Quick Answer
Magic: The Gathering has been running since 1993 and has more rules text than most board games combined. That sounds intimidating. It isn't, once someone explains it properly. See current prices at /cards/mtg.
Magic: The Gathering has been running since 1993 and has more rules text than most board games combined. That sounds intimidating. It isn't, once someone explains it properly.
This guide covers everything you need to play your first real game. No jargon, no assumed knowledge.
What You Need to Start
Two players. Two decks. That's it. Each deck has 60 cards and you both start with 20 life points. The goal is to reduce your opponent's life total to zero before they do the same to you.
A preconstructed deck: a ready-to-play 60-card deck sold in a box. is the easiest way to start. They cost around AU$15 to AU$30 and work straight out of the packaging. See the C3 shop for available decks in Australia.
The Five Card Types
Every card in MTG belongs to one of these types:
Creatures fight for you. They have a power number (how much damage they deal) and a toughness number (how much damage they can take). A 3/3 creature deals 3 damage and survives 3 damage.
Instants do something immediately and go to the graveyard. You can play them at almost any time. including during your opponent's turn.
Sorceries do something and go to the graveyard, but you can only play them during your own turn.
Enchantments stay on the table and keep doing their effect until something removes them.
Artifacts are items or machines. Like enchantments, they stay on the table.
Lands produce mana, which is the resource you spend to play everything else.
How Mana Works
Mana is the fuel. You can't play spells without it.
Each land produces one mana of a specific colour when you tap it (turn it sideways). There are five colours: white, blue, black, red, and green. Each colour plays differently.
Every card has a mana cost shown in the top-right corner. A card that costs 3 requires you to spend 3 mana to play it. You can only play one land per turn, so early turns are spent playing lands and building up your mana supply.
How a Turn Works
Every turn follows this sequence:
- Untap. turn all your tapped cards upright again
- Upkeep. some card effects trigger here
- Draw. take the top card of your deck
- Main Phase 1. play a land and/or cast spells
- Combat. attack with your creatures
- Main Phase 2. cast more spells if you want
- End Step. discard down to 7 cards if you have too many
The most important phases for beginners are Main Phase 1 (where you play most spells), Combat, and Main Phase 2.
How Combat Works
You declare which of your creatures are attacking. Your opponent then decides which of their creatures block.
An unblocked creature deals its damage directly to your opponent's life total. A blocked creature deals its damage to the blocking creature instead (and the blocker deals its damage back).
When a creature takes damage equal to or greater than its toughness, it dies and goes to the graveyard. This happens at the same time for both the attacker and the blocker.
Important: Creatures that were just played ("summoned") have "summoning sickness". they can't attack until the start of your next turn. They can still block on the turn they're played.
The Stack: When to Play What
Instants and abilities go on a "stack". a pile of effects that resolve from top to bottom. This means if you play an instant, your opponent can respond with their own instant, and their effect resolves first.
You don't need to master this immediately. For your first few games, just remember: instants can be played at almost any time, sorceries and lands only on your turn.
How to Win
The most common way to win: reduce your opponent's life to zero with creature attacks and direct damage spells.
Other win conditions exist but are rare in beginner decks. You also lose if you have no cards left in your deck when you need to draw one, or if a card effect says you lose.
What to Buy in Australia
For a first experience, grab two of the same Starter Kit. it comes with two ready-to-play decks and a guide. They're available at EB Games, Games Workshop, local game stores, and online retailers. Prices in Australia typically run AU$18 to AU$25.
If you want to build from scratch, see our guide to the best MTG booster boxes in Australia and our singles vs booster boxes comparison.
Tracking Your Collection
Once you have cards, you'll want to know what they're worth. The C3 MTG card hub tracks live AUD prices on over 96,000 cards. The free collection tracker lets you log what you have and track the value over time.
The Best Next Step
Play your first game with two prebuilt decks and don't worry about optimal plays. The rules click into place quickly once the cards are in your hands. Come back to this guide when a specific situation confuses you.
Prices sourced from Australian retailers. Check the C3 shop for current available stock.
The C3 Take
The decisions you make with your TCG collection matter more than most guides suggest. Whether you are buying, selling, or holding, the difference between a good outcome and a poor one almost always comes down to checking current AUD prices before you act. Use the live data at /cards/mtg to make price-informed decisions every time.
What to Read Next
- Browse MTG singles and prices at /cards/mtg
- Find your MTG colour identity at /quizzes/mtg-colour
- Calculate booster box expected value at /tools
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start playing Mtg in Australia?
The minimum entry cost depends on the game. Most TCGs have starter or preconstructed decks in the AU$20-90 range that give you everything needed for your first games. See the specific cost breakdown in this guide.
Is Mtg popular in Australia?
Yes. Australia has active local game store communities for all major TCGs in major cities. Regional qualifier events run regularly and online communities on Facebook and Discord are active. The specific size varies by game.
Where can I find other Mtg players in Australia?
Local game stores run regular events. Facebook groups for Australian TCG players are active. Check the C3 Release Calendar for upcoming events near you.