Welcome, dear reader, to a thrilling exploration of the many formats of Magic: The Gathering! If you’re a seasoned planeswalker or a newcomer to the world of MTG, you’ll be delighted to discover the diverse array of formats that cater to every type of player. From the fast-paced, intense action of Standard to the vintage charm of Legacy, each format offers a unique experience and challenge. So buckle up, and let’s dive into the magical world of MTG formats!
What is Magic: The Gathering?
The Basics
A Brief History
Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is a popular collectible card game created by mathematician Richard Garfield in 1993. It has since become a global phenomenon, with millions of players worldwide and countless expansions and spin-offs. The game’s mechanics, lore, and artwork have evolved over the years, but its core concept remains the same: players summon creatures, cast spells, and use land cards to gain resources and defeat their opponents.
How to Play
The objective of the game is to reduce your opponent’s life total from 20 to 0. Each player starts with a deck of 60 cards, consisting of land cards, creatures, and spells. On each turn, players draw a hand of seven cards, then use mana (generated by land cards) to play cards from their hand. Mana is used to pay the colorless, mana, and color costs of spells and abilities.
During each turn, players can cast spells, summon creatures, use activated abilities, and attack with their creatures. Creatures have power and toughness, and when they deal damage to an opponent, they gain +1/+1 counters. Creatures can also have abilities that activate when they enter the battlefield or when they’re attacked.
Players can also use land cards to untap their land and generate mana, allowing them to play more spells and creatures. Some spells and abilities can interact with land cards, such as Reclamation, which allows players to tap their land for colorless mana instead of the corresponding color.
Players can also use instant and sorcery spells, which have different casting costs and effects. Instants can be cast at any time, while sorceries have a delay before they can be cast. Some instant and sorcery spells are counterspells, which can disrupt an opponent’s strategy or protect a player’s creatures from removal.
Finally, players can use enchantments and artifacts, which can modify the characteristics of creatures, land, or other permanents on the battlefield. Enchantments are typically cast as sorceries and can have lasting effects on the game, while artifacts can be attached to creatures or used as weapons, equipment, or vehicles.
In summary, Magic: The Gathering is a complex and engaging game that requires strategic thinking, deck-building skills, and an understanding of the various mechanics and cards available. The basics of the game involve understanding the mana system, creature and spell interactions, and the various types of cards and effects available to players.
The Different Formats of MTG
Constructed Formats
In Magic: The Gathering, constructed formats refer to gameplay that involves building a deck from a pool of cards, rather than using a pre-determined set of cards, as in limited formats. These formats allow players to showcase their creativity and strategic skills by crafting custom decks to suit their playstyle. Here are some of the most popular constructed formats in MTG:
Standard
Standard is one of the most widely played constructed formats in MTG. It is a rotating format that allows players to use cards from the two most recent blocks, as well as a small number of core sets. The format is designed to promote innovation and variety, as players must adapt to new cards and strategies with each rotation. The current Standard format includes cards from the Kaldheim and Strixhaven blocks, as well as a selection of core sets.
Modern
Modern is a non-rotating format that was introduced in 2011. It allows players to use cards from the year 2010 and beyond, with some exceptions for banned cards. Modern is known for its fast-paced, aggressive gameplay, with many decks focusing on creatures and direct damage spells. The format has a strong metagame, with popular decks and strategies constantly evolving in response to new cards and bans.
Pioneer
Pioneer is a relatively new constructed format that was introduced in 2019. It is a modern-focused format that allows players to use cards from the entirety of the modern card pool, including commander and borderless cards. Pioneer is known for its innovative deckbuilding and diverse strategies, with many unique and powerful cards seeing play in the format.
Historic
Historic is a constructed format that allows players to use cards from across the history of MTG, with some restrictions on certain cards and eras. The format has a large card pool, which allows for a wide variety of strategies and archetypes. Historic has a strong focus on tribal decks, with many powerful and iconic creature cards seeing play in the format.
Vintage
Vintage is a high-powered constructed format that allows players to use cards from all eras of MTG, with some restrictions on certain cards. The format is known for its powerful and unique cards, such as Moxen and Black Lotus, which can have a significant impact on gameplay. Vintage is a highly competitive format, with a strong focus on card advantage and resource management.
