I first heard of a similar variant a few months back while visiting a new LGS on a day trip. After a subsequent commander night, I decided I would try and pull the details back together because the benefits seemed quite real. The general problem statement was, Commander games run too long and getting knocked out early is really unfun. After some discussion over on reddit, I've pulled together a proposed set of rules. I haven't gotten a chance to test-drive these yet, so I'm absolutely open to suggestions.
TL;DR: Commander, but played for a set amount of time. Points awarded for knocking out opponents. KO'd players rejoin the game to play more.
Respawn Commander - Detailed Rules
Setup, Deck Building, and Winning
- Players start with 20 life
- 100 card singleton decks, normal commander color identity restrictions, same banned list, London mulligan, 21 commander damage also results in a KO.
- All players draw on their first turn.
- The game runs for a set amount of time, decided before the game begins.
- Whoever accrues the most points, wins.
Points
- You get two points each time you knock a player out of the game. If it required a joint effort, one point is awarded for the "assist"
- Example: Player A deals player B 19 damage in a massive swing. Then Player C casts Shock, knocking B out. Player C would receive 2 points for the KO, A would get 1 for the assist.
- These points can be discussed on a case-by-case basis, but in general should be rare.
- Infinite combos and "You win the game" effects: If a player demonstrates a game-winning infinite combo or resolves a spell or ability that causes them to win the game, and all other players pass priority, they are awarded 6 points. Then the relevant permanents, spells on the stack, cards in hard or graveyard are exiled. Commanders can still be sent to the command zone as a replacement effect.
- If a player knocks themselves out (e.g. by paying life, milling themselves then drawing off an empty deck, resolving a trigger that causes them to lose the game), one point is awarded to each opponent.
Being Knocked Out, What is the Bubble?
- After a player is knocked out (life reduced to 0, 10 poison counters, "you lose the game effects", etc) they enter the "bubble" for their next 3 turns.
- While in the bubble, they take their turns in normal turn order.
- When a player enters the bubble, their life total is reset to 20 and poison counters to zero. If they were knocked out by being unable to draw, all cards they own in exile and in their graveyard are shuffled into their deck.
- Players inside the bubble can only cast spells at sorcery speed on their own turns, even if they control an effect that would overwrite this (e.g. Shimmer Myr, Vedalken Orrery.)
- Players inside the bubble cannot attack other players, and cannot be attacked by other players.
- Permanents controlled by players inside the bubble are considered phased out, and cannot interact with the other players nor be interacted with by them.
- Spells cast by players inside the bubble that require interaction with other players (e.g. Fact or Fiction) should be discussed on a case-by-case basis, with the understanding that punisher cards (e.g. Browbeat) and similar cannot be cast.
- As a guiding philosophy; players in the bubble can rebuild, but cannot impact the exterior game until they return to it.
Edge Cases
- TKO: If a player knocks out two or more opponents on two of their consecutive turns, and no other player has more points than them, they win immediately and the game ends early.
- Winning while inside the bubble: If a player assembles an infinite combo or triggers a win the game effect while inside the bubble, it fizzles. If they generate infinite token creatures, they still must wait until they leave the bubble to attack with them.
- Losing while inside the bubble: If a player somehow manages to knock themselves out while inside the bubble, one point is awarded to the other players and they re-enter the bubble, resetting life and bubbled turns.