Last updated on February 18, 2024
Gifts Given | Illustration by Jason Chan\
Every year growing up my family would get my sister and I get a few scratch-off lottery tickets to toss in our stockings. This tradition was a fun part of the holiday season; we’d compare our winnings or commiserate over being unlucky. I found that same excitement from a different source as I got older: opening stocking booster packs with my family.
We’d play pack wars with our morning coffee before celebrating awesome pulls or complaining that we only got bulk. These small traditions build the foundations of the holidays for many families around the globe.
Another tradition that lives on during the holiday season is well-meaning family trying to buy something from a mysterious hobby they don’t quite understand. Their heart is in the right place, but even their best intentions lead to dissatisfied gamers without some help.
If you're in the well-meaning family category, I've got your back.
Let me act as your holiday guide to Magic gifts for your MTG-obsessed friend. With suggestions for all price points, purposes, and experience levels, I’ll make sure the gamer in your life has a satisfying present this holiday season.
Let’s go!
Best Choice
Brinebound Gift | Illustration by Olena Richards
Under $25
Magic is an expensive game. While there are tons of smaller presents for under $25, there are two gift categories I want to talk about: Magic aesthetic and practical.
Aesthetic Gifts
Aesthetic products are things that a player doesn’t need to play Magic. While most players who want cards or products as a gift want something more practical, these gifts can help open the door to learning more about the recipient and their interests.
Starting at $20 for standard sizing there are wonderful original Magic art prints available over on Original Magic Art. This is a great opportunity for any gift giver to engage with their loved one.
Asking what someone’s favorite cards are can help you learn more about someone you care about and give you a guide to what art they might appreciate. I had a print of Rob Alexander’s Blood Crypt up in my dorm room for years and it sparked conversations with people who enjoyed the art but had never heard of Magic.
Practical Gifts
Onto the more practical side of Magic, I’m always short on quality deck boxes and sleeves. My collection usually lives on my shelf in mismatched boxes waiting for an event.
Quality deck boxes like this one give you easy access to your deck, can carry additional accessories, and offer protection from light physical impacts. I never put my pricy decks in cheap deck boxes since the cost of competitive decks is rising, especially in older formats like Modern, Legacy, and Vintage.
- ✔ PERFECT CARD STORAGE - The best premium quality PVC-free deck box to store your deck of cards. Comes with a hardcover back and front, magnet closure, and anti-scratch and anti-stain material.
- ✔ REFINED DESIGN - The magnet closure keeps the compartments closed to keep the trading card box secured. The soft interior and tough outer material increase durability and the premium feel.
- ✔ SIZE - The deck locker measures 5.6 x 3.5 x 3.7 inches and holds up to 120 sleeved cards and 8 dice. It is fully compatible with storing the majority of Collectible Cards.
- ✔ COMPATIBILITY - The card box is fully compatible with storing the majority of Collectible Cards including yugioh cards, magic the gathering commander deck, one piece trading cards, weiss schwarz.
- ✔ EXPERTISE - Card Guardian brings unrivaled experience and quality to trading card accessories, whether you are looking for the ultimate guard to protect your cards, a small box or card binder.
- Durable and Rigid Box: The Ultimate Guard Boulder deck case is meticulously crafted to provide outstanding durability and structural rigidity. Constructed from high-quality materials, it is designed to withstand the rigors of gaming, ensuring that your treasured TCG cards remain safely stored and well-protected.
- Secure Closure: Featuring a reliable and secure closure, Ultimate Guard Boulder deck case ensures that your cards are kept tightly sealed within. This innovative closure system not only prevents accidental spills but also offers peace of mind during transport, whether you're heading to tournaments or casual gaming sessions.
- Soft-Touch Surface: The exterior of the Ultimate Guard Boulder deck case boasts a luxurious soft-touch surface that not only enhances its tactile appeal but also provides a comfortable grip. This premium texture not only feels great in your hands but also adds an element of sophistication to your TCG gaming accessories.
- Modular Design to Combine with Ultimate Guard Products: Ultimate Guard Boulder deck case is thoughtfully designed with a modular concept, allowing you to seamlessly combine it with other Ultimate Guard products. Customize your gaming setup by effortlessly stacking and interlocking multiple cases. This versatility provides a cohesive and organized solution for your TCG accessories, ensuring everything is in perfect harmony during your gaming adventures.
