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| {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Magic: The Gathering''}} | | {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Magic: The Gathering''}}[[File:Magic card back.jpg|200px|right]] |
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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>
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| ''Magic'' holds the title of "Most Played Trading Card Game," and is currently published in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.<ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/world-records-2011-09-14|World Records|[[Monty Ashley]]|September 14, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|arcana/announcing-shadows-over-innistrad-2015-11-02|Announcing Shadows over Innistrad|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|November 2, 2015}}</ref> Digitally, the game can be played in [[Magic Online]] and [[MTG Arena]].
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| [[File:Magic card back.jpg|200px|right]] | |
| ==General== | | ==General== |
| 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>
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| 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>
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| There are currently more than 18,000 unique Magic cards,<ref>[[Gatherer]] search for rules text containing a period. Excludes basic lands and vanilla creatures.[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?action=advanced&text=+%5B.%5D] Retrieved May 19, 2015.</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.
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| ''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 regular reevaluation of deckbuilding and gameplay strategies, and leads to an ever-shifting [[metagame]] as players adapt.
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| ===Trading card game=== | | ===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 them date 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, toppcat (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>
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| ===The colors of ''Magic''=== | | ===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 mana|hybrid]] subset of multicolored cards offer additional flexibility.
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| 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 four 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>
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| ===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 can 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|mana-action-2011-05-23|Mana Action|[[Mark Rosewater]]|May 30, 2011}}</ref>
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| ===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.
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| ==History== | | ==History== |
| The first ''Magic'' [[core set]], retroactively labelled ''[[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 Anniversay; 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>{{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>
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| ''[[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.
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| 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>
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| [[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>
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| [[File:Color Wheel.jpg|thumb|350px|The color wheel (© Wizards of the Coast)]] | | [[File:Color Wheel.jpg|thumb|350px|The color wheel (© Wizards of the Coast)]] |
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| ===Esports and tabletop=== | | ===Esports and tabletop=== |
| After the succesful 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>
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| ==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.
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| 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.
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| ==Decks and Tournaments== | | ==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 it may have any number. If a [[sideboard]] is used, it may contain no more than 15 cards.
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| ===Constructed=== | | ===Constructed=== |
| Most games of ''[[Magic]]'', especially [[casual]] ones, are [[Constructed]] formats, where the [[deck]]s are prepared 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:
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| * In [[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 [[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>
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| * [[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.
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| * 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.
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| * [[Modern]] is currently the newest [[eternal 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.
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| ===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.
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| * 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 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|making-magic/signed-sealed-and-delivered-2007-07-09|Signed, Sealed, and Delivered|[[Mark Rosewater]]|July 09, 2007}}</ref>
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| ==Product slots== | | ==Product slots== |
| The line up for regular ''Magic'' products is:<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/114271732168/i-think-i-had-the-2-block-schedule-down-but-with|title= Are there 5 releases a year, with the fifth being a sort of 'other' slot? |March 21, 2015}}</ref><ref group="note">All seasons according to the [[Wikipedia:Northern Hemisphere|Northern Hemisphere]]</ref>
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| * January: Winter expansion (small; starting in 2019 this became a large set)<ref name="Metamorphosis 2.0">{{DailyRef|making-magic/metamorphosis-2-0-2017-06-12|Metamorphosis 2.0|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 12, 2017}}</ref> | | * |
| * March: [[Masters series]] (discontinued)
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| * March: [[Duel Decks]] (discontinued, possibly replaced by the [[Challenger Deck series]])
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| * April: Spring expansion (large)
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| * June: Summer [[supplemental set]] / innovative slot / [[annex set]]<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/45074099870/until-this-year-the-summer-supplemental-product|title=Will there still be a multiplayer set in this slot by default, or could you use it for something else?|March 10, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/91091882013/have-you-already-decided-on-what-next-years|title=Have you already decided on what next year's "summer" special release will be? |July 07, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/163296790893/ive-been-lurking-on-your-blog-for-a-while-now-and|title=I was hoping I could get some trivia on the original commander set.|July 22, 2017}}</ref>
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| * July: Summer set (this used to be a small expansion; starting in 2018 this became a large [[core set]])<ref name="Metamorphosis 2.0"/>
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| * August: [[Commander series]]
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| * September: Fall expansion (large)
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| * November: [[Duel Decks]] and [[From the Vault]] (now both discontinued)
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| ===Note=== | | ===Note=== |
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| ==Conventions== | | ==Conventions== |
| ''Magic'' is yearly featured at several conventions:
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| * [[Wikipedia:Origins Game Fair|Origins Game Fair]] (June)
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| * [[Gen Con]] (July)
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| * [[Comic-Con]] (July/August)
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| * [[PAX]] (September, March)
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| * [[Promotional cards#Dragon Con|Dragon Con]] (September)
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| * [[HASCON]] (September)
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| Thse 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.
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| ===Online=== | | ===Online=== |
| 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>
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| ==Awards== | | ==Awards== |
| * In 1994, awards from the 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]]''.
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| ==Gallery== | | ==Gallery== |
| <gallery>
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| File:MTG Logo blue.png|Logo used 1993–1999; still being printed on the back of physical cards
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| File:MTG logo yellow.png|Logo used 1999–2015
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| File:MTG Logo orange.png|Logo used 2015–2018
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| 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>
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| File:Magic esports logo.png|2019 [[Esports]] variant
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| File:Tabletop.png|2019 [[tabletop]] variant
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| </gallery>
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| ==References== | | ==References== |
| {{Reflist}} | | {{Reflist}} |
