Understanding Standard in Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering offers numerous playing styles, known as formats, but Standard stands out as the game’s main format.
Competitive and dynamic, Standard features a unique set rotation that ensures the card pool remains fresh. But how does this rotation work, and when will your favorite cards leave Standard?
What Is Standard?
Standard is a specific format within Magic: The Gathering defined by a set of rules and gameplay styles. Often highlighted as Magic’s leading format, it is designed to accommodate most of the game’s new releases.
It consists of the major premiere releases from the past few years, specifically the six main sets released each year, while excluding supplementary sets like Commander Masters or Jumpstart.
Standard is a head-to-head format, where players start with 20 life points and use decks containing at least 60 cards. The goal is to either reduce your opponent to zero life or achieve victory through alternative win conditions.
Unlike singleton formats like Commander, Standard allows players to include up to four copies of the same card in their decks.
One key feature of Standard is its rotation. Cards remain in Standard for a limited time—about three years—before being replaced in order to maintain balance and spotlight new sets.
When Does Standard Rotate?
Typically, Standard rotates annually with the release of the fall set. For instance, in 2024, the fall set was Bloomburrow, while Wilds of Eldraine was the fall set in 2023. The upcoming Edge of Eternities will trigger a rotation on August 1, 2025.
However, starting in 2027, the rotation schedule will shift to align with calendar years rather than the Magic release schedule, causing the first set of 2027 to dictate the next rotation. As a result, there will be no Standard rotation in 2026.
Typically, sets will stay in Standard for around three years, spanning about two rotations after their initial release. This means some sets may have longer stretches of legality than others, but players usually only need to refresh their Standard decks once each year.
Which Sets Are Standard-Legal?
| The following sets are currently legal in Standard or will be once they launch: | Set | Rotates Out |
|---|---|---|
| Dominaria United | Fall 2025, with the launch of Edge Of Eternities | |
| The Brothers War | ||
| Phyrexia: All Will Be One | ||
| March Of The Machine | ||
| March Of The Machine: The Aftermath | ||
| Wilds Of Eldraine | Q1 2027 | |
| The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan | ||
| Murders At Karlov Manor | ||
| Outlaws Of Thunder Junction | ||
| Outlaws Of Thunder Junction: The Big Score | ||
| Bloomburrow | ||
| Duskmourn: House Of Horror | Q1 2028 | |
| Aetherdrift | ||
| Tarkir: Dragonstorm | ||
| Final Fantasy | ||
| Spider-Man | ||
| Edge Of Eternities | ||
| Avatar: The Last Airbender | ||
| "Return To Lorwyn" (Name TBA) | Q1 2029 | |
| "Return To Arcavios" (Name TBA) | ||
| Foundations | Q1 2029, likely extended beyond that |
Due to changes in rotation, Bloomburrow and Duskmourn: House of Horror will have a shorter duration in Standard, rotating out approximately seven months earlier than they would have under the previous system.
What Happens to Cards When They Rotate Out of Standard?
Once a card rotates out of Standard, it’s no longer playable in that format. However, Standard is just one of many formats available in Magic: The Gathering. Cards from previous Standard sets remain usable in other formats like Pioneer, Modern, Vintage, and Legacy, which do not rotate.
Additionally, there’s Commander, which allows players to use one copy of any legal card, including those from rotated sets, offering a more casual way to enjoy your collection.
