These update notes were copy-pasted, as written, from the Primordial Discord server. However, their formatting may have been slightly modified.
Rules Update v3.12 – Banlist Update + Multiplayer Recommendations Update + Old Set Buff Modification – BY FANFAN ( 20/07/2025)
Banlist Update:
- Channel, is now banned in all sets.
- Merfolk Secretkeeper, is now banned in Throne of Eldraine.
Multiplayer Recommendations Update:
- 3 players: free for all.
- More than 3 players: Two Headed Giant (warning: mixing 2 Primordial decks can lead to a very powerful combination that might feel unfair).
- Commander Primordial? Why not. We have no official recommendations for now, but our community has already tried and defined some rulings. You can discuss them on our Discord server.
Old Set Buff Modification: The free land for old sets is replaced by the following buff: Creature spells you cast cost 1 less to cast. As an example, Sengir Vampire in the 4th Edition costs 2BB, instead of 3BB. Will-o’-the-Wisp still costs B.
Rules Update v3.11 – Free Land and Old Sets Rule – by Fanfan (28/12/2024)
At the start of a game, before the first player is determined, each player with a deck from an old set (see definition below) may reveal a basic land card they own from outside the game and put it onto the battlefield.
For judges: this action takes place before 103.1. See Magic: The Gathering comprehensive rules.
An old set is currently defined as any set printed before the Eighth Edition.
Many of you have expressed a desire for more balance between newer and older sets in the ongoing survey. I knew this was something I would need to address, but I didn’t anticipate it would become one of the most frequently mentioned issues.
Different sports and hobbies use a bonus-malus system to balance games between opponents of different levels. The idea of granting one free land for old sets came to mind as a potentially viable bonus-malus system to balance games between newer and older sets. It could have been other things like life points, additional pool of cards, or even free turns. However, I believe that a free land is a relatively balanced option and easier for both players to track.
As I mentioned in a previous statement, I don’t have a magic solution to fix this, but I think we should open the discussion and try something out (as long as your current decks don’t become illegal, I’ve learned that). When you think about it, it’s not like the format needs to stay stable for some upcoming world championship or anything. I don’t want to spend weeks or months beta testing something discreetly on my own. I’d rather make this change official and gather open feedback from all of you.
Note: I know this change concerns only a handful of old sets, but the try-and-learn approach still requires some safeguards, such as starting simple.
Rules Update v3.10 – Channel and Sinkhole banned in A/B/U – by Fanfan (15/08/2024)
For gaming experience reasons, Channel and Sinkhole are banned in A/B/U. Channel remains playable in the Revised and Fourth Editions. In addition, the banlist is now organized by set rather than globally.
Rules Update v3.9 – One Set = One Standard Set Code – by Fanfan (26/05/2024)
Primordial decks may only contain cards from the same Standard set (main sets). Official set codes (composed of 3 letters) will serve as a reference for this limitation. In other words:
- The Archive Rule is withdrawn. This also applies to the following combinations, which were not referenced under the Archive Rule:
- Fourth Edition + Chronicles
- Time Spiral + Time Spiral Timeshifted
- March of the Machine + March of the Machine: The Aftermath
- Outlaws of Thunder Junction + The Big Score
- The following additional sets are no longer legal:
- Global Series: Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling
- Starter 2000
- Starter 1999
- Portal Three Kingdoms
- Portal Second Age
- Portal
These changes are driven by the desire to ensure consistency with one of the key principles of the format. Indeed, Primordial is essentially based on imposing strong deck-building constraints. This is what makes it different. Where other formats allow you to mix cards from different editions (by playing on the time-depth factor), Primordial forces players to deal with cards from a single set. This constraint alone creates the essence of the format (the rarity constraints complete it, the rest is simply fine-tuning). With Bonus Sheets (https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Bonus_sheet) and other bonus sets, this fundamental constraint is overridden. If we ignore the “cool” side of Bonus Sheets (unique borders, alternative artworks, highly popular cards, etc.), authorizing these sets is like saying: “this set has the right to break the format’s primary constraint and allows you to play an arbitrary selection of cards from other sets, listed below…”. In other words, coolness aside, this create a critical inconsistency in Primodial.
