The one thing MISSING from Magic: The Gathering today

We get lots of new Magic players here at Montasy NYC, and are always excited to help them get into this incredible game. Everybody's onboarding process is different, but we feel like there's one product that would make that journey just a little bit easier.
If you're looking to pick up any other new or old Magic products you can check us out at www.montasynyc.com
#magicthegathering #magiccards #tcg #tradingcards #magiccards #collectiblecards #hobbyshop

[@cygnusx-1862]

What mtg is truly missing is some restraint on the part of wizards of the Coast/Hasbro. STOP putting out new product so quickly. I went from buying a couple booster boxes of each new set and each commander deck of each new set to now I only get maybe 1 commander deck and then I just trade/buy for the 4-5 cards from each new set that comes out. This is repeated by most people in our play group and at our lgs. The game is losing its allure and quite frankly there are several people that quit playing because they can't keep up with the avalanche of new products coming out.

[@saltyseas416]

A Local Game Store (LGS) gave me a basic deck to help me learn how to play Magic: The Gathering. They had decks that were focused on different colors of Magic, like red, blue, green, etc. These decks were designed to be simple, with easy-to-understand card effects. The LGS provided these decks for free so that new players like me could start learning the game. I mean they are not really decks but they were i think 40 card packs that could at least provide you with an understanding of how MTG is played.

[@seanhardner5842]

I used to own a game store years ago and I would make a new player a deck from singles and just give it to them. Two colors nothing fancy a couple enchantments and artifacts. Then play them with one of the basic teaching decks we had. Even with that available it’s hard to get someone new learning enough to enjoy it without being overwhelmed. Today if you give somebody a precon commander deck to start with forget it. Used to be “so you can’t block my flyer? Or what is first strike again? When can I cast a sorcery?” Now you can have someone who understands all that and it’s “why did you draw at the END of your turn? What’s Monarchy? Energy counters? Like Poison? So then I take the Initiate? So then what? How did your 4/4 kill all my blockers and not die? First Strike & Deathtouch? So how’s that work. The game is nearly impossible to teach. You have to ignore anything that isn’t currently happen in the game you are teaching in & explaining everything as you go along hoping they can keep up. Forget infinite mana or infinite plus 1 counters or infinite tokens or damage. The pdf of the comprehensive rules is like 2 inches thick now and you either need to be a judge or have 15 year’s experience to understand some of it. “Do to how one effect is dependent on the other this is actually a case where you DON’T use Timestamps…😵‍💫” Oh! Yay then there is ANY chance about teaching a new player strategy if they DID understand half what you teach them. “Why wouldn’t I want to use my creature ability now? On my turn? Why wait? Because it’s instant speed? I still don’t understand…” & if they want to play Commander because everyone else is there are going to be so many permanents with so many effect I guarantee they have no idea what is going on by turn 5.

[@kdenkniep1454]

That's a really good point. I didn't think of it like that

[@radip]

Wait till you hear about levels of layers to be applied in the specific order XD

[@DH-gv6cj]

@@radip explaining priority will never not sound like cheating

[@ClassicFeta]

💯

[@BonenJump-126gulph]

"I don't even know if I would..." 💯% As an OLD Magic player that quit due to neighborhood ante, became a YGO player, I agree. Magic has never had a good system to show the basics or grab new players. And im surprised they dont do the Pokemon thing and print tournament winning decks even. YGO had those new Battle Boxes, with a deck box, sleeves, playmat and a deck - thats where things need to go. A cohesive, competitive deck based off of Aggro, control, etc. that comes with sleeves and a deck box, and a playmat, with exclusive Alternative Art or sneaky reprints to help boost sales to already existing players, as well as new. Tbh I dont even know how anyone at WotC even has a career

[@bohab787]

They do have a system to show the basics and grab new players called MTG Arena

[@keving.4650]

I would build Pauper decks from your bulk inventory and use them to teach the game. I wouldn’t build the top decks in the meta like Grixis Affinity or Kuldotha Red, but something like Gruul Kiln Fiend could be had for $10, and it can win games out of nowhere. For the past two years, the LGS I play at has done a white elephant gift exchange at Christmas time, and both years, I’ve contributed Pauper decks and 3D printed deck boxes in the hope of attracting new players.

