Ever feel lost when you see all those colorful Magic: The Gathering decks? You want to jump into the game, but picking the *right* starter deck feels like a quest in itself. It’s tough to know which one will be fun and easy to learn, especially when you’re just starting out. You don’t want to pick a deck that’s too complicated or one that won’t let you play the cool spells you imagined.
This is where we come in. We’re here to break down the world of Magic starter decks so you can stop feeling overwhelmed and start playing. We’ll help you understand what makes a good starter deck and how to find one that fits your style. Get ready to discover decks that are perfect for beginners, packed with exciting cards, and ready to help you win your first games!
Top Starter Deck Magic Recommendations
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, First Flight (White-Blue), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD WHITE-BLUE DECK: With the First Flight deck, take wing with the sphinx Isperia, Supreme Judge, and overwhelm foes with a squadron of flying friends
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
- EXPERIENCE FINAL FANTASY IN A WHOLE NEW WAY—Step into unforgettable stories from FINAL FANTASY games brought to your tabletop with the strategic gameplay of the Magic: The Gathering trading card game
- LEARN TO PLAY MAGIC—Everything you need to play your first games of Magic is here. Enter the fray with two pre-built 60-card decks and learn the essentials with the included guide booklet. You’ll be ready to play in no time.
- 2 FINAL FANTASY-THEMED DECKS—Cast powerful spells, meet iconic characters, and visit familiar locales; each deck contains 60 cards featuring FINAL FANTASY-themed art, including 10 cards entirely new to Magic (5 in each deck)
- ARE YOU A HERO OR A VILLAIN—Challenge a friend, choose your deck, and face off in epic 2-player battles; will you join Cloud, the beloved hero, or side with his nemesis, Sephiroth
- KICK OFF YOUR COLLECTION—Start your collection with Rare cards and shiny foils; each deck includes 5 Rare cards and 1 Mythic Rare Legendary Creature card with a shiny Traditional Foil treatment
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Token Triumph (Green-White), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD GREEN-WHITE DECK: With the Token Triumph deck, ally with the elf cleric Emmara, Soul of the Accord, and overwhelm foes with a multiplying army
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Grave Danger (Blue-Black), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD BLUE-BLACK DECK: With the Grave Danger deck, ally with the human wizards and siblings Gisa and Geralf and overwhelm foes with a multiplying army of zombies
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Chaos Incarnate (Black-Red), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD BLACK-RED DECK: With the Chaos Incarnate deck, embrace the chaos of war with the demon berserker Kardur, Doomscourge, and overwhelm foes with a multiplying army
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Draconic Destruction (Red-Green), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD RED-GREEN DECK: With the Draconic Destruction deck, go on the attack with Atarka, World Render, and double down on dragon damage to overwhelm foes with a multiplying army
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
- LEARN THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF MAGIC—Your Magic: The Gathering journey begins with a friend beside you! Play your first game in a guided battle of Aang versus Zuko. Choose your side and send your forces to your opponent while learning essential gameplay lessons
- GUIDED LEARN-TO-PLAY EXPERIENCE—Start by playing a tutorial game with two 20-card decks, each with a step-by-step guide booklet that will walk you through your first game
- CREATE THEMED DECKS—Once you’ve conquered the basics, master the remaining elements by combining any two of the eight 20-card half-decks into a full 40-card Avatar: The Last Airbender-themed deck; mix and match to try different combos!
- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAY—This Beginner Box includes everything you and a friend need to play, including 2 Playboards that will show you where to place your cards, 2 Spindowns to track your life totals, and 1 Rules Reference booklet to answer any questions you have along the way
- WELCOME TO THE GATHERING—Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game that weaves deep strategy, gorgeous art, fantastical stories, and a thriving fan community all together into a card game experience like no other
- 60-CARD THEME DECK—Accessible, ready-to-play decks filled with iconic Magic themes. A fun, fast entry into Standard format—choose a theme that fits you and jump right in
- WHAT IS STANDARD?—Standard is Magic's most-played 60-card constructed format, where you build decks from the most recently released sets. Dynamic gameplay and evolving strategies make Standard one of the most fun and popular ways to play!
