Pile O’Cards

| Stephan Classen

Pile O’Cards
A format for 3+ players.

How to build and play:
The premise is simple – Get a large a pile of cards together to form a shared library, and throughout the game, everything goes into a shared graveyard and shared Exile Zone. Everyone starts with 0 cards in hand and draws the usual one per turn. Each player has all the mana they’ll need to cast spells or activate abilities in their mana pool.

The game has many names throughout the world – I think I’ve heard it called “Danish Magic” and “Speed Magic” among others.

The following rules govern the game:

  1. You must cast a card as soon as you’re able to!dreadmaw
    1. That means instants in your draw step and Divine Verdict on your own creature in the Declare Attackers step (ouch!).
    2. If there’s more than one target, the choice is yours.
    3. Any X in casting costs = 3.
  2. You must activate any abilities on your cards as soon as you’re able! (max 3 times per turn)
    1. Nightwing Shade every single turn.
    2. Akroan Mastiff in the upkeep
    3. Kheru Dreadmaw as soon as you control another creature.
  3. You must attack with all your creatures on your turn!
    1. Choose which opponent you want to attack with, but everyone’s gotta go for it.
    2. You must block with all your creatures (if you’re being attacked)!
      1. Yep, even if it’s an eldrazi coming your way.

breakerEach of the 3+ players starts with 20 life. When the game ends, just set aside the cards that have been played so far and carry on the next game with the rest of the library.

We’ve found it a great time filler when waiting in airports on the way home using random boosters, or waiting with friends between rounds at events.  Some cards are just going to be busted “I win” or “I lose” cards.  Feel free to just cycle them (i.e. discard and draw). We also tend to cycle lands, as there’s always a few that sneak into a GP weekend pile of leftovers.  Although given the prevalence of Awaken spells and cards with Landfall in Battle for Zendikar it might be prudent to play a land just in case!

And the best thing about playing this using Battle for Zendikar? This is probably the most busted card: Prism Array!

prism