What constitutes Improper Drawing at the Start of the Game?

Improper Drawing at the Start of the Game specifically refers to scenarios where a player either draws more cards than they are supposed to at the beginning of the game or while resolving a mulligan. In Magic: The Gathering, each player starts with a specific number of cards and must adhere to the rules about drawing during the initial phase. If a player mistakenly draws too many cards—either by failing to recognize the proper count during the setup or by mishandling the mulligan process—they have committed an infraction related to card drawing.

This infraction can have significant ramifications, as it affects the balance of the game by providing one player with an unfair advantage in their starting resources. Addressing this issue typically involves the judge determining the number of cards that should have been drawn, correcting the situation as much as possible, and applying the appropriate penalties according to the IPG.

Other options, while related to the start of the game, do not pertain directly to the category of improper drawing. Revealing hands incorrectly pertains to communication and information sharing, inadequate shuffling deals with deck preparation rather than drawing, and forgetting to draw during a turn relates to gameplay actions rather than the initial setup phase.