Pauper explained: commons-only Magic
Last updated: September 1, 2026
Pauper is the constructed format with one deceptively simple rule: every card in your deck must be a common. That single restriction produces some of the most affordable — and surprisingly powerful — Magic you can play.
The one rule
A card is Pauper-legal if it has been printed at common rarity in any set. That's a per-printing test, not a per-card one: a spell that's rare in its original set but was later reprinted at common somewhere is legal. So the Pauper pool is larger than it first sounds, and it grows with almost every new set and reprint product.
Why players love it
Pauper is the cheapest competitive format in Magic by a wide margin, and it rewards skill and deckbuilding over deep pockets. Commons have quietly accumulated a lot of power over three decades, so the games are real — tight, interactive, and every bit as strategic as pricier formats, just without the price tag.
A quick history
Pauper grew up on Magic Online as a community format, then became officially supported with its own banlist, now curated by a dedicated Pauper Format Panel that keeps the metagame healthy.
Popular archetypes
- Affinity: cheap artifacts that power out early threats.
- Elves: a go-wide creature swarm with explosive mana.
- Burn: direct damage that races anyone off the table.
- Control: Dimir and mono-blue lists leaning on counters and card advantage.
Getting started on a budget
Because everything is a common, a full Pauper deck costs a small fraction of a Modern or Legacy build — many of the pieces are well under a dollar. It's the best-value on-ramp to competitive Magic there is. If you're new to formats generally, our MTG formats explained guide puts Pauper in context, and deckbuilding basics covers how to tune a list.
Browse Pauper-legal commons in stock, or grab the cheap staples from our singles under $5.