Learn to play

Magic: The Gathering

The original trading card game, and the one with the most ways to play, from a quick duel to a four-player Commander night.

  • 2+ players
  • 60-card decks, 100 for Commander
  • 20–60 minutes

Start with

All Magic: The Gathering sealed

A Starter Kit is two ready-to-play decks for a first duel; the Starter Commander Deck is the way into the format most of our store nights run.

How it plays

The idea

You start at 20 life with a 60-card deck. Lands make mana, mana casts creatures and spells, and creatures attack your opponent's life total. Get them from 20 to 0 and you win. Commander, the format most of our store nights run, uses 100-card decks built around a legendary creature and starts everyone at 40 life.

Your first game

A Starter Kit gives you two ready-made decks, so one box is a first game for two. Play a land, tap it for mana, cast a creature, attack next turn. Combat and instants are where the game opens up, and both make sense after a couple of games.

What to buy next

Your first Commander deck. A preconstructed Commander deck is a complete, balanced 100-card deck and the way most players join a Commander night. After that, upgrade it one single at a time.

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