<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Serum Powder|DST|138" href="#" target="_blank">Serum Powder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CMatt+Thompson%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Thompson</a></em></p>
<p>Every <em>Magic</em> player has drawn an unplayable opening hand. Not enough lands? Been there. Spells too expensive to cast? Done that. In a card game like <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>, mulligans help players start the game with a playable hand.</p>
<p>Recognizing bad hands, making effective mulligan choices, and building decks with mulligans in mind are all critical <em>Magic</em> skills, and EDHREC is here to help.</p>
<p>Reference this guide for mulligan rules, reasons to mulligan, and strategy tips. Check out Other Ways to Mulligan for a brief history on mulligans, and alternative mulligan methods.</p>


<p>Magic's Comprehensive Rules document defines a mulligan, and details the circumstances and process for taking a mulligan.</p>
<p>According to the glossary: "To take a mulligan is to reject a prospective opening hand in favor of a new one. See rule 103.5"</p>
<p>The full text of rule 103.5 is a substantial wall of text. Let's start with a short summary:</p>
<p>At the start of a game, players draw a hand of cards. Then, in turn order, they declare whether they are taking a mulligan. Players take mulligans by shuffling their unwanted hands back into their libraries. For every mulligan a player takes, that player must put one card from their starting hand on the bottom of their library.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Judge&#039;s Familiar|RVR|192"></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">That summary wouldn't pass Azorius scrutiny.</p>
<p>This is <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>, the game we all love for its complexity. The mulligan rules are complicated, but the details are important. Here's the full text of rule 103.5:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>Each player draws a number of cards equal to their starting hand size, which is normally seven. (Some effects can modify a player's starting hand size.) A player who is dissatisfied with their initial hand may take a mulligan. First, the starting player declares whether they will take a mulligan. Then each other player in turn order does the same. Once each player has made a declaration, all players who decided to take mulligans do so at the same time. To take a mulligan a player shuffles the cards in their hand back into their library, draws a new hand of cards equal to their starting hand size, then puts a number of those cards equal to the number of times that player has taken a mulligan on the bottom of their library in any order. Once a player chooses not to take a mulligan, the remaining cards become that player's opening hand, and that player may not take any further mulligans. This process is then repeated until no player takes a mulligan. A player can take mulligans until their opening hand would be zero cards, after which, they may not take further mulligans.</em></p></blockquote>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Isperia, Supreme Judge"></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">Isperia approves.</p>
<p>The full text of the rule is a lot to process, and this guide breaks it all down into sections. Before exploring those sections, there's one more important detail to consider: the "free" mulligan.</p>
<p>This concept is codified in rule 103.5e for the benefit of Commander and other socially-minded <em>Magic</em> formats.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>In a multiplayer game and in any Brawl game, the first mulligan a player takes doesn't count toward the number of cards that player will put on the bottom of their library, or the number of mulligans that player may take. Subsequent mulligans are counted toward those numbers as normal.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>This rule exists in the interest of preventing non-games, and gets its own section later in this guide.</p>


<p>This section walks through the mulligan process one step at a time.</p>
<p><em>Each player draws a number of cards equal to their starting hand size, which is normally seven. A player who is dissatisfied with their initial hand may take a mulligan.</em></p>
<p>Can a player who is satisfied with their initial hand take a mulligan anyway? If they did, how would their opponents know?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Conspiracy Theorist|STX|94"></div></div>
<p>Absurd mulligan conspiracy aside, this is where the mulligan process starts in earnest.</p>
<p><em>First, the starting player declares whether they will take a mulligan. Then each other player in turn order does the same. Once each player has made a declaration, all players who decided to take mulligans do so at the same time.</em></p>
<p>Mulligans happen after the players determine turn order. This is strategically important in two-player games, because the first player doesn't draw on their first turn. In multiplayer formats, like Commander, every player draws on their first turn, so the sequence has less strategic impact.</p>
<p><em>To take a mulligan a player shuffles the cards in their hand back into their library, draws a new hand of cards equal to their starting hand size,...</em></p>
<p>Shuffle the unsatisfactory hand back into the deck, draw another seven. Simple enough. The next step is a minor mulligan tripping hazard.</p>
<p><em>then puts a number of those cards equal to the number of times that player has taken a mulligan on the bottom of their library in any order.</em></p>
<p>Except for a free multiplayer mulligan, every mulligan counts, and players must start the game with fewer cards in hand. For every mulligan that counts, the player puts one card from their hand on the bottom of their library. These cards can be placed in any order, which occasionally matters.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grenzo, Dungeon Warden|CNS|47"></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">Grenzo players love this rule.</p>
<p><em>Once a player chooses not to take a mulligan, the remaining cards become that player's opening hand, and that player may not take any further mulligans. This process is then repeated until no player takes a mulligan.</em></p>
<p>At some point, each player should commit to playing a hand. Until that point, players wash, rinse, and repeat the process of declaring a mulligan and shuffling away unwanted hands.</p>
<p><em>A player can take mulligans until their opening hand would be zero cards, after which, they may not take further mulligans.</em></p>
<p>Conventional <em>Magic</em> wisdom is to never mulligan to a hand with fewer than five cards. It might be legal to mulligan to zero, but it's not a recipe for success.</p>