Rules Update v3.8 – 10 Cards Sideboards – by Fanfan (18/05/2024)
Each Primordial player may now have a sideboard that contain no more than 10 cards (instead of 8).
This to be aligned with the original Magic: the Gathering main deck to sideboard ratio (60/15 = 40/10).
Rules Update v3.7 – Banlist Reset – by Fanfan (23/03/2024)
Artifact lands (from Mirodin), Ardent Electromancer, Ragavan Nimble Pilferer, Run Away Together and Zenith Flare are no longer on the Primordial Banlist.
Rules Update v3.6 – Bonus Sheets – by Schwa77 (05/09/2023)
This ruling compiles the various “Archive Rules” into one ruling for better clarity and easier future modification.
- Strixhaven: School of Mages and Strixhaven Mystical Archive are treated as one set.
- The Brother’s War and The Brother’s War Retro Artifacts are treated as one set.
- March of the Machine and Multiverse Legends are treated as one set.
- Wilds of Eldraine and Wilds of Eldraine: Enchanting Tales are treated as one set.
Rules Update v3.5 – by Schwa77 (15/05/2023)
- Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer is banned.: A turn one Ragavan is up there among the most powerful plays in any of Magic’s many formats. Magic’s most infamous monkey broke free of its Modern Horizons printing and became Primordial legal with the release of Multiverse Legends in March of the Machine. While a few other Modern Horizons cards have slid their way into legality through other reprints, I don’t feel that Ragavan is of an appropriate power level for the format due to the significantly lower overall power of Primordial. As such, Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer is banned in Primordial.
- The Wishing, Learning, and Companion Rarity Rule in Rules Update v3.3 is being altered. Moving forward, this will be the standard: The “copies of one card” based on rarity numbers extend across both the mainboard and sideboard. Put simply, you can play no more than four total copies of any given common, two total copies of any given uncommon, or one total copy of any rare or mythic rare in both your mainboard and sideboard. We believe this opens up format possibilities while preventing abuse cases (such as the “Oops All Mascot Exhibition” or “4 Oko” decks). The most prevalent uses for this rules change include:
- Companions have made their way back into the format. Formerly banned through this rule, they are now permitted so long as you do not run a second copy of any given Companion in the mainboard. I understand there are some concerns about Lurrus of the Dream-Den being made legal once again. With the banning of Zenith Flare, the IKO Cycling deck has lost some of its most explosive potential. However, Lurrus is an infamous card for a reason, and I’ll be keeping a close eye to see if it warrants action in the future.
- Rare and Mythic Lessons can now be accessed through the Learn mechanic in STX.
- General Wish effects can now be used to bring rare or mythic cards from the sideboard into the game.
Rules Update v3.3.5 – by Schwa77 (15/04/2023)
Under the Archive Rule, March of the Machine (MOM) and Multiverse Legends (MUL) are treated as though they are one set in Primordial. Cards from MUL may be included in a MOM deck at their printed rarity in MUL.
Rules Update v3.4 – by Schwa77 (13/02/2023)
Showcase Praetors in Phyrexia: All Will Be One (ONE)
Promotional versions of Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider, Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant, Urabrask, Heretic Praetor, and Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, all have a chance appear in ONE boosters. These cards are NOT LEGAL in Phyrexia: All Will Be One as an extension of the Masterpieces rule. (01/05/2024 update: this update was unnecessary as these Showcase Praetors weren’t officially registered as part of ONE)
Rules Update v3.3 – by Schwa77 (11/12/2022)
This rules update compiles changes from the linked post (01/05/2024 update: “linked post” refers to a post previously published on this website) as well as those only noted on the Discord server to bring both sites to parity.
Banlist Updates
Zenith Flare (Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths), Run Away Together (Throne of Eldraine), and Ardent Electromancer (Zendikar Rising) are banned in Primordial.
