Commander Life Counter

How to use this Commander life counter

Tap the left half of your panel to lose 1 life and the right half to gain 1. Hold either half to keep counting: it pauses at every 10, so a big hit takes one hold.

The sword in each panel's corner opens that player's commander damage and poison. Tap your name to rename yourself or pick a color. The button in the middle of the table has dice, a coin, the start player picker, undo, history and the player count.

How much life in Commander: 40

Each player starts a Commander game at 40 life, as the official Commander page and rule 903.7 of the Comprehensive Rules say. Most two-player formats start at 20 instead (rule 103.4).

A player at 0 life or less loses (rule 704.5a). This counter opens at 40 for four players, and the table menu changes the player count or the starting life for a different pod.

Commander damage: 21 from one commander

A player who has been dealt 21 or more combat damage by the same commander over the course of the game loses (rule 903.10a). Each commander counts on its own, so 12 from one commander and 10 from another is not lethal.

Commander damage is still damage, so it also comes off your life total (rule 120.3a). Gaining life raises your life total, but it never takes back the commander damage you have already been dealt.

How this counter tracks it

Tap the sword on your panel. The sheet lists each opponent by name and color with a counter of its own. Each tap of plus adds 1 commander damage and takes 1 off your life in the same step, so the two numbers never drift apart.

The panel shows a small chip for each opponent who has hit you, highlighted from 15. At 21 from one commander your panel shows Out, even if your life is still above 0.

One exception: a commander with infect gives poison counters instead of life loss (rule 120.3b). Its damage still counts toward 21, so add it as commander damage, then tap your plus side to put the life back and add the poison.

Poison counters: 10 and you are out

A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game (rule 704.5c). Poison usually comes from creatures with infect, and it adds up separately from life and from commander damage.

Poison sits in the same sheet as commander damage, under the sword. At 10 the panel shows Out, and a tap on it brings the player back if the count was a mistake.

Partner commanders, the monarch and the initiative

With partner, a player has two commanders, and damage from each one counts separately toward 21 (rule 702.124d); turn on Partner commanders in the table menu for two counters per opponent. The monarch and the initiative are each held by only one player at a time, and the player whose creature deals combat damage to the holder takes it over (rules 725 and 726); turn on Monarch and initiative for a badge you pass from panel to panel.

More from Life Counters

For a two-player game at 20, use the MTG life counter. Our guide to how to track life in Magic compares spindown dice, paper and apps, and the Yu-Gi-Oh life point counter opens a duel at 8000.

Commander life counter questions

How much life do you start with in Commander?

Each player starts at 40 life in Commander, as the official Commander page and rule 903.7 of the Comprehensive Rules say. Most two-player Magic formats start at 20.

How does commander damage work?

A player who has been dealt 21 or more combat damage by the same commander over the game loses, even with life left. Each commander counts on its own, so damage from two different commanders is never added together.

Does commander damage go down if you gain life?

No. Rule 903.10a counts the combat damage a commander has dealt you over the whole game, so gaining life raises your life total but does not undo any commander damage.

Does commander damage also come off your life total?

Yes. Commander damage is ordinary damage, so it lowers your life as well as counting toward 21. This counter does both in one tap. The exception is a commander with infect, whose damage gives poison counters instead of life loss.

How many poison counters do you need to lose in Commander?

Ten. A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game, under rule 704.5c of the Comprehensive Rules. Poison is tracked apart from life and commander damage.

How does commander damage work with partner commanders?

Damage from each of the two partner commanders counts separately toward 21, under rule 702.124d. Turn on Partner commanders in the table menu and each opponent gets two damage counters.

How do I use the commander damage tracker on this EDH life counter?

Tap the sword in the corner of your panel. Each opponent has its own counter, and every point you add also comes off your life. At 21 from one commander your panel shows Out.

Is this EDH life counter free, and can four players share one phone?

Yes to both. It is free, with no sign-up and no ads. Lay one phone flat in the middle of the table: the top panels turn to face the far side, so all four players read their own life.