Last updated on January 13, 2025
Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow | Illustration by Yunnan Tao
Are you looking for a new hobby? Want to start Magic? Trading card games are fun for children and adults of all ages. Magic: The Gathering started the trend and is the biggest, most popular TCG, so why not see what the first trading card game of all time has to offer you?
First, let’s learn more about what Magic: The Gathering is so we can discuss the best steps for getting into the game more. Ready, set, let’s play Magic!
#1. What Is Magic: The Gathering?
Steppe Glider | Illustration by John Severin Brassel
Magic: The Gathering debuted in 1993 and became the first trading card game available worldwide. The Magic universe contains a wide array of book-worthy storylines that bring along creatures with unique abilities that help you win the game in thousands of ways. Players also cast supporting spells to strengthen creatures and deal damage to an opponent to expedite the game like artifacts, instants, sorceries, enchantments, and battles.
There are about 40 formats in Magic: The Gathering. There are several categories, and each format has its own unique deck rules and cards that you can use.
For example, the Standard format utilizes cards from the last 2-3 years of sets. You build a 60-card deck using cards from these sets. You can have up to four copies per card that you run in the deck. When autumn arrives each year, the four sets that are oldest on the list rotate out of Standard.
Commander is the most popular Magic play format. It’s a format where you can only have one copy of each card in your 100-card deck. You designate a commander as the leader while the other 99 cards are curated around that commander’s color identity and abilities for the best synergy.
Still other formats of Magic involve only the cards you open at the event, jumpstart boosters, prereleases and draft all disregard a player’s existing collection. These are categorized as Limited formats in which both you and your opponent play with brand new cards.
A local game store, often called LGS, is the central community hub where people come to purchase cards to enjoy their favorite TCGs. They also host events for Magic: The Gathering players and other TCGs for local players to enjoy playing together.
Magic: The Gathering inspired other popular card games like Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Flesh and Blood. Trading card games are intensely fun because even though you must follow specific guidelines when deckbuilding, it’s such a creative outlet for strategically crafting a card deck that can overtake your opponents.
You may already be ready for a primer on how to play Magic: the Gathering!
#2. Purchase Magic Cards
The best way to get into Magic is to start digitally on Magic Arena, which is free to start and available on PC and mobile. If you want to skip a screen for a while, purchase physical cards to start playing a deck for your favorite format. Preconstructed decks are available with practically every new set and a great way to start. One option is to research the most recent Magic sets and purchase a bundle box or a set box, enough to have options for crafting decks.
Jumpstart boosters are designed to open as pairs and shuffle up into ready-to-play 40-card decks, and are a great way to start slinging spells without spending too much money or having to store cards you aren’t playing. Starter kits are another ready-to-play product, with two preconstructed 60-card decks.
Magic releases preconstructed Commander decks with nearly every set. Some are easier for beginners to pilot than others, so be sure to check out some reviews to make sure you find a precon that’s right for you!
Research various Magic decks on Draftsim to find out which card singles you would need to physically build one yourself. Instead of buying different types of booster packs, there’s also the option of just purchasing the singles you need for deck building.
Get the feel for the game and learn step-by-step how to cast spells and the order in which to cast them during specific phases. Plus, playing with like-minded Magic players helps you to better understand why it’s such a beloved game in the tabletop gaming space. Feel the allure of the game as well the more you play it and enjoy it with other Magic lovers.
#3. Join Events At Your Local LGS
Especially if you don’t have close friends that are already into Magic: The Gathering, joining events at your local game store is an important step of learning and getting into this tabletop game.
Get your feet wet at a prerelease event when a new Magic set comes out. There, you can learn how to craft your own deck by strategizing the cards you are given in your prerelease kit. Give it a couple tries, practice with all the sets on Draftsim, and you’ll find yourself improving at draft and sealed.
Alternatively, you can participate in Commander (typically casual), or competitive Standard, Modern, or other special format nights at your LGS. Bring your own custom deck to play against local players. If you have friends or family members already playing Magic: The Gathering, you can set up a game night at someone’s house instead for a more casual play setting. Products like Game Night: Free-for-All are helpful, but not necessary by any means.
