3 Player Magic
General forum
Posted on Dec. 6, 2012, 12:26 p.m. by TorrentFreak
I have searched the forums, and haven't found much on this. I was wondering if anyone knew some 3-player formats for Magic. We all build standard decks, and on occasion one player is just sitting out watching.
What we have tried is doing each player gets 40 health, high roll plays first, then turns go to the winners left. Combat was either done like this; You have to attack the player to your left, or each turn your target is the opposite of last turn (I.E left, right, left, etc.)
Any fun formats we can try to switch this 3-player game up?
Appreciate any responses :)
TorrentFreak says... #3
That's a great idea. I might have to try the double headed giant out. I have found the free-for-all can get out of hand quickly. One player will get screwed by the other two putting constant pressure on them.
December 6, 2012 12:38 p.m.
I would think that free-for-all would be the best. Free-for-all with four people is kinda pushing it, in terms of time and complexity (unless it's EDH, then that time and complexity is fun). But for Standard, I think 3 is perfect.
December 6, 2012 12:49 p.m.
KrimsonNekros says... #5
Free for all works great in my experience up to about 5 people. You have to worry about the problem of in game politics and making the other guys look like more of a threat, but over all that just adds to the strategy for me.
December 6, 2012 12:51 p.m.
Yeah, I've played FFA with up to 6-7 people, that is crazy, it does change things do as it slows down how you play your deck and attack with the more people you have in there, I would say that between 4 and 5 is probably deal for a FFA.
December 6, 2012 12:54 p.m.
If you get bored of straight up 3-for-all, which you will, try playing Archenemy or Planechase.
Both of these formats are really fun for odd numbers of players. For Planechase I recommend playing with 1 pile of 40 planes for all sizes of game, and make sure you choose a random choice of planes that don't compliment any one deck or play style.
For Archenemy, you may want to do the same and just buy some planes that don't require the archenemy be playing any specific strategy or colors and let everybody try to be the Archenemy.
My local shop sells all the Planes for Planechase and all but the very rare promo Schemes for Archenemy for $1, so the three of you should be able to go in together on Planes for $40 or Schemes for $20. It's really fun and you won't be sad you bought them, even if you don't use them often, because you'll eventually find that combining these formats with others is really fun.
December 6, 2012 12:56 p.m.
True, forgot about planeschase, that one is fun, if you don't want to buy, find global option sorcery cards that you have and put them into a 40 card deck.
December 6, 2012 1:02 p.m.
KrimsonNekros says... #9
Could also proxy them until they decide if the want to go for the expense of buying them.
December 6, 2012 1:07 p.m.
Zen_Toombs says... #10
Spoiler: That's what I did.
I actually went all out, I made a thing on my computer with a random number generator to pick from all the planes at random.
TheGnat says... #2
Generally I've just done straight up free for all, anyone can attack anyone, life total still at 20. That works pretty well, we've also done two headed giant with one person playing two decks if the people you play with have multiple decks going. Roll for who plays two decks, that is played with each two headed giant having 40 life.
December 6, 2012 12:35 p.m.