A Budget-Friendly Magic Experience

We all love Magic: The Gathering, and we all enjoy chatting with friends at the local game store. Of course, we all love winning too—well, at least I do! But let’s face it: many of Wizards' official formats can be prohibitively expensive for some of us who want to play competitively. At the end of the day, it’s just cardboard, right?

Well, recently I found myself diving into a new rabbit hole, and I have Pauper to thank for that. Armchair Generals has recently launched their own Pauper league, which runs every Saturday, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve always wanted to play in an officially sanctioned Magic format, but with the high costs of most formats, it always felt out of reach. Now, with Pauper, it’s finally a reality!

So, what is Pauper?

Pauper is an officially recognized Magic: The Gathering format from Wizards of the Coast that allows players to compete in a competitive environment for prizes and the opportunity to make a name for themselves in the MTG community. While similar to other formats, Pauper introduces one key restriction: decks can only contain commons—no rares, no mythics, just commons. This limitation opens up unique deck-building possibilities and forces players to get creative with cards they might not otherwise consider, often ones that are typically reserved for limited formats.

What makes Pauper especially appealing is its accessibility. Most commons are incredibly affordable, making it a cost-effective way to enjoy Magic at a competitive level. It may be simpler than some other formats, but the strategic depth is just as rich, offering both fun and challenge without the high price tag.

 How the Pauper League Works

The Pauper League at Armchair Generals is structured around seasons, typically lasting a few months. Players sign up to participate, and once the league kicks off, they face off against others in regular matches that impact their standing in the league. Here’s how it works:

1. Deck Rules: To ensure fairness, all decks must be made entirely of common cards. Basic lands are allowed, but no rares or mythics. This encourages creativity and forces players to think strategically about how to make the most of their card choices.

2. Match Format: Players typically engage in best-of-three matches, following the standard Pauper rules. Special events and themed matchups may be introduced throughout the season to add variety and fun.

3. League Scoring: Wins, losses, and draws all contribute to a player’s position on the league ladder. Standings are updated regularly, so players can track their progress. Prizes are awarded to top players at the end of the season.

4. Community: One of the greatest appeals of the Pauper League is the sense of community it fosters. Whether players are meeting after their games to discuss strategies or just hanging out, the format encourages interaction and collaboration. It’s not just about winning—it’s about enjoying Magic with others who share the same passion.

The current Scoreboard

The point system works based on weekly participation every Saturday. Points are awarded according to your ranking, with the number of participants determining the total points available. For example, if there are 10 participants on a given Saturday, 1st place would earn 100 points, 2nd place would earn 90 points, and so on, with each position earning 10 fewer points than the one above it.

What have we seen so far at the store?

 The League kicked off with a strong start, featuring nine Pauper decks in play so far. I personally piloted a Dimir Faeries deck, a heavy control strategy where my gameplay relied on establishing key Faeries like Spellstutter Sprite and Counterspell to bolster my synergies. My goal was to control the early game and then close it out with powerful finishers like Tolarian Terror. Over the past two weeks, we’ve also seen two Spellslinger decks fighting for top spots. These decks focus on tempo plays, using spells like Unsummon and Counterspell to disrupt the opponent, while ramping up to midgame threats like Tolarian Terror and finishing the game with burn spells before running out of steam.

The majority of the decks so far have been somewhat aggressive, with players trying to outrace the early game. I saw this firsthand when facing Armin’s Gruul Domain, which made use of efficient, powerful creatures like Kird Ape and Burning-Tree Emissary, along with burn spells to finish off opponents in case of a board stall.

In my third-round match against Ray, I encountered what I can only describe as one of the most brutal strategies I’ve seen: Golgari Dredge. Ray’s plan revolved around exploiting his graveyard for value, and it was intense. Playing cards like Gnaw to the Bone, he managed to gain around 80 life, staying alive long enough to dredge Stinkweed Imp and reanimate threats like Lotleth Giant with cards such as Exhume and Dread Return. His deck’s resilience and explosive power ultimately carried him to a well-deserved first-place finish that day, setting a strong tone for the league.

There are still several decks I haven’t seen in action yet. For instance, Quinton's Stompy Burn, which relies on aggressive, midrange creatures to dominate the board, aiming for a quick finish with strong, efficient creatures. Additionally, we saw Orzhov Midrange, a deck focused on sustaining the game with creatures like Cathar Commando and Burglar Rat to control the board, while healing with Healer’s Hawk and Dazzling Angel. Finally, Brendon’s Rakdos Discard deck brought chaos to the table, disrupting opponents with aggressive discard strategies while clearing creatures from the board with powerful removal.

It’s been an exciting start to the league, with a lot of diverse strategies in play. I’m looking forward to seeing how these decks evolve in the coming weeks.

 Below you'll find the decks lists that we've seen so far:

Dimir Faeries

Orzhov Midrange

Izzet Spellslinger (Brendon)

Gruul Midrange 

Gruul Domain

Golgari Dredge

Rakdos Discard

 Izzet Spellslinger (Carlo)