<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mindskinner" href="#" target="_blank">The Mindskinner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CAbz+J+Harding%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Abz J Harding</a></em></p>
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<p>Hello, and welcome to <em>Am I the Bolas</em>?<strong> This week, let's wrap up and go again!</strong></p>
<p>This column is for all of you out there who have ever played some <em>Magic </em>and wondered if you were the bad guy. I'm here to take in your story with all of its nuances so I can bring some clarity to all those asking, "Am I the Bolas?"</p>
<p>I'm ready to hear you out and offer advice. All you have to do is email amithebolas@gmail.com with your story, a pseudonym you want to use, and of course, only include details you don't mind in the column! You might see your story below one day. You might even hear it on the podcast. Which podcast?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25893" src="https://commandersherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bolcast_logo430x430-300x300.png" alt="" width="249" height="249" /></p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AmITheBolcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THIS PODCAST!</a> Do us a favor a subscribe to us. We've got some fun stuff in the works, and it would mean a lot to Michael, Morgan, and I if you did! Become a Bolcut and get into the Bolcast!</p>
<p>I'm Mike Carrozza, and I'm trying to find something, I can't remember where I put it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Restoration Seminar"></div></div>
<p><i>I know it's around here somewhere.</i></p>
<p>(Post edited for brevity, clarity, and then some.)</p>
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<h2>SUBMISSION</h2>
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<p><em>Hello Mike,</em></p>
<p><em>There's a certain incident that happened in a recent Commander game, and my reaction to it was not taken well by several of my opponents. I was hoping that you could provide your input on how best to handle it if it happens again.</em></p>
<p><em>In this game, I was playing my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Mindskinner" href="#" target="_blank">The Mindskinner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> mill deck. I was playing against Esper Sphinxes, Naya Cats/Dogs, and Temur <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm, Force of Nature" href="#" target="_blank">Storm, Force of Nature</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It was a pretty fun game at first: the Cats/Dogs deck popped off fairly early with a large army of tokens and a very high life total, but I helped the rest of the table mill them out before they could attack thanks to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mindcrank" href="#" target="_blank">Mindcrank</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allowing everyone to get in on the milling action. The only problem was that the Naya player was eliminated very early in the game while everyone else still had at least half their library, meaning that they had to sit there for a while until the game ended. This normally wouldn't be a huge problem, but a certain incident happened that made this game go extremely long...</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm, Force of Nature"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rin and Seri, Inseparable"></div></div>
<p><em>TLDR, I milled out both of my opponents a few turns later, but the Sphinxes deck had a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Volrath&#039;s Stronghold" href="#" target="_blank">Volrath&#039;s Stronghold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> out that not only kept them in the game but also gave them access to every creature that I milled throughout the game. At this point, I was nearly out of resources and forced to start top-decking an answer, while my opponent started taking a long look at the cards in their graveyard to try and find a way out of their predicament. They were spending upwards of 20 minutes on every one of their turns from this point onwards while I was mostly spending less than a minute for my own turns. I was mostly just drawing removal and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s that would stop my opponent from winning the game, which would just repeat this cycle over and over again. After three turns of this, all I had to show was another removal piece and a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Sanctuary" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Sanctuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that would just prolong the game another several turns, while both of the other players who had already been defeated had been sitting there for over half an hour.</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Volrath&#039;s Stronghold"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mindcrank"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mystic Sanctuary"></div></div>
<p><em>I asked the other player if they wanted to concede or offer to draw so we could get another game started, but they instantly refused. They liked trying to find an answer to what they viewed as a puzzle. The Storm player also seemed pretty interested in how this game would turn out. I, however, did not share their sentiments since I only had a limited amount of time before I had to leave and still wanted to get another game in that night, so I instantly conceded, much to the frustration of everyone but the Cats/Dogs player, who had been sitting there for upwards of an hour at this point. We did get another game in, but I was the one knocked out early this time, despite getting a fairly slow start, making me wonder whether this was intentional...</em></p>
<p><em>This brings me to my question:<strong> Am I the Bolas for conceding in this manner?</strong> Should I instead have played it out to the end, even if it didn't leave us with enough time to get another game in? Your insight would be much appreciated.</em></p>
<p><em>Sincerely,</em><br />
<em>Impatient Badger</em></p>
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<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Mindskinner"></div></div>
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<h2>VERDICT</h2>
<p>Thank you for writing and asking me to weigh in on your story. As I mention every week, if folks don't write to me, there's no column, so if you, the reader, want to send me a story, whether it's your own or one from Reddit or a friend's, please send it to amithebolas@gmail.com and I'll get to it here.</p>
