Magic Online Gauntlets

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Phantom preconstructed Gauntlets are a reoccuring type of event held on Magic Online. Decks typically were competitive Standard, Modern or Legacy lists.

Pro Tour Gauntlets

Oath of the Gatewatch

The inaugural phantom preconstructed Gauntlet on Magic Online was held between February 10 and 17, 2016[1][2]. It featured 16 of the top performing Modern decks from Pro Tour Oath of the Gatewatch. Players were randomly assigned a deck from the Gauntlet and played three best-of-three matches.

Decks with 9 or more wins:

Modern
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
1st Jiachen Tao: Blue-Red Eldrazi U R
2nd Ivan Floch: Colorless Eldrazi
Top 4 Patrick Dickmann: Affinity U
Top 8 Frank Lepore: Blue-Black Eldrazi U B
9-1 Matthew Rogers: Archangel Chord W B G

Decks with 8 wins:

Modern
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
8-2 Vagner William Casatti: Burn W R G
8-2 Reid Duke: Jund B R G
8-2 Ari Lax: Abzan Company W B G
8-2 Michael Majors: Zoo W R G
8-2 Thien Nguyen: Red Green Valakut R G
8-2 Kentaro Yamamoto: Through the Breach U B R

Decks with 7 wins:

Modern
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
7-2-1 Paul Rietzl: Mardu W B R
7-3 Joel Larsson: Death's Shadow Aggro B R G
7-3 William Jensen & Owen Turtenwald: Infect U G
7-3 Jason Chung: Blue Moon U R
7-3 Jelger Wiegersma: Jeskai Control W U R

Shadows Over Innistrad

A phantom Standard event was held between April 27 and May 4, 2016 with thirteen decks from Pro Tour Shadows over Innistrad[3].

Top 8 decks

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
1st Steve Rubin: Green-White Tokens W G
2nd Andrea Mengucci: Bant Company W U G
Top 4 Seth Manfield: Esper Control W U B
Top 4 Shota Yasooka: Esper Dragons W U B
Top 8 Luis Scott-Vargas: Black-Green Aristocrats B G
Top 8 Jon Finkel: Seasons Past Control
Top 8 Brad Nelson: Goggles Ramp
Top 8 Luis Salvatto: Red-White Eldrazi Goggles W R

Decks with a 8-2 record

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
8-2 Patrick Cox: Mono-White Humans W
8-2 Rob Pisano: Jeskai Control W U R
8-2 Marcos Paulo de Jesus Freitas: Green-Red Ramp R G
8-2 Grzegorz Kowalski: Sultai Midrange U B G
8-2 Michael Majors: White Blue Humans W U


Magic Online Legacy Festival: Discover. Assemble. Conquer.

The Magic Online Legacy Festival was held in June 2016 to tie in with the release of Eternal Masters[4][5]. The first part - Discover - was a phantom preconstructed Legacy gauntlet held between June 6 and 16, 2016. It was followed by Eternal Masters release events (Assemble), and a competitive Legacy tournament (Conquer).

Legacy
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Death and Taxes W
Elves G
Eldrazi
Four-Color Punishing Knight W B R G
Grixis Pyromancer U B R
Infect U G
Lands R G
Miracles W U R
Painter Combo U R
Reanimator U B
Shardless Sultai U B G
Sneak and Show U B R
Storm U B

Pro Tour Gauntlets (continued)

Eldritch Moon

The phantom Gauntlet event associated with Pro Tour Eldritch Moon was held between August 10 and 17, 2016[6].

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
1st Lukas Blohon: White-Black Control W B
2nd Owen Turtenwald: Temur Emerge U R G
Top 4 Luis Scott-Vargas: Bant Company W U G
Top 4 Sam Pardee: Black-Green Delirium B G
Top 8 Ken Yukuhiro: Red-Green Ramp R G
9-1 Benjamin Nikolich: Mono-White Humans W
Joel Larsson and Martin Muller: Jund Delirium B R G
7-2-1 Ondrej Strasky: Blue-Black Zombies U B
7-2-1 Nick Ball: Naya Legendary W R G
7-2-1 Yuki Matsumoto: Four-Color Emerge U B R G

Kaladesh

The Pro Tour Gauntlet event for Kaladesh was held between October 19 and 26, 2016[7][8]. There were 14 decks from Pro Tour Kaladesh, from which one was randomly selected upon entry.

