Premodern Chronicles

Premodern Staples: The Most Played Cards

Which cards actually turn up in Premodern tournament decks, counted from the 131 decklists in this archive and the 33 archetypes tracked here. Maindecks and sideboards are counted separately, because they answer different questions: a card in half the sideboards is a hate card, not a format staple.

A card is listed once it appears in at least 3 decks. Average copies matters as much as the percentage: a card averaging 4.0 is an automatic playset, while one averaging under 2.0 is a one-of or two-of that many decks simply want access to.

Maindeck staples (234 cards)

CardDecksShareAvg. copiesArchetypes
Duress49 of 13137%3.613 of 33
Cabal Therapy40 of 13131%3.310 of 33
Mishra's Factory39 of 13130%3.77 of 33
Wasteland39 of 13130%3.110 of 33
City of Brass37 of 13128%2.94 of 33
Swords to Plowshares37 of 13128%3.914 of 33
Lightning Bolt32 of 13124%3.93 of 33
Gemstone Mine30 of 13123%3.45 of 33
Dark Ritual29 of 13122%3.96 of 33
Wooded Foothills28 of 13121%3.32 of 33
Call of the Herd25 of 13119%3.64 of 33
Smother25 of 13119%1.96 of 33
Cursed Scroll23 of 13118%1.74 of 33
Sylvan Library22 of 13117%2.25 of 33
Diabolic Edict21 of 13116%1.37 of 33
Flooded Strand21 of 13116%3.47 of 33
Withered Wretch21 of 13116%3.35 of 33
Counterspell20 of 13115%3.67 of 33
Rishadan Port20 of 13115%3.47 of 33
Phyrexian Furnace19 of 13115%2.110 of 33
Reflecting Pool19 of 13115%2.61 of 33
Bloodstained Mire18 of 13114%3.32 of 33
Fire // Ice18 of 13114%2.83 of 33
Grim Lavamancer18 of 13114%2.42 of 33
Llanowar Wastes18 of 13114%3.21 of 33
Mana Leak18 of 13114%2.75 of 33
Exalted Angel17 of 13113%3.58 of 33
Fact or Fiction17 of 13113%2.84 of 33
Meddling Mage17 of 13113%3.96 of 33
Graveborn Muse16 of 13112%1.82 of 33
Yavimaya Coast16 of 13112%2.62 of 33
Birds of Paradise15 of 13111%3.91 of 33
Dust Bowl15 of 13111%1.44 of 33
Powder Keg15 of 13111%2.56 of 33
Treetop Village15 of 13111%2.94 of 33
Adarkar Wastes14 of 13111%2.65 of 33
Karplusan Forest14 of 13111%2.73 of 33
Skeletal Scrying14 of 13111%1.82 of 33
Windswept Heath14 of 13111%3.02 of 33
Brushland13 of 13110%2.52 of 33
Mogg Fanatic13 of 13110%3.93 of 33
Disenchant12 of 1319%1.88 of 33
Hypnotic Specter12 of 1319%4.03 of 33
Snuff Out12 of 1319%1.52 of 33
Underground River12 of 1319%2.82 of 33
Undiscovered Paradise12 of 1319%1.71 of 33
Vindicate12 of 1319%2.83 of 33
Ancient Tomb11 of 1318%3.02 of 33
Impulse11 of 1318%3.56 of 33
Incinerate11 of 1318%3.42 of 33
Lotus Petal11 of 1318%3.71 of 33
Masticore11 of 1318%1.42 of 33
Wild Mongrel11 of 1318%3.52 of 33
Accumulated Knowledge10 of 1318%4.01 of 33
Caves of Koilos10 of 1318%3.03 of 33
City of Traitors10 of 1318%3.01 of 33
Decree of Justice10 of 1318%2.33 of 33
Mother of Runes10 of 1318%3.34 of 33
Mox Diamond10 of 1318%3.23 of 33
Ravenous Rats10 of 1318%3.73 of 33
Reanimate10 of 1318%3.51 of 33
Squee, Goblin Nabob10 of 1318%1.23 of 33
Survival of the Fittest10 of 1318%3.84 of 33
Wrath of God10 of 1318%2.44 of 33
Carnophage9 of 1317%4.01 of 33
Naturalize9 of 1317%2.010 of 33