[@Jakewarix]

Honestly not a bad idea to start them on common, then uncommon, then rare/mythic as complexity often increases with rarity. Good callout @keving

[@StickyBombLauncher]

...jumpstart is still supported? They haven't stopped printing it. They just discontinued the set specific ones. Its probably the best new player tool.

[@dittmar104]

The last mainline jumpstart specific came out two years ago. That’s like saying challenger decks are still supported because there is still inventory available.

[@BonenJump-126gulph]

Might as well, unironically, play Smash Up! With your friends. As an ex KDE YGO official judge and enjoyer of Magic, Pokemon to Duel Masters, Vanguard, VS. System etc. I think Smash Up! Is thee best intro game into Card Games, period. It teaches you deck identity, aggro, swarm, control, counter, tool boxing, floating, etc etc etc It's what WotC ripped off to create Jumpstart but, Smash Up just does it better

[@Shinji0Ikari007]

Back when I started i bought a starter deck (revised) and 3-4 packs, read the instructions, built 2 40 card decks and played with my Dad. Then built a 60 card deck and started fine tuning the deck as I bought more cards. Yeah, now I could make SEVERAL pauper commander decks and still have stuff I have not toughed. But yeah we need a beginner product.

[@lockekaotix2613]

Tried watching but couldn't stop looking at the eldrazi incursion deck in the back ground. It's like looking for a unicorn in my state trying to find one

[@TheDanteBoots]

I've got one, $250 and it's yours. 😂

[@lockekaotix2613]

@@TheDanteBoots nah you can keep it. Good luck with that

[@ekrrethon1445]

Absolutely agree. It's super difficult for new players now. Not only are starter products basically non existent, but if you don't copy like a multi hundreds of dollars deck list off the internet then the Meta of each format is gonna be super difficult. And i imagine most people font want to start the game by spend hundreds just to find out they might not actually like it that much. Magic needs beginner products.

[@unicorescannacorner6999]

I can ask my gf. But she said she isn’t that good… 😅 she Instantly got into competitive Tournament Plays and a really Solid Deck … I helped her a bit with a Professional freind of mine even training with her but the most she did herself >_> she is scary in Magic tbh xD

[@ekrrethon1445]

​@unicorescannacorner6999 what does/did she play?

[@Somethingsomethingyoutube]

Ironically, this is exactly why I sung high praise of Jump start. I still have my box of opened Jump Start boosters seperated out to simulate cracking packs and randomness.

[@OmneAurumNon]

Jumpstart is a great way to teach new players

[@alexanderficken9354]

yeah but not a new product that stores stock regularly. I think that was the problem he had was that there was nothing new

[@mikes3667]

My campus had a gaming club and MTG was involved. We asked the LGS if we could have starter decks and such to help students get into the game! The employees, all good friends of mine, gave the club a dozen or so starter decks and they also went out of their way to build cheap custom decks for us too!

[@xSnarfsx]

If I were doing this, I would buy bulk and put together a bunch of simple decks. It'll wind up being MUCH cheaper than any product wizards would make. I think if you're going to go through the trouble of organizing a function and teaching all of those people how to play, this isn't much more effort, and it would wind up being cheap. So cheap that you wouldn't need to spend any money on sleeves and you can send everyone home with their decks. Now, if I were REALLY doing this lol, I would buy the cheapest booster box I could find and make this group of people draft. If everyone at the table has no idea what they're doing, it can be a ton of fun. Maybe slightly overwhelming for some, but I still think it would be fun.

[@poogle55]

They do make a 2-player starter set. It's about $25 AUD here in Australia (SKU D24740000). Not quite as basic as the free sample decks they used to pass out, but easy enough I've taught many players with them.

