In a competitive event, mulligan decisions matter more than most players want to admit. You can play tight, know your matchups, and still lose games before turn one because you kept a hand that never had a real plan. At the same time, over-mulliganing is a quiet way to give away percentage points, especially across a long tournament. The goal isn’t to chase perfect hands. It’s to recognize when an opening seven actually wins games in the matchup you’re playing.

The first question (and probably the first major point) you should ask is simple: does this hand do something powerful on time? In competitive play, “fine” isn’t good enough. A hand with lands and spells but no early pressure, no interaction, or no clear path forward is often a trap. If your deck is built to apply pressure by turn two or three, a hand that starts doing things on turn four is probably a mulligan, even if it looks stable. Aggressive mulligans are correct when your deck relies on tempo, synergy, or specific early pieces to function.

Matchup context matters just as much as raw hand quality. Against a fast combo or aggro deck, hands without interaction are often dead on arrival. Against control, hands that flood or rely on a single threat can be equally bad. Competitive players mulligan more aggressively because they understand what actually matters in the matchup. A mediocre hand might be keepable in the dark, but once you know what you’re up against, standards should tighten.

Knowing when not to mulligan is where discipline comes in. If a hand has a clear plan, even if it’s not flashy, it’s often better than rolling the dice again. Decks with good card selection, redundancy, or strong topdecks can afford to keep slightly weaker openers. Going to six or five without a strong reason can put you in a hole that no amount of good play will fix. In long tournaments, those small losses add up.

The best competitive mulligan decisions come from preparation, not instinct. You should know what a winning opener looks like for your deck in each major matchup before you sit down. That way, when you look at your opening hand, you’re not guessing. You’re checking it against a plan you’ve already thought through. Mulligan aggressively when the hand doesn’t support that plan. Keep it when it does, even if it looks a little boring.

Thank you for reading.