8. Multiplayer Rules

800.1. A multiplayer game is a game that begins with more than two players. This section contains additional optional rules that can be used for multiplayer play.
800.2. These rules consist of a series of options that can be added to a multiplayer game and a number of variant styles of multiplayer play. A single game may use multiple options but only one variant.
800.3. Many multiplayer Magic tournaments have additional rules not included here, including rules for deck construction. See the most current Magic: The Gathering Tournament Rules for more information. They can be found at http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=dci/doccenter/home.

800.4. Unlike two-player games, multiplayer games can continue after one or more players have left the
game.
800.4a. When a player leaves the game, all objects (see rule 109) owned by that player leave the
game, all spells and abilities controlled by that player on the stack cease to exist, and any effects
which give that player control of any objects or players end. Then, if there are any objects still
controlled by that player, those objects are exiled. This is not a state-based action. It happens as
soon as the player leaves the game. If the player who left the game had priority at the time he or
she left, priority passes to the next player in turn order who’s still in the game.
Example: Alex casts Control Magic, an Aura that reads, “You control enchanted
creature,” on Bianca’s Wall of Wood. If Alex leaves the game, so does Control Magic,
and Wall of Wood reverts to Bianca’s control. If, instead, Bianca leaves the game, so
does Wall of Wood, and Control Magic is put into Alex’s graveyard.
Example: Alex casts Threaten, which reads, in part, “Untap target creature and gain
control of it until end of turn,” targeting Bianca’s Wall of Wood. If Alex leaves the
game, Threaten’s change-of-control effect ends and Wall of Wood reverts to Bianca’s
control.
Example: Alex casts Bribery, which reads, “Search target opponent’s library for a
creature card and put that card onto the battlefield under your control. Then that player
shuffles his or her library,” targeting Bianca. Alex puts Wall of Wood onto the
battlefield from Bianca’s library. If Bianca leaves the game, Wall of Wood also leaves
the game. If, instead, Alex leaves the game, Wall of Wood is exiled.
Example: Alex controls Genesis Chamber, which reads, “Whenever a nontoken creature
enters the battlefield, if Genesis Chamber is untapped, that creature’s controller puts a
1/1 colorless Myr artifact creature token onto the battlefield.” If Alex leaves the game,
all such Myr tokens that entered the battlefield under Alex’s control leave the game, and
all such Myr tokens that entered the battlefield under any other player’s control remain
in the game.
800.4b. If an object would change to the control of a player who has left the game, it doesn’t. If a
token would enter the battlefield under the control of a player who has left the game, no token is
created. If a player would be controlled by a player who has left the game, he or she isn’t.
800.4c If an object that would be owned by a player who has left the game would be created in any
zone, it isn’t created. If a triggered ability that would be controlled by a player who has left the
game would be put onto the stack, it isn’t put on the stack.
Example: Astral Slide is an enchantment that reads, “Whenever a player cycles a card,
you may exile target creature. If you do, return that creature to the battlefield under its
owner’s control at the beginning of the next end step.” During Alex’s turn, Bianca uses
Astral Slide’s ability to exile Alex’s Hypnotic Specter. Before the end of that turn,
Bianca leaves the game. At the beginning of the end step, the delayed triggered ability
generated by Astral Slide that would return Hypnotic Specter to play triggers, but it isn’t
put on the stack. Hypnotic Specter never returns to the battlefield.
800.4d If combat damage would be assigned to a player who has left the game, that damage simply
isn’t assigned.
800.4e If an object requires a player who has left the game to make a choice, the controller of the
object chooses another player to make that choice. If the original choice was to be made by an
opponent of the controller of the object, that player chooses another opponent if possible.
800.4f If an effect requires information about a specific player, the effect uses the current
information about that player if he or she is still in the game; otherwise, the effect uses the last
known information about that player before he or she left the game.
800.4g If a player leaves the game during his or her turn, that turn continues to its completion
without an active player. If the active player would receive priority, instead the next player in
turn order receives priority, or the top object on the stack resolves, or the phase or step ends,
whichever is appropriate.
800.4h When a player leaves the game, objects that player owns in the ante zone do not leave the
game. This is an exception to rule 800.4a. See rule 407, “Ante.”
800.4i In a Planar Magic game, if the player designated as the planar controller would leave the
game, instead the next player in turn order that wouldn’t leave the game becomes the planar
controller, then the old planar controller leaves the game. See rule 309.5.
800.5. In a multiplayer game, the first time a player takes a mulligan, he or she draws a new hand of
seven cards rather than six cards. Subsequent hands decrease by one card as normal.
800.6. In a multiplayer game other than a Two-Headed Giant game, the starting player doesn’t skip the
draw step of his or her first turn. In a Two-Headed Giant game, the team who plays first skips the
draw step of their first turn. See rule 103.7.