<p>Rule 103.5e supersedes the normal mulligan process. Here it is again for reference:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>In a multiplayer game and in any Brawl game, the first mulligan a player takes doesn't count toward the number of cards that player will put on the bottom of their library, or the number of mulligans that player may take. Subsequent mulligans are counted toward those numbers as normal.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>We commonly refer to this as a free mulligan. The free mulligan rule affords Commander players two chances to keep a full hand of seven. After the free mulligan, every other mulligan counts normally.</p>
<p>Or does it?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Corrupt Court Official|SNC|70"></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;">In some play groups, mulligans are flexible like the justice system on New Capenna.</p>
<p>Many Commander players or playgroups ignore the official mulligan rules, and allow unlimited mulligans in their games. There are some solid arguments in favor of unlimited mulligans, and some strong reasons to follow the rules as written.</p>
<p>Common justifications for gratuitous mulligans include the social nature of Commander, and game balance. We want everyone to have a good time, and a good game starts with a good hand. We also want Commander games to be balanced, and balance is easier to achieve if everyone has a playable first seven.</p>
<p>All other things being equal, these are great reasons to set the official rules aside and focus on having fun.</p>
<p>On the other hand, many players  prefer to abide by the official mulligan rules. The game is fair when everyone plays by the rules. The case in favor of following the mulligan rules has two main points. The rules encourage honest deck building, and honest gameplay.</p>
<p>Unlimited freedom to craft a favorable starting hand leads some players to build decks with mana bases that wouldn't be sustainable in a strict mulligan setting. Especially bad actors exploit unlimited mulligans to search for specific game pieces.</p>
<p>Each player should decide for themselves what sort of mulligan climate they are comfortable with. Note that the examples above are extremes. There are plenty of other ways to moderate mulligans, and this guide discusses some of them in later sections.</p>
<p>Self-contained playgroups will ideally self-regulate to a mulligan norm that works for them. In public venues, playing by the rules promotes a level playing field among strangers.</p>