Phantom Nishoba9 of 1317%2.71 of 33
Portent9 of 1317%3.65 of 33
Rancor9 of 1317%2.21 of 33
Rotlung Reanimator9 of 1317%3.92 of 33
Sarcomancy9 of 1317%4.01 of 33
Seal of Fire9 of 1317%3.32 of 33
Shivan Reef9 of 1317%2.91 of 33
Sulfurous Springs9 of 1317%2.40 of 33
Winter Orb9 of 1317%3.03 of 33
Armageddon8 of 1316%1.94 of 33
Blastoderm8 of 1316%3.80 of 33
Polluted Delta8 of 1316%3.42 of 33
Ravenous Baloth8 of 1316%3.03 of 33
Sickening Dreams8 of 1316%1.82 of 33
Terminate8 of 1316%2.80 of 33
Akroma, Angel of Wrath7 of 1315%3.12 of 33
Basking Rootwalla7 of 1315%3.71 of 33
Black Vise7 of 1315%3.42 of 33
Deranged Hermit7 of 1315%1.91 of 33
Dromar's Cavern7 of 1315%1.01 of 33
Earthquake7 of 1315%1.72 of 33
Faerie Conclave7 of 1315%2.40 of 33
Gaea's Blessing7 of 1315%2.34 of 33
Innocent Blood7 of 1315%2.61 of 33
Nantuko Vigilante7 of 1315%1.31 of 33
Pernicious Deed7 of 1315%3.11 of 33
Prohibit7 of 1315%1.41 of 33
Shadowmage Infiltrator7 of 1315%3.61 of 33
Volrath's Stronghold7 of 1315%1.01 of 33
Anger6 of 1315%1.01 of 33
Arrogant Wurm6 of 1315%3.51 of 33
Bad Moon6 of 1315%2.32 of 33
Barbarian Ring6 of 1315%1.51 of 33
Exhume6 of 1315%4.01 of 33
Firebolt6 of 1315%2.50 of 33
Life // Death6 of 1315%2.71 of 33
Lightning Angel6 of 1315%4.01 of 33
Llanowar Elves6 of 1315%3.31 of 33
Miscalculation6 of 1315%1.82 of 33
Nantuko Shade6 of 1315%2.72 of 33
Nevinyrral's Disk6 of 1315%2.81 of 33
Phyrexian Arena6 of 1315%2.33 of 33
Plaguebearer6 of 1315%1.50 of 33
Putrid Imp6 of 1315%4.01 of 33
Rith's Grove6 of 1315%1.72 of 33
Tangle Wire6 of 1315%4.01 of 33
Treva's Ruins6 of 1315%1.20 of 33
Unearth6 of 1315%2.22 of 33
Wall of Roots6 of 1315%2.33 of 33
Chainer's Edict5 of 1314%1.00 of 33
Darigaaz's Caldera5 of 1314%1.60 of 33
Enlightened Tutor5 of 1314%2.24 of 33
Fireblast5 of 1314%3.81 of 33
Foil5 of 1314%2.04 of 33
Gerrard's Verdict5 of 1314%4.02 of 33
Ghitu Encampment5 of 1314%2.60 of 33
Goblin Piledriver5 of 1314%4.01 of 33
Grand Coliseum5 of 1314%3.20 of 33
Grinning Demon5 of 1314%1.60 of 33
Krosan Tusker5 of 1314%2.21 of 33
Lord of the Undead5 of 1314%4.01 of 33
Pillage5 of 1314%4.00 of 33
Psychatog5 of 1314%2.43 of 33
Sulfuric Vortex5 of 1314%2.41 of 33
Wall of Blossoms5 of 1314%3.82 of 33
Animate Dead4 of 1313%1.01 of 33
Bane of the Living4 of 1313%2.50 of 33
Black Knight4 of 1313%2.50 of 33
Cabal Archon4 of 1313%3.81 of 33
Capsize4 of 1313%1.00 of 33
Careful Study4 of 1313%4.02 of 33
Contamination4 of 1313%2.81 of 33
Daze4 of 1313%2.83 of 33
Deep Analysis4 of 1313%1.01 of 33
Diabolic Intent4 of 1313%1.50 of 33
Elvish Spirit Guide4 of 1313%4.00 of 33
Flash of Insight4 of 1313%1.01 of 33
Funeral Charm4 of 1313%2.81 of 33
Gaea's Cradle4 of 1313%3.01 of 33
Gempalm Incinerator4 of 1313%2.51 of 33
Gempalm Polluter4 of 1313%3.01 of 33
Genesis4 of 1313%1.00 of 33
Goblin Lackey4 of 1313%4.01 of 33
Goblin Matron4 of 1313%4.01 of 33
Goblin Ringleader4 of 1313%4.01 of 33
Goblin Sharpshooter4 of 1313%1.01 of 33
Goblin Tinkerer4 of 1313%1.01 of 33
Goblin Warchief4 of 1313%4.01 of 33
Gush4 of 1313%3.84 of 33
Kaervek's Spite4 of 1313%1.00 of 33