Top 8 Decks

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
1st Shota Yasooka: Grixis Control U B R
2nd Carlos Romao: Jeskai Control W U R
Top 4 Makis Mastuokas: Red-White Tokens W R
Top 4 Ben Hull: Red-White Vehicles W R
Top 8 Pierre Dagen: Blue-Red Spells U R
Top 8 Matthew Nass: Temur Aetherworks U R G
Top 8 Lee Shi Tian: Mardu Vehicles W B R
Top 8 Joey Manner: White-Blue Midrange W U

Decks with 7 or more wins

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
8-2 Eric Froehlich: Black-Green Delirium B G
8-2 Charles Eliatamby: Green-White Midrange W G
8-2 Brandon Ayers: Black-Red Madness B R
7-2-1 Yuuya Watanabe: Bant Aetherworks W U G
7-3 Oliver Polak-Rottmann: Temur Colossus U R G
7-3 Michael Goud: Red-Green Energy R G

Throwback Standard Gauntlets

For 2017, Magic Online ran a series of historical Standard Gauntlets[9], collimating with the Best of Throwback Standard Gauntlet[10] event pitting one deck from each of the earlier Gauntlets against the others.

First Gauntlet: 1997–1998, aka "Mirage-Tempest Standard"

The first throwback gauntlet was decks from the Standard of Mirage and Tempest Block, and ran between April 5 and 12, 2017[9]. It was curated by Randy Buehler.

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Deadguy Red R
Draw-Go U
Forbidian U
Godzilla W U B R G
Oath of Druids W G
Pros-Bloom W U B G
Rec-Sur W U B R G
Suicide Black B
Tradewind Goodstuff W U B R G
White Weenie W

Throwback Standard Gauntlet 2: Combo Winter (Urza Block)

The second Throwback Standard Gauntlet was held between May 17 and 24, 2017[11]. It featured 10 decks either from the Tempest block/Urza's block or Urza's block/Masques block Standard environments. It again was curated by Randy Buehler.

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Academy U
Accelerated Blue U
Bargain W B
Jar U B
LD Red R
Napster B
Replenish W U
Stompy G
Tinker U
Wildfire R

Throwback Standard Gauntlet 3: Early 2000s

The third Throwback Standard Gauntlet covered the Invasion block/Odyssey block and Odyssey block/Onslaught block eras[12]. It was held between May 31 and June 7, 2007.

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Battle of Wits W U B R G
Fires R G
Goblin Bidding B R
Madness U G
Mono-black Control B
Psychatog U B
Rebels W G
Slide W R
Squirrel Opposition U G
Wake W U B

Throwback Standard Gauntlet 4: Mirrodin Standard

A phantom preconstructed Gauntlet based on Mirrodin era Standards was held between July 7 and 14, 2017[13].

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Elf and Nail R G
Eternal Slide W G
Goblins R G
Ironworks U R
Plated Affinity U B R
Skullclamp Affinity U B R
UrzaTron U B
White-Blue Control W U

Throwback Standard Gauntlet 5: Ravnica

This event was originally scheduled to run between August 16 and 22, 2017. However due to issues with the cards Goryo’s Vengeance and Descendant of Kiyomaro causing the Magic Online client to crash, it was ended prematurely and replaced by the Tribal Lorwyn Standard Throwback Standard Gauntlet League[14][15].

“  Unfortunately, issues related to Ravnica-Era Throwback Standard Gauntlet with Goryo’s Vengeance and Descendant of Kiyomaro are causing this gauntlet to be frustrating, rather than take a fun look back at an old Standard as we had planned.

This afternoon, we are going to cancel that league and return entries to active players in it. We will replace it with the Tribal Lorwyn-Era Throwback Standard Gauntlet league originally scheduled for next week. This new league will end with the August 23 downtime.[16]

 ”

The decks featured were either from the Kamigawa block/Ravnica block or Ravnica block/Time Spiral block Standards.

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Dragonstorm U R
Ghazi Glare W G
Greater Good Gifts W U B G
Hand-in-hand W B
Izzet-Tron U R
Owling Mine U R
Pickles W U
Solar Flare W U B
Zoo W R G

Gauntlet 6 – Release the Tribes!

