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[[File:Magic card back.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Back of a ''Magic'' playing card]]
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'''''Magic: The Gathering''''', also '''''Magic''''' or '''''MTG''''', is a [[strategy]] [[TCG|card game]] created by [[Richard Garfield]] in 1993, and published by [[Wizards of the Coast]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/creation-magic-gathering-2013-03-12|The Creation of Magic: The Gathering|[[Richard Garfield]]|March 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|feature/magic-history-time-2009-06-01|A Magic History of Time|[[Michael G. Ryan]]|June 01, 2009}}</ref>


'''''Magic: The Gathering''''', also '''''Magic''''' or '''''MTG''''', is a [[strategy]] [[TCG|card game]] created by [[Richard Garfield]] in 1993, and published by [[Wizards of the Coast]].<ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/feature/238b|The Creation of Magic: The Gathering|[[Richard Garfield]]|March 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/feature/41g|A Magic History of Time|[[Michael G. Ryan]]|June 01, 2009}}</ref> Garfield introduced three ideas that made the game very succesful: the concept of the [[TCG|trading card game]], the [[color wheel]], and the [[mana]] system.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/mr231|As Good As It Gets|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 05, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/mm/28|Magic Design Seminar: Looking Within|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 02, 2009}}</ref>
''Magic'' holds the title of "Most Played Trading Card Game",<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/world-records-2011-09-14|World Records|[[Monty Ashley]]|September 14, 2011}}</ref> and is currently published in English, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.<ref>{{DailyRef|changes-to-magic-product-languages|Changes to Magic Product Languages|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|July 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|changes-to-magic-product-languages-in-2024|Changes to Magic Product Languages in 2024|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|February 22, 2024}}</ref> Digitally, the game can be played in [[Magic Online]] and [[MTG Arena]].
''Magic'' is not a single game but rather a game system that shares a set of rules and game components (mainly cards).<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/big-picture-2022-01-17|The Big Picture|[[Mark Rosewater]]|January 17, 2022}}</ref> It can be played in many different [[format]]s.


''Magic'' holds the title of "Most Played Trading Card Game." <ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/arcana/798|World Records|[[Monty Ashley]]|September 14, 2011}}</ref> The game is currently "localized" in the following languages: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. <ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/arcana/1339|Help Localize Magic|[[Trick Jarrett]]|October 10, 2013}}</ref>  It is available for sale in the Asian, European and North America countries. The players base of the game is mostly male, but women are catching up.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/feature/225d|The LPS and Creating Play Groups|[[Jennifer Robles]]|December 11, 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Magic card back.jpg|200px|right]]
==General==
==General==
Within the game of ''Magic'', each [[player]] is supposed to be a [[planeswalker]], a powerful being.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/jc20|The Original Magic Rulebook|[[John Carter]]|December 25, 2004}}</ref>
Within the game of ''Magic'', each [[player]] takes the role of a [[planeswalker]], a powerful, magic-wielding being.<ref>{{DailyRef|original-magic-rulebook-2004-12-25|The Original ''Magic'' Rulebook|[[John Carter]]|December 25, 2004}}</ref>


The game is commonly played with 2 players, but can be played [[multiplayer|with more]]. Each player uses their own [[deck]], which is [[constructed]] from [[card]]s they own.  Players start the game with 20 [[life]]. There are several ways of [[Winning and losing|winning the game]], the most common being reducing your opponent to 0 life.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/academy/44|Playing the Game|[[Jeff Cunningham]]|June 30, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/academy/49|Lessons Learned|Jeff Cunningham|August 04, 2007}}</ref>
The game is commonly played with two players but can be played [[multiplayer|with more]]. Each player uses their own [[deck]], which may be [[constructed]] from [[card]]s they previously owned, or from a [[limited]] pool of cards at an event. There are several ways of [[Winning and losing|winning the game]], the most common being reducing your opponent to 0 [[life]], from a starting total of 20.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-academy/playing-game-2007-06-30|Playing the Game|[[Jeff Cunningham]]|June 30, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|magic-academy/lessons-learned-2007-08-04|Lessons Learned|[[Jeff Cunningham]]|August 04, 2007}}</ref>


There are currently roughly 12,000 unique Magic cards. The cards are sold in [[booster pack]]s, [[preconstructed theme deck]]s and several other packages. Because ''Magic'' keeps adding new cards, it keeps shifting what matters. The discovery process that takes days or weeks or months at another game takes an eternity in ''Magic''. You never truly figure the game out because it keeps changing. The modular nature of trading card games means that each player has a nearly infinite number of options. It allows each player to design what kind of game experience he or she is going to have. The [[metagame]] is a major component of what makes ''Magic'' the game it is, there is are an organized play system, online resources, a library of material, and numerous communities.  
There are currently more than 27,000 unique Magic cards,<ref>[[Scryfall]] search using [https://scryfall.com/search?q=cmc%3E%3D0+is%3Afirstprint&as=grid&order=name "cmc>=0 is:firstprint"] (n = 27,425 cards). Retrieved January 08, 2024.</ref> to which hundreds are added each year. Cards are sold in a variety of [[Printed languages|languages]] and products, including [[booster pack]]s and [[preconstructed theme deck]]s.


''Magic'' was conceived as a game of hidden information, as opposed to a game like chess where all of the information to make every decision is on the board at all times.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/ld/239|The Nature of Secrecy|[[Sam Stoddard]]|March 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{NewRef|ld/hidden-information-2014-10-24|Hidden Information|[[Sam Stoddard]]|October 24, 2014}}</ref> Players are required to use what limited information they have available to them, and use that to make the best decisions possible. This, combined with the inherent [[random]]ness in the way the game is played, means that there won't ever really be a certain correct way to play.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/ld/264|Decisions, Decisions|[[Sam Stoddard]]|September 13, 2013}}</ref>
''Magic'' is a game of hidden information, meaning that each player knows secrets that the other players do not.<ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/nature-secrecy-2013-03-22|The Nature of Secrecy|[[Sam Stoddard]]|March 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|ld/hidden-information-2014-10-24|Hidden Information|[[Sam Stoddard]]|October 24, 2014}}</ref> By contrast, some other games, such as chess, expose the entire game state to all players. Being forced to guess from imperfect information, combined with the inherent [[random]]ness in the game (such as from shuffling), makes finding perfect or ideal strategies impractical, if not impossible, and tests a variety of cognitive skills.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/decisions-decisions-part-i-2009-07-27|Decisions, Decisions, Part I|[[Mark Rosewater]]|July 27, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|decisions-decisions-part-ii-2009-08-10|Decisions, Decisions, Part II|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 10, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|latest-developments/decisions-decisions-2013-09-13|Decisions, Decisions|[[Sam Stoddard]]|September 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|lo/what-magic-2014-08-11|What is Magic?|[[Reid Duke]]|August 11, 2014}}</ref> This is compounded by the continual addition of new cards, which forces a regular reevaluation of deckbuilding and gameplay strategies and leads to an ever-shifting [[metagame]] as players adapt.
 
