The collectible card game Magic: the Gathering was first released in 1993 with very few restrictions on how players could construct their decks (which cards to include, and how many copies of each card were allowed). The game evolved over time, and different formats were developed which each had different constraints for how players could construct their decks. Constructed formats, for instance, allow players to build decks in advance using cards from their collection, although only a subset of cards are allowed. Another major development was the creation of officially sanctioned tournaments that offer prize money. These official tournaments created an incentive for players to continue to buy cards for new sets, and helped establish a long-term future for the game.
The rotating constructed format known today as Standard (originally called "Type 2") was first announced on January 10, 1995, inheriting banned and restricted lists from another format, called Vintage. Today, it is one of the most common formats used for large official tournaments. Since it was initially announced, the way that card legality is determined, and the way cards rotate in and out of the format has gone through many changes. For most of the format's history, set rotation was a distinctive element: new card sets get added to the list of allowed sets, until eventually the older sets on the list are removed from the list, or "rotate out" of the format. Below is a timeline of different Standard environments throughout the format's history. Where verifiable, effective dates of legality for paper magic (not Magic Online) are listed (as opposed to release or announcement dates.) Data for the earliest years of the format are hard to verify with precision, as the internet, and the game, was still in its infancy.
Video Timeline of Magic: the Gathering Standard (Type II)
Standout Moments in Standard
Most cards legal at one time: 2,157.
In 2008, from Jul 25th - Oct 2nd, legal sets included Coldsnap, Time Spiral (with 121 additional timeshifted cards), Planar Chaos, Future Sight, 10th Edition, Lorwyn, Morningtide, Shadowmoor, and Eventide.
Fewest cards legal at one time: 509.
1995, Jan 10th - Apr 19th, right after Type II first announced.
Most cards banned at one time: 12.
1997, Jan 1st - Mar 4th, after restricted list discontinued. Banned List: Balance, Black Vise, Bronze Tablet, Channel, Ivory Tower, Jeweled Bird, Land Tax, Mind Twist, Rebirth, Strip Mine, Tempest Efreet, Timmerian Fiends.
Most cards banned from a single set: 10.
1997, Jan 1st - Apr 23rd, after restricted list discontinued. 10 cards on the banned list were from 4th edition: Balance, Black Vise, Bronze Tablet, Channel, Ivory Tower, Land Tax, Mind Twist, Rebirth, Strip Mine, Tempest Efreet.
Maps Timeline of Magic: the Gathering Standard (Type II)
References
External links
- Official Magic: The Gathering sets page from Wizards of the Coast
- Magic: The Gathering Floor Rules Changes 2004-2009 (Yawgatog.com)
- Timeline of DCI bans and restrictions (Gamepedia)
- Internet Archive: TheDCI.com
- Archived early version of Wizards Event Coverage Archive
- Wizards Event Coverage Archive
- The History of Standard Bannings
- 1995-1996 The Magic Dojo Archive
Source of article : Wikipedia
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