This gauntlet focused on typal decks from Lorwyn block based Standards. It was brought forward from it's originally planned schedule due to issues with the Ravnica Standard Throwback Standard Gauntlet League, being held from August 17 to 23, 2017[17].

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Black White Tokens W B
Cruel Control W U B R G
Doran W B G
Elves B G
Faeries U B
Kithkin W R
Merfolk W U
Skred Red R
Swans W U B R G
Teachings W U B R G

Throwback Standard Gauntlet 7: Worldwake

This Gauntlet was about the Standard environments of Alara block/Zendikar block and Zendikar block/Scars of Mirrodin block, with a particular focus of the time around Worldwake. That expansion had seen the printing of Jace the Mindsculpter and Stoneforge Mystic, which became the first cards banned in the format since 2005. The event ran between August 30 and September 6, 2017[18].

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Blue-Black Control U B
Boros Stoneblade B R
Caw-Blade W U
Conscription W U G
Jund B R G
#Monored Shrine R
Naya W R G
Splinter Twin U R
Twinblade U R
Valacut Ramp R G

Throwback Standard Gauntlet 8: Innistrad Standard

This Innistrad Standard Throwback Standard Gauntlet League covered the period of September 2011 through August 2013: the two years when Innistrad was legal in Standard. The event was held between November 1 and 8, 2017[19].

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Aristocrats W B R
Bant Auras W U G
Delver W U
Esper Control W U B
Jund B R G
Junk Reanimator W B G
Pod W R G
Rakdos Aggro B R
Tempered Steel W U
UWR Flash W U R
Wolf Run Ramp R G

Throwback Standard Gauntlet 9: Recent Past

A phantom preconstructed event held between November 8 and 17, 2017. The "Recent Past" for the event consisted of decks from the Standard environments between Theros and Shadows Over Innistrad[20].

Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Abzan W B G
Bant Company W U G
Black Devotion B
Blue Devotion U
Esper Dragons W U B
Green-White Tokens W G
Red Aggro R
Red-Green Monsters R G
Sidisi Whip U B G
Sphinx’s Rev Control W U

Best of Throwback Standard Gauntlet

An event held between December 6 and 13, 2017[10]. There were eight decks in the event which were the highest performing from each of the previous nine Throwback Gauntlets, with the exception of the Combo Winter Gauntlet. The Memory Jar deck from that had originally been included on the schedule, however it was removed for power level concerns.

“  Edit: After hearing feedback from players and consulting with Magic R&D, we came to the conclusion that Jar’s matchup against the other decks in this Gauntlet is too good and would provide an awful experience for many.

So we’re prepared to declare Jar the best deck and let the rest of the decks fight it out for second place, and let players have more fun in doing so![10]

 ”
Standard
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Draw-Go (Mirage-Tempest Gauntlet) U
Goblin Bidding (Early 2000s Gauntlet) B R
White-Blue Control (Mirrodin Standard Gauntlet) W U
Izzet-Tron (Ravnica Standard Gauntlet) U R
Skred Red (Tribal Lorwyn Gauntlet) R
Twinblade (Worldwake Standard Gauntlet) U R
Wolf Run Ramp (Innistrad Standard Gauntlet) R G
Green-White Tokens (Recent Past Gauntlet) W G

Planeswalker Deck Gauntlets

A phantom Planeswalker Deck Gauntlet ran on Magic Online until September 24, 2019[21].

New to MTGO Modern Gauntlet League

A phantom Modern gauntlet was introduced to Magic Online on September 25, 2019[21][22]. It replaced the Planeswalker Deck gauntlet.

Magic online
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Dimir Mill U B
Gruul Titanshift R G
Jeskai Control W U R
Izzet Storm U R
Mono-Red Burn R
Mono-White Blink W

Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Class Draft Gauntlet

A Legacy event held between July 14 and July 21, 2021[23]. There were twelve preconstructed decks built around Class enchantments from Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms.

