Modern

Modern
DCI Sanctioned
Paper
Magic Online
Magic Arena
Rules
Type	Constructed
Multiplayer

Modern is a constructed format that allows expansion sets, core sets, and Modern Horizons; from Eighth Edition forward, save for the Modern ban list. The modern format thus encompasses all cards that have been printed in a core or expansion set using the modern card frame (plus some others from Time Spiral).

Description

The format was introduced as a non-sanctioned Magic Online format in May 19, 2011 and subsequently officially codified on August 12, 2011, when the format of Pro Tour Philadelphia was changed from Extended to Modern.

Constructed decks must contain a minimum of sixty cards. There is no maximum deck size; however, you must be able to shuffle your deck with no assistance. Like other constructed formats, a sideboard of at most fifteen cards can be used.

With the exception of basic lands (land cards that have the "basic" supertype) and cards like Relentless Rats, a player's combined deck and sideboard may not contain more than four of any individual card, counted by its English card title equivalent.

Set legality

Cards from all regular core sets and expansions since Eighth Edition are legal.

• Eighth Edition
• Mirrodin
• Darksteel
• Fifth Dawn
• Champions of Kamigawa
• Betrayers of Kamigawa
• Saviors of Kamigawa
• Ninth Edition
• Ravnica: City of Guilds
• Guildpact
• Dissension
• Coldsnap
• Time Spiral
• Planar Chaos
• Future Sight
• Tenth Edition
• Lorwyn
• Morningtide
• Shadowmoor
• Eventide
• Shards of Alara
• Conflux
• Alara Reborn
• Magic 2010
• Zendikar
• Worldwake
• Rise of the Eldrazi
• Magic 2011
• Scars of Mirrodin
• Mirrodin Besieged
• New Phyrexia
• Magic 2012
• Innistrad
• Dark Ascension
• Avacyn Restored
• Magic 2013
• Return to Ravnica
• Gatecrash
• Dragon's Maze
• Magic 2014
• Theros
• Born of the Gods
• Journey into Nyx
• Magic 2015
• Khans of Tarkir
• Fate Reforged
• Dragons of Tarkir
• Magic Origins
• Battle for Zendikar
• Oath of the Gatewatch
• Welcome Deck 2016
• Shadows over Innistrad
• Eldritch Moon
• Kaladesh
• Aether Revolt
• Welcome Deck 2017
• Amonkhet
• Hour of Devastation
• Ixalan
• Rivals of Ixalan
• Dominaria
• Core Set 2019
• Guilds of Ravnica
• Ravnica Allegiance
• War of the Spark
• Core Set 2020
• Modern Horizons

Timeshifted cards in Time Spiral (even never reprinted in the modern frame), cards from Planeswalker decks, and Buy-a-Box promos are considered legal in this format. However, cards reprinted as Masterpiece Series are not considered as a part of the respective expansion, and can only be used if they are already legal in Modern.

Modern Horizons

Modern Horizons (2019) introduced new cards directly into Modern without them ever being legal in Standard. It contains brand new cards and reprints not previously legal in Modern.

Modern Masters

The Modern Masters series contains reprints of Modern-legal cards from Eighth Edition onward. The sets include many cards with new art as well as new, never-before-printed tokens.

Banned List

See also: Timeline of DCI bans and restrictions.

As of August 26, 2019 the following cards are banned in Modern tournaments:

• Ancient Den
• Birthing Pod
• Blazing Shoal
• Bridge from Below
• Chrome Mox
• Cloudpost
• Dark Depths
• Dig Through Time
• Deathrite Shaman
• Dread Return
• Eye of Ugin
• Faithless Looting
• Gitaxian Probe
• Glimpse of Nature
• Golgari Grave-Troll
• Great Furnace
• Green Sun's Zenith
• Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
• Hypergenesis
• Krark-Clan Ironworks
• Mental Misstep
• Ponder
• Preordain
• Punishing Fire
• Rite of Flame
• Seat of the Synod
• Second Sunrise
• Seething Song
• Sensei's Divining Top
• Skullclamp
• Splinter Twin
• Summer Bloom
• Treasure Cruise
• Tree of Tales
• Umezawa's Jitte
• Vault of Whispers

Popular archetypes

Aggro

• Modern Five-Color Humans
• Modern Zoo
• Modern Affinity/Robots
• Modern Merfolk
• Modern Burn
• Modern Hollow One
• Modern Bogles
• Modern Arclight Phoenix

Midrange

• Modern Death's Shadow
• Modern Bant Eldrazi
• Modern Eldrazi Tron
• Modern Red-Green Eldrazi
• Modern Death and Taxes
• Modern Collected Company
• Modern Jund
• Modern Abzan
• Modern Mardu Pyromancer
• Modern Soul Sisters

Combo

• Modern Living End
• Modern Storm
• Modern Infect
• Modern Scapeshift
• Modern Breach Titan
• Modern Amulet Titan
• Modern Grishoalbrand
• Modern Elves
• Modern Dredge
• Modern Ad Nauseum
• Modern Counters Company

Control

• Modern Pox/8-Rack
• Modern Jeskai Control
• Modern Blue-White Control
• Modern Lantern
• Modern G/x Tron
• Modern Ponza

Previous popular archetypes

Archetypes which were popular, but had key cards banned or fell out of favor.

• Modern Death Cloud Rock
• Modern Mystical Teachings
• Modern Splinter Twin
• Modern Birthing Pod
• Modern Delver
• Modern Infect Combo
• Krark-Clan Ironworks

External links

• Luis Scott-Vargas (January 29, 2016). "An Introduction to Modern". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Sam Stoddard (May 22, 2015). "Development Risks in Modern". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Sam Stoddard (June 3, 2016). "Modern Musings". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Chas Andres (March 7, 2017). "The Staples of Modern". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.</ref>