800.7. In a multiplayer game not using the limited range of influence option (see rule 801), if an effect
states that a player wins the game, all of that player’s opponents lose the game instead.
801. Limited Range of Influence Option
801.1. Limited range of influence is an option that can be applied to most multiplayer games. It’s
always used in the Emperor variant (see rule 809), and it’s often used for games involving five or
more players.
801.2. A player’s range of influence is the maximum distance from that player, measured in player
seats, that the player can affect. Players within that many seats of the player are within that player’s
range of influence. Objects controlled by players within a player’s range of influence are also within
that player’s range of influence. Range of influence covers spells, abilities, effects, damage dealing,
attacking, making choices, and winning the game.
801.2a The most commonly chosen limited ranges of influence are 1 seat and 2 seats. Different
players may have different ranges of influence.
Example: A range of influence of 1 means that only you and the players seated directly
next to you are within your range of influence.
Example: A range of influence of 2 means that you and the two players to your left and
the two players to your right are within your range of influence.
801.2b A player is always within his or her own range of influence.
801.2c The particular players within each player’s range of influence are determined as each turn
begins.
Example: In a game with a range of influence of 1, Alex is seated to the left of Rob, and
Carissa is seated to the right of Rob. Carissa is not in Alex’s range of influence. If Rob
leaves the game, Carissa will enter Alex’s range of influence at the start of the next turn.
801.2d An object is within a player’s range of influence if it’s controlled by that player or by
another player within that many seats of that player.
801.3. Creatures can attack only opponents within their controller’s range of influence or planeswalkers
controlled by those opponents. If no opponents are within a player’s range of influence, creatures
that player controls can’t attack.
801.4. Objects and players outside a player’s range of influence can’t be the targets of spells or abilities
that player controls.
801.5. Some cards require players to make choices. These cards work differently when the limited
range of influence option is used.
801.5a If a player is asked to choose an object or player, he or she must choose one within his or her
range of influence.
Example: In a game with a range of influence of 1, Alex is seated to the left of Rob. Alex
activates the ability of Cuombajj Witches, which reads, “Cuombajj Witches deals 1
damage to target creature or player and 1 damage to target creature or player of an
opponent’s choice,” targeting Rob and choosing Rob as the opponent who picks the
other target. Rob must choose a target that’s in both his range of influence and in the
range of influence of the controller of Cuombajj Witches. He must therefore choose
himself, Alex, or a creature controlled by either himself or Alex.
801.5b If a player is asked to choose between one or more options (and not between one or more
objects or players), he or she can choose between those options even if those options refer to
objects or players outside the player’s range of influence.
Example: Alex, who has a range of influence of 2, is seated to the left of Rob, and
Carissa, who has a range of influence of 1, is seated to the right of Rob. Alex casts a
spell that reads, “An opponent chooses one — You draw 2 cards; or each creature you
control gets +2/+2 until end of turn,” and chooses Carissa to make that choice. Carissa
can choose the mode even though Alex is out of her range.
801.5c If an effect requires a choice and there’s no player who can make that choice within its
controller’s range of influence, the closest appropriate player to its controller’s left makes that
choice.
Example: In an Emperor game in which all players have range of influence 1, an
emperor casts Fact or Fiction, which reads, “Reveal the top five cards of your library.
An opponent separates those cards into two piles. Put one pile into your hand and the
other into your graveyard.” Since no opponent is within the emperor’s range of
influence, the nearest opponent to the emperor’s left separates the cards into piles.
801.6. A player can’t activate the activated abilities of an object outside of his or her range of influence.
801.7. A triggered ability doesn’t trigger unless its trigger event happens entirely within the range of
influence of its source’s controller.
Example: In a game in which all players have range of influence 1, Alex is seated to the left
of Rob. Rob controls two Auras attached to Alex’s Runeclaw Bear: One with the trigger
condition “Whenever enchanted creature becomes blocked,” and one with the trigger
condition “Whenever enchanted creature becomes blocked by a creature.” Alex’s Runeclaw
Bear attacks the player to Alex’s left and becomes blocked. The ability of Rob’s first Aura
triggers because the entire event (Runeclaw Bear becomes blocked) happens within Rob’s
range of influence. The ability of Rob’s second Aura doesn’t trigger, however, because that
event includes the blocking creature, which is out of Rob’s range.
801.7a If a trigger event includes an object moving out of or into a player’s range of influence, use
the game state before or after the event as appropriate to determine whether the triggered ability
will trigger. See rule 603.6.
Example: Carissa and Alex are outside each other’s range of influence. Carissa
controls a Runeclaw Bear owned by Alex and they each control an Extractor Demon, a
creature which reads, in part, “Whenever another creature leaves the battlefield, you
may have target player put the top two cards of his or her library into his or her
graveyard.” The Runeclaw Bear is destroyed and is put into Alex’s graveyard. The
ability of Alex’s Extractor Demon doesn’t trigger because the leaves-the-battlefield
event was outside Alex’s range of influence. The ability of Carissa’s Extractor Demon
does trigger, even though the creature is going to a graveyard outside her range,
because the leaves-the-battlefield event was within her range.
