The idea behind Pauper is simple but brilliant:
“Only common cards allowed.”
Core Concept:
Pauper is a Magic: The Gathering format where you can only use cards that have been printed at common rarity in at least one official MTG set (paper or online).
Why It Exists:
- Budget-Friendly: Most commons are cheap or free, so you can build full decks for $10–50.
- Skill-Based: Without expensive mythics or rares, gameplay emphasizes efficiency, timing, and deck synergy.
- Accessible: Great for new players or those who want a competitive format without spending much.
- Community-Driven: It began as a fan format but became officially recognized by Wizards of the Coast.
Rules Snapshot:
- 60-card decks (or 100 in Commander variant)
- Sideboard: 15 cards (for 1v1 constructed)
- Card legality: Any card printed at common rarity in a paper or MTGO-legal set.
- Ban list: A few overpowered commons are banned (like Gitaxian Probe, Sinkhole, etc.)
Gameplay Style:
- Fast, tight, interactive.
- Features lots of efficient spells, combat tricks, and card advantage loops.
- Archetypes include aggro, midrange, control, and even combo.
1. Magic: The Gathering Online (MTGO) – Best Option
- Pauper is an official format on MTGO with a large player base.
- You can build Pauper decks and play against real players or AI bots (solitaire/test mode).
- Decks can be rented or built very cheaply.
- Not free, but affordable — especially for Pauper.
2. Forge (Free, Open Source)
- A fan-made MTG client for offline play vs AI.
- Supports Pauper and tons of other formats.
- Has deck-building tools and thousands of cards, including commons.
- Not officially supported by Wizards, but very popular for solo play.
3. Cockatrice + Pauper Decks
- Free tool for playing MTG (mostly with friends or self-testing).
- No AI, but you can goldfish (test your deck without an opponent).
- Good for building and learning Pauper decks.
4. MTG Arena – Limited Pauper Play
- No dedicated Pauper format, but:
- You can build “Pauper-like” decks using commons.
- Use “Play” mode vs bots or in casual matches with friends.
- Doesn’t support all Pauper-legal cards because the card pool is smaller.
TL;DR:
- Best full experience vs AI: Forge (free) or MTGO (cheap but official).
- Arena: Possible, but not true
Level 1: Getting Started with Pauper
Goal: Understand Pauper basics and set up on MTGO.
Key Concepts:
- Pauper format rules: Only Common-rarity cards allowed (based on legality in any Magic set’s Common printing).
- MTGO interface: Navigating the client, joining games, and building decks.
- Budget-friendly deckbuilding: Pauper’s low-cost appeal (decks often cost 10–100 tix).
Steps:
- Install MTGO and create an account. Explore the “Play Lobby” and “Collection” tabs.
- Read the official Pauper format rules on Wizards’ website or MTG’s Pauper page.
- Watch a beginner’s MTGO tutorial (e.g., YouTube channels like Tolarian Community College).
- Rent or buy a budget deck (5–10 tix) from a rental service like Cardhoarder or Manatraders, or purchase a starter deck like Mono-Red Burn.
- Play 5–10 casual games in the “Open Play” lobby to get comfortable with MTGO’s controls.
Level 2: Learning Your First Deck
Goal: Master the mechanics and strategy of one Pauper deck.
Key Concepts:
- Deck archetypes: Aggro (e.g., Burn), Control (e.g., Dimir Control), Midrange (e.g., Boros Synthesizer), Combo (e.g., Walls Combo).
- Mana curve and synergy: How cards work together to execute a game plan.
- Sideboarding basics: Adjusting your deck for specific matchups.
Steps:
- Choose a beginner-friendly deck (e.g., Mono-Red Burn or Mono-Blue Delver). Check decklists on mtggoldfish.com or mtgtop8.com.
- Study a deck guide or watch gameplay videos (e.g., from streamers like SnapBolt or LSV) to understand card roles and win conditions.
