Essentials you need to get started in TCGs - Pokemon, Magic the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh!

The world of TCGs sure can be intimidating and sometimes it can be hard to know where to start! There are so many different products out there and choosing the right one for your first foray into a new game is a challenge. Lucky for you fresh-faced newcomers, we have compiled a guide to getting started in three of the most popular TCGs out there: Pokemon, Magic the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! Keep reading to find out what you should be considering before you commit to your first TCG purchase!

How to get started with Pokemon

There is no doubt that Pokemon is a super-popular TCG! As with all hobbies, getting your start can be difficult and knowing what products to pick up first isn't always obvious! That's why we've put together this handy little guide on 5 different ways that you can get your start in the world of the Pokemon TCG. Each of the proposed starter points are aimed at a different type of newcomer and offers a quick way to get into the game that so many love to play and collect!

Elite Trainer Boxes

ETBs are the classic starter option! They contain booster packs, a set of card sleeves, damage counters and more! This all comes in a durable box, which can be used to store your cards! The box offers a great mid-way point for those interested in being a player and a collector.

Booster Boxes

Booster boxes contain a large number of packs and are the best bet for a collector starting out! Here, we would define a Collector as being a Pokemon enthusiast that isn't as interested in playing the game, as they are in collecting it. Booster Boxes make it super easy to get a good selection for cards from an expansion and really help to bulk out your collection and lay a foundation for buying more!

V Battle Decks & ex Battle Decks

These starter decks are perfect for a prospective set of players looking to dip their toes in the game. Each deck comes ready-to-play containing 60 cards and are specifically designed to be gentle with new players. You can also buy a bundle containing 2 decks, perfect to play with a friend or partner. The set also unlocks the 2 decks for the online TCG game! This is a great way to play online and hone your skills! This is the most affordable option in our guide, and also the most forgiving with newcomers, so if you are interested in playing Pokemon but know almost nothing, then this is your best bet!

League Battle Decks

With premium foil cards, sought-after power cards, and a well-tuned set of Pokemon and Trainer cards, these are the perfect way to gain a footing in Pokemon tournaments! If you've already dipped your toes in the world of the Pokemon TCG and are looking to step up your game, you can do so with this ready to play deck.

Collection Boxes

A great way to start building a deck is to grab a collection Box from Pokemon! Each box contains an awesome promo card, a powerful V or ex Pokemon that is easy build a deck around! Each box also contains some booster packs that you can use to flesh out your deck! When combined with a Battle Deck, these prove a killer combo!

Tournaments

Organised and casual play is a great way to take your first steps into a TCG! Many gaming stores offer free Learn-to-Play sessions, designed to teach the uninitiated the basics of the game! We host a load of Pokemon events in our own Total Cards Gaming Centre every week, including the opportunities to win prizes and much more! If you're local, then don't' hesitate to join in!

How to get started with Magic the Gathering

Magic the Gathering has been a powerhouse of a gaming hobby, all around the world, since its introduction in the early 90s! As with all hobbies, getting your start can be difficult and knowing what products to pick up first isn't always obvious! That's why we've put together this handy little guide on 6 different ways that you can get your start in the epic TCG that is Magic. Each of the proposed starter points are aimed at a different type of newcomer and offers a quick way to get into the game that so many love. Throughout this post, we'll be talking about different "formats" of MTG, so if you're not sure what they are (or just want to brush up on your knowledge), check out our format guide in the related blogs below.

Arena Starter Decks

These starter decks are perfect for a prospective set of players looking to dip their toes in the Standard format. Each starter set comes with 2 ready-to-play decks containing 60 cards and are specifically designed to be gentle with new players. As the sets contain 2 decks, it is perfect to play with a friend or partner. The set also unlocks the 2 decks on the online MTG space, Arena! This is a great way to play online and hone your skills! This is the most affordable option in our guide, and also the most forgiving with newcomers, so if you are interested in Magic but know almost nothing, then this is your best bet!

Commander Decks

Commander (also known as EDH), is a multiplayer format that is relatively new to Magic and boasts crazy combos and outrageous gameplay. If you want to play a casual and fun game with a group of friends (3 others for a 4-player game), then you pick up a pre-constructed Commander Deck! Each deck contains 100 cards and new decks are released with every major expansion, so there are plenty to choose from!! Commander also doesn't rotate, meaning that your Commander deck will always be legal in Commander games in the future. Although Commander is a bit more involved than the level of gameplay that the Arena decks offer, it will be a better long-term investment.

Challenger Decks

Like Commander Decks, Challenger decks are pre-constructed decks that allow you to play straight away! All Challenger decks are designed to be highly competitive, and even though they are a bit on the pricey side, their prowess in competitive Magic is not to be underestimated. Each deck is based upon a popular deck type that has seen a lot of play during the last year of official tournaments and are, in most cases, based upon winning deck lists. If you want to rock up to a local tournament with a great deck, then definitely check out Challenger decks!

