decklist

A decklist is a written or digital record of the cards that comprise a player's deck for a game. It typically separates the main deck from any sideboard and may include notes about legality, format, or substitutions. The decklist serves as a reference for setup, rule enforcement, and strategic discussion.

Most decklists list each card by name and quantity, and may also include additional details such as the set or edition, collector number, or rarity to verify legality in a given format. Many games limit how many copies of a card can appear in a deck, and these restrictions are checked when a decklist is submitted for competition. Sideboards, when used, are shown in a separate section and contain cards that players may swap in between games of a match.

In tournament play, submitting and publicly sharing decklists helps ensure fairness and allows opponents to study strategies and matchups. Digital platforms often require importing a deck from a decklist, enabling features such as auto-population of card costs, mana bases, and sideboard management. Decklists also support analysis of meta trends, card choices, and consistency.

Beyond collectible card games, decklists appear in other deck-building formats and board games, where they enumerate chosen components, cards, or tokens used to construct a playable deck. In all cases, accuracy and transparency of the decklist are important for ensuring that the game proceeds according to its rules and that players can replicate or study the build.