Discover how to explore the client, understand the gameplay, and acquire all the essential knowledge to embark on your journey with one of the finest card games globally.

  • Guides
  • Heffalump
  • September 25, 2022

Contents List

  • Disclaimer
  • Before you begin: understanding Arena and what you can anticipate
  • Contents
  • Changelog

Here is your comprehensive and thorough introductory guide to Magic: The Gathering Arena. Discover how to maneuver through the client, understand the gameplay, and acquire all the essential information to embark on your journey with one of the finest card games globally. This page will act as the central resource for our extensive collection of guides, allowing you to read them sequentially or jump to the sections that interest you the most!

This guide, crafted by /u/localghost and Heffalump#3697 between 2020 and 2021, is a culmination of extensive contributions from various community members and is greatly indebted to numerous existing resources. Thank you to all who have contributed!

As we launch Dominaria United, we will start the task of revamping and refreshing this guide! If you have any inquiries or suggestions, feel free to reach out to us.

Disclaimer

This guide presupposes that you possess a fundamental understanding of Trading or Collectible Card Games, along with a basic familiarity with Magic: the Gathering. If you require an introduction or a quick review, please refer to Appendix A initially. For those looking to improve their skills in Magic, consider looking at Level One or Appendix C.

Before you begin: understanding Arena and what you can anticipate

  • Arena is an authentic Magic: The Gathering experience, initially launching with a focus on the Standard format. It features complete Core and Expansion sets starting from Ixalan. The non-rotating format available in Arena is known as Historic. This format encompasses a selection of remastered older sets, a variety of curated Historic Anthologies, nearly two complete Jumpstart sets, and additional content, amounting to less than a quarter of the entire Magic card collection.
  • The Arena currently supports only 1v1 matches. While the possibility of introducing additional game modes and expanding to include older sets or non-rotating formats is not completely off the table, it remains a distant prospect. The gradual integration of Pioneer was initially planned, but it is now postponed with no specific timeline provided.
  • Arena is a free-to-play game that features an economic system typical of this genre. At the beginning, players do not have access to all the cards, and obtaining them necessitates a commitment of time—through consistent gameplay—or a financial investment (or a combination of both).
  • Arena operates on a model that isn’t pay-to-win; instead, it allows players to “pay to level the playing field more quickly.” A player who doesn’t spend money can anticipate building a competitive deck within a month or two, depending on the current meta.
  • In Arena, you can draft either in player pods, where you won’t compete against the same individuals, or against bots, although the matches are still against human opponents.
  • Cards in the Arena are not transferable between players, and you are unable to sell your cards for real money or any in-game currency. Trading accounts violates the Terms of Service.
  • In Arena, cards with identical rarity share the same cost for acquisition. As a result, what might be considered a “budget” deck in paper format may not hold the same status in Arena, and constructing entertaining wild combo decks could be just as challenging as assembling fully competitive decks.
  • With that in mind, MTG Arena offers a cost-effective (or even free) alternative to traditional paper Magic, and it’s here to stay, being promoted as the primary platform for Standard play and e-sports competitions.
  • Arena for Windows can be obtained from either Wizards of the Coast or the Epic Games Store. The MacOS version has been accessible since June 25, 2020, exclusively through the Epic Games Store. The mobile version launched for Android in January 2021, requiring 4GB of RAM, and for iOS in March 2021. Additionally, Steam Link is compatible.

Contents

The manual is organized into six main sections that thoroughly describe the mechanics of gameplay in MTG Arena, along with additional appendices that address broader topics related to Magic: The Gathering.

  1. Quick Start Manual Just begun — Acquiring cards — Gathering resources — What to do next?
  2. Utilizing Arena: User Interface and Extensions General interface — Collection interface — Game configurations — External tools
  3. Formats, Queues, Events Created — Restricted — Competitive system — Gaming with friends
  4. Engaging in a game involves several elements: turn timers, priority management, visual indicators, stacking mechanics, automatic tapping, mana reserves, and more.
  5. In-Depth Look at Arena Economy: Additional Information on Acquiring Cards, Bans and Suspensions, Mastery Passes, and Expanding Your Collection.
  6. Understanding the Mechanics of the Arena: Frequent Misconceptions — Misinterpretations of Rules — Technical Issues — Card Shuffling and Player Matching
  7. Appendix A. Overview of MTG — Types of Cards — Combat Mechanics — The Stack — Recent Expansions and Rotation — Sideboard Strategy
  8. Appendix B. Frequently Used MTG Terminology Color Pairings — Mechanics and Effects — Dual-Colored Lands — Miscellaneous
  9. Appendix C. Enhancing Your Skills in MTG Understanding Magic — Advancing in Limited — Managing Variability — Resources for Creating Your Own Deck
  10. Appendix D. Key Timeline of Significant Changes in MTG Arena
  11. Appendix E. Summary of Enhanced Search Features in the Collection and Deck Builder

Changelog

This guide has been crafted by a seasoned Magic: The Gathering player who enjoys playing Arena without spending money, is a non-native English speaker, and is a straight, middle-aged, white male using a Windows PC. As a result, certain sections of the guide may not be as precise as others. If you feel that it overlooks perspectives from different backgrounds or could be improved, please feel free to reach out.

  • Version 2.02, November 11, 2021: The launch date for Innistrad: Crimson Vow on Arena.
  • Version 2.02, dated 11/11/2021: Revised to include details about the Crimson Vow Mastery pass, along with various minor adjustments and corrections.
  • Version 2.01, dated 16/09/2021: Revised details concerning the Standard 2022 queues that have been removed, along with the MID Mastery pass.
  • Version 2.00, dated 26/08/2021: Corrected typographical errors, improved formatting, and revised various sections for clarity and depth. The guide is now prepared for the next steps.
  • Version 2.00 beta, dated 20/08/2021: The guide has undergone a complete revision. We appreciate your understanding regarding any typographical errors, formatting challenges, and sections that may be incomplete or temporarily titled. Improvements are on the way.
  • Version 1.32, dated 12/08/2021: A range of updates and enhancements.
  • Version 1.31, dated 08/07/2021: Several updates and enhancements have been made to align with the current state of the game. The mastery pass details have been updated to reflect AFR.
  • Version 1.30, dated 12/04/2021, includes the addition of Appendix E, which covers advanced search features. Numerous minor updates and corrections have also been made, including details regarding the Strixhaven mastery pass.

The remainder of the change log has been relocated to Appendix D.

Iroas, the Deity of Triumphant Art

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