Welcome, one and all, to the Arena Decathlon! In this multi-week series, you can take a whirlwind tour of MTG Arena by competing in different game modes from across the Magic experience. Whether you are a Draft fanatic, a Historic specialist, or even a lover of offbeat play experiences, you’ll have the chance to show off your skills. And for those who prove their expertise in multiple disciplines, an even greater challenge awaits.
Spanning fifteen days leading up to the end of 2021, we will host ten events, presented two at a time, with each pair of events running for three days on the following schedule:
December 18–20
- Decathlon 1: Alchemy
- Decathlon 2: Phantom Sealed* using three packs each of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Crimson Vow
December 21–23
- Decathlon 3: Innistrad: Crimson Vow Traditional Phantom Draft* (Best-of-Three)
- Decathlon 4: New Player Decks
December 24–26
- Decathlon 5: Zendikar Rising Phantom Bot Draft*
- Decathlon 6: Historic Artisan (banned list)
December 27–29
- Decathlon 7: Historic (banned list)
- Decathlon 8: Singleton
December 30–January 1
- Decathlon 9: Traditional Standard (Best-of-Three) (banned list)
- Decathlon 10: Strixhaven: School of Mages Phantom Turbo Draft* (a bot draft with each player receiving an emblem with the text “All spells cost [5] less to cast.”)
*Note: These are Phantom events; cards are not added to your collection.
Compete in as many of the events as you like to earn prizes and a Decathlon token specific to each event. The more unique Decathlon tokens you earn, the closer you get to earning your entry to the Arena Decathlon Finals, the capstone event filled with amazing prizes!
Plus, everyone who enters a Decathlon event will receive a special Arena Decathlete sleeve!
All the details on the Arena Decathlon events, the Finals, and rewards are below, but for a comprehensive discussion of Arena Decathlon check out Gavin Verhey and Andy Clautice in Good Morning Magic!
ARENA DECATHLON EVENT DETAILS
Dates: December 18–January 1 (see schedule above)
Entry: 2,000 gold or 400 gems for each entered event
Entry prize: Arena Decathlete sleeve
Format: See event schedule
Structure:
- Best-of-One matches: Play until 7 wins or 3 losses
- Best-of-Three matches: Play until 5 wins or 2 losses
Rewards: Pack rewards can be from any set available on MTG Arena!
| DECATHLON EVENTS BEST-OF-ONE ENTRY REWARD: ARENA DECATHLON SLEEVE |
|
|---|---|
| WINS | REWARDS |
| 7 wins | 3,000 gold + Decathlon token |
| 6 wins | 3 packs |
| 5 wins | 2 packs |
| 3–4 wins | 1 pack |
| 0–2 wins | No rewards |
| DECATHLON EVENTS BEST-OF-THREE ENTRY REWARD: ARENA DECATHLON SLEEVE |
|
|---|---|
| WINS | REWARDS |
| 5 wins | 3,000 gold + Decathlon token |
| 4 wins | 2 packs |
| 3 wins | 1 pack |
| 0–2 wins | No rewards |
DECATHLON EVENT PRIZES
The Arena Decathlon’s different game modes are from all across MTG Arena, and so are the prize packs. Packs awarded during Decathlon events can be from sets legal in Historic, Standard, and can even include the new Alchemy: Innistrad packs (learn more about the Alchemy format and Alchemy: Innistrad packs in the MTG Arena State of the Game – Alchemy article):
- Alchemy: Innistrad pack – 20%
- Standard set pack – 40%
- Historic set pack – 40%
GETTING INTO THE ARENA DECATHLON FINALS
Reaching seven wins in a Best-of-One event or five wins in a Best-of-Three event earns you a Decathlon token for that event, signifying your achievement. Claim three, six, or eight Decathlon tokens from different events, and you’ll earn entries to the Arena Decathlon Finals!
- 3 Unique Decathlon tokens earns 1 Arena Decathlon Finals entry
- 6 Unique Decathlon tokens earns 2 Arena Decathlon Finals entries
- 8 Unique Decathlon tokens earns 3 Arena Decathlon Finals entries
If you make it a sweep of all ten events, not only do you earn the three Arena Decathlon Finals entries, but you also score yourself a bonus: entry to the February 2022 Qualifier Weekend!
Each Decathlon token earned toward Arena Decathlon Finals entries must be unique; multiple tokens from the same event only count as a single Decathlon token—so play lots of different events!
You can track which tokens you’ve already earned by hovering over the token icon in your desktop client, or by tapping it on mobile.
Once all ten Decathlon events have concluded, Arena Decathlon Finals entries will be granted on Thursday, January 6. If you have not received them by Friday, January 7, please contact Customer Support.