Magic online
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Barbarian U R
Bard R G
Cleric W B
Druid U G
Fighter W R
Monk W U
Paladin W G
Ranger G
Rogue U B
Sorcerer U R
Warlock B
Wizard U

Standard: Through the Ages

An event held from October 6, 2021 to October 13, 2021 on Magic Online[24]. There were 16 phantom Standard decks ranging from Mirage/Tempest era Sligh, through to Omnath Ramp from Throne of Eldraine to Zendikar Rising in September 2010.

Magic online
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Affinity (format: Mirrodin standards) U B R
Battle of Wits (format: Invasion and Odyssey blocks) W U B R G
Caw-Blade (format: Zendikar and Scars of Mirrodin blocks) W U
Delver (format: Scars of Mirrodin and Innistrad blocks) U R
Faeries (format: Time Spiral and Lorwyn blocks) U B
Five-Color Control (format: Lorwyn and Shards of Alara blocks) W U B R G
Goblin Bidding (format: Odyssey and Onslaught blocks) B R
Jund (format: Lorwyn and Shards of Alara blocks) B R G
Magic online
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Madness (format: Invasion and Odyssey blocks) U G
Mono-Black Control (format: Odyssey and Onslaught blocks) B
Omnath Ramp (format: Throne of Eldraine to Zendikar Rising) W U R G
Sligh (format: Mirage and Tempest blocks) R
Splinter Twin (format: Zendikar and Scars of Mirrodin blocks) U R
Valakut Ramp (format: Zendikar and Scars of Mirrodin blocks) R G
Vehicles (format: Kaladesh and Amonkhet blocks) W B R
Zoo (format: Kamigawa and Ravnica blocks) W R G

Modern Banned Gauntlet

A Modern event held between December 1 and December 8, 2021. There were twelve phantom preconstructed decks each featuring one card which was banned in the format[25].

Magic online
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Affinity (banned card Mox Opal) U R
Bant Stoneblade (banned card Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath) W U G
Bloom Titan (banned card Summer Bloom) U B G
Blue-Red Aggro (banned card Treasure Cruise) U R
Counter-Cat (banned card Green Sun's Zenith) W U R G
Dredge (banned card Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis) U B R G
Eldrazi Aggro (banned card Eye of Ugin) W U B
Jund (banned card Deathrite Shaman) B R G
Melira Pod (banned card Birthing Pod) W B G
Sunny Side Up (banned card Second Sunrise) W U
Temur Aggro (banned card Oko, Thief of Crowns) U R G
Twin Exarch (banned card Splinter Twin) U R

New to MTGO Modern Gauntlet League (2022)

In 2022 the Gauntlet decks were updated.

Magic online
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Azorius Control W U
Dimir Mill U B
Eldrazi Tron
Gruul Titanshift R G
Izzet Storm U R
Mono-Red Prowess R
Mono-White Blink W
Simic Infect U G

Commander Gauntlet Leagues

Starter Commander Decks

Starting from the August 30, 2023 downtime a new phantom preconstructed Commander event was introduced[26]. It was focused towards players new to Magic Online. The decks were the five Starter Commander Decks released in 2022.

Theme
deck name
Color Identity Commander
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
First Flight W U Isperia, Supreme Judge
Grave Danger U B Gisa and Geralf
Chaos Incarnate B R Kardur, Doomscourge
Draconic Destruction R G Atarka, World Render
Token Triumph W G Emmara, Soul of the Accord

Foundations

With the release of Magic: The Gathering Foundations on November 12, 2024 the Gauntlet Commander decks were replaced[27][28] with five new monocolor decks.

Theme
deck name
Color Identity Commander
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Arahbo, the First Fang W Arahbo, the First Fang
Kiora, the Rising Tide U Kiora, the Rising Tide
Zul Asher, Lich Lord B Zul Asher, Lich Lord
Kellan, Planar Trailblazer R Kellan, Planar Trailblazer
Loot, Exuberant Explorer G Loot, Exuberant Explorer


New to MTGO Modern Gauntlet League (2025)

A phantom event aimed to introduce new players to Magic Online to the Modern format[27][29] which was introduced from April 2, 2025.