801.8. An Aura can’t enchant an object or player outside its controller’s range of influence. If an Aura
is attached to an illegal object or player, the Aura is put into its owner’s graveyard as a state-based
action. See rule 704.
801.9. An Equipment can’t equip an object outside its controller’s range of influence, and a
Fortification can’t fortify an object outside its controller’s range of influence. If an Equipment or
Fortification is attached to an illegal permanent, it becomes unattached from that permanent but
remains on the battlefield. This is a state-based action. See rule 704.
801.10. Spells and abilities can’t affect objects or players outside their controller’s range of influence.
The parts of the effect that attempt to affect an out-of-range object or player will do nothing. The
rest of the effect will work normally.
Example: In a six-player game in which each player has range of influence 1, Alex casts
Pyroclasm, which reads, “Pyroclasm deals 2 damage to each creature.” Pyroclasm deals 2
damage to each creature controlled by Alex, the player to Alex’s left, and the player to
Alex’s right. No other creatures are dealt damage.
801.11. If a spell or ability requires information from the game, it gets only information from within its
controller’s range of influence. It doesn’t see objects or events outside its controller’s range of
influence.
Example: In a six-player game where each player has range of influence 1, Alex controls
Coat of Arms, which reads, “Each creature gets +1/+1 for each other creature on the
battlefield that shares at least one creature type with it.” Coat of Arms will boost Alex’s
creatures based only on what creatures are controlled by Alex, the player to Alex’s left, and
the player to Alex’s right. It won’t take other creatures into account.
Example: In the same game, Rob is sitting to the right of Alex. Coat of Arms will boost
Rob’s creatures based only on what creatures are controlled by Rob and Alex. They are the
only two players within range of both Rob and the controller of Coat of Arms.
801.12. The “legend rule” (see rule 704.5k) applies to a permanent only if other legendary permanents
with the same name are within its controller’s range of influence.
Example: Alex has range of influence 1, and Carissa has range of influence 2. Rob sits
between them. If Alex controls a legendary permanent and Carissa puts a legendary
permanent with the same name onto the battlefield, only the one controlled by Carissa will
be put into a graveyard.
801.13. The “world rule” (see rule 704.5m) applies to a permanent only if other world permanents are
within its controller’s range of influence.
801.14. The “planeswalker uniqueness rule” (see rule 704.5j) applies to a planeswalker only if other
planeswalkers with the same planeswalker type are within its controller’s range of influence.
801.15. Replacement and prevention effects watch for a particular event to happen and then completely
or partially replace that event. The limited range of influence option can cause the modified event to
contain instructions that can’t be carried out, in which case the player simply ignores the impossible
instructions. See rule 614, “Replacement Effects,” and rule 615, “Prevention Effects.”
801.15a If a replacement effect tries to cause a spell or ability to affect an object or player outside
its controller’s range of influence, that portion of the event does nothing.
Example: Alex casts Lava Axe (“Lava Axe deals 5 damage to target player”) targeting
Rob. In response, Rob casts Captain’s Maneuver (“The next X damage that would be
dealt to target creature or player this turn is dealt to another target creature or player
instead”) with X equal to 3, targeting Carissa. Carissa isn’t in Alex’s range of influence.
When Lava Axe resolves, it deals 2 damage to Rob and no damage to Carissa.
801.15b If a spell or ability creates an effect that prevents damage that would be dealt by a source, it
can affect only sources within the spell or ability’s controller’s range of influence. If a spell or
ability creates an effect that prevents damage that would be dealt to a creature or player, it can
affect only creatures and players within the spell or ability’s controller’s range of influence. If a
spell or ability creates an effect that prevents damage, but neither the source nor the would-be
recipient of the damage is specified, it prevents damage only if both the source and recipient of
that damage are within the spell or ability’s controller’s range of influence.
Example: Rob is within Alex’s range of influence, but Carissa is not. Alex controls an
enchantment that says, “Prevent all damage that would be dealt by creatures.” Carissa
attacks Rob with a creature. The creature deals combat damage to Rob.
Example: Rob is within Alex’s range of influence, but Carissa is not. Carissa casts
Lightning Blast (“Lightning Blast deals 4 damage to target creature or player”)
targeting Rob. In response, Alex casts Mending Hands (“Prevent the next 4 damage that
would be dealt to target creature or player this turn”) targeting Rob. The damage to
Rob is prevented.
Example: Rob is within Alex’s range of influence, but Carissa is not. Carissa attacks
Rob with a creature, and Rob blocks with a creature. Alex casts Holy Day (“Prevent all
combat damage that would be dealt this turn.”) Carissa and Rob’s creatures deal
combat damage to each other.
