Magic: The Gathering — The Complete Beginner’s Guide for Players in Greece

If you’ve heard about Magic: The Gathering but don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place. MTG is the oldest and most popular trading card game in the world — played since 1993, with over 50 million players worldwide. In Greece, the community is small but very active, with players in Athens, Thessaloniki and many other cities.

What Is Magic: The Gathering?

Magic is a strategic card game where each player builds a deck of cards representing spells, creatures, tricks and artifacts. The goal is to reduce your opponent’s life points from 20 to 0. Each card belongs to one of five colours, each with a distinct playstyle:

Where to Start — Your First Products

Step 1: Starter Kit (~€15-20) — The Best Starting Point

The MTG Starter Kit is the ideal entry point. It contains two ready-to-play 60-card decks — one for each player — with instructions. You can play immediately without buying anything else. Each kit also includes an MTG Arena code to unlock the decks digitally.

The most recent Starter Kit is the Final Fantasy (2025) edition — two decks featuring iconic franchise characters, perfect for players who already know the IP.

Step 2: Commander Precon Deck (~€50-60) — For Playing with Friends

If you already have some experience or are playing with a group, Commander Precon Decks are ideal. These are ready-to-play 100-card decks for the Commander format — the most popular format in Greece. Four players, casual atmosphere, hours of gameplay.

Step 3: Play Booster Box (~€139-150) — For Drafting with Friends

Once you know the basic rules, a Play Booster Box gives you 30 packs to draft — one of the most fun ways to play MTG. You open packs, pick cards and build a deck on the spot with friends. No prior collection needed.

Try for Free — MTG Arena

Before buying physical cards, try MTG Arena — the official digital game by Wizards of the Coast. It’s completely free on PC, Mac, iOS and Android. You’ll learn the rules quickly through tutorials with Sparky (an AI guide), without needing to memorise what each card does.

MTG Arena provides several free decks at the start and daily quests that reward you with gold to unlock more cards. The inbox system also delivers free packs and rewards automatically — check it regularly. It’s the best way to decide if Magic is for you before investing in physical cards.

The Main Formats — Where Will You Play?

Where to Buy MTG in Greece

The selection in Greece is more limited compared to the rest of Europe. The main channels:

• Hobby shops in Athens (efantasy, Avalon, Nerdom) and Thessaloniki for immediate purchase and local events.
• Skroutz for comparing prices across Greek retailers.
• CardMarket for singles and sealed from European sellers — often better prices.
• European online stores for sealed product at European pricing.

Important: prices in Greece tend to be higher than the European average. It’s always worth comparing before you buy.

The MTG Community in Greece

There are active MTG groups on Facebook — search for ‘Magic: The Gathering Greece’ and ‘MTG Commander Greece’. Many hobby shops in Athens and Thessaloniki run Commander nights, Friday Night Magic and prereleases regularly. Prereleases are especially welcoming for new players — you open 6 packs, build a deck on the spot, and play against others at the same level.

Tips for Your First Steps

• Start with a Starter Kit or Precon. Don’t buy singles or booster boxes before you know which playstyle you enjoy.
• Use MTG Arena. Free, instant, and teaches the rules better than any written tutorial.
• Find people to play with. Magic is much better with others. If you don’t know anyone, local events are the best way to meet players.
• Protect your cards properly. Card sleeves from day one. Cards in excellent condition hold or increase their value.
• Don’t overspend early. Play 10-15 games before deciding what you want — Commander, Draft, Standard or just collecting.