One of the most popular competitive formats inMagic: The Gatheringis Modern, which allows you to use cards from over 20 years worth of sets. But while Eternal formats like Vintage and Commander allow you to use practically every card ever printed, Modern is a little more restrictive.

Originally intended as a nonrotating format for cards printed with the modern card frame introduced in 2003’s Eighth Edition, the waters are muddied by the fact that Wizards of the Coast keeps printing cards with the classic frame. So which sets are actually legal? We’ve got you covered!

A blue dragon lounges in a cave near a pool of water.

What Is The Modern Format?

The Modern format was introduced in 2011 as a format that includesall of the cards printed with the modern frame, introduced in 2003 with Eighth Edition. Since the Modern format doesn’t rotate like Standard, cards printed into Standard stay legal unless they get banned.

Since Modern doesn’t rotate,you’re able to play the same deck for years. This can be a lifesaver if you have a favorite deck or playstyle that you want to continue playing, but the fact that multiple cards that haven’t been printed in over a decade are legal can make it expensive to start.

A chained titan wreathed in fire looks over a burning landscape.

Most cards printed since 2003 are legal in Modern, but there are a few exceptions:Remastered sets, likeInnistrad: Remasteredaren’t printed into Modern, but contain many reprints of legal cards, and Commander-focused sets, like Commander Masters, fall into the same category.

Here’s a list of all sets that are legal in Modern.

Nadu, a Wizard with the head and wings of a Bird, flies over a pool of water.

March of the Machine

War of the Spark

Oath of the Gatewatch

Born of the Gods

Rise of the Eldrazi

Eighth Edition

June 03, 2025

Other versions of cards printed in these sets, including pre-modern prints and versions found in Remastered and other non-Modern sets,are still legal.

Cards Banned In Modern

Over a couple of decades, sometimes cards get printed that turn out to be too powerful for a format, or they lead to unfun play experiences that are unhealthy for the game. These cards get added to the Banned List and arenot legal to play in the Modern format despite being printed in an otherwise legal set.

You can still use these cards in other popular formats, like Commander.

Field of the Dead

Lurrus of the Dream-Den

Seat of the Synod