Magic: The Gathering Formats – A Guide for the Chronically Indecisive

Magic: The Gathering formats are a lot like a buffet—there’s a little bit of everything, and no matter what you pick, someone at the table will insist that what they got is better. With so many ways to play, it can be overwhelming to decide how you want to sling those spells. Fear not! We're here to give you a tour of the different formats with just the right amount of unnecessary commentary.

Standard – The New and Shiny

For those who love staying up-to-date, Standard features the most recent sets of Magic cards. The metagame is always shifting, which is great if you love constantly adapting and terrible if you just spent your rent money on a deck that rotated out last week.

In 2023, Wizards of the Coast decided to shake things up and give Standard players a little breathing room—by extending rotation from two years to three. That meant more time to enjoy your favorite decks before they got kicked to the curb, and a Standard format that swelled from eight sets to twelve.

Then, in late 2024, they threw another curveball with Magic: The Gathering Foundations—a new kind of Standard-legal set that replaces the usual core set of reprints and was purpose built to make it easier for new players to join in on the fun. Unlike regular expansions that come and go like Karn on a bad vacation, Foundations is here to stay… at least for five years. This set is meant to be a rock-solid part of Standard, keeping key cards in the mix while everything else rotates around it. Basically, it’s the format’s new backbone—and the closest thing Standard has to a "forever home."

Pros: You get to play with fresh cards and experience new strategies.

Cons: Your wallet will make one of those sad trombone noises every time a new set releases.

Modern – Where Your Wallet Goes to Die

Modern sits you in the Wayback Machine letting you play with cards going back to earlier sets, leading to wild combos, ridiculous power levels, and games that end before you even realize what happened. If you enjoy spending $1,500 on a deck that will be obliterated by someone’s $50 budget build, Modern is for you.

Pros: Deep, complex gameplay with a massive card pool.

Cons: You may need to sell a kidney to afford some of these decks.

Commander – The 100-Card Chaos Fest

Also known as EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander, because it used to be based on the dragon lords), Commander is the most popular casual format where you build a 100-card deck with no duplicates centered around one legendary creature who can be cast even when killed (for an increased mana cost of course).

Games are multiplayer, alliances are fickle, and someone will get salty when their plans get ruined.

Pros: Maximum creativity, social interaction, and chaotic fun.

Cons: Games can take hours, and you will inevitably become the villain for playing a simple board wipe.

Draft – "Hope You Can Build a Deck on the Fly"

Draft is the format for people who like living on the edge. You open booster packs, pick one card at a time, and pass the rest to the next player—until you’ve Frankenstein’d yourself a 40 card deck that may or may not actually work.

Pros: Everyone starts on equal footing, and you don’t need a collection to play.

Cons: You’ll inevitably pick some ultra-rare card that doesn’t fit your deck but looks too cool and is far to valuable to pass up. You lose the game but hey, shiny card.

Pioneer – Modern Lite (For Those Who Like Paying Rent)

Pioneer is like Modern but with a smaller, more reasonable card pool—because not everyone has an oil well in their back yard. It’s a great middle ground for those who want competitive play without breaking the bank.

Pros: More affordable than Modern, with deep strategy.

Cons: You’ll still spend money, just… slightly less.

Pauper – Commander for the Masses

Pauper only allows common cards, proving that even the cheapest spells can be deadly. This format is great for those who love budget decks but still want to crush their opponents’ spirits.

Pros: Dirt cheap and surprisingly powerful.

Cons: You’ll be playing against the same 5 decks over and over again.

Legacy & Vintage – The Wild West (Or Maybe the Gold Rush?)

Want to play every card ever printed and break the game in ways no one ever intended? Welcome to Legacy and Vintage! These formats are filled with turn-one wins, mind-boggling combos, and price tags that could fund your retirement.

Pros: Insane power levels and historical depth, art, flavor, EVERYTHING!

Cons: You’ll never financially recover from this.

Which Magic: The Gathering Format is Right for You?

Whether you like fast-paced play, social shenanigans, or mortgaging your house for cardboard, Magic: The Gathering has a format for you. The best way to find your favorite? Try them all! Or, you know, just play Commander—it’s where you’ll end up anyway.

Now, shuffle up and let the chaos begin!