The game may ask several skills from a player: strategic thinking, Looking for opportunities, patience, thinking ahead, factoring in variance, considering hidden information and focus.<ref>{{NewRef|lo/what-magic-2014-08-11|What is Magic?|[[Reid Duke]]|August 11, 2014}}</ref>


===Trading card game===
===Trading card game===
''Magic'' is a '''trading card game''' ([[TCG]]), also called a ''collectible card game'' or ''customizable card game'' (CCG). It was the first of its kind, played using specially designed [[set]]s of [[cards]].<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/mr231|As Good As It Gets|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 05, 2006}}</ref> While trading cards have been around for longer, CCGs combine the appeal of collecting with strategic gameplay.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/mr121|Collecting My Thoughts|[[Mark Rosewater]]|April 26, 2004}}</ref>
''Magic'' is a [[trading card game]], or TCG. While trading cards predate ''Magic'' by more than a century, and solitaire games using cards date back to the 1950s, ''Magic'' was the first product to combine [[random]]ized, [[collecting|collectible]] [[card]]s with deck-construction and interactive gameplay.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{DailyRef|making-magic/good-it-gets-2006-06-05|As Good As It Gets|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 05, 2006}}</ref><ref>"[http://www.tradingcardcentral.com/history.php Trading Card Central - History]". ''Trading Card Central''. Retrieved March 23, 2016</ref><ref>unknown, topical (2013-03-28), "[http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-cott-to-be-good.html It's Cott To be Good!]". ''The Topps Archives''. Retrieved Match 23 2016.</ref>


===The colors of ''Magic''===
===The colors of ''Magic''===
[[File:Color Wheel.jpg|thumb|right|350px|The "Color Wheel". &copy; Wizards of the Coast.]]
''Magic'' recognizes five colors for mechanical purposes: [[white]], [[blue]], [[black]], [[red]], and [[green]]. Each card may be any of these colors, or [[colorless]]. A card may also be [[multicolored]], and a [[hybrid mana|hybrid]] subset of multicolored cards offers additional flexibility.
Most Magic cards are one or more of five colors: [[White]], [[Blue]], [[Black]], [[Red]], and [[Green]]. The majority of [[artifacts]] don't require any specific color to cast and as such are [[colorless]]. Each color has its own philosophy and [[strategy]]. The "[[Color Pie]]" (a.k.a. "Color Wheel") is a representation of these colors, their mechanics and philosophies.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/mr85|The Value of Pie|Mark Rosewater|August 18, 2003}}</ref>


[[Multicolored]] (or gold) cards require more than one color to cast. Multicolored cards show the strengths among the colors of the card. [[Hybrid mana|Hybrid]] cards have a split mana cost and can be cast using either of the two types of mana in the split symbol.
Each color has characteristic [[strategy|strategies]], [[mechanic]]s, and philosophies. These properties derive from commonplace associations with the colors themselves, and from the practical considerations of creating good gameplay. The "[[color pie]]", or color wheel, is a mnemonic device and creative tool based on the ring of colored dots on the back of ''Magic'' cards. For any particular color, the color pie uses adjacency on that ring to split the other colors into a pair of neighboring [[allied color]]s and a more distant pair of [[enemy color]]s.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/value-pie-2003-08-18-0|The Value of Pie|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 18, 2003}}</ref>


===Mana system===
===Mana system===
[[Mana]] is the primary resource for playing spells. Mana is typically drawn from [[lands]] (like the basic lands <c>Plains</c>, <c>Island</c>, <c>Swamp</c>, <c>Mountain</c> and <c>Forest</c>) but it an also be generated by non-land [[permanents]] and [[spells]]. Players choose whatever cards they want. In order for that to work, the game needs some way to make as many cards as possible matter. By making spells have a [[cost]], the designers are able to make different cards important at different parts of the game. Because of this, each card now has a different reason to be considered for a deck. This diversity of card usage is a key factor in making the entire trading card game work.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/mm/145|Mana Action|[[Mark Rosewater]]|May 30, 2011}}</ref>
[[Mana]] is the primary resource for playing spells. Mana is typically drawn from [[lands]] (like the basic lands <c>Plains</c>, <c>Island</c>, <c>Swamp</c>, <c>Mountain</c>, and <c>Forest</c>) but it can also be generated by non-land [[permanents]] and [[spells]]. Players choose whatever cards they want. For that to work, the game needs some way to make as many cards as possible matter. By making spells have a [[cost]], the designers can make different cards important at different parts of the game. Because of this, each card now has a different reason to be considered for a deck. This diversity of card usage is a key factor in making the entire trading card game work.<ref>{{DailyRef|mana-action-2011-05-23|Mana Action|[[Mark Rosewater]]|May 30, 2011}}</ref>


===Card types===
===Card types===
A [[card type]] is a characteristic that each ''Magic: the Gathering'' card has. Each card type has its own rules for how they are [[play]]ed. The main card types are: [[artifact]], [[creature]], [[enchantment]], [[instant]], [[land]]. [[planeswalker]] and [[sorcery]]. Some objects may have more than one card type (e.g., artifact creature). Additionally, cards may have [[supertype]]s or [[subtype]]s.
A [[card type]] is a characteristic that each ''Magic: The Gathering'' card has. Each card type has its own rules for how they are [[play]]ed. The main card types are: [[artifact]], [[creature]], [[enchantment]], [[instant]], [[land]], [[planeswalker]] and [[sorcery]]. Some objects may have more than one card type (e.g., artifact creature). Additionally, cards may have [[supertype]]s or [[subtype]]s.


==History==
==History==
The first magic [[core set]] called ''[[Alpha]]'' was created by Dr. Richard Garfield and bought by Wizards of the Coast and released in 1993. <ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/arcana/1153|Twenty Years Ago|[[Monty Ashley]]|January 23, 2013}}</ref> Three core sets (''[[Beta]]'', ''[[Unlimited]]'', and ''[[Revised]]'') were released shortly after the ''Alpha'' release in order to satisfy the growing demand for the card game. The first [[expansion]] set, ''[[Arabian Nights]]'', was released December 1993. It was based off of the Arabic compilation of Stories One Thousand and One Nights, and offered quotes from various stories in the compilation.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/feature/52a|The Expanding Worlds of Magic|[[Richard Garfield]]|August 17, 2009}}</ref> At one point in time, it was discussed that each expansion should have their name printed on the [[card back|backs of the cards]] along with "Magic: The Gathering;" however, this idea quickly fell by the wayside in order to provide card uniformity.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/mm/26|25 Random Things About Magic|[[Mark Rosewater]]|February 16, 2009}}</ref> Shortly afterward, the second expansion set, ''[[Antiquities]]'', was released in the spring of 1994. Many expansion followed. ''[[Ice Age]]'' was the first large expansion, starting the typical [[block]] (originally called cycle) of one [[large expansion]] and two smaller expansions. In 2008, Wizards made a big push towards acquisition.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/mr321|Assume the Acquisition|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 03, 2008}}</ref> A sixty-seventh expansion, ''[[Dragons of Tarkir]]'', is scheduled to be released in March, 2015.
The first ''Magic'' [[core set]], retroactively labeled ''[[Alpha]]'', was created by Dr. Richard Garfield, bought by Wizards of the Coast, and released in August 1993.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/twenty-years-ago-2013-01-23|Twenty Years Ago|[[Monty Ashley]]|January 23, 2013}}</ref><ref>[https://magic.wizards.com/en/content/magics-25th-anniversary-25-year-timeline Wizards of the Coast (January 31, 2018). "Magic's 25th Anniversary; 25 Year Timeline", magicthegathering.com, Wizards of the Coast.]</ref> High demand led to a second ''[[Beta]]'' print run two months later, followed by a rebranded ''[[Unlimited Edition]]''. When Richard first made the game, he called it ''Magic''. The name was too basic to trademark so the name was changed to ''Mana Clash''.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/how-trivial-2018-10-22|How Trivial|[[Mark Rosewater]]|October 22, 2018}}</ref> Everyone kept calling it ''Magic'' so they looked into what they needed to do to call it ''Magic''. The answer was to add something to it to make it more unique. Richard chose ''“The Gathering”'' as a sub-name signifying the beginning, as the plan was to keep changing the sub-names. The next version would be called ''Magic: [[Ice Age]]''.<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-october-2005-2005-10-03|Ask Wizards - October 2005|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|October, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/113092060568/what-does-the-titular-gathering-in-mtg-mean|title=What does the titular "Gathering" in MTG mean?|March 08, 2015}}</ref> This idea was however quickly abandoned.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/almost-different-back-2002-08-05|Almost a Different Back|[[Magic Arcana]]|August 05, 2002}}</ref>
 
''[[Arabian Nights]]'', released December 1993, was the first [[expansion]] set, consisting of new cards, rather than [[reprint]]s. The first "cycle" of thematically linked new releases, now known as a [[block]], began with ''[[Ice Age]]''. There are now over seventy expansions, ''[[{{CURRENTSET}}]]'' being the latest.
 
