Summary

• Magic's best intro products are ready-to-play and easy to understand, sacrificing competitiveness for simplicity.
• Multiplayer formats like Commander are great for new players, offering a casual, group-friendly environment.
• Jumpstart boosters provide an easy way for players to try drafting Magic without needing extensive knowledge.

Magic: The Gathering has 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 for Magic are ready-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 Commander can be a great way for new players to learn Magic, 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-one Magic, there are also options for that as well.

10 Game Night: Free-For-All Gives Players Simple Decks To Learn With

Game Night Is Pre-Constructed A Multiplayer Product

Game Night: Free-for-All is a Magic product 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 Standard Magic decks. This means players don’t have to learn the somewhat complicated rules about how the Command zone works.

The decks in Game Night: Free-for-All are all mono-color decks, meaning they are a lot simpler to play and have a straightforward strategy. This also helps players learn the strengths of Magic’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 is a great product for players who want to test out the game with a larger group, but still want very simple decks.

9 Jumpstart Is A Very Simplified Version Of Drafting Magic

Jumpstart Boosters Contain Everything Players Need To Start Playing

Jumpstart boosters are a unique way for players to try out the idea of Draft Magic without needing as much know-how. Each Jumpstart booster 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 an MTG format 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 three Jumpstart boosters 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.

Jumpstart can also just be a fun, casual way for more experienced players to play a game that they know will likely be pretty balanced. Jumpstart products have been released alongside several sets, and there have been a few standalone Jumpstart sets as well. There is an Jumpstart set releasing alongside Magic: The Gathering Foundations on November 15, 2024.

8 Assassin’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 about Magic to 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-play Magic deck. These decks allow players to get a feel for Magic’s mechanics, and see if the game is for them without having to invest too much money in it.

The Assassin’s Creed Starter Kit has the added benefit of having built-in appeal for fans of Assassin’s Creed games. The decks include major characters from the Assassin’s Creed franchises, like Ezio and Eivor. Even if AC fans decide Magic isn’t for them, they’ll still have a nice collectible from a franchise they enjoy.

7 Ravnica: 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 between Magic and a board game of some kind. Ravnica: Clue Edition is the most recent example, combining some of the whodunit aspects of Clue with traditional Magic gameplay. The box includes everything that up to four people would need to play right out of the box, so players won’t need any previous Magic products to enjoy Ravnica: Clue Edition.

The other nice aspect of Ravnica: Clue Edition is that its Clue elements 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 collecting Magic with Ravnica: Clue Edition will already have a powerful game piece for another deck or to trade.

6 Explorers Of Ixalan Is A Unqiue Magic Board Game Players Can Use To Learn Together

Multiplayer Format Allows Players To Learn Together

Explorers of Ixalan is another Magic board game, but one with some clear advantages over Ravnica: Clue Edition. Instead of randomized decks like in Clue, Explorers of Ixalan comes with four fully constructed decks, each with a consistent decklist across all copies of the board game. These decks focus on Ixalan’s four main creature groups: Vampires, Pirates, Merfolk, and Dinosaurs. Merfolk and Vampires are also well-represented across all of Magic, so players can get a feel for how these popular deck archetypes work.

Explorers of Ixalan is 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.

5 Magic Foundations Beginner Box Gives Players Easy Decks To Learn With

Includes 10 20-Card Decks Which Can Be Mixed Together

Magic Foundations is an set with the express purpose of helping new players get into Magic. The Beginner Box is 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 to Jumpstart boosters, but they aren’t randomized. Instead, each Beginner Box has the same 10 packs, each designed 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 of Magic. 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.

The Beginner Box also includes some nice accessories like spindown life counters and playmats that guide players where they should place their cards. Longtime Magic players will be thankful that these mats will prevent any new players from placing their lands at the front of their board.

4 Foundations 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

The Magic Foundations Starter Collection is a slightly more complicated product than the Beginner Box, but ultimately a better one. It includes over 350 Magic cards, 95 basic lands, 14 token cards, and a numbered click wheel for tracking life. It also comes with three sealed Magic Foundations boosters, adding some variety to the cards players will get in each box.

Although the Starter Collection tasks players 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 in Magic’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 a Starter Collection will ultimately be better prepared to continue playing.

Having a lot of cards to play around with also gives 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 all Magic players enjoy the same playstyle, and some beginners may be turned off if the pre-built deck they choose doesn’t fit their preferred strategy.

3 The Bloomburrow Starter Kit Helps Players Play On Paper & Online

The Kit Comes With A Code To Unlock Its Decks On Magic Arena

The Bloomburrow Starter Kit is similar to the Assassin’s Creed one but would be a better choice for players who are looking to get into Magic’s unique story as 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, and Bloomburrow is 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 of getting players more interested in all aspects of Magic.

The Bloomburrow Starter Kit also includes codes to unlock its decks on Magic: The Gathering Arena. This means players can use their new decks in person, and digitally when it is more convenient. MTG Arena is 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.

2 Modern Horizons 3 Commander Decks Are Good Enough To Play Without Upgrades

Most Pre-Constructed Decks Require Upgrades To Compete Even With Casual Players

Magic releases 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 the Modern Horizons 3 Commander decks are a good choice.

Several of these decks, especially Eldrazi Incursion, are more 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 into Magic long-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 that their 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.

1 Starter Commander Decks Make Learning Magic's Most Popular Format Easy

These Decks Are Designed To Be Cheaper & More Accessible

Magic’s Starter Commander decks are the polar opposite of the Modern Horizons 3 decks: 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 Commander decks are best for players who are looking to get into Magic: The Gathering with 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.