What is Magic?

Magic is a trading card game where players build decks, summon incredible creatures and cast powerful spells on the tabletop to battle their rival planeswalkers. 

Created in 1993, it's been a favourite of gamers young and old throughout the world ever since. Magic is a multifaceted game, combining social skills, problem solving, tactics and collecting, all in one amazing game. Check out more here!

Learning

Games and learning don’t have to cancel each other out. In fact, playing Magic makes learning part of the game. 

Communication and social skills are at the heart of Magic. Play with friends, old and new, and explore a variety of different formats that change the game. From 1v1 competitive matches to team games and free-for-all scenarios, it’s all about building cooperation and healthy competitive interactions.  

Balance probability and tactics every time you play! Plan and build your deck around your chosen tactic and style, managing resources for maximum effect. Develop adaptability and experience thinking on the spot to play the cards you draw in the game. 

Explore practical maths and problem solving with varied power and toughness of creatures, adapt with the unexpected, or respond to the changing game with tricks of your own. 

Every card you play helps improve reading comprehension and vocabulary. Learn the basic rules of the game and use logic to combine them with your cards in countless ways.

As players learn, it’s easy to add or remove mechanics and make learning a breeze for players young and old as they develop skills and begin exploring the more advanced aspects of the game. 

How to Play

Magic is all about learning a handful of simple rules and then applying those to the cards in your hand and on the battlefield. 

It looks complicated at first, but   there are just a few simple things to learn before you can start playing and exploring the more complex aspects of the game.

If you want to explore the basics, you can check out the official step by step guide here, take part in one of our learn to play programs, or come see us for a bunch of learning and starter resources to get into the game with confidence. 

A Style for Everyone

Magic revolves around five colours of spells, each with their own personality and style of tactics. Players get to mix and match these when building a deck to create something that is uniquely theirs, and fits the way they want to play!

White combines teamwork and impeccable defense, using protection spells to keep your creatures safe from enemy attacks while building strength.

Blue is all about being tricky, outsmarting and outplaying opponents with spells and tricks at every stage of the game, even in your opponent's turn. 

Black uses all sorts of spooky and creepy creatures to fight, trading health and creatures for  incredibly powerful spells.

Red is all about playing fast and hitting hard, at the cost of defense. Deal direct damage with your spells to take out your opponent's creatures, and even attack their life directly. 

Green brings the biggest, stompiest spells to the field, relying on creatures that are as tough as they are dangerous, and using nature to your advantage. 

Add in a whole load of additional cards that can be played across any colour and style, and you have endless combinations to play exactly the way you want.

The World of Magic

Magic isn't just a game. It's a whole world of rich stories, fables and characters that are explored through the cards as well as short stories that track the journeys of Planeswalkers as they travel throughout the multiverse. 

Planeswalkers are characters, great and small, that have the ability to call upon magic and cross between the different planes in the magic universe. Each plane has unique stories, creatures and environments that change the way you play. With each Magic set focused on exploring a different story or location within the universe, you’ll find unique art, play styles and all sorts of discoveries as the game progresses. 

Want to explore the worlds of Magic? Have a look into the massive story archive here!

Your favourite fandoms

In addition to the rich and storied world of Magic, Universes Beyond brings your favourite characters from different fandoms into the game. Call upon your favourite Marvel superheroes, summon creatures and spells from Avatar: The Last Airbender, or explore the world of Lord of the Rings (and more!), all in the same game! It’s all about building and playing a deck that’s uniquely you.