The full, official rules for ''Magic'' change regularly with the release of new products. Most of these changes simply define and enable new mechanics, though major revisions have occurred infrequently, such as the [[6th Edition#Rules changes|6th Edition update]] in 1999 and the [[Grand Creature Type Update]] in 2007. Proclamations that a new update will finally "kill" the game are common.<ref>{{DailyRef|simple-rules-are-holy-grail-magic-2009-06-01|Simple Rules are the Holy Grail of ''Magic''|Dan Gray|June 01, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/twenty-things-were-going-kill-magic-2013-08-05|Twenty Things That Were Going To Kill ''Magic''|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 05, 2013}}</ref> Despite this, the game has flourished, with repeated statements that the most recent large set has become the best-selling set of all time.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/58494083215/for-years-it-mirrodin-was-the-best-selling-set|title=For years, Mirrodin...|August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mm/state-design-2014|State of Design 2014|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 18, 2014}}</ref>
 
[[Mark Rosewater]] attributes the game's success, in part, to three core concepts introduced by Richard Garfield at the game's inception: the [[TCG|trading card game]], the [[color wheel]], and the [[mana]] system.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/magic-design-seminar-looking-within-2009-03-02|''Magic'' Design Seminar: Looking Within|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 02, 2009}}</ref> Additionally, since 2008, Wizards of the Coast has devoted efforts to acquiring new players.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/assume-acquisition-2008-03-03|Assume the Acquisition|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 03, 2008}}</ref> Such efforts include a shift in game design to mitigate [[complexity creep]], structured play opportunities to introduce women players to ''Magic'',<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/lps-and-creating-play-groups-2012-12-11-0|The LPS and Creating Play Groups|Jennifer Robles|December 11, 2012}}</ref> and more in-game representation of women<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/21270120918/|title=Re: your latest...|April 17, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/110840728088/|title=Do you guys...|February 12, 2015}}</ref> and minorities.<ref>{{DailyRef|uncharted-realms/truth-names-2015-01-28|The Truth of Names|[[James Wyatt]]|Jan 28, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://dougbeyermtg.tumblr.com/post/102494647314/|title=This got asked to Maro...|September 12, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://dougbeyermtg.tumblr.com/post/61385493599/|title=Are the Guardians of Meletis...|September 15, 2013}}</ref> In spite of these efforts, the percentage of the player base that identifies as female is currently in the mid-twenties, down from 38% in the recent past.<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/162137383148/|title=I think one of the reasons the community argues with you...|June 22, 2017}}</ref>
 
[[File:Color Wheel.jpg|thumb|350px|The color wheel (&copy; Wizards of the Coast)]]
 
===Competitive and professional play===
The first major ''Magic: The Gathering'' [[tournament]] was the [[1994 World Championships]] held at [[Gen Con]] '94. It was a single-elimination 512-person [[Constructed]] event run over three days of competition.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtger-gen-con-2004-08-23|An M:TGer at Gen Con|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 23, 2004}}</ref>  
 
The winner, [[Zak Dolan]], received a trophy, several booster packs from expansions ranging from ''[[Arabian Nights]]'' to ''[[Ice Age]]'', a deck of ''Magic'' [[poker deck]], and a T-shirt. In 1995, Brand Manager [[Skaff Elias]] suggested that [[Organized Play]] needed to take the step to the next level. The idea was to run several tournaments each year that would gather the best players in the world and reward them with cash for their dedication to the game. Players should have something to aspire to. Elias and [[Mark Rosewater]] along with others started to work on the concept. On February 16–18, 1996 the first [[Pro Tour]], very briefly called ''The Black Lotus Pro Tour'', was held in New York.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/tour-part-1-2004-07-26|On Tour, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|July 26, 2004}}</ref> The first Pro Tour season included three more Pro Tour events, culminating in the final Pro Tour, the [[1995 World Championships]], held in Seattle. In the following years, a Pro Tour season (one year) always consisted of five and later six Pro Tours.
 
The [[Pro Players Club]] was a reward system associated with the Pro Tour. Points accumulated during the season determined the players' level in the club, each with different benefits. The highest levels made it possible to make a living as a professional player.
 
===Esports and tabletop===
After the successful introduction of [[MTG Arena]] in 2018, Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro debuted [[Magic esports|''Magic'' esports]] in 2019 and started to refer to the original paper game as "tabletop ''Magic''".<ref>{{DailyRef|news/next-chapter-magic-esports-2018-12-06|The Next Chapter for ''Magic'': Esports|[[Elaine Chase]]|December 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/where-its-2019-03-11|Where It's At|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 11, 2019}}</ref>
 
Initially, Esports events were called [[Mythic Championships]], and later [[Split Championship]]. Esports also introduced the [[Magic Pro League]] and the [[Rivals League]].
 
===Jumping the Shark?===
By 2020, the future of ''Magic: the Gathering'' was questioned by the common players. This was in response to many recently-printed cards being [[banned]] because of their high percentage of use warping the meta of nearly all formats, and the dizzying amount of products which were targeted towards the "whales" of the game and priced beyond what the average player could and was willing to spend.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://onlyontuesdays27.com/2020/05/28/this-article-is-not-for-you-worrying-trends-in-mtg/|title=This Article is Not For You: Worrying Trends in MtG|author=Jacob Willson|date=May 28, 2020|publisher=Onlyontuesdays27.com}}</ref><ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/kendrasmith-09302020-the-problem-with-the-walking-dead-secret-lair|title=The Problem with The Walking Dead Secret Lair|author=Kendra Smith|date=September 30, 2020|publisher=Coolstuffinc.com}}</ref><ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/if-you-are-not-happy-with-the-state-of-magic-stop-giving-wizards-your-money|title=If You Are Not Happy with the State of Magic, Stop Giving Wizards Your Money|author=SaffronOlive|date=October 2, 2020|publisher=Mtggoldfish.com}}</ref>
 
In [[2021]], the [[Universes Beyond]]-series was announced. This allowed for other IPs to be introduced into the game.
 
===Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic===
The [[Wikipedia:2019–20 coronavirus pandemic|COVID-19 outbreak]] in January 2020 resulted in preventative measures taken in March. A large swath of the Grand Prix event schedule was canceled, and the Players Tour Finals Houston and the May Invitational also were canceled.<ref>{{DailyRef|news/changes-magics-competitive-season-and-event-schedule-2020-03-12|Changes to ''Magic'''s Competitive Season and Event Schedule.|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|March 12, 2020}}</ref> By April, it was clear that further events were not safely feasible to hold, and Wizards wrote off the entire season as not salvageable.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.magic.gg/news/esports-update-mpl-rivals-and-competitor-2020-partial-season-changes|title=Esports Update: MPL, Rivals, and Competitor 2020 Partial Season Changes|author=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|date=April 1, 2020|publisher=[[Magic.gg]]}}</ref>
 
By May, the future of in-person gatherings was uncertain and likely to remain that way for some time. Wizards of the Coast, therefore, shifted the 2020 Partial Season competitions from in-person destinations to online events, played remotely through MTG Arena.<ref name="What's Next">{{WebRef|url=https://magic.gg/news/whats-next-for-the-magic-esports-2020-partial-season|title=What's Next For the Magic Esports 2020 Partial Season|author=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|date=May 20, 2020|publisher=[[Magic.gg]]}}</ref>


