MTG Rule 0 Guide: How to Talk About Proxies, Power Level, and Commander Expectations

TLDR

MTG Rule 0 is the short pregame conversation where Commander players agree on deck power, proxies, combos, salt cards, and table expectations.
It is not a license to ignore official rules. Sanctioned events still require authentic cards, except for narrow judge-issued proxy situations.
The best Rule 0 talks are specific. “My deck is a 7” is not specific. Every Commander deck is apparently a 7, because language has failed us.
If you use proxies, say so before the game starts. Clear, casual, and honest is the whole trick.
Commander Brackets can help frame deck strength, but they work best as a starting point, not a personality test.

The 60-second conversation that saves the next two hours

MTG Rule 0 is the pregame conversation Commander players use to make sure everyone is trying to play roughly the same kind of game. It covers deck power, proxies, infinite combos, fast mana, mass land destruction, stax, extra turns, and anything else that might make someone stare across the table like you just sold them a timeshare.

Commander is a strange format because it contains everything from a barely upgraded precon to a tuned cEDH deck trying to win before someone finishes opening a drink. Both are legal Commander decks. They should not always be in the same game.

Rule 0 exists because legality is not the same thing as suitability. A card can be legal and still wrong for the pod. A proxy can be fine at one table and unwelcome at another. A deck can be technically casual and still make three people reconsider friendship as a concept.

That is why a short conversation before shuffling matters.

What is MTG Rule 0?

MTG Rule 0 is the informal agreement players make before a casual Commander game. It is not part of the official Comprehensive Rules in the same way commander damage or deck construction rules are. It is a social tool.

The goal is simple: match expectations.

A good Rule 0 conversation answers questions like:

Are proxies allowed?
Is this a casual, upgraded, optimized, or cEDH game?
Are infinite combos expected?
How early can the deck realistically win?
Are there Game Changers or high-impact staples?
Does the deck run mass land destruction, stax, repeated extra turns, or hard locks?
Are silver-bordered, acorn, playtest, or unofficial cards allowed?
Is the group using Commander Brackets?

You do not need a seminar. You need enough information that nobody feels ambushed. Commander games are already long. There is no prize for adding avoidable resentment.

Rule 0 is not the same as “anything goes”

Rule 0 lets casual groups customize their games. It does not magically rewrite official tournament rules.

If your group wants to allow banned cards, silver-bordered cards, gold-bordered cards, proxies, planechase, house rules, or a commander that technically should not be legal, that is fine in a private casual setting. Casual Magic has always had a healthy amount of “sure, why not?” built into it.

But sanctioned play is different.

If an event is run under official Wizards tournament rules, player-made proxies are not legal. In those settings, cards must be authentic Magic cards, with only narrow judge-issued exceptions when a card becomes damaged or otherwise unusable during that event. Your own printed copy does not become tournament legal because it is sleeved nicely and has good vibes.

The practical split is:

Situation	Are proxies usually okay?	What to do
Kitchen table Commander	Often yes	Ask the group first
Private cube	Often yes	Set the cube rules clearly
LGS casual Commander night	Maybe	Ask the organizer and pod
Unsanctioned store event	Maybe	Ask before registering
Sanctioned FNM or tournament	No	Use authentic cards
Judge-issued event proxy	Rarely, yes	Judge handles it

For a deeper explanation, read ProxyKing’s guide on using MTG proxies at FNM or tournaments. It covers the “but it’s just Friday night” loophole, which is less of a loophole and more of a trapdoor with paperwork.

Why proxies should be part of the Rule 0 talk

Proxy use is one of the most common Rule 0 topics because it touches money, accessibility, clarity, and trust.

Proxies can be great for casual Commander. They let players test decks, try expensive cards before buying, build cubes, experiment with mana bases, and avoid turning deckbuilding into a small financial hostage negotiation. That is the good part.

The awkward part is surprise.

Most proxy tension does not come from the existence of proxies. It comes from someone revealing them midgame, using unreadable cards, proxying a wildly overpowered list into a low-power pod, or acting like nobody is allowed to have a preference.

