Welcome back, Magic Online players! Ravnica Allegiance is almost upon us, bringing with it the five guilds not in Guilds of Ravnica and a huge pile of sweet new cards. We're going to have a full suite of Leagues available, including the Ravnica Allegiance version of the Prerelease-style Guilded League.

And for Magic Online, of course, an article about a new set means we've got some additional updates to talk about.

SAVING TARGETS

First, let's talk about an update from last set that didn't get much time in the spotlight. Players can now "save targets," meaning that when you choose targets for a triggered or activated ability, you can set that ability's target to automatically be chosen in the future.

For example, let's say you have a Persistent Petitioners and you're trying to mill your opponent out. You can left-click the Petitioners to start the activation, then click your opponent's avatar to choose them as the target player. That much isn't changing. However, you can now right-click the Petitioners to get an expanded action menu, where you'll see a line under each activated ability labeled " . . . and save targets." Choosing that action is exactly like choosing the line right above it, but whatever you choose for the target will be automatically chosen the next time you activate this ability. You'll know that your permanent has a saved target if it has a small yellow triangle with a target icon inside.

This will work for all future activations of that ability by that permanent, as long as the target is legal when it's time to choose. However, this won't work if your permanent (or the target) leaves the battlefield and re-enters, because when anything re-enters the battlefield, it's a new game object with no memory of its previous existence.

Similarly, when you're choosing targets for a triggered ability, if you right-click the trigger instead of left-clicking it in the trigger area, you'll be able to choose to save your targets as well.

Changed your mind? No problem. Just right-click the permanent that's doing the auto-targeting and choose "Clear auto targets." Next time you start activating the ability or the trigger asks you for a target, you'll be able to choose your target again normally.

This is most useful when you're targeting the same thing many times, of course, but that comes up a lot in Magic. Especially when you look at older formats, or Chaos Draft, this can save clicks in combos or just free you from worrying about misclicks: how often is your Hedron Crab or Drowned Secrets going to target a different player than it did last time? Or Blood Artist?

Save time, save clicks, save targets. Available right now.

FORMAT POINTS

As we stated in the Magic Online Championship Series 2019 announcement, we have new Format Focus events that can let you play your non-rotating format of choice all the way to the Magic Online Championship and the Mythic Championship. Format Points are a key part of that, and we've been tracking them since December 2, 2018 at 8 a.m. PT. Starting with Ravnica Allegiance, we're going to be putting them into your account, and you can track your progress yourself.

In the future, we're going to be shifting toward letting you track more things. We're currently planning to have League trophies and MOCS leaderboard points shifted in this way too (though, we'll still keep the leaderboard page up for easy comparisons).

NEW PLAY LOBBY

Well . . . almost. We've talked about this one before, so I wanted to provide an update: we had hoped to get the new play lobby out the door with this release, but as we worked, it became clear that it wasn't going to be ready for release with Ravnica Allegiance. Rather than release such a significant upgrade before it's ready to ship, we're going to take the time to make sure it's finished before shipping.

Our current plans are to release the new play lobby later in Q1. It's intended to maintain current functionality while greatly simplifying the process of getting into a game, and we think you'll be happy with it when it arrives.

EARLY DRAFT IS BEST DRAFT

So, drafting is fun you say? *cue everyone groaning in agreement*

And you want more drafting? *cue eyerolls*

Okay. Seriously, okay. We'll give you more drafting.

Ravnica Allegiance drafts will be available on Friday, January 18. That's right, the day after the set releases. We're not waiting until Monday anymore, friends. This time, play Sealed on Thursday, play drafts on Friday, and keep playing as much as you want.

RAVNICA ALLEGIANCE LEAGUE DETAILS

GUILDED LEAGUE

Schedule: The league starts on January 17, at 10 a.m. PT. Unlike most Leagues, this won't run the full set season. The Guilded League closes at 10 a.m. on January 28. Be sure to finish your matches by then!

Product: 5 Ravnica Allegiance boosters, plus a single booster of a guild chosen upon League entry. After each of the first two stages, players will have the option to add another Ravnica Allegiance booster.

Structure: 3 stages of up to 3 matches each, played at your convenience

Entry Options:

24 Event Tickets

240 Play Points

Upgrade Options

At the end of the first two stages, if you'd like to add another booster to your pool, you'll choose one of these three upgrade options.

