Magic: The Gathering/Standard Decks & Strategies

Standard (or Type 2) is a Constructed format where the total card pool is restricted by sets. Normally, the standard format pool consists of cards from the most recent core set and the two most recent expansion blocks. Currently, the core set is Magic 2011 and the expansions are the Scars of Mirrodin block and Zendikar.

Players must have at least a 60-card deck (a sideboard containing exactly 15 extra cards is not optional) consisting of cards of any printings that are legal in the current standard format; however, players must be able to shuffle their decks without assistance. Decks (including the sideboard) may contain no more than 4 copies of any card other than basic lands. In addition, certain cards may be "restricted" (only one copy of the card allowed) or "banned" (the card may not be used).

As of July 16th 2011, the sets legal in Standard:

CORE SET

Magic 2011 Magic 2012

Zendikar

Zendikar

Worldwake

Rise Of The Eldrazi

Scars of Mirrodin

Scars of Mirrodin

Mirrodin Besieged

New Phyrexia

Beginning from September 30th 2012, standard will consist of the following sets:

CORE SET

Magic 2012

Scars of Mirrodin

Scars of Mirrodin

Mirrodin Besieged

New Phyrexia

Innistrad

Innistrad

Since the format rotates each year, decks have a maximum shelf life of two years, meaning that the format is quick to change and easily impacted. There are deck archetypes that have waxed and waned through the years, but maintain their existence in some form or another (White-Defensive, Blue-Control, Black-Kill and Weaken, Red-Direct Damage, Green-Creature Based ), while others (usually combo decks) are spawned from the centerpiece card (Tooth and Nail, Enduring Ideal), and are thus usually subject to their key card leaving Standard.