Which MTG format for me?

It mostly depends on where you play, and how long you've been playing, but I would say this: For new players, play Standard. For players who have a bit of a collection from the recent sets, play Pioneer or Explorer. For players that have been around awhile and don't have a collection, try Pauper.

What format do most MTG players play?

Commander is the most popular format in Magic: The Gathering. This format challenges players to show off their deck-building, piloting, and even their political skills.

Which MTG format for beginners?

Standard Is The Most Up-To-Date MTG Format For New Players

The limited pool of cards means that everyone operates on a somewhat level playing field, as the constant change forces innovation in deckbuilding.

Does anyone still play Standard MTG?

It has become more and more common to find people who skip tabletop Standard entirely, focusing on Commander as well as one or both of the main eternal formats. And yet, Standard is still a fantastic way to play Magic, tabletop or otherwise.

What MTG format allows all cards?

Legacy. Legacy allows cards from all sets (known as an "Eternal" format).

Explaining All The Most Popular Formats in MTG Easily and Plainly

What is the most banned card in MTG?

How many MTG cards is too many?

Most formats don't have a maximum card limit, but for most formats the minimum card limit is 60 and most people choose to have 60 card decks unless there is a very good reason not to.

Why is MTG standard so expensive?

This is largely due to the secondary market, which is what we call anything and anywhere that sells singles instead of just MTG packs. Despite the high cost of these cards, buying an expensive single is still often more cost-effective than buying packs until you pull the card you want.

Why is MTG standard not popular?

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Standard play on paper was almost entirely wiped out. Tournaments were shut down, killing off the format's biggest draw, so casual players moved to different formats. Standard players who were left were pushed online to MTGO and MTG Arena in order to get their fix.

Why are so many cards banned in MTG?

Some cards are banned because they have proven to simply be too powerful in their respective format. While hundreds of hours are spent rigorously playtesting sets before their release, the complexity of Magic makes it nearly impossible to accurately predict all the ways the new cards interact with older ones.

Is MTG harder than chess?

Chess and magic are both very deep and intricate games. Magic is harder to learn, deeper, and more complex but what they share is that you are playing against another person.

Is there an advantage to going first in MTG?

The Advantages of Being on the Play

The player who goes first is much more able to take the initiative, taking the game where he or she wants it to go, and forcing the opponent to react. The player who goes second will need to do something quite special in order to take back the initiative.

What is the easiest MTG color for beginners?

The first color we are going to discuss is “Red”. This is a common starting choice for many players new to Magic: The Gathering and for good reason, it features an incredibly fast play style.

Why is Commander better than Standard?

As the only official singleton format, Commander is a great jumping-off point for new Magic players and those returning to the game. By philosophy, Commander is casual. This makes Commander easier to approach than other constructed formats, which are often highly competitive.

What is the most popular MTG mode?

Standard. What is this? As the most widely sanctioned format in Magic: the Gathering, Standard is likely the first format you'll interact with. As a rotating constructed format, Standard players have access to roughly the past two years of cards released in expansion and core sets.

Should I play Modern or Standard MTG?

A big difference between Standard and Modern MTG formats is the lack of rotation in Modern. While Modern decks can be expensive, the lack of rotation means decks are playable for many years. The exception being when an important card is banned—or the meta changes too significantly.

Is anything rotating out of standard MTG?

Which MTG Sets Rotated Out of Standard In 2022? This year's Standard rotation triggered with the release of Dominaria United. Cards from Zendikar Rising, Kaldheim, Strixhaven: School of Mages, and Adventures in the Forgotten Realms have now rotated out of Standard.

Why are MTG cards losing value?

The bank said Hasbro is overprinting Magic cards which is destroying its long-term value. "Card prices are falling, game stores are losing money, collectors are liquidating and large retailers are cutting orders," BofA said.

Why is standard dying MTG?

With nearly all competition being done on MTG Arena, another system that players had to buy into that left in-store play out to rot, the incentives for players to actually play Standard continued to dwindle. Players weren't going into their stores anymore.

Why are foil MTG cards cheaper?

With these older versions, the set and prerelease foils are the clear winners. With newer releases, set foils are both a lot easier to open (thanks to Collector Boosters) and less exciting compared to Showcase Foils. That's why they're so much cheaper now.

How much does a good standard MTG deck cost?

How Much Does a Magic Deck Cost? You should expect to pay about $200 to $1000 for the average Magic deck. The price point generally scales with how old the format is (Modern is more expensive than Standard for instance) and how many staples are in your deck.

How is Hasbro ruining Magic: The Gathering?

Magic: The Gathering fans are upset with how much product Hasbro has been releasing. Hasbro's strategy has put a strain on fans' wallets, who feel they have to buy the cards to keep up. Some game shop owners have had to sell cards at a lower cost — meaning they lose money and Magic loses value.

What is the 60 card rule in MTG?

Your deck must be at least 60 cards. Up to fifteen cards may be included in your sideboard, if you use one. Include no more than four copies of any individual card in your main deck and sideboard combined (except basic lands). There's no maximum deck size, as long as you can shuffle your deck in your hands unassisted.

Should you always have 7 cards in your hand in MTG?

402.2. Each player has a maximum hand size, which is normally seven cards. A player may have any number of cards in their hand, but as part of their cleanup step, the player must discard excess cards down to the maximum hand size.