Khalid: Created page with "{{Infobox | title = Magic: The Gathering | image = | caption = | label1 = Designer | data1 = Richard Garfield | label2 = Publisher | data2 = Wizards of the Coast | label3 = Release date | data3 = August 5, 1993 | label4 = Type | data4 = Collectible card game | label5 = Players | data5 = 2 or more | label6 = Age range | data6 = 13+ | label7 = Skills | data7 = Strategy, resource management, probability | label8 = Website | data8 = [https://magic.wizards.com m..."

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Created page with "{{Infobox | title = Magic: The Gathering | image = | caption = | label1 = Designer | data1 = Richard Garfield | label2 = Publisher | data2 = Wizards of the Coast | label3 = Release date | data3 = August 5, 1993 | label4 = Type | data4 = Collectible card game | label5 = Players | data5 = 2 or more | label6 = Age range | data6 = 13+ | label7 = Skills | data7 = Strategy, resource management, probability | label8 = Website | data8 = [https://magic.wizards.com m..."

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{{Infobox
| title = Magic: The Gathering
| image =
| caption =
| label1 = Designer
| data1 = [[Richard Garfield]]
| label2 = Publisher
| data2 = [[Wizards of the Coast]]
| label3 = Release date
| data3 = August 5, 1993
| label4 = Type
| data4 = [[Collectible card game]]
| label5 = Players
| data5 = 2 or more
| label6 = Age range
| data6 = 13+
| label7 = Skills
| data7 = Strategy, resource management, probability
| label8 = Website
| data8 = [https://magic.wizards.com magic.wizards.com]
}}

'''''Magic: The Gathering''''' (colloquially known as ''Magic'' or ''MTG'') is a [[collectible card game]] created by [[Richard Garfield]] and published by [[Wizards of the Coast]]. It was first released on August 5, 1993, as the company's first trading card game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Magic: The Gathering Card Game |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref> By February 2023, ''Magic'' had amassed approximately fifty million players.<ref>{{cite web |title=Magic: The Gathering Has 50 Million Players |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/54089/magic-gathering-has-50-million-players |publisher=ICv2 |date=2023-02-15 |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref> From 2008 to 2016, over twenty billion ''Magic'' cards were printed as the game grew in popularity.<ref>{{cite web |title=20 Billion Magic Cards Printed |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/4/25/11501458/magic-the-gathering-20-billion-cards-printed |publisher=Polygon |date=2016-04-25 |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>

== Gameplay ==
In ''Magic'', players take on the role of powerful wizards called "Planeswalkers", each with their own deck of cards representing magical spells, creatures, and artifacts. A typical game involves two or more players, with each starting at 20 life. The primary goal is to reduce an opponent's life total to zero, though some cards provide alternative win conditions.<ref name="Gameplay">{{cite web |title=How to Play Magic: The Gathering |url=https://magic.wizards.com/en/how-to-play |publisher=Wizards of the Coast |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>

=== Turn structure ===
A player's turn consists of several phases:
* '''Beginning phase''' – Untap all cards, upkeep effects, draw a card.
* '''Main phase''' – Play lands, cast spells, activate abilities.
* '''Combat phase''' – Declare attackers, declare blockers, combat damage.
* '''Second main phase''' – Additional spells and abilities.
* '''Ending phase''' – End-of-turn effects, discard to hand size.<ref name="Gameplay"/>

=== Card types ===
''Magic'' features several card types, each with distinct rules:
* '''Creature''' – Summoned to attack opponents and block enemy creatures.
* '''Sorcery''' – One-time effect, cast only during your main phase.
* '''Instant''' – One-time effect, can be cast at almost any time, even during an opponent's turn.
* '''Enchantment''' – Permanent effect that remains on the battlefield.
* '''Artifact''' – Permanent object, often with reusable abilities.
* '''Planeswalker''' – Represents an ally who can be activated once per turn.
* '''Battle''' – Introduced in 2023, represents a conflict that players can protect or attack.
* '''Land''' – Resource card used to generate mana to cast other spells.<ref name="Gameplay"/>

=== The color pie ===
The game revolves around five distinct colors of magic, each with its own philosophy and mechanics:<ref>{{cite web |title=The Color Wheel Explained - Magic: The Gathering Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/magic-the-gathering-color-wheel-guide |publisher=IGN |date=2026-02-03 |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>
* '''White''' – Order, protection, life gain, small creatures.
* '''Blue''' – Deception, card draw, countering spells, controlling the board.
* '''Black''' – Ambition, creature destruction, graveyard manipulation, life payment.
* '''Red''' – Chaos, direct damage, fast aggression, land destruction.
* '''Green''' – Nature, large creatures, mana acceleration, creature enhancement.

