TLDR
- Timeless format MTG is an MTG Arena-only Constructed format where every card on Arena is legal, with a small restricted list.
- Paper-printed cards use their original tabletop versions (even if Arena has a rebalanced “A-” version elsewhere), while digital-only cards use their rebalanced versions.
- Instead of banning lots of cards, Timeless leans on a restricted list (you can run only 1 copy total across main deck + sideboard).
- As of now, Timeless has 3 restricted cards and no banned cards.
- If you want “Vintage vibes” without needing a second job for cardboard, this is the Arena format that happily enables your worst impulses.
You know how some formats try to keep Magic “fair” and “interactive,” and others quietly hand you a blowtorch and say, “Please don’t point this at your own face”? Timeless format MTG is the second one. It’s MTG Arena’s anything-goes (within reason) Constructed format where the card pool is basically: “Yes.”
What is Timeless format MTG?
Timeless is MTG Arena’s largest Constructed format, where every card available on Arena is legal. It’s non-rotating, meaning new Standard sets don’t push old cards out. Instead, the card pool only gets bigger over time. Timeless also uses a restricted list, which is Arena-speak for “we’re letting you play with the nuclear option, but only one copy.”
https://magic.wizards.com/en/formats/timeless
Two details matter a lot:
- Digital-only cards (Alchemy-style designs) use their rebalanced versions.
- Non-digital cards (cards that exist in paper) use their original tabletop printings, even if other Arena formats use rebalanced versions.
So Timeless is “everything on Arena,” but with the least confusing rule possible for Magic: if it was printed on actual paper, you get the real version.
Timeless format MTG rules, in plain English
Timeless plays like a normal Constructed format on Arena:
- 60-card minimum deck
- Up to 4 copies of a card (combined across main deck + sideboard)
- 1v1, 20 life, normal Arena match flow
The big rule twist is the restricted list:
Restricted list = “1 copy total”
If a card is restricted, you can only play one copy total, counting both your main deck and sideboard. Not “one in the main and one in the side.” Just one. Pick your favorite.
Current Timeless restricted cards
As of today, Timeless has three restricted cards:
- Channel
- Demonic Tutor
- Tibalt’s Trickery
And that’s it. No banned list right now, just those restrictions.
Timeless vs Historic vs Explorer (and why people get annoyed)
Arena formats are a menu of tradeoffs. Timeless is the “maximum power” button. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Format | Card Pool | Rotation | Rebalanced cards | How it polices broken stuff | “Vibe” |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Recent sets | Yes | No | Bans | Fair-ish, by design |
| Explorer / Pioneer on Arena | Arena’s Pioneer-aimed pool | No | No | Bans | Competitive, structured |
| Historic | Big Arena pool | No | Yes (many) | Bans + rebalances | Arena’s sandbox |
| Timeless | Everything on Arena | No | Only for digital-only cards | Restrictions (mostly) | “Vintage-lite,” high power |
If Historic is “Arena’s eternal-ish format with rebalances,” then Timeless is “Historic, but with the gloves off and fewer nerfs.”
Why play Timeless?
1) You want high-powered Magic without waiting for paper prices to calm down
Timeless is where you can actually cast absurd spells and not be told “that’s not legal here.” It’s also where you learn that powerful Magic is fun, right up until your opponent does it back to you.
2) You like skill-testing games (and also occasional nonsense)
High power formats reward tight sequencing, sideboarding, and knowing what matters. They also reward “I drew it” moments. Both can be true. Magic is a complex game and also sometimes a slapstick comedy.
3) You want an Arena home for older-format patterns
Timeless plays closer to older constructed philosophies: cheap interaction, efficient threats, scary engines, and games that can pivot hard. It’s not paper Legacy or Vintage, but it rhymes.
A practical “Should I play Timeless?” decision tree
Use this if you’re trying to avoid crafting regret:
- If you hate fast starts, swingy games, and surprise lethality, play Explorer/Pioneer instead.
- If you want a big card pool but prefer Arena’s balancing knobs, play Historic.
- If you want the biggest card pool and original paper versions, play Timeless.
- If you are new to Arena and your collection is small, start elsewhere unless you enjoy suffering as a hobby.
How to get into Timeless without burning all your wildcards
Timeless is not “cheap,” but you can be smart about what you craft.
The “Good, Better, Best” crafting approach
Good (low commitment):
- Pick one archetype and craft only what’s unique to it.
- Avoid crafting niche sideboard rares until you know you like the format.
Better (solid long-term plan):
- Invest in staples that show up across multiple decks (interaction, removal, flexible threats).
- Build a manabase that works for more than one list.
Best (you live here now):
- Craft broadly useful lands and cross-deck staples first.
- Treat Timeless like a long-term collection format, not a weekend fling.
If you want a general deck construction sanity check before you start jamming games, our MTG deckbuilding checklist is aimed at Commander, but the core idea still applies: build the skeleton first, then the fancy stuff.
Is Timeless “proxy-friendly”?
Timeless is on Arena, so you cannot use proxies there. The “proxy” connection is more about why people like Timeless: it lets you play high-powered Magic patterns without needing to own expensive paper staples.
If you want to test decks for paper play, Timeless can be a useful practice environment for lines and matchup instincts, with one big disclaimer: Arena’s card pool is not identical to paper Legacy/Vintage, and digital-only cards exist. So treat it like “training” rather than a perfect mirror.
If your actual goal is paper playtesting (Commander, Cube, kitchen table), do it responsibly: clear, readable, and no deception. If you need the practical version of that, here’s our guide on how to print MTG proxy cards.
FAQs
Is Timeless a paper MTG format?
No. Timeless is an MTG Arena format. Paper has its own eternal formats like Legacy and Vintage.
Does Timeless rotate?
No. Timeless is non-rotating. Once a card is on Arena, it’s part of Timeless unless it’s restricted later.
Does Timeless use banned cards?
Timeless currently leans on restrictions rather than bans. As of now, it has restricted cards and no banned cards.
What’s the difference between a ban and a restriction?
A ban means you can’t play the card at all. A restriction means you can play only one copy total across your main deck and sideboard.
Do “A-” rebalanced cards exist in Timeless?
For paper-printed cards, Timeless uses the original tabletop version. For digital-only cards, Timeless uses the rebalanced versions.