Karn, Silver Golem4 of 1313%1.81 of 33
Knight of Stromgald4 of 1313%2.50 of 33
Kor Haven4 of 1313%1.01 of 33
Living Death4 of 1313%1.50 of 33
Merfolk Looter4 of 1313%3.00 of 33
Mind Stone4 of 1313%3.81 of 33
Morphling4 of 1313%1.00 of 33
Nether Spirit4 of 1313%4.01 of 33
Phyrexian Dreadnought4 of 1313%4.01 of 33
Priest of Gix4 of 1313%4.01 of 33
Prophetic Bolt4 of 1313%2.20 of 33
Ramosian Sergeant4 of 1313%2.21 of 33
Ray of Revelation4 of 1313%1.24 of 33
Recurring Nightmare4 of 1313%1.51 of 33
Rorix Bladewing4 of 1313%2.00 of 33
Seal of Cleansing4 of 1313%2.510 of 33
Siege-Gang Commander4 of 1313%2.51 of 33
Sphere of Resistance4 of 1313%4.02 of 33
Stifle4 of 1313%2.81 of 33
Stone Rain4 of 1313%3.80 of 33
Tempting Wurm4 of 1313%2.50 of 33
Thawing Glaciers4 of 1313%1.50 of 33
Thran Dynamo4 of 1313%4.01 of 33
Tsabo's Web4 of 1313%1.08 of 33
Unholy Grotto4 of 1313%1.20 of 33
Verdant Force4 of 1313%2.50 of 33
Whipcorder4 of 1313%3.82 of 33
Wonder4 of 1313%1.02 of 33
Wretched Anurid4 of 1313%3.50 of 33
Zombie Infestation4 of 1313%3.52 of 33
Absorb3 of 1312%1.30 of 33
Aura of Silence3 of 1312%2.78 of 33
Barren Moor3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Battlefield Forge3 of 1312%2.71 of 33
Bone Shredder3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Chain of Vapor3 of 1312%3.33 of 33
Chromatic Sphere3 of 1312%3.71 of 33
Circular Logic3 of 1312%3.31 of 33
Cloud of Faeries3 of 1312%3.71 of 33
Coastal Tower3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Contagion3 of 1312%1.01 of 33
Crosis's Catacombs3 of 1312%1.70 of 33
Dark Supplicant3 of 1312%4.01 of 33
Dauthi Slayer3 of 1312%4.00 of 33
Drain Life3 of 1312%1.72 of 33
Fyndhorn Elves3 of 1312%3.31 of 33
Icy Manipulator3 of 1312%1.70 of 33
Mystic Snake3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Oath of Druids3 of 1312%4.03 of 33
Oath of Ghouls3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Patron Wizard3 of 1312%4.00 of 33
Petradon3 of 1312%3.70 of 33
Phyrexian Negator3 of 1312%3.31 of 33
Phyrexian Tower3 of 1312%1.70 of 33
Pyrostatic Pillar3 of 1312%3.31 of 33
Quirion Dryad3 of 1312%4.02 of 33
Quirion Ranger3 of 1312%3.01 of 33
Rampant Growth3 of 1312%3.30 of 33
Reya Dawnbringer3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Savannah Lions3 of 1312%3.71 of 33
Scion of Darkness3 of 1312%1.01 of 33
Shepherd of Rot3 of 1312%4.01 of 33
Silent Specter3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Skittering Skirge3 of 1312%3.01 of 33
Skycloud Expanse3 of 1312%1.02 of 33
Smokestack3 of 1312%3.30 of 33
Standstill3 of 1312%3.72 of 33
Stormscape Apprentice3 of 1312%4.00 of 33
Sylvan Safekeeper3 of 1312%1.70 of 33
The Rack3 of 1312%2.31 of 33
Thornscape Battlemage3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Tireless Tribe3 of 1312%4.00 of 33
Unmask3 of 1312%3.30 of 33
Visara the Dreadful3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Vision Charm3 of 1312%4.01 of 33
Waterfront Bouncer3 of 1312%2.01 of 33
Weathered Wayfarer3 of 1312%3.01 of 33
Yavimaya Granger3 of 1312%1.01 of 33