== History ==
Richard Garfield designed the original gameplay in 1991. He pitched a game to Wizards of the Coast, who suggested he create something portable to play during downtime at game conventions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Garfield |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Garfield |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref> The game was first published in 1993 and quickly became a phenomenon, spawning a new genre of collectible card games.

The early sets introduced the concept of "ante", where players wagered cards at the start of a match. This was soon made optional and later eliminated entirely due to legal and player concerns.<ref>{{cite web |title=Magic: The Gathering |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>

Over the decades, ''Magic'' has released hundreds of expansion sets, core sets, and compilation sets, with approximately four new sets released each year.<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Magic: The Gathering sets |url=https://mtg.wiki/page/Set/Full_list |publisher=MTG Wiki |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>

== Set types ==
''Magic'' cards are released in several types of sets:<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Magic: The Gathering sets - Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Magic:_The_Gathering_sets |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>
* '''Core sets''' – Contains reprints and simple mechanics, designed for new players.
* '''Expansion sets''' – Introduces new cards, mechanics, and story elements.
* '''Compilation sets''' – Reprints popular cards from multiple expansions.
* '''Box sets''' – Fixed decks or curated collections.

== Formats ==
''Magic'' can be played in various formats, each with its own rules for deck construction. Formats fall into two main categories: Constructed and Limited.<ref>{{cite web |title=Magic: The Gathering formats - Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering_formats |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>

=== Constructed ===
Players build decks from their collection. Popular constructed formats include:
* '''Standard''' – Uses only the most recent sets (typically the last two years).
* '''Modern''' – Allows cards from 8th Edition (2003) onward.
* '''Pioneer''' – Allows cards from Return to Ravnica (2012) onward.
* '''Legacy''' – Almost all cards are legal, with a ban list.
* '''Vintage''' – Almost all cards are legal, with restrictions.
* '''Commander''' – A casual multiplayer format with 100-card singleton decks led by a legendary creature.<ref>{{cite web |title=Popular MTG Formats - Magic: The Gathering Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/magic-the-gathering-formats-guide |publisher=IGN |date=2026-01-22 |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>

=== Limited ===
Players build decks on the spot from a pool of cards. Formats include:
* '''Sealed''' – Open six booster packs and build a 40-card deck.
* '''Booster Draft''' – Players pick cards from passing booster packs to build a deck.

== Digital versions ==
''Magic'' is available in several digital formats:<ref>{{cite web |title=Magic: The Gathering Video Games - Magic: The Gathering Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/magic-the-gathering-video-games-guide |publisher=IGN |date=2026-02-09 |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>
* '''''Magic: The Gathering Online''''' – A pay-to-play client that replicates the paper experience, with a vast card pool.
* '''''Magic: The Gathering Arena''''' – A free-to-play, streamlined client with a focus on Standard and Limited play.
* '''''Magic Duels''''' – A discontinued series that introduced many players to digital ''Magic''.

== Organized play ==
The Wizards Play Network (WPN) oversees official ''Magic'' tournaments. Events include:
* '''Friday Night Magic''' – Weekly local tournaments at game stores.
* '''Grand Prix''' – Large open tournaments, sometimes drawing thousands of players.
* '''Pro Tour''' – Invitational tournaments for top players (discontinued in 2019, replaced by the Magic Pro League and Player's Tour).
* '''World Championship''' – The annual culminating event to crown the world champion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Magic: The Gathering |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering |publisher=Wikipedia |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>

== Reception and legacy ==
''Magic: The Gathering'' is widely credited with creating the collectible card game genre. It has been praised for its strategic depth, rich lore, and vibrant community. The game's secondary market has seen individual cards sell for tens of thousands of dollars.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 10 Most Expensive Magic: The Gathering Cards Ever Sold |url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/categories/trading-card-game/feature/most-expensive-magic-the-gathering-cards |publisher=Dicebreaker |date=2023-01-18 |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref> For the 2022 fiscal year, Hasbro announced that ''Magic'' had generated $1 billion in annual revenue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Magic: The Gathering Generated $1 Billion in 2022 |url=https://www.polygon.com/23596936/magic-the-gathering-1-billion-revenue-hasbro |publisher=Polygon |date=2023-02-16 |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Richard Garfield]]
* [[Wizards of the Coast]]
* [[List of Magic: The Gathering sets]]
* [[Magic: The Gathering formats]]

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Card games]]
[[Category:Collectible card games]]
[[Category:Wizards of the Coast]]
[[Category:Richard Garfield]]

Magic: The Gathering - Revision history