- CONTENTS—1 battle-ready 60-card Angels theme deck, 1 deck box, 5 double-sided token cards, 1 strategy insert, and 1 reference card
Your First Steps into Magic: The Gathering Starter Decks
Ready to dive into the amazing world of Magic: The Gathering? Starter decks are your perfect entry point. They give you everything you need to start playing right away. Let’s explore what makes a good starter deck and what you should know before you buy.
Key Features to Look For
When you’re picking out a starter deck, keep these things in mind.
Easy to Understand Cards
A good starter deck has cards that are easy to read. The words on the cards should be clear. The pictures should help you understand what the card does. This makes learning the game much simpler.
Balanced Gameplay
You want a deck that feels fair to play. It shouldn’t be too strong or too weak. A balanced deck lets you learn different strategies without feeling overwhelmed.
Ready to Play
The best starter decks come with everything you need. This means the deck itself, a rulebook, and maybe even playmats. You can open the box and start playing with a friend immediately.
Clear Theme or Strategy
Some starter decks focus on a specific way to play. For example, one deck might be good at attacking with lots of small creatures. Another might focus on powerful spells. A clear theme helps you learn a game plan.
Important Materials
Starter decks are mostly made of paper cards.
Card Quality
The cards themselves are usually made of sturdy cardboard. This keeps them from bending easily. Good quality cards feel nice in your hand and last longer. The printing on the cards should be sharp and colorful.
Packaging
The box the deck comes in is important too. It protects the cards. A well-designed box makes the deck look exciting. It also helps you store your cards safely.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
A few things can make a starter deck better or worse.
Good Rulebook
A clear and simple rulebook is a big plus. It should explain the basic rules of Magic. It should also show you how to use the cards in your deck. A confusing rulebook makes learning harder.
Well-Chosen Cards
The cards chosen for the deck are very important. They should work well together. They should also introduce you to different types of Magic cards. If the cards don’t make sense together, the deck won’t be fun to play.
Inclusion of Basic Lands
Starter decks always include basic land cards. These are the cards that give you mana, which you need to play other cards. Having the right amount of basic lands is crucial for playing your spells.
User Experience and Use Cases
Starter decks are designed for new players.
Learning the Game
The main use of a starter deck is to learn how to play Magic: The Gathering. They are made to be simple enough for beginners. You can play against a friend who also has a starter deck. This is a great way to learn together.
Casual Play
Once you know the basics, you can use starter decks for casual games. You don’t need to be a pro to have fun with them. They are perfect for a relaxed game night.
Building Blocks
Starter decks can also be a starting point for building your own decks later. You can take cards you like from a starter deck and add them to bigger collections.
Frequently Asked Questions about Magic: The Gathering Starter Decks
Q: What is a Magic: The Gathering starter deck?
A: A starter deck is a pre-made set of Magic cards. It has everything a new player needs to start playing the game. It includes a deck of cards and often a rulebook.
Q: Who are starter decks for?
A: Starter decks are for people who are new to Magic: The Gathering. They help beginners learn the game easily.
Q: Do I need anything else to play with a starter deck?
A: Usually, no. Most starter decks come with all the cards you need. You just need a friend to play with. Some might include a playmat, which is helpful.
Q: How many cards are in a starter deck?
A: A typical starter deck has around 60 cards. This is the standard size for a Magic deck.
Q: Can I win tournaments with a starter deck?
A: Starter decks are great for learning. For serious tournaments, players usually build their own, more powerful decks. But you can certainly have fun and win casual games with them.
Q: How do I learn to play using a starter deck?
A: Read the rulebook that comes with the deck. It will guide you through the steps of playing. Playing with a friend who knows the game can also help a lot.
Q: What if I don’t like the cards in my starter deck?
A: That’s okay! Starter decks are just the beginning. You can buy more cards later to make your deck stronger or change its strategy. You can also trade cards with friends.
Q: Are starter decks good value for money?
A: Yes, starter decks offer good value. They give you a complete, playable deck for a reasonable price. It’s a cost-effective way to get into the game.
Q: What are the different types of starter decks?
A: Starter decks often come in pairs or sets. They are usually designed to play well against each other. They might focus on different colors of magic or different play styles.
Q: Can I combine cards from different starter decks?
A: Absolutely! Once you’ve played with them, you can mix and match cards from different starter decks. This is a fun way to create new and interesting decks.