Talk:Magic: The Gathering formats

message: The list of standard deck still in rotation is almost a year old now, someone should update it (I don't know enough to do that properly, but I'm hoping one of you does).  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 49.205.249.237 (talk) 13:04, 12 January 2024 (UTC)
thread_title:  Standard Update 

message: Ok, I put together this article, culled most of the stuff from the magic the gathering main article, but I figure this separate page has more room for expansion.  FrozenPurpleCube 22:58, 13 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Frozen Purple Cube 

message: Is a separate page for Momir Basic really necessary at this point?  It could easily fit into a section here if more information on the subject is desired.  FrozenPurpleCube 17:53, 4 January 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Well, I wouldn't oppose including any other momir formats that can be properly sourced. FrozenPurpleCube 22:01, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Momir Basic 

message: I feel that Tribal Wars should be mentioned on this as well.  There's a decent following for this format online.
DbishopNWF 17:43, 25 May 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: (we're working on a new version of the page, it'll have Tribal Wars on it) Darkelfpoet 19:16, 25 May 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Tribal Wars 

message: I added a small note for EDH, since it appears to be quite popular.  If you replace this page (see Darkelfpoet's post above), please include this variant as well.  Smileylich (talk) 17:41, 20 October 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Elder Dragon Highlander (EDH) 

message: I play MTG Online which is the official product from Wizards of the Coast and I don't see all the officially sanctioned formats listed in this article. Are they listed somewhere else? Is there a reason to exclude Wizards endorsed formats? There are quite a few, each with specific build rules, that aren't listed here. I didn't want to add to the article without asking if there was a reason why they weren't listed first. The only problem I foresee is that Wizards hasn't put a lot of these formats on the interweb on any of their pages. They are all formats that are available inside the MTG Online client so I don't know how I would source that. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.199.20.125 (talk) 16:13, 15 August 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  All endorsed formats not listed 

message: Block Constructed is said to be the three sets in a block or as it says "two sets," like from Llorwyn. I believe this is false. It is stated that The two sets from Llorwyn and the two sets from Shadowmoor together make up a block constructed deck.  bhegeta (talk) 21:20, 11 March 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Block Constructed 

message: Most of these haven't had citations in 5 years.  You can see the removed formats in this edit; they can always be added back if a proper citation is found. SnowFire (talk) 23:21, 18 July 2012 (UTC)
thread_title:  Uncited casual formats removed from article 

message: Oathbreaker appears twice, once in the "Commander" section and once in the "Casual Formats" section. I assume the latter should be removed, since Oathbreaker is officially supported now, and it's not accurate in deck count anyway (it says 59 cards in the main deck, the correct number is 58). 75.135.125.78 (talk) 17:36, 11 July 2023 (UTC)
replies: text: Removed the sentence under "Casual Formats". Sariel Xilo (talk) 17:46, 11 July 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  Oathbreaker inconsistency 

message: The redirect Paupers deck challenge has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at  until a consensus is reached.   Jay 💬 08:31, 5 December 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  "[[:Paupers deck challenge]]" listed at [[Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion|Redirects for discussion]] 

