How to Concede a Match in Magic the Gathering Arena

To concede a match in Magic: The Gathering Arena, click the gear icon at the top right of the screen during a game (or press Esc), then click Concede at the bottom of the options menu. The game ends right away and counts as a loss for you.

This guide covers the MTG Arena app on Windows and Mac, as listed on Wizards of the Coast’s official MTG Arena page. Wizards does not publish a help article for the Concede button, so the steps below reflect the current in-game menu, checked in October 2026. The mobile app uses the same gear icon in the top-right corner.

How to Concede in MTG Arena

1. During a match, click the gear icon (Adjust Options) at the top-right corner of the screen. On a computer you can press Esc instead. Result: the options menu opens over the battlefield. The icon blends into some backgrounds, so look closely if you do not see it.
2. Find the Concede button at the bottom of the menu.
3. Click Concede. Result: the game ends immediately. Arena does not ask you to confirm, so only click it when you are sure.
4. Review the results screen. Result: depending on the mode, you may see your rank or event record update before you return to the home screen.

If you only want a break from the menu, click outside it or press Esc again to return to the game without conceding.

What Happens When You Concede

• It counts as a loss. Conceding is recorded the same way as losing the game normally. In ranked play, that can cost you rank progress; in an event, it adds a loss to your record.
• Best-of-three works by game. In a best-of-three match, Concede ends the game you are playing. Players report that you may need to concede the next game too if you want to leave the whole match.
• There is no undo. Because there is no confirmation step, a mistaken click still ends the game.
• Tournament rules apply in competitive events. Wizards’ Digital Tournament Rules allow a player to concede a game or match, but agreeing to concede in exchange for a prize or other reward counts as bribery.

Good Reasons to Concede

Players usually concede when the outcome is no longer in doubt, such as when an opponent has lethal damage on the board and you have no answer, or when something comes up and you need to leave. Conceding gets you to your next game faster than waiting out several turns. That said, comebacks do happen in Magic, so if you still have outs in your deck, it is often worth playing on.

If You Cannot Find the Concede Option

• Make sure you are in a match. The Concede button only appears in the options menu while a game is in progress.
• Try Esc. On Windows and Mac, Esc opens the same menu if the gear icon is hard to spot.
• Restart Arena if the screen is frozen. If the game stops responding, close and reopen the app. You can usually rejoin a game still in progress after reconnecting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does conceding hurt my rank in MTG Arena?

Conceding counts as a loss, so in ranked play it affects your rank the same way any other loss would.

Does my opponent see that I conceded?

Yes. Your opponent gets the win right away, and the game ends on their side too.

Can I concede against the computer?

Yes. The same gear icon and Concede button are available in practice games against the AI.

More MTG Arena Guides

• How to turn off shadows in MTG Arena to help the game run more smoothly.
• How to block incoming friend requests in MTG Arena if opponents add you after a match.
• How to search for cards you do not own in MTG Arena while building decks.
• How to set Google Chrome as your default browser in Windows 11.