Ixalan Two-Headed Giant Release Notes

| Toby Hazes

Summary: Nothing outrageous this time, although Dire Fleet Ravager will be asked about a lot and less experienced players might ask about Raid.

While most cards work pretty straightforward in 2HG there are some quirks, often involving the combat phase or life total changes. Those cards are explained in these notes.

If you’re playing a 2HG prerelease you should also check out the 2HG Hidden Gems that highlights which cards to look out for!

For further reading, if you want to know more about 2HG see the 2HG FAQ. If you want to know more about how these cards function in general see the regular release notes.

GENERAL NOTES

“YOU”

The rule of thumb for 2HG is “You” still refers to you alone, not both you and your teammate. Look for the word “you” in the card text, such as “creatures you control get +1/+1”, “whenever you explore”, etc.

Raid

  • Raid requires you to have attacked with a creature, so your teammate attacking with a creature does not count.

“EACH”

Cards that say “each opponent” or “each player” do affect more players than usual.

“Each opponent loses X and you gain Y”

  • With Sanctum Seeker your opponents lose 2 life total and you gain 1 life total.

COMBAT NOTES

Bonded Horncrest

  • Your teammate’s attacking or blocking creatures count.

Legion’s Landing

  • The second ability specifies “you” so your teammate’s attacking creatures do not count for this trigger.

Admiral Beckett Brass

  • In 2HG an unblocked attacking creature deals its combat damage to one of the two players it’s attacking. You choose which opponent that is for each creature as combat damage is assigned. Notably this means this decision is not made yet when the opponents are choosing blocks.
  • The second ability counts your teammate’s Pirates.

Fell Flagship

  • In 2HG an unblocked attacking creature deals its combat damage to one of the two players it’s attacking. You choose which opponent that is for each creature as combat damage is assigned. Notably this means this decision is not made yet when the opponents are choosing blocks.

Jace, Cunning Castaway

  • The first ability triggers separately for each player that is dealt damage, so it can trigger twice in 2HG.
  • In 2HG an unblocked attacking creature deals its combat damage to one of the two players it’s attacking. You choose which opponent that is for each creature as combat damage is assigned. Notably this means this decision is not made yet when the opponents are choosing blocks.

Trove of Temptation

  • Both opponents need to attack with a creature if able. Those creatures can’t attack a planeswalker your teammate controls.
  • Those creatures can still deal their combat damage to your teammate.

LIFE NOTES

Dire Fleet Ravager

  • In 2HG each player loses a third of the team’s life total rounded up. For example, if a team has 13 life, each player on that team loses 5 life so the team loses 10 life total.

Axis of Mortality

  • In 2HG your life total is the same as your team’s life total. This effectively changes the team’s life totals (but only the targeted players actually lose or gain life).
  • Targeting two teammates does nothing.

Vraska, Relic Seeker

  • In 2HG your life total is the same as your team’s life total. The ultimate will set that team’s total to 1 (but only the targeted player actually loses life).

Arguel’s Blood Fast

  • In 2HG your life total is the same as your team’s life total, so your team’s total needs to be 5 or less.