Through the years ''Magic'' has gone through several rules changes. With each change, there was always the worry that this new thing was going to be the thing that finally killed the game.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/feature/41c|Simple Rules are the Holy Grail of Magic|[[Dan Gray]]|June 01, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/mm/259|Twenty Things That Were Going To Kill Magic|[[Mark Rosewater]]|August 05, 2013}}</ref>
===Ending professional play===
In May 2021, [[Magic Esports]] announced a return to in-person play post-COVID-19 for the [[2022–23 Players Tour Season]].<ref name="The End"/> Although the digital play was considered to be a lasting part of of the tournament scene, it is deemed to be only part of the equation going forward. As a result, the [[2021–22 Players Tour Season]] was announced to be the last season featuring the [[MPL]] and the [[Rivals League]].<ref name="The End">{{WebRef|url=https://magic.gg/news/esports-transitions-and-getting-back-to-gathering|title=Esports: Transitions And Getting Back To The Gathering|author=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|date=May 13, 2021|publisher=[[Magic.gg]]}}</ref> Pro Players were told that they should no longer consider success in tournament ''Magic'' to be a valid career option.<ref>{{TwitterRef|MSigrist83|1392858901134118917|author=[[Mike Sigrist]]|title=We were told and given permission to say that we should no longer consider Magic professionally moving forward.|date=May 13, 2021}}</ref> Some form of managing invites for large, Pro-Tour equivalent tournaments will be implemented, and the salaries towards the Leagues would be directed into the prize pool, but no system appears to have been developed at this time.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|k2ckkBm56VY|The new ORGANIZED PLAY announcement and how it affects competitive players|channel=[[Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa]]|date=May 14, 2021}}</ref>
 
On [[WeeklyMTG]], [[Blake Rasmussen]] explained the announcement as an attempt to re-balance where Wizards spends its organized play resources.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.hipstersofthecoast.com/2021/05/mpl-and-rivals-league-will-disband-after-the-2021-22-season/|title=MPL and Rivals League Will Disband After the 2021-22 Season|author=David McCoy|date=May 13, 2021|publisher=[[Hipsters of the Coast]]}}</ref> “For the longest time, [esports] sucked up all of the resources,” he revealed, leading to a top-heavy organized play system that didn’t serve competitive ''Magic'' well. He explained that Wizards of the Coast had identified five pillars of play that they wanted to balance, both organized and [[casual]]: friendly play, like [[kitchen table]] ''Magic'' and [[FNM]]; aspirational play, liked [[PTQ]]s and [[Grand Prix]]; elite play, like the [[MPL]] and [[Rival]]s; festivals, like [[CommandFest]]; and digital play on [[MTG Arena]] and [[Magic Online]].
 
===$1 billion brand===
Despite losses in the third quarter of 2022, ''Magic'' grew that year into the [[Hasbro]]'s first $1 billion brand.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/18/hasbro-has-reports-q3-earnings.html|title=Hasbro profit misses the mark as toy maker faces high inventory and inflation|author=Jack Stebbins|date=October 18, 2022|publisher=CNBC.com}}</ref> The celebrations of 30 years ''Magic'' started with the [[Magic 30]] convention.
 
===Warning by Bank of America===
On November 14, 2022, a Bank of America analyst said that [[Hasbro]] was “destroying the long-term value” of ''Magic: The Gathering'' by overprinting cards. The dire warning was accompanied by a double downgrade of Hasbro stock — from “buy” to “underperform” — as its valuation fell more than 5% before trading began on Monday. The analyst also called out the ''Magic'' ''[[30th Anniversary Edition]]'' as particularly egregious.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/magic-the-gathering-analysis-prompts-bofa-to-double-downgrade-hasbro-432SI-2943159|title='Magic: The Gathering' analysis prompts BofA to double downgrade Hasbro|author=Senad Karaahmetovic |date=November 14, 2022|publisher=Coolstuffinc.com}}</ref><ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.polygon.com/23458064/magic-the-gathering-overprinting-hasbro-stock-downgrade|title=Hasbro’s squeezing Magic: The Gathering players for too much money, big bank warns|author=Charlie Hall|date=November 14, 2022|publisher=Polygon.com}}</ref><ref>{{WebRef|url=https://infinite.tcgplayer.com/article/Is-Hasbro-Killing-Their-Golden-Goose/0ce43805-516f-4877-933c-2dfe2286637f/|title=Is Hasbro Killing Their Golden Goose?|author=[[Cassie LaBelle]]|date=December 2, 2022|publisher=Infinite.tcgplayer.com}}</ref>
 
===Ambassador Program===
[[File:2023 Jeweled Lotus desk light.jpg|thumb|right|2023 Ambassador Program swag]]
In 2023, Wizards of the Coast introduced the MTG Ambassador Program.<ref>{{DailyRef|announcements/what-is-a-magic-the-gathering-ambassador|What is a ''Magic: The Gathering'' Ambassador?|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|June 16, 2023}}</ref> This program provides content creators with additional tools to create their ''Magic: The Gathering'' content. Ambassadors receive set information and a variety of cards from each set before debut day in order to prepare content for their audience. In addition to receiving exclusive MTG Ambassador swag, creators als receive [[MTG Arena]] benefits, and [[MagicCon]] badges. Moreover, these creators may receive insights directly from Wizards of the Coast. Ambassadors are currently limited to North America.


==DCI==
==DCI==
The DCI (formerly, Duelists' Convocation International) is the official sanctioning body for competitive play in ''Magic: The Gathering''. The DCI provides game [[rules]], [[tournament]] operating procedures, and other materials to private tournament organizers and [[players]]. It also operates a [[judge]] certification program to provide consistent rules enforcement and promote fair play. Wizards of the Coast and the DCI control the list of [[banned]] and [[Restricted cards|restricted]] cards, which are considered too strong in particular tournaments.  
The [[DCI]] (formerly, Duelists' Convocation International) is the official sanctioning body for competitive play in ''Magic: The Gathering''. The DCI provides game [[rules]], [[tournament]] operating procedures, and other materials to private tournament organizers and [[players]]. It also operates a [[judge]] certification program to provide consistent rules enforcement and promote fair play. Wizards of the Coast and the DCI control the list of [[banned]] and [[Restricted cards|restricted]] cards, which are considered too strong in particular tournaments.  


In order to play in sanctioned events, players must register for a free membership and receive a DCI number. The DCI maintains a global player ratings database using the ELO rating system ([[Planeswalker points]]) and members have access to their entire tournament history online. If a member commits frequent or flagrant rules infractions, his or her membership can be suspended for variable amounts of time depending on the severity, from one month to a lifetime.
To play in sanctioned events, players must register for a free membership and receive a DCI number. The DCI maintains a global player rating database using the Elo rating system ([[Planeswalker Points]]) and members have access to their entire tournament history online. If a member commits frequent or flagrant rules infractions, their membership can be suspended for variable amounts of time depending on the severity, from one month to a lifetime.


==Decks and Tournaments==
==Decks and tournaments==
Tournament decks in general must have at least 60 cards. A deck may have no more than 4 copies of an individual card, besides basic lands which it may have any number. If a [[sideboard]] is used, it may contain no more than 15 cards.
Tournament decks in general must have at least 60 cards. A deck may have no more than four copies of an individual card, besides basic lands which may have any number. If a [[sideboard]] is used, it may contain no more than 15 cards.


