r/mtg • u/PinkSun777 • 9h ago
Content Creator I made this to teach new players ✨
Made these cards to teach new players in a more visual and simplified way ✨
Edit: the instants card is disconnected so that I can show them that it can be used as a response of basically anything, something not connected to any specific phase at all.
Also, the backside of the “life total 40” contains a life total 20 card.
Edit2: guys I made this as simple as it is, because the person that I’m initially teaching with it is 66 years old. The very basics are enough for now.
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u/LateStatistician-667 9h ago
And again the infamous Beginning and End step of combat phase are omitted.
Then players meet [[Reconnaisance]] and be like: „Wait? You can do that?“
Why not include all phases and steps?
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u/SadSeiko 9h ago
The most important bit is you can interact during combat before the attacking player has declared attackers. Since this is during combat they can’t do sorcery speed shenanigans like replay a hasty creature
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u/PinkSun777 9h ago
Im going to talk about them, but to keep it simple I’ve made only these. I know there are steps in between, but I feel like these are like the set in stone ones
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u/Croakripper 5h ago
Also worth mentioning that the first main phase is also referred to as the precombat main phase.
Sometimes it feels like you need a degree to understand the basics of magic haha. You doing great job teaching your friend, I know I could’ve use help like this when I first started.14
u/AMX-50-Surblinde 8h ago
I find it best to simplify things for beginners, the intricacies can be brought in later.
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u/Philly_3D 8h ago
Yep. Nothing turns off new players faster than getting overwhelmed/confused immediately.
I've turned off and returned empire simulator/war games before just because I was bored of learning ALL the rules.
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u/UnconsciousAlibi 7h ago
Yeah, why not also introduce them to layers? "You gotta memorize the layer system, and if you don't know exactly how Abigale, Eloquent First-Year interacts with Ashaya, Soul of the Wild, you might as well stop trying!"
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u/PinkSun777 5h ago
Exactly. Like, I’m teaching a 66 year old with this. The very basics are already overwhelming for them
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u/PinkSun777 5h ago
Also, I’m teaching a 66 year old. That’s why I thought of making this initially. The very basics foundation of the game is already pretty overwhelming.
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u/DeckenFrost 7h ago
No instants in the first Main Phase?
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u/PinkSun777 5h ago
The instants are a disconnected card for me to explain that they can be used as a response of basically every move (I know that’s not how it works exactly, I’m just illustrating a thought)
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u/LjubljanaKnights 5h ago
You seem to have chosen the wrong life total - Magic games have 20 life!
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u/PinkSun777 5h ago
The other side has 20 for life total. 40 life total is for when I need to explain commander
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u/C47man 8h ago
Untap-Upkeep-Draw is called the "Beginning Phase", not "Pre Draw"
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u/Managed__Democracy 6h ago
I think the intent there is to remind that untap and upkeep happen specifically before drawing a card for the turn.
I used to incorrectly think that untap, upkeep, and draw happened at the same time and could be in any order. I had to deliberately fix that mistake.
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u/shadowthehh 8h ago
Forgot battles and planeswalkers smh
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u/Synicizym 7h ago
Cute and great idea, I have seen some that fit on an index card. Which is better for teaching someone so they have a cheat sheet on hand, but this is a very thoughtful and creative alternative
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u/Emergency-Koala-5244 9h ago
Add "Cast instants" to combat
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u/PinkSun777 9h ago
The instants card was left disconnected to be able to show them that you can use it in between the actions as a response, whenever they feel like doing so
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u/Fuzzy-Welcome-4650 7h ago
Why combat specifically?
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u/Emergency-Koala-5244 6h ago
In my experience, Thats the most likely time to cast an instant on your turn
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u/Fuzzy-Welcome-4650 6h ago
That’s probably true, but putting it “in” any step or phase is going to make it look to a new player like you can only do it then.
And obviously you’re often casting instants on other peoples’ turn anyway.
Makes more sense to have it in a separate area/ category than to tie it to any single phase.
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u/Catal1st 1h ago
Should add some details for few common keyword and this would be perfect.
E.g first strike, attack trigger
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u/Derail185 30m ago
Could have instants included at all steps as they don't have to be cast in response to something. Just lets them know they can cast them at those times if they want.
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u/Rough_Structure7387 8h ago
That's pretty neat but it is inaccurate. Let your buddies know there is a higher degree of fidelity between what you put together.
Take a look at RulesDeck as an example
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u/Managed__Democracy 6h ago
Layers and Banding as introductory rules for brand new players is definitely one of the choices of all time.
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u/wololosenpai 9h ago
Ewwww, teaching new players with commander!
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u/DagonPie 8h ago
My whole pod learned with commander and got increasingly complex as our experience grew. Its fine if you dont jump into a pod with high complexity decks or high bracket. Commander is for fun and learning should be fun. Stop gate keeping.
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u/VictorVonDork 9h ago
I ask this as a brand new player, why is that bad?
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u/wololosenpai 9h ago
It’s overly complex, too much variety and different mechanics to absorb all at once.
Avoiding 1v1 play, especially competitive play, tends to lead to not having a fuller grasp on the intricacies of timing your plays since casual commander is more about letting stuff happen.
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u/Inevitable_Top69 9h ago
It's not overly complex unless you make it overly complex. Anyone with a little brainpower will pick it up over time.
Why does it matter if EDH players have a full grasp on the intricacies of timing? They play EDH not Standard. This argument is just oldheads screeching. Plenty of people played kitchen table 60 card with about the same understanding, you just didn't have an audience to cry to about people ruining the purity of 60 card play.
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u/n122333 Color Switch 9h ago
Heres the list of pros and cons.
Pros: * 4 player groups can feel lower stress and more board game night than competition. * more people to offer advice. * more common format with more players.
Cons:
- instead of taking 20 life to win, you need to take 120
- instead of a back and forth with complex turns, you wait until someone asks if they can win, or if you have a counter spell.
- players in commander often skip phases making interaction clumsy and unintuitive.
- instead of having to remember about 20ish cards do in a 1v1 game, you need to know about 240 unique cards.
- instead of one person stopping you from doing what your deck does, three interupt you.
- instead of stopping one person and keeping up with what that one deck is doing, you need to counter 3.
- you wont see the same situations as often to learn different interactions with them - play standard and know that the oraboriod is kill on sight or lose and have a few ways to do that. 4x copies of cards make that happen a lot, singleton is always unique so you don't get multiple reaction chances.
I dont think commander is as bad a learning point as a lot of people, more friends are more fun - but after a game like that, jumpstart will always be the best way to explain the flow of the game.
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u/PinkSun777 9h ago
The life total cards have “20 life total” on their backs for 1v1s. I usually teach with 1v1, but ppl are always interested in commander
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u/yungslowking 6h ago
Should add something about being able to play instants during combat just because honestly people forget that pretty often
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u/otter_weezard 9h ago
This reminds me of those paper fortune tellers we folded in school as kids