<p>This feels deeply relatable. We've all been there: the pressure of a pal eliminated too early in the game, things dragging a while, and your departure time fast-approaching. You want to get another game in, especially when this one has run its course and the interest has waned. Your opponent very clearly wanted to solve this puzzle. I've been in both of your shoes. There's something extremely satisfying about fighting your way from the brink of death, most definitely, so I completely understand your opponent here. That is, except on one part.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clockspinning"></div></div>
<p>If I'm the only one holding up another game and someone has announced their imminent departure, I wouldn't dream of forcing everybody watch me twiddle thumbs until I found an out or my opponent could kill me. It's interesting, don't get me wrong! I love <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Volrath&#039;s Stronghold" href="#" target="_blank">Volrath&#039;s Stronghold</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a graveyard puzzle, but I could not for the life of me allow myself to be the reason other people don't get to play another game just because I was curious. At the very least, I'd tell everybody to pick their next decks and I'd maybe keep trying to solitaire it mentally, but the goose is cooked.</p>
<p>If twenty-minute turns are really happening - I mean actual, full-length twenty minutes - I'd be pretty livid if the stakes are so casual. Reader, do you know how long twenty minutes is? When you're watching someone do something where they aren't necessarily announcing every thought process or making an effort to keep things engaging, it's torture. I'm a stand-up comedian. I've hosted open mics where comics get three minutes to try stuff out. Have you ever watched someone bomb their butt off for three minutes? It feels like fifteen! I doubt that these turns took twenty minutes, if I'm being honest. Sorry, Impatient Badger! I don't know if I buy it! However, if the turns were verifiably 20 minutes to dig out of it, that's bananas.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Time Stop"></div></div>
<p>Here's my other issue with this. If it's down to you and a final opponent, but you want to scoop, guess what: it's now a one-v-one match-up, and you don't owe anybody your presence in the game anymore! You can scoop. There's nothing wrong with scooping if you're done with the game, especially if it's down to you and one other player! You're the only one who should care about <em>you</em> winning, and if you don't care, scoop! ESS SEE OH OH PEE! Scoop! It's your time, I'm sure the Cat/Dog player appreciates it, too.</p>
<p>I can't call you the Bolas here. While I understand where the Sphinx player is coming from, I don't care for this framing that you shouldn't be allowed to scoop because they and the Storm player want to see how it plays out. Sometimes the game doesn't break your way! Sorry!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brush Off"></div></div>


Am I the Bolas? - Concede to Play Again

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stop That" href="#" target="_blank">Stop That</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://ansonmaddocks.com/">Anson Maddocks</a>)</h6>
<h1>We usually like to read articles about how to best win a game of <em><strong>Magic: The Gathering</strong></em>,</h1>
<p>strategies on how to better your approach to the game. I'm not interested in that today. I want to talk about the approach we take, when we lose. When we concede a game, how do we go about it? This is, funnily, not a big deal in competitive 1v1 formats like Standard, but in Commander, it's a big deal.</p>
<p>Conceding a game when someone declares you as a target for a high value spell could potentially lead to irreparable damage to the board state for the other players.</p>
<p>In Commander, we all know that as a multiplayer format, the game doesn't necessarily end when you concede. In games like Standard, concession is encouraged to keep the games snappy and worthwhile.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inevitable Defeat"></div></div>
<p>When a player sees they've lost, they concede, in Competitive 1v1 formats. I want to talk about the the potential perspectives and feelings surrounding the topic of concession in Commander.</p>
<h2>"Da Rules"</h2>
<p>Before we get into how we feel, <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/rules">it's important to discuss the official, Wizards of the Coast's, ruling on the topic</a>. Trust me, pro instant speed scoopers in Commander are quick to bring up the comprehensible ruling on the topic. Rule 104.3a reads: "A player can concede the game at any time.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lose Hope"></div></div>
<p>A player who concedes leaves the game immediately. That player loses the game." So, according to Wizards of the Coast, scooping happens instantaneously. Before we discuss the morals of this, we have to discuss what happens when a player leaves the game.</p>
<p>According to rule 800.4a: "When a player leaves the game, all objects (see rule 109) owned by that player leave the game and any effects which give that player control of any objects or players end. Then, if that player controlled any objects on the stack not represented by cards, those objects cease to exist.</p>
<p>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 they left, priority passes to the next player in turn order who’s still in the game."</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lose Focus"></div></div>
<p>So, when someone concedes, everything about their board state, instantaneously changes. This is important to consider. Reading through some of 800.4: If combat damage would be assigned to that player, that damage isn’t assigned; If an object requires that player to pay a cost or choose whether to pay a cost, that cost is not paid; and mostly importantly according to 109.1.</p>
<p>An object is an ability on the stack, a card, a copy of a card, a token, a spell, a permanent, or an emblem so all objects owned by that player leave the game and any effects which give that player control of any objects or players end. Now that we're acquainted with the rules, now for the blood.</p>
<h2>Timing</h2>