Sleeves are a cheap-but-very-important gift. If your giftee plays a lot or has valuable cards to protect, then chances are they constantly use and wear out card sleeves. At this price point, you can buy a couple of boxes, which will be much appreciated:
- Acid free, no PVC
- Impeccable clarity
- Extra long lifespan and durability
- Made in Japan
- Perfect shuffling
- 100 sleeves per box. 1 Sealed Boxes. 100 Sleeves Total.
- For cards measuring up to 63×88 mm (2½”x3½”). 120 μ quality thickness.
- PVC-free polypropylene sleeves, no acid. Archival safe.
- Box lid has a label for your personal use.
- Sturdy cardboard box fits 75+ cards including sleeves.
Under $50
This is the perfect price point for players just getting into Magic or looking to expand their Standard collection. Bundles like The Brothers' War Bundle come with eight set boosters, an alt-art foil promo card, forty basic lands, a spindown life counter, and a card storage box.
Not every MTG bundle box is under $50. Here are the newest Magic: The Gathering bundle boxes and their price points:
- The Lost Caverns of Ixalan bundle box for $40.
- Wilds of Eldraine bundle box for $45.
- March of the Machine: The Aftermath bundle box Epilogue Edition for $35.
- March of the Machine bundle box for $40.
Each new set for the past few years has come with a bundle and knowing that gift bundles add in one collector booster, should help parents and other gift-givers easily deliver a great gift. If you’re someone who also plays Magic or is introducing a child or partner to the game, these bundles also give you the opportunity to play some fun games like pack wars to teach the basics of Magic.
- 8 The Brothers’ War MTG Set Boosters
- 1 Universes Beyond Transformers card included, with opportunity to find more in Set Boosters
- 1 foil Retro-Frame alt-art promo card—Queen Kayla bin-Kroog
- At least 1 Retro-Frame Artifact card in every Set Booster
- Accessories—40 basic land cards (20 foil plus 20 nonfoil), Spindown life counter (red or green) plus card storage box
Under $100
Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth bundle
You can always check back on Amazon for possible sales to see if you can get bundles like The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth bundle, retail price of $75.
- MAGIC MEETS THE LORD OF THE RINGS—Experience the beloved story of The Lord of the Rings with the strategic gameplay of Magic: The Gathering, facing off against opponents in thrilling magical battles
- JOIN THE FELLOWSHIP—Immerse yourself in Middle-earth with unique game mechanics and stunning art that draw you into this epic tale
- A BUNDLE FULL OF CARDS & ACCESSORIES—Open a box full of The Lord of the Rings-themed Magic cards plus accessories, including Lands, a Spindown life counter, and more
- 4 MOUNT DOOM SCENE CARDS—Every Bundle includes 4 Traditional Foil cards with Borderless alt-art that combine to depict a full scene of the moment Gollum and The One Ring fall to their destruction in the fires of Mount Doom
- EXPLORE WITH SET BOOSTERS—Set Boosters are specifically designed for a fun pack-opening experience, including at least 1 shining Traditional Foil card and 1 Art Card in every pack
Innistrad: Crimson Vow Draft Boosters
For any player who enjoys collecting cards or would maybe like to set up a Draft with some friends, a draft booster box is a great gift choice. The contains a lot of great cards for multiple formats.
- 36 Innistrad: Crimson Vow MTG Draft Boosters
- 1 foil Dracula Series box topper card
- 15 Magic cards per Draft Booster, including 1 Showcase Eternal Night Land
- At least 2 double-faced cards in every pack
- Return to the gothic horror plane of Innistrad for a sumptuous vampire wedding—as honored guest or delicious entrée
Streets of New Capenna Draft Boosters
If you don’t mind paying a little more, set booster boxes can be a great gift for your friend or family member who loves to expand their alternative art collection. The Streets of New Capenna set booster box sits near $100, which is great for 30 set boosters, and definitely worth considering picking up.
- 30 Streets of New Capenna Set Boosters + 1 foil box topper card
- 12 Magic: The Gathering cards per Set Booster—the best MTG booster to open just for fun
- Traditional or Gilded Foil card in every pack
- At least 1 Showcase card in every pack
- 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher in every pack
If Money Isn’t an Issue
Do you have money to burn and a Magic player to spoil? Then I have a small collection of gifts for you!
Warhammer 40k Precons
For the Commander player in your life, a set of all four of the Universes Beyond could be right up their alley. These precon decks come with new in-universe Warhammer 40k cards and several reprints that have been given the Warhammer treatment, so they'd be very pleased indeed!
