Creating Manual Lists

Manual lists are hand-curated card collections where each card is individually added and positioned. This guide is for administrators who manage card lists.

When to Use Manual Lists

Manual lists are best for:

• Fixed collections - Lists with a specific, unchanging set of cards (e.g., Power 9)
• Curated selections - Hand-picked cards that don’t follow a simple rule
• Ordered lists - Lists where card order matters
• Small lists - Collections with fewer than 50 cards

Examples: - Power 9 (exactly 9 cards) - Original Dual Lands (exactly 10 cards) - Top 10 Cards of All Time (curated, ordered) - EDH Staples Under $5 (curated selection)

Creating a Manual List

As an administrator:

1. Navigate to Admin > Lists
2. Click New List
3. Enter the list name
4. Select Manual as the list type
5. Write a description explaining what the list contains
6. Click Create List

The list is created in unpublished state and is not visible to users yet.

Adding Cards to Manual Lists

Once created, add cards to your list:

1. Go to the list detail page in the admin area
2. Click Add Card
3. Search for the card by name
4. Select the specific printing if there are multiple versions
5. Click Add to List

The card is added to the end of the list.

Reordering Cards

To reorder cards in a manual list:

1. View the list in the admin area
2. Use the drag handles to reorder cards
3. Drag cards up or down to the desired position
4. Changes save automatically

This is useful for ranked lists or thematic ordering.

Removing Cards

To remove a card from a manual list:

1. Find the card in the list
2. Click Remove
3. Confirm the removal

The card is immediately removed from the list.

Choosing the Best Printing

When multiple printings of a card exist:

• Choose the original printing for historical lists
• Choose the most valuable printing for investment lists
• Choose the most recent printing for modern lists
• Be consistent across the entire list

Example: For an “Original Dual Lands” list, choose the Alpha/Beta/Unlimited/Revised printings, not Modern Horizons reprints.

Publishing the List

Once your manual list is complete:

1. Review all cards in the list
2. Verify the order (if applicable)
3. Check the description is clear and helpful
4. Click Publish

The list is now visible to all users in the Card Lists section!

Updating Manual Lists

To update a published manual list:

1. Navigate to the list in the admin area
2. Make your changes (add, remove, reorder cards)
3. Changes are immediately visible to users

Note: Manual lists require ongoing maintenance if the collection should change over time.

Best Practices

1. Clear descriptions - Explain what the list contains and why it’s useful
2. Accurate cards - Verify each card belongs in the list
3. Consistent printings - Use the same era/style of printings throughout
4. Logical order - Order cards alphabetically, by value, or by theme
5. Regular review - Check occasionally for outdated cards or missing additions

Manual vs. Rule-Based Lists

Examples of Good Manual Lists

• Power 9 - Fixed set of 9 specific cards
• Iconic Cards - Hand-picked famous cards from MTG history
• Budget Commander Staples - Curated selection of affordable staples
• Artist Spotlight: Seb McKinnon - Cards illustrated by a specific artist