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"Normal" Magic expansions are released once every three months- so four per year. Sets enter standard on their release date. Standard rotation - where the four oldest sets rotate out- happens only once per year. This means different sets are eligible for inclusion in the format for differing lengths of time. See the below table.
From this example, you see that the longest a set is in Standard is two years- but some sets are in for only 15 months! The release date is the key- the September releases will be in the format for the longest amount of time. The core sets, with their July release, will be in for only 15 months. Some other things to note:
- the rotation schedule means between 5-9 sets are in Standard at any given time. But it doesn't remain at 9 for long- it drops down to 8 within weeks, as the new set sees play just prior to the oldest four sets rotating out.
- the number of cards available in Standard will similarly vary- in September 2019, for example, there were 8 sets in Standard (Ixalan through Core 2020), for a total of 2,127 cards. Throne of Eldraine was released in that month, bringing the total (briefly) to 9 sets and 2,396 cards. Then Ixalan through Core 2019 rotated out, dropping the format to 5 sets and 1,372 cards. This pattern is repeated; as of this writing, Standard is 8 sets (Guilds of Ravnica through Core 2021) and 2,174 cards. The next set comes in September to join the rest briefly, and then Guilds through Core 2020 will rotate out.
I like how Standard works. I view it, in a way, like professional sports (with a forced retirement). Every few months, new rookies join the team. Some will work out, some won't, but they'll all be eligible to play until their mandated retirement date. You'll learn to love or hate them during their 'career,' and reminisce fondly long after they've gone.
A future post will look at the cards I'm going to miss- and those I won't- as Standard rotates.
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