Standard format

Standard uses only the most recent sets, released in the last two years, plus the Core set, which is free for everyone. With fewer cards available, the meta shifts with each expansion and decks are easier to understand.

It is the recommended format for newcomers: there are fewer cards to learn, deck lists are more stable and the new sets you open stay useful for longer.

Wild format

In Wild, any card released since 2014 is allowed. That enables very strong combos and decks that no longer exist in Standard, but it also requires knowing many more cards and facing fast, explosive strategies.

Cards that leave Standard stay legal in Wild forever. So nothing you own is lost: only the format where it can be used changes.

How rotation works

Once a year, with the first expansion of the new year, the oldest Standard sets move to Wild. The Core set is also refreshed at that time, with cards coming in and out.

If you play Standard, think about rotation before crafting expensive cards: a legendary from a set rotating in a few months is worth less than one from a recent set. Each card and set page at the Tavern shows whether it is in Standard or Wild only.

Which to choose

Start with Standard if your collection is small or recent. If you have played for years and own many older cards, Wild can be cheaper since you already have the foundation. The site’s deck builder lets you pick the format and warns you if a card isn’t legal in it.