Dies to Removal

Introduction To The Format


Tiny Leaders

A Magic: The Gathering format

The Tiny Leaders format was conceived in 2013 as a format for those who enjoy a challenge when deck building, and love EDH. The rules are simple- 50 card decks, including your "Commander", with no more than one of each card (a "Highlander" format), and no card shall exceed converted mana cost 3.

About the Creators: The format was created by Bramwell Tackaberry*, of Winnipeg Manitoba. It spread quickly in the local community- the official facebook page was created by Bram (and continues to be managed by him). The format was tested rigorously in the first few months, eventually the bulk of the creative direction and online presence was taken up by Steven Hamonic**, to effect of this blog and the official subreddit. The banlist is currently managed by Steven, with input from community testers. Please direct any questions or concerns to Bram or Steven- our contact information is listed in the footnotes.

Elder Dragon Highlander (a.k.a. Commander) Rules: a comprehensive list of the precursor format's rules can be found at http://mtgcommander.net/rules.php . The Tiny Leaders format ignores play rule 10: "If a player has been dealt 21 points of combat damage by a particular Commander during the game, that player loses a game." and changes play rule 13: "Players begin the game with 40 life." to "Players begin the game with 25 life."

Special Rules: Decks are constructed with 50 cards, each card must not contain mana symbols not present in their Commander's Colour Identity (ref. Rule 3, http://mtgcommander.net/rules.php) and every card should have a converted mana cost of 3 or less.

Tiny Leaders is presented to be a one on one format, with a best of three match, and 10 card sideboards. Sideboarding is done in between games. Your deck must remain 50 cards, and your commander may not change between games.

The Banned List: Our list is still undergoing changes, but the cards currently present are:

Ancestral Recall
Balance
Black Lotus
Black Vise
Channel
Chaos Orb
Contract From Below
Counterbalance
Darkpact
Demonic Attorney
Demonic Tutor
Earthcraft
Edric, Spymaster of Trest
Falling Star
Fastbond
Goblin Recruiter
Hermit Druid
Imperial Seal
Jeweled Bird
Karakas
Library of Alexandria
Mana Crypt
Mana Drain
Mana Vault
Metalworker
Mind Twist
Mishra's Workshop
Mox Emerald, Jet, Pearl, Ruby, and Sapphire
Necropotence
Painter's Servant
Shahrazad
Skullclamp
Sol Ring
Strip Mine
Survival of the Fittest
Sword of Body and Mind
Time Vault
Time Walk
Timetwister
Timmerian Fiends
Tolarian Academy
Umezawa's Jitte
Vampiric Tutor
Yawgmoth's Will
Additionally, these Legendary creatures cannot be used as Commanders:
Derevi, Empyrial Tactician
Erayo, Soratami Ascendant
Rofellos, Llanowar Emissary
Play Rules: There are no "free" mulligans. Tiny Leaders uses the standard "Pairs mulligan" rule: the player shuffles his or her hand into their library and draws one fewer card than their last hand, a player may not mulligan a hand with 0 cards

If a commander would be put into a graveyard from anywhere or exiled from anywhere (so long as it is face-up or a player can look at it face down,) it's owner may choose to put it in the command zone.

Each time you cast your commander, the next time you cast it from your command zone, it will cost (2) colourless mana more to play.

Format Exclusive Cards: Three generals are available for use, to fill the colour identity holes left by no legendary creature existing with that colour identity and mana cost.


1. Mardu [Legendary Creature] WBR (2/2)
2. Sultai [Legendary Creature] UBG (2/2)
3. Jeskai [Legendary Creature] WUR (2/2)
These three are temporary, until the community or wizards comes up with or prints legendary creatures that fill our specifications.

*Bramwell Tackaberry: contact E-mail [email protected]
**Steven Hamonic: contact E-mail [email protected] Twitter @StevenH_TL