I'm just now getting into the card game Magic and wanted to know if the escapist has any tips on what direction to build my deck.
Getting into Magic the Gathering...
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Pick one color, it's easier for lands. Pick cards that go well together and compliment each other as opposed to ones you just think are cool. Themed decks usually work best. It's been about six years since I played but those were some of the tenants to deck building that seemed to work best.
Ya but a lot has changed in six years... I would prolly say a two color deck.they have a lot of cards that do nice things for multi-color decks.
If you're completely brand-new to the game, my first suggestion would be to start how I started; buy a ready-made deck from WotC that you can buy in any hobby store or online and see how it's constructed in order to get the basics of deckbuilding down. If you really like that deck, improve it. Swap out some cards and see what happens. If you would like something different, now you at least know the basics of how the average deck is set up and it makes planning your main deck a lot easier. Once you know what kind of deck you want, you can browse around on the net or through your local hobby shop to get the cards you need for it. The ideal deck size I usually hear is 60 cards, but if you're not playing in tournaments, there's no reason that your deck couldn't be bigger than that.
Above all, the best advice I can give is to experiment. Build an initial deck with your first ideas, then see what works and what doesn't and keep revising it until you've got something you're really satisfied with. I've built a good 7 or 8 decks, and I always have fun playing them, even if they don't usually win. It's just another one of those things that's best to learn by doing. Go ahead, try it out!
Above all, the best advice I can give is to experiment. Build an initial deck with your first ideas, then see what works and what doesn't and keep revising it until you've got something you're really satisfied with. I've built a good 7 or 8 decks, and I always have fun playing them, even if they don't usually win. It's just another one of those things that's best to learn by doing. Go ahead, try it out!
You'll have to find that "direction" yourself...it's your decision if you want a burn deck (basically slinging spells that do nothing but damage the whole time), a control deck (cancelling the opponent's spells and everything) or whatever. Just find out what type of play suits you. Personally, I'm more of a control guy.
This step usually determines what colours you play. For example, burn would most likely be red, control blue. Of course, you can combine these colours with others, for example, a red/green burn deck.
I recommend buying a pre-constructed 60-cards deck from Wizards of the Coast and try it out. Play with it until you know its "theme", its mechanics. Then try to improve it.
General deckbuilding advice:
A few years ago, it was said that a 60-cards deck should have about 20 land cards, 20 reatuers and 20 other spells. Nowadays you usually have a bit more mana/lands, as in 24 or something. But it usually depends on your cards, especially on the Mana Curve (basically just a diagram that says how many spells you got with converted mana cost of 1, how many of 2, and so on). The average converted mana cost (example: 1 colourless mana and 2 islands equal a converted mana cost of 3) should be around 2 to 3, not higher than 4.
Besides, your deck should always have a theme, that's why it's good to start with pre-built theme decks. Randomly smashing good cards together doesn't do anything, you need consistency, all your cards need to follow a certain goal. I, for example, am in the process of improving a black/blue deck that focuses on dealing -1/-1 counters.
But really, don't worry about all that stuff. Buy a theme deck that sounds fun (meaning the description of the deck mechanics sounds fun), play with it a lot and try improving it. Then play again a few times and see if it works or not. I've been playing for approximately 8-10 years and that's how I started deckbuilding.
This step usually determines what colours you play. For example, burn would most likely be red, control blue. Of course, you can combine these colours with others, for example, a red/green burn deck.
I recommend buying a pre-constructed 60-cards deck from Wizards of the Coast and try it out. Play with it until you know its "theme", its mechanics. Then try to improve it.
General deckbuilding advice:
A few years ago, it was said that a 60-cards deck should have about 20 land cards, 20 reatuers and 20 other spells. Nowadays you usually have a bit more mana/lands, as in 24 or something. But it usually depends on your cards, especially on the Mana Curve (basically just a diagram that says how many spells you got with converted mana cost of 1, how many of 2, and so on). The average converted mana cost (example: 1 colourless mana and 2 islands equal a converted mana cost of 3) should be around 2 to 3, not higher than 4.
Besides, your deck should always have a theme, that's why it's good to start with pre-built theme decks. Randomly smashing good cards together doesn't do anything, you need consistency, all your cards need to follow a certain goal. I, for example, am in the process of improving a black/blue deck that focuses on dealing -1/-1 counters.
But really, don't worry about all that stuff. Buy a theme deck that sounds fun (meaning the description of the deck mechanics sounds fun), play with it a lot and try improving it. Then play again a few times and see if it works or not. I've been playing for approximately 8-10 years and that's how I started deckbuilding.
if your a newbie then i would advise you to try playing with some of your friends decks til you find what works best for you. And if your still not sure then tribal decks are always fun.
Heres a deck database http://www.magicdeckvortex.com/DDB_decks_by_type.htm
Heres a deck database http://www.magicdeckvortex.com/DDB_decks_by_type.htm
Play green. Have bigger creatures than everyone. Plus trample. Turtle till overrun. Profit.
My friends all do that. So lame. So I pull all sorts of lame back. (lolpoisoncounters)
But as people say, buying a premade deck and experimenting with it helps, that is how I learned, and standard advice is about 24 lands, 18 creatures and 18 sorceries / instants / artifacts for your deck. It helped me when I was learning.
My friends all do that. So lame. So I pull all sorts of lame back. (lolpoisoncounters)
But as people say, buying a premade deck and experimenting with it helps, that is how I learned, and standard advice is about 24 lands, 18 creatures and 18 sorceries / instants / artifacts for your deck. It helped me when I was learning.
Try tracking down a set of Duel Decks: they're these sets of old and new cards combined to create decks themed around a planeswalker. For some odd $20 you'll get two decks (no boosters, sorry). They'll be different colors and use two distinctly different strategies. Play a few games with each and that should give you an idea of where to go.
Pick out an intro themedeck from any of the series maybe they are good for starters, then with some boosters you will get going quickly enough http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/productarticle.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/magic2011/themedeck#deck1.
The way i played was getting two core set decks, and making a 60 card deck out of that, you no longer can get core set decks, not easilly though..
So i'd suggest buying a normal pack and learning how thats built, or another way that will get you learning really quick is finding out if theres a place to draft, like FNM at your local comic book store. thats how i play currently
So i'd suggest buying a normal pack and learning how thats built, or another way that will get you learning really quick is finding out if theres a place to draft, like FNM at your local comic book store. thats how i play currently