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Kaldheim Championship Viewers Guide

March 15, 2021
Wizards of the Coast

From Qualifier Weekends and other online tournaments to the battles of the Kaldheim League Weekends, it all comes down to this: the Kaldheim Split concludes with $250,000 in prizes as the best players across MTG Arena and Magic Online battle to become the next Magic champion at the Kaldheim Championship.

Streaming live and played online through MTG Arena, the world will watch the top Magic players from around the world, the Rivals League, and MPL battle across both Standard and Historic formats.

With Historic Anthology IV shaking up Historic and a wide-open Kaldheim Standard format, the Kaldheim Championship will define two formats over one incredible weekend.

How Can I Follow The Event?

The Kaldheim Championship will be broadcast live March 26–28 on twitch.tv/magic beginning at 9 a.m. PT each day.

For the metagame, decklists, match-by-match updates, player details, live streaming, and more the Kaldheim Championship event page is where to start. You'll also find exclusive content by following @MagicEsports on Twitter. Plus share your excitement throughout the Championship weekend with the hashtag #KHMChamps.

When Will Championship Decklists Be Published?

All decklists will be published on the Kaldheim Championship event page at the beginning of Round 1 on Friday, March 26.

The metagame details and breakdown analysis by Magic Hall of Famer Frank Karsten will be published on Wednesday, March 24.

Will There Be Open Decklists Between Players?

Yes! Decklists are open and players will be able to review their opponent's Constructed decklists anytime throughout the event.

Who Are The Casters?


Who Is Playing?

Over 210 players, from the MPL and Rivals league to top qualifying competitors through Qualifier Weekends, Magic Online Qualifiers and beyond, are competing in the Kaldheim Championship.

The complete invitation list can be viewed here.

How Much Money Is On The Line?

The Kaldheim Championship features a $250,000 prize pool. Here's the complete prize breakdown:

Place Prize
1 $15,000
2 $12,000
3 $9,000
4 $7,000
5–6 $4,500
7–14 $3,500
15–31 $2,500
32–56 $1,500
57–106 $750
107–211 $500

Do Players Get Anything Else?

Participants will receive a package of Kaldheim Championship gear provided by Magic Esports, including an exclusive playmat featuring the art of Tibalt's Trickery from Kaldheim:

  • Kaldheim Championship backpack patch
  • Tibalt's Trickery playmat
  • Kaldheim Championship branded dice tin with d6 and assorted sleeves
  • Kaldheim toque
  • Kaldheim Draft Boosters


Design mockup. Final hat will vary slightly.



Additionally, competitors who weren't participants in a previous Magic Esports championship event will receive a Magic: The Gathering branded backpack to show off their Kaldheim Championship backpack patch.

What Are The Formats?

Both Standard and Historic Constructed formats will be used for the Kaldheim Championship, covering seven Swiss rounds of Historic and eight rounds of Standard across two days. As players earn their 12th match win they will automatically advance to the Top 8 playoff. Final standings at the end of Round 15 will determine any remaining Top 8 slots available after all players with 12 wins have advanced.

The Top 8 playoff is double elimination and will feature exclusively Standard Constructed.

Day One: Historic and Standard Constructed

  • 7 Swiss rounds, with records and match points carrying over to Day Two.
    • Rounds 1-3: Standard Constructed
    • Rounds 4-7: Historic Constructed
  • All matches are a best two-out-of-three games.
  • 30-minute timer for each player, each match.
  • Players must earn four or more match wins to advance to play on Day Two.

Day Two: Historic and Standard Constructed

  • 8 Swiss rounds, ending to a Top 8 cut.
    • Rounds 8-11: Standard Constructed
    • Rounds 12-15: Historic Constructed
  • All matches are a best two-out-of-three games.
  • 30-minute timer for each player, each match.
  • Players who earn their 12th match win are advanced to Top 8 and do not compete in additional Swiss rounds.

Day Three: Top 8 Double-Elimination Playoff



The Top 8 plays out through a double-elimination bracket to determine the winner of the Kaldheim Championship.

  • Top 8 is seeded into the bracket based on the order their 12th match win is earned, and final standings after 15 rounds.
  • All matches are a best two-out-of-three games, except the match which determines the winner of the Championship which will be a best two-out-of-three matches.
  • The player with the higher seed, except in the championship match, chooses the play/draw order for players at the beginning of each match.
  • The player in the Upper bracket will choose to play or draw in the first game of each match in the championship match.

Using their time banks in MTG Arena, players will compete through every game and match as intentional draws and concessions aren't permitted. Check out the Kaldheim Championship Information for Invitees for the complete tournament rules for competitors.

Broadcast Schedule

Friday, March 26: 9 a.m. PDT / 5 p.m. CET / 1 a.m. JST (March 27)

  • Broadcast ends after Round 7.

Saturday, March 27: 9 a.m. PDT / 5 p.m. CET / 1 a.m. JST (March 28)

  • Broadcast ends after Round 15 and the Top 8 is announced.

Sunday, March 28: 9 a.m. PDT / 6 p.m. CEST / 1 a.m. JST (March 29)

  • Broadcast ends after the Kaldheim Championship Top 8 playoff is complete.

You can watch the entire Championship live on twitch.tv/magic.

Can I Co-Stream the Event?

Following Twitch's Content Sharing Guidelines, you can co-stream the Kaldheim Championship broadcast from twitch.tv/magic using OBS or XSplit. This allows anyone on Twitch to cover the event in their voice and with their community. Co-streamed content is not endorsed by Wizards, and participants in co-streaming should follow Wizards' Fan Content Policy guidelines.

How Can I Play In The Kaldheim Championship?

There are no additional paths to qualify for the Kaldheim Championship, but your journey forward leads to the Strixhaven Championship. Jump into the March 2021 Ranked Season or a Championship Qualifier on Magic Online to and prove you're ready to compete with the best Magic players in the world.

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