- Bundle of all 4 Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks—The Ruinous Powers, Necron Dynasties, Forces of the Imperium, and Tyranid Swarm
- All 4 ready-to-play MTG decks contain 100 Magic cards (2 traditional foil + 98 nonfoil)
- Every card features Warhammer-themed art—including 42 cards that are new to Magic
- Each deck comes with 1 Foil-Etched Display Commander, 10 tokens, 1 life tracker + 1 deck box
- Command a new battlefield with epic multiplayer Magic games set in the world of the popular tabletop miniatures game, Warhammer 40,000
Compleat Bundle
Some bundle boxes are above the usual price point of $40 to $50, nearing $100 or more, because they’re more highly sought-after sets and/or contain more than eight set boosters. The retails for $140 and includes 12 set boosters, 40 foil lands (20 Phyrexian lands and 20 full-art foil lands), and a Compleat Edition booster featuring 12 oil slick raised foil cards.
- Bundle: Compleat Edition—contains cards with an Oil Slick Raised Foil treatment exclusive to the Compleat Edition
- 1 Compleat Edition booster—12 Oil Slick Raised Foil cards, with 2 Mythic Rares + 10 Basic Lands (2 of each type)
- 1 Exclusive Phyrexian Language Traditional Foil Rare promo card—Phyrexian Arena
- 40 Traditional Foil Land cards that celebrate the glory of Phyrexia—20 Phyrexianized Lands + 20 Panorama Full-Art Lands
- 12 Phyrexia: All Will Be One Set Boosters—the best MTG boosters to open just for fun
Commander Masters
Commander Masters is a special reprint set that was released on August 4th, 2023. The new cards from this set are currently playable in Legacy, Vintage, and of course, Commander. Any reprints in this set are also playable where their prior prints are eligible for play.
With over 1,000 cards available in the Commander Masters set with highly sought-after reprints like Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Smothering Tithe, and Cyclonic Rift, the Magic: The Gathering lover on your list will be stoked to crack packs after unwrapping this holiday hit! Plus, the popular borderless art of the side profiles of notable commanders like Talrand, Sky Summoner, Azusa, Lost but Seeking, and Urza, Lord High Artificer are possibilities to pull from one of the packs in a Draft, Set, or Collector booster box.
Choose from one of the following to gift the Magic enthusiast in your life this holiday season:
- Commander Masters Draft booster box
- Commander Masters Set booster box
- Commander Masters Collector’s box
- FIRST MASTERS SET FOR COMMANDER—Masters boosters are super-charged packs full of the finest Magic: The Gathering reprints; Commander Masters brings the first Masters packs specifically designed for Commander, Magic’s most popular format
- BEST BOOSTERS TO OPEN JUST FOR FUN—designed for a fun pack-opening experience, if you want to explore the set by opening packs just to see what you get, Set Boosters are for you
- MULTIPLE RARES AND FOIL IN EVERY PACK—in every pack you’ll get 2–6 cards of rarity Rare or higher, at least 1 Traditional Foil card, and 1 Art Card showcasing a piece of art from the set
- BORDERLESS CARD IN EVERY PACK—every Set Booster contains 1–4 Borderless cards, with at least 1 Borderless Common or Uncommon card
- 2 LEGENDARY CARDS IN EVERY PACK—each booster also contains at least 2 Legendary cards, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare
Modern Horizons 2 Collector Boosters
A Modern Horizons 2 collector booster box is the perfect gift for the high-end Magic collector in your life.
While WotC prices most sets for Standard, the Modern Horizons series specifically focuses on Modern. These sets have continually added incredibly powerful cards to the eternal formats. Collector boosters manage to be even more expensive than other MTG products since the packs have more rares and mythics plus exclusive art styles like foil etched and extended art cards.
Note that prices may vary on Magic products on Amazon throughout holiday seasons. Check back often to see if there are sales on Magic products so you can get the best deal when you are gift shopping. But don’t wait too long to make your final decision. You never know if that one sale you see will be the last sale of the season!
This kind of gift is certain to blow away any expectations. Keep in mind that getting your value’s worth isn’t always guaranteed, though, just like with any sealed product.
