Modern
Modern is a constructed format that allows expansion sets and core sets from Eighth Edition forward, save for the Modern ban list.[1] The modern format thus encompasses all cards that have been printed in a core or expansion set using the modern card frame (plus some others from Time Spiral).
Description
The format was introduced as a non-sanctioned Magic Online format in May, 19, 2011 and subsequently officially codified on August 12, 2011, when the format of Pro Tour Philadelphia was changed from Extended to Modern.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
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. Like other constructed formats, a sideboard of at most fifteen cards can be used.
With the exception of basic lands (land cards that have the "basic" supertype) and cards like Relentless Rats, a player's combined deck and sideboard may not contain more than four of any individual card, counted by its English card title equivalent.[8]
Set legality
Cards from all regular core sets and expansions since Eighth Edition are legal.[8]
Timeshifted cards in Time Spiral (even never reprinted in the modern frame) and cards from Planeswalker decks are consider legal in this format. However, cards reprinted as Masterpiece Series are not considered as a part of the respective expansion, and can only be used if they are already legal in Modern.
Modern Masters
The Modern Masters series contains reprints of Modern-legal cards from Eighth Edition onwards. The sets include many cards with new art as well as new, never-before-printed tokens.
Banned List
- See also: Timeline of DCI bans and restrictions.
As of January 20, 2017 the following cards are banned in Modern tournaments:[8][9][10]
Popular archetypes
- Modern Delver deck
- Modern Infect Combo deck
- Modern Living End deck
- Modern Zoo deck
- Modern Grixis Death's Shadow
- Modern Storm
- Modern Bant Eldrazi
- Modern Affinity/Robots
- Modern Merfolk
- Modern Burn
- Modern Urza Tron
- Modern Death and Taxes
- Modern Scapeshift
- Modern Elves
- Modern Collected Company
- Modern Pox/8 Rack
- Modern Jund
- Modern Soul Sisters
- Modern Jeskai Nahiri
- Modern Dredge
- Modern Ad Nauseum
Previous popular archetypes
Archetypes which were popular, but had key cards banned or fell out of favor.
- Modern Amulet Bloom
- Modern Death Cloud Rock deck
- Modern Mystical Teachings deck
- Modern Pyromancer deck
- Modern Splinter Twin
- Modern Birthing Pod