want back on top of your deck. You can take mulligans until you’re happy with your hand or until you’re left with only one card in your deck.
The Catch
While you do get a free mulligan in Commander, there’s a catch. You can only take a mulligan until your opening hand would be zero cards. This means that if you take a mulligan and end up with a hand of six cards, you can’t take another mulligan to try to get a better hand.
Why the Free Mulligan is Important
The free mulligan is an essential part of Commander because it allows players to build a cohesive deck and make the most of their commander. Without the free mulligan, players might be stuck with a hand that doesn’t work well with their commander, which could lead to frustration and disengagement from the game.
How to Make the Most of Your Free Mulligan
To make the most of your free mulligan, it’s essential to understand your deck’s strengths and weaknesses. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your free mulligan:
- Know your deck’s synergies: Understanding how your cards work together can help you identify the cards you need to draw to build a cohesive hand.
- Pay attention to your commander’s color identity: Your commander’s color identity can help you identify the cards you need to draw to build a hand that works well with your commander.
- Don’t be afraid to take a mulligan: If you’re not happy with your hand, don’t be afraid to take a mulligan. Remember, you can only take a mulligan until your opening hand would be zero cards, so make the most of it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the free mulligan is an essential part of Commander, allowing players to build a cohesive deck and make the most of their commander. While there are some limitations to the free mulligan, understanding your deck’s strengths and weaknesses and knowing how to make the most of your mulligan can help you become a more effective Commander player.