Commander Etiquette: 10 Tips to Improve your Commander Experience 

Golden rule: Don't use a deck that you can't stand playing against.

Come for the commander tips, stay for the philosophical discussion on whether life is a story.

"Complaining isn't politics" That goes for u too, Tomer!

There is a "beginning of combat step" which is part of the combat phase and common shortcuts (outlined in the rules) say that if some one says he wants to interact before you attack, he does so in beginning of combat, which means you can't cast sorceries after.

“Do not attack randomly” Ruhan of the Fomori: 👀👀👀

Please bring the subtitles under your names back. Those always Made me laugh

Just getting into this video but the first tip is a big one for me. I love to sit down with my friends (or strangers!) and play a nice game, but if they aren’t mentally present I can find it exhausting to have to fill in the blanks for them.

This is an awesome topic for a video! Just went to tcgplayer and picked up an ancient tomb ONLY because a kickback was going to my guys here.

when you're behind but the only board that gets interacted with is yours is the most frustrating thing in commander for me

If your playgroup doesn’t like conceding do what my friend does and run suicidal outlets like glorious end and just do it. I agree sorcery speed is better

Never concede! Win or go down in flames!

I was about to type the golden rule my original playgroup gave me and it was "Always concede at sorcery speed" but I figured I'd let the whole part of that video play just incase you said the same thing and beezy took the words right from me. It really is the best way to make sure you don't screw anyone over.

This was really helpful! Especially the thing about priority. I’ll admit, sometimes I feel like being a bit of a sore loser because I usually get targeted and taken out first as the control player, but I do deserve it

On the topic of end of turn special, my play group usually will end of turn special but we let the next player take their turn as we search our library. It saves time and you can take your time for the most part

I was playing at my LGS. My friend swung into this guy with a bunch of lifelink creatures and the guy goes “Im gonna scoop so you don’t gain the life”. We just told him he was a bum and gave my friend the life anyway. Like don’t just be a dick head for no reason.🤣

Hello guys, first, *Please upvote this so other players won't understand the rules wrongly* at 10:10 there was somewhat a mis-information, there IS a moment at *Combat Phase* that you CAN respond *before* declare attackers, so the opponent won't be able to cast any sorcery speed spell because he will already be at the *Beginning of Combat Step* what i think they meant was that there is not a *Moving to Combat Step* or that a declaration to move to combat step is not implied that they already entered that phase. Let's use Goblin Rabblemaster as an example, it has a *beginning of combat trigger* that gives the player a 1/1 Goblin with Haste, if you don't want that player to get that 1/1 you have to destroy it before his combat step and still on his main phase, so, if you respond at his *declaration of moving to another phase* that implies that he is still on his main and has not moved to the combat step, giving him the opportunity to cast sorceries after that resolving. So, if you want to make your opponent not be able to cast sorceries, after he declare his changing steps you respond: *In your Combat Step, before you declare attackers, i cast this.*

Great video! the only thing I would add is about priority and how you can maintain priority, not just passing it after a spell cast.

About the "End of Turn Special", (especially with sakura tribe elder) you really should NOT do it early if you're gonna chump block with it; it could change how people take their turns and what they do. They might say, "oh well then I wont attack you, even though I was going to, because we now know you're gonna sac it anyways and I didn't have trample, so i'll just keep my creature untapped." There's other reasons to actually wait as well, such a wheel effects and other order-of-operations things (like maybe someone was gonna wait for you to do it, and flash in Opposition agent, but its not their turn yet and they don't have the mana (but they would have it in time to use it, because their turn is next and you were "gonna do it just before you turn starts")). As soon as you crack your fetch, or activate your Sakura tribe Elder, or whatever else it may be, THAT is when it happens. *shrug* sorry but it does matter sometimes.