- 12 Modern Horizons 2 (MH2) Magic: The Gathering Collector Boosters
- Shortcut to the coolest cards in Modern Horizons 2
- Only Modern Horizons 2 boosters with Foil Etched cards and Extended-Art
- 4 Rares and/or Mythic Rares per pack (max. of 3 Mythics)
- Introduces powerful cards and beloved reprints to the Modern format
Gift Gallery
Looking for a high-level overview of what products exist for your Magic-playing friends and family this holiday season? Look no further than this gift gallery!
Here I’ll go over assorted styles of common pre-packed or sealed gifts along with a little note on buying Magic singles for the collector in your life.
Cards and Boosters
Booster Packs and Boxes
One of the core aspects of Magic is collecting the cards to play with. Players buy cards individually, packs of random cards, boxes of booster packs, and sometimes all the cards in a single set. These work because they’re for different purposes.
If a player is building a specific deck, they probably want to buy the cards they need rather than getting random cards that they might not use. If they’re building a general collection, packs can be helpful. Make sure to ask what someone plays or what they might need when you’re considering what to buy for someone else.
If your giftee primarily plays Standard, packs of any of the currently legal sets would be a great gift: The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Wilds of Eldraine, March of the Machine, Phyrexia: All Will Be One, The Brothers' War, Dominaria United, Streets of New Capenna, Neon Dynasty, Crimson Vow, and Midnight Hunt. If they play Modern and want packs instead of specific singles, there’s Modern Horizons 2.
If you’re looking for a booster box, which includes 24 to 36 packs depending on the set, the same principles apply:
Standard Players
- The Lost Caverns of Ixalan draft booster box
- The Lost Caverns of Ixalan set booster box
- Wilds of Eldraine draft booster box
- Wilds of Eldraine set booster
- March of the Machine: The Aftermath Epilogue booster box
- March of the Machine: The Aftermath Collector booster box
- March of the Machine draft booster box
- March of the Machine set booster box
- Phyrexia: All Will Be One draft booster box
- Phyrexia: All Will Be One set booster box
- The Brothers' War draft booster box
- The Brothers' War set booster box
- Dominaria United draft booster box
- Dominaria United set booster box
- Streets of New Capenna draft booster box
- Streets of New Capenna set booster box
- Neon Dynasty draft booster box
- Neon Dynasty set booster box
- Crimson Vow draft booster box
- Crimson Vow set booster box
- Midnight Hunt draft booster box
- Midnight Hunt set booster box
Modern Players
Single Cards
Singles are the foundation of Constructed Magic. Whether your giftee plays Commander, Standard, Modern, or any other format where they bring their own deck, they can’t play their ideal deck without specific cards. It’s a much better idea to buy the specific cards they need rather than buying packs or boxes hoping to open those cards.
If you don’t know what cards your giftee needs, this is a good opportunity to ask and coordinate with anyone else who might be doing the same. Unlike the randomness of booster packs, the gift may miss the mark if you buy cards that the giftee doesn’t actually want or need.
There are some staple cards that are good to own and hold their value over time. If your giftee isn’t trying to build any specific deck and doesn’t want packs, I recommend cards like fetch lands or shock lands. These are reasonably priced and are highly sought after in multiple formats.
You should shop around a bit between major Magic retailers since prices often differ depending on where you look. Especially in marketplaces like TCGPlayer and CardKingdom you can find deals that make your foray into buying cards a little easier.
Be careful buying from places like eBay and Craigslist. While there are plenty of reputable sellers, it’s easy to lose sight of what you're getting or whether it’s from a trusted source if you don’t know much about Magic.
Preconstructed Decks
Pioneer Challenger Decks
There used to be Modern Challenger decks and Standard Challenger decks that helped players get into the respective formats without breaking the bank. WotC gave those slots to Pioneer with four Challenger decks.
One of the most popular and still relevant 2022 Pioneer Challenger decks is the blue and black Dimir Control deck.
It features Narset, Parter of Veils on the front of the box with two copies of the card in the 60-card deck. There are 15 rare cards like Torrential Gearhulk and Murderous Rider as well as 2 mythic rare cards. There are also 15 cards in the sideboard for the gift recipient to edit the deck as they wish.
- 1 battle-ready 60-card MTG Pioneer 2022 Challenger Deck
- 15-card sideboard
- 5 double-sided tokens and 6 helper cards
- 1 deck box (holds 75 sleeved Magic cards)
- Pioneer Dimir Control (Blue-Black)—thwart your opponent’s plans and set your own in motion
Commander Decks
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan opens Magic players to an expansive all-new world of different pirate, vampire, merfolk, and dinosaur characters. In the set’s Commander decks, there are even some returning characters to the scene like Thassa on Thassa, God of the Sea and Drana on Drana, Liberator of Malakir inside the builds of all new legendary creatures as the general of these armies from one of Magic’s most popular planes.