801.16. If an effect states that a player wins the game, all of that player’s opponents within his or her
range of influence lose the game instead.
801.17. If the effect of a spell or ability states that the game is a draw, the game is a draw for that spell
or ability’s controller and all players within his or her range of influence. They leave the game. All
remaining players continue to play the game.
801.18. If the game somehow enters a “loop” of mandatory actions, repeating a sequence of events with
no way to stop, the game is a draw for each player who controls an object that’s involved in that
loop, as well as for each player within the range of influence of any of those players. They leave the
game. All remaining players continue to play the game.
801.19. In multiplayer Planar Magic games other than Grand Melee games, plane cards are exempt
from the limited range of influence option. Their abilities, and the effects of those abilities, affect all
applicable objects and players in the game. See rule 901, “Planar Magic.”
802. Attack Multiple Players Option
802.1. Some multiplayer games allow the active player to attack multiple other players. If this option is
used, a player can also choose to attack only one player during a particular combat.
802.2. As the combat phase starts, the attacking player doesn’t choose an opponent to become the
defending player. Instead, all the attacking player’s opponents are defending players during the
combat phase.
802.2a Any rule, object, or effect that refers to a “defending player” refers to one specific defending
player, not to all of the defending players. If an ability of an attacking creature refers to a
defending player, or a spell or ability refers to both an attacking creature and a defending player,
then unless otherwise specified, the defending player it’s referring to is the player that creature
was attacking at the time it became an attacking creature that combat, or the controller of the
planeswalker that creature was attacking at the time it became an attacking creature that combat.
If a spell or ability could apply to multiple attacking creatures, the appropriate defending player
is individually determined for each of those attacking creatures. If there are multiple defending
players that could be chosen, the controller of the spell or ability chooses one.
Example: Rob attacks Alex with Runeclaw Bear and attacks Carissa with a creature
with mountainwalk. Whether the creature with mountainwalk is unblockable depends
only on whether Carissa controls a Mountain.
802.3. As the attacking player declares each attacking creature, he or she chooses a defending player or
a planeswalker controlled by a defending player for it to attack. See rule 508, “Declare Attackers
Step.”
802.3a Restrictions and requirements that don’t apply to attacking a specific player are evaluated
based on the entire group of attacking creatures. Restrictions and requirements that apply to
attacking a specific player apply only to creatures attacking that player. The entire group of
attacking creatures must still be legal. See rule 508.1.
802.3b Creatures in a band can’t attack different players. See rule 702.19, “Banding.”
802.4. If more than one player is being attacked or controls a planeswalker that’s being attacked, each
defending player in APNAP order declares blockers as the declare blockers step begins. (See rule
101.4 and rule 509, “Declare Blockers Step.”) The first defending player declares all his or her
blocks, then the second defending player, and so on.
802.4a A defending player can block only with creatures he or she controls. Those creatures can
block only creatures attacking that player or a planeswalker that player controls.
802.4b When determining whether a defending player’s blocks are legal, ignore any creatures
attacking other players and any blocking creatures controlled by other players.
802.5. After blockers have been declared, if any creatures are blocking multiple creatures, each
defending player in APNAP order announces the damage assignment order among the attacking
creatures for each blocking creature he or she controls. See rule 510, “Combat Damage Step.”
802.6. Combat damage is assigned in APNAP order. Other than that, the combat damage step proceeds
just as in a two-player game. See rule 510, “Combat Damage Step.”
803. Attack Left and Attack Right Options
803.1. Some multiplayer games use the optional attack left or attack right rules.
803.1a If the attack left option is used, a player can attack only an opponent seated immediately to
his or her left. If a player’s nearest opponent to the left is more than one seat away, the player
can’t attack.
803.1b If the attack right option is used, a player can attack only an opponent seated immediately to
his or her right. If a player’s nearest opponent to the right is more than one seat away, the player
can’t attack.
804. Deploy Creatures Option
804.1. The Emperor variant always uses the deploy creatures option, and it can be used in other
variants that allow players to compete in teams. Multiplayer formats in which players compete as
individuals usually don’t use this option.
804.2. Each creature has the ability “{T}: Target teammate gains control of this creature. Activate this
ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.”
805. Shared Team Turns Option
805.1. Some multiplayer games between teams use the shared team turns option. It’s always used in the
Two-Headed Giant variant (see rule 810) and the Archenemy casual variant (see rule 811). It can be
used only if the members of each team are sitting in adjacent seats.
805.2. Within each team, the player seated in the rightmost seat from that team’s perspective is the
primary player. If the players on a team can’t agree on a choice, such as which creatures attack or
what order triggered abilities are put on the stack, the primary player makes that choice.