Legacy
Legacy is another high-powered constructed format that allows players to use cards from all eras of MTG, with some restrictions on certain cards. The format is known for its unique and powerful cards, such as Ancestral Recall and Time Walk, which can have a significant impact on gameplay. Legacy is a highly competitive format, with a strong focus on card advantage and resource management.
Commander
Commander is a constructed format that is focused on casual, social gameplay. Players build decks around a commander card, which remains in play and can be attacked or targeted, but cannot be killed. The format is known for its unique and diverse decks, with many players creating themed decks around specific commander cards. Commander has a strong focus on interaction and social gameplay, with many players engaging in political and diplomatic gameplay in addition to traditional combat.
Limited Formats
In Magic: The Gathering, limited formats refer to gameplay where players construct decks using a fixed pool of cards, usually from a newly released set. These formats promote skill, creativity, and adaptability, as players must make the most of the cards they are given. The following are the most popular limited formats in MTG:
Sealed Deck
Sealed Deck is a popular limited format in which each player is given a pre-constructed pack of cards. Each pack typically contains around ten rare cards and a larger number of uncommons and commons. Players then use these cards to build a deck of at least 60 cards, including a minimum land count. Sealed Deck events can be drafted or sealed, with the latter requiring players to use every card received in their pack.
Sealed Event
Sealed Event is similar to Sealed Deck, but it is typically played in a larger tournament setting. Players are given a pre-constructed pack of cards, and they use these cards to build a deck. In a sealed event, players compete against one another using the decks they have built. This format is popular because it allows players to discover new cards and build decks around them, creating a sense of excitement and unpredictability.
Draft
Draft is a popular limited format in which players work together to build a deck. Each player is given a pre-constructed pack of cards, and they take turns selecting cards to add to their deck. The player who drafts last has the advantage of choosing from the remaining cards. Once all players have selected their cards, they then use them to build a deck of at least 60 cards, including a minimum land count. Draft events are typically played in a “booster draft” format, where players open booster packs and select cards from them.
Two-Headed Giant
Two-Headed Giant (2HG) is a team-based limited format in which teams of two players face off against each other. Each player on a team receives a pre-constructed pack of cards, and they work together to build a deck of at least 60 cards, including a minimum land count. 2HG events are often played in a “sealed” format, where players use every card they receive in their pack to build their decks. This format promotes teamwork and strategy, as players must coordinate their efforts to defeat their opponents.
Popular Formats
Standard
Deck Construction
In the Standard format, players are allowed to include up to four copies of any given card in their deck, except for basic land cards. This means that players have a limited pool of cards to choose from, which encourages them to think strategically about their deck building choices. The format also rotates regularly, with new sets being added and older sets being phased out, ensuring that the metagame remains fresh and dynamic.
Notable Cards
Some of the most notable cards in the Standard format include powerful creatures like Liliana, Waker of the Dead and Nicol Bolas, Dragon God, as well as game-changing spells like Emrakul, the Promised End and Inkmoth Nexus.
Strategy and Tactics
The Standard format is known for its fast-paced, aggressive gameplay, with many decks focusing on getting in for early damage and taking down an opponent’s life total before they have a chance to establish their own game plan. Cards like Lightning Bolt and Pump Spell are often used to deal quick damage, while Elspeth, Sun’s Champion and Sorin, Lord of Innistrad provide powerful evasion and removal options to help keep a player’s board stable.
In addition to aggressive strategies, the Standard format also supports more control-based decks that focus on disrupting an opponent’s game plan and winning through card advantage. Cards like Brainstorm and Maelstrom Wanderer allow players to filter through their deck and find the cards they need, while Negate and Absence can neutralize an opponent’s powerful spells and abilities.
Modern
Modern is a popular format in Magic: The Gathering that allows players to use cards from the last 10 years of sets, as well as a small number of “classic” cards that are generally considered to be well-established staples of the format. The minimum deck size for Modern is 60 cards, and players are allowed to include up to four copies of a card in their deck.
Some of the most notable cards in Modern include the likes of Ancestral Vision, Brainstorm, Chord of Calling, Chrome Mox, and Gitaxian Probe. These cards have a significant impact on the game and are often included in the top-tier decks of the format.
