Should an opponent ever shuffle your deck?
Asked by Pocketmouse 7 years ago
I was in a draft and my first game we each shuffled our decks and I handed my opponent my deck and asked him to "cut or tap" as is custom and he started just shuffling my deck, and I don't mean like cutting it over and over again, I mean straight up shuffling the deck.
It seemed a little odd, but I just rolled with it. Now I am curious though, should an opponent ever shuffle your deck when they are asked to only cut or tap it (disregaurding the possibility that a card requires it)?
Tyrant-Thanatos says... Accepted answer #3
103.1. At the start of a game, each player shuffles his or her deck so that the cards are in a random order. Each player may then shuffle or cut his or her opponents decks. The players decks become their libraries.
This is a legal action. In non-sanctioned environments it seems a bit excessive, and as someone who doesn't exactly trust strangers it's difficult to watch another player handle my deck in such a manner, but it is legal.
November 4, 2017 10:39 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #4
It is legal at regular REL and REQUIRED at higher REL for an opponent to shuffle your deck after you present it.
3.9 Card Shuffling
Decks must be randomized at the start of every game and whenever an instruction requires it. Randomization is defined as bringing the deck to a state where no player can have any information regarding the order or position of cards in any portion of the deck. Pile shuffling alone is not sufficiently random.
Once the deck is randomized, it must be presented to an opponent. By this action, players state that their decks are legal and randomized. The opponent may then shuffle it additionally. Cards and sleeves must not be in danger of being damaged during this process. If the opponent does not believe the player made a reasonable effort to randomize his or her deck, the opponent must notify a judge. Players may request to have a judge shuffle their cards rather than the opponent; this request will be honored only at a judge's discretion.
If a player has had the opportunity to see any of the card faces of the deck being shuffled, the deck is no longer considered randomized and must be randomized again.
At Competitive and Professional REL tournaments, players are required to shuffle their opponents' decks after their owners have shuffled them. The Head Judge can require this at Regular REL tournaments as well.
November 5, 2017 1:13 a.m.
You should mark this as answered so it doesn't show up in the unanswererd column
November 5, 2017 1:52 a.m.
RingoDingo92 says... #6
Damn, you fellas seem real hell-bent on defending this. Yes, it's a legal action. Yes, you'll especially see it at tournaments. But what about on a personal level? Doesn't it annoy you? Seem like a waste of time? Seem like an unnecessary little power move? I think that, while it's legal, it's totally unnecessary. Unless you have a true suspicion about your opponent, just do your little tap or cut and let's get to playing already.
hashtag StopTouchingOurDecks
November 5, 2017 1:54 a.m. Edited.
Tyrant-Thanatos says... #7
RingoDingo92, it was posted in the Rules Q&A, what is or is not legal is what the Q&A is for.
November 5, 2017 2:21 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #9
Yeah he isn't the one that is going off on a tangent. The forum this was posted in was the rules Q&A. We were giving the rules relevant to the question. If you want to have a discussion about how you don't like it go to the blind eternities and whine.
Also "on a personal level" nope it doesn't annoy me at all. I am not insecure enough to think someone following the rules of a game is a power move nor do I think that a few quick mash shuffles is "wasting time". In casual I never shuffle an opponent's deck because if they want to cheat at casual then they have deeper problems than winning or losing a game. I always shuffle at any level of tournament out of habit and if it makes the other player visibly uncomfortable I make sure I do a minimum of about 8 mashes because the only reason to care if I am shuffling is that you were stacking. (And don't try "must be nice only playing with cheap cards that you don't care if some neckbeard damages" because I play legacy decks with blue duals. I just watch my opponent as they are handling the deck and stop them if they are about to take an action that would cause damage.)
November 5, 2017 1:08 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #11
Dude that make no damn sense. I understand it, you didn't contribute anything useful in the slightest to a rules question and now you are trying to salvage what little bit of your obviously frail ego you can by trying to have the last word. Might I suggest taking some "you time" so that you believe you are worth while and aren't so concerned about a minor gaffe that you insist on trying to defend your position.
November 5, 2017 1:45 p.m.
RingoDingo92 says... #12
Man, you're hilarious. Trying to condescend to me about having the "last word" when that's clearly your M.O. by continuing to engage. I can tell you're a barrel of fun and a sack of potato chips to hang with. I also like how you want to belittle me when I merely expressed my opinion on the subject. You seem like a real good dude.
November 5, 2017 1:51 p.m.
Tyrant-Thanatos says... #13
Okay what the fuck, this is far beyond anything that should ever be found in the Rules Q&A.
The question has been answered, this thread is over. Stop.
RingoDingo92 says... #2
I hate when people do that. It's kind of a dick move. I just shuffled the fucking thing, what do you think I didn't do in shuffling it that you're adding? Nothing. It's stupid and a power move in my opinion. Cut it or tap it. Stop wasting our time.
November 4, 2017 9:05 p.m.