Wishing, Learning, and Companion Rarity Rule
No rare or mythic rare can be brought into a game from outside the game. This means that players cannot “Wish” or use the Learn ability to choose rare or mythic rare cards from their sideboard, and Companions cannot be brought in by paying for their ability. Players are still able to sideboard in rares or mythic rares in between games during a match, so long as their deck meets the rarity restrictions afterwards.
Archive Rule
Strixhaven: School of Mages (STX) and Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA) are treated as though they are one set for Primordial. Cards from STA may be included in a STX deck at their printed rarity in STA. This rule is also true for The Brother’s War (BRO) and The Brothers’ War Retro Artifacts (BRR), and is true for March of the Machine (MOM) and Multiverse Legends (MUL). As of this message, the rule is only true of the previously mentioned sets. This rule is not true for sets such as Kaladesh Inventions (MPS) or Amonkhet Invocations (MP2)
Rules Update v3.2 – by Fanfan (16/06/2020)
Cards whose art, text, name, or combination thereof that are racially or culturally offensive are banned in Primordial
In short (about the recent WotC article “DEPICTIONS OF RACISM IN MAGIC”), Primordial will work in “autopilot mode” and the cards “whose art, text, name, or combination thereof that are racially or culturally offensive” will also be banned here (like what is done for cards referring to “playing for ante”, although the subject is less serious, I grant you).
Rules Update v3.1 – by Fanfan (18/04/2020)
Modern Horizons is removed from the legal set list and the additional rule about Basic lands has been rewritten
- Concerning Modern Horizons (MH1) ban. One of the Primordial format goals is to have a very large amount of playable cards. Thus, as MH1 is a set full of never printed before (nor after) cards, it seems to deserve its place in the format. Unfortunately, its power is such that it will not leave much room for more “standard” sets to express themselves and many cards or decks may never see the board because of it. Considering two solutions, either banning MH1 or banning a few cards from MH1, I finally decided to take the first path, at least temporarily. In other words, MH1 will make a comeback in Primordial (at least, I hope so) but it seems more relevant at this stage to let the format flesh out a bit more before its reintroduction.
- Concerning the additional rule about Basic lands that has been rewritten. It went from “Any of the five non-snow covered basic lands can be played in any set” to “The following basic lands can be played in any set: Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain and Forest”.
Rules Update v3.0 – by Fanfan (08/03/2020)
Common cards are now capped at 4 instead of 3
In other words, “not more than 4 of any individual common” can now be played in a Primordial deck. This change is the result of a poll and community discussions that took place on the Primordial Discord server. In short, the x4 seems more popular than the x3 and it will help to restore the balance between aggro and control. On the other hand, the rarity restriction will be kept (which benefits control more than aggro).
Rules Update v2.2 – by Fanfan (25/02/2020)
Your sideboard may now only contain cards printed in the set of your deck
More precisely, here is the new sideboard rules: “Your sideboard may only contain cards printed in the set of your deck, in any number of copies (e.g.: if you’re playing a Throne of Eldraine deck, it may contain 8 Oko, Thief of Crowns). However, your deck must still be compliant with the Primordial deck-building rules after swapping (2 mythic rare / rare, etc.). This is meant to be for wish players (e.g.: Fae of Wishes).”
The previous rule (that allowed you to have cards from different sets in your sideboard) aimed to enhance the concept of “cards you own from outside the game”. However, this seemed to do more harm than good to the popularity of the format.
Rules Update v2.1 – by Fanfan (23/01/2020)
Primordial is now using the free-for-all Commander system for its multiplayer mode
In other words, your deck must still be compliant with the Primordial deck-building rules (no commander, 1 set, 40 cards minimum, etc.) and your games should look like this:
- 2-6 players
- Free-for-all multiplayer format
- Start with 20 life
- Take turns in clockwise order
- Last player standing wins
Also, as it used to be stated in the Official Commander Rules: “House rules or ‘fair play’ exceptions are always encouraged if they result in more fun for the local community”.
