MTG Format Guide!
Since Magic the Gathering was released in 1993, it has undergone a number of changes. One of the most important introductions in the game is the concept of Formats. Formats are the various different ways that the game can be played. Each format provides rules for deck construction, including deck size and which cards are allowed, and gameplay. Tournament formats officially sanctioned by Wizards of the Coast are divided into two classifications - Constructed and Limited. A third category exists, known as Casual, which includes formats not used in tournament or competitive play.
Popular formats currently include:
- Standard
- Modern
- Pioneer
- Vintage
- Legacy
- Pauper
- Booster Draft
- Sealed Deck
- Commander
Standard formerly known as Type 2 or Type II, is the most widely sanctioned constructed format at all levels of organized play. It is a rotating format, which means that only allows cards from a selected number of expansions are allowed, which changes over time. The rotating comes into effect once a year and the current sets allowed are Zendikar Rising, Kaldheim, Strixhaven: School of Mages, Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt. The format has 60 card decks and also utilises a ban list.
Modern Modern is a constructed format that allows expansion sets, core sets, and Modern Horizons; from Eighth Edition forward, save for the Modern ban list. The modern format thus encompasses all cards that have been printed in a core or expansion set using the modern card frame. Modern only sets, such as Modern Horizons, release new cards that are legal in Modern without ever being legal in Standard.
Pioneer Pioneer is a constructed format that allows expansion sets and core sets from Return to Ravnica forward, save for the Pioneer ban list. In this way it fulfils a similar role to Modern, but from a different jumping-off point.
Booster Draft In Booster Draft, each player opens a booster pack and picks a single card from the pack in secret. Everyone then passes the remainder of their booster to player on their left, each player then picks a card from the pack they just received before passing again. These steps are repeated until all the cards in the first packs have been selected. Once all the packs have been opened and all cards selected, everyone builds a deck from the cards they have pulled. You may add as many basic lands to your deck as you’d like, but each deck must have at least 40 cards.
Sealed Sealed Deck is a Limited format which is used in many events. Players each receive the same amount of unopened packs, typically six, then construct their decks from only those cards and basic lands.
Vintage , originally known as Type 1 or Type I, is a format that allows for the use of almost all printed cards, excluding silver-border sets, double faced cards and the ban list. For this reason, Vintage is considered one of the most expensive formats.
Legacy Legacy is similar to Vintage in the scope of cards allowed, but its card list is much more limited. Due to the restricted cards, these games tend to much slower.
Pauper Pauper is, in opposition to Vintage, a very cheap and accessible format. Only common cards are allowed and it also has a small ban list.
Commander originally known as Elder Dragon Highlander or EDH, Commander is a casual multiplayer format that supports 4 players with 100 card decks. Each player starts at 40 life, and each player's deck is headed by a legendary creature designated as that deck's commander. The format has become very popular in recent years, with the release of official pre-con Commander decks and full Commander sets like Commander Legends.
If you want to explore a new format or just get into MTG in general then make sure to head over to our Magic the Gathering section and browse our massive range of products including single cards, boosters, decks, bundles and much more! Simply click the button below to check it out!