[@Vengeance117]

Singles are very expensive in Australia compared to USA

[@LazarusIsBackBaby]

started watching the video, thought "hey that counter looks familiar." Lo and behold, it's Montasy! Love your shop :)

[@montasynyc]

Thanks!

[@LazarusIsBackBaby]

@@montasynyc Of course! I've built my own intro decks from bulk to teach anyone who wants to learn. It's not a large-scale solution, but you could always offer cheap pre-sleeved "starter decks" built by the folks at the shop.

[@peace957]

Jumpstart is the best tool for new players to learn the game in a simplistic manner.

[@thomaswaithe6833]

My local LGS makes "battle decks" out of common and uncommons they sell for ~$10. Probably says something that they have to put them together themselves. Unrelatedly, dang, that's some good inventory. You know how hard it is to find bundles here? Just literally any bundle?

[@stevefink2824]

I would use bulk to make starter decks. It would cost nothing, you can control the power/difficulty level, and it would free up room for more bulk. It would also give you a chance to find all those copies of Shuko.

[@dracomasters9039]

I remember when you could buy two of the same starter deck and put them together to have full play sets to play Standard. If you hadn’t played for a bit, you always knew you could put down $30 and have a good FNM night. I guess the closest thing now is the Pioneer precons, if you can find a LGS hosting Pioneer.

[@coreydx567]

As an LGS owner and a MTGPremium store I can say we absolutely do have products still in print and supported Game Nights (which you mentioned) arena 2023 2 player starter deck, arena 2024 2-player starter deck, Jumpstart 2022, lord of the rings 2-player starter set, and the $25 commander starter deck series, and soon to release are the assassins creed 2-player starter, and the Bloomburrow 2-player starter set I will say we are missing the free 40 card learn to play decks, and I think that’s primarily with the focus shifting to Commander, now I will say there haven’t been any great official promotions as of late to get people into the game. But, we just came up with our own way to get people into the hobby!

[@nethandelwampa116]

I built my own teaching decks one for each color for my friends to learn. Took me a long time but each deck is on theme fair and fun. Lots of play testing later i would say they are complete. Upgraded them over the years cuz games can drag on and I also now understand why people want more powerful cards, more fun to play instead of playing a 4 costed 4/2 with trample and that’s it

[@PulseTriangle]

Make a small 360 cube of basic stuff. Mostly simple creatures, including vanilla ones, and for non-creature spells, use mostly sorcery-speed stuff. I had a lot of success with this, and was even able to teach a mentally handicapped person how to play a basic mono green stompy deck and they had a blast. I love mtg and love teaching new ppl as well

[@carsonthorell3509]

I have 17 per-modern decks peroxided out. They are easy to teach and fun to master. That is what I show my freinds who are new. I also have a real powered cube with a few proxies on cards over$100. That is all I have now-a-days. Pre-modern, pauper, 2012 standard are all great formats that, if you can get a gauntlet together, are great teaching tools.

[@reddragonlegacy]

I learned on the 1st Portal set back in like '97. Played off and on ever since. Currently play once or twice a week. 4-6 player games of Commander. Sometimes, the games go fast. Other times, they don't. But I do agree that we need a new Starter type set. Hell, maybe they'll bring back a core set or two?

[@ekolimitsLIVE]

Great point! Jumpstart would be the only place to start IMO. Especially for a multi person function.

[@Towner101]

I feel like this is on the local game stores to make loaner decks for people to play when they come in. Cheap $25 crafted decks that play and function well. Put a $300 deposit down and you can take all the decks to another location to have everyone play with.

[@Jotskyonline]

Star wars ulimited 2 player start boxes comes with a paper playmat with all the basic rules and how to get started with the game written on it. Magic (or a LGS) could do the same. Setup a sarted deck: -Paper (or a real playmat) with the basic functions of a turn and some game mechanics -1-3 dice -some tokens - a starter deck - a small rule book (with imagery), again with basics of the game and further pushing to explore. WOTC could take initiative to do this (or i could be horribly wrong) but, a LGS could also offer this kind of premade bundle.

