Summary
Magic: The Gatheringhas experimented with several different products that are meant to help introduce new players to the game, some of which are more effective than others. The best intro products forMagicareready-to-play out of the box, and easy for newcomers to understand. This often means sacrificing these products’ viability when it comes to playing in more competitive settings, but they are still the best ways to learn what can be a somewhat complicated game.
Multiplayer formats like Commandercan be a great way for new players to learnMagic, since it allows them to play and learn in a larger group. Commander is also more casual than formats like Standard or Modern, allowing players to try the game out in a more relaxed environment. Magic also has some multiplayer products besides Commander that can be good for teaching new players. If players prefer to learn traditional one-on-oneMagic, there are also options for that as well.
Magic: The Gathering’s 10 Best Bloomburrow Cards
Magic: The Gathering’s newest set brings with it a slew of capable woodland critters, but only a few can be the best Bloomburrow cards.
10Game Night: Free-For-All Gives Players Simple Decks To Learn With
Game Night Is Pre-Constructed A Multiplayer Product
Game Night: Free-for-Allis aMagicproduct that comes with five pre-constructed decks for players to use. As the name suggests, it is meant to be played in a free-for-all battle with up to five players. This is similar to the Commander format, but the decks are closer to StandardMagicdecks. This means players don’t have to learn the somewhat complicated rules about how the Command zone works.
The decks inGame Night: Free-for-Allare all mono-color decks, meaning they are a lot simpler to play and have a straightforward strategy. This also helps players learn the strengths ofMagic’s five colors and decide which ones they are most interested in using. The decks are a little less complicated than a typical Commander deck, so this isa great product for players who want to test out the game with a larger group, but still want very simple decks.
9Jumpstart Is A Very Simplified Version Of Drafting Magic
Jumpstart Boosters Contain Everything Players Need To Start Playing
Jumpstartboosters are a unique way for players totry out the idea of DraftMagicwithout needing as much know-how. EachJumpstartbooster contains 20 cards, including lands. By mixing any two boosters together, players can create a playable 40-card deck. This allows players to crack boosters at random, and then learn to pilot a new deck on the fly.
Booster Draft is anMTGformat where players take turns opening booster packs, randomly assembling decks to play with.
Alternatively, if players want to get some feel for making strategic choices in a Limited environment, players can open threeJumpstartboosters each. Then, they can choose the two themes they think will work best together to create their 40-card deck. This helps newer players start to get into the mindset of choosing the best combinations of cards they are randomly given, which is a necessary skill for Limited formats.
Jumpstartcan also just be a fun, casual way for more experienced players to play a game that they know will likely be pretty balanced.Jumpstartproducts have been released alongside several sets, and there have been a few standaloneJumpstartsets as well. There is an upcomingJumpstartset releasing alongsideMagic: The Gathering Foundationson August 08, 2025.
8Assassin’s Creed Starter Kit Is A Low-Commitment Way To Try The Game
The Cheapest Product Players Can Buy That Includes Two Full Decks
Magic: The Gathering’s Starter Kit products are typically a good way for players who are curious aboutMagicto try it out. These kits come with two full decks, deck boxes for them, and a guide on how to play the game. They typically sell for around $20, meaning players are only paying $10 per deck, which is the cheapest price point one can find for a ready-to-playMagicdeck.These decks allow players to get a feel forMagic’s mechanics, and see if the game is for them without having to invest too much money in it.
Magic: The Gathering’s New Cards Are Breaking A 25-Year Tradition
Magic: The Gathering has been releasing a lot of new types of cards, and some from their upcoming tie-in set are breaking a long-standing tradition.
TheAssassin’s CreedStarter Kit has the added benefit of having built-in appeal for fans ofAssassin’s Creedgames. The decks include major characters from theAssassin’s Creedfranchises, like Ezio and Eivor. Even ifACfans decideMagicisn’t for them, they’ll still have a nice collectible from a franchise they enjoy.
7Ravnica: Clue Edition Adds Familiar Board Game Elements To Magic
Adds Clue’s Mystery Solving To A Multiplayer Magic Game
Every so often, Wizards of the Coast releases a product that is a hybrid betweenMagicand a board game of some kind.Ravnica: Clue Editionis the most recent example, combining some of the whodunit aspects ofCluewith traditionalMagicgameplay. The box includes everything that up to four people would need to play right out of the box, soplayers won’t need any previousMagicproducts to enjoyRavnica: Clue Edition.
The other nice aspect ofRavnica: Clue Editionis that itsClueelements can work just as well with players’ other decks as they can with the cards that come in the box. This gives the game a little more replayability than if it only worked with the cards included. Each box also comes with a Shock Land with a new art treatment. These lands are used often in a variety of formats, so players who start collectingMagicwithRavnica: Clue Editionwill already have a powerful game piece for another deck or to trade.
6Explorers Of Ixalan Is A Unqiue Magic Board Game Players Can Use To Learn Together
Multiplayer Format Allows Players To Learn Together
Explorers of Ixalanis anotherMagicboard game, but one with some clear advantages overRavnica: Clue Edition. Instead of randomized decks like inClue,Explorers of Ixalancomes with four fully constructed decks, each with a consistent decklist across all copies of the board game. These decks focus onIxalan’s four main creature groups: Vampires, Pirates, Merfolk, and Dinosaurs. Merfolk and Vampires are also well-represented across all ofMagic, so players can get a feel for how these popular deck archetypes work.