Choose from one of these five options for purchasing The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander decks.
- The Lost Caverns of Ixalan came with Ahoy Mateys with Admiral Brass, Unsinkable as the commander
- Blood Rites with Clavileño, First of the Blessed as the commander
- Explorers of the Deep with Hakbal of the Surging Soul as the commander
- Veloci-ramp-tor with Pantlaza, Sun-Favored as the commander.
Since all the prices vary, while purchasing the precons individually, if the gift recipient is interested in all four of them, you’ll get a better deal paying about $39.25 and save a few dollars per deck. While these precons can’t stand up to top-tier decks, they’re great to play with friends who have other precons to play with.
- JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF IXALAN—Explore the cavernous depths beneath Ixalan in a race to the hidden core. Will you uncover treasure and glory, or will your adventure spell certain doom?
- EPIC MULTIPLAYER BATTLES—Commander is a multiplayer way to play Magic, an epic, free-for-all battle full of strategic plays and social intrigue
- INTRODUCING 40 COMMANDER CARDS—Each deck introduces 10 never-before-seen Commander cards to Magic: The Gathering
- COLLECT SPECIAL TREATMENT CARDS—Each deck also comes with a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack containing 2 alt-border cards from the The Lost Caverns of Ixalan set, including 1 Rare or Mythic Rare and at least 1 Traditional Foil card
- CONTENTS—All 4 The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander Decks; each 100-card deck also comes with a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack, 1 Foil-Etched Display Commander, 10 double-sided tokens, 1 life tracker, and 1 deck box
Secret Lair
Illustration by Jenn Ravenna Tran
Secret Lair drops are special products released for a limited time that players can buy directly from WotC. These products include unique art of existing cards or sometimes uniquely designed cards that players can buy to customize their decks with new art or a different style.
These drops come and go quickly so you should consult your giftee to make sure they get the cards they want. While most of the Secret Lairs are well crafted, they hold little value outside of their aesthetics so avoid buying these blindly since their worth is subjective.
If you want to buy one of Secret Lairs, it can be a bit tricky, but we've got you covered.
Card Protection and Storage
Sleeves
An important resource for any player looking to keep their cards in top shape, sleeves are great gifts for competitive players. Sleeves wear and tear over time so players who play with certain decks regularly always need more.
Which ones should you get? I have two picks that are very similar to each other in price and quality: Ultimate Guard Katana sleeves and Dragon Shield Matte sleeves. They feel nice to use, and your giftee will be absolutely delighted to get high-quality, durable sleeves that will last them for a long time.
- Acid free, no PVC
- Impeccable clarity
- Extra long lifespan and durability
- Made in Japan
- Perfect shuffling
- 100 sleeves per box. 1 Sealed Boxes. 100 Sleeves Total.
- For cards measuring up to 63×88 mm (2½”x3½”). 120 μ quality thickness.
- PVC-free polypropylene sleeves, no acid. Archival safe.
- Box lid has a label for your personal use.
- Sturdy cardboard box fits 75+ cards including sleeves.
Custom Sleeves
If you’re looking for a more unusual suggestion, Dragon Shield recently introduced custom art sleeves! For $25 you can create sleeves with custom photo art. I think this is a great gift, especially for significant others or kids who may have a favorite artist, television show, or comic book character that otherwise wouldn’t exist on official MTG sleeves. The potential to create meme sleeves is also deeply appealing for many within the Magic community, myself included.
Binders
Binders are the collection management tool of choice for most Magic players. Once your collection expands to the point where you need to organize and move cards for different formats around, you’ll head out and grab a binder. I keep three to four binders at a time to separate by format and it’s helped keep my collection in top shape for years now.
If you’re looking for our best overall suggestion, check out the Ultimate Guard Quad Row Zipfolio Xenoskin Binder. It offers great protection, zips closed to prevent dropping loose cards, and you can get anywhere from 4 to 12 pockets depending on what your giftee needs.
- Side-Loading Pockets for Easy Access: The Ultimate Guard Zipfolio is ingeniously designed with side-loading pockets, offering an incredibly convenient way to access your cards. No more struggling to slide cards in from the top; simply insert and remove them from the side with ease. This user-friendly feature ensures that your cards remain easily accessible, whether you're organizing your collection or preparing for gameplay.