===Constructed===
===Constructed===
Most games of ''[[Magic]]'', especially [[casual]] ones, are played with [[constructed]] [[deck]]s, made by the players before they arrive at game. There are also multiple [[format]]s that are played with constructed decks in [[DCI]]-sanctioned [[tournament]]s:
Most games of ''[[Magic]]'', especially [[casual]] ones, are [[Constructed]] formats, where the [[deck]]s are prepared by the players before they arrive at the game. Most (but not all) Constructed [[format]]s are [[DCI]]-sanctioned, and thus decks in these formats can be expected at [[tournament]]s.
* In [[Block Constructed|block constructed]], players may play any unbanned cards from a single block.<ref>Wizards of the Coast. (April 28, 2014.)[http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Resources.aspx?x=judge/resources/sfrblock Block Format Deck Construction]</ref>
*In the [[Standard]] format, players play with a deck of at least 60 cards from the most recent [[set]]s.<ref>[[Wizards of the Coast]]. (April 28, 2014.) [http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Resources.aspx?x=judge/resources/sfrstandard Standard Format Deck Construction Block Format Deck Construction]</ref>
* In the [[Standard]] format, players play with a deck of at least 60 cards from the most recent [[core set]], the most recent fully released block, and the block that is currently being released.<ref>Wizards of the Coast. (April 28, 2014.) [http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Resources.aspx?x=judge/resources/sfrstandard Standard Format Deck Construction Block Format Deck Construction]</ref>
*[[Vintage]] is the oldest format in the game, simply because it allows players the ability to use almost any card from any black or white [[border]]ed set.  
* [[Vintage]] is the oldest format in the game, simply because it allows players the ability to use almost any card from any black or white [[border]]ed set.  
*In the [[Legacy]] format, cards from all sets are playable, though many of the cards that are [[Restricted cards|restricted]] in vintage are banned in legacy.  
* In the [[legacy]] format, cards from all sets are playable, though many of the cards which are [[Restricted cards|restricted]] in vintage are banned in legacy.  
*[[Modern]] is currently the most popular competitive non-[[rotating format]] in the game and bridges the gap between standard and legacy. The card pool in this format is much smaller compared to [[Legacy]] and [[Vintage]]. The card pool in this format encompasses all sets from ''[[Eighth Edition]]'' on.
* [[Modern]] is currently the newest [[eternal format]] in the game and bridges the gap between standard and legacy. The cardpool in this format is much smaller compared to either [[legacy]], or [[vintage]]. The cardpool in this format encompasses all set from ''[[Eighth Edition]]'' on.
*[[Commander (format)|Commander]] is the most popular [[casual]] [[multiplayer]] [[format]] with specific rules centered around a [[legendary]] [[creature]] called the [[commander (designation)|commander]].<ref>{{DailyRef|serious-fun/mixing-it-2007-12-11|Mixing It Up|The Ferrett|December 11, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/word-commander-2011-06-20|Word of Commander|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 20, 2011}}</ref>'''


===Limited===
===Limited===
In the [[limited]] format, players do not play with decks they built ahead of time, but play with decks of cards from sealed [[booster pack]]s, which are built at the beginning of a limited tournament before play begins. In limited formats, the minimum deck size is 40 cards.Generally, 17-19 lands and 21-23 spells are played, but there is some variance in this aspect. This format is favored by some, as it allows all players, no matter the size of their collection, to have an equal chance at doing well in a tournament.
In the [[Limited]] format, players do not play with decks they built ahead of time, but play with decks of cards from sealed [[booster pack]]s, which are built at the beginning of a limited tournament before play begins. In limited formats, the minimum deck size is 40 cards. Generally, 17-19 lands and 21-23 spells are played, but there is some variance in this aspect. This format is favored by some, as it allows all players, no matter the size of their collection, to have an equal chance of doing well in a tournament.
* In the [[draft]] format, each participating player is seated around a table, usually of 8 players, and is given 3 sealed booster packs. Each player opens the first of their packs, chooses a card from it, and places the chosen card face-down on the table in front of them. The remaining cards in the pack are passed to the left, and players repeat this process with the pack just passed to them, until all the cards are chosen. The same is done with the second pack, this time passing to the right, and with the third pack, passing left again. Each player then builds a deck using the 45 cards they chose from the booster packs. Sanctioned drafts can be run with any number of boosters from any set, as long as each drafter receives the same product. The most common drafts are from the most recent [[block]].
*In the [[Draft]] format, each participating player is seated around a table, usually of eight players, and is given three sealed booster packs. Each player opens the first of their packs, chooses a card from it, and places the chosen card face down on the table in front of them. The remaining cards in the pack are passed to the left, and players repeat this process with the pack just passed to them until all the cards are chosen. The same is done with the second pack, this time passing to the right, and with the third pack, passing left again. Each player then builds a deck using the 45 cards they chose from the booster packs. Sanctioned drafts can be run with any number of boosters from any set, as long as each drafter receives the same product. The most common drafts are from the most recent [[block]].
* In [[Sealed deck]] is a common format used at prerelease tournaments. Everyone is given the same amount of product, e.g. 6 [[booster pack]]s. From that pool of cards, and adding in as many [[basic land]] as desired, each player must build a deck of at least 40 cards. Any opened cards not put in the main deck count as part of the [[sideboard]]. In sealed deck, the skill is making the best out of what you're given.<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/daily/mr287|Signed, Sealed, and Delivered|[[Mark Rosewater]]|July 09, 2007}}</ref>
*[[Sealed Deck]] is a common format used at prerelease tournaments. In this format, everyone is given the same amount of product (e.g., six [[booster pack]]s). From that pool of cards, and adding in as many [[basic land]] as desired, each player must build a deck of at least 40 cards. Any opened cards not put in the main deck count as part of the [[sideboard]]. In a sealed deck, the skill is making the best out of what you're given.<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/signed-sealed-and-delivered-2007-07-09|Signed, Sealed, and Delivered|[[Mark Rosewater]]|July 09, 2007}}</ref>


==Conventions==
==Conventions==
''Magic'' is yearly featured at several conventions:
''Magic'' is yearly featured at several conventions:
* [[Gen Con]] (July)
* [[Comic-Con]] (August)
* [[PAX]] (September, March)


*[[Wikipedia:Origins Game Fair|Origins Game Fair]] (June)
*[[Gen Con]] (July)
*[[Comic-Con]] (July/August)
*[[PAX]] (September, March)
*[[Promotional card#Dragon Con|Dragon Con]] (September)
*[[HASCON]] (September)
*[[MagicCon]] (multiple times per year since 2022)
These conventions may feature storyline or design panels, [[Blogatog]] live, ''Massive Magic'' (playing with giant ''Magic'' cards that are over three feet big),<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/164427963623/so-what-was-massive-magic|title=What is Massive Magic?|August 20, 2017}}</ref>, etc.
===Online===
===Online===
WotC's online convention, ''Uncon'', features several tournaments and contests. <ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/418|Uncon 2003 Prize Sketches|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 18, 2003}}</ref>
*Wizards' online convention, ''Uncon'', featured several tournaments and contests.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/uncon-2003-prize-sketches-2003-09-18|Uncon 2003 Prize Sketches|[[Magic Arcana]]|September 18, 2003}}</ref>
*[[HASCON#Hasbro PulseCon|Hasbro PulseCon]]


==Awards==
==Awards==
Magic is listed on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_100#Hall_of_Fame Games Magazine Hall of Fame].<ref>{{DailyRef|mtgcom/arcana/450|Magic: The Gathering Inducted into ''Games Magazine Hall of Fame''|[[Magic Arcana]]|November 12, 2003}}</ref>
*In 1994, awards from the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) for ''Magic: The Gathering'' and ''[[Legends]]''.
 
