Which format is cheapest?

MTG Arena Standard is cheapest digitally. Paper Commander precons are the cheapest physical entry; Modern is the most expensive long-term.

Can I use the same deck across formats?

No — card pools and deck sizes differ. Some cards overlap, but lists are not portable.

2026-08-08

Choosing a format shapes how you buy cards, who you play with and how long your decks stay relevant. Here is an honest comparison.

60 cards, rotating card pool (last ~2 years), competitive scene at LGS and Arena. Cheapest entry via Arena; paper rotates yearly so decks expire.

Best for: players who like fresh metas, FNM regulars, digital-first players.

60 cards, non-rotating from ~2003 onward. Higher power, expensive manabases. Stable archetypes years long.

Best for: invested players, eternal format without Commander's multiplayer politics.

100 cards singleton, multiplayer, social contract. Huge card pool, decks last years with upgrades. Precons are the cheapest paper on-ramp.

Best for: casual groups, creative deckbuilding, social nights. See our format pages for staples per archetype.

Which format is cheapest?: MTG Arena Standard is cheapest digitally. Paper Commander precons are the cheapest physical entry; Modern is the most expensive long-term.
Can I use the same deck across formats?: No — card pools and deck sizes differ. Some cards overlap, but lists are not portable.