5 Reasons Why You Should be Playing Magic: The Gathering Arena

Magic: The Gathering is the world's premier trading card game, but there was never a good way to play it online. Magic: The Gathering Online is a buggy mess of a client, and still required players to pay real money to purchase digital cards.

With such a huge cultural significance, it was always a wonder that Magic never had a decent video game. Wizards of the Coast had had enough of Hearthstone cornering the digital trading card game, and set out to create the ultimate one: Magic: The Gathering Arena. This is Magic updated for the modern gaming age. Here are 5 reasons to start playing MTGA.

1. The Tutorial

There are two reasons why people don't get in to playing Magic: Rules complexity and money. MTGA solves this issue with an easy to learn tutorial, which many paper players now defer to when teaching new players. The game is easily the best and most comfortable way to learn to play.

2. Free to Play

Paper Magic is an expensive hobby, and seems intimidating when your peers are flexing cards more expensive than your rent. MTGA is entirely free to play, and not only that, is incredibly generous with the cards they give you. You don't just get unplayable Common garbage, they give you some powerful Rares and Mythics, some that are actually quite expensive in real life.

3. Robust Design

MTGA uses the same cards and rules as paper Magic, and takes full advantage of Wizards of the Coast's in house Play Design Team, a division of R&D made of former pro players who work full time to make sure the game is balanced.

4. You Can Just Craft the Cards You Need

Instead of wailing on packs like other games, you will earn Wild Cards by completing daily quests or getting them in packs. Wild Cards appear at each rarity, and allow you to cash one in for any card of that rarity.

5. The Community

MTG has one of the most dedicated and diverse communities. The community at large is so massive, that people more accurately belong to sub-communities and play groups. If you ask around your workplace, it'd be guaranteed someone plays Magic.

Magic is one of those rare games where once you're in, you'll be in for life. Magic: The Gathering Arena is the best entry point into the game that has ever existed, and there isn't a better time to be a Magic player.

Cover photo: Path to Exile by Daarken.
Not affiliated with, endorsed, nor sponsored by Wizards of the Coast.
Photos courtesy of Wizards of the Coast.