<p>The biggest aspect of the etiquette of conceding focuses solely on the speed in which you concede. The colloquial term for this is instant speed scooping and sorcery speed scooping. Instant speed scooping allows a player to remove themselves from a game at any time, as written by WOTC.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Impeccable Timing"></div></div>
<p>It allows a player to leave a game which, from what I see online about this topic, is usually a miserable to continue playing. And they can do that on their own terms.</p>
<p>If they're sitting through a miserable Stax game, with no win in sight or an indeterminate infinite combo that the opponent insists on demonstrating, they can do that whenever they need to.</p>
<p>It also allows for the salty scoop as well, the spiteful one that might affect the games state or not, but simply when you no longer want to be apart of the game. We've all been there.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lose Calm"></div></div>
<p>The alternative is the sorcery speed scoop, which is also known as scooping on your turn. The idea is to let everyone have a chance to do what they need before you scoop.</p>
<p>This one is a little finicky because players will also just like to ask permission to scoop at instant speed in lieu of sorcery speed and consider them equal. "Can I scoop if you don't need me in the game for your turn."</p>
<p>Sorcery speed scooping allows triggers to happen as they need to before removing themselves from the game. It allows player dependent effects to continue until all players have had a chance the utilize this. An <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Insurrection" href="#" target="_blank">Insurrection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> could be ruined by a instant speed scoop by the wrong player.</p>
<p>It disrupts the game state by scooping at instant speed, so sorcery speed scooping attempts to mitigate that. Asking permission also mitigates that.</p>
<p>It wouldn't be an opinion piece if I didn't include my 2 cents. I think for the most part, sorcery speed scooping is the way. We want to win because of our genius of the game.</p>
<p>We don't want to spite another player's win while losing ourselves. We're not trying to king-make, so scooping at instant speed seems spiteful to the person who is trying to win. However, for some reasons I'll get into in a second, scooping at instant speed should be an option as well.</p>
<h2>Doing the Thing</h2>
<p>Another contentious point about concessions is the feeling and reasoning behind the act. I know that's vague, but follow me. Sometimes a game of Commander is down to two players, putting their heart and soul into the end of the game. One player manages to play two components to an infinite combo.</p>
<p>The other player notices and has no interaction and concedes on the spot. The first player might feel some kind of way not being able to play out their combo at least once before their opponent concedes. They built their deck to do the thing and they want the opportunity to do that thing: demonstrate the loop, or finish out their turn to win without the loop.</p>
<p>This is the exact sentiment that brought me to writing this article (and posting about it on my socials to get ideas from the community).</p>
<p>My thoughts here, personally, are that you've already won in a 1v1 when I concede. Conceding is a legitimate win to the other player, and it should feel like that. I know it might not feel as good for some players, but it is still a win. Why should I have to walk through your combo to know that I've lost?</p>
<p>I know it will only take 3 seconds to demonstrate the loop, and to be really honest, I'm willing to see it if the first time you've ever done it, or you're not sure about the line in it and are testing, but if it's just to win the way you want, I'm out.</p>
<p>It seems like you're rubbing my face into a loss. This is why a lot of players insist on scooping at instant speed even when it's high key toxic: to protect against players that want to rub their faces into a loss or a player who wants to make the experience un-fun for the other player. But maybe that's the salt in me. I imagine you can feel the heavy levels of salt through the screen.</p>
<h2>What is the Right Etiquette?</h2>
<p>Hey, if left to me, it will always be a concession at sorcery speed unless the person you're playing with is trying to rub it in your face. Sympathy first, flexibility when needed. The interesting thing is that concession is admitting a loss, which is tough in and of itself. No one likes to lose, to say they have nothing left, but this article is more about how that action affects others.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jaws of Defeat"></div></div>
<p>In Commander everything we do doesn't just affect our board states and our emotions but the board states and emotions of our opponents. What exactly is most important in a game of Commander: personal fun or the fun of the table? It's tough to say when those two things diverge in a game.</p>
<p>Either way, I know I took sides with this article, but take my thoughts as a suggestion. I know how unique everyone's experiences are and these aren't hard and fast rules. I see the ultimate merit to both sides of the argument, and because I've shared a lot of your sentiments.</p>
<p>We can't transpose a hard rule for every play group. We can't expect others to accept our personal expectations on a game, just like we can't get people to not lie about the power levels--sorry, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wotc-introduces-new-bracket-system-for-edh">Bracket</a>--of their decks just to get a cheap win. However, we can advocate as much as we can and avoid players we don't enjoy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Closing Statement"></div></div>
<p>I will always end an article with the same thing: talk to your pod. Talk about your reasons for wanting to scoop at instant or sorcery speed and discuss your feelings on it. It's not about what is right or wrong, it's about compromise to make the experience best for everyone.</p>
<p>Commander is an incredibly social game and requires social solutions. Maybe WOTC sees a need here, like they have with the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/bracketeering-eternal-might">Brackets</a>, to discuss a Commander specific rule on scooping. Perhaps they don't need to. I want to hear your thoughts! <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/mike-carrozza">For more social aspects of Commander, check out Am I the Bolas</a>.</p>
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concede

Am I the Bolas? - Concede to Play Again

When Should You Concede in Commander?