Widely known as Magic: The Gathering's most interactive format, the Elder Dragon Highlander format just got a seasonal twist just in time for the festive season. As part of a recent episode, personalities from a popular channel showcased a four-player match dubbed "Holiday Countdown."
The Mechanics of the Holiday Format Function
Fundamentally is a straightforward layer superimposed on a normal EDH game. A designated token moves to each player. When it the active player's upkeep, the game briefly pauses. Every player makes a hidden choice whether they're being Nice or Naughty with the help of choice cards.
Everyone flip their choice simultaneously. After that, they carry out the effect associated with their selection, beginning with the person holding the marker. This marker then gets passed to the right. The holiday round counter moves forward a single increment, and regular Commander carries on.
The Naughty/Nice options intensify with each passing round go on, designed to be finely tuned.
Growing Effects
Early rounds granted modest, shared benefits for the Nice path, including gaining life or investigation clues. In contrast, The Naughty paths often gave personal advantages, often to the detriment of an opponent. As an example let players who picked Naughty get a 4/4 flying Reindeer token. Players that selected Nice made a small artifact token creature for everyone.
The Climactic Showdown
During the last phase, Santa Claus himself arrived, transforming the experience. According to the frequency with which each player was Nice versus Naughty, Santa distributed sealed “gifts”. Outwardly, these were deck boxes, but contained MTG booster packs of varying value.
- The kindest player was awarded a premium special pack.
- The second-nicest player opened a slightly less valuable Collector Booster.
- One player got a mid-range booster pack.
- The very naughty player drew the short straw: a historically poor set which is basically a joke.
All cards opened could then be used for the duration, played from outside the game with mana as though it were all colors. The kinder participants, their gift wound up being a huge power spike. Whereas, those who chose Naughty essentially got a disadvantage.
Playing the Game Yourself
Although the demonstration match included a lot of production value, this is a concept that players could easily replicate with friends. Participants plays with their usual EDH deck, and the additional materials needed would be a selection of booster packs of varying value.
One potential issue lies in the fact that if everyone know the rewards in advance the best pack's identity, players might strategize for the best booster pack. Groups can mix it up in different ways, for example selecting cards together or letting players use cards from their collection from outside the game.
Judging by how the format played out, Countdown to XT-Mas proves to be a festive method to add holiday cheer when playing with friends. It complicates the social interplay at the table in a joyous way, resulting in a memorable way to play for MTG players in their playgroups.
