Magic: The Gathering has more formats than almost any other card game. Understanding them is key to knowing which cards you need, which are valuable, and why some cards are worth $20 in one format and $200 in another. This guide covers every major MTG format.

Standard

Card pool: The last 2–3 years of sets (rotating annually each fall).

Best for: Newer players, competitive players who want the most current game.

Price impact: Standard staples peak during their legal window, then drop 50–90% on rotation. Don't invest heavily in Standard singles unless you plan to play them now.

Example: A $20 Standard staple becomes $3 after it rotates out — unless it sees play in Modern/Pioneer/Commander.

Pioneer

Card pool: Sets from Return to Ravnica (2012) to present. No rotation.

Best for: Players who want a non-rotating format without Legacy's price tag.

Price impact: Pioneer staples tend to have stable, moderate prices. Cards used heavily in Pioneer builds (Thoughtseize, Dig Through Time) hold value consistently.

Modern

Card pool: Sets from Mirrodin (2003) to present. No rotation.

Best for: Serious competitive players. The most popular sanctioned format at large tournaments.

Price impact: Modern staples are the backbone of MTG secondary market value. Fetch Lands ($30–$100 each), Lightning Bolt, Thoughtseize — these cards stay valuable for years because demand is constant and supply doesn't grow unless Wizards reprints them.

Legacy

Card pool: Almost every card ever printed (a few banned for power/complexity reasons).

Best for: Veteran players who already own the cards. Force of Will, True-Name Nemesis, and Dual Lands make entry expensive.

Price impact: Legacy staples like Dual Lands ($500–$3,000 each) hold value indefinitely because they're on the Reserved List and can never be reprinted. Buying Legacy staples is the closest MTG gets to a collectible investment.

Vintage

Card pool: Every card ever printed, including the Power Nine (Restricted to 1 copy each).

Best for: High-budget players or proxy tournaments. Very few sanctioned events.

Price impact: The Power Nine are only legal here. Their Vintage legality is part of why they stay valuable — they're actual gameplay pieces, not just collectibles.

Commander (EDH)

Card pool: Almost every card ever printed. 100-card singleton decks led by a legendary creature.

Best for: The most popular format in Magic by player count. Casual and competitive variants exist.

Price impact: Commander drives enormous demand for utility cards — Sol Ring, Smothering Tithe, Rhystic Study. Any card that's a "staple" in Commander sees persistent demand across all price points. Commander is why many $5–$50 cards stay expensive even when not used in other formats.

Format Legality on TCGFomo

Every Magic card detail page on TCGFomo shows its legality across all major formats. When you're browsing a card, you'll see whether it's Legal, Restricted, or Banned in Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, and Commander.

Browse all 1043+ MTG sets and 115736+ cards at TCGFomo's MTG hub — and track your collection for free.