ARENA DECATHLON FINALS
You’ve proven your skill in some of MTG Arena‘s many formats and game modes, and you’ve collected at least three unique Decathlon tokens. Now your skills will truly be tested in the Arena Decathlon Finals to be held on Saturday, January 8!
ARENA DECATHLON FINALS EVENT DETAILS
Event start: January 8, 2022, at 8 a.m. PT (1600 UTC)
Signup close: January 9, 2022, at 8 a.m. PT (1600 UTC)
Event end: January 9, 2022, at 11 a.m. PT (1900 UTC)
Entry: Arena Decathlon Finals entry token
Entry reward: Arena Decathlon Finalist sleeve
Format: Traditional Phantom Arena Cube (Best-of-Three) (check out the Arena Cube card list)
Structure: Play until 7 wins or 3 losses
Rewards:
*Delivered upon set release February 10, 2022. The Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty prize includes a single copy of each card in the set and is limited to one set per account only.
ARENA DECATHLON FINALS SLEEVES
There are two sleeves you can claim during the Arena Decathlon Finals. Everyone who enters the event will receive the Arena Decathlon Finalist sleeve.
Reach four wins during the event, and you’ll receive the Gold Medal sleeve!
FIVE UNHINGED BASIC LANDS
These five gorgeous full-art Unhinged basic lands will add some real pizzazz to your mana base. Veteran players may have collected some of these from 2019’s Plane-cation tour, and now they’re returning to give everyone a shot at adding the full set to their collection!
JACE, THE MIND SCULPTOR AVATAR
Few have had as big an impact on Magic as Jace, the Mind Sculptor, and now you can claim him as your avatar if your performance in the Arena Decathlon Finals is outstanding!
START TRAINING!
Limber up those casting fingers and train your gaming endurance, because the Arena Decathlon begins December 18, and only the best will stand on the winners’ podium!
ARENA DECATHLON EVENTS BANNED LISTS
DECATHLON 6: HISTORIC ARTISAN BANNED LIST
- Abiding Grace
- Cauldron Familiar
- Gates Ablaze
- Persistent Petitioners
- Veil of Summer
- Wilderness Reclamation
- Zenith Flare
DECATHLON 7: HISTORIC BANNED LIST
- Agent of Treachery
- Brainstorm
- Channel
- Counterspell
- Dark Ritual
- Demonic Tutor
- Field of the Dead
- Fires of Invention
- Lightning Bolt
- Natural Order
- Nexus of Fate
- Oko, Thief of Crowns
- Once Upon a Time
- Swords to Plowshares
- Teferi, Time Raveler
- Thassa’s Oracle
- Tibalt’s Trickery
- Time Warp
- Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath
- Veil of Summer
- Wilderness Reclamation
- Winota, Joiner of Forces
DECATHLON 9: TRADITIONAL STANDARD BANNED LIST
- Omnath, Locus of Creation
THE ARENA DECATHLON SUMMARY
The Arena Decathlon consists of ten (10) Events. The details of each Event and their respective rewards are described below. Winners of the Event(s) receive tokens. After all Events are complete, Wizards will count the unique tokens acquired by each player and provide the following rewards:
- 0-2 unique tokens: Nothing
- 3-5 unique tokens: 1 entry token to the Arena Decathlon Finals
- 6-7 unique tokens: 2 entry tokens to the Arena Decathlon Finals
- 8-9 unique tokens: 3 entry tokens to the Arena Decathlon Finals
- 10 unique tokens: 3 entry tokens to the Arena Decathlon Finals and entry into the February 2022 Qualifier Weekend event
Tournament Structure.
As part of your entry for any one of the 10 Events, you will receive the Arena Decathlete (“Entry Reward”). While you may participate in the Arena Decathlon multiple times, the Entry Reward is limited to one per account.
Entry is 2,000 gold or 400 gems per Event, except the Arena Decathlon Finals, which requires ten (10) Wizards-verified tokens.
Prizes depend on whether the Event is Best-of-One or Best-of-Three.
Best-of-One Events:
The Best-of-One entry is valid until 7 wins or 3 losses, whichever comes first.
Best of One Rewards:
- 0-2 wins: Nothing
- 3 wins: 1 pack
- 4 wins: 1 pack
- 5 wins: 2 packs
- 6 wins: 3 packs
- 7 wins: 3,000 gold and a token specific to the Event in which you won (example: 7 wins in the Decathlon 1: Alchemy Event would result in a token for Decathlon 1.)
Best-of-Three Events:
The Best-of-Three entry is valid until 5 wins or 2 losses, whichever comes first.
