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Already regarded as Magic: The Gathering's most interactive way to play, the Elder Dragon Highlander format just got a seasonal update just in time for the end of the year. As part of a holiday-themed show, creators Josh Lee Kwai and Jimmy Wong demonstrated a four-player game dubbed "Countdown to XT-Mas."

The Mechanics of the Holiday Format Works

The basic idea involves a straightforward layer added on top of a normal Commander match. A rotating indicator circulates around the table. When it the current player's turn, the action halts for a moment. Each participant makes a hidden choice if they will be being Nice or Naughty with the help of indicator cards.

The participants flip their card together. After that, they apply the effect tied to their own choice, first with the player holding the token. This marker is subsequently handed to the right. The countdown ticks up by one step, and standard Commander carries on.

These decisions become more significant over time continue, feeling finely tuned.

Increasing Effects

Early rounds provided modest, shared boons for being Nice, including life gain or Clue tokens. On the other hand, Naughty paths usually provided personal upsides, frequently targeting another player. One round let players who picked Naughty receive a powerful airborne creature. Anyone who selected Nice made a 1/1 Toy creature token for all participants.

Santa's Big Arrival

On the final round, Saint Nick personally arrived, changing the match. Based on the tally of a participant chose Naughty versus Nice, Santa distributed wrapped prizes. Outwardly, these were deck boxes, but held Magic booster packs of varying value.

• The most benevolent player was awarded a premium Collector Booster.
• Another friendly player got a another type of premium pack.
• Another participant ended up with a mid-range booster pack.
• The most mischievous player drew the short straw: a notoriously weak set that's essentially a joke.

Each card opened could then be playable for the rest of the game, used as a bonus by spending mana as though it were colorless. For the nicer players, their present proved to be a huge power spike. However, those who chose Naughty were given coal in their stocking.

Playing the Game with Friends

While the video featured a lot of custom components, this is a concept that players can easily try in their own playgroup. Participants would bring their regular EDH deck, and the only extra items required would be several MTG packs from different sets.

A possible drawback could be that if everyone know ahead of time what being nice gets you, players might strategize for the most valuable gift. You could change this with alternatives, like drafting cards from a communal pile or allowing participants to include specific cards from outside the game.

Judging by how the format played out, Countdown to XT-Mas proves to be a fun method to spread some joy this holiday season. It changes the strategy between players in a fun and manner, making it a memorable experience among Magic enthusiasts in their playgroups.