#4. Find Players
While it can be enjoyable to play with new people at LGS events, it’s even better to regularly play with a group of people. Some people at LGS events may continually frequent them so that you can get to know them better and build a friendship.
Once you find players that enjoy Magic: The Gathering as well as each other’s company, set up a time to regularly play with them. Everyone can meet up maybe once a week or a couple of times per month, depending on everyone’s schedules. Stay in touch and if you construct decks, follow similar spending guidelines.
#5. Find Your Favorite Format
Speaking of formats, once you purchase cards and try out various formats at your LGS or with your personal play group, now it’s time to find your favorite format. Doing so will get you even more excited about Magic: The Gathering.
The most popular format in the play space is Commander because of its nearly 2,500 legendary creatures available to make your commander and the multitudes of possibilities there are to build a deck around each commander.
Alternative formats that are based on Commander include Duel Commander, Pauper EDH, and Oathbreaker. For example, in Oathbreater instead of a legendary creature, you designate a planeswalker as your Oathbreaker and an instant or sorcery spell as your signature spell. The Oathbreaker and signature spell have a command tax much like your commander in its sister format.
Other popular formats are Standard, Modern, Legacy, and Pioneer.
#6. Sign Up for MTG Arena
One of the best tutorials available is through MTG Arena, download this popular online game to play Magic outside of the time you meet up with your pod. Arena includes popular formats like draft, Standard and Alchemy, which is an exclusive format on MTG Arena. The closest format to Commander is Historic Brawl.
You can earn rewards daily just by playing. Win gems through events to pay for more Draft events which are the coolest way to get cards on Arena.
Arena Tutor tracks your collection and makes it easy to see cards you’ve collected.
Download Draftsim’s Arena Tutor to get deck building recommendations, calculate in-game odds based on what cards you have played, see how well your decks perform, and see which Magic format is your best one.
#7. Keep Practicing and Learning More About MTG
Even when you can’t play with your pod, you can continue to practice on MTG Arena by engaging in the fun with other Magic players from all over the world. Here are other ways you can learn about MTG:
- Watch your favorite MTG content creators play Magic games.
- Review online deck lists to see how different cards synergize with each other so you can create better decks.
- Seek out tutoring to get better at playing Magic: The Gathering on Spike’s Academy.
- Read Draftsim blog posts to learn about popular cards and best commanders to be the most competitive.
How Much Does It Cost to Get into Magic: The Gathering?
Getting into Magic: The Gathering has a varying base cost depending on how you want to start your journey. If you want to physically feel the cards and participate in the tabletop gaming experience, then it might be about $50 to $150 to get your first bundle box or box to get enough cards to build a deck. Foundations has a couple of starter products including a starter collection that is certainly worth it for new players.
You can play MTG Arena completely for free. Earn gold to buy more virtual packs, construct your best decks, then build your collection.
There’s also the option of purchasing gems so that you can purchase packs and Arena bundles quicker. To get the cards you specifically want without waiting to open rares and mythic rares, you could also get them as you earn or buy Arena wildcards.
Of course, getting into Magic: The Gathering would depend on your personal preference and overall budget. If you have a more limited budget, stick with purchasing singles for tabletop gaming and grind on MTG Arena for free. If you have a more expanded budget, you can grab a booster box or two from your favorite MTG sets to get started.
Can I Play MTG Against Myself?
Not really, Magic slang calls it goldfishing to draw a hand and play down cards against air or even a second deck where you also make all the decisions. This game is meant to be played with people! Which leads to this uncommon product:
There are three old challenge decks from the Theros block in which you pit your deck against an alternate deck that plays itself, which also scales as a co-op mode. Journey into Nyx – Defeat a God is the third after Born of the Gods – Battle the Horde and Face the Hydra from Theros.
Jumpstart Your MTG Experience!
Oreskos Sun Guide | Illustration by Mathias Kollros
Magic: The Gathering is about making your own magic building decks you love to play and most importantly, gathering with like-minded players to share the experience. Customize your play experience to suit your style, and enjoy the deepest, ever evolving strategy card game ever. Join the Draftsim Discord to connect with other players nationwide and worldwide to learn more about the game and discuss various topics related to it.
Until next time, jump in to MTG! You’ll be glad you did!
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