BLOCK FORMAT
Block play requires a Constructed deck, which must contain a minimum of sixty cards. All cards in your deck must be from a single block of Magic releases. So if you’re playing a Theros block format game, all of your cards must come from Theros block. There is no maximum deck size. However, you must be able to shuffle your deck with no assistance. If you want to use a sideboard, too, it must have fifteen or fewer cards.
With the exception of basic land cards (Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest), a player’s combined deck and sideboard may contain no more than four of any individual card, counted by its English card title equivalent.
Note: The five snow-covered lands from the Ice Age block—Snow-Covered Plains, Snow-Covered Island, Snow-Covered Swamp, Snow-Covered Mountain, and Snow-Covered Forest—are also basic lands. Snow-covered lands are only permitted in formats that allow expansions from the Ice Age block.
The following are sanctioned blocks for official block-constructed play:
- Amonkhet: Amonkhet, Hour of Devastation
- Kaladesh: Kaladesh, Aether Revolt
- Shadows over Innistrad: Shadows over Innistrad, Eldritch Moon
- Battle for Zendikar: Battle for Zendikar, Oath of the Gatewatch
- Khans of Tarkir: Khans of Tarkir, Fate Reforged, Dragons of Tarkir
- Theros: Theros, Born of the Gods, Journey Into Nyx
- Return to Ravnica: Return to Ravnica, Gatecrash, Dragon's Maze
- Innistrad-Avacyn Restored: Innistrad, Dark Ascension, Avacyn Restored
- Scars of Mirrodin block: Scars of Mirrodin, Mirrodin Besieged, New Phyrexia
- Zendikar-Rise of the Eldrazi block: Zendikar, Worldwake, Rise of the Eldrazi
- Shards of Alara: Shards of Alara, Conflux, Alara Reborn
- Lorwyn-Shadowmoor: Lorwyn, Morningtide, Shadowmoor, Eventide
- Time Spiral: Time Spiral, Planar Chaos, Future Sight
- Ravnica: Ravnica: City of Guilds, Guildpact, Dissension
- Kamigawa: Champions of Kamigawa, Betrayers of Kamigawa, Saviors of Kamigawa
- Mirrodin: Mirrodin, Darksteel, Fifth Dawn
- Onslaught: Onslaught, Legions, Scourge
- Odyssey: Odyssey, Torment, Judgment
- Invasion: Invasion, Planeshift, Apocalypse
- Masques: Mercadian Masques, Nemesis, Prophecy
- Urza: Urza's Saga, Urza's Legacy, Urza's Destiny
- Tempest: Tempest, Stronghold, Exodus
- Mirage: Mirage, Visions, Weatherlight
- Ice Age: Ice Age, Alliances, Coldsnap
BANNED CARDS
The following cards are banned in block-constructed tournaments:
- Intangible Virtue (Innistrad-Avacyn Restored block)
- Lingering Souls (Innistrad-Avacyn Restored block)
- AEther Vial (Mirrodin block)
- Ancient Den (Mirrodin block)
- Arcbound Ravager (Mirrodin block)
- Darksteel Citadel (Mirrodin block)
- Disciple of the Vault (Mirrodin block)
- Great Furnace (Mirrodin block)
- Seat of the Synod (Mirrodin block)
- Tree of Tales (Mirrodin block)
- Vault of Whispers (Mirrodin block)
- Skullclamp (Mirrodin block)
- Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero (Masques block)
- Rishadan Port (Masques block)
- Gaea's Cradle (Urza block)
- Memory Jar (Urza block)
- Serra's Sanctum (Urza block)
- Time Spiral (Urza block)
- Tolarian Academy (Urza block)
- Voltaic Key (Urza block)
- Windfall (Urza block)
- Cursed Scroll (Tempest block)
- Squandered Resources (Mirage block)
- Amulet of Quoz (Ice Age Block)
- Thawing Glaciers (Ice Age block)
- Zuran Orb (Ice Age block)