Description
Whereas Vintage only bans “dexterity cards”, cards related to ante, Conspiracy-type, or subgame cards, Legacy has a considerable number of cards banned solely due to their power. Fast mana is more difficult to generate thereby causing slightly slower games.
Legacy was created in July 1997 from the little-used format known as Classic-Restricted, which was simply a format where all the cards restricted in Vintage format were banned instead. In the fall of 2004, the decision was made that the format should have a Banned List separate from Vintage. An online poll to name the revamped format was held on Aaron Forsythe’s Latest Developments column, with Legacy winning the 25.5% of the vote.
The DCI has more recently begun organizing larger tournaments in the format, which has caused a noticeable increase in the number of players trying Legacy. In North America, the Star City Games Open Series has dramatically increased the amount of Legacy players residing there. However, in November 2015 they have cut their Legacy support, which caused an outrage among North American Legacy players.
Constructed decks must contain a minimum of sixty cards. There is no maximum deck size; however, you must be able to shuffle your deck with no assistance. If a player wishes to use a sideboard, it must contain no more than fifteen cards.
With the exception of basic land cards, a player’s combined deck and sideboard may not contain more than four of any individual card, counted by its English card title equivalent.
Legal sets
With the exception of card carrying silver border and/or having a non-Standard Magic back (other than Double-Faced Card/Meld Card), all cards released in Magic: The Gathering are legal in this format as long as the card itself is not banned.
Legacy banned list
Ancestral Recall
Balance
Bazaar of Baghdad
Black Lotus
Channel
Demonic Consultation
Deathrite Shaman
Demonic Tutor
Dig Through Time
Earthcraft
Fastbond
Flash
Frantic Search
Gitaxian Probe
Goblin Recruiter
Gush
Hermit Druid
Imperial Seal
Library of Alexandria
Mana Crypt
Mana Drain
Mana Vault
Memory Jar
Mental Misstep
Mind Twist
Mind’s Desire
Mishra’s Workshop
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Mystical Tutor
Necropotence
Oath of Druids
Sensei’s Divining Top
Skullclamp
Sol Ring
Strip Mine
Survival of the Fittest
Time Vault
Time Walk
Timetwister
Tinker
Tolarian Academy
Treasure Cruise
Vampiric Tutor
Wheel of Fortune
Windfall
Yawgmoth’s Bargain
Yawgmoth’s Will