Coming from Modern?

What You Already Know (and Love)

Coming from Modern, you understand eternal format appeal: diverse strategies, powerful card pools, and the satisfaction of mastering complex interactions. Ideal Magic preserves the strategic depth while eliminating the feel-bad moments.

Your Modern experience translates perfectly:

• Eternal format thinking and long-term deck investment
• Complex interaction patterns and stack management
• Diverse metagame navigation and adaptation
• Powerful synergies and build-around strategies
• Sideboard mastery for best-of-three matches

Key Differences from Modern

Format Philosophy Changes

Mechanical Philosophy

What stays powerful:

• Deep card pools for optimal deck construction
• Efficient threats and answers across all strategies
• Multi-format all-stars (Lightning Bolt, Counterspell, etc.)
• Synergy-based strategies with clear counterplay
• Sideboard games with meaningful choices

What improves:

• No oppressive combos (Storm, KCI, etc.)
• No prison strategies (Lantern, Ponza lock elements)
• Ward replaces problematic Hexproof
• Streamlined mechanics reduce bookkeeping
• Interactive counterplay always available

Your Favorite Modern Strategies in Ideal Magic

Strategies That Translate Directly

Aggro strategies you know:

• Red Deck Wins → Enhanced with Adventure creatures and Flashback reach
• Burn → Direct damage with Flashback for inevitability
• Tribal aggro → Supported by Landfall and Adventure synergies
• White Weenie → Ward creatures for resilient pressure

Midrange strategies you love:

• Jund/Abzan Midrange → Efficient threats with Adventure value
• Big mana strategies → Kicker spells scale perfectly with extra mana
• Value midrange → Investigate and Saga engines for card advantage
• Tempo strategies → Ward and Flash for protected aggression

Control strategies that work:

• UW Control → Ward finishers with Flashback card advantage
• Draw-go control → Optimal counterspells and Cycling for selection
• Tap-out control → Sagas and Ward creatures for proactive control
• Prison-lite → Resource denial without oppressive locks

Modern Strategies Excluded (and Why)

Oppressive elements completely removed:

• Storm combo - No solitaire turns determining games
• KCI/Eggs - No artifact storm loops
• Lantern Control - No hard locks with Codex Shredder
• Tron - No Urzatron oppressive mana advantage
• Dredge - No graveyard combo overwhelming interaction
• Ad Nauseam - No instant-win combos from nowhere

Fast mana abuse prevented:

• Mox effects limited to fair rates
• Ritual effects controlled for balance
• Sol lands kept within reasonable power level

The result: Every strategy has counterplay; no unwinnable games from the draw step.

Card Pool Comparison

Power Level Philosophy

Modern’s approach: “Powerful cards legal until proven broken” Ideal Magic’s approach: “Curated powerful cards that create great gameplay”

Examples of power level curation:

Efficient Threats (Modern → Ideal Magic):

Tarmogoyf → Ward-based efficient creatures
Snapcaster Mage → Creatures with Adventure/Flashback synergy
Death's Shadow → Aggressive creatures with interactive counterplay

Interaction Spells:

Path to Exile → Premium removal without oppressive ramp
Counterspell → Optimal permission spells for fair games
Lightning Bolt → Efficient damage that doesn't enable unfair combos

Value Engines:

Jace, the Mind Sculptor → Card selection with Scry/Surveil effects
Dark Confidant → Investigate engines for sustainable advantage
Bloodbraid Elf → Adventure creatures for guaranteed value

Mana Base Evolution

Modern mana bases you know:

• Fetch lands + Shock lands for perfect fixing
• Fast lands for aggro decks
• Pain lands for budget builds
• Utility lands with powerful effects

Ideal Magic mana bases:

• Fetch lands available where appropriate for deck construction
• Check lands and pain lands for consistent fixing
• Utility lands without oppressive effects (no Wasteland effects)
• Smooth mana curves supported by Cycling and Scry

Metagame Translation

From Linear to Interactive

Modern metagame pressures:

