Magic: The Gathering Arena is preparing for its biggest shift of the year: Standard rotation. With the launch of Edge of Eternities on July 29, 2025, several older sets will rotate out of Standard and Alchemy, and MTG Arena will refresh its metagame with new decks, rewards, and systems. Whether you’re a returning player or a seasoned grinder, this article will walk you through all the essential updates coming your way.
When Is the Rotation?
The official rotation date is July 29, 2025, coinciding with the release of Edge of Eternities. On this day:
- Standard loses all 2023 Magic-year sets:
- Dominaria United
- The Brothers’ War
- Phyrexia: All Will Be One
- March of the Machine
- Alchemy rotates out its 2024 Magic-year content:
- Alchemy: Eldraine
- Alchemy: Ixalan
- Alchemy: Karlov Manor
- Alchemy: Thunder Junction
These cards will no longer be legal in their respective formats but remain playable in Historic, Timeless, Explorer, and Pioneer formats where supported.
The Renewal Egg Returns
As a thank-you and onboarding boost, MTG Arena players will receive a Renewal Egg in their inbox leading up to rotation. When opened on July 29, it rewards you with:
- 5 rare cards from non-rotating Standard sets.
- 4 rares + 1 mythic rare from the brand-new Edge of Eternities set.
- Additional XP to accelerate your Set Mastery and unlock more rewards.
This is a great way to begin the post-rotation season with fresh tools and deck options.
Updated Starter Decks
New players (and even veterans) will benefit from revamped Color Challenge decks. These 10 two-color beginner decks are being updated to reflect the new Standard environment. Returning players will automatically receive any new cards that weren’t already in their collection.
These starter decks are well-tuned for casual play and are a great launching pad for experimenting with Standard post-rotation.
Crafting and Purchase Warnings
Worried about accidentally crafting soon-to-be-useless cards? Don’t be. MTG Arena will now warn you when you’re about to purchase, craft, or apply cosmetics to cards that are rotating out of Standard or Alchemy. It’s a welcome quality-of-life improvement, especially for players managing wildcards carefully.
Format Changes and Adjustments
Alchemy Updates
Alchemy is getting a bit of a mana makeover. With many dual lands rotating out, Wizards of the Coast is introducing a full cycle of check lands (like Clifftop Retreat and Glacial Fortress) to the format. These will help maintain balance and support multicolor decks even after major mana sources exit the format.
Standard Legal Sets Post-Rotation
After July 29, Standard will include:
- Wilds of Eldraine
- Lost Caverns of Ixalan
- Murders at Karlov Manor
- Outlaws of Thunder Junction
- Bloomburrow
- Final Fantasy
- Edge of Eternities (newest set)
Events and Reward Pool Updates
- Quick Draft and Jump In! events will now only use cards from post-rotation sets. You won’t see any cards from rotated sets in these limited events.
- Individual Card Rewards (ICRs): Standard ICRs will no longer feature rotated cards. Those cards will shift to Historic ICR pools instead.
This ensures that reward pools stay relevant and help players build viable decks in their current formats.
What Should You Do Before Rotation?
- Log in before July 29 to ensure you receive the Renewal Egg.
- Hold your wildcards—avoid crafting cards that are about to rotate.
- Test new starter decks—they’re strong and built for the upcoming meta.
- Prepare your mana base if you play Alchemy—check lands are now key.
- Join events early—finish any in-progress Standard challenges before the rotation hits.
