# Magic: The Gathering Life Counter (20 Life)

> Life tracker for traditional 1v1 MTG formats (20 starting life). Face-to-face dual screen layout and turn history.

- Page: https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/magic-the-gathering
- Other language: https://www.boardgamesbot.com/ferramentas/contador-de-vida/magic-the-gathering
- All tools: https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools

## How to use

1. **Pick your game or preset** — Choose a fast preset like Magic Commander (40 life), MTG 1v1 (20 life), King of Tokyo, Catan, Star Realms, or start a custom free score tracker.
2. **Set player count** — Adjust the number of players at the table. The screen automatically reorganizes into a grid or inverted face-to-face duel layout.
3. **Adjust points with quick taps** — Tap the top half to add +1 and bottom half to subtract -1, or use quick +5 / -5 and +10 / -10 buttons.
4. **Share your victory card** — At the end of the match, instantly generate a victory card image to post on WhatsApp groups or social media.

## Reference values — Magic: The Gathering

- **Starting life (1v1 constructed)**: 20
- **Starting life (Commander)**: 40
- **Starting life (Two-Headed Giant)**: 30 per team
- **Poison counters to eliminate**: 10
- **Minimum deck size (constructed)**: 60 cards

## Life, poison and energy

In most 1v1 formats the game starts at 20 life and a player loses on reaching zero or less. There is no life cap: gain effects can push the count well past 20, which makes a paper tracker impractical in long games.

Poison is a parallel loss condition. Ten counters eliminate the player immediately, regardless of life. Since poison and life move independently, it is worth keeping both counts visible side by side rather than tracking poison separately.

There are also auxiliary counters that show up in some decks, such as energy and experience. They are not loss conditions, but they are easy to get wrong when kept only in your head.

## Frequently asked questions

### How does the face-to-face split-screen mode work?

The duel layout flips Player 2 by 180 degrees, allowing you to place your phone flat in the center of the table between both players.

### Is there a maximum life total in Magic?

No. Life can climb indefinitely with gain effects. The only practical limit is the tracker you use — this tool imposes no cap.

### Do I lose exactly when I hit zero?

Yes. A player at 0 or less life loses the next time the game checks state-based actions, which in practice is immediate.

### How do I track poison without confusing it with life?

Use the auxiliary poison counter in this tool. It stays separate from life and flags the threshold at 10, which is the amount that eliminates the player.

## Dedicated per-game pages

- [Magic: Commander / EDH](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/magic-commander)
- [Magic: MTG 1v1](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/magic-the-gathering)
- [Yu-Gi-Oh!](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/yugioh)
- [Pokémon TCG](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/pokemon-tcg)
- [Disney Lorcana](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/disney-lorcana)
- [One Piece Card Game](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/one-piece-card-game)
- [Star Wars: Unlimited](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/star-wars-unlimited)
- [King of Tokyo](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/king-of-tokyo)
- [Catan](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/catan)
- [Star Realms](https://www.boardgamesbot.com/tools/life-counter/star-realms)