Sideboard staples (92 cards)

CardDecksShareAvg. copiesArchetypes
Tormod's Crypt61 of 13147%1.924 of 33
Engineered Plague52 of 13140%2.912 of 33
Phyrexian Furnace38 of 13129%1.610 of 33
Naturalize34 of 13126%2.210 of 33
Pyroblast30 of 13123%2.36 of 33
Red Elemental Blast29 of 13122%2.16 of 33
Dystopia24 of 13118%2.66 of 33
Pyroclasm24 of 13118%2.16 of 33
Tranquil Domain22 of 13117%1.87 of 33
Tsabo's Web20 of 13115%1.68 of 33
Annul19 of 13115%2.610 of 33
Gloom19 of 13115%2.65 of 33
Perish17 of 13113%1.45 of 33
Hydroblast16 of 13112%2.412 of 33
Powder Keg16 of 13112%1.46 of 33
Ray of Revelation16 of 13112%1.54 of 33
Smother15 of 13111%1.56 of 33
Blue Elemental Blast14 of 13111%2.411 of 33
Circle of Protection: Red13 of 13110%1.510 of 33
Disenchant13 of 13110%1.68 of 33
Seal of Cleansing13 of 13110%1.910 of 33
Overload12 of 1319%2.23 of 33
Aura of Silence10 of 1318%1.18 of 33
Cabal Therapy10 of 1318%1.810 of 33
Warmth10 of 1318%1.69 of 33
Anarchy9 of 1317%1.72 of 33
Compost9 of 1317%1.81 of 33
Diabolic Edict9 of 1317%1.17 of 33
Duress9 of 1317%2.613 of 33
Haunting Echoes9 of 1317%1.23 of 33
Snuff Out9 of 1317%2.12 of 33
Spinning Darkness8 of 1316%1.52 of 33
Withered Wretch8 of 1316%1.65 of 33
Cursed Totem7 of 1315%1.47 of 33
Infest7 of 1315%1.41 of 33
Ravenous Baloth7 of 1315%1.43 of 33
Cursed Scroll6 of 1315%1.74 of 33
Ensnaring Bridge6 of 1315%3.20 of 33
Meddling Mage6 of 1315%3.86 of 33
Mogg Salvage6 of 1315%2.22 of 33
Oath of Druids6 of 1315%3.83 of 33
Crumble5 of 1314%1.22 of 33
Earthquake5 of 1314%1.42 of 33
Enlightened Tutor5 of 1314%1.04 of 33
Masticore5 of 1314%1.42 of 33
Null Rod5 of 1314%1.83 of 33
Sacred Ground5 of 1314%1.44 of 33
Sphere of Law5 of 1314%1.42 of 33
Uktabi Orangutan5 of 1314%1.02 of 33
Zuran Orb5 of 1314%2.02 of 33
Armadillo Cloak4 of 1313%1.50 of 33
Bottle Gnomes4 of 1313%2.51 of 33
Cleansing Meditation4 of 1313%1.02 of 33
Defense Grid4 of 1313%2.83 of 33
Genesis4 of 1313%1.00 of 33
Goblin Sharpshooter4 of 1313%1.01 of 33
Hibernation4 of 1313%1.01 of 33
Hidden Gibbons4 of 1313%2.51 of 33
Ihsan's Shade4 of 1313%2.51 of 33
Misdirection4 of 1313%2.82 of 33
Multani, Maro-Sorcerer4 of 1313%3.01 of 33
Nevinyrral's Disk4 of 1313%1.51 of 33
Pernicious Deed4 of 1313%1.81 of 33
Price of Progress4 of 1313%2.21 of 33
Pyrokinesis4 of 1313%2.21 of 33
Swords to Plowshares4 of 1313%2.514 of 33
Teferi's Response4 of 1313%1.22 of 33
Absolute Law3 of 1312%1.72 of 33
Armageddon3 of 1312%1.74 of 33
Bad Moon3 of 1312%2.02 of 33
Call of the Herd3 of 1312%1.74 of 33
Caller of the Claw3 of 1312%1.72 of 33
Chain of Vapor3 of 1312%1.03 of 33
Contagion3 of 1312%1.31 of 33
Dust Bowl3 of 1312%1.04 of 33
Envelop3 of 1312%1.30 of 33
Gaea's Blessing3 of 1312%1.04 of 33
Gilded Drake3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Hull Breach3 of 1312%1.31 of 33
Iridescent Angel3 of 1312%2.71 of 33
Orim's Chant3 of 1312%1.70 of 33
Plaguebearer3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Planar Void3 of 1312%2.71 of 33
Presence of the Master3 of 1312%1.00 of 33
Rejuvenation Chamber3 of 1312%2.71 of 33
Reprisal3 of 1312%1.32 of 33
Scour3 of 1312%1.32 of 33
Shattering Pulse3 of 1312%1.71 of 33
Sickening Dreams3 of 1312%1.02 of 33
Smokestack3 of 1312%1.30 of 33
Worship3 of 1312%1.01 of 33
Wrath of God3 of 1312%1.34 of 33

Every card links to its own page with printing, price and the decks that play it. See also the full Premodern card list and the metagame tier list.