4 Event Tickets

1 Ravnica Allegiance booster pack

40 Play Points

Stage Prizes:

Stage prizes are earned for each of the three stages in the League.

3 wins: 40 Play Points

2 wins: 30 Play Points

1 win: 20 Play Points

0 wins: 10 Play Points

Course Prizes:

Course prizes are earned after completing all three stages.

9 wins: 3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 200 Play Points

8 wins: 2 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 200 Play Points

7 wins: 1 Ravnica Allegiance booster + 200 Play Points

6 wins: 200 Play Points

5 wins: 100 Play Points

4 wins: 50 Play Points

FRIENDLY SEALED LEAGUE

Schedule: This League will begin on January 28, at 10 a.m. PT, after the Guilded League ends. This League is planned to run until the release of the next Standard-legal set.

Product: 6 Ravnica Allegiance boosters, with the option to add a Ravnica Allegiance booster after each of the first two stages.

Structure: 3 stages of up to 3 matches each, played at your convenience

Entry Options:

24 Event Tickets

6 Ravnica Allegiance Boosters + 4 Event Tickets

240 Play Points

Upgrade Options:

4 Event Tickets

1 Ravnica Allegiance booster

40 Play Points

Stage Prizes:

Stage prizes are earned for each of the three stages in the league.

3 wins: 40 Play Points

2 wins: 30 Play Points

1 win: 20 Play Points

0 wins: 10 Play Points

Course Prizes:

Course prizes are earned after completing all three stages.

9 wins: 3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 200 Play Points

8 wins: 2 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 200 Play Points

7 wins: 1 Ravnica Allegiance booster + 200 Play Points

6 wins: 200 Play Points

5 wins: 100 Play Points

4 wins: 50 Play Points

COMPETITIVE SEALED LEAGUE

Schedule: This League will begin on January 17, at 10 a.m. PT, and is planned to run until the release of the next Standard-legal set.

Product: 6 Ravnica Allegiance boosters

Structure: Up to 5 matches, played at your convenience

Entry Options:

24 Event Tickets

6 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 4 Event Tickets

240 Play Points

Prizes:

5 wins: 6 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 360 Play Points + 3 Qualifier Points

4 wins: 3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 240 Play Points + 1 Qualifier Point

3 wins: 1 Ravnica Allegiance booster + 120 Play Points

FRIENDLY DRAFT LEAGUE

Schedule: This League will begin on January 18, at 10 a.m. PT, and is planned to run until the release of the next Standard-legal set.

Product: 3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters

Structure: Draft, then up to 3 matches at your convenience

Entry Options:

12 Event Tickets

3 Ravnica Allegiance Boosters + 2 Event Tickets

120 Play Points

Prizes:

3 wins: 3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters

2 wins: 2 Ravnica Allegiance boosters

1 win: 1 Ravnica Allegiance booster

INTERMEDIATE DRAFT LEAGUE

Schedule: This League will begin on January 18, at 10 a.m. PT, and is planned to run until the release of the next Standard-legal set.

Product: 3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters

Structure: Draft, then up to 3 matches at your convenience

Entry Options:

12 Event Tickets

3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 2 Event Tickets

120 Play Points

Prizes:

3 wins: 6 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 1 Qualifier Point

2 wins: 2 Ravnica Allegiance boosters

COMPETITIVE DRAFT LEAGUE

Schedule: This League will begin on January 18, at 10 a.m. PT, and is planned to run until the release of the next Standard-legal set.

Product: 3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters

Structure: Draft, then play matches at your convenience until either 3 wins or 1 loss

Entry Options:

15 Event Tickets

3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 5 Event Tickets

150 Play Points

3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 50 Play Points

Prizes:

3 wins: 6 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 150 Play Points + 2 Qualifier Points

2 wins: 3 Ravnica Allegiance boosters + 150 Play Points + 1 Qualifier Point

FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTED LEAGUES

Formats Offered: Standard, Modern, and Pauper

Structure: Up to 5 matches, played at your convenience

Entry Options:

8 Event Tickets

80 Play Points

Prizes:

5 wins: 80 Play Points + 8 Treasure Chests

4 wins: 80 Play Points + 4 Treasure Chests

3 wins: 80 Play Points + 1 Treasure Chest

2 wins: 40 Play Points

1 win: 20 Play Points

0 wins: 10 Play Points

COMPETITIVE CONSTRUCTED LEAGUES

Formats Offered: Standard, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, and Pauper

