by W.F » 07 Jul 2025, 12:09
Magic: The Gathering has been one of the most popular card games in the entire world since its debut in 1993. New cards and sets have been released gradually over the past 3 decades, so it can feel overwhelming to get into this hobby/game. That does bring the question: how can you get into Magic: The Gathering now? Here are some of the things to consider.
Start playing MTG Arena
MTG Arena is a free-to-play, digital version of Magic: The Gathering that you can download and access right away. The great thing about MTG Arena is that you can play it on a plethora of devices these days. On top of that, it has starter decks, tutorials, and a large card pool to experiment with. It’s also the ideal option if you want to learn the rules. And, of course, you can build your collection as you play, which makes it an excellent venture into the Magic: The Gathering world.
Pick the desired format
If you want to play Magic: The Gathering, you need to pick the right format to fit your style. Constructed is where you build a deck in advance from your card collection. However, you can also go the Limited route. Limited events are sealed or draft events where you’re opening the pack and you’re creating a deck on the spot. A lot of people choose the premade, constructed option, but the Limited experience is quite exhilarating and fun as well.
What’s your budget?
Like any hobby, Magic: The Gathering can be expensive to get into. Starter products tend to be the cheapest way to get into the game. However, you can find many expensive Magic: The Gathering cards online if you want to get something rarer. It’s totally up to you, the game can be as affordable or as expensive as you want it to be
.
Watch some gameplay videos
Watching Magic: The Gathering content online is a great way to get into the game. The reason is simple: you can learn the rules, see how experts play, and create some amazing strategies you acquire from others. Ideally, you want to start with tutorials, of which there are many, especially on YouTube. Magic: The Gathering’s YouTube Channel has great tutorials, so do other channels like The Command Zone, Tolarian Community College, and many others. It’s very important to start with the basics, and then watch as much content as you can to see all those rules in action.
Access some Magic courses
You can find many courses related to Magic: The Gathering online. Those can help you learn the rules and everything in between. The MTG Pro Reid Duke’s Level One Course is a great read because it explains all the game’s rules with the utmost detail. Of course, you can get started with the introductory stuff, and then you go from there.
Learn what products you should buy!
A good rule of thumb here is to figure out what purchases are the best if you want to create great decks. A deck builder’s toolkit, planeswalker decks, as well as booster packs are a bit of a gamble, but they could be an option. If you want a better starting point, things like battle decks, commander decks/precons, Arena starter kits, or challenger decks, these can be a solid option to consider. Buying singles is usually the best idea, but that’s totally up to you!
As you can see, getting into Magic: The Gathering is not very difficult. Sure, the game has evolved over the years, but the barrier of entry has always been rather low. It’s a good idea to get accustomed to the basics, and then you can slowly improve your skills. Educating yourself when it comes to the latest rules, accessing newer cards, and learning how to create great decks will always help as well!
Magic: The Gathering has been one of the most popular card games in the entire world since its debut in 1993. New cards and sets have been released gradually over the past 3 decades, so it can feel overwhelming to get into this hobby/game. That does bring the question: how can you get into Magic: The Gathering now? Here are some of the things to consider.
Start playing MTG Arena
MTG Arena is a free-to-play, digital version of Magic: The Gathering that you can download and access right away. The great thing about MTG Arena is that you can play it on a plethora of devices these days. On top of that, it has starter decks, tutorials, and a large card pool to experiment with. It’s also the ideal option if you want to learn the rules. And, of course, you can build your collection as you play, which makes it an excellent venture into the Magic: The Gathering world.
Pick the desired format
If you want to play Magic: The Gathering, you need to pick the right format to fit your style. Constructed is where you build a deck in advance from your card collection. However, you can also go the Limited route. Limited events are sealed or draft events where you’re opening the pack and you’re creating a deck on the spot. A lot of people choose the premade, constructed option, but the Limited experience is quite exhilarating and fun as well.
What’s your budget?
Like any hobby, Magic: The Gathering can be expensive to get into. Starter products tend to be the cheapest way to get into the game. However, you can find many expensive Magic: The Gathering cards online if you want to get something rarer. It’s totally up to you, the game can be as affordable or as expensive as you want it to be
.
Watch some gameplay videos
Watching Magic: The Gathering content online is a great way to get into the game. The reason is simple: you can learn the rules, see how experts play, and create some amazing strategies you acquire from others. Ideally, you want to start with tutorials, of which there are many, especially on YouTube. Magic: The Gathering’s YouTube Channel has great tutorials, so do other channels like The Command Zone, Tolarian Community College, and many others. It’s very important to start with the basics, and then watch as much content as you can to see all those rules in action.
Access some Magic courses
You can find many courses related to Magic: The Gathering online. Those can help you learn the rules and everything in between. The MTG Pro Reid Duke’s Level One Course is a great read because it explains all the game’s rules with the utmost detail. Of course, you can get started with the introductory stuff, and then you go from there.
Learn what products you should buy!
A good rule of thumb here is to figure out what purchases are the best if you want to create great decks. A deck builder’s toolkit, planeswalker decks, as well as booster packs are a bit of a gamble, but they could be an option. If you want a better starting point, things like battle decks, commander decks/precons, Arena starter kits, or challenger decks, these can be a solid option to consider. Buying singles is usually the best idea, but that’s totally up to you!
As you can see, getting into Magic: The Gathering is not very difficult. Sure, the game has evolved over the years, but the barrier of entry has always been rather low. It’s a good idea to get accustomed to the basics, and then you can slowly improve your skills. Educating yourself when it comes to the latest rules, accessing newer cards, and learning how to create great decks will always help as well!
