In your time playing Magic: The Gathering, you might’ve heard the term “mana curve.” Or perhaps “curve out” or “on-curve.” If you’re wondering what these words mean – or if this is your first time hearing them – you’re in luck! This article’s got you covered. I’ll be going over what a mana curve is and what a good one …
Trample – MTG Keywords Explained
As you learn the rules of Magic: The Gathering, there’s plenty of game terminology you have to learn, too. Creatures have all kinds of abilities – but what do they do, and how do they interact with one another? We’re here to break it all down for you on the CK Blog! Today, we’re covering trample – an ability designed …
How to Play a Midrange Deck
Welcome back to Card Kingdom for another “How to Play” archetype breakdown. Today, we’ll be focusing on the most popular macro-archetype in current Standard: Midrange. Be sure to check out Tom Anderson’s guide on aggro decks, and be on the lookout for control and combo primers in the future. What is Midrange? Magic decks exist on a spectrum, with fast, …
MTG Mindset: A Winning Mentality
There’s so much more to competitive Magic than what happens on the table. Most of the things holding players back from doing their best are rooted in their mentality about the game. Technical skill is vital to success, but if you’re looking at Magic through the wrong lens, what good does it do? Today, I’m here to try and build …
MTG Mindset: Confirmation Bias
Welcome back to MTG Mindset, a series about the skills you need to succeed in competitive Magic. Today, I want to talk about confirmation bias: how to spot it, how it affects your plays, and why you should try your best to remove it from your game. What is Confirmation Bias? The definition of confirmation bias is “the tendency to …
MTG Mindset: Understanding Variance
Welcome to our new series, MTG Mindset! Many of us (myself included) want to improve as Magic players, but there’s more to that than understanding decks and mategames. Magic is a mental game above all else, and your mindset can often determine the outcome of your matches. The first step of the journey is something that I see a lot …
What Makes a Deck the Best?
Magic’s competitive formats are all in a good place right now. There are a variety of powerful decks to choose from in Standard, Pioneer, and Modern, with a ton of interesting decisions in each game. Sometimes, though, deck selection is a non-factor; a single deck is so good that it gives you the best chance to win a tournament regardless …
Bogles Deck Guide
Bogles are back in Standard! If you’ve played this archetype in Modern or Pauper, you’re probably either very excited, or already sideboarding against it. If you’re not sure what all the fuss is about, here are the basics of Bogles, including some fun facts and advice from noted Modern Bogles player Maria Bartholdi of Good Luck High Five. A Slippery …
How to Draft
Drafting is one of the most popular forms of Magic: The Gathering, and with one of the lowest barriers to entry. For this reason, draft is ideal for new Magic players or players who are returning to the game after a break. If this sounds like you, we’re here to walk you through the basics of how to draft and …
How to Play Two-Headed Giant
Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, and you know what that means, Magic players: time to head to your local game store’s Two-Headed Giant event! Two-Headed Giant is the ideal Magic format for couples, so it’s common for stores to mark the day of romance with a tournament. But 2-Headed Giant events also happen all year round, at prereleases and …