Do you know how to play Magic the Gathering? It is perfect two player easy-to-learn trading card game that is about fantasy battle scenes with magical creatures.
How do you play basic rules in Magic the Gathering? To better understand Magic the Gathering game, three main fundamental rules govern the game: how a magic card is read, the playing area, and most importantly, the actions in the game.
The cards are formatted with the information needed is in the same every place on every card. In addition, each card has a unique name that gives it a distinct identity.
However, the card can be reprinted in the form of many magic cards in the same set. Note, two cards of the same name cannot serve a different purpose in the game.
A group of four cards of the same name can be given to a player except for basic land cards, which are generally unlimited in the game.
The MTG cards are spelled with a MANA COST resource, which each card is exhibiting a TYPE LINE. The MANA is generated by a primary resource called lands that are played once in every turn.
This set also has creatures that fight for a player, used to defend and attack. It also has Artifacts and Enchantments as a magical object to cause magic effects that remain on the battlefield until it is destroyed.
In addition, the set has spells called Sorceries, which have a one-time effect in every turn. Finally, the magic set has spells called the instants, which are cast anytime during the game and also have a one-time effect in every turn.
Some cards have special abilities, including reminder text and flavor text, even though they may not affect the gameplay.
In this article, we are going to review the basic rules of Magic the Gathering for beginners. Answered below are frequently asked questions to help you understand how to get the game started with easy to follow step by step instructions.
What are the rules for standard MTG?
The basic rule for the standard Magic the Gathering is that the desk should have at least 60 cards.
At most, 15 cards are included in a player’s sideboard, and if the player uses one card, the player should not include more than four cards from any other player in both the main deck and the sideboard, except basic lands cards.
Nonetheless, there is no maximum size of a card deck for a given player, provided the player can shuffle their deck in hand without any assistance.
It is allowed for a player to use an old set of cards on the desk, especially when a card is an alternative version. However, if a player is not sure of the card, the player should check on the gatherer to check on sets available and the legality section.
How many cards do you need to play Magic the Gathering?
The standard rules indicates that a player should have at least 60 cards to play Magic the Gathering. In addition, a player is allowed to draw at most four cards for any particular card so that the player can draw four cards of all types.
During the game, the arena needs a minimum of 60 cards by giving a player additional 15 cards on the sideboard. The cards on the sideboard are switched in and out during the game.
If the game is based on a limited event, including a booster draft, a player needs only 40 cards on the main deck to play.
With a more advanced deck based on big cards, a player can draw as many cards as 100 cards on the main deck.
Magic the Gathering rules commander
The commander in Magic the Gathering is either a legendary creature, a planeswalker with the ability to be a commander, or a pair of legendary creatures or planeswalkers that both have a partner.
The basic rule of the commander gives a player the chance to choose a legendary creature that serves as a commander in the player’s main desk.
Each player then plays with a 99-card set with cards having the commander’s color.
The commander can be cast multiple times during the game. Therefore, the legendary creature comes back repeatedly during the game, acting as the lead charge to win the battle for a victory.
The commander deck gives a player the unique ability called eminence, which allows the player’s commander to lead in the command zone before entering the battlefield.
The eminence powers appear on characters in the entire magic lore. This gives a player a chance to call on the powers of the best leaders in the multiverse.
Magic the Gathering rules
Magic the Gathering rules are grouped into two, namely, basic rules and comprehensive rules.
Basic rules are introduction rules that a player needs to start the game. This includes how a player reads a magic card including the name.
- Name: Every card in the Magic set has a unique name that gives it a distinct identity.
- Mana Cost: Refers to a resource in a magic spell that enables the player to cast the spell cards.
- Topline: These are subtypes or super types that give more information about the card.
- Expansion Symbol: Refers to a symbol that describes where a magic set comes from.
- Textbox: It contains cards with special abilities of reminder text and flavor text that appears below the divider bar.
- Power Toughness: This is a box found in every right corner of a creature card that shows the damage it can cause.
The other area covered in the basic rule is the play arena, which includes a library, hand, battlefield, graveyard, and exile. Finally, a player needs to know the necessary game actions to be taken during the game, including tapping and untapping the cards, casting spells, attacking, and blocking.
On the other hand, the comprehensive rules refer to reference document that has all the rules found for Magic the Gathering. They are not meant to be used in the game, instead they are used to consult specific rules during the game.
How to play Magic the Gathering step by step
To nail the trading card game like Magic the Gathering, understanding the basic rules and being able to read the cards to formulate a strategy is important. Here are step by step instructions to learn how to play Magic the Gathering as a beginner.
Purchase the cards with booster packs containing ten commons, three uncommon, and one rare, intro packs with 60 cards, fat packs with 9 boosters, 80 basic lands, and two deck boxes, and finally with a booster pack that has 36 booster packs.
Construct a desk by introducing a new rotation that varies depending on the kind of play style you are looking for. The deck should have 60 cards minimum with no upper limit.
Introduce the Mana, which has different colors including red, white, black, green, and black. This allows the player to cast the spells, creatures, and enchantments that fight for the player by defending against the opponent.
Casting different card types, such as lands that give the mana with spells, creatures, artifacts, planes walker, sorcery, and instants.
Playing the game comprises the following: tapping and untapping, casting the spells, attacking, and blocking.
Magic the Gathering Basic Rules: Conclusion
Magic the Gathering is trading card game that is not hard for any beginners. By learning the basic rules and a few things to buy to get the game started.
As a beginners, we highly recommend either planeswalker, guild kits, brawl decks, and master the stack mono-green, which are some of the best starter deck for beginner to gain a basic foundation.
As you can see, each individual card has specific name and identity that can progress the gameplay. It is important to know the basic rules, understand how to read the cards, where the playing area is, and the actions of the card to take.
The game starts with 60 cards in the deck and 15 cards placed along the player’s sideboard. Remember that each player cannot add more than 4 cards from other player on the main deck and sideboard, however there is exception for the basic lands cards.
Magic the Gathering commanders provide an opportunity to select a legendary creature to serve as commander on the main deck.
All you need to get the gameplay started is acknowledging the basic rules. Set aside these comprehensive rules to refer back to at any point to consult during the game.