- Acid-Free and PVC-Free: Ultimate Guard card sleeves are crafted with premium materials that are completely acid-free and contain no PVC. This ensures that your valuable trading cards are protected from harmful chemicals that can cause deterioration over time, preserving their condition for years to come.
- Designed for Double-Sleeved Cards: Ultimate Guard Zipfolio is engineered to comfortably accommodate double-sleeved cards. This feature is especially valuable for those who prioritize card protection and preservation. It ensures that your valuable cards remain in pristine condition, even when double-sleeved for added security.
- With Zipper Closure: Ultimate Guard Zipfolio features a secure zipper closure mechanism. This zipper provides additional protection for your cards, preventing them from accidentally falling out or getting damaged during transport or storage. It adds an extra layer of security and peace of mind, knowing that your collection is safe and well-contained.
- Resistant XenoSkin Material: Crafted from XenoSkin material, the Zipfolio is not only visually appealing but also highly durable. It provides superior protection against wear and tear, ensuring that your valuable cards remain in pristine condition over time. Count on the Zipfolio to safeguard your collection with its resilient construction.
Deck Boxes
Custom deck boxes are great gifts. I have a custom-made wooden deck box I use for every event that was the perfect gift for me. Just be careful with what format and style sleeves your giftee uses since Commander decks are too big for traditional deck boxes. Depending on if your giftee double sleeves their decks (common for eternal formats like Modern, Legacy, and Vintage) you may need to get a larger box as this can alter the size players need.
GameGenic Convertible Deck Box
Another best overall suggestion is the GameGenic Squire 100+ XL Convertible Deck Box. This is great for players looking for a quality box that keeps their cards safe. You can fit 100 double-sleeved cards in this bad boy, which you can't say for most other deck boxes.
- HOLDS UP TO 100 DOUBLE-SLEEVED CARDS: The Squire 100+ XL is an exclusive extra-large version of the Squire that holds 100 regular double-sleeved cards and has extra space for additional tokens, or it fits perfectly a Commander Deck in thicker inner sleeves.
- PRESENT CARDS IN NEW & UNIQUE WAYS: The Convertible line features a completely removable cover that clips to the bottom to save precious space at the gaming table. Remove the lid, attach it to the bottom or start tilting your box in a wide variety of ways.
- SPECIAL LOCKING MECHANISM: Powerful magnets provide precise and secure closure so your box stays safely closed.
- PREMIUM MATERIAL: The Squire 100+ XL stands out combining new black Nexofyber+ material with a vibrant orange microfiber inner lining. Box is rigid and durable.
- USE WITH OTHER GAMEGENIC PRODUCTS: The Squire 100+ XL Convertible is 100% compatible with convertible storage solutions, such as the Dungeon. It is optimized for particularly thick inner sleeves. We recommend using Gamegenic sleeves. Sleeves from other brands may affect capacity and compatibility.
Ultimate Guard Boulder Deck Box
But if you're looking to give a deck box and are uncertain of the giftee’s tastes, it's very hard to go wrong with the Ultimate Guard Boulder deck box. You can comfortably and securely fit 100 double-sleeved cards, albeit with a less plush exterior being sacrificed for a more uniform and flexible form factor.
Aesthetics and Collectibles
Playmats
Playmats have seen a lot of use lately as mouse pads, wall art, and décor, but they were originally for protecting cards from scuffed tables and making sleeved cards easier to pick up. As we see a return to tabletop Magic, these become active concerns again.
Much like sleeves, there are plenty of styles, arts, and materials used for playmats, so discuss what would be meaningful with your giftee. You can also make custom art playmats for both humor and sentimental reasons.
Dice
Magic has a lot of moving parts and dice help you keep track of some of it. Everyone has a set of dice they like to use. Mine are carved rocks from the Boston Museum of Science. Most players trend towards metal and polyhedral dice as they carryover from D&D, which has some player overlap with Magic.
- DND Dice Set : 6 * Double Color D&D dice sets ( 42pcs in Total ), 6 * black Drawstring Bags with patterns.
- Polyhedral Dice Set: Each 7-die set contains 1 piece d20, 1 piece d12, 2 pieces d10 (00-90 and 0-9), 1 piece d8, 1 piece d6, 1 piece d4; 42Pieces in total.