Good proxy etiquette is simple:

Say you are using proxies before the game starts.
Make sure they are readable.
Do not represent proxies as authentic cards.
Match the deck to the table’s power level.
Ask the organizer if you are at a store.
Switch decks if the pod is not comfortable.

ProxyKing’s How to Ask an LGS About MTG Proxies has store-focused scripts if you need wording. Yes, asking ahead feels mildly adult. Sadly, adulthood occasionally improves game night.

The biggest Rule 0 mistake: saying “my deck is a 7”

The Commander power scale has one famous problem: almost everyone says their deck is a 7.

A precon with ten upgrades? Seven.

A tuned deck with Dockside lines, free interaction, and fast mana? Also seven.

A tribal Goat deck with one combo because “it never happens”? Somehow seven.

The number is not useless, but it is incomplete. A better MTG Rule 0 conversation uses concrete details.

Instead of this:

“My deck is a 7.”

Say this:

“This is an upgraded Prosper deck. It has tutors, Treasures, and a couple combo finishes. It can win around turn six or seven if uninterrupted. I am running proxies for a few expensive staples.”

That gives the table actual information. It also prevents the ancient ritual where four players agree they are all playing 7s, then one person casts Mana Crypt into Rhystic Study and everyone begins recalculating trust.

Commander Brackets can help, but they do not replace talking

Wizards’ current Commander materials present optional Commander Brackets as a way to help players match deck expectations. The bracket system ranges from Exhibition-style casual play up to cEDH. It is useful because it gives players shared language beyond the haunted 1-to-10 scale.

A simplified version looks like this:

Bracket	General idea	What the table expects
Bracket 1: Exhibition	Very casual, expressive decks	Theme, flavor, low pressure
Bracket 2: Core	Normal casual Commander	Precons and modest upgrades
Bracket 3: Upgraded	Strong synergy and better cards	Interaction, solid win plans
Bracket 4: Optimized	High power	Efficient engines, strong staples
Bracket 5: cEDH	Competitive Commander	Fast wins, tight lists, high interaction

Brackets help, but they are not magic. A Bracket 3 graveyard deck, a Bracket 3 Voltron deck, and a Bracket 3 theft deck can still feel very different to play against. The bracket gets the conversation started. It does not finish it.

A useful sentence is:

“This is probably Bracket 3. It has strong synergy and a few Game Changers, but no fast combo before turn six.”

That is much better than saying “upgraded casual” and hoping everyone’s definition matches. Spoiler: it does not.

What you should disclose before a Commander game

You do not need to recite your decklist. Nobody wants a dramatic reading of all 99 cards, unless the pod has committed a crime and this is the punishment.

Disclose the things that shape the game experience:

Deck feature	Why it matters
Proxies	Some pods and stores have rules or preferences
Fast mana	It changes early-game pacing
Tutors	They increase consistency
Infinite combos	They change win expectations
Stax or prison pieces	They restrict what others can do
Mass land destruction	It can stop players from casting spells
Repeated extra turns	It creates downtime
Theft effects	Some players strongly dislike losing their own cards
Heavy discard	It attacks player agency
Game Changers	They signal higher-impact play
cEDH intent	It is basically a different game experience

The rule is not “confess every good card.” The rule is “warn people about the play patterns that define the game.”

Copy-paste Rule 0 scripts

If you are using a few proxies

“I’m running a few proxies for testing, mostly expensive staples and lands. They are readable and sleeved. Is everyone good with that for casual Commander?”

If you are using a fully proxied deck

“This is a fully proxied Commander deck for testing. It is meant for casual play, not sanctioned events. Power-wise, it is around Bracket 3. Is that okay?”

If the deck has combos

“This deck has a couple infinite combos. It usually wins around turn six or later, and they are not the only plan. Is that fine for this table?”

If the deck is high power

“This is an optimized deck with fast mana, tutors, and compact win conditions. It is not cEDH, but it is stronger than casual upgraded precons.”

If the deck is cEDH

“This is cEDH. It is built to win quickly with protection and interaction. I should only play it if everyone is bringing similar decks.”

If the deck has salty strategies

“This deck has stax pieces and some resource denial. It is built to close the game, not just stall forever. Does that sound okay?”

That last sentence is key. “Not just stall forever” is the difference between strategy and making the table collectively age.

