Commander (EDH) Rules Guide: How the Game Actually Works
Commander (EDH) is one of the most popular ways to play Magic: The Gathering—but it plays very differently from standard formats. Bigger decks, more players, longer games, and a heavy focus on interaction make it both chaotic and strategic.
This guide walks you through the core rules of gameplay in EDH, from setup to winning the game.
Game setup
Before the game begins, each player prepares:
- A 100-card deck (singleton format — no duplicates except basic lands)
- A Commander (a legendary creature or special eligible card)
- Starting life total: 40 life
- Multiplayer table: typically 3–4 players
Starting Zones
Each player begins with:
- Library (your deck)
- Hand (7 cards drawn at start)
- Battlefield (empty at start)
- Graveyard
- Command Zone (where your commander starts)
Turn Structure
Each turn follows the same structure:
1. Beginning Phase
- Untap Step → Untap all your cards
- Upkeep Step → Trigger abilities resolve
- Draw Step → Draw one card
2. Main Phase (Pre-Combat)
- Play a land (once per turn)
- Cast spells (creatures, artifacts, etc.)
3. Combat Phase
- Declare attackers
- Declare blockers
- Deal combat damage
4. Main Phase (Post-Combat)
- Cast more spells if needed
5. Ending Phase
- End step (effects resolve)
- Cleanup (discard down to hand size if needed)
Multiplayer Rules & Flow
Commander is built for multiplayer, which changes everything:
Turn Order
- Players take turns clockwise
Interaction
- You can target any player, not just the one next to you
Politics
- Deals, alliances, and table talk are part of the game
Threat Assessment
- Players decide who is the biggest danger—not just who’s next
Casting Spells & The Stack
One of the most important systems in Magic:
- When you cast a spell, it goes onto the stack
- Other players can respond before it resolves
- The stack resolves last-in, first-out
Example:
- Player A casts a creature
- Player B responds with removal
- Removal resolves first → creature never enters
Commander Rules (What Makes EDH Unique)
Command Zone
Your commander starts here and can be cast anytime you could normally cast it.
Commander Tax
Each time your commander is recast from the command zone:
- It costs +2 colorless mana each time
Color Identity
Your deck can only include cards that match your commander’s colors.
Commander Damage
- If a player takes 21 combat damage from a single commander, they lose the game
- This is tracked separately from life total
Winning the Game
In Commander, you win by:
- Reducing all opponents to 0 life
- Dealing 21 commander damage to a player
- Using a card effect that wins the game
- Being the last player standing
Key Gameplay Rules to Remember
- You can play 1 land per turn
- You must pay mana costs to cast spells
- Creatures can’t attack the turn they enter (unless they have haste)
- Instants can be cast at almost any time
- Sorceries can only be cast during your main phase
- If your life hits 0 → you lose
- If your deck runs out → you lose when you try to draw
What Makes EDH Different
Commander isn’t just a ruleset—it’s a different mindset:
- Longer, more social games
- Big plays and swingy turns
- Less about speed, more about synergy
- Every game feels different
Final Thoughts
If you understand these rules, you’re ready to sit down at a Commander table and actually play the game, not just follow along.
The rest—strategy, deckbuilding, politics—that comes with experience.