Editing Magic: The Gathering (section)

===Deck construction===
{{See also|Magic: The Gathering deck types|Magic: The Gathering formats}}
[[File:Magic The Gathering card disection.svg|right|thumb|Dissection of a ''Magic: The Gathering'' card]]
{{Excerpt|Magic: The Gathering rules|Deck construction|hat=no}}

Most sanctioned games for ''Magic: The Gathering'' under the [[Wizards Play Network]] (WPN) use the based Constructed format that require players to create their decks from their own library of cards. In general, this requires a minimum of sixty cards in the deck, and, except for basic land cards, no more than four cards of the same named card.<ref>{{cite web| title = Magic: The Gathering Comprehensive Rules| page = 5| date = July 8, 2022| access-date = August 22, 2022| url = https://media.wizards.com/2022/downloads/MagicCompRules%2020220708.pdf| archive-date = August 9, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220809175643/https://media.wizards.com/2022/downloads/MagicCompRules%2020220708.pdf| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Standard Format Deck Construction|date=May 29, 2013|url=http://www.mtgoacademy.com/deckbuilding-rules-and-banned-restricted-lists/|publisher=mtgoacademy|access-date=July 25, 2013|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125025653/http://www.mtgoacademy.com/deckbuilding-rules-and-banned-restricted-lists/|url-status=live}}</ref> The pool of cards is also typically limited to the Standard rotation, which consists of only recently released cards.<ref name="formats">{{cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/news/mtg-basics-competitive-formats|title=MTG Basics: Competitive formats|first1=Ferguson|last1=Mitchell|date=October 17, 2019|website=Dot Esports|access-date=August 30, 2022|archive-date=August 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830025744/https://dotesports.com/news/mtg-basics-competitive-formats|url-status=live}}</ref> The Standard format helps to prevent "power creep" that can be difficult to predict with the size of the ''Magic'' card library and help give newer players a fair advantage with long-term players. Other Constructed formats exist that allow for use of older expansions to give more variety for decks.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/latest-developments/dealing-power-creep-2013-08-09 | title = Dealing with Power Creep | first = Sam | last = Stoddard | date = August 9, 2013 | access-date = February 28, 2020 | publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]] | archive-date = December 22, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201222065821/https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/latest-developments/dealing-power-creep-2013-08-09 | url-status = live }}</ref> A large variety of formats have been defined by the [[Wizards Play Network|WPN]] which allows different pools of expansions to be used or alter deck construction rules for special events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Formats {{!}} WPN |url=https://wpn.wizards.com/en/formats |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Wizards Play Network |language=en}}</ref>

[[Commander (Magic: The Gathering)|Commander]] is a one hundred card constructed format that makes many changes to typical deck construction rules. In Commander, each of the one hundred cards must be uniquely named, excluding basic lands and cards that have text that supersede that rule. Additionally, Commander is also a ''historic'' format, denoting that any cards from any set release can be used, excluding any specific cards that have been banned from play. Commander as a format has a separate ban list than other Constructed formats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MTG Commander Format |url=https://magic.wizards.com/en/formats/commander |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=MAGIC: THE GATHERING |language=en-US |archive-date=March 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312134740/https://magic.wizards.com/en/formats/commander |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[Magic: The Gathering formats#Limited|Limited]] format, a small number of cards are opened for play from booster packs or tournament packs, and generally a minimum deck size of forty cards is enforced. One of the most popular limited formats is Booster Draft, in which players open a booster pack, choose a card from it, and pass it to the player seated next to them. This continues until all the cards have been picked, and then a new pack is opened. Three packs are opened in total, and the direction of passing alternates left-right-left.<ref name="formats" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/formats/booster-draft|title=Booster Draft|work=Magic: The Gathering|access-date=October 8, 2017|language=en|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113053640/https://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/gameplay/formats/booster-draft|url-status=live}}</ref> Once the draft is done, players create decks out of the cards they picked, basic land cards being provided for free, and play games with the players they drafted with.<ref name="formats" />

==== Limitations ====
{{excerpt|Magic: The Gathering rules|Banned and restricted cards}}