Canadian Highlander in MTG: Overview

Canadian Highlander is a Magic: The Gathering (MTG) format that combines the massive card pool and power level of Vintage with unique deck building restrictions. It’s an unsanctioned, 1v1 singleton format that’s known for being creative, deep and has a ton of viable archetypes. Canadian Highlander’s rules, points system and flexibility in deck building has made it a favorite among experienced players who love the challenge of finding that perfect balance between raw power and consistency.

Canadian Highlander Features

1. 100-Card Singleton Decks:
   Each deck must have at least 100 cards, no duplicates except for basic lands. This means creative deck building and every game will be different.
2. No Commanders or Color Restrictions:
   Unlike Commander (EDH) Canadian Highlander does not have a commander and no color identity. Players can combine any colors and cards they want, resulting in decks that can be monocolored or 5 color good stuff brews.
3. 20 Life Starting:
   Games start at 20 life, just like most other competitive 1v1 formats. Unlike Commander where life totals start at 40.
4. Huge Card Pool:
   Almost every card legal in Vintage is legal in Canadian Highlander, including the Power Nine. Exceptions are ante cards, conspiracies, silver bordered cards, acorn cards, cards that require dexterity or create subgames, and cards deemed culturally offensive or otherwise inappropriate.
5. No Sideboards:
   Canadian Highlander is usually played without sideboards, meaning players must build decks that can handle everything coming at them right out of the gate. This makes flexible answers and versatile threats more important.

The Points System: Balancing Power

One of the key features of Canadian Highlander is the community maintained points system. Certain extremely powerful cards (Ancestral Recall, Time Walk, Sol Ring) are assigned point values. Each deck can only have up to 10 points worth of these powerful cards, so players must make concessions. If a player wants to run multiple high impact spells they must balance their choices within the 10 point limit. This points system regulates the power level of the format without banning cards, so the powerful cards are playable but never oppressive.

Other Formats

• Commander (EDH):
  Both are singleton formats with big decks but Commander is a multiplayer format with 40 life starting and a commander that dictates deck building. Canadian Highlander is 1v1, 20 life and no color identity. The points system in Canadian Highlander is much more dynamic than Commander’s ban list.
• Vintage:
  Both have a broad card pool but Vintage has a restricted list to manage the power level. Canadian Highlander has the points system. Vintage decks are 60 cards and have sideboards, Canadian Highlander decks are 100 cards with no sideboards.
• Australian Highlander:
  Another points format with 60 card decks and 7 point cap and sideboards. Canadian Highlander has 100 card decks and 10 point cap so it’s a different environment with different strategic considerations.

Strategic Depth and Gameplay

The combination of a huge card pool, flexible deck building and the points system means there is unparalleled strategic depth. Decks in Canadian Highlander can be tempo, control, combo, midrange, aggro, prison and more. Players must navigate the metagame, anticipating the threats and answers their opponents will bring. This means skillful sequencing, clever resource management and using underpowered cards that are good in specific matchups.

Is it Growing?

Canadian Highlander has been gaining popularity in recent years. Fans love the high powered play with a community maintained points list that keeps the game fresh and fair. Online content creators, local game stores and digital platforms have been featuring Canadian Highlander tournaments and gameplay videos and it’s slowly spreading. It’s not as big as Commander or Modern but the dedicated fan base and good word of mouth means it will continue to attract new players looking for something new and challenging.

Wrapping Up

Canadian Highlander is a complex and rewarding MTG format. By combining a huge card pool with the points system it allows deck builders and players to experiment, innovate and improve. Not sanctioned by Wizards of the Coast but driven by the community it’s growing and evolving with the players.