2026 Alchemy Rotation: Current Sets and Exactly How It Works

Last updated on March 3, 2026

Consider | Illustration by Zezhou Chen

To keep the formats fresh and balanced, WotC rotates the sets that are legal in Standard and Alchemy. That’s a much-needed measure to change the best strategies and to prevent a certain deck from dominating.

Alchemy rotation is fresh, so here’s all the relevant info on the rotation. Will you be able to keep playing your favorite cards? What’s out and what remains?

Fear not, because we’ve got you covered.

Does Alchemy Rotate? How Often?

World Shaper | Illustration by Raymond Swanland

Alchemy rotates each year with the Fall set, and each set is valid in the format for two years. For example, Edge of Eternities was released onto Arena July 29, 2025 and stays legal until it rotates out of Alchemy in Fall 2027. Sets that rotated out with the entrance of EOE were legal in Alchemy since 2023, and so on.  

When Is the Next Alchemy Rotation?

The next Alchemy rotation will happen in Fall 2026. At that time, Tarkir: Dragonstorm and older sets become illegal for Alchemy.

What’s in Alchemy: Current Sets

These sets are legal in Alchemy in addition to the Arena Base Set:

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Lorwyn Eclipsed (and Alchemy: Lorwyn)
• Avatar: The Last Airbender
• Through the Omenpaths
• Edge of Eternities (and Alchemy: Edge of Eternities)
• Final Fantasy
• Tarkir: Dragonstorm (and Alchemy: Tarkir)
• Aetherdrift (and Alchemy: Aetherdrift)
• Foundations
• Duskmourn: House of Horror (and Alchemy: Duskmourn)
• Bloomburrow (and Alchemy: Bloomburrow)

Why Does Alchemy Rotate?

Clockspinning | Illustration by Thanh Tuan

Alchemy is a format developed with digital-first players in mind to provide a fresh experience with constant rebalances. The digital-only aspect of the format allows WotC’s designers to have more creative freedom with card design and to shake up the format more frequently. Also, with constant rotation, designers have more tools to balance a format, to see what’s working and what isn’t, and to take the necessary actions like errata.

Alchemy Rotation vs. Standard Rotation

Each set in Standard is legal in the format for three years, while each set is valid for two years in Alchemy. Initially, Standard and Alchemy had the same rotation rules. However, WotC gave Standard sets more room to breathe, and extended the life of sets in the Standard rotation.

Both Alchemy and Standard are rotating formats, but Standard keeps a year's worth of sets for a little longer, until the next rotation. You can also see that Alchemy has up to eight full sets (plus the special Alchemy sets with exclusive cards), while Standard has at most 12 sets.

Why Is Alchemy Rotation Different Than Standard Rotation?

The maximum reward for the Bo3 Alchemy event includes 1,000 gems, 3 boosters, and 4 Play-in Points for competitive credit.

WotC made the rotations different to cater Alchemy to players who put in a lot of hours on Arena and want regular changes to the meta. Alchemy doesn’t need to match tabletop MTG or MTGO, so it makes sense that Alchemy has its own rules that can shift more nimbly than Standard.

What Is Alchemy Renewal?

Angelic Renewal | Illustration by Rebecca Guay

Alchemy Renewal is a way that MTG Arena gifts players with cards, which is especially helpful to new players who have smaller collections. Players get new Arena Starter Decks, and a new set becomes available to draft, the Jump In! pack contents update, and more.

If you log into MTG Arena before the rotation, you get to open the Renewal Egg, which contains 10 ICR (Individual Card Rewards):

• Five rares from non-rotating sets
• Four rares plus a mythic rare from the newest set

How to Use Alchemy Cards After Rotation

Arterial Alchemy | Illustration by Caio Monteiro

Even though cards from Alchemy rotate out, you can play them in Constructed formats like Historic and Timeless. Such formats are available in ranked and non-ranked with match lengths of one game or traditional best-of-three.

Timeless

In Timeless, all cards on Arena are available including Arena-exclusive cards. This format ignores any rebalancing and is the landing place for the most powerful cards in MTGA. The ban-worthy cards are restricted to one copy, and this is a tough queue to rank up in.

Historic

The Historic format accepts nearly every single card that has been released on MTG Arena. In general, all Alchemy cards are legal in Historic. The potential rewards in traditional play include more play-in points compared to best-of-one. Not all cards legal in Alchemy can be used in Pioneer though, only the cards that are true to their paper versions.

Brawl

You can also use the Alchemy cards in Brawl. Brawl is a 100-card singleton format where you are limited to one copy of any non-basic land cards and you choose a legendary creature or planeswalker to be your commander.

Other Formats

You can also use Alchemy cards in specific non-permanent formats, like the ones in some Midweek Magic events. Casual formats like Gladiator, Historic Pauper, and Peasant often let you play with your Alchemy cards.

Wrap Up

Toph, the First Metalbender | Illustration by Eilene Cherie

For people who like to brew and test new combos, synergies and decks, the weeks surrounding rotation are a very exciting time. If Alchemy isn’t your cup of tea, there are lots of Arena formats to pick from. Don’t forget the nice rewards for each season on MTG Arena!

With a few swaps, your Standard decks are usually somewhat playable in Alchemy too, so don't be afraid to try them out to see what works. Do you look forward to a digital mechanic that plays with your library? Let me know in the comments, or discuss it in the Draftsim Discord.

Stay safe folks, and may MTG Arena bless you with nice rewards on the rotation.