Hearthpwn

I have always wanted to get into MTG but am unsure as to the best way.  Is paper or online better?  Best way to learn by myself?

Thanks in advance!

Well, I hear the online version is bad and the offline version costs much more than hearthstone, which is saying a lot

I don't want to be "that guy" but perhaps you should look into alternatives?  Eternal is a CCG designed by MTG pros and uses the same fighting and mana mechanics as MTG (the two main differences between HS and MTG). It's a true f2p game where a month or two of play nets you all the top tier decks in the meta

Otherwise, I suggest perhaps asking around the MTG reddit? The users are probably better equipped to direct you the good resources there

Honestly I'd just do some hardcore reading up on it before you try anything. It's one thing pondering it, but watch tournaments, look at deck lists, common tech cards, just learn everything you need to get into it. then look at the cost, and what's good, and think if you can support it

Maybe visit a website/resource related to that card game, instead of one of its direct competitors lol :P

The "best" way that I know of is for a friend to teach you and get you hooked, but barring that you could just walk into any board/card game shop and see what they're doing. I haven't ventured into a single one that didn't have a bunch of dudes playing Magic the Gathering at the time.

Thanks for the info!  And yes, I realize this is a HS site, but I figured a lot of players here also have MTG experience :)

Edit: Plus! It is the other games forum :D

Quote from bartdebruin >>

I have tried MTG arena and must say its really an improvement. Feels smooth to play a game. Try to get a beta key, alot of people giving them away

 Will do!  Hope I can get in!

Yeah I got into arena like 2-3~ weeks ago and it's literally hearthstone, but in magic it's amazing.

As for getting into the game, honestly paper isn't that bad. Just play standard at your local card store and you can easily learn how to play the game. Not only that, but this friday there is a series of decks WOTC are releasing for a format called Commander (which is the best format, absolutely no biasy in that statement) which you can pick up for 40 dollars (which most of them have around 70-80 dollars worth of value in them, except the esper one which is at like 150 or so). I'd reccomend avoiding the MTG reddit since it basically consists of people just circle jerking on things, I guess like how it happens here a lot? maybe it's just a forum thing. What I do reccomend checking out though is MTG Goldfish (Link) and also the official Wizards of the Coast website since they have professionals talk about possible decks and they make all sorts of neat lists (link for that).

If you want my advice, pick up one of the new commander decks and try to find a play group, tell them that you are new to the game and that you'd like their help and hopefully they'll teach you a bit? Most people are pretty nice but some are a biiiiit strange (it's a card game, what you expect). If commander isn't your cup of tea, Standard is probably a good place to start. Most of the decks are pretty cheap (40-60 dollar range for a good budget deck) and there isn't THAT many insane decks you'd have to play around. 

Do you know how to play the game at all or are you completely new to it?

Edit: Also don't use MTGO (magic online) because while it's good most the time and some cards can be pretty cheap, the thing is a cash vacuum and you have to pay to play in most of the formats (because thats the business model they decided to pull /shrug)

Quote from Echo_ >>

Yeah I got into arena like 2-3~ weeks ago and it's literally hearthstone, but in magic it's amazing.

As for getting into the game, honestly paper isn't that bad. Just play standard at your local card store and you can easily learn how to play the game. Not only that, but this friday there is a series of decks WOTC are releasing for a format called Commander (which is the best format, absolutely no biasy in that statement) which you can pick up for 40 dollars (which most of them have around 70-80 dollars worth of value in them, except the esper one which is at like 150 or so). I'd reccomend avoiding the MTG reddit since it basically consists of people just circle jerking on things, I guess like how it happens here a lot? maybe it's just a forum thing. What I do reccomend checking out though is MTG Goldfish (Link) and also the official Wizards of the Coast website since they have professionals talk about possible decks and they make all sorts of neat lists (link for that).

If you want my advice, pick up one of the new commander decks and try to find a play group, tell them that you are new to the game and that you'd like their help and hopefully they'll teach you a bit? Most people are pretty nice but some are a biiiiit strange (it's a card game, what you expect). If commander isn't your cup of tea, Standard is probably a good place to start. Most of the decks are pretty cheap (40-60 dollar range for a good budget deck) and there isn't THAT many insane decks you'd have to play around. 

Do you know how to play the game at all or are you completely new to it?

Edit: Also don't use MTGO (magic online) because while it's good most the time and some cards can be pretty cheap, the thing is a cash vacuum and you have to pay to play in most of the formats (because thats the business model they decided to pull /shrug)

 Wow, thanks for the very in-depth response!  Wish I could thank you more than once, haha.  I'm basically completely new to the game.  I downloaded Duels for iPhone and just started the tutorials in that.  Seems awesome so far!

As already stated, MTG is very expensive... to play competitively in constructed formats. I’d stay away from commander simply because while fun, it is more advanced and can require an in depth knowledge of the cards in your deck. I would stop by your friendly local game store on Friday night for a draft. Drafts are fairly cheap, you get to pick and keep standard cards you want and it is a good way to learn how to deckbuild which is the best skill to hone for MTG.

yeah commander is the ultimate goal, funnest format and every magic player I know plays it primarily. But it's not a good starting spot unless you're like a card game god who can pick shit up instantly

Gotcha, never played Duels so I don't know how good the tutorial is lol. If you have any questions, you can always just send me a private message on here and I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible. Sadly MTG arena does not have a friend function yet so can't really help you there even if you do get in the beta. If you want some good advice (because as much as I say I'm good at the game, I'm not great), I'd check out any of the channel Fireball people and watch how they play since all of them are professionals. It might be hard to get to a format where you can understand whats happening (not saying it would go over your head, just that Legacy and Vintage have some strange decks). 

Yeah, don't worry about thanking me. I love card games (mtg is a biiiit higher than hearthstone just because commander is so much fun. Make commander a thing in hearthstone blizzard :S) and I'm glad to help people get into them.

Edit: about commander being difficult to pick up, it all depends on what type of commander you pick. There are plenty of broken combo decks that nobody understands how it works except a small few, then there are commander decks like mine based around this card (Link) which is basically one or two counterspells (which I use like a petty snot) and then a ton of big fat creatures. Mainly just find something you like doing then try finding cards that support it. For me thats drawing a shit ton of cards and then playing big things that nobody can do stuff about. It's difficult if your opponents have a lot of good decks, but you can always typically politic your way out of being killed. That being said, since you just started, I'd stay away from commander for a bit just because the format requires you to have a basic understand of how the game works. 

The best way would be to buy some starter decks or duel decks and play with some friends. If you enjoy it then start looking into the format you want to play and price up the deck you want it will always be cheaper to buy the singles for the deck you want than buying boosters.

If you just want to play casual games with friends after trying the starters you can get a couple of booster boxes and put together a cube to draft from with your mates or do up some "sealed" drafts by mixing up a heap of cards and blindly splitting them into lots of 15 (actual sealed drafts would require constant purchasing of more boosters).

I think the the best way would be magic duels or what ever it is called. Just so u know the basics and go from there. Or go to card shop and watch the kids play it so u get a feel for it and maybe even do closed draft so u know what to expect.

You must try Commander dude! I started with it and its amazing!

Quote from TrapHunt >>

You must try Commander dude! I started with it and its amazing!

 Do you mind me asking what commander you run?

I played Magic for 15 years. I've played every format and if you really wanna see what the game can offer I would suggest playing Commander to start. Get yourself a preconstructed Commander deck (paper cards btw) and find a friend with one. It's one of if not the most fun of all the formats. If you like that, start playing in 8 man booster drafts. You can really build a collection that way and get good at the game. Start there. I wouldn't recommend online version. Just my opinion.