How to play

One universe. 100 cards. 1v1.

01

Build your deck

100 cards, including your commander.

Singleton · Commander colour identity · No sideboard

Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER, an example commander
1 commander
99 other cards

Two commanders? 2 + 98 = 100.

Full rule and exceptions
  • Exactly 100 cards, counting the commander or commanders.
  • Singleton, except for basic lands and cards whose own rules allow additional copies.
  • Normal Commander color identity applies.
  • Partner, Friends forever, Doctor's companion, Choose a Background and equivalent mechanics work normally.
  • No sideboard.

03

Face one opponent

The Commander rules you know, in 1v1.

Command zone · Commander tax · Commander damage

Ezio Auditore da Firenze22 lifeAssassin's Creed
vs
Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER20 lifeFinal Fantasy
Full rule and exceptions
  • Games are played one-on-one.
  • The command zone, commander tax, commander damage and normal color-identity rules apply.
  • Use the normal rules of Magic and Commander except where UAW explicitly replaces them.
  • The starting player follows normal one-on-one draw rules.

04

Check your starting life

Your universe sets your starting life.

Life totals are provisional and may change through testing.

Full rule and exceptions
  • Twenty life is the baseline.
  • Each universe has one official starting-life total, adjusted according to the strongest known legal builds.
  • Starting-life values may change as testing improves.
  • Balance changes are made through starting life, not bans.

The current life totals are provisional starting points. They will be refined through real games and community feedback as the format develops.

05

Keep universes separate

Same franchise does not mean the same card pool.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are separate UAW universes.

Full rule and exceptions
  • Each separate Magic expansion forms its own universe. For example, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are separate UAW universes.
  • Supplemental cards released as part of the same crossover may be added to that universe.
  • Once that release is complete, its card pool closes permanently and does not rotate.