*''Magic'' is listed on the [[Wikipedia:Games 100#Hall of Fame|Games Magazine Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/magic-gathering-inducted-games-magazine-hall-fame-2003-11-12|''Magic: The Gathering'' Inducted into ''Games Magazine Hall of Fame''|[[Magic Arcana]]|November 12, 2003}}</ref>
*Academy of Adventure Gaming & Design: ''Best Collectible Card Game of the Year 2015'' for ''[[Khans of Tarkir]]''.
*2019 Toy Hall of Fame inductee.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.museumofplay.org/press/releases/2019/11/5690-2019-toy-hall-of-fame-inductees-announced|title=2019 National Toy Hall of Fame Inductees Announced|author=The Strong: National Museum of Play|date=November 7, 2019|publisher=Museumofplay.org}}</ref>


==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:MTG advertisement.jpg|Early advertisement
File:MTG Logo blue.png|Logo used 1993–1999; still being printed on the back of physical cards
File:MTG logo yellow.png|Logo used 1999–2015
File:MTG Logo orange.png|Logo used 2015–2018
File:MTG Logo 2018.png|Logo used 2018–present, with variants for different related products<ref>{{DailyRef|news/venturing-outward-new-magic-logo-2018-03-27|Venturing Outward with the ''Magic'' Logo|[[Matt Cavotta]]|March 27, 2018}}</ref>
File:Magic esports logo.png|2019 [[Esports]] variant
File:Magic esports logo 2.png|2020 [[Esports]] variant
File:Tabletop.png|2019 [[tabletop]] variant
File:Tabletop 2.jpg|tabletop symbol
File:Magic 30 years.jpg|Magic 30 years
File:Magic 30 years (2).jpg|Magic 30 years
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
==External links==
* {{DailyRef|mtgcom/feature/447|Magic Ad Archive|Magicthegathering.com staff|March 03, 2008}}
*[https://ccgtrader.co.uk/games/magic-the-gathering-ccg Magic Database] at [https://ccgtrader.co.uk CCGTrader]
* [http://archive.wizards.com/magic/tcg/newtomagic.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/newtomagic/learntoplay Learn to Play Magic: The Gathering]
*{{DailyRef|making-magic/twenty-years-twenty-lessons-part-1-2016-05-30|Twenty Years, Twenty Lessons—Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|May 30, 2016}}
*{{DailyRef|magic-ad-archive-2008-03-03|Magic Ad Archive|[[Magicthegathering.com]] staff|March 03, 2008}}
*{{DailyRef|how-build/learning-play-more-magic-gathering-2017-05-31|Learning to Play More Magic: The Gathering|[[Adam Styborski]]|May 31, 2017}}
*{{DailyRef|feature/nearly-25-years-magic-graphics-2017-06-13|(Nearly) 25 Years of Magic in Graphics|Diego Fumagalli|June 13, 2017}}
*{{DailyRef|beyond-basics/how-teach-magic-2017-08-31|How to Teach Magic|[[Gavin Verhey]]|August 31, 2017}}
*{{DailyRef|news/raising-new-banner-2017-10-08|Raising a New Banner|[[Matt Cavotta]]|October 8, 2017}}
*{{DailyRef|announcements/what-is-a-magic-the-gathering-ambassador|What is a ''Magic: The Gathering'' Ambassador?|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|June 16, 2023}}
*{{DailyRef|making-magic/looking-back-part-1|Looking Back, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 11, 2024}}
*{{DailyRef|making-magic/looking-back-part-2|Looking Back, Part 2|[[Mark Rosewater]]|March 18, 2024}}


[[Category:Magic: The Gathering]]
{{Years}}
[[Category:Magic products]]
[[Category:Magic: The Gathering| ]]

Latest revision as of 16:36, 1 May 2024

Magic: The Gathering
 
Statistics and trivia
 
For other uses, see Magic: The Gathering (disambiguation).
Back of a Magic playing card

Magic: The Gathering, also Magic or MTG, is a strategy card game created by Richard Garfield in 1993, and published by Wizards of the Coast.[1][2]

Magic holds the title of "Most Played Trading Card Game",[3] and is currently published in English, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.[4][5] Digitally, the game can be played in Magic Online and MTG Arena. Magic is not a single game but rather a game system that shares a set of rules and game components (mainly cards).[6] It can be played in many different formats.

General

Within the game of Magic, each player takes the role of a planeswalker, a powerful, magic-wielding being.[7]

The game is commonly played with two players but can be played with more. Each player uses their own deck, which may be constructed from cards they previously owned, or from a limited pool of cards at an event. There are several ways of winning the game, the most common being reducing your opponent to 0 life, from a starting total of 20.[8][9]

There are currently more than 27,000 unique Magic cards,[10] to which hundreds are added each year. Cards are sold in a variety of languages and products, including booster packs and preconstructed theme decks.

Magic is a game of hidden information, meaning that each player knows secrets that the other players do not.[11][12] By contrast, some other games, such as chess, expose the entire game state to all players. Being forced to guess from imperfect information, combined with the inherent randomness in the game (such as from shuffling), makes finding perfect or ideal strategies impractical, if not impossible, and tests a variety of cognitive skills.[13][14][15][16] This is compounded by the continual addition of new cards, which forces a regular reevaluation of deckbuilding and gameplay strategies and leads to an ever-shifting metagame as players adapt.

Trading card game

Magic is a trading card game, or TCG. While trading cards predate Magic by more than a century, and solitaire games using cards date back to the 1950s, Magic was the first product to combine randomized, collectible cards with deck-construction and interactive gameplay.[17][18][19]

The colors of Magic

Magic recognizes five colors for mechanical purposes: white, blue, black, red, and green. Each card may be any of these colors, or colorless. A card may also be multicolored, and a hybrid subset of multicolored cards offers additional flexibility.

Each color has characteristic strategies, mechanics, and philosophies. These properties derive from commonplace associations with the colors themselves, and from the practical considerations of creating good gameplay. The "color pie", or color wheel, is a mnemonic device and creative tool based on the ring of colored dots on the back of Magic cards. For any particular color, the color pie uses adjacency on that ring to split the other colors into a pair of neighboring allied colors and a more distant pair of enemy colors.[20]

Mana system

Mana is the primary resource for playing spells. Mana is typically drawn from lands (like the basic lands Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest) but it can also be generated by non-land permanents and spells. Players choose whatever cards they want. For that to work, the game needs some way to make as many cards as possible matter. By making spells have a cost, the designers can make different cards important at different parts of the game. Because of this, each card now has a different reason to be considered for a deck. This diversity of card usage is a key factor in making the entire trading card game work.[21]

Card types

A card type is a characteristic that each Magic: The Gathering card has. Each card type has its own rules for how they are played. The main card types are: artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker and sorcery. Some objects may have more than one card type (e.g., artifact creature). Additionally, cards may have supertypes or subtypes.

History

The first Magic core set, retroactively labeled Alpha, was created by Dr. Richard Garfield, bought by Wizards of the Coast, and released in August 1993.[22][23] High demand led to a second Beta print run two months later, followed by a rebranded Unlimited Edition. When Richard first made the game, he called it Magic. The name was too basic to trademark so the name was changed to Mana Clash.[24] Everyone kept calling it Magic so they looked into what they needed to do to call it Magic. The answer was to add something to it to make it more unique. Richard chose “The Gathering” as a sub-name signifying the beginning, as the plan was to keep changing the sub-names. The next version would be called Magic: Ice Age.[25][26] This idea was however quickly abandoned.[27]

Arabian Nights, released December 1993, was the first expansion set, consisting of new cards, rather than reprints. The first "cycle" of thematically linked new releases, now known as a block, began with Ice Age. There are now over seventy expansions, Modern Horizons 3 being the latest.