<p>What does a good or bad starting hand look like? Why should you mulligan? When should you keep a hand that looks bad? These questions and more simmer under the surface of every new game of <em>Magic</em>. Whether through instinct or intellect, players develop their own mulligan habits.</p>
<p>Let's look at some key strategic points to consider in every starting hand.</p>
<p>Keep commanders and companions in mind with all of these keys. Any card the deck can always access is an important consideration before declaring a mulligan.</p>
<h3>Curve</h3>
<p>The mana curve of an opening hand should scale to the mana curve of the deck.</p>
<div id="attachment_172772" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-172772" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-172772" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence-1024x566.png" alt="A screenshot of a prospective opening hand on the Archidekt Playtester." width="1024" height="566" srcset="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence-1024x566.png 1024w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence-300x166.png 300w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence-768x425.png 768w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence.png 1231w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-172772" class="wp-caption-text">This hand has a good curve.</p></div>
<p>The hand pictured above is from a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Longshot, Rebel Bowman" href="#" target="_blank">Longshot, Rebel Bowman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck. There are spells for two, three, and four mana. With four lands, this hand curves out. In a vacuum, it's a great hand.</p>
<p>Considering the deck's commander, and the 92 other cards in the deck, this first seven would not be ideal. More on that later.</p>
<h3>Color</h3>
<p>An opening hand needs the right color production, or the ability to fix colors.</p>
<div id="attachment_172787" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-172787" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-172787" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color-1024x541.png" alt="A screenshot of a prospective opening hand on the Archidekt Playtester." width="1024" height="541" srcset="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color-1024x541.png 1024w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color-300x159.png 300w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color-768x406.png 768w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color.png 1307w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-172787" class="wp-caption-text">This hand can fix colors.</p></div>
<p>Check out this hand from the <em>Dominaria United</em> (<em>DMC</em>) <a href="https://edhrec.com/precon/painbow" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Painbow</em> preconstructed deck</a>. This hand could cast the deck's commander, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jared Carthalion|DMC|2" href="#" target="_blank">Jared Carthalion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, on turn five. That's pretty good for a two-land hand.</p>
<p>Is it good enough to keep? We'll discuss that further in sequencing.</p>
<h3>Plan</h3>
<p>Turn planning starts with the first hand. Even a hand that makes enough mana of the right colors can be a bad hand if the cards don't advance the game plan.</p>
<div id="attachment_172785" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-172785" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-172785" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2-1024x558.png" alt="A screenshot of a prospective first hand on the Archidekt Playtester." width="1024" height="558" srcset="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2-1024x558.png 1024w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2-300x163.png 300w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2-768x418.png 768w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2.png 1267w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-172785" class="wp-caption-text">This is a hand with a plan.</p></div>
<p>This prospective hand comes from a deck with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher" href="#" target="_blank">Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cultist of the Absolute" href="#" target="_blank">Cultist of the Absolute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as commanders. There's enough mana to cast all the spells and both commanders. More importantly, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Retrofitter Foundry" href="#" target="_blank">Retrofitter Foundry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make tokens to sacrifice for Cultist of the Absolute.</p>
<p>This hand isn't without problems. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tainted Strike" href="#" target="_blank">Tainted Strike</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mirage Mirror" href="#" target="_blank">Mirage Mirror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are both situational. They might be dead cards. Is that okay to keep? It's time to talk about sequencing.</p>
<h3>Sequencing</h3>
<p>Curve, color, and plan all contribute to the hand's sequence. A hand with good sequencing can intentionally pursue the deck's goals in the first few turns.</p>
<p>Of those three example hands, only one of them is a keeper. Let's look at them again.</p>
<div id="attachment_172772" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-172772" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-172772" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence-1024x566.png" alt="A screenshot of a prospective opening hand on the Archidekt Playtester." width="1024" height="566" srcset="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence-1024x566.png 1024w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence-300x166.png 300w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence-768x425.png 768w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence.png 1231w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-172772" class="wp-caption-text">This hand has a good curve, but a bad sequence for its commander.</p></div>
<p>The <a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/17993860/longshot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Longshot, Rebel Bowman deck</a> wants to chain low-cost noncreature spells and refill its hand. There's only one noncreature spell in the hand, and the other cards are all payoffs with no gas. Mulligan.</p>
<div id="attachment_172787" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-172787" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-172787" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color-1024x541.png" alt="A screenshot of a prospective opening hand on the Archidekt Playtester." width="1024" height="541" srcset="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color-1024x541.png 1024w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color-300x159.png 300w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color-768x406.png 768w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Color.png 1307w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-172787" class="wp-caption-text">This hand can fix colors, but it's short on lands.</p></div>
<p>The <em>Painbow</em> hand could cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obsidian Obelisk" href="#" target="_blank">Obsidian Obelisk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on turn two, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faeburrow Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Faeburrow Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on three, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Transguild Courier" href="#" target="_blank">Transguild Courier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on four to play the commander out on five. That's a sequence, but it's also a house of cards built on three nonland permanents.</p>
<p>It's a tempting gamble, but the safe play is to mulligan for more lands.</p>
<div id="attachment_172785" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2.png"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-172785" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-172785" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2-1024x558.png" alt="A screenshot of a prospective opening hand on the Archidekt Playtester." width="1024" height="558" srcset="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2-1024x558.png 1024w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2-300x163.png 300w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2-768x418.png 768w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Mulligan_Sequence_2.png 1267w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-172785" class="wp-caption-text">This is a hand with a plan, and sequences nicely.</p></div>
<p>The starting hand for <a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/17796032/absolute_vhal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vhal + Cultist deck</a> makes the needed colors, plays ahead of curve, and plans to win. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Retrofitter Foundry" href="#" target="_blank">Retrofitter Foundry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comes down on turn one, the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ebony Fly" href="#" target="_blank">Ebony Fly</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on two, Vhal on three, and Cultist of the Absolute on four.</p>
<p>In just four turns, the deck presents a threat with some flexibility and resilience.</p>
<p>Keep hands like this.</p>
<p>Unless...</p>
<h3>Interaction</h3>
<p>Unless a proactive sequence isn't enough. Sometimes we need removal or protection in our starting hand. Maybe someone else is playing a kill-on-sight commander. Maybe we plan to be the archenemy and we know we'll need protection.</p>
<p>Interaction is another axis to consider when deciding to mulligan. Look around the table and decide if the hand needs to be proactive or reactive.</p>
<p>Ultimately no starting hand can do it all; it's only seven cards. But considering curve, color, plan, sequence and interaction will lead to better mulligans and better games.</p>


