Vintage: the format explained
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".
Who is it for?
The most powerful and expensive format. Rarely played with real cards; usually with proxies or online.
Getting started with Vintage
Vintage with only real cards is out of reach for most players: the strongest cards are decades old, on the Reserved List and will never be reprinted. That's why almost everyone starts somewhere else. Magic Online supports Vintage and is by far the cheapest way to play the real format.
In paper, Vintage is mostly played at events that allow proxies, sometimes with a cap per deck. Ask the organizer what the rules are. Official, sanctioned tournaments require real cards. If you first want to feel what those old powerhouses are like, a cube draft with powerful cards is an easy way in, though that's a different format.
Building a Vintage deck
Vintage uses the standard constructed rules: at least 60 cards, no more than 4 copies of any card (except basic lands) and a sideboard of up to 15 cards. The difference is the restricted list: you may have only 1 copy of a restricted card, counted across deck and sideboard together. The ban list is short and mostly made of categories, such as cards that involve playing for ante or that require physical dexterity.
Thanks to fast mana artifacts and spells costing zero or one mana, many Vintage decks run well under 20 lands. Your curve is extremely low. Combo, control, aggro with disruption and decks built mostly on artifacts all show up, and every deck has to be ready for games decided on turn one or two.
Tournaments are best-of-three, and Vintage sideboards are often heavily aimed at a few big threats: artifact-heavy decks, graveyard decks and fast combo. A first deck is usually a known list you copy as closely as possible, because the margins are thin.
Common mistakes
- Thinking anything goes. You can only play 1 copy of a restricted card, and a few cards are banned outright. Check your list before an event.
- Playing slow cards. A card that's already slow in Legacy is usually unplayable in Vintage.
- No plan against artifacts or the graveyard. Without targeted sideboard cards, you lose to the decks that shape the format.
- Assuming you need real cards to join. Many local Vintage events allow proxies; ask before you give up on the idea.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between restricted and banned?
- You can have 1 copy of a restricted card across your deck and sideboard. A banned card can't be played at all. Both lists are on the Banned and Restricted page at magic.wizards.com.
- Can I play Vintage with proxies?
- Not at official, sanctioned tournaments. Many local events do allow proxies, sometimes up to a set number, and at home you decide together.
- Can I play Vintage on MTG Arena?
- No. You play Vintage online on Magic Online, or in paper.
- What's the Power Nine?
- Nine cards from Magic's very first sets, famous for their power. They're all on the Reserved List, restricted in Vintage and banned in Legacy.
Other formats
Commander (EDH)StandardPioneerModernPauperLegacyOathbreaker
See which of your cards are Vintage-legal →
Last updated: 26 October 2026