• Combo decks demand specific answers
• Linear aggro races through interaction
• Prison strategies shut down entire approaches
• Big mana outscales fair strategies

Ideal Magic metagame dynamics:

• Board-centric gameplay rewards interaction
• Ward mechanics create fair protection
• Scaling strategies compete on mana efficiency
• Value engines provide incremental advantage

Archetype Balance

Modern rock-paper-scissors:

Combo beats Midrange
Aggro beats Combo  
Control beats Aggro
(With many exceptions and corner cases)

Ideal Magic strategic spectrum:

Aggro ←→ Midrange ←→ Control
All positions have counterplay and adaptation options

Deck Building Evolution

From Modern to Ideal Magic Thinking

Modern deck building:

• “How do I win fastest/most unfairly?”
• “What stops my opponent from winning?”
• “Can I goldfish consistently on turn 3-4?”

Ideal Magic deck building:

• “How do I create sustainable advantage?”
• “What’s my plan against different board states?”
• “How do I interact meaningfully with opponents?”

Synergy vs. Power Level

Modern approach: Find the most powerful synergies legal in the format Ideal Magic approach: Build synergies that create interactive gameplay

Examples:

Card Selection Engines:

• Modern: Serum Visions, Opt, Faithless Looting
• Ideal Magic: Scry, Cycling, Investigate for smooth selection

Threat Packages:

• Modern: Most efficient threats available
• Ideal Magic: Efficient threats with built-in value (Adventure, Ward)

Interaction Suites:

• Modern: Hate cards for specific strategies
• Ideal Magic: Broad interaction that handles multiple strategies

Competitive Advantages from Modern

Skills That Transfer Perfectly

Complex stack interaction:

• Modern’s instant-speed format taught you precise timing
• Priority windows and response patterns identical
• Multiple permanent interactions familiar territory

Sideboard strategy:

• 15-card sideboards work identically
• Best-of-three adaptation skills apply directly
• Knowing when to change roles post-board

Format knowledge:

• Understanding archetype matchups
• Knowing key interaction windows
• Reading opponent’s game plan early

Deck mastery:

• Optimal sequencing and mulligan decisions
• Understanding your role in each matchup
• Maximizing percentage points through tight play

Tournament Experience

Modern tournament skills that excel in Ideal Magic:

• Time management in 50-minute rounds
• Pressure handling in competitive environments
• Sideboard timing and post-board adaptation
• Judge interaction for complex rules situations

Common Modern Player Advantages in Ideal Magic

1. Strategic Depth Appreciation

You already value:

• Long-term format mastery over quick fixes
• Complex decision trees and percentage maximization
• Deck building optimization and meta adaptation
• Interactive gameplay over solitaire strategies

2. Advanced Interaction Understanding

Your Modern experience with:

• Stack management during complex board states
• Instant-speed interaction and priority windows
• Multi-permanent synergies and interaction
• Sideboard games with role adjustments

3. Eternal Format Mindset

• Investment thinking about deck and format mastery
• Deep card knowledge across Magic’s history
• Metagame adaptation over rotation cycles
• Community engagement with format development

Common Modern Player Mistakes in Ideal Magic

1. Overvaluing Linear Speed

Modern habit: Race to execute your plan fastest Ideal Magic fix: Focus on sustainable advantage and interaction

2. Expecting Oppressive Elements

Modern habit: Playing around unfair strategies Ideal Magic fix: Trust that interaction is always viable

3. Undervaluing Ward

Modern habit: Hexproof means untouchable Ideal Magic fix: Ward can be paid; plan mana accordingly

4. Ignoring Smoothing Mechanics

Modern habit: Raw power over consistency Ideal Magic fix: Cycling, Scry, and Investigate prevent non-games

5. Missing Incremental Advantages

Modern habit: Big swings or bust mentality Ideal Magic fix: Small advantages compound in longer games

Sample Competitive Deck Translations

From Modern Jund to Ideal Magic BGx Midrange

Modern Jund core:

