If you are into TCGs, you owe it to yourself to try Magic: The Gathering once. No other game offers this much depth, strategy and freedom. As collectors and players we have been at it for years – and we can tell you: this game never gets boring.
How does Magic: The Gathering work?
As you know, in Magic you build a deck and use it to try to beat your opponent. You play as a planeswalker, a powerful mage who casts spells, summons creatures and spends mana. That mana comes from land cards and is split into five colours: white, blue, black, red and green.
Every colour stands for a different play style. Blue is about control and clever tricks. Red is fast and aggressive. Green builds big creatures. That variety makes every game different – and that is exactly why we keep playing.
What makes Magic so unique?
Honestly? The combinations are endless. There are cards for just about every strategy you can think of. And with the constant flow of new sets, the game keeps evolving.
What appeals to us most, though, is how you can develop your own play style. You can play competitively, casually, solo or in a group. We are big fans of Commander – a social format where you play with 100 unique cards. Every game feels like a story.
How many Magic cards are there?
Magic has been around since 1993 and now counts more than 25,000 unique cards. That sounds like a lot – and it is. Luckily you do not need to know them all to enjoy yourself. You pick a format that suits you and build your decks within it.
What is the most expensive Magic card?
Without a doubt that is Black Lotus from the Alpha set. This card is famous and infamous at once. It is incredibly powerful, it came out only once, and it was never reprinted.
A PSA 10 copy sold for over €500,000. Yes, really. And believe us: that is not an exaggeration. Black Lotus is to Magic what the first Charizard is to Pokémon – only rarer.
Collecting or playing?
Both. Magic combines the two perfectly. You can collect cards for their value, their rarity or their art – and play with them as well. We collect cards from older sets ourselves, but we also use modern cards in our decks.
There are also people who purely invest. Some modern cards climb in value quickly, especially when they see a lot of play. Think of cards like Fable of the Mirror-Breaker or Jeweled Lotus.
How do you sell Magic cards?
Do you have cards you no longer use? Then there are two good options:
- Cardmarket.com – a big platform with a lot of users.
- Upsides: huge reach, low prices.
- Downsides: transferring money can take a while, and customer service leaves something to be desired. Orders regularly come from abroad.
- RareCards.nl – a Dutch site where selling is easy and safe.
- Upsides: fast communication, reliable service, no hassle with buyers abroad.
We use both. Cardmarket for large bulk, RareCards for targeted selling inside the Netherlands.
What do you need to get started?
Our advice: buy a Commander Deck or a Starter Set. That lets you play straight away without having to build everything yourself.
On top of that we would recommend:
- Sleeves and a deck box – protect your cards from day one.
- A playmat – keeps things tidy and prevents wear.
- EDHREC.com – indispensable if you play Commander and are after deck ideas.
Do not start too big. Build your collection up slowly. That keeps it fun and keeps it manageable.
Magic lives through its community
Magic is not only about cards. The community is strong too. You find players everywhere: in local shops, on Facebook, through Discord or WhatsApp groups. Friday evening is often Friday Night Magic – the moment to play casually, meet people and test new decks.
We have made plenty of friends through Magic. That social side is what makes the game genuinely special.
Magic: The Gathering is not a hype. It is a proven game with a rich history and an enormous community. Whether you come to collect, to play or to invest – Magic gives you all the room you need to choose your own path.
And believe us: once you start, you keep coming back.
