Making Magic
Creating a Magic: The Gathering deck that will crush your opponents is easier than you think! It’s easy to get confused or feel overwhelmed, especially when building a competitive Standard or casual Commander deck. With that in mind, here are 5 tips to help you make a deck that's both fun to play and easy to win with.
1. Practice
As with many games that have been around for a long time and have a lot of players, it will take some time to get better. Magic is no exception. There are a lot of resources out there for improving your game, but most of them are useless if you don't practice.
2. Different Formats
Trying different formats will make you better at the format you primarily play. Playing Limited, for instance, helps you assess cards you might not normally care about, and can improve your deck-building and metagaming skills. These variations help you gain a new perspective on Magic and improve your play in Standard or your other chosen format.
3. Make Sacrifices
Don't get too attached to life points or planeswalkers; they can provide breathing room as you execute your game plan. If you don't have to block, don't block unless you're taking lethal damage. Trading creatures can set you back from your long-term goal. Protect creatures with valuable ongoing effects like Mother of Runes, as they usually exceed the small gain in life points.
4. Plan B
Every deck needs a Plan B. The game will often not go the way you want, and a main strategy may fall apart, either through the opponent's play or sideboard cards. Being able to pivot to something else is important, even if your deck's optimal strategy is still your original game plan.
5. Metagaming
Knowing the metagame means you actually understand it, not just prepare for it. Top Magicplayers have often played against what’s popular in the format, so they have a feel for strategies and what the weak spots are. This gives you a sense of what your opponent is likely to do, lets you see bluffs, and generally leads to better play decisions.
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kyle Gese on Wikimedia
