Starting Magic: The Gathering - My Full Thoughts After 5 Months

Summary

In this video, the creator reflects on their first year with Magic: The Gathering, sharing their experiences as a new player. They discuss their favorite ways to play, particularly four-player Commander games, and highlight the joys of collecting cards over competitive play. The creator also talks about memorable moments such as pulling valuable cards and their biggest regrets, including purchasing a mystery booster box. They touch on their top recommended products for beginners and regular players, as well as their most anticipated set of 2025, the Spider-Man Marvel set. Overall, it's a fun and insightful look into a Magic enthusiast's journey.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker began their Magic: The Gathering (MTG) journey five months ago using the Bloom Barrel Starter Kit and started a YouTube channel to share their experience.
• 😀 Their favorite way to play Magic is 4-player Commander, as it’s more social and less focused on competition, unlike 1v1, which they find frustrating.
• 😀 The speaker's favorite deck this year was the 'Squirrel Away' deck from Bloom Barrel, which they modified over time and grew attached to.
• 😀 One of the biggest frustrations with MTG for the speaker is the game's complex and convoluted rules, which often led to long pauses during games while they searched for rule clarifications.
• 😀 Collecting Magic cards is more enjoyable for the speaker than playing, as they love the art on the cards and the thrill of opening packs.
• 😀 The most valuable card they pulled this year was a **Ven, the Relentless** in rare foil, which they later sold.
• 😀 For new players, the speaker recommends the **Foundations Beginner Box** and **Foundations Starter Collection** as must-buy products.
• 😀 Their biggest purchasing regret was the **Mystery Booster Box 2**, which they purchased without understanding it was meant for draft players, a format they weren’t into.
• 😀 The speaker was disappointed with two things: the delayed arrival of their **Marvel Secret Lair cards** due to a Canada Post strike and the underwhelming value of the **Duskborn Nightmare Bundle**.
• 😀 Their favorite Magic accessory of the year was a **deck box** from Amazon that holds two decks and includes a pouch for tokens and dice, along with **dry-erase tokens** for tracking gameplay.

Q & A

What was the speaker's favorite way to play Magic the Gathering?

The speaker’s favorite way to play Magic the Gathering is four-player Commander. They enjoy the social aspect of the format, the opportunity to team up with others, and the slower pace compared to one-on-one games, which they find too competitive and frustrating.

What was the speaker's favorite deck to play in 2024?

The speaker’s favorite deck to play was 'Squirreled Away' from Bloom Barrel. This was their first deck, and they enjoyed building an army of squirrels. Despite its weakness against flying creatures, it remains their favorite due to its sentimental value and the ability to modify it based on experience.

What did the speaker dislike the most about Magic the Gathering?

The speaker disliked the complexity of Magic’s rules. They found that playing often involved time-consuming rule discussions and card interactions that required online searches. They suggested that simplifying the rules and card text would improve the experience, especially for newcomers.

Does the speaker prefer playing or collecting Magic the Gathering cards?

The speaker prefers collecting Magic the Gathering cards over playing. They love the art on the cards and the excitement of opening booster packs. Although they enjoy playing, collecting the cards gives them joy, especially in terms of aesthetics and value.

What was the most valuable card the speaker pulled in 2024?

The most valuable card the speaker pulled was a foil Ven the Relentless in Raid Bed. They sold the card, but it was an exciting moment and the most hyped pull they had from a booster pack.

What were the must-buy products recommended by the speaker for new Magic players?

For new Magic players, the speaker recommended the 'Foundations Beginner Box' and the 'Foundation Starter Collection'. These products are considered must-own by the speaker for anyone just getting into the game.

What was the speaker's biggest purchasing regret in 2024?

The speaker’s biggest purchasing regret was the MagicCon Mystery Booster Box 2. This product is geared toward draft players, but since the speaker is not fond of the draft format, they found it to be an unsuitable purchase. They still haven’t opened all the boosters from this box after months.

What were the speaker's biggest disappointments in 2024?

The speaker had two major disappointments in 2024. The first was the delay in receiving Marvel Secret Lair cards due to a Canada Post strike. The second disappointment was the Duskborn Nightmare Bundle, which underperformed in terms of value, offering poor returns on the investment compared to its high price.

What was the speaker's favorite accessory purchased in 2024?

The speaker’s favorite accessory was a deck box from Amazon that could store two Commander decks. They also appreciated dry-erase tokens, which are useful for tracking tokens in games, especially for token-heavy decks.

What were the speaker's favorite boosters to open in 2024?

The speaker’s favorite boosters to open were from the Bloom Barrel set. They enjoyed the art and the overall experience of opening these boosters, regardless of the card value. The set played a significant role in getting them into Magic the Gathering in the first place.