Explorers of Ixalanis a four-person free-for-all game, similar to the popular Commander format. The game also adds the option for players to explore an island as they play, possibly uncovering hidden benefits for themselves.This setup makes the game a bit more social, as players can chat and try to work together in the game, and help one another figure out how to play. The benefits players can get from the board can also help swing the game in their favor if they are having unlucky draws, which helps keep players from feeling stuck or getting too far behind.
5Magic Foundations Beginner Box Gives Players Easy Decks To Learn With
Includes 10 20-Card Decks Which Can Be Mixed Together
Magic Foundationsis an upcoming set with the express purpose of helping new players get intoMagic. TheBeginner Boxis an excellent product for players looking to learn how to play thanks to its simple setup. The box comes with 10 packs of 20 cards, similar toJumpstartboosters, but they aren’t randomized. Instead, eachBeginner Boxhas the same 10 packs,eachdesigned to be easy for new players to understand.
Players start out with a tutorial game where they each use just one 20-card pack to play an extremely abbreviated version ofMagic. This helps teach them the fundamentals. Then, players can mix and match any two packs to create a 40-card deck for a fuller experience. This is a great way to ease players into the game quickly.
TheBeginner Boxalso includes some nice accessories like spindown life counters and playmats that guide players where they should place their cards. LongtimeMagicplayers will be thankful that these mats will prevent any new players from placing their lands at the front of their board.
4Foundations Starter Collection Gives Players The Tools They Need To Build A Deck
Learning To Build A Deck Will Teach Players More About Magic’s Intricacies
TheMagic Foundations Starter Collectionis a slightly more complicated product than theBeginner Box, but ultimately a better one. It includes over 350Magiccards, 95 basic lands, 14 token cards, and a numbered click wheel for tracking life. It also comes with three sealedMagic Foundationsboosters, adding some variety to the cards players will get in each box.
AlthoughtheStarter Collectiontasksplayers with having to build their own decks, this may ultimately help players get a better understanding of the game. Players who never spend time understanding how deck construction works will have difficulty upgrading pre-built decks and won’t be able to participate inMagic’s Limited events, which are some of the best experiences the game has to offer. Though more challenging than picking up pre-built decks, players who start out with aStarter Collectionwill ultimately be better prepared to continue playing.
Having a lot of cards to play around with alsogives players more of a chance to build the type of deck they are interested in. This is nicer than being saddled with one type of deck. Not allMagicplayers enjoy the same playstyle, and some beginners may be turned off if the pre-built deck they choose doesn’t fit their preferred strategy.
3The Bloomburrow Starter Kit Helps Players Play On Paper & Online
The Kit Comes With A Code To Unlock Its Decks On Magic Arena
TheBloomburrowStarter Kit is similar to theAssassin’s Creedone but would bea better choice for players who are looking to get intoMagic’s unique storyas well as the game.Magic’s worlds, characters, and art are just as much a draw to the game for some players as the gameplay, andBloomburrowis one of the best sets in recent history when it comes to showing off a fun and unique plane. That means this Starter Kit has a slight edge in terms of getting players more interested in all aspects ofMagic.
TheBloomburrowStarter Kitalso includes codes to unlock its decks onMagic: The Gathering Arena. This means players can use their new decks in person, and digitally when it is more convenient.MTG Arenais a great way for new players to try out the game, since the rules are automated. Players can also go up against bots, which can be less intimidating than challenging real players. Having the Starter Kit decks gives players a jumpstart on their digital collection, and means they have a deck they are familiar with as they get started with the game.
2Modern Horizons 3 Commander Decks Are Good Enough To Play Without Upgrades
Most Pre-Constructed Decks Require Upgrades To Compete Even With Casual Players
Magicreleases a lot of pre-constructed Commander decks, but not all of them are perfect for new players. Middle-of-the-road decks have the problem of being too casual to compete at local events, but too expensive to simply be a preview of the game like the Starter Kits are. If players are looking for a pre-made Commander deck that will allow them to hold their own against other players at their local Commander events, then theModern Horizons 3Commander decks are a good choice.
Several of these decks, especially Eldrazi Incursion, aremore powerful than the average pre-constructed Commander deck. They won’t stand up to highly competitive decks, but they will allow players to sit down at a casual event and have a chance of winning. The downside is that these decks are a bit more expensive than other Commander decks, but it is ultimately worth it if players see themselves getting intoMagiclong-term. Players would have to spend money to make other pre-made decks reach the same level as these, so having a deck that’s good out of the box is easier.
The only other downside to these decks is thattheir strategies can be a bit complicated for newer players. That said, although the price tag and strategies may be daunting to new players, some may look back and wish they had started here instead of with a less powerful pre-constructed deck that they had to sink more money into making competitive. Players should look for these at big-box retail stores where they tend to be a bit less expensive than at game stores that know how valuable they are.
1Starter Commander Decks Make Learning Magic’s Most Popular Format Easy
These Decks Are Designed To Be Cheaper & More Accessible
Magic’sStarter Commanderdecks are the polar opposite of theModern Horizons 3decks:their price point is low, and their strategies are very simple. These decks will be a more attractive starting point for a larger number of players since they are less of an upfront investment in the game. They will also have a less steep learning curve, meaning players will be able to play these decks to the best of their ability after fewer games.
Starter Commanderdecks are best for players who are looking to get intoMagic: The Gatheringwith a dedicated group of friends. The decks are balanced well when compared to one another, so games will feel fair. However, these decks are not great for a player who wants to get started at local events. These decks are largely underpowered even compared to other pre-constructed decks, so players may find it frustrating to play with these decks against more experienced players.
