magic the gathering play online for free

If you're looking for text-based info on how to get started on Magic Online, you can check out Wizards of the Coast's new Magic Online player info and Cardhoarder's MTGO Beginner's guide (which was last updated in 2019 but still has lots of good info).

You can download the Magic Online client at This is also where Wizards posts announcements and other information about Magic Online.

Anyway, let's get to the video then, after the video, we'll have some links to additional information along with some of the websites we discuss in the video. I tried to cover everything I could think of that a new player would need to know, but if you have a question, don't be afraid to ask in the comments.

Since we are covering a lot of ground, today's video is pretty long, but it has timestamps in the description and a pinned comment to allow you to jump to the parts that are more relevant to you. Today, our goal is to help speed you up along that curve by covering everything you need to know about getting started on Magic Online, from downloading the client to the various things you can do within the client, acquiring cards and importing decks, playing games (along with some tips and tricks to make gameplay as fast and easy as possible), and winning (and, if you choose, selling) prizes.

Unfortunately, since Magic Online isn't the most intuitive game (although it really isn't nearly as bad as some people make it out to be), there is a bit of a learning curve when you first start playing. As a result, the client has a much more stripped-back look as compared to Magic Arena (you won't find flashy animations, for example), but you gain a ton more options, play experiences, and functionality as a result. Unlike Magic Arena, whose primary goal is to recreate Magic as a video game, the goal of Magic Online is to represent the truest possible paper Magic experience in digital form. Magic Arena is great for some players, but it has its share of issues, ranging from a limited card pool and limited number of formats to the proliferation of digital-only cards not available in paper and to the awkward (and, for some players, expensive) economy. If you're looking for a way to play more formats-Commander, Legacy, Modern, Pioneer, and Vintage-with more cards ( Magic Online has almost all the cards from Magic's nearly 30-year history) and have control over your collection in a way similar to paper Magic (with buying, selling, and trading for singles), Magic Online is the best and only official option.

Magic the gathering play online for free