Magic: The Gathering/Standard Decks & Strategies
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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 2010 and the expansions are the Shards of Alara 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 January 27th, 2010, the sets legal in Standard:
CORE SET
Magic 2010
Shards of Alara
Shards of Alara
Conflux
Alara Reborn
Zendikar
Zendikar
Worldwake (from February 5th)
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 Weenie, Ponza, blue-based control), 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.
