Ever stare at a wall of colorful Magic: The Gathering decks and feel completely overwhelmed? You’re not alone! Picking your very first Magic deck can feel like a quest in itself. So many cards, so many choices – it’s easy to get lost and wonder where to even begin.
This is where Starter Decks come in, offering a perfect entry point into the amazing world of Magic. But even then, deciding which one is right for you can be tricky. Do you want to blast your opponents with fiery spells, or outsmart them with clever creatures? We’ll help you figure that out.
By the end of this post, you’ll understand what makes a good Starter Deck and how to choose one that fits your playstyle. Get ready to dive into the game with confidence and start building your own epic Magic adventures!
Top Starter Deck Magic Recommendations
No. 1
Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck – First Flight (White-Blue) | Ready-to-Play Deck for Beginners and Fans | Ages 13+ | Collectible Card Games
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, First Flight (White-Blue), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD WHITE-BLUE DECK: With the First Flight deck, take wing with the sphinx Isperia, Supreme Judge, and overwhelm foes with a squadron of flying friends
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
No. 2
Magic: The Gathering - Final Fantasy Starter Kit
- EXPERIENCE FINAL FANTASY IN A WHOLE NEW WAY—Step into unforgettable stories from FINAL FANTASY games brought to your tabletop with the strategic gameplay of the Magic: The Gathering trading card game
- LEARN TO PLAY MAGIC—Everything you need to play your first games of Magic is here. Enter the fray with two pre-built 60-card decks and learn the essentials with the included guide booklet. You’ll be ready to play in no time.
- 2 FINAL FANTASY-THEMED DECKS—Cast powerful spells, meet iconic characters, and visit familiar locales; each deck contains 60 cards featuring FINAL FANTASY-themed art, including 10 cards entirely new to Magic (5 in each deck)
- ARE YOU A HERO OR A VILLAIN—Challenge a friend, choose your deck, and face off in epic 2-player battles; will you join Cloud, the beloved hero, or side with his nemesis, Sephiroth
- KICK OFF YOUR COLLECTION—Start your collection with Rare cards and shiny foils; each deck includes 5 Rare cards and 1 Mythic Rare Legendary Creature card with a shiny Traditional Foil treatment
No. 3
Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck – Grave Danger (Blue-Black) | Ready-to-Play Deck for Beginners and Fans | Ages 13+ | Collectible Card Games
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Grave Danger (Blue-Black), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD BLUE-BLACK DECK: With the Grave Danger deck, ally with the human wizards and siblings Gisa and Geralf and overwhelm foes with a multiplying army of zombies
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
No. 4
Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck - Token Triumph (Green-White) | Ready-to-Play Deck for Beginners and Fans | Ages 13+ | Collectible Card Games
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Token Triumph (Green-White), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD GREEN-WHITE DECK: With the Token Triumph deck, ally with the elf cleric Emmara, Soul of the Accord, and overwhelm foes with a multiplying army
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
No. 5
Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck - Chaos Incarnate (Black-Red) | Ready-to-Play Deck for Beginners and Fans | Ages 13+ | Collectible Card Games
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Chaos Incarnate (Black-Red), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD BLACK-RED DECK: With the Chaos Incarnate deck, embrace the chaos of war with the demon berserker Kardur, Doomscourge, and overwhelm foes with a multiplying army
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
No. 6
Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck – Draconic Destruction (Red-Green) | Ready-to-Play Deck for Beginners and Fans | Ages 13+ | Collectible Card Games
- READY-TO-PLAY COMMANDER DECK FOR NEWCOMERS AND FANS: Join friends in epic battles! This Magic: The Gathering Starter Commander Deck, Draconic Destruction (Red-Green), is ready to play straight out of the box
- INTRO TO MAGIC’S MOST POPULAR FORMAT: Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic! Learn how to play with your own deck, easy-to-follow rules, strategy tips, and reference card
- 100 CARD RED-GREEN DECK: With the Draconic Destruction deck, go on the attack with Atarka, World Render, and double down on dragon damage to overwhelm foes with a multiplying army
- FOIL-ETCHED LEGENDARY CREATURE CARD: Includes 1 legendary creature card with gorgeous art and a foil-etched treatment. This card serves as your "commander" with unique abilities that make plays even more powerful
- INCLUDES ACCESSORIES AND DECK BOX: Also comes with 10 two-sided tokens, a deck box for storage, and punchout counters to keep track of creature buffs
No. 7
Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box | 2-Player Card Game | Includes 2 Tutorial Decks, 8 Themed Half-Decks, 2 Playboards, 2 Spindowns, and More
- LEARN THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF MAGIC—Your Magic: The Gathering journey begins with a friend beside you! Play your first game in a guided battle of Aang versus Zuko. Choose your side and send your forces to your opponent while learning essential gameplay lessons
- GUIDED LEARN-TO-PLAY EXPERIENCE—Start by playing a tutorial game with two 20-card decks, each with a step-by-step guide booklet that will walk you through your first game
- CREATE THEMED DECKS—Once you’ve conquered the basics, master the remaining elements by combining any two of the eight 20-card half-decks into a full 40-card Avatar: The Last Airbender-themed deck; mix and match to try different combos!
- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAY—This Beginner Box includes everything you and a friend need to play, including 2 Playboards that will show you where to place your cards, 2 Spindowns to track your life totals, and 1 Rules Reference booklet to answer any questions you have along the way
- WELCOME TO THE GATHERING—Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game that weaves deep strategy, gorgeous art, fantastical stories, and a thriving fan community all together into a card game experience like no other
No. 8
Magic: the Gathering 60-Card Theme Deck - Angels
- 60-CARD THEME DECK—Accessible, ready-to-play decks filled with iconic Magic themes. A fun, fast entry into Standard format—choose a theme that fits you and jump right in
- WHAT IS STANDARD?—Standard is Magic's most-played 60-card constructed format, where you build decks from the most recently released sets. Dynamic gameplay and evolving strategies make Standard one of the most fun and popular ways to play!
- CONTENTS—1 battle-ready 60-card Angels theme deck, 1 deck box, 5 double-sided token cards, 1 strategy insert, and 1 reference card
Your First Steps into Magic: The Gathering Starter Decks
Magic: The Gathering can seem a little confusing at first. But don’t worry! Starter Decks are your perfect entry point. They give you everything you need to play right away. This guide will help you pick the best one for you.
Why Choose a Starter Deck?
Starter Decks are designed for new players. They have pre-built decks that work well together. You don’t need to know anything about building decks yet. You can jump right into the fun of playing Magic!
Key Features to Look For
What Makes a Starter Deck Great?
When picking a Starter Deck, think about these important things:
- Ready to Play: The deck should come with all the cards you need. It should also include a rulebook and maybe even playmats.
- Clear Colors: Magic uses five different colors of magic: White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green. Starter Decks often focus on one or two of these colors. This makes them easier to understand.
- Simple Strategy: The cards in the deck should have clear jobs. Some cards attack, and others defend. The deck’s strategy should be easy to follow.
- Fun Theme: Many Starter Decks have cool themes. They might be about dragons, elves, or brave knights. A fun theme makes the game more exciting.
Important Materials
What’s Inside the Box?
A good Starter Deck usually includes:
- Two Pre-built Decks: You get two complete decks. This means you can play against a friend right away!
- Rulebook: A simple guide explains how to play the game.
- Playmat (Sometimes): Some decks come with a playmat. This is a special surface to lay out your cards. It helps you keep track of everything.
- Quick Reference Cards: These cards remind you of important game rules.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
What Makes a Deck Better or Worse?
Some things make a Starter Deck a better choice:
- Balanced Decks: The two decks in the box should be pretty equal. This makes the games fair and exciting.
- Clear Card Text: The words on the cards should be easy to read and understand.
- Good Card Quality: The cards should feel sturdy and not flimsy.
Things that might make a deck less ideal:
- Confusing Cards: If the cards have too many complicated rules, it can be hard for beginners.
- Unbalanced Decks: If one deck is much stronger than the other, games might not be fun.
User Experience and Use Cases
Who is this for and how will they use it?
Starter Decks are perfect for:
- Brand New Players: Anyone who has never played Magic before.
- Friends Wanting to Learn Together: You can teach a friend how to play with a Starter Deck.
- Casual Players: People who want to play for fun without getting too serious.
You can use Starter Decks to:
- Learn the Basics: You’ll quickly learn how to cast spells, attack, and defend.
- Have Fun Games: Play against a friend or family member.
- Build Your Collection: Starter Decks give you your first Magic cards. You can add more cards later to make your decks stronger.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is Magic: The Gathering?
A1: Magic: The Gathering is a card game where you play as powerful wizards called Planeswalkers. You use spells and creatures to defeat your opponent.
Q2: Are Starter Decks hard to learn?
A2: No, Starter Decks are made for beginners. They come with guides to help you learn.
Q3: How many cards are in a Starter Deck?
A3: Most Starter Decks have about 60 cards in each deck. You get two of these.
Q4: Can I play with just one Starter Deck?
A4: You need two players to play Magic. A Starter Deck comes with two decks, so you can play with a friend right away.
Q5: What if I want to play with more people?
A5: You can buy more Starter Decks or individual booster packs to add more cards to your collection.
Q6: Do Starter Decks have good cards?
A6: Starter Decks have cards that work well together. They might not have the rarest cards, but they are great for learning and having fun.
Q7: Can I change the cards in a Starter Deck?
A7: Yes! Once you learn the basics, you can swap cards in and out to make your deck your own.
Q8: What are the colors in Magic?
A8: The five colors are White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green. Each color has its own style of play.
Q9: Where can I buy Starter Decks?
A9: You can find them at game stores, toy stores, and online retailers.
Q10: Is there a specific age for Starter Decks?
A10: Magic is usually recommended for ages 10 and up. The game involves reading and strategy.