- Play 20 games in the “Tournament Practice” room, focusing on your deck’s core strategy (e.g., for Burn: deal damage fast, use removal sparingly).
- Learn to sideboard by reviewing matchup guides for your deck (e.g., what to swap vs. Control decks).
- Track your wins/losses and note one mistake per game to improve (e.g., “Forgot to cast Bolt before combat”).
Goal: Recognize common Pauper decks and their strategies.
Key Concepts:
- Meta snapshot: Popular decks like Affinity, Boros Synthesizer, Mono-Blue Faeries, or Caw-Gate.
- Matchup dynamics: How your deck fares against Aggro, Control, Combo, etc.
- Format staples: Cards like Counterspell, Lightning Bolt, and Galvanic Blast.
Steps:
- Browse recent Pauper tournament results on mtggoldfish.com or mtgo.com to identify top decks.
- Play 20 games in the “Tournament Practice” room, noting the decks you face and their key cards (e.g., Gurmag Angler in Dimir).
- Read a Pauper meta overview (e.g., from ChannelFireball or PureMTGO).
- Learn 3–5 staple cards per color (e.g., Blue: Counterspell, Preordain; Red: Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning).
- Write a short summary of how your deck wins or loses against 3 meta decks (e.g., Burn vs. Affinity: race them, remove key creatures).
Level 4: Improving Game Mechanics
Goal: Enhance technical play and decision-making.
Key Concepts:
- Combat math: Calculating damage, blockers, and trades.
- Stack interactions: How instants and abilities resolve.
- Mana efficiency: Using all available mana each turn when possible.
Steps:
- Watch a Pauper gameplay video focusing on tight play (e.g., Aspiringspike or AnarchistAbe on Twitch). Pause and predict their plays.
- Play 20 games, focusing on one mechanic per session (e.g., Session 1: Combat math—calculate lethal before attacking).
- Practice using MTGO’s hotkeys (e.g., F2 to pass priority, F6 to pass turn) to speed up play.
- Review 3 games where you lost, identifying at least one mechanical error (e.g., “Missed a trigger” or “Tapped mana incorrectly”).
- Complete an MTG rules quiz online (e.g., via JudgeApps or a rules blog) to solidify stack and combat knowledge.
Level 5: Deckbuilding Basics
Goal: Build and tweak your own Pauper deck.
Key Concepts:
- Deck construction: 60 cards (40 spells, 20 lands as a baseline), balancing creatures, spells, and mana.
- Card evaluation: Power/toughness, mana cost, and synergy.
- Testing and tuning: Iterating based on performance.
Steps:
- Pick an archetype you enjoy (e.g., Midrange). Find a sample decklist and note its key cards and mana base.
- Build a deck in MTGO using your collection or a rental service, sticking to a 60-card minimum.
- Play 15 games with your deck in “Tournament Practice,” tracking what works (e.g., “Card X always feels strong”) and what doesn’t.
- Swap 3–5 cards based on testing (e.g., replace a high-cost card with a cheaper alternative).
- Post your decklist on a Pauper forum (e.g., Reddit’s r/Pauper or MTG Salvation) for feedback, then make one change based on advice.
Level 6: Sideboarding and Matchup Mastery
Goal: Optimize sideboarding and matchup knowledge.
Key Concepts:
- Sideboard plans: Specific cards for specific decks (e.g., Hydroblast vs. Red decks).
- Matchup analysis: Identifying favorable and unfavorable pairings.
- Adapting playstyle: Aggressively vs. Aggro, patiently vs. Control.
Steps:
- Create a sideboard guide for your deck, listing 3–5 cards to swap in/out for 5 meta decks (use online guides as a reference).
- Play 20 games, sideboarding deliberately each time. Note whether your changes helped or hurt.
- Watch a streamer play your deck against a tough matchup (e.g., Burn vs. Caw-Gate). Compare their sideboarding to yours.
- Memorize your deck’s win rate against 3 meta decks (e.g., “I’m 60% vs. Affinity, 40% vs. Dimir”).