Modern is a format that emphasizes skill and strategy, as players must navigate a wide range of powerful cards and strategies. One of the key elements of Modern is the use of fast, aggressive creatures and burn spells to quickly eliminate opposing creatures and gain life total superiority. Another popular strategy is the use of combo decks, which aim to combine multiple powerful effects in order to win the game quickly. Control decks, which focus on disrupting the opponent’s game plan and winning through card advantage, are also popular in Modern.
Pioneer
Pioneer is a popular format in Magic: The Gathering that is focused on using the most recent sets, with a recent origin date of January 2020. The format is known for its fast-paced and aggressive gameplay, with decks typically consisting of 60 cards and a maximum of four copies of any given card.
Some notable cards in Pioneer include the popular “Temur Reclamation” and “Elvish Reclaimer” decks, which feature powerful recursion and removal effects. Additionally, the format sees a lot of play from the “Lukka, Heart of Orzhova” and “Teferi, Hero of Dominaria” commanders, which provide powerful card advantage and board control.
Pioneer is a fast-paced format that rewards aggression and quick deck deployment. Players typically aim to play a large number of creatures and attack for damage as early as possible, while also using removal and counterspells to protect their board and disrupt their opponent’s strategy.
Control decks, on the other hand, often focus on using card draw and card filtering effects to find answers to their opponent’s threats, while also using bounce and counterspell effects to disrupt their opponent’s game plan.
Overall, Pioneer is a highly dynamic and versatile format that rewards creativity and innovation, making it a popular choice among Magic: The Gathering players.
Commander
In Commander, players build decks around a legendary creature or “Commander” that leads their team. Each player’s deck must have a Commander card in it, and the deck can contain up to four of them. The deck can also contain up to three copies of any given card, except for basic land cards. This format emphasizes strategy and tactics, as players must balance their decks to maximize their chances of victory.
Some of the most notable cards in Commander include powerful creatures like Garruk, Primal Hunter and Nicol Bolas, planeswalkers like Liliana, Waker of the Dead and Narset, Parter of Veils, and spells like Time Walk and Tooth and Nail.
In Commander, players must build decks that can adapt to a variety of strategies and tactics. Popular strategies include aggro, control, and combo, while popular tactics include token generation, card draw, and recursion. Players must also consider the color of their Commander, as certain colors have synergies with certain strategies and tactics. For example, Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice is a powerful commander for aggro strategies, while Karn, the Great Creator is a good choice for combo strategies. Overall, Commander is a complex and challenging format that rewards creativity and strategic thinking.
Sealed Deck
Sealed Deck is a popular format in Magic: The Gathering where players use a pre-constructed pool of cards to build their decks. Each player is given a set of booster packs to construct their deck, with the option to include sideboard cards to adjust their strategy during the game.
Sealed Deck games are known for featuring a diverse range of cards, including powerful rare cards that can turn the tide of a game. Players often prioritize building a deck that includes a balance of creatures, spells, and land cards to support their strategy. Some notable cards that are commonly seen in Sealed Deck games include fetchlands, Path to Exile, and Swords to Plowshares.
Sealed Deck games require players to adapt to the cards they receive and make the most of their limited options. Successful players in Sealed Deck often focus on building a cohesive strategy that leverages their cards’ strengths and minimizes their weaknesses. Popular strategies in Sealed Deck include aggro, midrange, and control decks, each with their own unique playstyle and strengths.
In aggro decks, players focus on playing low-cost creatures and quickly swarm the board to overwhelm their opponent. Midrange decks aim to control the board with a balance of creatures and removal spells, while control decks prioritize disrupting their opponent’s strategy and winning through attrition.
Overall, Sealed Deck games require players to think creatively and adapt to the cards they receive, making it a popular and challenging format for players of all skill levels.
Two-Headed Giant
In Two-Headed Giant (2HG) format, players team up against another team of two players. Each player on the team has their own deck, but they share life totals, and the team wins or loses together. This format encourages cooperation and strategy, as players must work together to defeat their opponents while also managing their own boards.
Deck construction in 2HG is different from other formats because players must consider not only their own deck but also their teammate’s deck. Each player should bring a deck that complements their teammate’s, focusing on synergies and shared strategies. For example, a player might choose to bring a deck that focuses on pumping up their teammate’s creatures, while their teammate brings a deck that focuses on creating card advantage.
