Build a Competitive Magic the Gathering Standard Constructed Deck

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Want to win in Magic the Gathering? You'll need a competitive deck.

Steps

  1. Understand the major archetypes of Magic the Gathering Constructed deck in the Format called "Standard." There are 3, 4 or 6 depending on the degree of complex thinking you wish to bring to the game. The simplest way is to think of there being 3 types: Aggro (for Aggressive), Control (for controlling) or Combo (as in assembling a jigsaw puzzle). Add AggroControl to the previous three for the next step in complexity. Finally add AggroCombo and ComboControl for further depth, but thinking of the first four will be sufficient for most seasons.
  2. Read all the cards that are currently legal in the format, which vary from 2 months to 5 months depending on the season.
  3. Go to http://www.brainburst.com and read the entries under "Card Info" in the left-hand margin. The legal sets are listed there. Click and read. This is a very time-consuming process, but the reward will be worth it.
  4. Read about decks that have won recent events.
  5. Go to http://www.magicthegathering.com and read.
  6. Decide which deck to build and playtest it.
  7. Read articles at both these websites but be careful you are reading articles on Standard, as Magic has many different formats, but be a critical reader. Most articles have a replies section which you should read. Eventually the most knowledgeable writers and posters will become apparent.
  8. Playtest. This is usually done in one of three ways. The Apprentice Program and MTGO are the most common computer simulations. Apprentice is free. Buying the actual cards is the other method. Local card shops will advise you on price and availability of various cards.
  9. Tweak your 75-card deck (60 main deck cards and 15 spare cards called "a sideboard"), based on your experiences.

Warnings

  • All card games unfortunately have cheaters. Be on guard and ask around for tips on how to spot cheating.
  • Do not be a cheater yourself, because you will eventually be caught and banned from playing the game. Also, it's morally wrong.

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Sources and Citations

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