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Widely known as Magic: The Gathering's friendliest way to play, Commander is getting a holiday makeover just in time for the end of the year. During a special show, hosts from a popular channel showcased a multiplayer game dubbed "Holiday Countdown."

The Mechanics of the Festive Format Function

At its core involves a simple layer added on top of a regular EDH game. A designated token circulates around the table. When it the active player's turn, the game briefly pauses. Every player makes a hidden choice if they will be being Naughty or Nice by using choice cards.

Everyone turn over their card at the same time. After that, they apply the effect associated with their own choice, beginning with the player holding the marker. It is then passed clockwise. The holiday round counter ticks up one notch, and standard Commander continues.

The Naughty/Nice options become more significant over time progress, designed to be well-balanced.

Growing Choices

Early rounds provided minor, collective advantages for being Nice, like life gain or Clue tokens. On the other hand, Naughty paths often gave more specific advantages, usually at the expense of someone else. For instance allowed those choosing Naughty receive a 4/4 flying creature. Those who selected Nice made a small artifact token creature for everyone.

The Grand Arrival

During the final round, Saint Nick himself made an appearance, transforming the match. Depending on how often each player chose Naughty versus Nice, Santa handed out wrapped prizes. Outwardly, these were deck boxes, but inside were MTG booster packs of varying value.

• The nicest player was awarded a premium Collector Booster.
• Another friendly player got a another type of premium pack.
• A special guest ended up with a older booster pack.
• The least nice player drew the short straw: a notoriously weak set which is basically a joke.

Every card unwrapped instantly were used for the rest of the game, used as a bonus with mana considered to be all colors. For the nicer players, their present became a huge advantage. However, the naughty players were given a punitive gift.

Recreating the Format at Home

Although the original showcase featured a lot of production value, it's one that players can adapt at home. Everybody uses their standard Commander deck, and the only extra items required are several booster packs of varying value.

The main issue lies in the fact that if players know ahead of time what being nice gets you, players might strategize for the top prize. Groups can mix it up with alternatives, like selecting cards from a shared pool or allowing participants to include cards from their collection from their binders.

Based on the entertaining match, this holiday variant is definitely a joyous way to add holiday cheer when playing with friends. It adds a layer to the dynamics in the game in a fun and way, resulting in a memorable experience for MTG fans this season.