Anno MMXXVI · Estd. 1995–2003

The Premodern Chronicles

Tournament decklists, card prices and the spiciest brews of Premodern: Magic with old-border cards.

Fresh from the tables

All decks
Anno MMXXVI · Estd. 1995–2003

Premodern Decks

Every deck in the archive: winning and Top 8 decklists from Premodern tournaments and Magic Online leagues around the world, with full mainboards and sideboards.

Fresh from the tables
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The Format

What is Premodern?

Premodern is a Magic: The Gathering format played with cards from Fourth Edition through Scourge (1995–2003), the game's golden era. It captures the feel of early competitive Magic: iconic old-border cards, meaningful decisions and a rich, interactive metagame, free of the power creep of later sets.

1995 — 2003

How it plays

Premodern is an eternal, non-rotating format. Games reward tight play, deckbuilding skill and knowledge of the metagame rather than raw speed. Combo, control, aggro and midrange all have a home, from Goblins and Stiflenought to Landstill, Replenish and The Rock.

Looking for a first deck? Our guide to your first Premodern deck suggests five that are easy to learn, with real tournament lists and prices.

AggroControlComboMidrange
Deck construction 60 card main deck (min.) 15 card sideboard (max.) 4 copies per card (basics excepted)

Legal Sets

29 expansions · 1995–2003

A card is legal as long as its name appears in one of these sets. (Reprints in newer sets are legal too, but on Premodern Chronicles we always show the period-correct old-frame printing.)

1995–96
Fourth Edition
Ice Age
Chronicles
Homelands
Alliances
Mirage
Visions
1997–98
Fifth Edition
Weatherlight
Tempest
Stronghold
Exodus
Urza's Saga
1999–00
Urza's Legacy
Sixth Edition
Urza's Destiny
Mercadian Masques
Nemesis
Prophecy
Invasion
2001–02
Planeshift
Seventh Edition
Apocalypse
Odyssey
Torment
Judgment
Onslaught
2003
Legions
Scourge

Current Banlist

33 cards

To keep the format diverse and interactive, these cards are banned, including the classic ante cards.

Why each card is banned, and every change since 2018 →

Banlist is maintained by the Premodern format committee, check premodernmagic.com for official updates.

Learn more premodernmagic.com → playpremodern.com →
← What is Premodern?
The Format

Premodern Banlist

33 cards are banned in Premodern. The list is kept by Martin Berlin, who created the format in 2012, with input from the community, and every change is announced on premodernmagic.com. Below: what each card does that got it banned, and every change since 2018.

Last change

Reports

Premodern Articles

Monthly metagame reports, tournament roundups and price reports, built on our archive of tournament decks and our daily price tracking.

From the Brewer's Cauldron

Spicy Brews

Unusual, rarely-seen Premodern decks: the spicy lists you won't find on any tier list.

Handle with oven mitts
Competitive on a Budget

Budget Premodern Decks

Every competitive deck you can build for under $500, priced card by card from a real tournament list, with reprints and in the original printings.

The Card Index

Premodern Card List

Every card from the tournament decks, spicy brews and archetype guides we track, each with its printing, price and the decks that play it.

Premodern Staples

The most played cards across the tournament decks and archetypes we track. Maindecks and sideboards are counted separately: a card in half the sideboards is a hate card, not a format staple.

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The Metagame

Premodern Tier List

Rankings are our own read of tournament results and league play, refreshed a few times a year. Card art © Wizards of the Coast, shown in the period-correct old-frame printing.

Get in touch

Contact

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About

About & Legal

Premodern Chronicles is an independent, non-commercial archive of Magic: The Gathering Premodern tournament results: winning decklists, a metagame tier list with deck guides, card prices and the banlist. Card images and card data come from Scryfall.

Fan Content Policy

Premodern Chronicles is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Trademarks

Magic: The Gathering, its card names, card images, and mana symbols are trademarks and copyrights of Wizards of the Coast LLC. Premodern Chronicles is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Get in touch

Corrections to a decklist, a tournament result we have missed, or anything else: use the contact form or reach us on Instagram. What you send through the form is stored on our own server (message, reply address, the page it was sent from, and a shortened hash of your IP address to limit abuse) for as long as it takes to deal with it, and is forwarded to us as a private notification. Nothing is shared with third parties.