Game

Magic: the Gathering is a game, a form of competitive activity played according to certain rules. Specifically, it is a turn-based trading card game.

A game is also single portion of play forming a scoring unit in a match between (at least) two players. While you have full control of the selection of your own cards, your deck never exists in a vacuum. One half of a game of Magic is a constant, and the other is a variable that changes with every opponent.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Outside the Game

An object is “outside the game” if it isn’t in any of the game’s zones. See rule 400.11.

Pre-game procedures

From the Tournament Rules (May 13, 2024—Outlaws of Thunder Junction)

• 2.3 Pregame Procedures
  The following steps must be performed in a timely manner before each game begins:

1. If sideboarding is allowed, players may remove cards from their decks and add cards from their sideboards. 2. Players shuffle their decks. Steps 1 and 2 may be repeated. 3. Players present their decks to their opponents for additional shuffling. The sideboard (if any) is also presented at this time. 4. If a companion is being used, it is noted. After the first game, the companion does not need to be noted again; it is assumed to be in use until rescinded. 5. The appropriate player must decide whether to play first or second at this point, if they haven’t done so already (see section 2.2). 6. Each player draws seven cards. Optionally, these cards may be dealt face down on the table.

7. Each player, in turn order, may take mulligans. (Rules on mulligans can be found in the Magic Comprehensive Rules, rule 103.4). If a player takes a mulligan, they shuffle again and repeat the presentation process described above.

The game is considered to have begun once all players have completed taking mulligans. Pregame procedures may be performed before time for the match has officially begun.

Game Points

Game points are similar to match points in that players earn 3 game points for each game they win and 1 point for each game that ends in a draw, and 0 points for any game lost. Unfinished games are considered draws. Unplayed games are worth 0 points.

Examples

• A player wins a match 2–0–0, so they earn 6 game points and their opponent receives 0 game points from the match.
• A player wins a match 2–1–0, so they earn 6 game points and their opponent earns 3 game points from the match.
• A player wins a match 2–0–1, so they earn 7 game points and their opponent earns 1 game point from the match.

Game points are not used in team tournaments; only the overall result of the match is used for tiebreakers.

See also

• Game concepts
• Wish