An exception to the sorcery speed concsession imo is the group concession, where 3 players look around and go "yup, let's pick them up"

end of turn special - I think this really depends on your playgroup. Its a lot more convenient to search, cast spells, and activate abilities before the end step to save time in the game, but players should be okay waiting for players to resolve spells and abilities during the end step as it's part of the game and shouldn't be seen as disrespectful for playing the game during end steps. I do think this is a good suggestion for casual groups though and can make the game faster haha. interesting suggestion.

I’ve very much enjoyed playing my new shadrix group hug deck since most of the group hug stuff target an opponent so I can help whoever is low on cards or is missing land drops and not just kingmaker the best deck. All the while burying in card advantage. Lots of fun! Great video guys!

12:20 about conceding, always do as much damage on the way out as you can in a multi-player game. 1 v 1 it doesn't matter. Let's play another game. :)

My personal Four: *Commit to Act* - I will hit the person that appears like the largest threat during my turn. I will anticipate being hit if I am the largest threat during someone else's turn. I will choose based on those facts, or if a particular commander is adept at destroying my own deck's synergy. I will anticipate the same from everyone else. *Clarity of Play* - I will say "I am attempting to cast . . ." instead of just tapping and dropping a card to move into the next card. I will allow people proper response of play during my turn and will assure that the other three players know exactly what I am doing. My taps are to 90 degrees (no less), my board will be organized per type, and my graveyard and deck and exile location will be clearly visible. *No Take Backs* - I will remember that I Commit to Act and my actions have repercussions in a multiplayer game. I will not do take-backs even if it loses me the game. I will not learn if I fix tiny mistakes and the element of surprise is no longer present. Taking back an action just slows gameplay and creates a slogging effect. *Casual Humility* - This is a casual format game. I will not let losses upset me. The point is to play, the winning side is of negligible importance. A loss can be from being hammered into the ground from turn 1 when you decide to drop the land > Sol > Rock combo right from the start. A victory can just be as simple as everyone else playing exhausted for resources. Winning is no big deal, and losing is no big deal, because of how random a victory can pop out of the dirt.

"be a decent person" you guys are f*cling awesome. More people need to know and apply this

I will say for vampiric tutor I like to wait anyway to keep the playgroup off my scent for their turns. I find that when they know I'm going to tutor I tend to be targeted. In almost all other cases I timewarp, especially with land tax

Timestamp 10:15 While you are correct, if you cast a spell/activate an ability in response to leaving pre-Combat main, the active player (AP) regains priority within their own main phase. However, there exists a "Start Combat" step, that exists after your main phase but before attackers are declared. When a trigger says "At the Start of Combat", as with Xenagos, God of Rebels, it happens before attackers are declared but after the main phase has been left. This is a good time to cast removal spells that aren't combat tricks. I just want to make sure that others are aware of the phase between main phase 1 and declare attackers.

The pregame discussion is so important and the most overlooked in my experience. Sometimes people downplay their power level looking for an advantage as well. Only encountered that a few times but it wasn't fun.

I'm glad this was in my recommended. I am just getting back into magic after... 11 years or so. These are all pretty good to know. Thank you for this

I feel like the attacking randomly only works on the first few turns because it does welcome healthy combat because of a lot of newer players are afraid to make an enemy but later turns it should be clear who you should attack or politic it out

Just want to say you guys and your team do an amazing job with Magic the Gathering. I enjoy all your videos. This video I can hear how frustrating it is to deal with people. Please keep up the videos, sharing your card play experiences, and Magic rulings. You guys have helped my small group enjoy the game even more. Trust me I stopped playing Phyrexian Arena bc of Beezy lol. What he said makes so much sense "waiting a turn...drawing a random card...only good at the beginning of the match" Thanks guys. Just keep up the amazing good work.

Great video guys but I take issue with number 3 and believe it can for sure leave to some awkward situations. For example if you attempt to tutor early but imply that you would do it on the last players endstep then if some omen has a opp agent or Aven mind censor that player would have to ether announce that they would have a response earlier or admit they have one of those cards and they might not even have the mana to do it yet cause they haven’t untapped yet since you did it ahead of time and if someone draws into one of these cards that could be extra awkward. It also gives info to other players and make them play differently.