<p>Historically, <em>Magic's </em>mulligans bear the names of locations for the premier events where the rules were implemented. The current system is called the London Mulligan after Mythic Championship London in 2019. Rules for the previous iterations are in the glossary of the comprehensive rules. Both of these systems were retired by popular demand.</p>
<h3>Paris Mulligan</h3>
<p>Using the Paris mulligan, a player who took a mulligan shuffled their hand into their library and drew one fewer card.</p>
<h3>Vancouver Mulligan</h3>
<p>Using the Vancouver mulligan, a player who took a mulligan shuffled their hand into their library and drew one fewer card. After choosing to not mulligan, a player who took a mulligan looked at the top card of their library and could put it on the bottom of their library.</p>


<p>The Gis mulligan is a favorite among Commander's old guard. It was named after the judge who invented it, Gis Hoogendijk.</p>
<div id="attachment_172868" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot_20260103-203105_Discord.jpg"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-172868" loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-172868" src="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot_20260103-203105_Discord-1024x191.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="191" srcset="https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot_20260103-203105_Discord-1024x191.jpg 1024w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot_20260103-203105_Discord-300x56.jpg 300w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot_20260103-203105_Discord-768x144.jpg 768w, https://edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Screenshot_20260103-203105_Discord.jpg 1268w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-172868" class="wp-caption-text">Sheldon Menery told the origin of the Gis mulligan on Discord.</p></div>
<p>Using the Gis mulligan, the player exiles their unwanted hand instead of shuffling it into their deck. The player then draws a fresh seven cards. This may be repeated until the player has an acceptable hand. Then the player shuffles all the exiled cards back into their library.</p>


<p>Here's two mulligan alternatives to try with your play group, and the first one appears on a real <em>Magic </em>card.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Backup Plan|CNS|2"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Backup Plan|CNS|2" href="#" target="_blank">Backup Plan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows a player to draw two hands and choose one to keep, and they can still mulligan that hand.</p>
<p>Another potential house rule is loosely inspired by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Every player draws ten cards, and places three back on top of the library. While the card quantities may vary, the goal is smoother starts with fewer shuffles. A traditional mulligan can still be used to supplement the Brainstorm approach.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brainstorm"></div></div>
<p>If these methods don't work for your group, you could always make up your own. Who knows, maybe it will catch on?</p>


