Magic Online (MTGO) stands as the premier digital platform for playing Magic: The Gathering, offering a vast and engaging experience for players of all levels. Whether you’re looking to hone your skills in casual matches, test your mettle in competitive tournaments, or explore the exciting world of digital card drafting, MTGO provides a diverse array of options. The key to unlocking this digital Magic universe is understanding how to navigate the Play Lobby, your central hub for all in-game activities. This guide will walk you through the essentials of finding and joining games and events on Mtgo Magic Online, ensuring you can quickly jump into the action and start playing.
Getting Started: Navigating the MTGO Play Lobby
To begin your journey into the world of MTGO Magic Online, the Play Lobby is your first destination. Located within the client’s navigation bar, you’ll find two primary buttons: “Constructed” and “Limited”. These are your gateways to different styles of play.
Clicking either “Constructed” or “Limited” will reveal a selection of formats (for Constructed) or game types (for Limited). For instance, if you’re eager to play with your Modern deck, you’d select “Constructed” and then choose “Modern” from the format list, as illustrated below:
Once you’ve chosen your format or game type, you’ll be presented with various play options. If your aim is casual fun or tournament practice, “Open Play” and “Tournament Practice” are your go-to choices. For a more structured and competitive experience with potential prizes, you’ll want to explore “Leagues,” “Queues,” or “Scheduled Events.”
Participation in events typically requires an entry fee. This entry can be paid using Event Tickets and Booster Packs (both available for purchase in the MTGO Store), or Play Points, which are earned by performing well in events.
Keep an eye on the “Featured Tournaments” pane on the Home scene. This section highlights upcoming significant tournaments, providing easy access to larger, more prestigious events within MTGO Magic Online.
For a deeper dive into the world of events and available formats, the “Events and Formats” page, accessible within the client, offers comprehensive details.
Diving into Constructed Play on MTGO
Constructed play in MTGO Magic Online allows you to utilize your pre-built decks against other players. Whether you’re fine-tuning a new strategy or simply enjoying casual matches, the “Open Play” and “Tournament Practice” areas are invaluable.
Preparing Your Deck for Constructed Battles
Both “Open Play” and “Tournament Practice” offer environments to test your Constructed decks. “Open Play” defaults to single-game matches with a 60-minute timer per player, ideal for quick games. “Tournament Practice” features best-of-three matches with 25-minute timers, better simulating tournament conditions.
The first time you enter a format lobby, you’ll be prompted to select your deck. The initial deck selection screen will appear as follows:
Simply click on the deck you wish to use and then click “Submit.” The right-hand pane will update to reflect your chosen deck. You can toggle between your main deck and sideboard using the tabs at the top of this window.
Tip: If your desired deck isn’t listed, the “Import Deck” button allows you to import a deck file from your computer. Once imported, and if you own all the necessary cards, click “Submit” to add it to your available decks in the format lobby.
If you need to update a deck already in your list, navigate to the “Collection” scene. Make any necessary changes to your deck. MTGO will provide feedback: a yellow triangle indicates errors like an illegal deck size or banned cards, while a green asterisk signals legal but potentially unoptimized aspects. To save your changes, either switch to a different deck in your Collection or right-click your deck and select “Create a Copy.” Once your updated deck appears in the Format Lobby, you’re ready to play.
Joining Constructed Open Play Matches
In Constructed Open Play, you have two main options for finding a match: quickly joining an existing game or creating your own custom game.
To jump into the first available game, regardless of whether it’s a duel or multiplayer match, simply click “Join.”
If you prefer to set up your own virtual play table with specific parameters, click “Create.”
The “Create Match” window offers several customization options:
- Number of Players: Choose between 1 (for Solitaire mode), 2 (for a duel), or 3-4 (for multiplayer games).
- Participants: Decide whether “Anyone Can Join” or restrict it to “Only Buddies Can Join.”
- Watchers: Toggle “Allow Watchers” if you want spectators or “No Watchers” for private games.
- Comments: Use this field to specify deck types or play styles, particularly useful for ensuring a specific Commander game experience.
After setting your preferences, click “Create.” A new game window will appear, and once the required number of players join, the match will begin. Hosts of multiplayer games can also choose to start once at least three players have joined.
Solitaire Games for Practice
MTGO Magic Online also allows you to play against yourself in Solitaire mode. This is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the MTGO interface, test out new deck strategies, or practice complex combos without the pressure of an opponent. Solitaire games follow all normal MTGO Magic Online rules, with you controlling both sides of the game. To initiate a Solitaire game, select “1” as the number of players in the “Create Match” window and then click “Create.”
