One of the most confusing things for new MTG players is formats. The format you play determines which cards are legal, how you build decks, and which singles to buy. Here's every major format explained.
Why Formats Matter for Collectors
In MTG, a card's format legality directly affects its price. A powerful card legal in Modern or Legacy is worth far more than an identical effect that's only legal in Standard. When you're buying singles, knowing the format context is essential for understanding why something costs what it costs.
Standard
What it is: The newest sets only. Standard rotates annually — older sets "rotate out" and only the most recent 2–3 years of sets are legal. This keeps the format fresh and prevents older, more powerful cards from dominating.
Deck building: 60-card deck + 15-card sideboard. Best-of-3 in competitive play.
Who plays it: New players and competitive players who want to stay current. Local Game Store (LGS) tournaments and Friday Night Magic (FNM) are usually Standard.
Card prices: Standard staples are expensive when legal (high demand) but drop significantly on rotation. If you buy Standard staples near rotation, you're buying at peak price for a card about to lose most of its value.
Current sets legal (as of early 2026): Wilds of Eldraine, Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Murders at Karlov Manor, Outlaws of Thunder Junction, Bloomburrow, Duskmourn, Foundations, Aetherdrift.
Pioneer
What it is: Cards from Return to Ravnica (2012) onwards. Larger card pool than Standard, no rotation. Once a card is Pioneer-legal it stays legal.
Who plays it: Competitive players who want a non-rotating format that's less expensive than Modern. Growing Australian player base.
Key difference from Modern: No fetchlands (the expensive mana-fixing lands that define Modern). Generally more accessible price point.
Notable format staples: Sheoldred the Apocalypse, Greasefang Okiba Boss, Quintorius Kand.
Modern
What it is: Cards from Eighth Edition (2003) onwards. Non-rotating. The deepest competitive non-Legacy format with the largest competitive scene globally.
Who plays it: Serious competitive players. Modern is where most high-stakes local and regional tournaments fire in Australia.
Card prices: Modern staples are expensive because demand is sustained — they never rotate. Fetchlands (Scalding Tarn, Polluted Delta, etc.) cost $40–100 AUD each because they're played in virtually every Modern deck that can use them.
Barrier to entry: A competitive Modern deck costs $800–$2,500 AUD. This is not a beginner format from a budget perspective, though budget options exist.
Notable Modern cards: Lightning Bolt, Ragavan Nimble Pilferer, Solitude, Murktide Regent.
Legacy
What it is: Almost all cards ever printed (with a banned list). Includes Power Nine-adjacent cards and extremely powerful older cards.
Who plays it: A small, dedicated community. Legacy has a very active online presence and some paper events, but the Australian paper Legacy scene is small.
Card prices: Extremely high. Dual lands (Tundra, Underground Sea, etc.) are $500–$2,000+ AUD each. A competitive Legacy deck can cost $5,000–$15,000 AUD.
Reserved List impact: Many Legacy staples are on the Reserved List — Wizards has committed to never reprinting them. This keeps supply constrained and prices elevated.
Commander (EDH)
What it is: The most popular MTG format globally. 100-card singleton deck (only 1 of each non-basic land card) led by a "Commander" — a legendary creature that sits outside the deck and can be cast from the "command zone."
Player count: 4 players (typically). Multiplayer politics, longer games, social format.
Card legality: All cards except the banned list. No rotation. Enormous card pool.
Why it's dominant: You can build with cards you love regardless of competitive viability. Your Commander defines your deck's identity. Thousands of possible commanders, each suggesting different deck styles. Extremely replayable.
Card prices: Commander demand has transformed the singles market. A card printed in 2005 can suddenly be worth $30 because it's powerful in Commander and demand is high. The Commander format drives prices on a huge range of older cards.
Budget range: Commander decks range from $30 (preconstructed) to $5,000+ (optimised competitive). Most casual playgroup decks run $100–$500.
In Australia: Commander is by far the most played MTG format at Australian LGSes. If you're getting into MTG paper play, Commander is where most people start and stay.
Pauper
What it is: Only commons are legal. Surprisingly deep format with a strong competitive scene.
Who plays it: Budget-conscious competitive players. A competitive Pauper deck costs $30–$150 AUD.
Card prices: Commons that are Pauper staples can be worth $1–$10 AUD each despite being commons — format demand drives prices even on the lowest rarity.
Limited (Draft and Sealed)
What it is: You build your deck on the spot from booster packs, not from your collection. Draft: open packs and pass cards around the table. Sealed: open 6 packs and build the best deck you can.
Who plays it: Players who love the on-the-spot deck building challenge. FNM Draft is extremely popular at Australian LGSes.
Cost: You pay for the boosters (entry fee), play, and keep the cards. Usually $20–$35 AUD entry at LGS events.
Which Format to Start With?
- Want to play with friends casually: Commander. Buy a preconstructed deck ($40–60 AUD) and start playing.
- Want to compete at your LGS: Standard or Pioneer — more accessible price points than Modern.
- Want competitive depth, budget isn't a concern: Modern.
- Want to play for cheap: Pauper or Commander on a budget.
- Want to try before buying a collection: Draft at your local LGS.
At HOKO Collectables, we stock singles for Commander, Modern, Pioneer, and Legacy. Browse our MTG collection or check the Want List if you're after something specific.