Dive into the captivating world of Magic: The Gathering (MTG) with our comprehensive guide designed to help you embark on your journey as a formidable wizard. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned player seeking a refresher, this guide will provide you with the basics to understand and enjoy the game to the full.
At Axion Now Events we have been running face-to-face local and national MTG events for 10 years so we’ve seen first-hand the fun and the challenges the game brings to players of all levels so read on to find out haow to play Magic: The Gathering…
Getting Started
Before delving into the realms of MTG, ensure you have the basic essentials to hand. You will need to:
Choose Your Format:
Decide whether you want to engage in one-on-one battles with a 60-card deck or join group games with a 100-card deck like Commander. Whether it’s with friends, at your local game store, or through online platforms like MTG Arena, there are various ways to play and, of course, to win!
Select Your Deck:
You can start with pre-built decks, such as Commander decks built around classic Magic characters, to kickstart your journey into the game. But you can also improve those decks, if you want to, by swapping individual cards if you think they will give you an advantage over your opponents.
Find an Opponent:
Whether it’s a friend, a fellow player at your local game store, or online opponents, having someone to play against is essential to grasp the nuances of the game. No amount of practise and studying the cards alone will make up for a real face-to-face or online game against a real opponent. Playing other people will give you experience of the unpredictable moves better players make and the different strategies people use. That’s what makes the game so exciting and challenging.
How It Works
MTG revolves around a straightforward objective: beat your opponent by reducing their score (or life points) to zero. Each player usually starts the game with 20 life points. You do this by deploying creatures, casting spells, and strategising effectively.
Setting Up the Game
- Shuffle your own card decs, draw a hand of seven cards, and prepare for battle to commence.
- Decide who goes first – usually by throwing a dice.
- Then on your first turn, play a land card, which provides mana for casting spells. Mana is a form of magic used to pay the cost required to cast most of the cards in the game. It is also used to cover other costs, such as activating some abilities. The most basic mana source is land, though certain spells and abilities can also produce mana. Each spell has a cost in coloured mana symbols, which you pay by tapping lands of the corresponding colours. Tapping simply means to turn it sideways to show that it has been used for a turn. Don’t worry you’ll soon get used to the MTG terminology.
Combat Explained
Understanding combat mechanics is crucial for success in MTG. Let’s take a look at what that means:
- Choose your creatures to attack your opponent, tapping them (i.e. turning them sideways) to signal their involvement.
- Your opponent now has to decide whether to block your attacks with their untapped (i.e. unused) creatures. They may not do this – even though they could – if they are planning a longer term strategy. So watch out for that.
- Damage dealt to an opponent during combat depends on the power and toughness of the attacking and defending creatures.
- Blocked creatures deal no damage to opponents, but unblocked ones do, reducing their life total.
Creature Abilities
Pay close attention to creature abilities, as they can significantly impact the game’s outcome. Each card contains unique abilities that can turn the tide in your favour if you play them wisely and strategically.
Instants Explained
Instants add an element of surprise to the game, allowing you to cast spells at any phase, even during your opponent’s turn. Use them strategically to disrupt your opponent’s plans or bolster your own.
Ready to Play MTG?
Your initial games will almost certainly be a learning experience, but don’t be discouraged. Even the very best of players were once beginners. With practice and perseverance, you’ll master the intricacies of the game and enjoy endless hours of fun. There are local MTG events like Friday Night Magic or Wednesday Night Magic for casual gameplay with friends. And once you have developed your skills and strategic gameplay why not try out national events to test those skills against a broader group of players. You won’t regret embarking on this magical journey!
