Modern is Magic’s premier non-rotating constructed format. Using cards from Eighth Edition (July 2003) forward, Modern offers a massive card pool, powerful strategies, and a metagame that rewards deep knowledge and skillful play. Once you build a Modern deck, it stays legal forever (barring bans).
Why Play Modern?
- No Rotation: Your deck stays legal. Cards hold their value long-term.
- Deep Gameplay: The vast card pool enables complex, rewarding strategies.
- Diverse Meta: Dozens of viable archetypes — aggro, control, combo, midrange, and more.
- Competitive Scene: Modern features at major tournaments, SCG events, and local FNMs.
Modern Deck Lists
Browse our Modern deck collection:
- Cosmogoyf Combo — Innovative combo build
Building for Modern
Modern decks are 60 cards minimum with a 15-card sideboard. The format is fast — most games are decided by turns 4-6. Efficient mana bases (fetch lands + shock lands), powerful threats, and precise answers are essential. The Modern banned list keeps the most degenerate strategies in check while allowing a wide range of viable decks.
Want to learn the fundamentals? Read our Aggro Deckbuilding Guide or Control Deckbuilding Guide to understand the core archetypes that define Modern.