What is the correct remedy when a player draws 5 starting cards instead of 4 during initial setup (before mulligans)?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Core Rules state each player draws 4 as their starting hand ([117]) and that Mulligans occur after that draw in turn order ([118]). The provided Core Rules do not give an explicit correction procedure for a player who accidentally drew 5 instead of 4 during initial setup. Because the rule set here is silent on a specific remedy, the most defensible judge fix is to restore the correct hand size with minimal information change: if discovered before any player takes further actions (including making Mulligan choices), have the affected player return one card from their hand to their Main Deck in a way that preserves secrecy (randomize it into the deck if opponents saw it); then continue with Mulligans in turn order. If the mistake is discovered after additional actions or Mulligans, the situation is ambiguous under the provided rules and requires tournament policy or judge discretion.

The Core Rules require each player to draw 4 for their starting hand [117] and Mulligans happen after that draw in turn order [118]. The Core Rules text provided does not include a mandated fix for an extra initial draw. Most defensible remedy (before any further game actions, including Mulligans): stop play, confirm whether any opponent saw the extra card, have the affected player choose one card from their hand and return it to their Main Deck face-down and randomized if its identity was seen by another player, restoring the hand to 4, then proceed with Mulligans in turn order [118]. If the error is discovered only after further actions (for example after Mulligans have been made or other play occurred), there is no clear prescription in the provided Core Rules; resolution requires judge/tournament policy discretion.

Stop play as soon as the error is noticed and confirm the timing (it occurred during the initial draw and before Mulligans) and whether any opponent saw the extra card. Confirm that no other game actions have occurred; if other actions or Mulligan decisions already occurred, escalate to judge/tournament director (no clear remedy in provided Core Rules). If no opponent saw the extra card: have the affected player choose one card from their hand and place it face-down on the bottom of their Main Deck, restoring their hand to 4, then proceed to Mulligans in turn order [118] and continue the game. If any opponent saw the extra card: to remove the information advantage, have the affected player choose one card from their hand and shuffle it into their Main Deck (randomize the deck), restoring hand size to 4, then proceed to Mulligans in turn order [118]. Document the correction and continue the game. If the error was discovered after Mulligans or additional play, consult tournament policy and judge discretion because the provided Core Rules do not mandate a specific correction procedure.

If the error is discovered after one or more players have completed their Mulligans or after any other substantive actions (draws, plays, decisions), the Core Rules provided do not give a clear restoration procedure; judge/tournament policy must decide whether to restart the game, roll back actions, or apply a penalty. If multiple players mis-drew, apply the same secrecy/randomization considerations per player. If returning the card would deterministically create illegal choices later (e.g., card required to be in a specific zone for costs), handle under general judge discretion since no explicit remedial rule is provided here.

The only relevant explicit starting-hand rule in the provided Core Rules is that "Players each draw 4." [117]. Mulligans are explicitly performed in turn order after that draw [118]. The supplied rules text does not provide a specific correction or error-handling procedure for a player who accidentally drew an extra starting card. Because there is no explicit remedial instruction in the provided rules, the correction should follow the principles of restoring the correct game state while minimizing information distortion. The most defensible practical fix (if discovered before any further game actions, including Mulligans) is to return one card from the affected player's hand to their Main Deck so their hand is the correct size, and to randomize that return if any opponent saw the card (to remove informational advantage). After restoring hand size, continue with Mulligans in turn order [118]. Use of randomization when returning cards to the Main Deck is consistent with how the rules handle randomization when multiple cards are placed on the bottom of the Main Deck simultaneously [416.5]. If the mistake is discovered only after Mulligans or further play, the provided Core Rules are silent, so judge/tournament policy discretion is required to determine whether to rewind the game, restart, or apply another remedy.