Rotating format

Rotating format is the name given to a tournament format which only allows cards from a selected number of expansions, which changes over time. Rotating formats are used in Standard and formerly in Extended.

Rotation is based on blocks, rather than individual sets. Two mini-blocks count as one block, which first occurred with Lorwyn and Shadowmoor. Another exception is Coldsnap, which was pegged to Time Spiral block for rotation.

Banned lists

A banned list exists for every rotating format (see Block Constructed).