Best-of-Three Rewards:
- 0-2 wins: No rewards
- 3 wins: 1 pack
- 4 wins: 2 packs
- 5 wins: 3000 gold and a token specific to the Event in which you won (example: 5 wins in the Decathlon 3: Traditional Draft Event would result in a token for Decathlon 3.)
Packs:
For all Events, the packs given out as rewards are selected randomly at the time of reward receipt:
- 20% chance for an Alchemy: Innistrad pack
- 40% chance for a pack from a random Standard set
- 40% chance for a pack from a random Historic set
Entry into the Arena Decathlon Finals required a minimum of three (3) unique tokens acquired through winning prior Arena Decathlon Events. After all 10 Events are complete, Wizards will count the unique tokens acquired by each participant and provide the following rewards:
- 0-2 unique tokens: Nothing
- 3-5 unique tokens: 1 entry token to the Arena Decathlon Finals
- 6-7 unique tokens: 2 entry tokens to the Arena Decathlon Finals
- 8-9 unique tokens: 3 entry tokens to the Arena Decathlon Finals
- 10 unique tokens: 3 entry tokens to the Arena Decathlon Finals and entry into the February Qualifier Weekend event (date of the Qualifier Weekend TBD)
The Arena Decathlon Finals has separate rewards described below under Specific Event Information and Dates, “ARENA DECATHLON FINALS.”
Specific Event Information and Dates:
Arena Decathlon Events (each an “Event”, collectively comprising the Arena Decathlon)
Decathlon 1: Alchemy
Format: Best-of-One Alchemy
Start: December 18, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: December 21, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. Pacific on December 21, 2021)
Decathlon 2: Phantom Sealed
Format: Best-of-One mixed Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Crimson Vow Phantom Sealed
Start: December 18, 2021, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: December 21, 2021, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. Pacific on December 21, 2021)
Decathlon 3: Traditional Phantom Draft
Format: Best-of-Three Innistrad: Crimson Vow player draft
Start: December 21, 2021, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: December 24, 2021, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. Pacific December 24, 2021)
Decathlon 4: New Player Decks
Format: Best-of-One preconstructed decks
Start: December 21, 2021, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: December 24, 2021, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. Pacific December 24, 2021)
Decathlon 5: Phantom Bot Draft
Format: Best-of-One Zendikar Rising Phantom Bot Draft
Start: December 24, 2021, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: December 27, 2021, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. Pacific December 27, 2021)
Decathlon 6: Historic Artisan
Format: Best-of-One Historic Artisan
Start: December 24, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: December 27, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. Pacific on December 27, 2021)
Decathlon 7: Historic
Format: Best-of-One Historic
Start: December 27, 2021, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: December 30, 2021, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. Pacific December 30, 2021)
Decathlon 8: Singleton
Format: Best-of-One Singleton
Start: December 27, 2021, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: December 30, 2021, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. Pacific December 30, 2021)
Decathlon 9: Traditional Standard
Format: Best-of-Three Traditional Standard
Start: December 30, 2021, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: January 2, 2022, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. January 2, 2022)
Decathlon 10: Phantom Turbo Draft
Format: Best-of-One Strixhaven: School of Mages Phantom Bot Draft with Turbo Draft Emblem
Start: December 30, 2021, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: January 2, 2022, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. January 2, 2022)
ARENA DECATHLON FINALS
Format: Best-of-Three Traditional Arena Cube Draft, play to 7 wins or 3 losses (whichever comes first)
Start: January 8, 2022, 8 a.m. Pacific
End: January 9, 2022, 11 a.m. Pacific (entries close at 8 a.m. on January 9, .2022)
The only way to enter the Arena Decathlon Finals is to have three unique tokens won via the ten Arena Decathlon Events and verified by Wizards.
Entry into the Arena Decathlon Finals comes with an additional entry reward of the Arena Decathlon Finals sleeve.
Arena Decathlon Finals Rewards:
- 0 wins: No rewards
- 1 win: Four (4) rare wildcards
- 2 wins: Five (5) basic lands from the Unhinged set, plus all previous rewards
- 3 wins: Three (3) Player Draft tokens, plus all previous rewards received for less than three wins
- 4 wins: Arena Decathlon Gold Medal sleeve, plus all previous rewards for less than four wins
- 5 wins: Four (4) mythic rare wildcards, plus all previous rewards for less than five wins
- 6 wins: Jace, the Mind Sculptor avatar, plus all previous rewards for less than six wins
- 7 wins: One (1) copy of every card from Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty set added to your MTG Arena account when the set is released on MTG Arena, plus all previous rewards for less than 7 wins. This prize is limited to 1 per account. Even if you have multiple entry tokens and earn 7 wins multiple times, you will only receive 1 copy of each card when the set is released.
