Tournament Rules (MTR / IPG Highlights)
More to explore · intermediate
For most casual Commander tables, none of this matters. But it's good to know what changes when you sit down at a sanctioned event or a rules-strict table.
The two documents
- MTR -- Magic Tournament Rules. The "how a tournament runs" rulebook. Deck registration, side events, draws, time extensions, intentional draws, etc.
- IPG -- Infraction Procedure Guide. The judging rulebook. Defines penalties for slow play, missed triggers, looking at extra cards, marked sleeves, etc.
Both are at <https://magic.wizards.com/en/rules>.
Things that change at a sanctioned event
- Decklists are required. Sealed event tournaments demand a registered list before play.
- Sleeves must be uniform. No different art on the back of one card vs the rest. Marked sleeves are a penalty.
- Slow play has formal penalties. In casual play, "slow" is a social problem; in tournaments, it's a Warning -> Game Loss escalation.
- Missed triggers (you forgot to put your trigger on the stack) generally stay missed -- in casual play we usually let people back up; in tournaments, the trigger is missed unless catching it now would be detrimental, in which case the opponent decides.
- Looking at extra cards (drawing two when you should've drawn one) is a Game Rule Violation, with structured remedies (shuffle the extra back, etc.).
- Outside notes / coaching are forbidden. No phone references mid-game.
Commander-specific tournament rules
- cEDH events typically use the standard Commander banlist + sometimes additional restrictions.
- Time limits matter -- a 90-minute round means the game must wrap up. If it goes to time, an "end-of-round procedure" determines who wins (often "the player at highest life, then commander damage tiebreaker").
- Concession rules: you can concede at any point, including in response to a spell. Useful as a "deck protection" trick -- if you'd lose your deck to mill, concede first so it stays "yours."
Common penalties (IPG)
| Infraction | Penalty (Regular REL) | Penalty (Competitive REL) |
|---|---|---|
| Missed trigger | None usually | Warning |
| Game rule violation (e.g. wrong life total) | Warning | Warning -> Game Loss |
| Tournament error (decklist mistake) | Warning | Game Loss |
| Drawing extra cards | Warning | Game Loss |
| Looking at extra cards | Warning | Warning |
| Improper drawing | Warning | Warning |
| Slow play | Warning | Warning |
| Cheating | Game Loss + investigation | Match Loss + DQ |
When to call a judge
In any sanctioned event, when in doubt -- raise your hand and call the judge. They're not mad; they're there to help you.
Source
- MTR: <https://media.wizards.com/2024/dci/mtr.pdf> (URL changes per release)
- IPG: <https://media.wizards.com/2024/dci/ipg.pdf>
- Always go through <https://magic.wizards.com/en/rules> for the current versions.