Hall of Fame

The Magic: the Gathering Hall of Fame enshrines the most significant and influential competitors of the game. It consists of an online museum dedicated to the Hall of Fame members, as well as Magic Hall of Fame Exhibit, which is displayed at selected events. Players are voted into the Magic Hall of Fame on an annual basis by a select committee.

Until 2019, the Hall of Fame was known as the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour Hall of Fame. The Hall opened in 2005.

Eligibility
To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a player must have at least 150 lifetime Pro Points (prior to 2014, only 100 Pro Points were needed), must have participated in their first Pro Tour event (including Worlds prior to 2011) at least 10 seasons before the current voting year, and must not be currently suspended by the DCI. Starting in 2017, an added rule prescribes that a player must have at least two Pro Tour final-day finishes. In 2019, that was amended to encompass the broader scope of high-level tournaments. The statistic was being recast as "Top Finishes," which included Pro Tour Top 8s, team Pro Tour Top 4s, World Championship (2012 to the present) Top 4s, Mythic Championship Top 8s/Top 4s, Mythic Invitational Top 4s, and Magic Online Championship Series Top 4s.

As competitive Magic has expanded to include MTG Arena, Wizards of the Coast announced their intention to amend the future eligibility rules for the Magic Hall of Fame further in 2020. They were exploring a lot of options, including opening the Hall of Fame to non-pro players who've had a profound impact on the game. This would include people like Richard Garfield. A nominating committee was also under consideration. In August 2020, it was confirmed that going forward the Magic Hall of Fame would not only feature competitive players, but also innovators, contributors, and longtime stewards.

Removal from ballot
Players who have been eligible for the Hall of Fame, but received less than 10% of the votes in three years, are removed from the ballot. Prior to 2018, this was restricted to three consecutive years. Players who had been removed from the ballot could be reinstated by earning four or more Pro Points within one calendar year.

Selection process
Each year, eligible players are selected for the Hall of Fame through voting by a Selection Committee consisting primarily of certain Wizards of the Coast employees, reporters and commentators of the Pro Tour, high-level judges, previously inducted Hall of Famers, and professional players with at least 150 Pro Points.

For the first three years, the top five players on the ballot with the most votes were elected. This was changed in 2008; only players who received at least 40% of the votes would be inducted – or, if no one on the ballot reached 40%, the top vote getter. In theory, this means that as few as one player could get inducted, but also that the number of inductees could be in excess of five. In 2017, the threshold was raised to 60%.

Each year, at the first Pro Tour of the new season, an induction ceremony is held to award Hall of Fame rings to that year's Hall of Fame elects, officially enshrining them into the Hall. Prior to 2012, this ceremony was at the Magic World Championships.

Benefits
Being elected to the Hall of Fame used to have several benefits in addition to the recognition: The Hall of Fame appearance fee was in addition to what, if anything, they received for their Pro Players Club level. For byes and Magic Online QPs, however, only the higher reward applied.
 * Three byes at all individual format Grand Prix events
 * Invitation to all Pro Tours and Nationals
 * One bye at Nationals
 * Complimentary sleep-in special at all Grand Prix events (where available)
 * 35 QPs given each month in Magic Online Championship Series
 * A $1500 appearance fee for participating in the Pro Tour where the Hall of Fame introduction ceremony was held (i.e. the first Pro Tour of the season). If the player is also a Platinum-level pro, both appearance fee rewards applied.
 * Prior to the 2016–17 season, this appearance fee was also awarded upon attendance at all other Pro Tours, as well as the World Magic Cup.

With the shift to MTG Arena and the COVID-19 epidemic, it is unclear how many benefits are retained - those in the Hall have not received invites to the Set Championships. With no Grand Prix or Nationals due to COVID-19, and no Hall of Fame ballot from restructuring, many benefits seem to have been retired. One new benefit has been automatic entry into MTG Arena Qualifier Weekends.

Controversy
Although Mike Long was eligible since the first year of the Hall of Fame (2005), he was not inducted. Though he has the necessary statistical credentials and garnered some votes (21.7% in 2005 at the most), he was not voted in. Mark Rosewater is among those who have voted and argued for his induction. However, his alleged cheating and his shady reputation repeatedly prevented his induction. He fell off the ballot following the 2012 voting, when he received 5.2% of the votes.