The Command Zone Unveils a Holiday-Themed Commander Game Mode You Can Recreate with Friends.

Widely known as MTG's friendliest format, the Elder Dragon Highlander format is getting a seasonal twist perfect for the holidays. As part of a recent episode, hosts from a popular channel showcased a four-player match titled "Holiday Countdown."

How the Festive Format Works

Fundamentally is a straightforward layer added on top of a standard Commander match. One special token moves to each player. When it the active player's turn, the action halts for a moment. All gamers privately decides whether they're being Naughty or Nice with the help of indicator cards.

Everyone turn over their choice simultaneously. They then carry out the effect linked to their decision, first with the player who has the token. The token is then passed clockwise. A special tracker advances one notch, and standard gameplay resumes.

The choices do escalate with each passing round progress, seeming carefully crafted.

Increasing Effects

At the start granted modest, shared advantages for being Nice, including gaining life or investigation clues. Conversely, Naughty options typically offered more targeted upsides, usually at the expense of someone else. For instance let players who picked Naughty create a powerful airborne Reindeer token. Those who picked Nice made a small artifact token creature for each player.

The Grand Finale

When the final round, Santa Claus himself arrived, turning the match. Depending on how often a participant selected Naughty versus Nice, Santa gave out sealed “gifts”. They appeared to be deck boxes, but held Magic booster packs of varying value.

• The most benevolent player received a high-value Collector Booster.
• Another friendly player opened a slightly less valuable premium pack.
• Another participant received a mid-range set.
• The very naughty player drew the short straw: a historically poor booster pack acting as a punchline.

Each card from these packs could then be used for the duration, played from outside the game with mana considered to be colorless. Players who were nice players, their gift proved to be a huge power spike. Meanwhile, mischievous participants essentially got coal in their stocking.

Recreating the Variant with Friends

Although the demonstration match featured a lot of production value, it's one that players can adapt in their own playgroup. Everybody uses their usual Commander deck, and the additional materials needed would be a selection of booster packs with different worth.

A possible drawback could be that if players know ahead of time the prize for being Nice, they all try to get the top prize. Groups can add variety in different ways, like selecting cards together or allowing participants to include cards from their collection not in their deck.

Judging by the entertaining match, Countdown to XT-Mas is definitely a fun method to create laughter when playing with friends. It changes the social interplay at the table in a joyous manner, making it a memorable way to play among Magic enthusiasts in their playgroups.