Magic: The Gathering formats explained

Commander (EDH)

Entry-level · €€ · Multiplayer

The most popular format: social, usually with 3-4 players.

Deck

100 cards, every card unique (singleton), 1 legendary creature as commander.

Card pool

Almost every card ever printed.

Notable

You start with 40 life; cards may only be in the colors of your commander (color identity).

Rules that differ from the basics

• A 100-card singleton deck: aside from basic lands, every card may appear only once.
• You choose exactly 1 legendary creature as your commander; it starts in the command zone.
• Color identity: your deck may only contain cards in your commander's colors (mana symbols in the card text count too).
• You start with 40 life instead of 20.
• With more than 2 players, your first mulligan is free: you don't put a card on the bottom for it.
• Commander damage: if you take 21 total combat damage from a single commander, you lose immediately.
• Command zone: you may cast your commander from there. Each time after that it costs {2} more (commander tax). If it dies or gets exiled, you may send it back to the command zone.
• Usually played with 3-4 players, so lots of negotiating and alliances.

The easiest way to play casually with friends. Ready-made "precon" decks make getting started simple, and from there you slowly upgrade. Games last longer and revolve around fun, memorable moments instead of pure winning.

Standard

Entry-level · €€ · 1v1

The newest cards, 1-on-1, rotates every year.

Card pool

Only the sets from the last ~3 years.

Notable

Rotates: older sets drop out every year, so the card pool stays small and fresh.

A good first step into competitive 1-on-1 play. Because the pool is small and current, you don't need to know or own thousands of old cards.

Pioneer

Intermediate · €€ · 1v1

Modern cards without rotation, an affordable middle ground.

Card pool

All sets from Return to Ravnica (2012) onward.

Notable

Does not rotate: your cards stay legal forever.

A middle ground between Standard and Modern: more powerful and durable than Standard, but cheaper and easier to follow than Modern.

Modern

Advanced · €€€ · 1v1

Fast and powerful, twenty years of cards.

Card pool

Sets from 2003 onward (the "modern" card frame).

Notable

Doesn't rotate; high tempo, strong combos, and interaction.

For players who love depth and a large, crystallized metagame. Powerful games, but expect a bigger investment in time and cards.

Pauper

Entry-level · € · 1v1

Commons only: dirt cheap and surprisingly strong.

Card pool

Only cards that were ever printed at common.

Notable

Doesn't rotate.

The cheapest serious way to play competitively. Great for learning without spending much money, with its own fascinating metagame.

Legacy

Advanced · €€€€ · 1v1

Almost anything goes: extremely powerful and expensive.

Card pool

Virtually every card ever printed, with a banlist.

Notable

Iconic expensive cards (including the original dual lands).

For enthusiasts who want the most powerful 1-on-1 games and are willing to invest. Often played with "proxies" (fake cards) in casual circles to keep costs down.

Vintage

Advanced · €€€€ · 1v1

The only format where (almost) nothing is banned.

Card pool

Every card ever printed; the strongest ones are on a "restricted" list (max 1 per deck).

Notable

Includes the legendary "Power Nine".

The most powerful and expensive format. Rarely played with real cards; usually with proxies or online.

Oathbreaker

Entry-level · €€ · Multiplayer

Like Commander, but with a planeswalker and smaller.

Deck

60-card singleton, a planeswalker as your "oathbreaker" + 1 fixed "signature spell".

Card pool

Almost every card ever printed.

Notable

You start with 20 life; faster and cheaper than Commander.

Rules that differ from the basics

• A 60-card singleton deck.
• You choose a planeswalker as your "oathbreaker" plus one instant or sorcery as your "signature spell"; both start in the command zone.
• You may only cast your signature spell while your oathbreaker is on the battlefield.
• You start with 20 life.
• The command zone works like in Commander: {2} extra each time you recast it.

A fun alternative to Commander if you love planeswalkers and want shorter, cheaper games.