The level of rules jargon and community slang which permeates Magic discourse is a serious hurdle for new players to surmount. Nobody using these terms is deliberately trying to gate-keep the hobby, of course. But it’s tricky to know which terms a casual listener might need explained in the middle of such a discussion. So I’m writing out the explanations …
Magic: The Gathering Definitions: Community Jargon!
The way Magic unites a huge global community of like-minded gamers is one of its strongest selling points – it’s so important they put The Gathering right there in the name! But like any focused and literate community that has discussed the same niche topic for 30 years, Magic players have generated a huge lexicon of slang, technical jargon, in-jokes …
Vehicles Can Now Be Your Commander, but Are Any Good Enough?
Pro Tour Final Fantasy took place June 20-22 in Las Vegas, and aside from the huge news of Ken Yukuhiro taking it down with Mono-Red, we also got news of a Commander Rules Change which basically lets you use Legendary Vehicles as Commanders. This rules change was brought about to help make a new type of card work from the …
Making the Most of Your Final Fantasy Prerelease
The hype for the ever-closer-to-release Final Fantasy set is just on another level. Wizards has pulled out all the stops to publicize the set, knowing that the tie-in to a massive gaming franchise will draw the eyes of thousands of new players to Magic when the set does come out. It’s all building the perfect conditions for an all-time-massive prerelease …
Community Spotlight: Rhystic Studies
We’re proud to showcase our esteemed affiliate partner Rhystic Studies, the groundbreaking YouTube series that transforms Magic’s artistry and history into captivating documentary storytelling. Created by Sam, a scholar with a Ph.D. in Italian literature, Rhystic Studies asks deceptively simple questions that unravel into rich explorations of Magic’s cultural fabric. From foil card production to Phyrexian language mysteries, each video …
Community Spotlight: Good Luck High Five
We’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on our wonderful affiliate partners Good Luck High Five, the brilliant duo behind some of Magic’s most engaging and accessible content. Every week, Maria and Meghan deliver top-notch videos covering everything from competitive strategy and Commander deck techs to the latest Magic news and draft guides. With their infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge of …
Magic: the Gathering Basic Definitions: Part 2
Players who pick up Magic: The Gathering for the first time face an intimidating learning curve, that’s for sure. But the first and most important step is mastering the game’s unique language: an arcane vocabulary of keywords, rules terms and specific phrasing that holds the key to understanding every card from the last thirty years of Magic. I already got …
Magic: the Gathering Basic Definitions: Part 1
Players who pick up Magic: The Gathering for the first time face an intimidating learning curve, that’s for sure. But the first and most important step is mastering the game’s unique language: an arcane vocabulary of keywords, rules terms and specific phrasing that holds the key to understanding every card from the last thirty years of Magic. It would take …
Beginner Tips for Playing Combo in Commander
Playing a Combo deck in Commander can be a daunting choice for beginners. Combo decks are generally seen as more competitive, more fragile, and requiring a deeper well of gameplay know-how to pull off. If you’re wanting to have a go at playing a Combo deck in Commander for the first time – or you just want a few tips …
Does Tarkir: Dragonstorm Save In-Universe Magic Sets?
It’s a Saturday afternoon, and the warm English spring sun is lighting up the room in the kinda way you have to shut the curtains if you want to play a video game. I’ve just picked up and eaten lunch, after a morning outside, and I’m finishing the dishes. In the background, Luis Scott Vargas is discussing his Sealed pool …