Welcome to the enchanting world of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a game that blends deep strategic gameplay with a rich fantasy lore. Whether you're a fan of competitive gaming or love immersing yourself in fantastical worlds, MTG offers something for everyone. Let's embark on a journey to discover what makes Magic: The Gathering a beloved game played by millions worldwide.
What is Magic: The Gathering?
Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game created by mathematician and game designer Richard Garfield and first published in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Since its inception, MTG has grown into a global phenomenon, captivating players with its complex strategy and stunning art.
A Game of Strategy and Skill
At its core, Magic is a game about strategy. Players, known as Planeswalkers in the game's lore, battle each other using decks they've built from their collection of Magic cards. Each card represents magical spells, creatures, and artifacts that players can use to defeat their opponents.
The Cards: A Blend of Art and Function
MTG cards are renowned for their intricate artwork and detailed lore. Each card is not just a playing piece but a work of art, showcasing the creativity and talent of various artists. The cards themselves are categorized into different types, such as creatures, sorceries, instants, enchantments, artifacts, and lands, each serving a unique role in gameplay.
Creatures
Creatures are the backbone of your strategy, representing monsters, warriors, and other beings in the Magic multiverse. They can attack your opponent and block opposing creatures, dealing damage to opponents or protecting your life total.
Instants, Sorceries, and Enchantments
Instants are one time effects that can be played at any time during you or your opponent’s turn. Sorceries are similar except they can only be played during the Main Phase of your turn (more on that soon). Enchantments are cards that stay in play and have an ongoing effect on the game.
Artifacts
Artifacts represent incredibly powerful contraptions, devices, and weaponry you can use during the game.Â
Lands
Lands produce the different colors of mana, which are the primary resource in the game, that you use to cast your spells and summon your creatures.Â
Planeswalkers
These formidable cards can alter the course of your battle by providing reusable abilities that grant you game advantages, such as extra draws, additional life points, or annihilating your opponent's creatures.
Each planeswalker enters the battlefield with a number of loyalty counters, displayed in the bottom right corner of the card. Activating a planeswalker's abilities involves adding or removing these counters. Only one loyalty ability of each planeswalker can be activated per turn, and only during the main phase of its controller's turn.Â
Opponents may choose to attack your planeswalker card with one or more of their creatures, rather than targeting you directly. Damage dealt to planeswalkers removes an equal number of loyalty counters from them. If a planeswalker's loyalty counters reach zero, the card is removed from the battlefield and sent to the graveyard.
Battles
Battles are transforming double-faced cards. These cards enter the battlefield face-up with defense counters on them. Defense counters indicate the amount of damage required to defeat the card.
The controller of a battle card doesn't aim to defend it—they want to take it down. As a battle card enters the battlefield, its controller chooses an opponent to be its protector. This protector can then block creatures that attack the Battle card. All other players, including the controller, can attack it. Each time a battle card takes damage, that number of defense counters are removed from the card. This is not limited to combat damage. Some spells directly state that they damage battles. Spells that say they target "any permanent" can also target a battle. Once there are no more defense counters on a battle, it is exiled and you can cast the back face of the card without paying its mana cost.
Different Colors of Mana: Philosophy and Gameplay
Magic: The Gathering is built on a system of five distinct colors of mana, each representing unique philosophies, styles of play, and characteristics. These colors are an integral part of the game's identity, shaping not only the mechanics of gameplay but also the lore and world-building.
White Mana
Philosophy: White mana embodies order, justice, and community. It focuses on equality, protection, healing, and the greater good.
Gameplay: White specializes in defensive strategies, life gain, healing, and creating a supportive environment. It often excels at creating armies, protecting creatures, and maintaining balance on the battlefield.
Blue Mana
Philosophy: Blue mana represents intellect, knowledge, control, and foresight. It is all about adapting and outthinking opponents.
Gameplay: Blue excels in controlling the game, countering spells, drawing cards, and having versatile solutions. It often focuses on manipulating the game's tempo and ensuring long-term advantage.
Black Mana
Philosophy: Black mana embodies individualism, ambition, power, and amorality. It's willing to make sacrifices for personal gain and seeks to control life and death.
Gameplay: Black is known for its ruthlessness, often involving discard effects, creature destruction, and using life as a resource. It excels in trading life for power and gaining advantages at a cost.
Red Mana
Philosophy: Red mana signifies freedom, emotion, impulse, and chaos. It follows its desires and acts on passion and immediate instincts.
Gameplay: Red is aggressive and loves direct damage. It focuses on quick, aggressive strategies, hasty creatures, burn spells, and chaotic effects that can disrupt opponents' plans.
Green Mana
Philosophy: Green mana represents nature, growth, instinct, and harmony. It values interconnectedness, balance, and the natural order of things.
Gameplay: Green excels in ramping up mana, powerful creatures, and enhancing its forces with buffs and protection. It often aims for big, impactful plays and overwhelming the opponent with sheer force.
The colors of your deck make up the overall theme and strategy of the cards you play. Most decks have one to three different colors of cards in them, giving them a mix of effects and some flexibility.
The Formats: Diverse Ways to Play
One of the game's most appealing aspects is its variety of formats. The most popular include:
- Standard: A dynamic format where only the newest cards are playable.
- Commander (EDH): A casual, multiplayer format with a focus on social interaction.
- Draft: Players build decks from a pool of randomly selected cards.
- Modern: A format allowing cards from the last two decades.
If you're looking to play Magic with other like-minded folks, we host a variety of weekly events at both the Abbotsford and Cloverdale House of Cards locations!
Check out our Events Calendar or drop into the shop to find out more.
Why Play Magic: The Gathering?
Magic is more than just a game; it's a community. Players gather at local game stores like House of Cards Abbotsford and Cloverdale, friends' houses, and major tournaments, sharing their love for the game. It's a hobby that fosters creativity, strategic thinking, and social interaction.
Magic: The Gathering is a rich, complex game with a welcoming community. It's a game that rewards skill, creativity, and strategic thinking. Whether you're drawn to the competition, the community, or the stunning art, MTG offers a unique experience that's both challenging and rewarding.
Ready to dive in? Find out more in How to Start Collecting and Playing Magic: The Gathering.