[@shanaeverowe9626]

Wotc has put their eggs in the commander and universes beyond baskets. They are basically banking on established players having multiple decks and wanting to teach their friends. A far cry from ye olden times when we had starter decks mostly based around each color(and only mono colored), tournament packs for the intermediate player and theme decks for the advanced player.

[@StmCelResearch]

Audience: We want an easy introduction product for new players Wizards: Hah, Commander deck in Modern expansion goes brbrbrbrbr

[@fidly4]

I liked Game Night. They should make more of those.

[@parkerstrain7362]

I feel like those older starter commander decks like draconic destruction first flight and those kinda things are quite good for beginners I picked up the first flight one like a week ago and all the cards are incredibly simple it seems like a decent way to get started plus only like 30$

[@myrical4147]

Duel decks were how I got into mtg. Nice and simple attack goblin deck versus big brain mage control deck.

[@TheDanteBoots]

Jump start is still a thing, there's a new set being released towards the end of the year. I would have just sold him a box of that.

[@JohnSmith-he5ip]

I started with (3) 4th edition decks. The one that had the rule book inside. I can't remember what they are called tho. Tournament deck? Someone help me

[@williamriven]

This is what JumpStart is for (well, and Arena).

[@LazarusIsBackBaby]

You should watch the video, he discusses both of those things.

[@CyclopsWasRight]

Make a few 40 card mono decks from your common and uncommon boxes. Easy peasy.

[@7ropz]

Agree 1000%. Nowadays cards are like 80 paragraphs of nothing and it's not user friendly even for experienced players. Core sets were so good...

[@davidq344]

What about the starter kits

[@steinlaubenpieper7882]

I know what you mean but there is actual starter kits that contain two basic decks with like every third Set recently?

[@undeadfate99]

I have come across this same issue. The closest thing I could find from Wizards of the Coast is MTG game night 5 decks I wanted to keep something in the truck of my car so anytime I would make plans to meet with friends or I had a lot of time somewhere and no one would want to go home we would be able to play a basic game.

[@SHAOLINCOWBOY-ip9hw]

Arena is not the same. It is missing the best part of Magic, the social aspect. There isn't even chat between strangers on Arena, which is very disappointing. People are so afraid of any toxicity that they would rather not have chat at all. Have you heard of a mute button? This stuff isn't rocket science. Not sure why WotC hasn't figured this out in Arena. In MTGO you can chat with people, and I've talked with many players on that platform. Even if it had chat though, in person play is better from a social aspect. I feel like it's a lot harder for people to be toxic to someone in person.

[@Nananki]

I still love the duel decks.

[@helfiswelf]

Yup, why did they get rid of the starter deck with a printed rule book?

[@owl224]

Didn’t they release a 2-5 player game night thing back in 2022. I believe it was 5 mono color 60 card decks for like 40 or 50 bucks?

[@TijnMercx]

They still release some starter decks now and then but I definitely agree with you I have a hard time with customers that want to start, best thing I offer them is to come to our FNM to borrow a deck and I’ll explain the game there and then but not everyone has that time and energy There’s nothing I can sell them on a regular basis to get started

[@joshua_lee732]

I miss standard, which is the perfect format for new players

[@nairdaz]

Magic the Gathering game night would be my good to go choice for a intro to magic.

[@TheMr02drop]

Is there not those Preconstructed decks and Commander decks that are a jumping off point now? I agree with you though, I hated that they got rid of the starter deck and made everything run off booster packs. And don't get me started with all the different kind of boosters they have now.

[@somefishhere]

I still have a couple starter decks for this express reason

[@Randoverse]

The main thing missing in MTG is direction. They veered off the path into creating cards from other games instead of expanding and creating the MTG universe.