This is super helpful for teaching my nephew how to play. Trying to get him to pay attention to the game and not complain when people attack him. These are definitely good things for myself as well to remind myself. Thanks Nerds

Well, as a marisi player, it’s actually pass priority for step change to combat, then: Beginning of combat Declare attacks Attacks triggers Declare blocks Blocks triggers First strike damage First strike damage triggers Damage Damage triggers End of combat And you pass priority before each applicable phase. Your opponents won’t do anything, because they can’t cast spells, but it’s still nice to know.

I was in this game Joe was talking about lol! Joe was totally in the right & handled it well :) All the love Joe

10:21 thank you for clarifying how the mechanics work when trying to change phases.

Something I always appreciate is shortcutting. E.g. It's turn 1. I play a windswept heath. I can crack it, search for a forest, put it into play, shuffle my deck and then tap it for a Llanowar elves. Alternatively I can say "I'm going to crack this for a forest and tap it for Llanowar Elves. Sound good?" Then I can pass the turn. Once the next player starts their turn then I can start searching and shuffling. They brought up another one just not shuffling between draws. That also saves time for everyone and saves your sleeves.

I've definitely been guilty of scooping to specific plays before, will not be doing that again. Top content as always!!

A key point when talking about priority is playing a spell, passing priority, then trying to take an action before your spell resolves. I see so many players screw this up when the other players having a response at all would've affected their actions. Notably trying to copy overrun and only being able to win if both copies resolve. Cards like Whirlwind Denial are underrated due to people not understanding priority.

My group rules concession as a sorcery speed effect, this has helped the issue a lot

Even if the priority explanation was a bit lite, this was one of your better videos. Enjoy watching those, keep going

Really nice tips for all levels of play, my group is kinda crazy on the priority order hahaha XD

Thanks for sharing how multiplayer priority works :)

I totally agree with the conceding at sorcery speed part, but with one caveat. If someone is playing solitaire with 10 minute turns, go for it.

The explanation about priority was helpful👌🏼

3. End of turn special. I think it's acceptable to wait until just before it's your turn to search because a lot can happen. Examples. 1) keep the fetch until EoT because your decision may change or you can bluff that you can bring and untap Island to use a counter. 2) vampiric tutor (or other such tutors) You can be thinking of 1 card but then the last player on mp2 may cast something that may change your mind, maybe even mill you? 3) Sensei's top or brainstorm, etc. You leave mana open to bluff.

End of Turn Special: I used to try and avoid this by doing the whole "I'll execute this Vamp/World Tutor to save time" routine... Then some bastard milled me. Never again. They can all sit there and wait. Once bitten twice shy.

10:30 Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is still a beginning of combat step once you enter combat right? Like you can still swords something at the beginning of combat phase and they can't play sorceries after that because they already in combat (before attackers). But I see your point if an opponent does something at the end of your main phase. For example, I can reequip helm of the host after my creature gets swords at the end of my main phase, right? I would still get the at the beginning of combat trigger on the newly equipped creature, but not the 1st one.

Great ending! Love it, chapeau.

The Priority rule at 8:20 is wrong. 117.3b The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves. 117.3c If a player has priority when they cast a spell, activate an ability, or take a special action, that player receives priority afterward. If Player 1 is the Active, pass, and Player 2 casts a spell, the next player that could answer is Player 3. Then all players could answer, following the turn order, until priority go back to Player 2. Then if the spell resolves, the priority goes back to Player 1 (the Active). Also, nice video, as always 😊

Hey, good for you for talking about your meds! Seriously!

My playgroup usually agrees to act as if the conceding player is still in the game until their their next turn even if they had to go home nd pick up their cards. Works really well!

