Magic: The Gathering has been around since 1993, which makes it the oldest trading card game still in active print. If you've seen the cards at your local game store, spotted someone playing at a table, or had a friend go completely overboard buying booster boxes, you've probably wondered what the fuss is about.
This guide answers that question plainly and honestly. No jargon, no assumption that you already know what a mana curve is. Just a clear explanation of what the game is, how it works, and what an Australian beginner actually needs to get started.
Magic: The Gathering is a strategic card game where two players build decks and battle using creatures, spells, and abilities. Each player starts at 20 life and wins by reducing their opponent to zero. You don't need to spend a lot to start — a preconstructed Commander deck or Starter Kit gives you everything you need to play your first game.
What Kind of Game Is Magic: The Gathering?
Magic is a collectible card game, which means two things. First, the cards themselves are the game — there's no board, no dice rolling for movement, no video game component. Second, the cards are released in sets and sold in randomised booster packs, so part of the experience is building and improving your collection over time.
Each player brings a deck of cards to the game. Your deck is your army, your spellbook, and your strategy all in one. You draw cards, play lands to generate mana (the game's resource), and use that mana to cast spells. Creatures attack and block. Non-creature spells disrupt your opponent, remove their threats, or accelerate your own plans.
The game ends when one player's life total hits zero, or when a player can't draw a card when required. Most games take between 20 and 45 minutes, though Commander games (more on that below) often run longer.
What makes Magic interesting isn't any single game — it's the depth underneath. The combination of over 27,000 unique cards, multiple formats with different rules, and the constant release of new sets means there's always something new to explore. That's also why some people find it overwhelming at first glance. The key is not trying to learn everything at once.
The Five Colours of Magic
Magic's entire card system is built around five colours, each representing a different playstyle and philosophy:
White focuses on order, protection, and small creatures working together. It has strong removal spells and life-gain effects.
Blue is the control colour — it counters spells, draws cards, and wins through careful planning rather than brute force.
Black plays ruthlessly. It destroys creatures, forces discards, and is willing to pay life to gain advantages.
Red is fast and aggressive. It burns opponents directly, swarms with cheap creatures, and wins early before opponents can set up.
Green ramps up mana quickly and plays enormous creatures. It's the straightforward beatdown colour.
You can build decks using one colour, two, three, or even all five. The colour combinations each have their own identity and community nicknames — blue-white is called Azorius, black-red is Rakdos, and so on. Finding the colour or combination that fits how you want to play is one of the first enjoyable parts of getting into the game.
The Main Formats
This is where many beginners get confused, so here's a plain breakdown of the formats you'll actually encounter in Australia.
Commander is by far the most popular format for casual play in Australia right now. Each player builds a 100-card singleton deck (only one copy of each card allowed, except basic lands) led by a Legendary Creature called their Commander. Games are typically played with four players. It's social, political, and full of big dramatic moments. Commander preconstructed decks are sold ready to play straight out of the box — this is the most common entry point for new Australian players.
Standard uses only the most recently released sets (roughly the last two years of cards). It's the main competitive format played at local game stores and major tournaments. The card pool rotates out regularly, which keeps the format fresh but means cards can become illegal over time.
Pioneer and Modern are non-rotating formats that allow older cards. Pioneer goes back to 2012, Modern to 2003. These formats are popular with players who want competitive play without the constant spend of Standard.
Draft and Sealed are Limited formats where you open booster packs and build a deck from what you get. Draft events at local game stores are a great way to experience new sets without needing an existing collection.
Pauper uses only common-rarity cards. It's extremely budget-friendly and surprisingly deep.
For most Australian beginners, the practical choice is Commander. It's the most played format locally, the most forgiving socially, and the easiest to start with a preconstructed deck.
What Do You Actually Need to Buy?
Here's where the beginner experience often goes wrong — people try to buy into the game the wrong way and either spend too much or end up with something they can't play.
The easiest option: a Commander preconstructed deck. These are 100-card ready-to-play decks sold for around AU$60–90 on Amazon AU. You open the box, sit down with three friends who also have Commander decks, and you play. No deck building required. Every new Magic set releases Commander decks alongside it, so there are dozens of options at any given time.
The budget option: a Starter Kit. Magic releases Starter Kits designed specifically for new players. Each kit includes two 60-card decks — one for each player — and a code for digital play. They're typically AU$20–30 and are designed so two complete beginners can learn the game together.