Rules update v2.0 – by Fanfan (29/12/2019)
Common cards are now capped at 3 instead of 4
In other words, “not more than 3 of any individual common” can now be played in a Primordial deck. Increasing the variability on common cards (currently 1.5 times lower than in a classic constructed format) aims to slow down the strongest decks/sets, without disturbing the weakest ones too much… and after several days of testing, it seems to work quite well!
Rules Update v1.1 – by Fanfan (22/09/2019)
- The sideboard goes from 6 to 8 cards
- During a 2HG event, teams must be randomly matched and the following rule does not apply: “In Constructed, Two-Headed Giant has unified Constructed rules. This means that across the two decks, only four copies of any non-basic land card are allowed to be shared between them.”
Rules Update v1 – by Fanfan (01/05/2019)
Today is a great day. After almost two years, it seems to me that the Primordial has now found a well-rounded first form. Therefore, the Primordial has officially reached the v1 !
One last major change has been made: Primordial is now using the London mulligan.
Rules Update v0.18 – by Fanfan (03/02/2019)
Primordial is now ready to go multi!
The Primordial uses the official Two Headed Giant rules, with the following exceptions and details:
- No free mulligan
- The two decks can be of two different sets, but only 1 copy of any rare card, 2 copies of any uncommon cards and 4 copies of any non-basic land common cards are allowed to be shared between them (players should consider the highest rarity level of each set of the two decks)
Yes, that’s all… and it’s a lot of fun!
(01/05/2024 update: it wasn’t a lot of fun. Playing two Primordial decks side by side can lead to very unfair things)
Rules Update v0.17 – by Fanfan (03/02/2019)
The sideboard is now officially part of the Primordial
With the following specific rules:
- Each player may have a sideboard of 6 cards (maximum)
- Set limit applies to the combined deck and sideboard
- Of course, your deck must still be compliant with the Primordial deck-building rules after swapping… (yes, some people do ask)
Some of you may notice that these new rules have an impact on cards that refers to “card(s) you own from outside the game”. We’ll see how it goes.
Rules Update v0.16 – by Fanfan (26/11/2018)
Global Series, Portal and Start Sets are now legals
In other words, the followings sets may now be played in a Primordial game:
- Global Series: Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling
- Starter 2000
- Starter 1999
- Portal Three Kingdoms
- Portal Second Age
- Portal
Rules Update v0.15 – by Fanfan (27/10/2018)
The wishlist rule has been simplified
Spells referring to “card(s) you own from outside the game” can now only lead you to pick a legal card (see banlists).
(01/05/2024 update: Primordial decks didn’t have a sideboard back then, therefore we had to wrote specific rules for Wishes)
Rules Update v0.14 – by Fanfan (07/10/2018)
Changes
- It’s now mandatory to play 2 rare and 6 uncommon cards in a Primordial deck.
- The Primordial will now be using the official mulligan system (which is the Vancouver one), with no free mulligan.
Issues
The format started to be too quick for many cards to be considered as playable. As the Primordial is introduced as a format for almost every player and every card, this was an issue (it even used to be written in the core principles, I took it off, it was a mistake and I’ll fix this too).
Details
Several fixes were studied, such as increasing life points, increasing the number of cards in a deck, setting a minimum number of lands… Any of these fixes has pros and cons. Here is why the two changes introduced above were chosen:
- Change #1: this will help slowing down quick and highly reliable decks only based on common spells. Even if we’ve only seen a few decks of this kind at this point, it’s pretty sure that many others await to be build as it gives a huge advantage on more themed decks. Also, playing rare and uncommon cards was part of the Primordial design, as it grants the games with some epicness.
- Change #2: initially set to help peoples having a good time, the free mulligan appears to be a breach into which highly quick but rather instable decks could leak into. This change will surely modify the way we build our decks. We’ll have to either build a deck with a very stable mana-base, that will lead us to long-term games (in which, for sure, both opponents will have to face mana issues sooner or later – and this will be part of the game) or to build a deck that will be striking enough to be able to start after one or two mulligans.
Previous updates weren’t recorded.
PRIMORDIAL FORMAT 