How to Play Commander Kingdoms

Kingdoms is a social, semi-cooperative variant of Commander for 5–7 players. Each player receives a secret role with a unique win condition. The roles are asymmetric, encouraging table politics, bluffing, and shifting alliances.

• Play with 5 players (King, Knight, Bandit x2, Assassin), 6 players (add Usurper), or 7 players (add a second Assassin).
• The King starts at 50 life and takes the first turn. All other players start at 40 life.
• Shuffle the role cards and deal one to each player face down.
• The King reveals their role immediately. All other roles remain secret.
• Players may look at their role but must keep it secret.

• The King always takes the first turn.
• Table talk is allowed — bluff, persuade, and negotiate as you like.
• Do not reveal your role unless a card effect requires it.

• All the standard rules of Magic and Commander apply.
• Your role adds a special win condition to the game.
• If the King loses while at least one Bandit remains, the Bandits win. The Bandits do not need to cause the King to lose.
• The Assassin has a shared goal with the Knight: to eliminate Bandits before the King loses.
• When the Usurper causes the King to lose, they reveal their role in order to become the new King.
• When a player loses they do not reveal their role.