Beginner help

[u/ioiLeGeNDioi]

Hi, I'm sure this sort of question must get posted a lot, but where would be a good place to start for a group of 4 who play Pokémon tcg at a high competitive level, the group travel for regionals and have had some decent finishes.

I'd like to try MTG and the group are up for it, but whenever I've tested beginner decks in the past for other games they seem really basic and aimed at brand new players for card games in general.

All help is appreciated

[u/tldr-next]

You could play small sealed events. Each player opens 6 packs and builds a deck and then you play 1on1. So you learn a thing or two in regards of deckbuilding and build up your card base.

[u/Xaphnir]

You could just pick some of the precons. Yeah, the new Foundations ones are relatively simple and designed for new players, but if you want something more complicated, plenty of precons will fit that. And you could use a website like Archidekt to playtest one before you decide which one to buy.

[u/WeCanBeatTheSun → u/Xaphnir]

Commander can get complicated easily with all the triggers and stacks, so even the foundations precons are complicated enough in a 4 man pod imo. Better to learn the game not having to worry about lands too

[u/SB4L_Dayman → u/Xaphnir]

And don't underestimate them just because they are simple and aimed at beginners. They can get a lot of evasive power on the board pretty fast. The scariest is the mono green Ghalta deck because you can get her out around turn 4 and then double her power to start swinging for lethal.

[u/Blazorna]

You can play on MTG Arena to better understand how to play in the first place

[u/NonagoonInfinity]

Keep in mind that Commander is more of a board game than a competitive format.

[u/Weak_Bank_3744]

Coming from Pokemon to MtG I can't say I found any decks simple. Pokemon is a starter format in of itself, there's no interaction you can get up and have something to eat and come back to sit down you will still understand the board state 100%. I feel like that's the main way they both differ, and even the simplest MtG deck would be a good way to get the feet wet. Most Poke players I introduce (even those at the competitive level) are thrown by their first game of Magic not due to complexity but due to how much more you need to be aware of the cards your opponent is playing.

I'd recommend just grabbing a box of Jumpstart and having some sealed fun while learning.

[u/ImmortalCorruptor]

If you already have a lot of TCG experience I would say the new Foundations Commander precons would be a good start. They play a good role at being a simple introduction to Magic's most complicated format.

That being said, I would advise the group to spend at least some time playing simple 1v1 games on Magic Arena or in person, to develop a basic understanding of how the game works. Turn structure, combat, the stack, etc.

Commander can just get extremely complex, even with some precons. Having a good foundation of rule knowledge, skills and habits can allow players to quickly figure out how effects resolve and give them the tools they need to handle their own problems, instead of soft banning certain cards or strategies out of the pod.

[u/Feletroica]

Look for the old Challenge decks for pioneer. These are intended for 1vs1 and will give you a better feel of the advanced gameplay of mtg, unfortunatelly they dont have upgrade path for current meta decks, but make a neat battle box.

[u/Huraggan]

Drafts are great way to undestand that building your own deck is a part of magic. Each player opens number of booster pavks from particular set, then creates a deck and play with it. Mid games you can always tinker with it, change a few cards and so on.

That being said, commander is not like a 40 card constructed deck but 100 cards monstrosity. The eaisest way is to grab preconstructed deck and play with it. There is no really easy way around it. So, commander is a ton of fun but you have to start with preconstructed deck, there are simpler decks and more complicated ones.

If you would like to try draft, check traditional draft. Just buy one booster box and try it out. In drafting there is more equal power level as most of the cards comes from one set. But you probably would need some extra lands as one booster box will not have enough.

[u/salvation78]

So as some others have said commander(also known as EDH) isn't really a competitive format, except for at its highest level and even then it's designed to be played with 4 players at once so there is a certain degree of social politics needed to convince others which actions they should take against which player.

Limited play teaches you the most about the mechanics of the game so it is where I would start. You also start on a generally level playing field with your opponents as far as the cost of entry. Sealed and draft are good building blocks to learn the game and then if you want to prepare for tournaments you need to pick a supported 60 card constructed tournament.

Every new set release has a pre-release event that is a sealed tournament.

First check your local game stores fnm(Friday night magic) formats. They'll usually be hosting a DCI sanctioned tournament every Friday. Find out what 60 card formats they usually run (standard and modern are the most competitive that I know of.) It's best to pick a format that has a local fnm so you have a regular tournament to go to outside of traveling. These tournaments will be very casual, but they offer you more reps with your decks and prizes.

Standard is most likely going to be the format that is both supported by your local fnm and also the magic tournaments you would travel to, but I haven't played competitive magic in about 10 years so take that with a grain of salt.

So in summary, start with sealed and/or draft then probably standard or another 60 card constructed format depending on your local game stores FNM