[@churroman29]

As a new player, I was bewildered by the various products, the different pack types, the different precon decks, the different formats, the absurd prices proudly on display. The commander precon decks recommended to me by an LGS are really complicated (for me). Theres so much research needed just to get started. Turned off and probably not going to pursue the hobby. I don't think it matters, since a 30 yo complex card game has its longtime fans who are experts and like each other's company already. No shame in that. They probably spend enough to keep things going, anyway. More players is always better for Wizards, but I feel it's not necessarily so for players. Maybe not worse, but not necessary.

[@jaysuede2627]

What's to be expected I guess. WotC keeps trying reinvent the wheel to get a tighter grip on its own products.

[@kdenkniep1454]

I started with the free giveaway decks years ago and just from that small product ive gone on to spend hundereds of dollars on mtg products. I miss those decks

[@DnDJordanL]

My best friend today i taught through 1v1 drafting. Our relationship has been Obi Wan x Anakin ever since…he’s still my padawan ;) but he puts up a good fight each game

[@nicolasc322]

There's the game bundle called "game night" which is like 5 beginner decks. Kinda pricey, though. Would probably be better to make decks out of bulk tbh

[@shanaeverowe9626]

He mentioned it, but it also might not be readily available in his area.

[@GhostDumpling]

The past present future planeswalker rule.

[@slx]

Commander precons that are in the same set.

[@qarsiseer]

Do they not give out those free 30 card starter decks anymore?

[@BADASS668]

They could get some old challenger decks

[@flauschicard]

In bloomburrow are new starter decks.

[@TheTurophile]

Exactly!

[@kdenkniep1454]

Very well said

[@miles8233]

They still make starter decks

[@zombie5544]

Hey jw do you have any of the warhammer MTG sets ??

[@montasynyc]

We are out of Warhammer right now

[@Busker_3000]

Return to Portal!

[@phothar93]

Monocolor pauper decks

[@Whispershades]

I can still buy Gamenight...

[@getmetoine]

Portal 4: the long awaited age ?

[@JoeyisBaked]

That's why we play Yu-Gi-Oh! :)

[@fatboySRK]

What about the Game Night product? [ Never mind, he mentioned that!]

[@shanaeverowe9626]

He mentioned it, but it might not be readily available. I know my lgs has one that has been there since I started going 2 years ago. Everyone is either a commander player or a modern try hard....so no value to them

[@fatboySRK]

@shanaeverowe9626 - Oh, I missed that!

[@tethys17]

The one thing missing from mtg these days? Integrity.

[@Tyabelx]

I had had a similar dilema once a while, and I decided to make proxies of starter decks from MTGA for each color. I would recommend doing the same for you.

[@charliescourbys1340]

The game is lacking an interest in 60 card formats. I miss people playing to win! We live in a world where "try hard" is somehow a derogatory title.

[@ashemabahumat4173]

No, the 1 thing its missing is affordability... then starting/new player material, lol

[@LightBender777]

Its called Mtg arena. Great learning tool for Magic probably the best. Terrible for competitive play bad place to spend money.

[@Badassest]

Give all the new players one each of the basic lands and let them pick their favorite. Then kill the ones who chose blue, beat the ones who chose green, stab the ones who chose red, eat the ones that chose black or white and then charge them all $100.

[@user-rw5zw9wi2q]

Well I can tell you for certain one thing that isn't missing is Commander. That junk is being shoved down everyone's throat and sadly if you don't enjoy Commander then what's missing from Magic the Gathering is the players.

[@Lycurgus1982]

Wizards has gotten greedy.

[@RufusKyura]

Of course those disappeared the moment Arena reared its ugly head. They phased out in favor of pushing the new players to a digital only platform. And, mark my words, they're planning on making Arena the ONLY WAY you can MTG. Y'all are gonna see less and less physical products in the next coming years.

[@frankcastle9691]

Magic is a broken game.