The EDHREC Guide to Mulligans in Commander

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wheel of Fortune" href="#" target="_blank">Wheel of Fortune</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| art by <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/search?artistName=eq~Daniel_Gelon">Daniel Gelon</a></h6>
<p>We've all had to mulligan. It's the nature of randomness of any game even with four of a kind. My question, as it has always been, is are we strict enough about mulligans in Commander, or perhaps too strict, or perhaps it hasn't been well defined or enforced either way.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Black Vise"></div></div>
<h2>The History of the Mulligan in MTG</h2>
<p>Before we can talk about Commander, a format that only rose to popularity enough to be a recognized format in 2013, we have to talk about <em>Magic</em> in August of 1993.</p>
<p>I found out today that the original game of <em>Magic</em> had no mulligan rules. Its game designers were worried about the very thing that is the crux of most mulligan arguments: They believed it rewarded poor deck building.</p>
<h3>The 1st Mulligan in <em>Magic</em></h3>
<p>However, mulligans were instated literally less than a year later, in 1994. Players likely proved that the system was as-then currently too strict to reward even good deckbuilding.</p>
<p>At least, that's my theory. This mulligan consisted of a player revealing their opening hand, showing no spells or no lands, and drafting a fresh hand. You could only do this once per game. This didn't last by itself very long.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wheel of Fortune"></div></div>
<h3>The Paris Mulligan</h3>
<p>In 1997, the Paris Mulligan rose to popularity. It was suggested as an alternative by Matt Hydra, a Pro Tour player. Mulligans would happen after starting player was determined, but before any other actions.</p>
<p>If dissatisfied with their hand, a player could put their hand back in the deck and draw one less than the the starting hand, all without revealing their hand.</p>
<p>For each mulligan, the player would draw one less card, until they were satisfied or were left with no cards in hand.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gauntlet of Might"></div></div>
<h3>Vancouver Mulligan</h3>
<p>Surprisingly, when I first played a prerelease in 2016 for <em>Kaladesh</em>, they were still using The Paris Mulligan at the local LGS I was at.</p>
<p>This is interesting, because the Vancouver Mulligan went into syndicated ruling effect in 2015. This consisted of the same rules as the Paris Mulligan, but the person with fewer than the starting hand could Scry 1.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mana Vault"></div></div>
<h3>The London Mulligan</h3>
<p>The London Mulligan (the system we have in place now) was established in <em>Core Set 2020</em> . The rule is: If a player is dissatisfied with their hand after starting player is decided, they may shuffle their hand back in, draw up to seven cards, and put back one card at the bottom of their library in any order for each additional mulligan. No scrying is allowed.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nevinyrral&#039;s Disk"></div></div>
<h2>Commander Mulligan</h2>
<p>It's actually news to me that the official rules for mulligans for Commander were as they were. I've always heard that Commander has a "free" mulligan. Meaning if you don't like your first hand, you may draw another 7 with no penalty or additional rulings.</p>
<p>Well, there is no official ruling saying this is true. There are a lot of informal rules, but officially Commander follows competitive format rulings on mulligans.</p>
<p>It's important to note however, most players follow the free mulligan rule more casually. The Commander Rule Committee (CRC) advises that even in 1v1 Commander, the free mulligan be used.</p>
<p>The CRC goes one step further and says to set aside hands instead of shuffling them into the deck to save time on shuffling.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Savannah Lions"></div></div>
<h3>Additional Commander Mulligan Types</h3>
<p>There is also the Partial Paris Mulligan, which allows players to set aside any amount of cards from their hand and draw that many minus one for each mulligan. Once the hand is selected, the set side cards are shuffled in.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sol Ring"></div></div>
<h2>The Sides and Their Merits</h2>
<p>Now that we have a good understanding of where mulligans come from, we have some frame of reference. There isn't a ton online about the reasoning behind some of the updates to mulligans throughout the years, but we can take some educated guesses.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Howling Mine"></div></div>
<h3>Strict Mulligan Rulings</h3>
<p>Definition: Following the rules of competitive pay. No free mulligans or only one.</p>
<p>This is at the core of competitive play. We want to know when we play competitively, we minimize as much randomness as we can.</p>
<p>We tune our decks to ensure that it plays as consistently as possible. With a strict mulligan rule, it allows some insight into the strengths and weaknesses of a deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Ur-Dragon"></div></div>
<p>An example may be: If in your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Ur-Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">The Ur-Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck you have to mulligan a lot because most of the permanents in your hand are too costly mana-value wise, it might be a indication that your deck needs more early game options.</p>