Love to see those normal shirts Under Armor & American Eagle 👌😀. Great video guys

There is a phase between main phase and declare attackers! It's called "beginning of combat phase". So if you say "before combat, I..." then you let the active player cast sorceries once your play resolves. If you want to catch someone you have to say "ok at the beginning of combat I..."

Proud of you guys for diminishing stigma of mental health. And being open. Where others may feel not alone.

Thanks for the tip about searching after your turn. I’ve been playing Aesi lands and I always feel like my turns are taking way too long.

Yeah, I've saved a lot of time on shuffling by explaining what my deck does. I have a not-infinite not always lethal combo involving my commander Archelos, bloodghast, and perilous forays, every play group I've been with just say 'go ahead and drop em all, don't bother shuffling till the end.'

First I've heard of you guys. Great video. I'd recommend displaying a card on screen when mentioned. For example, near the end of the video, you mentioned three cards: Polyraptor, Burning Sun's Avatar, and Searing Blaze. As someone with a Marath deck, I personally happen to already be familiar with Polyraptor. Thankfully, I felt that Polyraptor was explained sufficiently. However, the other two weren't sufficiently explained. Now, the Searing Blaze mention didn't really warrant a card display. But Burning Sun's Avatar did.

For pregame discussion topic: the best rule of thumb is "what turns does your deck win by (or try to win by)?" On turn 5 do you have some set up or did you already win? By turn 10 are you confident you either have or can get your win con?

I have Sakura tribe in my Meren deck and when I resolve it twice, I'll say, "I'm going to look for 2 basics now. I end my turn and you can go". Just saves time.

10:20 There is a step in between main phase and declare attackers step, it's called begin combat step and if they kill your creature in this step you can't cast sorcery speed spells because you are in combat and if you want to cast them you have to move to main phase 2. I don't know if you ever played against Legion Warboss that is basically the interaction. Kill it at begin combat step.

on conceding, even the sorcery speed house house rule dosent work sometimes. a friend of mine was mad we attacked him too much (he was playing Grand Arbiter Augustin) so he Wrathed then Armageddoned and scooped.

In terms of the phone rule I think you can do it if an opponent has been thinking or just waiting and trying to figure out what do for a while its ok to go look at some memes or some shit

8:15 Nope. Anytime a spell is cast priority goes to the player that cast it. But priority does go back to the player whose turn it is, once anything resolves. You might've meant that, but imo it's best to be unabigious, when it comes to a confusing topic like this. 10:45 This is also somewhat wrong. Yes, when someone casts an instant when you pass to combat it's back to your mainphase, but there absolutely is a time to cast instants inbetween declaring attackers and mainphase 1. It's called the beginning of combat step. Check 507. in the comprehensive rules for more info.

I enlightened tutored once and did it early to save time. During my upkeep my friend chaos warped my enchantress shuffling my tutored card another enchantress back. Imo he used knowledge that he shouldn't have had bc I would have tutored after he made his plays. It turned my game off, but I didn't argue. Since then I've been more strategic with time saving measures. Good rule to be efficient and save time for the group, but I suggest caution when it's an important move.

I actually had the reverse rule argument situation at a LGS: I played Zirilan of the Claw and had a Sundial of the Infinite in play. So I tried to end my turn with the exile trigger on the stack and everyone (especially a player that was complaining about every play someone else made and won in the end) started going off on how it would not work and that the combo was bullshit. I didn't have internet access on my phone to search up the dozens of threads on the issue and the annoying guy actually looked it up with his phone and said "nope doesn't work". I just conceded the point knowing better and left after the game. That was first and last experience of playing with strangers at an LGS.

We have a guy in our playgroup who runs a mono blue counterspell tribal deck, and only pays attention (besides his turn) when he has a counter spell. Which is great for me because I know if he's not paying attention, it's clear for me to play my big threats. But eventually, that gets not so fun and I already know he's not even trying to win by turn 5.

