While most cards work pretty straightforward in 2HG there are some quirks, often involving the combat phase or life total changes. Those cards are explained here!

If you’re playing a 2HG prerelease you should also check out the 2HG Hidden Gems that highlights which cards to look out for. For further reading, if you want to know more about 2HG see the 2HG FAQ. If you want to know more about how these cards function in general see the regular release notes.

GENERAL NOTES

You

The golden rule for 2HG is “You” still refers to you alone, not both you and your teammate. Look for the word “you” in the card text, such as “creatures you control get +1/+1”, etc.

Each

Cards that say “each opponent” or “each player” do affect more players than usual.

Vindictive Vampire will deal 2 damage total to the opponents and you still gain only 1 life.

NEW MECHANIC: SPECTACLE

Spectacle’s condition is that an opponent lost life this turn, but it doesn’t matter who caused that loss of life. If your teammate damaged your opponents you can cast a card with spectacle.

COMBAT

Angelic Exaltation

It does not count as “attacks alone” if your teammate also attacks with one or more creatures.

Forbidding Spirit

The attacking team chooses for each creature they declare as an attacker which defending player it attacks. That means that this ability does nothing most of the time in 2HG, as your opponents can simply choose to attack your teammate with everything. This is a recent change from how it worked a year ago.

Sunder Shaman

When you declare this as an attacker you choose which opponent it attacks. If this is unblocked only that opponent will be damaged and you can only target an artifact or enchantment they control.

Orzhov Racketeers

When you declare this as an attacker you choose which opponent it attacks. If this is unblocked only that opponent will be damaged and only they will discard.

LIFE TOTAL

Angel of Grace

In 2HG the life total is shared, therefore this ability will apply to damage dealt to your teammate because that reduces your life total and this ability does not specify that it only applies to damage dealt to you.