- Easy to read: There are as large as possible and easy-to-read numbers on each surface, use underscoring to differentiate 6 and 9. which make it more convenient for you to read
- High quality material: These polyhedral dice are made of acrylic material and are durable.
- Tips: Real objects are more beautiful than pictures. If you receive any missing or damaged dice, please contact us for replacement or refund.
Get Creative
Do you want to give the best of all worlds to your lover of the most popular trading card game around? Make a gift basket of a variety of Magic: The Gathering-related items. Especially if they’re just getting started playing the game, this could be a great starter pack for them in refining their early collection. Even when gifting the most expert player, they’ll appreciate the additional card supplies and Magic set boxes.
All you need is a basket or bin large enough to hold all the items you want to give the recipient. Go the extra mile by grabbing some cellophane wrap for gift baskets and a giant bow as the finishing touch.
A gift basket can include items like:
- A playmat.
- A matching deck box.
- Matching or custom sleeves.
- Playing dice that can be used for any type of counters or cards requiring dice rolling.
- Packs or a booster box from their favorite set.
- A MTG plushie or Funko Pop (for cuteness factor).
Of course, you can customize this gift basket to fit the needs and desires of the recipient. As it draws closer to the holidays, nonchalantly ask about their favorite Magic set. Maybe inquire about their favorite commander, planeswalker, or overall cards so that you can try deck boxes, sleeves, and playmats with the characters or card art on them, if applicable.
Let’s say for example that the gift recipient’s favorite planeswalker is Ajani. Here’s a list of products to help you get started on your gift basket:
- Ajani, Strength of the Pride
- Ultra Pro Satin Cube Deck Box
- Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants Deck Protector Sleeves
- Ultra PRO Eclipse 11 Dice Set
- Dominaria United Set Booster Box
- Ajani Goldmane Funko Pop Vinyl Figure
This creative gift idea may be a little more challenging, but your giftee will appreciate the time and effort you put into doing this. Try making a Commander deck for the Magic player in your life based on their play style.
My boyfriend gave me my own lifegain deck when I first started playing Commander heavily in 2019. The commander was Oloro, Ageless Ascetic where you could gain two life at the beginning of your upkeep regardless if the creature is in the command zone or on the battlefield. His reasoning behind selecting this commander was because I love lifegain and I like cutting corners for results. To this day, I still haven’t updated the deck with the new cards because it was the most special gift I had ever received period.
Ask your giftee about their favorite commanders, colors, evergreen keywords, and their overall play style. From there, you can research other commanders with these features to find one that your giftee may enjoy. Find some synergistic cards that’ll make the deck perform its best.
For example, if the commander is Lathril, Blade of the Elves, some synergistic cards would be:
Sorry Rhys the Redeemed, but you are not the right colors for this Commander deck.
Don’t beat yourself up if you cannot get the best, most expensive cards for your chosen deck build. There are many ways to achieve the same or close to the same effect for the deck if you want to achieve a budget build.
What else can you do to give a meaningful gift that’s still Magic-related? You can create a custom card like this one by Abu_Jafar! I’ve seen custom/altered cards of pets, special moments in people’s lives, and even marriage proposals. While these can take a lot of work and potential digital or manual artistry, they can be incredible gifts.
There are customizable cards, deck boxes, and more that you can order on Etsy if you’re not as artistically inclined. These shops take the hassle out of creating something custom for players like me who lack artistic ability, but they’ll still mean a lot to your giftee.
Here's our review of the best places to make custom cards.
Gift Cards
Much like any other mysterious hobby, you can always give someone a gift card. Many local game stores offer store gift cards that let your giftee support their LGS and buy whatever they need. I suggest discussing if your giftee wants something specific or more general, as a specific gift can mean a little more. That said, some players prefer being able to get exactly what they want on their own time.
But if your giftee doesn't have an LGS nearby or would like a larger selection to choose from, both TCGPlayer and CardKingdom offer gift cards.
Wrap Up
End Hostilities | Illustration by Jason Rainville
Magic has thousands of cards and hundreds of different booster packs and each one is a potential gift. There’s an overwhelming number of gifts, so I’m hopeful that this guide helps you figure out what to look for and how to best make the upcoming holidays special, whether you snag a black Friday deal or not. You might find hidden discount codes like Inked Gaming's that make purchasing custom products a bit easier.
Let me know your favorite Magic-related gift of all time in the comments below or tweet it at us! For me, it’s my wooden deck box from my best friend that currently houses my go-to sleeves in preparation for my next tabletop tournament.
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