1. Don’t be a dick
This is the most important rule. Players must treat opponents, spectators, and the Tournament Organiser with respect.
Prohibited conduct includes harassment, abuse, bullying, discrimination, intimidation, threatening or deliberately hostile behaviour, cheating, collusion, deliberate slow play, intentional misrepresentation of rules or game information, manipulation of results or league points, and repeatedly arguing after the Tournament Organiser has made a ruling.
A rules warning is issued for a gameplay or rules infraction and may result in a game loss, depending on severity. A conduct warning is issued for unacceptable behaviour. A third conduct warning results in disqualification. The same incident may receive both consequences when it involves both a rules infraction and misconduct.
A player may receive up to two conduct warnings. A third conduct offence results in disqualification. Serious misconduct may result in immediate disqualification without prior warnings where necessary to protect players or league integrity. The Tournament Organiser has final authority over warnings and disqualifications.
2. Registration and entry fee
Players must register through Brainstorm. The entry fee is €15 per player. After registering, the player must use the verification form on the homepage and enter their public Brainstorm name. The payment link is released only after that name is verified as registered for this league.
If you are unable to pay now or need an alternative payment arrangement, you may contact the Tournament Organiser privately on Discord. It will be handled discreetly.
Brainstorm requires each player to submit a commander when registering and may request a decklist. These league-stage submissions are not binding: players may change decks and commanders between regular-season games, provided each deck is legal when its game begins.
3. League structure
The eight-week league stage runs from 1 October 2026 through 25 November 2026. Semifinals will be played during 26 November–2 December 2026, followed by the final during 3–9 December 2026. The elimination-stage venue is TBC.
The league has no scheduled rounds or organised weekly events. Registered players arrange games at mutually convenient times. Games may be played in person, by webcam, or on a mutually accepted digital platform.
A game must be declared a league game before it begins. Every participant must be registered, agree before starting that the game counts, and submit or confirm the result through Brainstorm. The normal pod size is four; three-player games are also permitted.
Language and communication: Before a league game begins, all players must agree on a common language for game-related communication. Players must use that agreed language for all relevant gameplay, rules, and result-reporting communication so that nobody in the pod is excluded.
Proxies and Moxfield
Proxies are permitted. Games may also be played using Moxfield if every participating player agrees before the game begins.
4. Prize support
The advertised prize package is guaranteed with 24 or more registered players. If fewer than 24 players register, prize support may be adjusted based on attendance.
Each finalist receives a set of custom card sleeves and may submit their own sleeve design or choose the league's exclusive Beyond the Meta Top 4 design.
The four premium cards are distributed among the Top 4 at one card per finalist: a full-art Final Fantasy Rhystic Study, an etched-foil Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, an etched-foil Lotus Petal, and a foil Enlightened Tutor.
5. Commander rules
Games use current official multiplayer Commander rules except where this document says otherwise. Normal construction and gameplay rules apply, including 100 cards, singleton construction, colour identity, 40 starting life, commander damage, mulligan, and command-zone rules.
6. Card legality
The league uses the designated Ban List. A listed card cannot be used in the command zone. It remains legal within the 99, subject to normal Commander legality and colour identity.
Legality is determined when a game begins. A later ban or rules change does not retrospectively alter completed games.
7. League scoring
The league uses the Hareruya Commander Point System, commonly called the Japanese point system. Every registered player starts on 1,000 points.
- Each defeated player loses 7% of their pre-game points.
- Fractional losses round up.
- The winner gains the total lost by defeated players.
In a three-player game, each defeated player loses the normal 7%. Add both losses, multiply by 1.5, and round up for the winner’s award.
If a game ends without a winner, no points move. Players must not manufacture draws to protect or manipulate standings.
8. Brainstorm reporting
Brainstorm is used for registration, results, points, standings, and elimination qualification. A submission must identify every player, the winner or draw, pod size, and anything else required by Brainstorm.
All players share responsibility for accuracy. Errors should be reported promptly. The commander and any decklist shown during the regular season do not restrict what a player may use in later regular-season games.
9. Concessions and point manipulation
A player who concedes loses. If every remaining opponent concedes to one player, that player wins.
Concessions may not transfer or deny points, predetermine a result, manipulate standings or qualification, or improperly influence elimination. Players may not invent games, trade or sell wins, farm points, collude, or deliberately misreport results.
The Tournament Organiser may cancel, reverse, or correct a manipulated result. Normal politics, threat assessment, and temporary alliances remain part of Commander.
10. League-stage game timing
Each league-stage game has a 90-minute time limit. The clock starts when the first mulligan is resolved. If no player takes a mulligan, the clock starts at the beginning of the first turn.
When the 90-minute limit expires, the player whose turn is currently in progress has up to 15 additional minutes to complete that turn. If no player wins before that additional period ends, the game is a draw.
Players must still play at a reasonable pace, avoid unnecessary delays, arrange enough time, manage breaks sensibly, and respect others’ time. The time limit is not permission for slow play.
11. Cut to the elimination stage
- 32+ players: Top 16.
- 20–31 players: Top 10.
- 8–19 players: Top 4.
- Fewer than eight: the organiser decides whether the league proceeds or uses an alternative structure.
Top 16
Sixteen qualifiers are randomly divided into four semifinals of four. Each winner reaches the four-player final.
Top 10
First and second receive semifinal byes. The remaining eight qualifiers form two random semifinals of four. Their winners join the two bye players in the final.
Top 4
The four qualifiers advance directly to the final.
Location
The elimination venue is TBC. The intention is to hold the semifinals and final in person; if that is not feasible, the elimination stage will be played online.
12. Random pairings and seating
Standings determine qualification but do not seed elimination pods. Semifinal pods and every semifinal/final seating order are random. The Top 10 byes are the only standings-based elimination advantage.
13. Elimination games
Every player who qualifies for the Top Cut must submit their final commander and complete decklist before elimination play begins. That commander and decklist are then locked for both the semifinals and final; no changes are permitted between elimination games.
Every elimination game must produce one advancing player or league winner. Players may not split advancement, share the title, predetermine the winner, decide randomly, or offer benefits for a concession.
14. Semifinal timing
Semifinals have a maximum duration of three hours. The limit is a safeguard; players should complete games naturally at a reasonable pace.
The Tournament Organiser will announce when 15 minutes remain. If no player has won when the three-hour limit expires, the game is a draw. The player who entered the semifinal with the highest league-point total advances, using the final league standings before the elimination stage.
15. Final timing
The final is untimed. Players must still maintain reasonable pace. If they abuse the absence of a clock or allow unreasonable delay, the organiser may impose timing or pace measures.
Plain language: the final is untimed unless the players behave like assholes and force the TO to intervene.
16. Rules disputes
Players should first use the Magic Comprehensive Rules, official card rulings, current Commander rules, and this document. Unresolved disputes go to the Tournament Organiser, whose league ruling is final.
17. League updates
The organiser may update the ban list, scoring/reporting, elimination procedures, and rules needed to address unforeseen interactions, loopholes, or abuse.
Emergency commander bans and urgent integrity measures may take effect immediately. Unless stated otherwise, changes affect only games beginning after announcement.