Definition
A player makes an error in one of the steps of the mulligan process. Once the mulligan process is complete and the game begins, excess cards arising from an improper mulligan is a Game Play Error – Hidden Card Error and too few cards is a Game Play Error – Game Rule Violation.
Penalty
Warning
Unintentional process errors that provide no advantage, such as declaring an intent to mulligan early or exiling too many cards to Serum Powder, are not an infraction.
Examples:
- A player on the draw declares that they will keep before the player on the play
- One player puts a Leyline onto the battlefield before their opponent finishes their mulligans
Technically these are procedural errors, but at this time in the match the impact is very low and should not be treated as an infraction.
Examples
- A. A player draws eight cards at the start of the game (instead of seven).
- B. A player chooses to not take a mulligan then takes a mulligan after seeing their opponent choose to take a mulligan.
Philosophy
Errors prior to the beginning of the game have a less disruptive option—a forced mulligan—that is not available at any other point during the game.
Note that counting cards face down onto the table does not count as drawing, encourage this practice to count the cards before drawing, so any extra cards counted onto the table can be returned to the top of the library.
Additional Remedy
The player takes an additional mulligan.