Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

[Relambrien]

So a lot of my friends play Magic and I've been interested in getting involved with it. They're all quite good, but none of them have been able to tell me how I should start playing. I'm moderately knowledgeable of the general format and rules of the game, and how the color system generally works. I'm wrapping my head around how the game's strategy works with regards to board control and win conditions, etc. I play fighting games competitively, so the concepts transfer over a bit.

That said, I'd like to learn more. How should a new player get started? I understand that the monetary investment alone would be quite high, but I think I'm okay on that front. My main question is how I go about learning what makes a good strategy and how to build a deck, and of course how one should think while playing the game and how to employ these strategies. Are there any good resources available? I haven't found much beyond the official website.

[T-Force]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

I've only been playing for a year or so, but as for deck building, the best trick I've learned is to base a deck around a rare or a combination involving it. Or even multiple ones.
(Ex. I have a Grixis deck that features Nicol Bolas, but I also have a Death Baron with gives +1/+1 to Skeletons and other Zombies so I put in a lot of Zombies and Skeletons).
Not to mention, when in doubt, ask the Magic expert at the card shop you'd buy from what would be a good recent deck for beginners. I don't know what the general view is regarding intro packs, but I figure that if you tweak it enough you can still build something on your own with help.
As for other resources, I've just relied on my friends for tips on deck-building as well as building them. The aforementioned Grixis one was the first one I built on my own.

[chocobothief12]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

When you're first starting out, just focus on a single color and work around that. You could try a type of speedy lock down deck, which is what I did as my first deck (all white kithkin deck with stalls and exiling spells.) What T-Force says is also true. If you have a favorite card, you can build around it and add things that play to that cards strengths, but also ones that cover its weaknesses. Another thing I was taught, was that when you're making a deck, it should have an equal ratio of 1/3rd creatures 1/3rd lands and 1/3rd miscellaneous spells. that way you have better shots at pulling what you need instead of having to end up discarding something you may need later just because you aren't pulling any lands to pay for your mana costs. Once you get the gist of it, you can start making dual color decks and eventually 3 color as well. It's really easy to pick up after a few games so hopefully this info helps you a bit.

[devonin]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

I'd hesitate before describing moving from mono to two- to three-colour decks as actually progressing, or being a move you'd want to make. Most of the best competitive decks these days are two-coloured or mono-coloured, and it's a lot easier to stabilize a mana base in fewer colours.

Also, when it comes to deck construction, the important question is "How does the deck win" and then "What are all the ways I can make that happen as quickly and consistantly as possible" ?

In many cases, the 20/20/20 land/creature/spell principle ends up hindering rather than helping you. My housemate plays an -incredibly- strong blue/white control deck with 25 lands, and thinks it might even be a touch low. And it's pretty rare that I see any deck that actually splits creatures/spells equally. They tend to cant heavily towards one or the other depending on the mechanism of the deck.

[T-Force]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

I've always lived by the philosophy of 24/12/24. Although that doesn't leave too much for spells. It all depends on what kind of deck you're making.

Also, I have a question. Do all decks HAVE to be 60 cards? Cause I have some decks with anywhere between 60 to 100 and I was wondering if I have to chop those numbers down.

[devonin]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

The minimum is 60. The maximum is "Whatever number can still be comfortably and easily shuffled by one person with no assistance."

[chocobothief12]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

I actually have a 75 card tri-colored artifact deck and I don't have any problems pulling what I need. I say it all depends on how much support you give your deck. If you are constantly preventing your opponent from making moves, then you don't need as many creatures.

[T-Force]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

Thanks, Devonin.

Also, one of these days, I need to take apart all of my decks, gather every card I have and start building a load of decks.

[esupin]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

Also go check out the Wizards forums - esp. Standard Deck Help and Standard Tournament Center (or Legacy, if that's what you're playing). There's a lot of deckbuilding discussions and you'll find stickied threads for the top tier decks you're bound to run into if you're going to play competitively. There are also YouTubers who record and commentate gameplay (on MTG Online): http://www.youtube.com/user/AuranAlchemist

[Dimitri13]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

The minimum is 60. The maximum is "Whatever number can still be comfortably and easily shuffled by one person with no assistance."

Battle of Wits.

[who_cares973]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

I'd hesitate before describing moving from mono to two- to three-colour decks as actually progressing, or being a move you'd want to make. Most of the best competitive decks these days are two-coloured or mono-coloured, and it's a lot easier to stabilize a mana base in fewer colours.

Also, when it comes to deck construction, the important question is "How does the deck win" and then "What are all the ways I can make that happen as quickly and consistantly as possible" ?

In many cases, the 20/20/20 land/creature/spell principle ends up hindering rather than helping you. My housemate plays an -incredibly- strong blue/white control deck with 25 lands, and thinks it might even be a touch low. And it's pretty rare that I see any deck that actually splits creatures/spells equally. They tend to cant heavily towards one or the other depending on the mechanism of the deck.

i have to agree with this post. i dont think ive ever made a serious deck with more than two colours because like devonin said it gets pretty hard to draw what you need and in the end your card count gets stupid high.i use to play a with a 27/18/15 wurm deck which won me a school tourney

[devonin]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

Battle of Wits.

Was quite successful in Standard/Extended for quite a while. 250 card deck in most cases.

[HoneyMelonCalibrator]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

I always assumed Magic was just as easy to pick up and play as Poke'mon was. Apparently, I was wrong. I purchased a Magic deck years ago just for the hell of it. Maybe I should look into getting back into it.

[esupin]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

i have to agree with this post. i dont think ive ever made a serious deck with more than two colours because like devonin said it gets pretty hard to draw what you need and in the end your card count gets stupid high.i use to play a with a 27/18/15 wurm deck which won me a school tourney

If we're talking about Standard, I'm going to have to disagree. Jund was 3 colors and it was the deck to beat until most of its cards rotated out this fall - and Naya and Grixis were popular and well-performing 3 color decks as well. There were and still are plenty of dual and fetch lands to facilitate 3 colors in Standard, though post-rotation it's not as viable. For beginners it's a lot easier to stick with one or two colors.

[devonin]

Re: Magic: the Gathering for a new guy?

Yeah, except that they were in standard with a block that was BUILT around 3-color decks.

Get rid of the obelisks and the shrines and the fetches, and 3-color ain't so hot anymore.