What is a “Deck List” in a tournament setting?

A "Deck List" in a tournament setting refers to a written record of the cards in a player's deck. This document is essential because it provides tournament organizers, judges, and other players with a detailed account of which cards a player is using, ensuring that the deck complies with the tournament’s format and rules. The deck list must be submitted before the tournament begins and serves several important purposes, such as verifying the legality of the deck and aiding in any necessary investigations regarding potential cheating or misrepresentation of a player's card choices. By having a written record, all parties involved can quickly reference the deck, which helps maintain the integrity of the tournament.

The other options are not accurate representations of what a deck list entails. A set of rules for deck building describes guidelines but not the collection of cards themselves. A description of player strategies is unrelated to the deck's composition and focuses more on gameplay than the actual card choices. An overview of tournament pairings pertains to how players are matched against each other in the tournament and does not involve specific card details. Thus, the choice identifying a deck list as a written record of a player's deck accurately encapsulates its purpose and significance in tournament settings.