• Tarmogoyf, Dark Confidant, Liliana of the Veil
• Lightning Bolt, Fatal Push, Inquisition
• Fetch/shock mana base

Ideal Magic BGx core:

• Efficient creatures with Adventure or Ward
• Premium removal without oppressive elements
• Value engines with Investigate or Saga effects
• Smooth mana base with cycling lands

From Modern Burn to Ideal Magic RDW

Modern Burn core:

• Lightning Bolt, Lava Spike, Monastery Swiftspear
• Eidolon of the Great Revel, Goblin Guide
• Fast mana and minimal lands

Ideal Magic RDW core:

• Direct damage with Flashback potential
• Adventure creatures for card advantage
• Cycling for smooth draws and selection
• Efficient curve with late-game scaling

From Modern UW Control to Ideal Magic UW Control

Modern UW Control core:

• Path to Exile, Counterspell, Teferi
• Snapcaster Mage, Cryptic Command
• Celestial Colonnade, card selection

Ideal Magic UW Control core:

• Premium removal and permission spells
• Ward finishers with built-in protection
• Investigate engines for card advantage
• Flashback spells for recursive value

Format Development Participation

Community-Driven Balance

Modern’s approach: WotC bannings and market forces Ideal Magic’s approach: Community curation and testing

How to contribute:

• Playtesting and feedback on card legality
• Metagame analysis and archetype development
• Tournament results and format health discussion
• Card evaluation for potential additions

Competitive Scene Development

Modern’s infrastructure: Established tournament series Ideal Magic’s opportunity: Help build competitive infrastructure

Ways to participate:

• Local tournament organization
• Online tournament management
• Format evangelism at game stores
• Content creation and strategy discussion

Long-term Format Investment

Why Modern Players Love Ideal Magic

“It’s Modern, but fair.”

• Eternal format depth without oppressive strategies
• Complex interactions with meaningful counterplay
• Deck investment pays off indefinitely
• Strategic diversity without unwinnable matchups
• Community governance prevents format staleness

Building Your Collection

Modern collection advantages:

• Many cards transfer directly to Ideal Magic
• Premium interaction spells remain valuable
• Efficient creatures and card selection overlap
• Mana base investments remain useful

Smart collection building:

• Focus on interactive cards over linear combo pieces
• Prioritize efficient threats with built-in value
• Invest in premium mana bases and utility lands
• Build multiple archetypes to learn the format

Quick Start for Modern Players

You have the skills; you just need format knowledge:

Week 1: Format Assessment

1. Review current metagame via Discord and tournament results
2. Identify familiar archetypes and their Ideal Magic versions
3. Study banned/excluded mechanics to understand boundaries
4. Choose starting archetype based on your Modern preferences

Week 2: Deck Construction

1. Build optimal 75 using curated card pool
2. Test against established decks online or with proxies
3. Learn new interaction patterns with Ward and other mechanics
4. Refine sideboard for the interactive metagame

Week 3: Competitive Play

1. Enter tournaments with your tested deck
2. Apply Modern skills to the new strategic environment
3. Learn from format veterans about optimal lines
4. Start contributing to format development discussions

Why Modern Players Excel in Ideal Magic

Your Modern experience is perfect preparation:

• Eternal format thinking transfers directly
• Complex interaction skills apply immediately
• Diverse strategy understanding accelerates learning
• Competitive experience gives tournament advantages
• Format development interest helps community growth

The strategic depth and complexity you love about Modern exist in Ideal Magic, just without the feel-bad moments of oppressive strategies. You get to apply all your accumulated Magic skills in an environment designed for fair, interactive gameplay.

Next Steps

Continue Learning

• Comprehensive Rules for complete mechanics reference
• Game Formats including Limited and Cube options
• FAQ for format-specific questions

Build and Compete

• Proxy Printing for immediate testing
• Discord Community for competitive testing and discussion

Welcome to eternal Magic done right - all the depth, none of the degeneracy.