Magic online
deck name
Colors Included
White mana Blue mana Black mana Red mana Green mana
Amulet Titan W B G
Blue Belcher U
Boros Energy W R
Dimir Murktide U B
Domain Zoo W U B R G
Gruul Eldrazi Ramp R G
Orzhov Midrange W B
Ruby Storm W U R

References

  1. Lee Sharpe (February 3, 2016). "Pro Tour Gauntlet Comes to Magic Online (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on February 3, 2016. Retrieved on May 16, 2025.
  2. Wizards of the Coast (February 9, 2016). "Pro Tour Gauntlet: Oath of the Gatewatch Details (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved on May 16, 2025.
  3. Wizards of the Coast (April 26, 2016). "Pro Tour Gauntlet: Shadows over Innistrad (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved on May 17, 2025.
  4. Lee Sharpe (May 13, 2016). "Magic Online Legacy Festival: Discover. Assemble. Conquer. (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved on May 17, 2016.
  5. Adam Prosak (June 1, 2016). "The Legacy Gauntlet (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 7, 2016. Retrieved on May 17, 2016.
  6. Wizards of the Coast (August 9, 2016). "Pro Tour Gauntlet: Eldritch Moon (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved on May 18, 2025.
  7. Wizards of the Coast (October 18, 2016). "Pro Tour Gauntlet: Kaladesh (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved on May 19, 2025.
  8. Kaladesh Pro Tour Gauntlet with Kenji Egashira: Shota Yasooka's Grixis Control (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (October 19, 2016).
  9. a b Wizards of the Coast (April 5, 2017). "Throwback Standard Gauntlets: Twenty Years of Standard (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on April 11, 2017. Retrieved on May 19, 2025.
  10. a b c Randy Buehler (November 29, 2017). "Best of Throwback Standard Gauntlet (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved on May 20, 2025.
  11. Randy Buehler (May 10, 2017). "Throwback Standard Gauntlet 2: Combo Winter (Urza Block) (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on May 15, 2017. Retrieved on May 19, 2025.
  12. Randy Buehler (May 24, 2017). "Throwback Standard Gauntlet 3: Early 2000s (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on May 29, 2017. Retrieved on May 20, 2025.
  13. Randy Buehler (May 31, 2017). "Throwback Standard Gauntlet 4: Mirrodin Standard (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved on May 20, 2017.
  14. Randy Buehler (August 10, 2017). "Throwback Standard Gauntlet 5: Ravnica (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved on May 20, 2025.
  15. /u/nine_of_swords (August 17, 2017). "Throwback Gauntlet Change: Lorwyn in, Ravnica back later (Social Media post)". Reddit. Retrieved on May 20, 2017.
  16. Lee Sharpe (August 17, 2017). "Gauntlet Schedule Change (Social Media post)". Tumblr. Retrieved on May 20, 2025.
  17. Randy Buehler (August 16, 2017). "Gauntlet 6 – Release the Tribes! (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved on May 21, 2025.
  18. Randy Buehler (August 23, 2017). "Throwback Standard Gauntlet 7: Worldwake (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved on May 21, 2025.
  19. Randy Buehler (October 25, 2017). "Throwback Standard Gauntlet 8: Innistrad Standard (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved on May 21, 2025.
  20. Randy Buehler (November 1, 2017). "Throwback Standard Gauntlet 9: Recent Past (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 09, 2020. Retrieved on May 22, 2017.
  21. a b Alli Steele (September 18, 2019). "Throne of Eldraine: Magic Online Edition (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved on May 13, 2025.
  22. Wizards of the Coast (September 18, 2019). "MTGO: New Player Guide (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved on May 13, 2025.
  23. David McDarby (July 14, 2021). "Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Class Draft Gauntlet Event (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved on May 09, 2025.
  24. David McDarby (October 5, 2021). "Standard: Through the Ages (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved on May 13, 2025.
  25. Wizards of the Coast (November 30, 2021). "Modern Banned Gauntlet (website)". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved on May 11, 2025.
  26. MTGO (August 29, 2023). "Wilds of Eldraine on Magic Online (website)". Daybreak Games. Retrieved on May 12, 2025.
  27. a b MTGO (April 2, 2025). "New Player Events (website)". MTGO. Retrieved on May 11, 2025.
  28. FearlessSyd (November 05, 2024). "FearlessSyd (website)". Moxfield. Retrieved on May 11, 2025.
  29. MTGO (April 2, 2025). "Modern Gauntlet Decks (website)". Moxfield. Retrieved on May 11, 2025.