Modern
Modern is a constructed format that allows blocks and core sets from Eighth Edition forward, save for the Modern ban list. The modern format thus encompasses all cards that have been printed in a set using the modern Card Frame
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. If a player wishes to use a sideboard, it must contain exactly fifteen cards.
With the exception of basic land cards, a player's combined deck and sideboard may not contain more than four of any individual card, counted by its English card title equivalent. All cards named Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest are basic, as are their snow-covered counterparts — Snow-Covered Plains, Snow-Covered Island, Snow-Covered Swamp, Snow-Covered Mountain, and Snow-Covered Forest. [1]
Set Legality
As of August 26, 2011, cards from the following sets are permitted in Modern tournaments:
- 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 (including timeshifted cards and future-frame cards)
- 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 (effective September 30, 2011)
Banned List
As of August 12, 2011, the following cards are banned in Modern tournaments:
- Ancestral Vision
- Ancient Den
- Bitterblossom
- Chrome Mox
- Dark Depths
- Dread Return
- Glimpse of Nature
- Golgari Grave-Troll
- Great Furnace
- Hypergenesis
- Jace, the Mind Sculptor
- Mental Misstep
- Seat of the Synod
- Sensei's Divining Top
- Stoneforge Mystic
- Skullclamp
- Sword of the Meek
- Tree of Tales
- Umezawa's Jitte
- Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
- Vault of Whispers