Last updated on March 20, 2023
Gifts Given | Illustration by Jason Chan\
Updated for 2022 holidays by Ethan
Every year growing up my family would get my sister and I 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 partner.
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 conversation 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.
- Independent access to each tray
- Removable card and accessory tray
- Microfiber inner linning
- Strong magnetic closure
- Resistant Xenoskin material
- Durable and rigid box
- Secure closure
- Soft-touch surfac
- Modular design to combine with Ultimate Guard products
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 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 come with eight set boosters, one collector booster, an alt-art foil promo card, forty basic lands, a spindown life counter, and a foil card storage box.
Each new set for the past few years has come with a bundle and knowing that these exist should help parents and other gift-givers easily deliver a great gift. If you’re someone who also plays Magic or are 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 + 20 nonfoil), Spindown life counter (red or green) + card storage box
Under $100
Neon Dynasty 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 Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty MTG Draft Boosters
- 15 Magic cards per booster
- Ukiyo-e Land in 33% of Draft Boosters
- Just draft, add lands, and play
- With cyberpunk cards full of color and chrome—the future is bright in Kamigawa
Streets of New Capenna Draft Boosters
If you don’t mind going just a little above the $100 mark, 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 currently sits just over $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 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
Commander Anthology 2018
If you’re feeling exceedingly generous, dropping the in their lap this holiday season would be another great way to give them several new commanders and decks to play with, or a wonderful piece to pull out and play a round with any group of four friends! All for the paltry price of over $500.
- Commander Anthology Volume II collects four sought-after and long-out-of-print Commander series decks in one deluxe package!
- Each anthology set contains four 100-card decks, including 13 foil commanders!!
- The four decks coming back are "Devour for Power" (helmed by The Mimeoplasm), "Built from Scratch" (the Daretti, Scrap Savant deck), "Wade into Battle" (with Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas leading the charge), and "Breed Lethality" (with everyone's favorite proliferator, Atraxa, Praetors' Voice).
- Includes Atraxa!! This set is hot!
- Release Date: June 08, 2018
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.
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 individual cards, packs of random cards, boxes of random packs, and sometimes all the cards in a single set. These work because they’re for different purposes.
If you’re building a specific deck, you probably want to buy the cards you need rather than getting random cards that you might not use. If you’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: Midnight Hunt, Crimson Vow, Neon Dynasty, Streets of New Capenna, Dominaria United, and The Brothers' War. 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 principals apply:
Standard Players
- Crimson Vow draft booster box
- Crimson Vow set booster box
- Midnight Hunt draft booster box
- Midnight Hunt set booster box
- Neon Dynasty draft booster box
- Neon Dynasty set booster box
- Streets of New Capenna draft booster box
- Streets of New Capenna set booster box
- Dominaria United draft booster box
- Dominaria United set booster box
- The Brothers' War draft booster box
- The Brothers' War 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 shocklands. 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, 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.
Precon 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. This year WotC chose to give those slots to Pioneer with four Challenger decks.
While these Pioneer Challenger decks are good individual value, they also give new and old players an avenue to investigate the newest competitive Magic format. These are especially great for gift givers who might want to learn alongside their giftee. They’re more expensive and more powerful than some starter decks but they also help jumpstart a player’s collection.
- Bundle of 4 Pioneer 2022 Challenger Decks—Izzet Phoenix, Dimir Control, Gruul Stompy, Orzhov Humans
- Izzet Phoenix (Blue-Red)—cast a whole lotta spells and fly in with spell-loving creatures
- Dimir Control (Blue-Black)—thwart your opponent’s plans and set your own in motion
- Gruul Stompy (Red-Green)—accelerate your mana early and crush with giant threats
- Orzhov Humans (White-Black)—buff your army with anthems and keep your opponent off-balance
Commander Decks
Much like the Challenger decks, each Standard set is released with Commander decks for new players who may want a preconstructed deck. Dominaria United came with Legends' Legacy and Painbow which can help players grow their collection and get a start in Magic’s most popular format.
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. They also come in two or four packs if you have multiple players that want to play.
- Bundle of both Dominaria United Commander Decks
- 2 Collector Booster Sample Packs—1 with each deck
- Both ready-to-play decks contain 100 Magic cards (2 traditional foil + 98 nonfoil)
- Each deck comes with 1 foil-etched Display Commander, 10 tokens, 1 life tracker + 1 deck box
- Each deck contains 10 MTG cards not found in the DMU main set
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 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 these, 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 appeal 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.
- Playset binder: view and organize your collection in a more suitable way
- 20 pages holding up to 480 double-sleeved cards
- Side-loading pockets for increased card protection
- 4-column rows design with extra clear 12-Pocket pages
- Zipper closure for secure transportation and major protection
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. And 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.
- Optimized for double-sleeved cards. Holds up to 100 double-sleeved cards or 120 single-sleeved cards
- Optimized shape. Cover has same Size and shape as bottom section, to be used as a second card holder when opened
- Deck trays for Flip'n'Tray. Both parts are ideally fitted to be used as extra deck trays for all Flip'n'Tray Cases
- Symmetrical structure, providing both secure closure and easy opening
- Durable and rigid box. Durable, solid material with soft touch finishing. Easy card access by just tilting the cover
Aesthetics and Collectables
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
I’ve already talked about custom art on sleeves, playmats, binders, and more, but what else can you do to give a meaningful gift that’s still Magic related? You can create a custom card! I’ve seen custom 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 that 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 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.
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 from my fiancée that currently houses my go-to sleeves in preparation for my next tabletop tournament.
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