Picking Jumpstart Packs on Arena

Hallie SantoStrategy

Jumpstart has arrived on MTG Arena, and it’s proven to be a fast and fun way for players of all levels to get some games in. For just 2,000 gold or 400 gems, you can jump into a queue, open two packs, and start playing! In the Jumpstart queue, you’ll choose each of your two packs from three possible options. …

How to Improve at Magic: The Gathering

Hallie SantoStrategy

We’ve all had a lot more time to ourselves these past few months, and many of us have been taking that time to focus on self-improvement. Maybe you’re trying to cook more often, start exercising, or establish a better daily routine. Or, perhaps, you want to devote more time to your hobbies and develop new skills. Magic: The Gathering offers …

Core 2021 Draft Guide

Hallie SantoLimited

Drafting a core set isn’t quite the same as drafting any other Magic set. The mechanics are simpler, the themes are less prominent, and there generally aren’t as many unique build-around cards. But that doesn’t make drafting a core set any less challenging, rewarding, or fun. Core set drafts give players an opportunity to work on their fundamentals and practice …

How Do Planeswalkers Work?

Hallie SantoStrategy

Jace, the Mind Sculptor. Liliana of the Veil. Oko, Thief of Crowns. Planeswalkers are some of the most powerful and recognizable cards in Magic: The Gathering history. They function differently than other types of Magic cards and essentially serve as additional players in the game. But the same qualities that make Planeswalkers so successful in the hands of experienced players …

Preconstructed Decks for New Magic Players

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When you first learn to play Magic: The Gathering, building your first deck can be daunting. If you’ve only played a handful of games, you may not have enough cards in your collection to put a full deck together. And even if you were lucky enough to inherit some spare cards from friends, you may be stymied by decision paralysis …

Ikoria Draft Guide

Hallie SantoLimited

Ikoria drafts went live on MTG Arena last week, and with it, we have several new ways to play. Many Magic players are excited to sink their teeth into this format, especially in the long-awaited player draft queues. But players may also find Ikoria a bit more complicated than other recent sets. Multicolor draft formats force us to answer hard …

How to Rotisserie Draft

Hallie SantoLimited

In the wake of COVID-19, the Magic: The Gathering community has found new and creative ways to enjoy our favorite hobby. In the past few weeks, we’ve offered tips on how to play Magic at home and keep your collection organized. We’ve covered the new tournament series springing up online and the efforts Commander players are making to engage their …

Staying Connected with the Commander Community

Hallie SantoCommander

Ikoria’s “Commander Weekend” has been a huge treat for fans of the format. Commander players can’t wait to get their hands on Commander 2020 cards so they can retool their decks and build new ones. But as social distancing measures continue throughout the world, these players will have to wait another month to try these new cards, let alone gather …

What to Play in All Access Standard

Hallie SantoStandard

With more Magic players battling online these days, we’ve seen an explosion in online organized play opportunities. From MagicFest Online Qualifiers to the Brawler’s Guildhall to independently organized events, there are tons of options for players across the casual-to-competitive spectrum. One of these events is FNM at Home: a weekly event on MTG Arena that keeps players connected to local …

Top 10 Theros Cards at Worlds

Hallie SantoStandard

It’s taken quite a few weeks to gauge the impact of Theros Beyond Death on Standard. Magic’s most popular competitive format took a backseat to Pioneer in the week’s following Theros’s release due to a trio of highly-publicized Regional Player’s Tours. But last weekend, at the Magic World Championship in Hawaii, we saw long-forgotten strategies surge back to the forefront …