What is the common structure for pairings during Magic tournaments?

The common structure for pairings in Magic tournaments is Swiss. In a Swiss pairing system, participants compete in a set number of rounds, typically determined by the number of players, where everyone plays the same number of matches regardless of their wins or losses. After each round, players are paired based on their current scores—those with similar records compete against each other. This method allows players to face opponents of similar skill levels as the tournament progresses, maintaining a competitive environment while ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to play multiple rounds.

Swiss pairings offer a balance, providing competitive matches while allowing for a sizable number of participants to compete against a range of opponents, which highlights different strategies and skill levels throughout the event. Other methods, like fixed or random pairings, do not have the same systematic approach to matchmaking based on player performance, and the SEED system is specific to certain formats but is not a standard method for pairing in Swiss tournaments.