The full, official rules for Magic change regularly with the release of new products. Most of these changes simply define and enable new mechanics, though major revisions have occurred infrequently, such as the 6th Edition update in 1999 and the Grand Creature Type Update in 2007. Proclamations that a new update will finally "kill" the game are common.[28][29] Despite this, the game has flourished, with repeated statements that the most recent large set has become the best-selling set of all time.[30][31]

Mark Rosewater attributes the game's success, in part, to three core concepts introduced by Richard Garfield at the game's inception: the trading card game, the color wheel, and the mana system.[17][32] Additionally, since 2008, Wizards of the Coast has devoted efforts to acquiring new players.[33] Such efforts include a shift in game design to mitigate complexity creep, structured play opportunities to introduce women players to Magic,[34] and more in-game representation of women[35][36] and minorities.[37][38][39] In spite of these efforts, the percentage of the player base that identifies as female is currently in the mid-twenties, down from 38% in the recent past.[40]

The color wheel (© Wizards of the Coast)

Competitive and professional play

The first major Magic: The Gathering tournament was the 1994 World Championships held at Gen Con '94. It was a single-elimination 512-person Constructed event run over three days of competition.[41]

The winner, Zak Dolan, received a trophy, several booster packs from expansions ranging from Arabian Nights to Ice Age, a deck of Magic poker deck, and a T-shirt. In 1995, Brand Manager Skaff Elias suggested that Organized Play needed to take the step to the next level. The idea was to run several tournaments each year that would gather the best players in the world and reward them with cash for their dedication to the game. Players should have something to aspire to. Elias and Mark Rosewater along with others started to work on the concept. On February 16–18, 1996 the first Pro Tour, very briefly called The Black Lotus Pro Tour, was held in New York.[42] The first Pro Tour season included three more Pro Tour events, culminating in the final Pro Tour, the 1995 World Championships, held in Seattle. In the following years, a Pro Tour season (one year) always consisted of five and later six Pro Tours.

The Pro Players Club was a reward system associated with the Pro Tour. Points accumulated during the season determined the players' level in the club, each with different benefits. The highest levels made it possible to make a living as a professional player.

Esports and tabletop

After the successful introduction of MTG Arena in 2018, Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro debuted Magic esports in 2019 and started to refer to the original paper game as "tabletop Magic".[43][44]

Initially, Esports events were called Mythic Championships, and later Split Championship. Esports also introduced the Magic Pro League and the Rivals League.

Jumping the Shark?

By 2020, the future of Magic: the Gathering was questioned by the common players. This was in response to many recently-printed cards being banned because of their high percentage of use warping the meta of nearly all formats, and the dizzying amount of products which were targeted towards the "whales" of the game and priced beyond what the average player could and was willing to spend.[45][46][47]

In 2021, the Universes Beyond-series was announced. This allowed for other IPs to be introduced into the game.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 outbreak in January 2020 resulted in preventative measures taken in March. A large swath of the Grand Prix event schedule was canceled, and the Players Tour Finals Houston and the May Invitational also were canceled.[48] By April, it was clear that further events were not safely feasible to hold, and Wizards wrote off the entire season as not salvageable.[49]

By May, the future of in-person gatherings was uncertain and likely to remain that way for some time. Wizards of the Coast, therefore, shifted the 2020 Partial Season competitions from in-person destinations to online events, played remotely through MTG Arena.[50]

Ending professional play

In May 2021, Magic Esports announced a return to in-person play post-COVID-19 for the 2022–23 Players Tour Season.[51] Although the digital play was considered to be a lasting part of of the tournament scene, it is deemed to be only part of the equation going forward. As a result, the 2021–22 Players Tour Season was announced to be the last season featuring the MPL and the Rivals League.[51] Pro Players were told that they should no longer consider success in tournament Magic to be a valid career option.[52] Some form of managing invites for large, Pro-Tour equivalent tournaments will be implemented, and the salaries towards the Leagues would be directed into the prize pool, but no system appears to have been developed at this time.[53]

On WeeklyMTG, Blake Rasmussen explained the announcement as an attempt to re-balance where Wizards spends its organized play resources.[54] “For the longest time, [esports] sucked up all of the resources,” he revealed, leading to a top-heavy organized play system that didn’t serve competitive Magic well. He explained that Wizards of the Coast had identified five pillars of play that they wanted to balance, both organized and casual: friendly play, like kitchen table Magic and FNM; aspirational play, liked PTQs and Grand Prix; elite play, like the MPL and Rivals; festivals, like CommandFest; and digital play on MTG Arena and Magic Online.

$1 billion brand

Despite losses in the third quarter of 2022, Magic grew that year into the Hasbro's first $1 billion brand.[55] The celebrations of 30 years Magic started with the Magic 30 convention.

Warning by Bank of America

On November 14, 2022, a Bank of America analyst said that Hasbro was “destroying the long-term value” of Magic: The Gathering by overprinting cards. The dire warning was accompanied by a double downgrade of Hasbro stock — from “buy” to “underperform” — as its valuation fell more than 5% before trading began on Monday. The analyst also called out the Magic 30th Anniversary Edition as particularly egregious.[56][57][58]

Ambassador Program

2023 Ambassador Program swag

In 2023, Wizards of the Coast introduced the MTG Ambassador Program.[59] This program provides content creators with additional tools to create their Magic: The Gathering content. Ambassadors receive set information and a variety of cards from each set before debut day in order to prepare content for their audience. In addition to receiving exclusive MTG Ambassador swag, creators als receive MTG Arena benefits, and MagicCon badges. Moreover, these creators may receive insights directly from Wizards of the Coast. Ambassadors are currently limited to North America.

DCI

The DCI (formerly, Duelists' Convocation International) is the official sanctioning body for competitive play in Magic: The Gathering. The DCI provides game rules, tournament operating procedures, and other materials to private tournament organizers and players. It also operates a judge certification program to provide consistent rules enforcement and promote fair play. Wizards of the Coast and the DCI control the list of banned and restricted cards, which are considered too strong in particular tournaments.

To play in sanctioned events, players must register for a free membership and receive a DCI number. The DCI maintains a global player rating database using the Elo rating system (Planeswalker Points) and members have access to their entire tournament history online. If a member commits frequent or flagrant rules infractions, their membership can be suspended for variable amounts of time depending on the severity, from one month to a lifetime.

Decks and tournaments

Tournament decks in general must have at least 60 cards. A deck may have no more than four copies of an individual card, besides basic lands which may have any number. If a sideboard is used, it may contain no more than 15 cards.

Constructed

Most games of Magic, especially casual ones, are Constructed formats, where the decks are prepared by the players before they arrive at the game. Most (but not all) Constructed formats are DCI-sanctioned, and thus decks in these formats can be expected at tournaments.

  • In the Standard format, players play with a deck of at least 60 cards from the most recent sets.[60]
  • Vintage is the oldest format in the game, simply because it allows players the ability to use almost any card from any black or white bordered set.
  • In the Legacy format, cards from all sets are playable, though many of the cards that are restricted in vintage are banned in legacy.
  • Modern is currently the most popular competitive non-rotating format in the game and bridges the gap between standard and legacy. The card pool in this format is much smaller compared to Legacy and Vintage. The card pool in this format encompasses all sets from Eighth Edition on.
  • Commander is the most popular casual multiplayer format with specific rules centered around a legendary creature called the commander.[61][62]

Limited

In the Limited format, players do not play with decks they built ahead of time, but play with decks of cards from sealed booster packs, which are built at the beginning of a limited tournament before play begins. In limited formats, the minimum deck size is 40 cards. Generally, 17-19 lands and 21-23 spells are played, but there is some variance in this aspect. This format is favored by some, as it allows all players, no matter the size of their collection, to have an equal chance of doing well in a tournament.

  • In the Draft format, each participating player is seated around a table, usually of eight players, and is given three sealed booster packs. Each player opens the first of their packs, chooses a card from it, and places the chosen card face down on the table in front of them. The remaining cards in the pack are passed to the left, and players repeat this process with the pack just passed to them until all the cards are chosen. The same is done with the second pack, this time passing to the right, and with the third pack, passing left again. Each player then builds a deck using the 45 cards they chose from the booster packs. Sanctioned drafts can be run with any number of boosters from any set, as long as each drafter receives the same product. The most common drafts are from the most recent block.
  • Sealed Deck is a common format used at prerelease tournaments. In this format, everyone is given the same amount of product (e.g., six booster packs). From that pool of cards, and adding in as many basic land as desired, each player must build a deck of at least 40 cards. Any opened cards not put in the main deck count as part of the sideboard. In a sealed deck, the skill is making the best out of what you're given.[63]

Conventions

Magic is yearly featured at several conventions:

These conventions may feature storyline or design panels, Blogatog live, Massive Magic (playing with giant Magic cards that are over three feet big),[64], etc.

