Preconstructed deck

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Preconstructed decks are a type of Magic product composed of specific non-random sets of cards that are sold in specific packaging along with each core set and expansion or as their own standalone releases. The very first preconstructed decks were part of the Pro Tour Collector Set released May 1996. This was followed in June 1996 by the Rivals Quick Start Set: an introductory product consisting of cards from Fourth Edition.

Brawl Decks

There was one set of preconstructed decks physically released for the Brawl format with Throne of Eldraine.

Brawl is now primarily played on Magic Arena, where digital preconstructed brawl decks are occasionally available for use in events (for example "Turf Brawls") or brought from the store.

Challenger Decks

Challenger Decks were released for the Standard and Pioneer formats between 2018 and 2023. These were intended to be very strong and featured many rares, as well as at least two mythic rares. For Challenger Decks, Magic R&D changed its design process so that they could build them closer to release than they had with the previous Event decks.

Clash Packs

Starting from Magic 2015 Clash Packs alternated with Event decks, being released every other set. Clash Packs included two 60-decks, similar to Duel decks, which could be combined into one more competitive 75-card Standard deck.

There were only three Clash Packs released before they were discontinued. The sets were Magic 2015, Fate Reforged, and Magic Origins.

Digital decks

Color Challenge decks (Arena)

Five monocolored preconstructed decks are unlocked on Magic: The Gathering Arena after a new player completes the tutorial. These can then be upgraded by completing the new player Color Challenges.

Event decks (Arena)

Arena regularly has different phantom preconstructed decks feature in Midweek Magic and other other special events.

Starter decks (Arena)

A selection of two colored decks which can be used in the Starter Deck Duel mode on Arena. These are updated each year with ten new decks built from cards released during the previous 12 months.

Commander decks

The first preconstructed Commander decks were released digitally on Magic Online on August 31, 2009. There were two decks led by Rubina Soulsinger and Xira Arien which sold under the name of Commander Theme Decks.

The eponymously named Commander was Wizards' 2011 entry in their "Summer of Multiplayer" series of products. There were five three-colored Wedge decks consisting of new cards and reprints. The success of these decks would lead to a sequel, Commander 2013, and subsequent annual releases.

Starting with Zendikar Rising in 2020, Commander decks replaced Planeswalker decks as a regular part of an expansion's product line.

Duel Decks

Duel Decks was a supplemental series of preconstructed decks that started in 2007 with Elves vs. Goblins. Each pack contained two 60-card decks designed and developed specifically to be played against each other. They often took the form of two typal decks, or Planeswalker characters battling each other. The series ended in 2018 with Elves vs. Inventors.

Event Decks

Starting with Mirrodin Besieged Wizards of the Coast released competitive Standard-legal decks, called event decks, for expansions and core sets. Although released simultaneously with new sets, they could contain cards outside of the current block or core set, as long as they were legal. They were officially discontinued after Battle for Zendikar.

Game Night

A series of boxed sets focused on casual multiplayer games. Each release had five monocoloured decks.

Half Decks

In 2020, Unsanctioned and Jumpstart introduced "half decks". These are preconstructed batches of 30 cards that are to be combined with a random second batch to form a ready-to-play complete deck.

Intro Packs

Intro Packs were introduced with Shards of Alara in 2007, replacing Theme Decks. They were 41-card decks built from a card pool composed of the most recent core set and the cards from the current block. Each set had five two-colored Intro packs, with each color being represented in two different decks. Each included a foil rare, a booster pack, a strategy insert for the deck, and a Magic "learn to play" guide.

From Magic 2011 the size of intro packs changed to 60 cards, like the old theme decks, but design principles remained the same.

The final set to have Intro packs was Eldritch Moon. They were replaced by Planeswalker decks.

Planeswalker decks

Planeswalker decks were introduced in Kaladesh, replacing Intro packs. There were two 60-card decks released with expansions, and five monocolored decks with Core sets. Each deck had a unique planeswalker as a foil face card, and other unique cards which interacted with it.

The final sets to have Planeswalker decks were Theros Beyond Death and Core Set 2021.

Supplemental sets

Anthologies, Beatdown and Battle Royale were early white bordered boxed sets.

Other preconstructed products include Premium Deck Series, the Planechase series, and Archenemy.

Theme Decks

Theme decks were released with every Expansion from Tempest in 1997 through to Eventide in 2007, Starter sets from Portal Second Age and Core Sets from Seventh Edition to Tenth Edition.

Starter Sets had one monocolored 40-card deck for each color and were constructed only from cards in that set. Starter 1999 was the last "Starter Level" set to have theme decks. These would instead be incorporated into core sets from Seventh Edition.

Theme decks from most expansion sets had four 60-card decks with varying color combinations. They were constructed from cards printed in the current block with an emphasis on the newest set. When theme decks were first introduced in Tempest their rarity distribution echoed that of the random Starter Decks: three rares, nine uncommons with the remaining cards a mix of commons and basic lands. From Urza's Saga onwards, this was changed to 2 rares and 13 uncommons.

Theme decks were replaced by the similar Intro Packs starting from Shards of Alara.

Two Player Starter Sets

Wizards of the Coast has released several products, with different names, which contain two simple preconstructed decks aimed at new players. The first was the Rivals Quick Start Set with Fourth Edition and all Core sets until Ninth Edition in 2005 included something similar. Additionally, dedicated Starter level sets like Portal and Starter 1999 had them too.

Shadows over Innistrad in 2016 reintroduced this concept with Bosster Battle Packs. These were two Welcome Decks repackaged with additional Boosters.

The current iteration of a two-player starter product is the Starter Kit. The first, the Spellslinger Starter Kit, was released in 2018 and as of 2025 there are two Starter Kits released each year.

Welcome (or Sample) Decks

Tenth Edition introduced Sample decks: simple monocolored 30-card decks which were given away to new players at Magic retail stores and conventions. Each Core set until Magic Origins had five or ten different sample decks.

In 2016 Sample decks were renamed Welcome Decks and were tied in with the large September expansion set. They were replaced by Welcome Boosters between Core Set 2021 and March of the Machine but from Duskmourn: House of Horror Welcome Decks once again became available.

World Championship Decks

Following the Pro Tour Collector Set in 1996, World Championship Decks were released from 1997 through to 2004. These were gold bordered, non-tournament legal, 75-card decks which were exact copies of four different decks played to Top 16 finishes in that year's World Championship.