Magic is changing the rules. For many moons, Magic: The Gathering’s rule masters stated that only after a certain date would it be deemed legal for planeswalkers to wield the latest and greatest cards printed by Wizard of the Coast. However, the ancient council that makes all Magic decrees has spoken of a new rule change coming with the release of Phyrexia: All Will Be One."Starting with Phyrexia: All Will Be One, we're shifting our philosophy on format legality a bit," wrote Magic's senior communications manager Blake Rasmussen. "Beginning February 3, when you have cards, you can play them!"Related: Who Will Survive MTG's Phyrexia: All Will Be One?Rasmussen noted the "tension" players felt when obtaining cards at pre-release events but being told you couldn't play with them for a week. It's a bygone rule that hasn't applied to Magic's online formats, with players in both Magic Arena and Magic: The Gathering Online being able to play with cards as soon as they're obtained.

"So, we're going to make things simple: once you have your cards, you can play them," added Rasmussen. "Officially, this means that tabletop tournament legality is tied to Prerelease and that Phyrexia: All Will Be One cards will be legal for play in all formats starting February 3."

Phyrexia: All Will Be One officially arrives on February 10 after a slight delay. Previews for the upcoming third set of the Phyrexia arc will arrive on January 17, with pre-release events starting on February 3. And as Rasmussen said, any cards you pull will immediately become legal to play. The digital release will come February 7, giving MTG Arena and Online players a few days to practice before the launch party. The fourth and final set in the current arc, March of the Machine, arrives on April 21.

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