How long have you been playing Magic: The Gathering?
I started playing magic in 2014 around the start of khans block.
What got you into Magic?
I got into magic through some friends at my LGS (local game store.) I was a competitive Yu-Gi-Oh! player, wasn’t happy with the state of the game and was looking for a change. I originally started with commander and eased my way into standard/modern.
What has been your experience so far with the game? And how has it differed from the expectations you had when you first got into it?
My experience so far with MTG has been amazing. I’ve met so many interesting people and new friends. I really did not expect the game to be such a big part of my life. I expected MTG to be a new hobby. At the start that may have been true, but now it’s a way for me to compete against others which I’ve loved to do my whole life. Win or lose I still have fun, even though winning is undeniably more fun.
What goes into getting ready for a big tournament?
It really depends on what resources you have available to you. Nothing beats old fashioned paper testing in my opinion. If you have MTGO and a way to rent cards I would practice your deck as much as possible. I also recommend watching as much content as possible so you can compare you’re line of thinking to someone else who is playing the same archetype. I’ve fallen asleep on the couch watching streams of decks I want to play or do play more times than I care to admit.
What should new Magic players know before they start on their first game of Magic?
New magic players should know that it’s not a sprint it’s a marathon. Take your time learning the game. There are so many crazy and weird interactions in magic and new scenarios pop up all the time. If you want to be great at anything I’ve always had the mindset of you have to work harder than everyone else.
What would you tell someone who aspires to be a great Magic player?
Magic specifically though I would say a good start is assess who you think the best in you local area is and strive to beat them consistently. Once you do that pick a new target and repeat. I wouldn’t consider myself a great magic player by any stretch of the imagination but this is my mentality when I want to improve.
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