<p>You might also discover that in testing with your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bristly Bill, Spine Sower" href="#" target="_blank">Bristly Bill, Spine Sower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> landfall deck you're not seeing anything but lands. It may be that you don't have enough draw in your deck, or that you might be running a touch too many lands. Mulligans can help show you this.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bristly Bill, Spine Sower"></div></div>
<p>If you find in your <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Coram, the Undertaker" href="#" target="_blank">Coram, the Undertaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck you're not managing to get Coram out fast enough, you might not be running enough ramp. That could be why you haven't been seeing them consistently in your opening hands.</p>
<p>Additionally, it's important as a skill to see whether a hand is worth keeping. Don't push your luck. It's a skill of its own knowing what's keepable in your deck based on how you've built it. Strict mulligan rule help hone this skill.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coram, the Undertaker"></div></div>
<p>All in all, stricter mulligan rules clarify how efficient you can be as a deck builder, and that is something worth exploring.</p>
<h3>Loose Mulligan Rules</h3>
<p>Definition: basically an amount of mulligans based on vibes.</p>
<p>This is at the core of casual play. We want to know when we play casually that we minimize how "unfun" a game can be for other payers.</p>
<p>Specifically, we want to allow any amount of chances for a player to have a fulfilling game of Commander. With a loose mulligan rule, it allows us to maximize the amount of fun the whole tables has on average.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mystic Remora"></div></div>
<p>We've all been in a bad rut where a well-tuned mana base or an efficient deck just has an attitude with you and won't draw well and won't shuffle well. I've once shuffled my deck and saw the same 4 cards in each opening hand.</p>
<p>In a deck that runs 60 singleton, plus some number of unique non-basic lands cards, it's likely that the odds be against you in getting a consistent hand.</p>
<p>We know that <em>Magic </em>sets sometimes print functionally redundant cards, like running <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path to Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Path to Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Running cards that function essentially the same is the key to optimization in a deck, but sometimes the randomness is truly just the randomness.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Pongify"></div></div>
<p>It's tough looking at a player who is going to have to sit through a one hour game and tell them they have to play with two cards in hand versus another player who is keeping a solid seven.</p>
<p>Additionally, even if a player deck is unoptimized, is it worth making them play through hours of gameplay to prove that to them?</p>
<p>Most people end up mulligan-ing around three times with loose mulligans rules, and while this can be annoying, social pressure usually encourages them to explain what elements of their decks they're running with.</p>
<p>People will ask after the third mulligan: How many lands and mana rocks are you running? What is the curve of your deck? How many creatures are you running?</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Three Visits"></div></div>
<p>All in all, casual mulligans allow for more consistently fun games for everyone.</p>
<h2>Synthesizing the Mulligan</h2>
<p>In writing this article, I've dug up a lot of research about mulligans and it's changed my understanding. I don't think it changes my personal stance, but it clarifies some things for me.</p>
<p>I think Loose Mulligans are better as long as there is a bit of social pressure. I'm not letting someone craft their perfect hand, but I want them to have a playable seven.</p>
<p>My main reasoning here starts with the fact that Commander is a traditionally casual format. The free mulligan that has made its way into the format emphasizes the typical casualness of the game.</p>
<p>We want everyone to have fun more than we want people to build a perfectly optimized deck. If I want that kind of restriction, I would play CEDH.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tymna the Weaver"></div></div>
<p>I'm not saying we shouldn't build competitively in the casual format. We all do. This is why <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/wotc-introduces-new-bracket-system-for-edh">the Bracket System</a> is so important. It's just what our priorities should be.</p>
<p>Secondly, in my experience, what makes me decks more efficient isn't just what I see in a mulligan or two.</p>
<p>I learn far more about my decks when it loses to a deck that is just that more efficient, even when my deck performs as intended.</p>
<p>If my deck needs more card draw, better ramp, or lower mana value spells, I can still play may deck at peak and understand those problems.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Darksteel Forge"></div></div>
<p>In my experience, I've just had to play against other tuned decks to understand my weaknesses. Iron sharpens iron. I often notice my lack of draw when another deck does it better and so on.</p>
<p>Lastly, I didn't realize how gradually mulligans have rewarded players more over time. Even in competitive formats, the strictness of the mulligan couldn't cancel out the randomness of the game. But perhaps that's a little naive of me. Let me know, I'm <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/strixhavendropout.bsky.social">@strixhavendropout on Blue Sky</a>.</p>


mulligan

The EDHREC Guide to Mulligans in Commander

Should We Be Strict About Mulligans in Commander?