What Is Standard?
Standard is Magic: The Gathering's flagship competitive format. It's a rotating format — meaning only cards from the most recently released sets are legal to play. This creates a fresh, evolving metagame as new sets enter and older sets rotate out each year.
Standard is the primary format for tournaments, Friday Night Magic (FNM), and ranked play on Magic: The Gathering Arena. If you want to compete at local game stores or regional events, Standard is where you start.
Standard Format Rules
60-Card Minimum
Standard decks require at least 60 cards. Most competitive decks run exactly 60 to maximize consistency.
4 Copies Maximum
You can include up to 4 copies of any card (except Basic Lands). This lets you maximize your best cards for consistency.
Rotation
Sets rotate out of Standard annually. Cards from sets older than ~2 years become illegal once they rotate. Plan your collection accordingly.
Banlist
A small set of cards are banned in Standard for power or play-pattern reasons. CardForge checks legality automatically so you never build with a banned card.
15-Card Sideboard
Competitive Standard includes a 15-card sideboard to swap in between games. Customize your strategy against specific opponents.
20 Starting Life
Standard is 1-vs-1 with 20 life. Games are typically decided in 3–6 turns at competitive levels.
Currently Legal Standard Sets
Standard typically contains the most recent 2–3 years of Magic sets. CardForge tracks legality automatically — every card in your deck is checked against the current Standard legal set list.
Sets rotate each fall when a new fall set releases. Check Wizards of the Coast's official Standard page for the current legal set list. CardForge's legality database is updated when new sets release.
Standard Deck Building Fundamentals
Standard is built around 4-of playsets and a tight 60-card shell. Unlike Commander's singleton format, consistency comes from running the maximum copies of your best cards. Here's how to think about deck construction:
- Mana Curve: Standard decks typically want a curve from 1–5 CMC with a peak at 2–3. Aggro decks hit 1–3, control runs heavier at 3–6.
- Mana Base: 22–26 lands is the Standard range. Two-color decks typically run 8–10 dual lands. CardForge analyzes your pip requirements.
- Win Conditions: Identify 3–6 cards that actually win games. Everything else supports them getting there.
- Interaction: Even aggressive decks run 8–12 pieces of targeted removal or counterspells. Control decks run 20+.
- Card Draw: Refill your hand. Standard games go long when opponents interact — you need gas to close.
Standard Archetypes
Standard's metagame rotates, but certain archetypes persist across formats:
- Aggro — Curve out low and attack before the opponent stabilizes. White Weenie, Mono-Red Burn, and Rakdos Aggro are perennial strategies.
- Midrange — Play efficient threats at 2–4 CMC and answer the opponent's relevant spells. Midrange decks often dominate Standard.
- Control — Counter spells, board wipe, draw cards, and win with a single finisher or by decking the opponent.
- Combo — Standard combo is rarer due to rotation, but two-card synergies can dominate when the meta doesn't pack enough interaction.
- Ramp — Accelerate mana with land-fetch spells and cast threats ahead of curve. Ramp decks aim for 6–8 mana by turn 4.
Why CardForge for Standard Deck Building?
Legality Checking
Every card checked against the current Standard banlist and legal set list. No accidentally including a rotated card.
Collection-Based Building
Build decks from cards you already own. Import via CSV or scan — CardForge shows you exactly what Standard-legal cards you have.
Mana Curve Visualization
Instant CMC breakdown to spot where your curve peaks — and whether you have enough 1-drops for your aggressive strategy.
Gap Analysis
Identifies missing staples. See which Standard-legal cards would improve your mana base or curve at each slot.
5 Export Formats
Export to MTGO, Moxfield, Archidekt, Arena, or plain text. Take your CardForge deck to any platform instantly.
Hand Simulator
Test your opening 7 before FNM. Spot mulligans, check mana distribution, and verify your curve works in practice.
Build Your Standard Deck Free
Import your collection, check legality automatically, and build Standard decks that actually match your cards.
Start Building — No Credit Card100% free. No credit card. No paywall on Standard deck building.
Other MTG Formats
Explore guides for other popular Magic: The Gathering formats:
- Commander (EDH) Deck Builder Guide — 100-card singleton format primer
- Modern Deck Builder Guide — Non-rotating deep card pool format
- Browse Public Standard Decks — See decks other CardForge players have shared