Some notable cards in 2HG include those that support teamwork, such as Glissa, Herald of Predation and Omnath, Locus of All. These cards provide benefits to both players on the team, making them powerful choices for 2HG decks. Additionally, cards that generate a lot of mana, such as Staff of Nin and Crop Rotation, can be valuable in 2HG because they allow players to cast their spells more quickly and maintain a faster pace of play.
In 2HG, players must work together to manage their boards and maintain a balance of offense and defense. Communication is key, as players must coordinate their attacks and defenses to ensure the team’s success. One popular strategy is to focus on gaining life and maintaining a large life total, while also using cards that generate tokens or other creatures to swarm the opponents’ board.
Another important aspect of 2HG is board control. Players must be careful not to let their opponents gain too much momentum, as this can quickly turn the tide of the game. Cards like Absence of Life and Oblivion Ring can be valuable for removing threats from the opponents’ board, while cards like Countersquall and Mistcutter Hydra can help players maintain control of their own board.
Overall, 2HG is a unique and challenging format that requires players to think strategically and work together to achieve victory. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a new player looking to try something different, 2HG is a great way to experience the social and strategic aspects of Magic: The Gathering.
The Future of MTG Formats
Upcoming Changes
New Sets and Mechanics
Each year, Magic: The Gathering releases several new sets, each with its own unique mechanics and cards. These new sets introduce new strategies and gameplay options, keeping the game fresh and exciting for players. For example, the upcoming “Strixhaven: School of Mages” set, set to release in April 2023, features a unique “double-faced” card mechanic, where each card has two different abilities depending on which side is face up. This adds a new layer of strategy to the game, as players must decide whether to flip their cards or keep them face down to gain advantage.
Rotation
Magic: The Gathering’s Standard format rotates every few months, meaning that certain cards and sets are no longer legal in the format. This keeps the game from becoming stagnant and encourages players to experiment with new strategies and cards. In 2023, the next rotation is expected to occur in July, and will see the departure of several popular cards and sets, including “Mystic Sanctuary” and “Lotus Petal”.
Banned and Restricted Lists
The banned and restricted lists are regularly updated by the Magic: The Gathering team to ensure that no card or combination of cards is too powerful or unbalanced. Cards can be banned or restricted from certain formats, such as the Vintage format, if they are deemed too powerful or disruptive to the game. In recent months, several cards have been banned or restricted in various formats, including “Mind’s Desire” in Vintage and “Baneslayer Angel” in Legacy.
The Digital Frontier
Magic: The Gathering has a strong presence in the digital space, with several popular online games and platforms, such as Magic: The Gathering Arena and MTG Goldfish. These platforms offer players the ability to play the game online, compete in tournaments, and interact with other players from around the world. In the coming years, it is expected that the digital frontier of Magic: The Gathering will continue to grow and evolve, with new platforms and features being added to enhance the player experience.
The Importance of Format Diversity
Encouraging Innovation
The diverse formats of Magic: The Gathering (MTG) play a crucial role in encouraging innovation within the game. By offering players a variety of ways to engage with the game, format diversity promotes the development of new strategies, deck ideas, and card interactions. This creative process keeps the game fresh and engaging for players, preventing stagnation and maintaining a thriving competitive scene.
Adapting to Player Preferences
Format diversity also allows MTG to adapt to the changing preferences of its player base. As the game evolves, different formats emerge to cater to various playstyles and preferences. For instance, some players may prefer the fast-paced, highly interactive experience of Limited formats, while others may enjoy the deeper strategy and deck-building aspects of Constructed formats. By offering a wide range of formats, Wizards of the Coast ensures that there is something for every type of player, keeping the game accessible and appealing to a broad audience.
Preserving the Game’s Legacy
Preserving the game’s legacy is another important aspect of format diversity. MTG has a rich history spanning over 25 years, with countless iconic cards, strategies, and memorable moments. By supporting a variety of formats, Wizards of the Coast can ensure that the game’s past remains relevant and accessible to current and future players. This includes maintaining support for classic formats like Legacy, which celebrates the game’s history by allowing players to use cards from across all sets, as well as promoting the use of less powerful cards to create a unique and challenging gameplay experience.