805.3. The methods described in rule 103.2 are used to determine which team will take the first turn.
The team determined this way is the starting team.
805.3a The process for handling mulligans is altered accordingly. First, each player on the starting
team, in whatever order that team likes, declares whether or not he or she will take a mulligan.
Then the players on each other team in turn order do the same. Teammates may consult while
making their decisions. Then all mulligans are taken at the same time. A player may take a
mulligan even after his or her teammate has decided to keep his or her opening hand. See rule
103.4.
805.3b The process for handling cards that allow a player to begin the game with them on the
battlefield is altered accordingly. First, each player on the starting team, in whatever order that
team likes, may put any or all such cards onto the battlefield from his or her opening hand.
Teammates may consult while making their decisions. Then each player on each other team in
turn order does the same.
805.4. Each team takes turns rather than each player.
805.4a The team whose turn it is is the active team. Each other team is a nonactive team.
805.4b Each player on a team draws a card during that team’s draw step.
805.4c Each player on a team may play a land during each of that team’s turns.
805.5. Teams have priority, not individual players.
805.5a A player may cast a spell, activate an ability, or take a special action when his or her team
has priority.
805.5b If a team has priority and no player on that team wishes to do anything, that team passes. If
all teams pass in succession (that is, if all teams pass without any player taking any actions in
between passing), the top object on the stack resolves, then the active team receives priority. If
the stack is empty when all teams pass in succession, the phase or step ends and the next one
begins.
805.6. The Active Player, Nonactive Player order rule (see rule 101.4) is modified if the shared team
turns option is used. If multiple teams would make choices and/or take actions at the same time,
first the active team makes any choices required, then each nonactive team in turn order makes any
choices required. If multiple players would make choices and/or take actions at the same time, first
each player on the active team makes any choices required in whatever order they like, then the
players on each nonactive team in turn order do the same. Once all choices have been made, the
actions happen simultaneously.
805.6a If an effect instructs more than one player to draw cards in a game that’s using the shared
team turns option, first each player on the active team, in whatever order that team likes,
performs his or her draws, then each player on each nonactive team in turn order does the same.
805.7. If multiple triggered abilities have triggered since the last time a team received priority, the
members of the active team put all triggered abilities any of them controls on the stack in any order
they choose, then the members of each nonactive team in turn order do the same.
805.8. If an effect gives a player an extra turn or adds a phase or step to that player’s turn, that player’s
team takes the extra turn, phase, or step. If an effect causes a player to skip a step, phase, or turn,
that player’s team does so. If a single effect causes more than one player on the same team to add or
skip the same step, phase, or turn, that team adds or skips only that step, phase, or turn. If an effect
causes a player to control another player, the controller of that effect controls the affected player’s
team.
805.9. Any ability that refers to the “active player” refers to one specific active player, not to all of the
active players. The ability’s controller chooses which one the ability refers to at the time its effect is
applied.
806. Free-for-All Variant
806.1. In Free-for-All multiplayer games, a group of players compete as individuals against each other.
806.2. Any multiplayer options used are determined before play begins. The Free-for-All variant uses
the following default options.
806.2a The limited range of influence option usually isn’t used in Free-for-All games. If it is, each
player has the same range of influence, which is determined before play begins. See rule 801,
“Limited Range of Influence Option.”
806.2b Exactly one of the attack left, attack right, and attack multiple players options must be used.
See rule 803, “Attack Left and Attack Right Options,” and rule 802, “Attack Multiple Players
Option.”
806.2c The deploy creatures option isn’t used in the Free-for-All variant.
806.3. The players are randomly seated around the table.
807. Grand Melee Variant
807.1. The Grand Melee variant is a modification of the Free-for-All variant, in which a group of
players compete against each other as individuals. Grand Melee is normally used only in games
begun with ten or more players.
807.2. Any multiplayer options used are decided before play begins. The Grand Melee variant uses the
following default options.
807.2a Each player has a range of influence of 1 (see rule 801).
807.2b The attack left option is used (see rule 803).
807.2c The attack multiple players and deploy creatures options aren’t used in the Grand Melee
variant.
807.3. The players are seated at random.
807.4. The Grand Melee variant allows multiple players to take turns at the same time. Moving turn
markers keep track of which players are currently taking turns. Each turn marker represents an
active player’s turn.
807.4a There is one turn marker for each full four players in the game.
Example: A Grand Melee game with sixteen players has four turn markers. A game with
fifteen players has three turn markers.
807.4b The starting player in the game gets the first turn marker. The player four seats to that
player’s left (the fifth player) takes the second turn marker, and so on until all the turn markers
have been handed out. Each turn marker is assigned a number in this way. Then all players with
turn markers start their turns at the same time.
807.4c After a player ends his or her turn, that player passes the turn marker to the player on his or
her left. If a player with a turn marker leaves the game during his or her turn, the player to his or
her left takes the turn marker after that turn ends. If a player with a turn marker leaves the game
before his or her turn begins, the player to his or her left takes the turn marker immediately.