Bundles

Bundles are the classic starter option and are where a lot of players first started their MTG obsession (including yours truly)! Bundles contain a handful of packs (10 draft boosters with older bundles and 8 set boosters with newer ones), a D20 life counter and a set of basic lands in both regular and foil treatment! This all comes in a durable box, which can be used to store your cards! The bundle offers a great mid-way point for those interested in being a player and a collector. The D20 and lands allow you to participate in playing the game and the good selection of packs help build up your early collection. Gift Bundles are a special type of bundle only released with certain sets! These Gift Bundles offer great value for money, as they also include a Collector Booster (which is full of foil and rare cards!)

Booster Boxes

Booster boxes contain a large number of packs and are the best bet for a collector starting out! Here, we would define a Collector as being a Magic enthusiast that isn't as interested in playing the game, as they are in collecting it. With Boosters you have three options: Draft Boosters, Set Boosters and Collectors Boosters. Draft Booster are designed to be drafted (check out our Format guide) and contain a lot of common cards. They are the most affordable of the Booster Boxes. Set Boosters contain a good mix of common cards and rarer cards, whilst also including an art card (which shows off some of the awesome art that MTG is known for). Set boosters have replaced Draft boosters as the default in recent years and are the most logical choice for collectors. Collector Boosters are the premium packs that contain the most rares and foils! They are significantly more expensive, but do boast the most rewards!

Tournaments

There is no better way (in our opinion) to experience Magic, than at your LGS! Drafts and Friday Night Magic are classic ways to play the game but we recommend that your first foray into the game should be a Pre-release event! Pre-releases are a fantastic way to get the feel of the newest set and understand the game of Magic at its finest. If you are local to our Total Cards Gaming Centre, then feel free to pop in and ask when our next pre-release event is!

How to get started with Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG debuted a few years after the manga released and quickly became just as popular as Pokemon and Magic the Gathering! The game has spawned several successful anime series and is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year. With smaller deck sizes than Pokemon or MTG, Yu-Gi-Oh! is considered a faster game with more emphasis on combo play. There's a multitude of archetypes and combos to keep gameplay interesting, you can be as creative as possible with the choice of cards that go in your deck, especially with deckbuilder sets like Amazing Defenders that are a great way to keep your deck up to date!

This truly is a card game with collectors and players in mind. With captivating and complex cards for those who feel competitive is more beneficial, to structure decks for duelists who want to pick up and play as they go, you'll find no two games are the same. The rarity system in Yu-Gi-Oh! is what keeps those who like to show off their cards going, nothing is more exciting than pulling a high rarity of that card you were after (I mean who doesn't want a Ghost Rare Blue-Eyes White Dragon?) There's a lot to offer TCG lovers!

Starter Decks

The most obvious place to start with Yu-Gi-Oh! is with a Starter Deck! They are specifically designed for new players and include everything you need to take your first steps in the game!

The new Starter Set is a new approach to the idea of a starter deck. The set has already received a positive response from the Reddit communities and we think it is an inventive and fresh way of introducing the game to new, and especially younger, players.

The set will not only include 2 decks that are ready-to-play right out of the box but also an instructional comic book designed to teach the fundamentals of play. The 64-page comic book walks you through a scripted (non-randomized) Duel to teach Yu‑Gi‑Oh! TCG basics from the beginning, from your first card draw, through Summons and battles, to the Extra Deck’s Synchro and Xyz Monsters. After the book has been completed, a player can run through the scenario again or simply utilise the 2 decks to continue learning the game through regular random play.

Structure Decks

Structure decks are a step up from Starter Decks. Each structure deck is designed around a specific theme or archetype and offers a more competitive experience than the typical starter deck. Each deck also contains a quick guide on the strategies contained within.

Unlike Starter Decks, which only contain 1 copy of each card, Structure Decks often contain multiple copies of a card to narrow the strategy of the deck. If you are already comfortable with the general gameplay of Yu-Gi-Oh! or other card games then Structure Decks are a great place to start!

Booster Boxes

If you don't want to start with a pre-constructed deck then Booster sets are another option. Each set, or expansion, generally includes several different archetypes and strategies which make it easier to construct a deck using cards from just one set.

Booster Sets also contains rarer cards than Starter and Structure decks, which means that the rarer cards you pull from those packs will likely be more valuable. Cards of a higher rarity also tend to have more powerful effects and therefore booster boxes are a great option if you're looking to be more competitive.

Mega Tins

Mega Tins are released every year and contain the most popular and widely used cards from competitive play. The tins each contain 3 Mega Packs, which include the very best cards of the year that they were released.

Prismatic Secret Rares are one of the things Duelists love most about each year’s Mega-Packs, since Tins are the ONLY place to find this exclusive and beautiful rarity type.

Not only do these tins do wonders for your deck, but the tin itself is a great place to store an additional cards, dice, playmats or tokens.

Tournaments

Like Pokemon and MTG, Yu-Gi-Oh! players definitely benefit from playing in and attending tournaments, as well as casual play. It helps you identify what cards aren't working in your deck and what you can do to improve your chances! We host weekly events at our very own Gaming Centre and we know from our own experience, that LGSs all over the country are super friendly spaces to enjoy the hobby!