In Magic tournament play, apart from a some effects that allow players to order the top and or bottom of their libraries, libraries should be random. To achieve this randomness, players are required to shuffle their deck at the beginning of each game and at other points during a game. As mentioned above, the end […]
Category: Tournament Rules
Tips on filling out a match result slip.
Many Magic tournaments distribute slips of paper for players to fill out the results of their matches. These slips are about 1/4 of a sheet of paper, have information like your name, your opponent’s names, DCI numbers, what round it is and spaces for the two players to fill in their results, indicate whether they […]
What the different Rules Enforcement Levels (REL) mean.
Magic tournaments are run at three different Rules Enforcement Levels (REL); Regular, Competitive an Professional. Most local tournaments and some side events at larger events are run at REG, or Regular, REL. Even if you’ve been going to events for years, these events are considered to be introductory tournaments and the focus is on fun […]
How to intentionally draw.
Tournament Magic allows players to choose to draw a match as opposed to play it out. (Due to time limits it is also possible to unintentionally draw matches.) This can happen at any time in a match before a match slip is signed and turned in. In most cases these draws happen at the start […]
Choosing who goes first, sometimes not that simple.
You won the die roll and have the choice to play or draw in the first game of your match. Great. There are a few details about the play/draw rule you may not know, however. The player with the choice to play or draw can announce his or her intent at any time between the […]
What notes you can take and use.
Tournament Magic can be complex, with a lot to keep track of. During a game, a player is allowed to make notes about cards they have seen played, or revealed, certain strategies they see used, or even what they plan on getting on their Sub after they finish the current match. At the start of each […]
What is “Private Information” ?
Communication Policy Part 3: What is “Private Information” ? The third type of information laid out by the Magic Tournament Rules is Private Information. (See here and here for the first two posts on communication policy. Private Information is officially anything which is neither free nor derived; more practically, though, it is information to which […]
At Competitive REL, judges can only answer the question you ask–not the one you meant to ask.
Today for week we are going to be looking at a tournament interaction regarding the card, and what judges can and cannot do to help. “Can I use Spellskite’s ability on my opponent’s equip ability?” Since the targeting restriction for Spellskite’s ability is simply “target spell or ability,” the answer is technically “Yes.” You can […]
What is “Derived Information” ?
Communication Policy Part 2: What is “Derived Information” ? The second type of information laid out by the Magic Tournament Rules is Derived Information. Derived Information is information to which all players are entitled access, but might require some degree of skill or calculation in order to determine. If you have to think about or […]