807.4d A player who receives a turn marker can’t begin his or her turn if any player in the three
seats to his or her left has a turn marker. If this is the case, that player waits until the player four
seats to his or her left takes the other turn marker.
807.4e If a player leaves the game and that player leaving the game would reduce the number of
turn markers in the game, the turn marker immediately to the departed player’s right is
designated for removal. If more than one player leaves the game simultaneously, those players
leaving the game would reduce the number of turn markers in the game, and there are multiple
turn markers that could be removed, the marker with the lowest number is designated for
removal. A turn marker may be designated for removal multiple times.
807.4f For the purposes of determining if one or more players leaving the game would reduce the
number of turn markers in the game (see rule 807.4e), disregard turn markers already designated
for removal.
807.4g If a player who’s taking a turn has a turn marker that’s been designated for removal, that
turn marker is removed rather than being passed after that turn ends. If a player who’s not taking
a turn has a turn marker that’s been designated for removal, that turn marker is removed
immediately. If a removed turn marker had been designated for removal multiple times, the turn
marker to its right becomes designated for removal that many times minus one.
807.4h If one or more consecutively seated players leave the game, the players that were on either
side of those seats don’t enter one another’s range of influence until the next turn begins.
807.4i If an effect causes a player with a turn marker to take an extra turn after the current one, that
player keeps the turn marker and starts his or her next turn after the current turn ends, unless
another turn marker is too close on either side at that time. If a turn marker is within three seats
on the player’s left, the extra turn waits to begin until the player four seats to his or her left takes
the other turn marker. If a turn marker is within three seats on the player’s right, the player
passes the turn marker to his or her left when the turn ends rather than keeping it, and the player
will take the extra turn immediately before his or her next turn.
807.4j If an effect would cause a player to take an extra turn after the current turn, but that player
wouldn’t have a turn marker at the start of that turn, that player will take the extra turn
immediately before his or her next turn instead.
Example: During Alex’s turn, he casts Time Walk, which causes him to get an extra turn
after this one. During the same turn, the player to Alex’s left leaves the game, which
causes the number of turn markers to be reduced. After Alex’s current turn ends, his turn
marker is removed. He won’t take the extra turn from Time Walk until just before his
normal turn the next time he receives a turn marker.
807.5. Rather than having a single stack, Grand Melee games contain multiple stacks. Each turn marker
represents its own stack.
807.5a A player gets priority for a particular turn marker’s stack only if the turn marker is within his
or her range of influence or an object on that stack is controlled by a player within his or her
range of influence.
807.5b If a player has priority for multiple stacks and casts a spell, activates an ability, or a
triggered ability he or she controls triggers, the player must specify which one of those stacks
the spell or ability is put on. If an object on one of those stacks caused the triggered ability to
trigger, the player must put it on that stack. If a resolving spell or ability on one of those stacks
causes a player to cast a spell or create a copy of a spell, the new spell must be put on the same
stack. If a spell or ability targets an object on one of those stacks, it must be put on the same
stack as its target; it can’t target objects on multiple stacks.
808. Team vs. Team Variant
808.1. Team vs. Team games are played with two or more teams. Each team may have any number of
players on it.
808.2. Each team sits together on one side of the table. Each team decides the order in which its players
sit.
808.3. Any multiplayer options used are determined before play begins. The Team vs. Team variant
uses the following default options.
808.3a The attack multiple players option is used (see rule 802).
808.3b The deploy creatures options and limited range of influence options usually aren’t used in
the Team vs. Team variant.
808.4. To determine which player goes first, randomly choose a team. If that team has an odd number
of players, the player in its center seat goes first. If that team has an even number of players, the
player to the left of its midpoint goes first. Turn order goes to the players’ left.
808.5. In the Team vs. Team variant, a team’s resources (cards in hand, mana, and so on) are not
shared. Teammates may review each other’s hands and discuss strategies at any time. Teammates
can’t manipulate each other’s cards or permanents.
809. Emperor Variant
809.1. The Emperor variant involves two or more teams of three players each.
809.2. Each team sits together on one side of the table. Each team decides the order in which it’s seated.
Each team has one emperor, who sits in the middle of the team. The remaining players on the team
are generals whose job is to protect the emperor.
809.3. The Emperor variant uses the following default options.
809.3a The range of influence is limited to 2 for emperors and 1 for generals. See rule 801,
“Limited Range of Influence Option.”
809.3b Emperor games use the deploy creatures option (see rule 804).
809.3c A player can attack only an opponent seated immediately next to him or her.
Example: At the start of an emperor game, neither emperor can attack any opponents,
even though both of the opposing generals are within their spell range.
