{"id":11959,"date":"2026-01-12T21:09:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T20:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mizoutcg.fr\/guides\/comment-debuter-magic-the-gathering\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T20:36:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T18:36:54","slug":"comment-debuter-magic-the-gathering","status":"publish","type":"guide","link":"https:\/\/mizoutcg.fr\/en\/guides\/comment-debuter-magic-the-gathering\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Started with Magic: The Gathering in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

You've heard about Magic: The Gathering<\/strong>, the most popular trading card game in the world, and you want to dive in? Excellent choice! With over 30 years of history and a global community of millions of players, Magic offers unmatched strategic depth.<\/p>\n\n

But where do you start when discovering a game with more than 27,000 different cards<\/strong>? This guide walks you through it step by step, from your first purchase to your first game.<\/p>\n\n

What is Magic: The Gathering?<\/h2>\n\n

Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is a trading card game (TCG)<\/strong> created by Richard Garfield and published by Wizards of the Coast since 1993. It's the very first TCG in history \u2014 the one that invented the genre.<\/p>\n\n

How the game works<\/h3>\n\n

Two (or more) players face off with decks they've built themselves. Each player starts with 20 life points<\/strong>, and the goal is to reduce your opponent's life points to zero.<\/p>\n\n

Card types:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Lands<\/strong>: Produce mana, the resource used to play your other cards<\/li>\n
  • Creatures<\/strong>: Attack and defend<\/li>\n
  • Spells<\/strong>: One-shot effects (sorceries) or instants<\/li>\n
  • Enchantments<\/strong>: Permanent effects on the game<\/li>\n
  • Artifacts<\/strong>: Magical objects with various effects<\/li>\n
  • Planeswalkers<\/strong>: Powerful allies with multiple abilities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

    The 5 colors of mana<\/h3>\n\n

    Magic uses a 5-color system<\/strong>, each with its own philosophy and play style:<\/p>\n\n

      \n
    • White (W)<\/strong>: Order, protection, swarms of creatures, life gain<\/li>\n
    • Blue (U)<\/strong>: Knowledge, control, counterspells, card draw<\/li>\n
    • Black (B)<\/strong>: Power, death, destruction, sacrifice for advantage<\/li>\n
    • Red (R)<\/strong>: Chaos, fire, aggression, direct damage<\/li>\n
    • Green (G)<\/strong>: Nature, growth, big creatures, mana ramp<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

      Decks can be mono-color or combine multiple colors to take advantage of their synergies.<\/p>\n\n

      Where to start: products for beginners<\/h2>\n\n

      In 2025, Wizards of the Coast offers several products designed specifically for new players.<\/p>\n\n

      The Starter Kit (recommended)<\/h3>\n\n

      This is THE ideal product to start playing as a duo<\/strong>. The Starter Kit contains:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • 2 ready-to-play 60-card decks<\/li>\n
      • 2 exclusive foil cards<\/li>\n
      • A learning guide<\/li>\n
      • A code for MTG Arena (digital version)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

        Price:<\/strong> Around $15-20<\/p>\n

        Why it's ideal:<\/strong> You can play immediately with a friend or family member. The decks are balanced against each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Jumpstart Boosters<\/h3>\n\n

        A fun alternative: Jumpstart Boosters<\/strong> each contain a themed half-deck of 20 cards. Mix 2 boosters together = 1 playable 40-card deck!<\/p>\n\n

        Advantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Discover different themes and mechanics<\/li>\n
        • Replayability: every combination produces a different deck<\/li>\n
        • No need to know deck-building rules<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

          Commander Decks (for later)<\/h3>\n\n

          The Commander<\/strong> format is the most popular in Magic, but wait until you've grasped the basics before jumping in. Preconstructed Commander decks are excellent but contain more complex mechanics.<\/p>\n\n

          Learning the rules<\/h2>\n\n

          Magic may seem complex at first glance, but the basic rules<\/strong> can be learned in about an hour.<\/p>\n\n

          Free resources to learn<\/h3>\n\n
            \n
          • MTG Arena<\/strong> (free): The official video game with an excellent interactive tutorial<\/li>\n
          • Official basic rules<\/strong>: On the Wizards of the Coast website<\/li>\n
          • YouTube<\/strong>: Many English-speaking creators explain the rules<\/li>\n
          • Your local game store<\/strong>: Game shops often host beginner sessions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

            How a turn unfolds<\/h3>\n\n

            Each turn breaks down into phases<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Untap<\/strong>: Untap your tapped cards<\/li>\n
            2. Upkeep<\/strong>: Some effects trigger<\/li>\n
            3. Draw<\/strong>: Draw a card<\/li>\n
            4. Main Phase 1<\/strong>: Play lands, creatures, spells<\/li>\n
            5. Combat<\/strong>: Attack with your creatures<\/li>\n
            6. Main Phase 2<\/strong>: Continue playing cards<\/li>\n
            7. End of turn<\/strong>: Discard down if you have more than 7 cards<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

              The best approach is to play a few games<\/strong> to internalize these phases naturally.<\/p>\n\n

              The different game formats<\/h2>\n\n

              Magic offers several ways to play, called formats<\/strong>. Each format has its own deck-building rules.<\/p>\n\n

              Beginner-friendly formats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
              Format<\/th>\nDeck size<\/th>\nDescription<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
              Standard<\/strong><\/td>\n60 cards<\/td>\nCards from the last 2-3 years only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              Jumpstart<\/strong><\/td>\n40 cards<\/td>\n2 Jumpstart boosters mixed together<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
              Commander<\/strong><\/td>\n100 cards<\/td>\nVery popular casual multiplayer format<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

              Limited formats (with boosters)<\/h3>\n\n
                \n
              • Draft<\/strong>: Each player opens 3 boosters and picks cards in turn<\/li>\n
              • Sealed<\/strong>: Each player builds a deck from 6 boosters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

                These formats are excellent for playing with fresh cards without needing an existing collection.<\/p>\n\n

                Building your first deck<\/h2>\n\n

                Once you've mastered the basics, you'll want to build your own deck. Here are the fundamental rules.<\/p>\n\n

                The 60-card rule<\/h3>\n\n

                A Standard deck contains a minimum of 60 cards<\/strong>. In practice, stick to exactly 60 to maximize your chances of drawing your best cards.<\/p>\n\n

                Recommended base structure<\/h3>\n\n
                  \n
                • 24 lands<\/strong>: Your mana base (adjust to your curve)<\/li>\n
                • 24-28 creatures<\/strong>: Your strike force<\/li>\n
                • 8-12 spells<\/strong>: Support, removal, card draw<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

                  The mana curve<\/h3>\n\n

                  Spread your cards across mana costs<\/strong> so you have options every turn:<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • A few cards at 1 mana<\/li>\n
                  • More cards at 2-3 mana (the heart of your deck)<\/li>\n
                  • A few powerful cards at 4-5+ mana<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

                    Protect your cards from day one<\/h2>\n\n

                    Magic cards can gain value over time. Protect them from the start<\/strong> with sleeves.<\/p>\n\n

                    Why sleeve your cards?<\/h3>\n\n
                      \n
                    • Protection against scratches and wear<\/li>\n
                    • Better deck shuffling<\/li>\n
                    • Preserves card value<\/li>\n
                    • Hygiene (no direct contact with hands)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n

                      Sleeves for beginners<\/h3>\n\n

                      For a first deck, basic sleeves<\/strong> are enough. Plan on $1.50 to $3 for 100 sleeves. Later, you can invest in premium sleeves (Dragon Shield, Ultra Pro APEX).<\/p>\n\n