MTG formats explained
Last updated: August 18, 2026
A "format" in Magic: The Gathering is just the set of rules that decides which cards you're allowed to play and how you build your deck. Pick a format and you know which cards are legal, how big your deck is, and roughly what kind of games to expect. Here are the ones you'll run into most, from the most casual to the most powerful.
Commander (EDH)
By far the most popular way to play. Commander is a casual, multiplayer format: 100-card singleton decks (no duplicates except basic lands) led by a legendary creature whose colours set your deck's colour identity. Games are social, swingy, and built around big signature plays rather than tight competition. It's also the friendliest format for your wallet, because you only ever need one copy of each card. New to it? Read building your first Commander deck on a budget, then browse our Commander singles.
Standard
Magic's flagship rotating format, built from roughly the last three years of sets. Because older sets "rotate out" as new ones release, the card pool stays fresh and the metagame shifts with every release — you're never priced into a card that's about to become illegal. It's the format Wizards of the Coast designs around and the most accessible on-ramp to competitive, tournament-legal Magic. Browse Standard-legal singles.
Modern
A non-rotating format using every set from 2003's core set onward. Nothing rotates out, so a Modern deck you build today stays legal for years — you're buying cards once, not re-buying every autumn. The trade-off is a deep, powerful card pool and a faster, more demanding metagame than Standard. Browse Modern-legal singles.
Pioneer
Sits between Standard and Modern: non-rotating, but with a card pool that starts from the 2012 sets forward. That makes it more affordable and approachable than Modern while still offering a stable, permanent deck you don't have to rebuild each year. A great next step if Standard feels too short-lived but Modern feels too deep. Browse Pioneer-legal singles.
Legacy
One of Magic's eternal formats: almost every card ever printed is legal, kept in check only by a banned list. Legacy rewards deep collections and intricate combos, and it's where many of the game's most iconic cards live. (Vintage goes one step further, allowing an even larger pool held back by a restricted list rather than outright bans.) Browse Legacy-legal singles.
Pauper
The great-value format: decks may only use cards printed at common rarity. Don't mistake "commons only" for low power — Pauper has a rich metagame of aggressive, control, and combo decks built from efficient, inexpensive cards. You can assemble a complete, competitive deck for the price of a few booster packs. Browse Pauper-legal singles, or start from our full common singles.
Which format is right for you?
If you want relaxed, social games and low entry cost, start with Commander or Pauper. If you like competition and don't mind your deck changing over time, Standard is the classic entry point; if you'd rather build once and keep it, look at Pioneer or Modern. Whatever you choose, every card is graded by hand against the Face to Face standard — see our condition grading guide — and you can pick up locally in London, Ontario or have it shipped across Canada.
Ready to build? Browse the full catalog or paste a list into our Deck Builder to price it against live stock.