809.4. Randomly determine which emperor goes first. Turn order goes to the players’ left.
809.5. The Emperor variant includes the following specifications for winning and losing the game. All
other rules for winning and losing the game also apply. (See rule 104.)
809.5a A team wins the game if its emperor wins.
809.5b A team loses the game if its emperor loses.
809.5c The game is a draw for a team if the game is a draw for its emperor.
809.6. The Emperor variant can also be played with any number of equally sized teams. If the teams
have more than three players, the range of influence of each player should be adjusted.
809.6a Each general’s range of influence should be the minimum number that allows one general
from an opposing team to begin the game within his or her range of influence. Each emperor’s
range of influence should be the minimum number that allows two generals from opposing
teams to begin the game within his or her range of influence. Players should be seated such that
no emperor begins the game within the range of influence of another emperor.
Example: In an Emperor game between two teams of four players each, the player
configuration (either clockwise or counterclockwise around the table) should be: Team
A general 1, Team A emperor, Team A general 2, Team A general 3, Team B general 1,
Team B emperor, Team B general 2, Team B general 3. Each emperor has range of
influence 3. Each general 2 has range of influence 2. Each general 1 and general 3 has
range of influence 1.
809.7. In the Emperor variant, a team’s resources (cards in hand, mana, and so on) are not shared.
Teammates may review each other’s hands and discuss strategies at any time. Teammates can’t
manipulate each other’s cards or permanents.
810. Two-Headed Giant Variant
810.1. Two-Headed Giant games are played with two teams of two players each.
810.2. The Two-Headed Giant variant uses the shared team turns option. (See rule 805.)
810.3. Each team sits together on one side of the table. Each team decides the order in which its players
sit.
810.4. Each team has a shared life total, which starts at 30 life.
810.5. With the exception of life total, a team’s resources (cards in hand, mana, and so on) are not
shared in the Two-Headed Giant variant. Teammates may review each other’s hands and discuss
strategies at any time. Teammates can’t manipulate each other’s cards or permanents.
810.6. The team who plays first skips the draw step of its first turn.
810.7. The Two-Headed Giant variant uses different combat rules than other multiplayer variants.
810.7a Each team’s creatures attack the other team as a group. During the combat phase, the active
team is the attacking team and each player on the active team is an attacking player. Likewise,
the nonactive team is the defending team and each player on the nonactive team is a defending
player.
810.7b Any one-shot effect that refers to the “defending player” refers to one specific defending
player, not to both of the defending players. The controller of the effect chooses which one the
spell or ability refers to at the time the effect is applied. The same is true for any one-shot effect
that refers to the “attacking player.”
Any characteristic-defining ability that refers to the “defending player” refers to one specific
defending player, not to both of the defending players. The controller of the object with the
characteristic-defining ability chooses which one the ability refers to at the time the nonactive
players become defending players.
All other cases in which the “defending player” is referred to actually refer to both defending
players. If the reference involves a positive comparison (such as asking whether the defending
player controls an Island) or a relative comparison (such as asking whether you control more
creatures than the defending player), it gets only one answer. This answer is “yes” if either
defending player in the comparison would return a “yes” answer if compared individually. If the
reference involves a negative comparison (such as asking whether the defending player controls
no black permanents), it also gets only one answer. This answer is “yes” if performing the
analogous positive comparison would return a “no” answer. The same is true for all other cases
that refer to the “attacking player.”
810.7c As the declare attackers step begins, the active team declares attackers. If an effect of an
object controlled by a defending player prohibits a creature from attacking him or her, that
creature can’t attack the defending team. The active team has one combined attack, and that set
of attacking creatures must be legal as a whole. See rule 508.1.
Example: One player in a Two-Headed Giant game controls Teferi’s Moat, which says
“As Teferi’s Moat comes into play, choose a color.” and “Creatures of the chosen color
without flying can’t attack you.” Creatures of the chosen color without flying can’t
attack that player’s team.
810.7d As the declare blockers step begins, the defending team declares blockers. Creatures
controlled by the defending players can block any attacking creatures. The defending team has
one combined block, and that set of blocking creatures must be legal as a whole. See rule 509.1.
Example: If an attacking creature has forestwalk and either player on the defending
team controls a Forest, the creature can’t be blocked.
810.7e Once blockers have been declared, for each attacking creature that’s become blocked by
multiple creatures, the active team announces the damage assignment order among the blocking
creatures. Then, for each creature that’s blocking multiple creatures, the defending team
announces the damage assignment order among the attacking creatures.
810.7f As the combat damage step begins, the active team announces how each attacking creature
will assign its combat damage. If an attacking creature would assign combat damage to the
defending team, the active team chooses only one of the defending players for that creature to
assign its combat damage to. Then the defending team announces how each blocking creature
will assign its combat damage. See rule 510.1.
810.8. The Two-Headed Giant variant uses the normal rules for winning or losing the game (see rule
104), with the following additions and specifications.