EDH for gentlemen, I love it. A good vid for the whole community!

would love to see a video or a short on good offers to make for deals. I never know what to offer when i need something.

My playgroup gas a concede rule where if you do concede all actions still apply regardless. Say you take control of a creature or spell and the player concedes we give you a token of the creature and the spell still resolves.

From a time perspective playing with a lot of new players, kind of have an idea what you want to do on your turn by the time it gets to you. Excepting drawing a card throwing that off. Goes hand in hand with again know your cards.

Great tips gentlemen

Just a small nitpick (badum tss) starting 10:20 you guys talk about how when you say "move to combat" and a player responds, you're still in your main phase. This is technically true, but it's usually assumed that they are casting their spells at the beginning of combat step, which is actually a phase after your main phase but before declare attackers in which you can no longer take sorcery speed actions. So you might be able to rules lawyer your way into saying that you were still in main phase because of the wording of "move to combat", but it's almost always strictly better to cast instants at beginning of combat step to stop your opponent from taking sorcery speed actions. Because of this it's often assumed that you are in the beginning of combat phase instead of your 1st main if somebody responds, otherwise they would have to specify, "yes move to combat but before declare attackers."

10:48 Actually, Beginning of Combat Phase is exactly that. I know because I use a lot of creatures with attack triggers and they often get removed on BC Phase because of that.

Good video. Don't really have anything more to add than that, just engaging with the video gj boys

I really want to get into playing some MTG and Commander definitely appeals to me most of all the formats. This type of video makes me terrified of going to a local game group though 😂

To add: 1. Pass turn while searching if possible, you can search for your tapped basic while the next player starts their turn 2. Hygiene - please wash your hands 3. Ask permission to look at or read someone’s cards, don’t just grab them. These cards are worth hundreds of dollars total and being gentle and respectful with others cards is important

Coming from a magic player who lived in southern KY for the longest time, with minimum options of paper magic groups, conceding to spite a player who plays timetwister, moat, and land equilibrium(grand Augustin IV deck), against casual budget decks- conceding to allow the other budget deck to win is a valid move.

My powerranking scale is "oh i have 0-2 tutors except ramp and my only fast mana/mana positive card is sol ring, aside of that i tried to optimize my deck for my strategy but i might miss cards that cost excessive amounts of money" damn that rly was longer than i expected to explain :D

Great semi related story I was playing a game with some friends, and as commander goes one players was the arch enemy. I naturally expected the third player to ally with me against the arch enemy. BUT instead of attacking the arch enemy as you normally would. HE ATTACKED ME AND STOLE MY COMMANDER EFFECTIVELY TURNING OFF MY DECK. Later in retaliation, I countered his win con(original arch enemy was still arch enemy) everyone else at the table had a good laugh and he killed me in combat.

Conceding drives me absolutely insane when it gets weaponized. I've played with people who frequently concede if they get goaded and just scoop. 🤯

Hey I think there’s a mistake with the responding before combat thing. The technically correct thing to do is for active player to say “move to combat” other players pass priority and we move to the beginning of combat step. Then the active player would say “move to attacks”, at which point other players can respond before attackers are declared but after the main phase, meaning active player can’t do sorcery speed stuff before combat. I usually say “let me know when you’re going to attacks” or something like that so I can respond at beginning of combat.

My preferred solution to salty concessions (I didn't come up with it, I've seen it used in a few places) is just to let the player concede, & then run the game as if they were still there until the next time they could make a sorcery speed concession. I like it, because it defeats the objective of spite concessions, & is enough of a (figurative) punch in the gut for the person who just conceded that it usually course corrects them & stops them doing it again.

One of the things that frustrates me is when the entire table says beforehand that they're all going to focus you regardless of boardstate. My first deck I built is an Izzet Spellslinger deck with Niv-Mizzet and after the first time I played it they immediately said they would all always focus me regardless of gamestate. I just started like a month ago, so I was really salty about it.

