You can import a deck into MTG Arena by pasting a deck list or using the import feature, but the method depends on where your deck list comes from

MTG Arena accepts deck lists in a few different formats. The most common way is to paste a deck list directly into the game's import tool — you copy the text from wherever you found the deck (a website, a forum, a friend's message), open MTG Arena, and paste it in. The game then checks whether you own the cards and builds the deck for you. If you're missing cards, Arena shows you what's not in your collection and gives you the option to use wildcards to craft them, or to substitute cards you do have.

The second method is to import from a specific website. Some deck-building sites like Archidekt, Scryfall, and Aetherhub have direct export buttons that send a deck straight to MTG Arena without copying and pasting. You click the button, Arena opens, and the deck appears in your import window.

Key Takeaways

  • MTG Arena's import tool accepts plain text deck lists pasted directly into the game — the format is just the card quantity, card name, and set code on each line.
  • If you're missing cards, the game shows you what's not in your collection and lets you use wildcards to craft them or swap in cards you own.
  • Some websites like Archidekt and Scryfall have export buttons that send decks directly to Arena without manual copying.
  • Deck lists must follow MTG Arena's format rules — Arena rejects lists with cards that don't exist in the game or that are banned in your chosen format.

How to paste a deck list into MTG Arena

Open MTG Arena and click the Decks button on the left side of the main menu. At the top right of the Decks page, you'll see an Import button. Click it, and a text box appears where you can paste your deck list.

The deck list should be formatted as plain text with one card per line. Each line needs the quantity (a number), the card name, and optionally the set code in parentheses. For example: "4 Llanowar Elves (DOM)" or "2 Counterspell (2X2)". You can also paste a list without set codes and Arena will figure out which version you mean, though specifying the set makes it clearer. Paste the entire list into the box, then click Import.

Arena checks the list against your collection. If you own all the cards, the deck appears in your Decks list when ready. If you're missing some, Arena shows you a summary of what's not in your collection, organized by rarity. You can then choose to craft the missing cards using wildcards, or click Cancel and edit the list yourself to swap in cards you already own.

Using direct export from deck-building websites

Several websites let you build a deck and export it straight to MTG Arena without copying text. Archidekt, Scryfall, and Aetherhub all have this feature. When you're viewing a deck on one of these sites, look for a button labeled "Export to Arena", "Open in Arena", or "MTG Arena" — the exact wording varies by site.

Click the button and your browser will open MTG Arena (or bring it to the front if it's already running). The import window appears automatically with your deck list already pasted in. From there, the process is the same as pasting manually: Arena checks your collection and shows you what you're missing.

This method is faster if you're building a deck on the website and want to test it in Arena right away. It also reduces the chance of a formatting error, since the website handles the formatting for you.

What happens when you're missing cards

When Arena detects cards you don't own, it shows you a list grouped by rarity: mythic, rare, uncommon, and common. Next to each card, you see how many copies you need and how many wildcards of that rarity you have available. You can craft any card you're missing by spending a wildcard of the matching rarity — a rare card costs one rare wildcard, a mythic costs one mythic wildcard, and so on.

If you don't have enough wildcards, you have two choices: craft some of the missing cards and leave the rest out (the deck will be incomplete), or cancel the import and edit the deck list to swap in cards you already own. Arena doesn't force you to craft anything — you can import a partial deck and finish it later when you have more wildcards.

Format requirements and common import errors

MTG Arena only accepts cards that exist in the game. Some older Magic cards, some special versions, and some cards from certain sets are not in Arena, so a deck list that works in other formats might not import. If Arena rejects a card, it will tell you which card is the problem.

The deck list must also follow the format rules for the format you're playing. If you're building a Standard deck, all cards must be legal in Standard. If you're building a Historic deck, you can use older cards that are in Arena's Historic format. Arena checks this automatically — if you paste a Standard-legal deck, it defaults to Standard; if you paste a Historic deck, it switches to Historic.

The most common error is a typo in a card name. If the name doesn't match exactly, Arena won't recognize it. If you're copying a deck list by hand or from a source with inconsistent formatting, double-check the spelling of any cards Arena flags as unrecognized.

Editing a deck after import

Once a deck is imported, you can edit it like any other deck in Arena. Click on the deck in your Decks list, then click Edit. You can add or remove cards, change quantities, or swap cards in and out. The deck stays in your collection until you delete it.

If you imported a deck and realized you want to change a few cards to match cards you own, or to test a different version, you don't need to re-import. Just open the deck, click Edit, and make your changes. Arena updates your collection usage in real time as you edit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import a deck from a screenshot or image?

No, Arena's import tool only accepts text. If you have a deck as an image, you'll need to type or copy the card names into a text format first. Some websites can read deck images and convert them to text, but you'd then paste that text into Arena manually.

What if a card in my deck list is banned?

Arena will still import the deck, but you won't be able to use it in ranked or tournament play. The game shows you a warning if any cards are banned in the format you've chosen. You can keep the deck in your collection for casual play, or edit it to remove the banned cards.

Do I need to own the exact same version of a card to import it?

No. If a card has been printed in multiple sets, Arena lets you use whichever version you own. When you import a deck, if you own a different printing of a card than the one in the list, Arena uses the version in your collection. You can manually change which version you use by editing the deck.

Can I import a deck from another player's profile?

Not directly through a profile link. You'd need to ask the player for their deck list in text format, or find the deck posted on a website. Some players share decks on forums or social media as text lists, which you can then import.

What if the import window doesn't appear?

Make sure you're on the Decks page and looking for the Import button in the top right. If the button isn't visible, try closing and reopening the Decks page. If Arena is outdated, updating it sometimes fixes import issues. You can also try restarting the game.