Structure: Up to 5 matches, played at your convenience

Entry Options:

12 Event Tickets

120 Play Points

Prizes:

5 wins: 180 Play Points + 16 Treasure Chests + 3 Qualifier Points

4 wins: 180 Play Points + 8 Treasure Chests + 1 Qualifier Point

3 wins: 120 Play Points + 1 Treasure Chest

PRESTIGE AVATARS

Prizes are great, but what good are they if other people can't see them? Win enough trophies in Leagues, and you'll get something your opponents will take notice of: a prestige avatar for the season. Here's what you can earn, to be delivered after the next Standard-legal set releases.

Remember, prestige avatars are only available this way. They can't be traded, so you can be sure that anyone with one of these avatars earned their way to it.

Domri, Chaos Bringer

Uncommon Prestige Avatar

5 trophies in the Friendly Ravnica Allegiance Draft League

or

5 trophies between the Friendly Ravnica Allegiance Sealed League and the Ravnica Allegiance Guilded League

or

5 trophies in the Intermediate Ravnica Allegiance Draft League

or

2 trophies in any single Friendly Constructed League

Rakdos, the Showstopper

Rare Prestige Avatar

4 trophies in the Competitive Ravnica Allegiance Draft League

or

4 trophies in the Competitive Ravnica Allegiance Sealed League

or

4 trophies in any single Competitive Constructed League

Kaya, Orzhov Usurper

Mythic Rare Prestige Avatar

12 trophies in the Competitive Ravnica Allegiance Draft League

or

6 trophies in the Competitive Ravnica Allegiance Sealed League

or

6 trophies in any single Competitive Constructed League

or

Finishing with 6 or more wins in a single MOCS Monthly event during the season

ALTERNATIVE PLAY

Ravnica Allegiance is a sweet set, and there's a lot to explore. So, we're going to let the set have a month in which it's the primary way to play before diving into some other formats.

Starting on February 13, CHAOS DRAFT! makes its triumphant return. So triumphant, in fact, that it'll be sticking around for two weeks, until . . .

. . . February 27, when we get a palate cleanser. Ravnica is awesome, and RNA will still be available and a lot of fun, but some people can already tell that we've been on Ravnica for months now. For this week, we're going back to the halcyon days (not Halcyon Glaze, that's still Ravnica) of triple-Lorwyn drafting. Faeries, Elves, Goblins, Treefolk, Humans , and, of course, Changelings are waiting for you.

February 27, when we get a palate cleanser. Ravnica is awesome, and RNA will still be available and a lot of fun, but some people can already tell that we've been on Ravnica for months now. For this week, we're going back to the halcyon days (not Halcyon Glaze, that's still Ravnica) of triple-Lorwyn drafting. Faeries, Elves, Goblins, Treefolk, , and, of course, Changelings are waiting for you. Lots of you really enjoyed Ultimate Masters, so much so that we took a planned two-week run for the set and extended it by almost another a month. So as soon as we're past Lorwyn, starting on March 6, Ultimate Masters is coming back for another week. Enjoy one of the most popular Draft formats in recent years all over again after an absence of . . . less than two months.

less than two months. On March 13, we're going to launch a special event called Ravnica Remix. Guilds of Ravnica and Ravnica Allegiance weren't built to be drafted together, but who says they can't be? Fresh from Magic R&D, the Ravnica Remix takes Guilds of Ravnica and Ravnica Allegiance and combines them into a single Draft experience. We'll have more details on that later, but in the meantime, you can plan to have two full weeks of Ravnica Remix available.

And then, to round out the season, the Legacy Cube will return on March 27 and run right up until the next Standard-legal set release.

TREASURE CHESTS

Starting with Ravnica Allegiance, we're going to make a few changes to Treasure Chests. We're dropping the Standard-legal commons and uncommons sheet, so you won't be getting any more of those. Instead, we're going to turn the third slot in each chest into a guaranteed 5 Play Points, so even if you don't like any of the cards in the pack, you're going to get something useful. And, based on a request we heard more than a few times, we're moving the Treasure Chest Avatars to be their own thing: if you get one, you get one, but you won't miss out on anything else just because you got an avatar.

Speaking of Treasure Chest avatars, here are the two for this season:

Sharktocrab

Bitey the Carrion Imp