<p>First of all, sanctioned tournaments have different formats, which allow for different cards. You can read more about all sanctioned formats <a href="http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Resources.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/resources/formats-sanctioned">here</a>.</p>

<p>Generally, if you want to play older cards you should get into <a href="http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=judge/resources/sfrlegacy">Legacy</a> or <a href="http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=judge/resources/sfrvintage">Vintage</a>. You can play cards of any white or black bordered set except for cards that are banned in each respective format.</p>

<p><strong>Most cards from those expansions (like <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Printings.aspx?multiverseid=986">Desert</a>) aren't banned so you can play with them in Legacy or Vintage!</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-30T16:37:37.580Z
2012-05-30T16:42:54.090Z
2012-05-30T16:42:54.090Z
rahzark
<p>Desert was reprinted in Time Shifted, From the Vaults, and was made into a promo, so therefor you could turn to the newer printings of the card if you are having complications with a judge on the matter. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-13T00:39:22.400Z
While relevant for one card, this does not answer the question regarding Alpha, Beta and Arabian Nights cards in general.
doppelgreener
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-12T12:36:12.470Z
2015-04-12T12:36:12.470Z
Jonathan
<p>There is a special limitation on Alpha cards to account for their differently-cut edges. From the official Magic The Gathering Floor Rules:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>102. Authorized Cards</strong></p>
<p>Alpha cards (cards from the first print run of the basic set) may be used in decks  containing non-Alpha cards only
if all cards are placed in completely opaque sleeves  and only if the
sleeves could not be considered marked. If sleeves are not used, Alpha
cards may be used only in decks that consist exclusively of Alpha
cards.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are no such restrictions on Beta or Arabian Nights cards however, which are (hopefully) less easily distinguishable by their shape from modern cards.</p>
<p>As rahzark's answer rightly suggests, <em>individual cards</em> may be restricted or banned in different tournament formats, but there's no prohibition against cards from <em>older sets as a whole</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-31T17:58:06.003Z
While it's not explicitly in the floor rules, it should also be pointed out that playing old cards either without sleeves or with transparent sleeves can cause you to be playing marked cards because of the difference in tones between old and new sets (from changes in print process). I see this a lot, unfortunately, drafting at smaller shops where the 'land box' still has Ice Age or Mirage basics in it that are visibly different from the cards being drafted.
Steven Stadnicki
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-13T23:09:38.093Z
Often, you'll find that people will actively seek out the older cards to play with, even in standard tournaments. Beta lands are especially popular around here.
Hyppy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-05-30T16:48:51.357Z
2012-05-30T17:02:47.693Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
thesunneversets
<p>With the exception of basic lands, are all Alpha, Beta, and Arabian Nights cards banned in sanctioned tournaments? Does that also include Deserts?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
Alpha, Beta, and Arabian Nights in Tournaments?
Tapan Zee
# Alpha, Beta, and Arabian Nights in Tournaments?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-05-30)

With the exception of basic lands, are all Alpha, Beta, and Arabian Nights cards banned in sanctioned tournaments? Does that also include Deserts?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-05-30. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

There is a special limitation on Alpha cards to account for their differently-cut edges. From the official Magic The Gathering Floor Rules:

> **102. Authorized Cards**
>
> Alpha cards (cards from the first print run of the basic set) may be used in decks containing non-Alpha cards only
> if all cards are placed in completely opaque sleeves and only if the
> sleeves could not be considered marked. If sleeves are not used, Alpha
> cards may be used only in decks that consist exclusively of Alpha
> cards.

There are no such restrictions on Beta or Arabian Nights cards however, which are (hopefully) less easily distinguishable by their shape from modern cards.

As username_1's answer rightly suggests, *individual cards* may be restricted or banned in different tournament formats, but there's no prohibition against cards from *older sets as a whole*.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: While it's not explicitly in the floor rules, it should also be pointed out that playing old cards either without sleeves or with transparent sleeves can cause you to be playing marked cards because of the difference in tones between old and new sets (from changes in print process). I see this a lot, unfortunately, drafting at smaller shops where the 'land box' still has Ice Age or Mirage basics in it that are visibly different from the cards being drafted.  
> **username_6**: Often, you'll find that people will actively seek out the older cards to play with, even in standard tournaments. Beta lands are especially popular around here.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-05-30. Score: 6

First of all, sanctioned tournaments have different formats, which allow for different cards. You can read more about all sanctioned formats [here](http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Resources.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/resources/formats-sanctioned).

Generally, if you want to play older cards you should get into [Legacy](http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=judge/resources/sfrlegacy) or [Vintage](http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=judge/resources/sfrvintage). You can play cards of any white or black bordered set except for cards that are banned in each respective format.

**Most cards from those expansions (like [Desert](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Printings.aspx?multiverseid=986)) aren't banned so you can play with them in Legacy or Vintage!**


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### Answer by username_2 on 2015-04-12. Score: -2

Desert was reprinted in Time Shifted, From the Vaults, and was made into a promo, so therefor you could turn to the newer printings of the card if you are having complications with a judge on the matter.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: While relevant for one card, this does not answer the question regarding Alpha, Beta and Arabian Nights cards in general.  

---

