Introduction
The Sealed format, like Booster Drafts, is another great way for players to compete on a level playing field. In a Sealed event, players play with a deck that they put together on the spot from 6 packs, rather than one that they had pre-constructed prior to the event. This allows newer players to have access to a pool of cards about the same power level as everyone else at the table.
Core Rule Changes
The rule book that should be followed is the most recent edition, with the following modifications:
Timeline
The rules for building a Timeline are very similar with a few modifications:
The Timeline is 35 cards instead of the usual 50 cards.
The total Chi of the Timeline is 175 points.
Restriction rules for how many copies of a card (eg. Epiphany) are not implemented as a part of the Sealed format.
Forethoughts
In a Sealed event, all cards in your card pool and not in your Timeline, count as being a part of your Forethoughts. You must still abide by the normal affiliation rules in order to play any cards from your card pool. Otherwise, follow all “lock and show” procedures for your Forethoughts. Players may choose to not use their Forethoughts during a Sealed event if they so wish.
Format-Specific Rules
In order to allow players to construct their Timeline, without cutting too deep into playing time, the event should allow for 30 mins of time spent selecting cards and building a Timeline.
The tournament structure for a draft is the same as a constructed tournament:
Swiss Structure
Each match should be limited to 45 minutes.
Once the 45 minutes is up, there will be 3 full round rotations allowed to attempt to declare a winner. If no winner is clearly declared, it is a tie for that match.
Each game consists of a best 2 out of 3 matches
The loser of each game can pick if they want to be the starting player for the next game
The Sealed Timeline Building Process.
When you are starting a Sealed event each player gets 6 booster packs.
Once everyone is ready, they can all open their packs. When opening their packs, they place any champion, token or tip cards in the center of the table. These cards are not used at this time. Each player then constructs a Sealed event-legal Timeline out of the cards they have in their 6 packs. Players are not allowed to pass around, trade or share cards. Only the cards pulled from their own packs may be used to build their Timeline.
The time allotted for creating a Sealed Timeline should be capped at 45 minutes. After the Timelines have been created, players may select their champion. This selection can be done in secret, or be required to be announced. The event organizer has the final say on this rule. It is encouraged that extra champion cards should be kept on hand in order to allow players to choose whichever champion they wish, without depleting the champions that were pulled from the packs.
Prizes
The prize support is completely determined by the local game store or event organizer. All players should be allowed to keep the contents of all of their packs in a Sealed event, once it is over.