message: ;Casual Constructed
* Gentry: a budget-friendly variation on the standard format. Cards can be used from the same set rotation as Standard, but a deck can only contain 4 unique rare or mythic rare cards and up to 15 uncommon cards. The banlist is generally the same as the one used for regular standard play, although some specific uncommon cards can sometimes be treated as rares for deckbuilding limitations based on local rules. Gentry is popular among some smaller Magic communities because it is less expensive compared to the Standard format and is easily accessible for new players.
* Frontier: a format developed by Japanese stores Hareruya and BigMagic in 2016.Hareruya announcement It is similar to Modern in its deck construction rules, but with a later start date; card sets are legal from Magic 2015 onwards.
* Premodern: a constructed format which only allows for typically "old-bordered" cards printed from 4th Edition up to Scourge (prior to the 1st modern-legal set, 8th Edition - hence the "Premodern" name). Certain powerful combo-enabling cards are banned, such as  or , but a number of decks and strategies from past Standard/Type 2 and Extended formats can be seen in tournaments, such as Goblins, the Rock, Landstill, etc. However, up-to-date Magic: The Gathering rules are enforced as opposed to past implementations : among other things, for example, extra mana left in the pool does not cause mana burns and combat damage does not go on the stack.Premodern Rules and Banlist
;Casual Multiplayer
* Free-For-All: the simplest format where players sit in a circle and vie with those around them to be the final surviving player. Sometimes restrictions are added on who can be attacked in large free-for-alls - e.g. a player can only attack players sitting next to them.
;Vanguard
*One recent addition to the regular Vanguard format is Momir Basic, which involves the Momir Avatar, which allows a player to discard a land card to get a random creature into play. All Momir Basic Decks are constructed entirely of basic land.
;Other casual formats
*All-Play is an unofficial format using a 100 card deck. All 5 basic land cards are available at the side. On your turn you can play a land from one of the piles. During draw phase you draw 2 cards and discard 1 to the scrap pile. Hand limit is 3 cards and other players play off the same deck. Each player has their own discard pile and the scrap pile is not counted. If you trigger a scry you do it next turn before your draw step.
* Desolation is an unofficial format where all cards are banned besides cards that were once banned and/or restricted in sanctioned formats. The format is played in two different versions, one that allows cards printed in unglued, unhinged, and unstable, and another one that does not titled "Candy Desolation" and "Classic Desolation" respectively.
* Game of Thrones is an unofficial format based on "Kings" of a six-person to eight-person free for all where you have 6-8 cards that represent the following characters 2 Kings (King of the North and King of the South), 1-2 Knights (who are secretly assigned to a king), and 1-2 Usurpers.  You give out the cards secretly to each of the six-eight players. Their role is decided by the card they have. When the game starts the two kings reveal his or her role and she or he rolls against the other king to see who goes first. The goal of the game for each class is different. As the king, if you are the last one alive you win the game so your goal is to kill the other king, the knight or knights can or can not be alive for this win condition.  The Knight's role is to keep their king alive and kill the other king.  The Usurpers role is to kill any king in order to become the king.  Should this happen, the Usurper becomes the king, adds 10 life to their life total, and the "killed" king becomes the new Usurper with a total of fifteen life.  The knight or knights who were assigned to the previous king are now reassigned to the new king.  There are a number of special rules for this format. 1) anyone can block for the king but no one can block for anyone else. 2) Everyone is allowed a free mulligan and free scry. 3)The king who rolls the highest amount always goes first. 5) The King's life starts 10 life higher than the knights and the usurpers.  The point of the game is to play as the roles and figure out each others roles while trying to protect your king and kill the other king. Milling and commander damage still apply.
* King is an unofficial format of a five-person free for all where you have 5 cards that represent the following characters King, Assassin, Guard, and Rogue. The assassin has two cards in the 5 pile. You give out the cards secretly to each of the five players. Their role is decided by the card they have. When the game starts the king reveals his or her role and she or he goes first. The goal of the game for each class is different. As the king, if you are the last one alive you win the game, the guard can be alive for this condition. The guards only role is to keep the king alive and kill the assassins and rogue. The assassins jobs are to kill the king, if at any time in the game the king loses and an assassin is alive they win. The rogue's job is to kill everyone without the assassins winning the game. When a person loses during this format they reveal their card and their character. Another role is possible for this format for more players: the jester. The jester wants to be killed by anyone, and is pretending to be an assassin. If the jester is killed he/she reveals their card. They then take the card of the person who killed him and their life total. Their board state remains the same. There are a number of special rules for this format. 1) anyone can block for the king but no one can block for anyone else. 2) Everyone is allowed a free mulligan and free scry. 3)The king always goes first. 4) no alternate win conditions. This is because the point of the game is to play as the roles and find each other this is defeated by any alternate win conditions. This rule does not apply to milling or commander damage.
*Pack War is a format in which two players each open two booster packs (without looking at the contents), set aside the token or advertisement cards, and add 3 of each type of basic land. The players then play a best 2-of-3 games. Several game stores supporting this unofficial format then award a booster pack from one of the sets in Standard to the winner (assuming the four other booster packs were purchased at the store that day).
* Penny Dreadful is an unofficial Magic Online budget format where the legality rules include only cards that cost 0.02 ticket - roughly one penny.
* Old Frame is a format where only cards that were originally printed between Alpha and Onslaught are allowed. This format intends to recreate 2003 Vintage. The main differences are that Portal sets and Starter 1999 are allowed, the format is played with contemporary rules and erratas and the banned and restricted list is regularly modified as needed.
* Old School is a format where only cards that were printed in 1993 and 1994 (the first 2 years of Magic) are allowed. There are many different variations, often with different rules set regionally by a playgroup or a local tournament organizer.
* QL Magic is a variant where players can only play with cards with the old Magic card frames, in contrast with the Modern format. As such the format allows players to play with cards from Alpha through Onslaught block. The format also uses an older version of the rules based on the Sixth Edition rules.
* Roploplo is a format where only cards that were printed in 1993 and 1994 (the first 2 years of Magic) are allowed. Singleton 80 Multiplayer with commander Legendary or mono Color Paladin Ruleset (Mind Twist, Library of Alexandria and City in a bottle banned).
The above formats have been poorly sourced for a while (many were tagged with "citation needed" in 2021). If you find sources and restore a format to the article, please strike out the entry above. Thanks! Sariel Xilo (talk) 01:43, 28 February 2024 (UTC)
thread_title:  Poorly sourced formats