Free MTG Life Counter — Track Life Totals, Commander Damage & Poison Counters Online

Welcome to MTGLifeCounter.online — the free, browser-based Magic: The Gathering life counter built for Commander, Standard, and every format in between. No app download required. No login. No ads. Just pure MTG gameplay tracking at your fingertips.

Whether you're playing a casual kitchen-table game or a competitive Commander pod, our MTG life tracker handles everything: life totals for up to 10 players, commander damage tracking, poison counters, energy counters, dice rolling, and a full game timer — all in one free online tool.

What Is an MTG Life Counter?

In Magic: The Gathering, every player starts with a set number of life points — 20 in Standard formats and 40 in Commander (EDH). An MTG life counter helps players track these totals accurately throughout the game, replacing the need for dice, paper, or pen-and-pencil methods. Our online life counter goes far beyond simple tracking, offering a complete MTG companion experience right in your browser.

Key Features of Our MTG Life Counter App

Commander Damage Tracker

Commander damage is one of the most complex mechanics to track manually. Our built-in commander damage tracker lets every player monitor damage received from each opponent's commander individually. When any player reaches 21 commander damage from a single source, they are automatically marked as eliminated. Full support for Partner Commanders means you can track two separate damage streams per opponent — essential for popular Commander pairings like Tymna the Weaver and Thrasios.

Poison Counter & Infect Tracking

Infect decks win differently — at 10 poison counters, a player loses the game regardless of their life total. Our poison counter tracker keeps this clearly visible for every player. Watch for the alert the moment someone hits the lethal threshold of 10 poison counters, making infect and proliferate strategies impossible to mistrack.

All MTG Counter Types

Track every counter type used across Magic: The Gathering formats: poison counters, energy counters (critical for Kaladesh-era strategies), experience counters (for commanders like Meren of Clan Nel Toth and Mizzix of the Izmagnus), storm count for combo turns, commander tax, and fully custom counters for any unique game situation.

Dice Roller — D4 to D20

Access every standard MTG die directly within the app. Roll a D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, or D20 with a single tap. Use the High Roll feature to fairly determine who goes first, automatically highlighting the winning roll. Coin flip support handles Krark-the-Thumbless triggers and any other flip-based card effects without switching apps.

Game Timer & Turn Tracker

Long Commander sessions can drift — our built-in game timer and per-player turn tracker keep the table honest. See exactly how much time each player spends on their turn, view the total elapsed game time, and track turn count across the entire game. Perfect for pods who want to keep Commander night moving efficiently.

How to Use the MTG Life Counter

Step 1 — Choose Your Game Mode

Select from Standard (20 life), Commander/EDH (40 life), Planechase, Archenemy, or Bounty mode. Each mode automatically configures the correct starting life totals and unlocks the relevant game features.

Step 2 — Set Player Count

Choose between 2 and 10 players. The interface adapts automatically, displaying player cards in an optimized grid layout based on your screen size and player count.

Step 3 — Track Life & Damage

Use the large plus and minus buttons to adjust life totals. Hold down for rapid changes in increments of 10. Tap your life total directly to enter an exact number via keypad. Swipe or tap the commander damage button on any card to log damage from opposing commanders.

Step 4 — Share Your Game via QR Code

Playing at a large table? Use the Share Game feature to generate a QR code that encodes your entire game state. Teammates scan the code to instantly sync the game on their own device — no account needed.

MTG Life Counter for Commander / EDH

Commander (also known as EDH — Elder Dragon Highlander) is the most popular Magic: The Gathering format in the world. Our MTG Commander life counter is purpose-built for EDH: 40 starting life, commander damage tracking from every opponent, poison and experience counter support, and a multiplayer layout that fits up to 10 players comfortably on any screen.

Planechase, Archenemy & Bounty Game Modes

Planechase MTG

Planechase adds a shared deck of Plane cards that modify the rules of the game. Our Planechase mode includes a built-in virtual Plane deck — draw a plane, see its effect, and planeswalk with a single tap. No physical Planechase cards required.

Archenemy MTG

In Archenemy, one player takes on the role of a villain facing a team. Our Archenemy mode assigns the Archenemy player special starting conditions and includes a virtual Scheme deck. Draw schemes, trigger their effects, and dominate — or survive — the battle.

Bounty Mode (Outlaws of Thunder Junction)

The Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander mini-game introduces a shared Bounty deck. Starting on turn three, players can claim bounties for bonus rewards. Our Bounty mode simulates this with a virtual Bounty card deck, tracking unclaimed bounties and scaling rewards as turns progress.

Works on Any Device — No Download Required

MTGLifeCounter.online is a Progressive Web App (PWA) that works on iPhone, Android, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. Install it directly to your home screen for fullscreen, app-like access without visiting the App Store or Google Play. It works completely offline once loaded — perfect for game nights where Wi-Fi isn't reliable.

Free MTG Life Counter — No Ads, No Account

Every feature on MTGLifeCounter.online is completely free. No subscription, no registration, no ads interrupting your game. Just open the browser, start a game, and play. We believe the best MTG companion tools should be accessible to every player — from kitchen-table beginners to seasoned Commander veterans.

Frequently Asked Questions — MTG Life Counter

What is the starting life total in Commander?

In Commander (EDH), all players start with 40 life points. A player also loses if they receive 21 or more combat damage from a single commander over the course of the game, or if they accumulate 10 or more poison counters.

How many players can use this MTG life counter?

Our life counter supports up to 10 players simultaneously, making it ideal for large Commander pods and multiplayer casual games.

Does this MTG life counter work offline?

Yes. MTGLifeCounter.online is built as a Progressive Web App (PWA). After your first visit, the app caches all resources and works fully offline — no internet connection needed during your game.

Can I track poison counters and commander damage at the same time?

Absolutely. Every player card supports simultaneous tracking of life totals, commander damage from multiple sources, and all counter types including poison, energy, and experience — all visible at once without switching views.

Is this compatible with iPhone and Android?

Yes. The app is fully responsive and touch-optimized for all mobile devices. Add it to your home screen on both iOS (Safari → Share → Add to Home Screen) and Android (Chrome → Menu → Add to Home Screen) for full-screen, offline access.