How to track Commander life
- Choose Commander (40 life) or another format and the number of players in your pod.
- Tap the top or bottom half of your side to gain or lose life. Hold for ±10, which helps a lot at 40 life.
- When a commander hits you, tap ⋯ on your side and add the damage under that opponent's name. Your life goes down by the same amount.
- A player is marked OUT at 0 life, 10 poison or 21 damage from one commander (16 in Pauper Commander).
Commander damage rules
Commander damage is what makes EDH life tracking harder than a normal game:
- 21 combat damage from a single commander over the course of the game makes you lose.
- Only combat damage counts. Damage a commander deals with its abilities doesn't count toward 21.
- It's tracked per commander. 15 from one and 10 from another doesn't make you lose.
- Life gain doesn't undo it. You can be at 30 life and still lose to commander damage.
- It's tracked by commander, not by who controls it. If someone steals your commander, the damage it deals still counts. A copy of a commander isn't a commander, so its damage doesn't count.
Example: Sam's commander attacks you for 7 three times. You've taken 21 commander damage from Sam, so you lose, even though you've gained enough life to still be at 25.
Commander formats and life totals
| Format | Starting life | Commander damage |
|---|---|---|
| Commander (EDH) | 40 | 21 |
| Pauper Commander (PDH) | 30 | 16 |
| Brawl (multiplayer) | 30 | Not used |
| Oathbreaker | 20 | Not used |
The counter turns commander damage on or off automatically when you pick a format. You can still change it on the setup screen.
Commander life counter FAQ
How much life do you start with in Commander?
40. Each player starts at 40 life in Commander (EDH). Pauper Commander starts at 30, and multiplayer Brawl at 30.
How does commander damage work?
If a single commander deals you 21 or more combat damage over the course of the game, you lose, whatever your life total is. Damage from different commanders is tracked separately, and gaining life doesn't remove commander damage.
Does commander damage also reduce my life?
Yes. Commander damage is normal damage too. When you add commander damage on this counter, the same amount comes off your life total automatically.
How many poison counters do you need in Commander?
Ten, the same as other formats. Poison isn't raised to 21 in Commander.
How many players does it support?
Two to six. The usual Commander pod of four players gets a 2×2 layout, with the top two sides turned to face the far side of the table.
What about partner commanders?
Each partner's damage counts separately toward 21. This counter tracks damage per opponent, so track the partner dealing the most damage, or add the other one's damage on a second opponent row.