- Practice one matchup 5 times in a row (e.g., vs. a friend or in “Open Play”), refining your sideboard each game.
Level 7: Competitive Play
Goal: Enter and succeed in MTGO Pauper tournaments.
Key Concepts:
- Tournament structure: Swiss rounds, top 8, and prizes (e.g., Treasure Chests, tix).
- Mental endurance: Staying focused for 3–5 rounds.
- Clock management: Avoiding time-outs on MTGO.
Steps:
- Join a Pauper League or Challenge on MTGO (check the schedule on mtgo.com).
- Play 1–2 tournaments, aiming to finish with a 2–3 record or better.
- Review your losses with a friend or by watching replays (MTGO’s “Replay” feature). Identify one strategic error per match.
- Practice clock management: Play 10 games with a timer (25 minutes per player), ensuring you finish without rushing.
- Set a goal for your next tournament (e.g., “Win 3 matches” or “Make top 8”).
Level 8: Advanced Strategy
Goal: Develop deeper strategic thinking and adaptability.
Key Concepts:
- Role assessment: Are you the beatdown or the control in a matchup?
- Bluffing and reading opponents: Feinting spells or predicting plays.
- Meta prediction: Choosing a deck to counter the field.
Steps:
- Read “Who’s the Beatdown?” by Mike Flores (available online) and apply it to 10 games (e.g., “I’m the control vs. Burn, so I prioritize removal”).
- Play 20 games, attempting one bluff per game (e.g., leave mana open to fake a Counterspell). Note when it works.
- Analyze recent Pauper Challenge results on mtgo.com. Pick a deck that beats the top performers (e.g., Mono-Black vs. creature-heavy meta).
- Watch a high-level Pauper match (e.g., from a Showcase event). Pause and predict plays, focusing on their strategic choices.
- Write a short plan for your next tournament, including deck choice and expected matchups.
Level 9: Mastering Multiple Decks
Goal: Become versatile by learning multiple archetypes.
Key Concepts:
- Archetype diversity: Strengths and weaknesses of Aggro, Control, Combo, and Midrange.
- Deck-switching: Adapting to meta shifts.
- Card interactions: Knowing how your cards fare against others.
Steps:
- Pick one deck from a different archetype (e.g., if you play Burn, try Dimir Control). Rent or buy it.
- Play 20 games with the new deck, focusing on its unique playstyle (e.g., Control: prioritize card draw and answers).
- Learn the new deck’s sideboard guide and practice sideboarding in 10 games.
- Alternate between your main deck and the new deck in “Tournament Practice” for 20 games, noting which feels stronger in the meta.
- Join a tournament with the new deck, aiming for a 50% win rate or better.
Goal: Give back to the Pauper community and solidify expertise.
Key Concepts:
- Content creation: Sharing knowledge via articles, videos, or posts.
- Community engagement: Discussing strategies and brews.
- Leadership: Organizing events or mentoring new players.
Steps:
- Write a short guide or deck tech for your favorite deck (e.g., post on r/Pauper or a blog).
- Stream 5 games on Twitch or record a YouTube video explaining your plays.
- Join a Pauper Discord (e.g., Pauper Community Discord) and answer 3 questions from newer players.
- Organize a small Pauper event on MTGO (e.g., a 4-player tournament with friends).
- Reflect on your progress: Set a new goal, like winning a Pauper Challenge or building an innovative deck.
Notes
- Progression: Each level builds on the last. Spend 1–3 weeks per level, depending on playtime (e.g., 5–10 hours/week).
- Resources: Use mtggoldfish.com, mtgtop8.com, and puremtgo.com for decklists and meta updates. Follow Pauper streamers like SnapBolt, AnarchistAbe, or Deluxeicoff for live learning.
- Budget: Pauper is affordable, but renting decks via Cardhoarder or Manatraders (5–10 tix/month) can expand your options.
- Tracking: Keep a log of games, win rates, and lessons learned to monitor improvement.