Challenging Buddies Directly
For games specifically against friends, MTGO Magic Online offers a direct challenge feature. Right-click on a buddy’s username wherever it appears (buddy list, chat window, etc.) and select “Challenge Player.”
In the challenge window, choose your deck using the “Deck” filter. You can also set additional filters:
- Format: Select a specific format for the game, or leave it to automatically match your deck’s format.
- Skill Level: This filter is purely for informational purposes and doesn’t affect gameplay. It defaults to “Just for Fun” but can be changed.
- Watchers Allowed: Choose whether to allow spectators.
- Comments: Add comments to further define the game for your buddy.
Click “OK” to send the challenge. Your buddy will receive a dialog box displaying the challenge details: format, skill level, and comments.
If they accept, they’ll select their deck, and the game will begin. If declined, you’ll receive a notification. For multiplayer games with specific buddies, use the “Only Buddies Can Join” option when creating a game, as the right-click challenge method is for duels only.
Exploring Limited Events: Draft and Sealed on MTGO
Beyond Constructed, MTGO Magic Online shines with its Limited events, specifically Draft and Sealed Deck. These formats challenge your deck-building skills on the fly. For detailed information on participating in tournaments and leagues, revisit the “Events & Formats” page.
Drafting in Magic Online
Drafting in MTGO Magic Online is a streamlined and intuitive process. The drafting window is designed to provide all necessary information at a glance.
The top half displays the current pack of cards, the remaining pick time, and the pick number. The bottom half shows the cards you’ve already drafted for your main deck.
The “Play Blade,” accessed by hovering over icons in the top-right corner, provides mid-draft information. Click an icon to toggle it open or closed.
- The square icon with a number indicates your sideboard and its card count.
- The person icon opens the draft pod view, showing player usernames, picks, and pick direction. Drafts proceed clockwise, counterclockwise, and clockwise for packs 1, 2, and 3 respectively.
- The filter icon allows you to filter card selections.
- The pack icon displays the draft’s pack order.
When a new pack opens, you can select cards using:
- Double-clicking: Immediately moves a card to your main deck.
- Single left-click: Highlights and reserves a card; it will be auto-picked if the timer runs out.
- Drag and drop: Move cards to either your main deck or sideboard.
- Right-clicking: Provides options for moving cards.
MTGO Magic Online will auto-reserve picks based on your current deck. If the pick timer expires without a manual selection, auto-reserved cards will be added to your main deck.
Tip: The timer may remain at zero between picks, which is normal. This happens when you pick faster than other drafters.
Tip: If you disconnect during a draft, don’t worry. Upon reconnecting, you’ll be returned to your draft position, and auto-picks will be made if necessary.
After drafting concludes, you’ll transition to deckbuilding.
Sealed Deck and Draft Deckbuilding in Leagues
In Leagues, deckbuilding after drafting or joining a Sealed League presents your entire card pool at the top of the window, acting as your sideboard. The main deck area is below, similar to the draft window.
Add cards to your main deck by double-clicking, dragging, or right-clicking. In Leagues, you can create multiple decks from your pool. Use the “Add Deck” button to create and name additional decks. You can also copy and edit existing decks. Deckbuilding in Leagues is untimed, allowing for extensive experimentation. Before each match, select your desired main deck. After a match, the previously used deck will be loaded automatically, without sideboarding adjustments. To change your default deck, return to the “Edit Deck” area.
Deckbuilding in Scheduled Events & Queues
Deckbuilding in Scheduled Events and Queues is similar to Leagues but with key differences: a time limit and submission of a single deck. The deckbuilding timer is in the top-right corner of the main deck area. You can continue making changes after submitting, and each “Submit” updates your event deck. If you fail to submit before time runs out, your entire card pool will be submitted as your deck, so ensure at least one submission. After round one begins, your submitted deck will be used for each match. Deckbuilding ends immediately once all players submit, even if time remains on individual timers.
Opening Booster Packs and Sealed Products in MTGO
Finally, whether purchased or won in tournaments, sealed products in MTGO Magic Online aren’t automatically opened. To open booster packs and other sealed products, navigate to your “Collection.”
- Click the “Collection” scene button.
- In the “Filters” pane, select the “Other Products” tab.
- Optionally, use the “Sealed Product” filter.
- Right-click the product and choose “Open 1 of These” or “Open All of These.”
Tip: Booster packs can be used for event entries or traded to other players, so consider whether you want to open them immediately.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of finding games and events on MTGO Magic Online. With its diverse play options and robust platform, MTGO offers endless opportunities for digital Magic: The Gathering. Dive in, explore the Play Lobby, and start your online Magic adventure today!
