How to Start Playing and Collecting Magic: the Gathering

Magic: The Gathering is a fantastic tabletop game that is known for its strategic gameplay, immersive lore, and active community. With a constantly evolving card pool and a wide variety of formats to choose from, Magic offers something for players of all skill levels and interests. 

Whether you're a seasoned veteran or new to tabletop gaming, there is something for everyone in the world of Magic. The game's rich lore, which includes a vast array of characters, stories, and settings, adds depth and flavor to the gameplay experience. 

And with organized play events and tournaments being held regularly around the world, there are plenty of opportunities to meet fellow players and test your skills against others. Overall, Magic: The Gathering is a great game for those who enjoy strategic gameplay, immersive worlds, and a strong community.

How to start playing and collecting Magic: the Gathering

Choose your format: 

The first step in starting a Magic: The Gathering collection is deciding which format you want to play. Magic: The Gathering has several different formats, including Standard, Modern, and Legacy, each with their own unique rules and card pools. It's a good idea to choose a format that fits your playstyle and budget.

Purchase a starter deck: 

A good way to start your collection is to purchase a starter deck. These decks are designed for new players and include a pre-constructed deck of cards, a rulebook, and other accessories. Starter decks are a great way to get a feel for the game and learn the basics.

Build a collection: 

Once you have a starter deck and are comfortable with the basic rules, you can start building your collection. There are many different ways to build a collection, including purchasing individual booster packs, trading with other players, and participating in draft events.

Booster Packs: Booster packs are packs of randomized cards that are sold in sets of 15. Booster packs are a great way to add new cards to your collection and try out different strategies.

Preconstructed Decks: Preconstructed decks are decks of cards that are pre-assembled and ready to play. Preconstructed decks are a great way for new players to get started with the game and for experienced players to try out new strategies.

Box Sets: Box sets are larger collections of cards that are often themed around a specific story or event. Box sets often include exclusive cards and other special features, and they are a great way to expand your collection.

Singles: Singles are individual cards that can be purchased separately. Singles are a good option for players who are looking to acquire specific cards for their decks.

Accessories: Magic: The Gathering also offers a wide range of accessories, including playmats, sleeves, dice, and deck boxes. These accessories can help to enhance your gameplay experience and protect your cards.

Learn the rules: 

As you start building your collection, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the rules of Magic: The Gathering. You can find the full rules for the game on the Magic: The Gathering website.

Join a local gaming group: 

One of the best ways to find opponents and learn more about the game is to join a local gaming group. These groups often meet regularly to play games, discuss strategy, and trade cards. We’ve got a thriving and vibrant group of Magic players that you can find out more about by coming down to the shop to play or following us on Facebook.

Expand your knowledge: 

As you start playing more and getting a feel for the game, you may want to expand your knowledge by reading articles and watching videos about Magic: The Gathering strategy, deckbuilding, and the game's lore. There are many resources available online, including forums, websites, and social media groups, that can help you learn more about the game.

Magic: the Gathering Gameplay

In Magic: The Gathering, two players face off against each other using decks of cards that represent spells, creatures, and other magical effects. Each player starts the game with 20 life points, and the goal is to reduce your opponent's life points to zero. Players take turns casting spells, summoning creatures, and using other abilities to attack and defend themselves. The player who reduces their opponent's life points to zero wins the game.

There are many different strategies and play styles in Magic: The Gathering, and the best strategy will depend on the format and the specific cards in your deck. Some common strategies include:

Aggro: 

Aggro decks aim to win the game quickly by attacking relentlessly and overwhelming their opponent with fast and efficient creatures.

Control: 

Control decks aim to slow down the game and maintain control over the battlefield by using removal spells and counterspells to disrupt their opponent's strategy.

Combo: 

Combo decks aim to win the game by assembling a specific combination of cards that allows them to win in a single turn.

Midrange: 

Midrange decks aim to strike a balance between aggression and control, using a mix of efficient creatures and powerful spells to outmaneuver their opponent.

Here is a brief description of the different formats in Magic: The Gathering:.

Standard: 

Standard is the most popular and widely played format in Magic: The Gathering. It consists of the most recent sets of cards, and new sets are added to the format on a regular basis. Standard is a good format for newer players as it is more accessible and affordable, and the constantly changing card pool keeps the format fresh and exciting.

Modern: 

Modern is a constructed format that allows players to use cards from all sets released in the past several years. Modern is a more expensive and competitive format, and it is known for its powerful and varied card pool.

Legacy: 

Legacy is a constructed format that allows players to use cards from any set, including cards that are banned in other formats. Legacy is a very expensive and competitive format, and it is known for its powerful and diverse card pool.

Commander: 

Commander, also known as EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander), is a multiplayer format that involves building a singleton deck (a deck with only one copy of each card) around a legendary creature known as a commander. Commander is a fun and casual format that allows for a wide range of creative deckbuilding and playstyles.

Pauper: 

Pauper is a constructed format that only allows players to use commons from any set. Pauper is a budget-friendly format that is known for its simplicity and accessibility.

Vintage: 

Vintage is a constructed format that allows players to use cards from any set, including cards that are banned in other formats. Vintage is a very expensive and competitive format, and it is known for its powerful and diverse card pool.

You can check out our huge selection of singles to build your deck right now and start playing one of the most popular trading cards of all time.