🔗 Share this article A Popular Gaming Channel Reveals a Holiday-Themed Commander Format Players Can Recreate with Friends. Already known as MTG's most interactive way to play, the Elder Dragon Highlander format just got a seasonal twist perfect for the holidays. In a holiday-themed episode, creators from a popular channel played a multiplayer match titled "Holiday Countdown." How the Festive Variant Works The basic idea is a simple layer superimposed on a regular EDH game. A designated token moves between players. Upon reaching the active player's upkeep, the action briefly pauses. Each participant secretly chooses whether they're being Nice or Naughty with the help of choice cards. All players flip their choice simultaneously. After that, they carry out the effect tied to their selection, first with the person who has the marker. The token is then passed to the next player. A special tracker moves forward one notch, and regular gameplay carries on. The choices do escalate over time progress, feeling well-balanced. Increasing Outcomes The initial phases provided small, table-wide advantages for choosing Nice, including gaining life or Clue tokens. In contrast, Naughty choices typically offered more specific advantages, frequently at the expense of someone else. As an example let players choosing Naughty receive a powerful airborne Reindeer token. Players that selected Nice made a 1/1 Toy creature token for each player. The Grand Arrival During the eighth round, Saint Nick personally arrived, turning the experience. Based on the frequency with which a participant chose Nice versus Naughty, Santa distributed sealed “gifts”. These looked like small containers, but contained MTG booster packs with different rarities. The most benevolent player was awarded a top-tier Collector Booster. Another friendly player opened a slightly less valuable Collector Booster. Another participant received a mid-range booster pack. The very naughty player essentially received coal: a famously bad booster pack acting as a joke. All cards from these packs could then be playable for the rest of the game, cast from exile using mana as though it were any color. The kinder players, their present wound up being a significant power spike. Meanwhile, the naughty players basically received coal in their stocking. Recreating the Variant Yourself Although the original showcase included significant production value, the format is something players can adapt with friends. Everybody plays with their standard EDH deck, and the additional materials needed would be a selection of booster packs of varying value. The main challenge is that if everyone know the rewards in advance the best pack's identity, players might try to get the top prize. One might add variety with alternatives, for example doing a mini-draft from a communal pile or allowing participants to include cards they own from their binders. Based on the entertaining match, Countdown to XT-Mas stands as a fun format to spread some joy this holiday season. It changes the strategy in the game in a fun and way, creating a memorable experience among MTG enthusiasts this season.