810.8a Players win and lose the game only as a team, not as individuals. If either player on a team
loses the game, the team loses the game. If either player on a team wins the game, the entire
team wins the game. If an effect would prevent a player from winning the game, that player’s
team can’t win the game. If an effect would prevent a player from losing the game, that player’s
team can’t lose the game.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player controls Transcendence, which reads,
in part, “You don’t lose the game for having 0 or less life.” If that player’s team’s life
total is 0 or less, that team doesn’t lose the game.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player attempts to draw a card while there
are no cards in that player’s library. That player loses the game, so that player’s entire
team loses the game.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player controls Platinum Angel, which reads,
“You can’t lose the game and your opponents can’t win the game.” Neither that player
nor his or her teammate can lose the game while Platinum Angel is on the battlefield,
and neither player on the opposing team can win the game.
810.8b If a player concedes, his or her team leaves the game immediately. That team loses the
game.
810.8c If a team’s life total is 0 or less, the team loses the game. (This is a state-based action. See
rule 704.)
810.9. Damage, loss of life, and gaining life happen to each player individually. The result is applied to
the team’s shared life total.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player casts Flame Rift, which reads, “Flame
Rift deals 4 damage to each player.” Each team is dealt a total of 8 damage.
810.9a If a cost or effect needs to know the value of an individual player’s life total, that cost or
effect uses the team’s life total instead.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player on a team that has 17 life is targeted
by Beacon of Immortality, which reads, in part, “Double target player’s life total.” That
player gains 17 life, so the team winds up at 34 life.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player controls Test of Endurance, an
enchantment that reads, “At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have 50 or more life,
you win the game.” At the beginning of that player’s upkeep, the player’s team wins the
game if his or her team’s life total is 50 or more.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player on a team that has 11 life controls
Lurking Evil, an enchantment that reads, “Pay half your life, rounded up: Lurking Evil
becomes a 4/4 Horror creature with flying.” To activate the ability, that player must pay
6 life. The team winds up at 5 life.
810.9b If a cost or effect allows both members of a team to pay life simultaneously, the total
amount of life they pay may not exceed their team’s life total. (Players can always pay 0 life.)
810.9c If an effect sets a single player’s life total to a specific number, the player gains or loses the
necessary amount of life to end up with the new total. The team’s life total is adjusted by the
amount of life that player gained or lost.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, a player on a team that has 25 life is targeted
by an ability that reads, “Target player’s life total becomes 10.” That player’s life total
is considered to be 25, so that player loses 15 life. The team winds up at 10 life.
810.9d If an effect would set the life total of each player on a team to a number, that team chooses
one of its members. On that team, only that player is affected.
Example: In a Two-Headed Giant game, one team has 7 life and the other team has 13
life. A player casts Repay in Kind, which reads, “Each player’s life total becomes the
lowest life total among all players.” Each team chooses one if its members to be
affected. The result is that the chosen player on the team that has 13 life loses 6 life, so
that team’s life total winds up at 7.
810.9e A player can’t exchange life totals with his or her teammate. If an effect would cause that to
occur, the exchange won’t happen.
810.9f If an effect instructs a player to redistribute any number of players’ life totals, that player
may not affect more than one member of each team this way.
810.9g If an effect says that a player can’t gain life, no player on that player’s team can gain life.
810.9h If an effect says that a player can’t lose life, no player on that player’s team can lose life or
pay any amount of life other than 0.
810.10. The Two-Headed Giant variant can also be played with equally sized teams of more than two
players. Each team’s starting life total is equal to 15 times the number of players on the team.
(These variants are unofficially called Three-Headed Giant, Four-Headed Giant, and so on.)
811. Alternating Teams Variant
811.1. Alternating Teams games are played with two or more teams of equal size.
811.2. Any multiplayer options used are determined before play begins. The Alternating Teams variant
uses the following default options.
811.2a The recommended range of influence is 2. See rule 801, “Limited Range of Influence
Option.”
811.2b Exactly one of the attack left, attack right, and attack multiple players options must be used.
See rule 803, “Attack Left and Attack Right Options,” and rule 802, “Attack Multiple Players
Option.”
811.2c The deploy creatures option isn’t normally used in the Alternating Teams variant.
811.3. At the start of the game, players are seated so that no one is next to a teammate and each team is
equally spaced out.
Example: In a Teams game with three teams, A, B, and C, the seating around the table at
the start of the game is A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2, A3, B3, C3, and so on.
811.4. A player can’t attack opponents who aren’t seated next to him or her.
811.5. In the Alternating Teams variant, a team’s resources (cards in hand, mana, and so on) are not
shared. Teammates can’t review each other’s hands unless they are sitting next to each other.
Teammates may discuss strategies at any time. Teammates can’t manipulate each other’s cards or
permanents.