Magic: The Gathering is a game of strategy, a game of skill, and an incredible fantasy world. But at its heart, MTG is about connection. It's about memories you share with your friends, the rivalries you build across from the table, and the excitement of shared triumph on the play that wins the game. If you've been playing by yourself or just starting out, finding your community is the most important thing you can do.
But where do you start? With digital and IRL play coexisting on the same plane, it can be daunting to join the proper group. This tutorial will take you through step by step on how to find and join the perfect MTG group for you, whether that is in-person combat or online camaraderie.
The Local Game Store is at the center of the Magic community. It is not merely a place to buy cards; it's home for players of all kinds. For finding an in-person community, there is no better place to start.
Why the LGS is King: It's got official, weekly events. This is where you'll find Friday Night Magic (FNM), prerelease weekends for a new set, Commander nights, and competitive tournaments. It's a guaranteed way to meet people as passionate about the game as you are.
How to Get Started: Utilize the Wizards of the Coast Store Locator to locate an LGS in your area. Look for a weekly event schedule on their website or social media. Don't be afraid—attend an event that piques your interest, and say hello.
Pro-Tip: Start with a casual format like a Commander night or prerelease. These are social formats that are inviting to new players and thus a simple, low-key way of getting in touch with other players.
If you're not near an LGS or prefer to play at home, the MTG community online is bigger and stronger than ever. You can get groups to play against on webcam or message strategy 24/7.
Reddit is home to some of the largest and most active MTG communities online. Each "subreddit" hosts a unique area of the game.
Discord is your go-to platform for active, live community engagement. It's like having a perpetual digital game store where you're able to chat, trade decklists, and find a game at any time of day.
How it Works: The majority of content creators, subreddits, and LGSs have their own Discord servers. There are large public servers for "spelltable" or webcam Magic as well. These servers have certain "looking for game" channels where you ping other members and invite them to play with you.
Finding Servers: Start off with the official Magic: The Gathering Discord server or the servers of the subreddits listed above.
Following MTG content creators on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Twitch is another excellent way to plug into the community. Engage with their content, join the discussions in their comment sections, and you’ll quickly find like-minded players.
Discovering your tribe is an epiphany. It transforms Magic from a harmless pastime into a collective journey. So go out, get mixed up, and say hi. Your next epic game awaits.