6 guides
Formats and how to play
How a game of Magic works, the main formats from Standard to Modern, and how drafts and Prerelease events run.
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Magic: The Gathering has one set of basic rules and many formats, which decide the cards you may use and how big your deck is. These guides start with how a game works, then explain the formats players ask about most, from Standard to Booster Draft.
New players should begin with how to play Magic: The Gathering: setup, mana, the five phases of a turn and combat. Magic formats explained then compares every main format in one table, with deck sizes and card pools.
For two-player Constructed formats, what Standard is covers the legal sets and yearly rotation, and Modern vs Pioneer compares the two non-rotating formats. To play without a collection, how to draft in Magic explains Booster Draft and Pick-Two Draft, and what an MTG Prerelease is covers the event held before each new set.
Draft Night boxes for drafting at home
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Formats and how to play
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to play Magic: The Gathering?
Two decks, a way to track life totals and a table. For drafts and Prereleases you need nothing at all: you build a deck from packs opened at the event, and the store supplies basic lands.
Which Magic format should I learn first?
Learn the basic rules with a two-player game, then pick a format by who you play with: Commander for a group of friends, Standard for one-on-one games with recent cards, or a Prerelease to try a new set.
Sources
- How to Play Magic: The GatheringWizards of the Coast
- MTG FormatsWizards of the Coast
- Prerelease EventsWizards of the Coast
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