I had a game where I knew there was no way I could survive the next turns so I conceded and the other players acted as if I wasn't allowed to because it meant that they would have to attack each other instead of me I get that it "changes the game" but I also want the freedom to stop playing when I want to (maybe a habit from playing Arena so much)

I sit down and say, I’m playing urza. My whole goal is to power out winters orb ASAP and protect it. Everyone gets up. Moves to the other Burger King booth. I sit at the table alone a lot

If I have a revealed library search coming like sakura tribe elder, I search for the thing, shuffle and put it next to my library. When I sac it all I need to do is to move it to the battlefield

Love all of this, especially "conceding is not a spell." Also, got my pins this week. Thanks so much, gents! #OGPatron

That’s why I always when I cast a kill spell on my opponents turn I let them move to combat before attacks are declared so no sorcery’s or creatures can be cast to mess with combat.

Tcgplayer is solid. Gotten some grave titans for pennies on the dollar #discount

Also if you're going to concede to lethal do it inresposne to the lethal damage. "Oh that hits for 36, I'm dead. In response to losing I concede :/."

Hey here’s a fun story for you. I’m new to multiplayer commander and went to play on the edh discord server. I get into my first game. Don’t draw a land for 3 turns. (Kept my current hand because if I got another land besides my bounce land then I would’ve been golden) and then outa know where when each other player was laughing about my land situation. I just asked “anyone have a counter spell or interaction? Cause I can win the game.” As all the giggling stops. Then bam Alta combo with ashnods alter and Thornbite staff to get every creature in my deck and kill everyone. So umm yeah... hope you enjoyed that.

I remember playing with this dude who was playing a Yarok deck( that was they made obvious that it was more powerful then the other decks in play and kept doing the whole "ill play nice for a while instead of trying to win" song and dance which i hate) and when i stopped his infinite combo with Jodah and Galecaster Collosus ON BOARD, he freaked out and said he was just tryna play magic and then bitterly rage quit, the entire table remaining burst into applause and laughter after that😂

Weird thought about fetch lands or tutors… what if you had 2 copies of the card and so on the turn you say “ok and I would of searched my library for this card, but I have a copy… so I’ll search, remove, and shuffle after my turn?” Or even just have one of those write on magic cards as the place holder in your deck so you can keep your expensive card on the sidelines to be tutored or if the place holder is draw just substitute it then I front it’d everyone.

For me (still a beginner) the goldfishing and 'know your deck' part is pretty confronting. It's hard to really know your deck (100 cards, 10.000's of possibilities) and I try to play new decks (experiment a lot). I always talk about it with my veteran friends and they help me, but for me the advice would be 'get gut', but that takes lots of time man.

i feel really guilty about the “understanding your deck” one - i made a nethroi deck as my first commander deck, and someone at my LGS said that mutate didn’t have commander tax apply. sweet, that makes nethroi busted once i hit seven lands, so of course i ran with it. nobody at the store had played a mutate commander (and didn’t really care because they knew my janky low power deck couldn’t beat their level 8-9 ones), so i told everyone that’s how it worked, and everyone believed me and we just played like that. someone came to the store for the first time close to a month later, and i try to mutate without commander tax, he told me i couldn’t do that. like three people come to my defense, even when he pointed out that he’s quite literally a judge at another store, and we went to like five separate websites to look it up. obviously that’s not how the card works, but man…would’ve been cool.

Today I lost to my dad I haven’t lost to my dad since august of 2019

My play group and I as a whole try to concede at sorcery speed but sometimes emotions etc. Get high and people quit in the heat of the moment it happens lol

My play group is actually okay with spiteful concessions lol. If the cost is they lose, then they get to have a little gravy at the end knowing that they had one last effect on the game

For the three years I've been playing commander I've always had a house rule that you can only concede at sorcery speed. Every player has been more than happy to comply.

Tip #1 is the biggest thing I try to get my kids to do when we play. They're young, so it's tough as the game goes on, but we're working on it.