Noob question about rotation
Standard forum
Posted on March 2, 2016, 1:49 p.m. by clayperce
I just started playing Standard, and I know KTK and FRF rotate out on Apr 8, when SOI is released.
But how does rotation really work?
Is it like, at midnight on the 8th you can no longer play cards from KTK or FRF? Or is there a grace period of some sort (up to Game Day maybe on Apr 30) where you can play decks with either KTK/FRF or SOI, but not both? Or is it different at different LGSs?
Thanks!
TMBRLZ has it right. The only exception is that sets come out later on MTGO, so if you're on Magic Online the Standard format won't change until the SOI prereleases start.
March 2, 2016 2:02 p.m.
If any Wizards registered LGS isn't upholding these rules then they are in violation and are on grounds to have their license to sell MTG product revoked.
March 2, 2016 2:03 p.m.
MTGNuclear says... #5
You can still play with the KTK and FRF versions of cards that were reprinted in the other sets like Tormenting Voice in DTK and Summit Prowler also in DTK
March 2, 2016 2:41 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #6
"License to sell product revoked" is a little harsh. It would be more like "hey dummy, stop that".
March 2, 2016 2:41 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #7
Also FNM level events you can sanction just about any format that you can bring the players in for so they can keep on playing KTK-ORI-BFZ standard for as lang as they want. It just isn't called "standard" with no qualifiers anymore.
March 2, 2016 3:15 p.m.
"Also FNM level events you can sanction just about any format that you can bring the players in for so they can keep on playing KTK-ORI-BFZ standard for as (long) as they want."
The format you're referring to is Historical Standard and it's not quite as simple as you're making it out to be. Some of those outlier formats aren't sanctionable. I believe Historical Standard is in the list of sanctionable events, but I'm not positive.
""License to sell product revoked" is a little harsh. It would be more like "hey dummy, stop that"."
They would probably receive a warning. Most stores will get warnings whenever DCI or WotC is informed about events or certain actions taking place in an LGS that aren't approved by WotC. WotC can revoke an LGS's right to sell any of their product and they have done it before. Now if it's something like running an illegal "sanctioned" event and the store simply wasn't aware of it, then that comes by warnings.
However if there is obvious and repetitive negligence on the account of the LGS, be it the legality of their sanctioned events, or corrupting information about player total and results, intentionally bias and illegal judge rulings, or selling off promotional and exclusive product that they shouldn't be (That's a BIIIGGG no-no) then the DCI Board and WotC will take action.
For example - it's absolutely off limits for an LGS to hand out or sell a Game Day Champion playmat if they do not meet the minimum 8 players for their Game Day constructed event. It's supposed to be either returned to Wizards or destroyed.
Wizards runs a tight ship when it comes to Magic. They expect the utmost cooperation from LGS's when it comes to their rules for selling MTG product and running sanctioned events. If you're caught cheating or bending the rules, they will react accordingly.
March 2, 2016 3:51 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #9
Please read the last sentence of the second paragraph of this announcement from a year and a half ago and tell me that it isn't as simple as I make it out to be. And no "historical standard" is not an adequate term since that could be any standard from Revised-The Dark-Fallen Empires to TSP-LRW-SHM to THS-KTK at this point.
March 2, 2016 4:22 p.m.
Gidgetimer - I work for a local gaming store so if you want to tell me I'm wrong about my job then you're free to continue doing so - however the Wizards Event Reporter only has a predetermined list of event types that are able to put in for a sanctioned event. Furthermore all FNM events have to be preregistered ahead of time, much like Pre-Release and Game Day events much be registered approximately 2 months in advance.
And Historical Standard is a term used to signify any "Standard" cycle. So yes - the term is just fine. You'd have to clarify what cycle your in but the terminology for playing a Standard format that isn't the current one is the appropriately named "Historical Standard."
March 2, 2016 4:27 p.m.
OK, I get it that after Apr 8, all "sanctioned Standard tournaments" are in the new (DTK-ORI-BFZ-SOI) Standard.
But I'm still not clear on what FNM is going to look like at a generic rule-following LGS on, say, Apr 15th. Everyone knows we're in new Standard, but except for a few pre-ordered cards and whatever we cracked/traded for on pre-release, there just aren't a lot of playsets out there.
So here's my follow-on question: On Apr 15, should I expect some Historical Standard/Standard hybrid FNM, or should I expect 100% New Standard FNM?
Thanks again!
March 2, 2016 4:56 p.m.
If your LGS runs Standard as their FNM then you should be expecting new Standard. People usually don't make any drastic changes to their decks post rotation for a couple weeks anyway. People usually wait till the Pro Tours to wrap up and netdeck from there. Until then you'll have a bunch of competitive people who use shells of the decks they used to have or people brewing really weird stuff. If you watch the international top 8 lists for the first week or two after Standard you'll notice that you'll typically see very few lists that run any of the new cards because a lot of the competitive players will be hesitant to go into uncharted territory and risk their win percentage.
But yeah - I digress. My point was the demand for new cards won't be super high until a few weeks following when the cards that shine start to actually be exposed.
Expect new Standard.
March 2, 2016 5:11 p.m.
However you're also asking what to expect at YOUR local gaming store, so if you're still hesitant your best bet is to ask employees of the store.
March 2, 2016 5:14 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #14
All I'm saying is that "historical standard" was not the format I was referring to. The format I was referring to was KTK-ORI-BFZ standard. It may be a subset of "historical standard" for reporting purposes, but I was referring to a specific standard environment.
According to that announcement ALL formats are sanctionable for FNM. I don't know if you just don't know how to report it or if they went back on that. But the last announcement WotC released was that anything could be a FNM format.
March 2, 2016 5:57 p.m.
alanwescoat says... #15
clayperce, hi. It looks like your attempt to ask a simple question as a person new to M.T.G. has rapidly degenerated into pointless bickering.
Rotation is in the process of transition. We are moving from two-year rotation to an eighteen-month rotation. Blocks used to be three sets plus a core set. Blocks will now be two sets and no core set.
At the coming rotation, we will have kind of a weird Standard with the Dragons of Tarkir as the end set of Khans block and Magic Origins as the last core set. This is the transitional shift.
At the next rotation after the new Shadows over Innistrad block, we will be totally on track with the new rotation. Standard will then be three blocks of two sets each, Battle for Zendikar/Oath of the Gatewatch, Shadows over Innistrad/Eldritch Moon, and whatever comes out as the beginning of the next block.
As a new player, you may be wondering what to buy. Well, Khans of Tarkir and Fate Reforged are basically done, so those cards will shortly be of no use to you in playing Standard. Dragons of Tarkir and Magic Origins will be useful to you in Standard for roughly six months. Battle for Zendikar and Oath of the Gatewatch will be good for roughly one year. Shadows over Innistrad will be good for eighteen months.
March 2, 2016 9:04 p.m.
Thanks all, especially TMBRLZ for posts #11 and #12. Also appreciate your comments alanwescoat ... I happened to know all that, but it was a safe assumption that I didn't!
Thanks again, and draw well, everyone!
TMBRLZ says... #2
As of 12:00 a.m. on the release day of a new set in a block, the two oldest sets in Standard will rotate out. (This is how it will be from here on out. "Lock" will trigger the next rotation.)
All cards from those oldest two sets are no longer Standard legal and may not be used in any sanctioned Standard tournament.
March 2, 2016 2 p.m.