Overall, the importance of format diversity in MTG cannot be overstated. It encourages innovation, adapts to player preferences, and preserves the game’s legacy, all while maintaining a thriving and dynamic competitive scene. As the game continues to evolve, it is essential that format diversity remains a core component of the MTG experience, ensuring that the game remains fresh, engaging, and accessible to players of all kinds.
Embracing the Evolution of MTG Formats
The Role of the Community
- The Magic: The Gathering community has played a crucial role in shaping the evolution of its formats.
- Through feedback, suggestions, and organized play, the community has influenced the development of new formats and the refinement of existing ones.
- By engaging with the community, Wizards of the Coast ensures that the game remains dynamic and accessible to a wide range of players.
The Impact of Competitive Play
- Competitive play has been a driving force behind the evolution of MTG formats.
- The Professional Magic: The Gathering Association (PMTA) and other organized play events have provided a platform for top players to showcase their skills and push the boundaries of the game.
- As a result, formats like Standard and Modern have become increasingly popular and have undergone frequent changes to keep up with the metagame.
Exploring New Frontiers
- The evolution of MTG formats has also seen the introduction of unique and innovative concepts, such as Commander and Brawl.
- These formats offer players the opportunity to explore different strategies and deckbuilding options, while still maintaining the core mechanics of the game.
- The success of these formats has demonstrated the willingness of the MTG community to embrace new ideas and expand the game’s horizons.
Conclusion
- The future of MTG formats is bright, with ongoing support for established formats and continued exploration of new concepts.
- By listening to the community and responding to the needs of players, Wizards of the Coast ensures that the game remains fresh and engaging for all levels of play.
- As the game continues to evolve, the MTG community will undoubtedly play a vital role in shaping its future and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in a game of magic and strategy.
FAQs
1. What are the different formats of Magic: The Gathering?
There are several formats of Magic: The Gathering, including Standard, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Commander, Limited, and more. Each format has its own unique rules and restrictions, and is designed to offer a different play experience.
2. What is Standard format?
Standard format is one of the most popular formats of Magic: The Gathering. It is a constructed format that allows players to use cards from the two most recent sets, as well as a small number of older cards. The goal of the format is to create a dynamic and exciting format that is easily accessible to new players.
3. What is Modern format?
Modern format is another popular format of Magic: The Gathering. It is a constructed format that allows players to use cards from the Modern era, which begins with the set Ninth Edition and includes all sets released since then. The format is designed to be fast-paced and full of interaction, with a focus on the latest strategies and techniques.
4. What is Legacy format?
Legacy format is a constructed format of Magic: The Gathering that allows players to use cards from the entire history of the game, with a few restrictions. The format is known for its complexity and depth, and is often played by experienced players who enjoy the challenge of mastering older cards and strategies.
5. What is Vintage format?
Vintage format is a constructed format of Magic: The Gathering that allows players to use cards from the entire history of the game, with very few restrictions. The format is known for its powerful and complex cards, and is often played by experienced players who enjoy the challenge of mastering older strategies and techniques.
6. What is Commander format?
Commander format is a casual format of Magic: The Gathering that allows players to play with a single powerful commander card, and build a deck around it. The format is designed to be social and interactive, with a focus on friendly competition and creative deck-building.
7. What is Limited format?
Limited format is a format of Magic: The Gathering that involves building a deck using a small number of cards from a recent set. The format is designed to be fast-paced and interactive, with a focus on skill and strategy rather than card advantage.
8. What is Sealed format?
Sealed format is a format of Magic: The Gathering that involves opening a small number of booster packs and building a deck using the cards inside. The format is designed to be accessible and social, with a focus on exploration and discovery.
9. What is Draft format?
Draft format is a format of Magic: The Gathering that involves drafting a small number of cards from a recent set, and then building a deck using those cards. The format is designed to be fast-paced and interactive, with a focus on skill and strategy rather than card advantage.
10. How many formats of Magic: The Gathering are there?
There are many different formats of Magic: The Gathering, each with its own unique rules and restrictions. Some of the most popular formats include Standard, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Commander, Limited, and Sealed.