If you want to build your own deck: You'll need a booster box or individual card singles. Booster boxes contain 30–36 packs depending on the type, and prices on Amazon AU range from around AU$120 for a standard Play Booster Box up to AU$350+ for Collector Booster Boxes. Singles — individual cards bought from sellers like our eBay store — are almost always cheaper than trying to pull specific cards from packs.
What you don't need to start: sleeves, deck boxes, playmats, tokens, or any accessories. Buy those after you've decided you enjoy the game.
How Much Does It Cost to Play in Australia?
This is the honest answer: it depends entirely on how you engage with it.
A Commander precon deck gets you playing for AU$60–90. If you enjoy it and want to upgrade gradually, you might spend AU$20–50 on singles over the following months. That's a very reasonable hobby investment.
At the other end, competitive Standard players buying full optimised decks can spend AU$400–800 per deck, and those decks rotate out of legality every two years. Collector-focused players who chase foil and alternate-art cards can spend significantly more.
The game doesn't require you to spend big. Local Commander pods are generally relaxed about power level and card value. Many Australian players have been running the same Commander decks for years with only minor updates.
Is It Hard to Learn?
The rules have a reputation for complexity, and some of that is earned. There are interactions between cards that require knowing detailed rulings, and competitive formats have layers of technical play that take years to master.
But the basics are genuinely learnable in one afternoon. The turn structure is consistent, the five colours tell you clearly what a card will do, and the keyword abilities on cards (Flying, Trample, Haste) are explained in reminder text on the cards themselves.
Most new Australian players learn by playing Commander with a precon deck alongside more experienced players. You'll make mistakes in your first few games and that's fine — most pods are happy to walk newcomers through interactions.
The official rules are free at magic.wizards.com, and there's a large Australian community across local game stores, Facebook groups, and the MTG Australia subreddit.
The Australian Context
Magic is well supported in Australia. Every major set releases simultaneously worldwide, so there's no import delay or regional gap.
Amazon AU stocks a strong range of sealed product including booster boxes, Commander decks, and bundles, with both local and international shipping options. Local game stores across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and other cities run weekly Commander nights, Friday Night Magic events, and prerelease weekends when new sets drop.
Prices in Australia are higher than US retail because of exchange rates and import costs. A booster box that retails for US$100 in the US will typically cost AU$130–180 on Amazon AU. This is worth knowing upfront — it's not a local retailer markup, it's just the exchange rate reality.
Singles purchased on eBay Australia from local sellers are often cheaper than buying booster packs and hoping for specific cards, particularly for older sets.
Is Magic: The Gathering Worth Starting?
For the right person, absolutely. If you enjoy strategic games, like the idea of building and customising your own deck, and want a game with enormous depth and a large community, Magic delivers all of that.
The financial commitment is real but manageable if you go in with a clear budget. Commander is the best format for most Australian beginners — it's social, forgiving, and doesn't require you to chase every new card to stay competitive.
The barrier to your first game is low. A single Commander precon deck, a willing group, and an afternoon is all you need.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many players do you need to play Magic? The standard game is two players. Commander is designed for four players, though it works with three. There are also two-player Commander variants.
Do I need to buy cards from the same set as my opponent? No. In Commander, you can use cards from any set ever printed. In Standard, there are restrictions on which sets are legal — but this only matters for competitive play.
Can I play Magic digitally? Yes. Magic: The Gathering Arena is the official free-to-play digital version covering Standard, Draft, and other formats. Magic Online covers a wider range of older formats but has a steeper learning curve.
Are older Magic cards more powerful? Some older cards are extremely powerful and are banned in most formats because of it. For Commander, older cards are generally fine to use, and power level is typically self-regulated within your playgroup.
Where can I find other Magic players in Australia? Your local game store is the best starting point. The MTG Australia subreddit and Facebook groups like MTG Australia Buy/Sell/Trade are also active communities.
How long does a game of Magic take? A two-player game takes around 20–30 minutes. A four-player Commander game typically runs 90 minutes to two hours.
Is Magic suitable for kids? The game is rated for ages 13+, though many younger players enjoy it with guidance. The complexity of certain interactions means most kids do better starting around 10–12 with parental involvement.