What not to say during Rule 0

Some phrases are technically words but functionally useless.

Avoid these:

“It is not that bad.”
“You will see.”
“It only wins if nobody stops me.”
“It is casual cEDH.”
“Power level is a 7.”
“The proxies are basically real.”
“My group is fine with it.”
“I promise this deck never works.”

That last one is dangerous. If the deck never works, why bring it? And if it works tonight, everyone will remember the prophecy.

Use specifics instead. Say what the deck does, how fast it can win, and what kind of interaction it runs. Commander players can handle strong decks. What they dislike is the feeling that someone hid the actual game until after opening hands.

Rule 0 for proxy testing expensive cards

Proxy testing is especially useful for expensive mana bases, Reserved List cards in casual groups, Commander staples, and cards you are unsure will actually improve the deck.

A good proxy test plan looks like this:

Proxy the expensive cards you are considering.
Tell your pod before the game.
Play at least three games.
Track whether the card mattered.
Buy, trade for, keep proxying, or cut the card based on actual games.

The key is honesty. If you are testing a mana base, say that. If you are testing a power upgrade, say that too. “I proxied these cards because I want to see if this deck should become stronger” is a perfectly reasonable sentence.

ProxyKing’s Print MTG Proxies page is useful when you want to test a full list or a package of cards before committing to real copies. Keep it casual, keep it clear, and do not use proxies in sanctioned events.

What if someone says no to proxies?

Then you have options:

Swap the proxied cards for budget replacements.
Play a different deck.
Ask if they are okay with some proxies but not all.
Find a different pod that is proxy-friendly.
Play unsanctioned games with people who share your expectations.

What you should not do is argue for 20 minutes before the game. That is not Rule 0. That is pregame litigation, and nobody sleeved up for small claims court.

The right response is:

“No problem. I can switch decks.”

That sentence is powerful. It keeps the night moving, which is apparently legal despite not appearing on any ban list.

A practical Rule 0 checklist

Before shuffling, answer these five questions:

Are proxies allowed at this table or event?
What bracket or rough power level is the game?
How fast can each deck win?
Are infinite combos, stax, extra turns, or mass land destruction involved?
Is everyone actually okay with that?

If the answers line up, play. If they do not, adjust. Commander is better when the mismatch is handled before turn one instead of after someone’s Sol Ring, Mana Crypt, and Ancient Tomb opening makes the table develop weather patterns.

Final thoughts on MTG Rule 0

MTG Rule 0 is not about making Commander weaker. It is about making Commander honest.

Strong decks are fine. Proxies can be fine. Combos, stax, extra turns, and high-power staples can all be fine. The problem is mismatch. A cEDH deck at a cEDH table is normal. A cEDH deck at a precon table is an educational video nobody requested.

Talk before the game. Say what your deck does. Mention proxies clearly. Use brackets or power levels as a starting point, then give actual details. If the table is not right for the deck, switch.

That is the whole secret. Unfortunately, it requires communication, the most difficult mechanic in Magic.

FAQs

What is MTG Rule 0 in Commander?

MTG Rule 0 is the pregame conversation where Commander players agree on expectations, including deck power, proxies, combos, house rules, and strategies that may be frustrating for the table.

Are proxies allowed under Rule 0?

In casual games, proxies are allowed if the group or organizer agrees. In sanctioned events, player-made proxies are not legal, except for narrow judge-issued situations during the event.

Do I have to reveal every proxy in my deck?

You do not usually need to list every proxy one by one unless the group asks, but you should clearly say that you are using proxies and describe the general scope, such as a few lands, expensive staples, or a fully proxied deck.

Are Commander Brackets official rules?

Commander Brackets are optional matchmaking tools, not hard deck construction rules for every table. They help players describe the expected game experience, but Rule 0 conversation still matters.

Should I disclose infinite combos before a Commander game?

Yes, especially if the deck can win early or the combo is compact and easy to assemble. You do not need to reveal every line in detail, but the table should know what kind of game it is signing up for.

What should I do if my pod does not allow proxies?

Respect the table, switch decks, replace the proxied cards, or find another pod. Arguing before the game usually makes the night worse and rarely improves anyone’s opinion of proxies.