Online

  • Wizards' online convention, Uncon, featured several tournaments and contests.[65]
  • Hasbro PulseCon

Awards

  • In 1994, awards from the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) for Magic: The Gathering and Legends.
  • Magic is listed on the Games Magazine Hall of Fame.[66]
  • Academy of Adventure Gaming & Design: Best Collectible Card Game of the Year 2015 for Khans of Tarkir.
  • 2019 Toy Hall of Fame inductee.[67]

Gallery

  • Early advertisement

    Early advertisement

  • Logo used 1993–1999; still being printed on the back of physical cards

    Logo used 1993–1999; still being printed on the back of physical cards

  • Logo used 1999–2015

    Logo used 1999–2015

  • Logo used 2015–2018

    Logo used 2015–2018

  • Logo used 2018–present, with variants for different related products[68]

    Logo used 2018–present, with variants for different related products[68]

  • 2019 Esports variant

    2019 Esports variant

  • 2020 Esports variant

    2020 Esports variant

  • 2019 tabletop variant

    2019 tabletop variant

  • tabletop symbol

    tabletop symbol

  • Magic 30 years

    Magic 30 years

  • Magic 30 years

    Magic 30 years

References

  1. ↑ Richard Garfield (March 12, 2013). "The Creation of Magic: The Gathering". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Michael G. Ryan (June 01, 2009). "A Magic History of Time". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Monty Ashley (September 14, 2011). "World Records". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (July 18, 2022). "Changes to Magic Product Languages". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (February 22, 2024). "Changes to Magic Product Languages in 2024". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 17, 2022). "The Big Picture". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ John Carter (December 25, 2004). "The Original Magic Rulebook". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ Jeff Cunningham (June 30, 2007). "Playing the Game". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ Jeff Cunningham (August 04, 2007). "Lessons Learned". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Scryfall search using "cmc>=0 is:firstprint" (n = 27,425 cards). Retrieved January 08, 2024.
  11. ↑ Sam Stoddard (March 22, 2013). "The Nature of Secrecy". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. ↑ Sam Stoddard (October 24, 2014). "Hidden Information". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 27, 2009). "Decisions, Decisions, Part I". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 10, 2009). "Decisions, Decisions, Part II". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. ↑ Sam Stoddard (September 13, 2013). "Decisions, Decisions". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. ↑ Reid Duke (August 11, 2014). "What is Magic?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  17. ↑ a b Mark Rosewater (June 05, 2006). "As Good As It Gets". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  18. ↑ "Trading Card Central - History". Trading Card Central. Retrieved March 23, 2016
  19. ↑ unknown, topical (2013-03-28), "It's Cott To be Good!". The Topps Archives. Retrieved Match 23 2016.
  20. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 18, 2003). "The Value of Pie". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  21. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 30, 2011). "Mana Action". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  22. ↑ Monty Ashley (January 23, 2013). "Twenty Years Ago". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  23. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 31, 2018). "Magic's 25th Anniversary; 25 Year Timeline", magicthegathering.com, Wizards of the Coast.
  24. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 22, 2018). "How Trivial". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  25. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (October, 2005). "Ask Wizards - October 2005". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  26. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 08, 2015). "What does the titular "Gathering" in MTG mean?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  27. ↑ Magic Arcana (August 05, 2002). "Almost a Different Back". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  28. ↑ Dan Gray (June 01, 2009). "Simple Rules are the Holy Grail of Magic". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  29. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 05, 2013). "Twenty Things That Were Going To Kill Magic". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  30. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 17, 2013). "For years, Mirrodin...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  31. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 18, 2014). "State of Design 2014". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  32. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 02, 2009). "Magic Design Seminar: Looking Within". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  33. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 03, 2008). "Assume the Acquisition". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  34. ↑ Jennifer Robles (December 11, 2012). "The LPS and Creating Play Groups". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  35. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 17, 2012). "Re: your latest...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  36. ↑ Mark Rosewater (February 12, 2015). "Do you guys...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  37. ↑ James Wyatt (Jan 28, 2015). "The Truth of Names". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  38. ↑ Doug Beyer (September 12, 2014). "This got asked to Maro...". A Voice for Vorthos. Tumblr.
  39. ↑ Doug Beyer (September 15, 2013). "Are the Guardians of Meletis...". A Voice for Vorthos. Tumblr.
  40. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 22, 2017). "I think one of the reasons the community argues with you...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  41. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 23, 2004). "An M:TGer at Gen Con". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  42. ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 26, 2004). "On Tour, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  43. ↑ Elaine Chase (December 6, 2018). "The Next Chapter for Magic: Esports". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  44. ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 11, 2019). "Where It's At". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  45. ↑ Jacob Willson (May 28, 2020). "This Article is Not For You: Worrying Trends in MtG". Onlyontuesdays27.com.
  46. ↑ Kendra Smith (September 30, 2020). "The Problem with The Walking Dead Secret Lair". Coolstuffinc.com.
  47. ↑ SaffronOlive (October 2, 2020). "If You Are Not Happy with the State of Magic, Stop Giving Wizards Your Money". Mtggoldfish.com.
  48. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 12, 2020). "Changes to Magic's Competitive Season and Event Schedule.". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  49. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 1, 2020). "Esports Update: MPL, Rivals, and Competitor 2020 Partial Season Changes". Magic.gg.
  50. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May 20, 2020). "What's Next For the Magic Esports 2020 Partial Season". Magic.gg.
  51. ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (May 13, 2021). "Esports: Transitions And Getting Back To The Gathering". Magic.gg.
  52. ↑ Mike Sigrist (May 13, 2021). "We were told and given permission to say that we should no longer consider Magic professionally moving forward.". Twitter.
  53. ↑ The new ORGANIZED PLAY announcement and how it affects competitive players (Video). Paulo Vitor Damo da Rosa. YouTube (May 14, 2021).
  54. ↑ David McCoy (May 13, 2021). "MPL and Rivals League Will Disband After the 2021-22 Season". Hipsters of the Coast.
  55. ↑ Jack Stebbins (October 18, 2022). "Hasbro profit misses the mark as toy maker faces high inventory and inflation". CNBC.com.
  56. ↑ Senad Karaahmetovic (November 14, 2022). "'Magic: The Gathering' analysis prompts BofA to double downgrade Hasbro". Coolstuffinc.com.
  57. ↑ Charlie Hall (November 14, 2022). "Hasbro’s squeezing Magic: The Gathering players for too much money, big bank warns". Polygon.com.
  58. ↑ Cassie LaBelle (December 2, 2022). "Is Hasbro Killing Their Golden Goose?". Infinite.tcgplayer.com.
  59. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 16, 2023). "What is a Magic: The Gathering Ambassador?". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  60. ↑ Wizards of the Coast. (April 28, 2014.) Standard Format Deck Construction Block Format Deck Construction
  61. ↑ The Ferrett (December 11, 2007). "Mixing It Up". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  62. ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 20, 2011). "Word of Commander". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  63. ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 09, 2007). "Signed, Sealed, and Delivered". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  64. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 20, 2017). "What is Massive Magic?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  65. ↑ Magic Arcana (September 18, 2003). "Uncon 2003 Prize Sketches". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  66. ↑ Magic Arcana (November 12, 2003). "Magic: The Gathering Inducted into Games Magazine Hall of Fame". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  67. ↑ The Strong: National Museum of Play (November 7, 2019). "2019 National Toy Hall of Fame Inductees Announced". Museumofplay.org.
  68. ↑ Matt Cavotta (March 27, 2018). "Venturing Outward with the Magic Logo". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

External links

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