Everything You Need to Know about Your MTG Arena Account

Last updated on August 28, 2024

Evacuation | Illustration by Franz Vohwinkel

Knowing the ins and outs of your MTG Arena (and Wizards) account is critical to avoiding headaches before Arena Opens or signing up for in-person prereleases via the Companion app. Whether you want to change your name, reset a password, add somebody as a friend, or even delete your account, the user interface is sometimes less than intuitive. Hopefully we can help you find what you're looking for.

In this article, we'll be going over all the niche settings, explaining how to perform various account actions, and even how to get some free rewards you may be missing out on when it comes to your MTG Arena account.

Let’s go over all the ins and outs of creating and managing your Arena account!

How To Create an MTGA Account

Glimmer of Genius | Illustration by Josu Hernaiz

You can create an MTG Arena account in two different ways: at the MTG Arena home screen after downloading the client, or by registering with Wizards directly online. Even if you already have a Wizards account, you'll still be prompted to enter some basic information when opening Arena for the first time. You can download Arena for desktop directly from Wizards' website, or for mobile gamers, you can download the app from your associated app store (Google Play, the Apple App Store). Arena is also available on Steam if that's your preferred gaming hub.

The signup process always requires the same basic account information. Things like your name, country you're playing from, a birth date, an email, and of course a username and password. I'm sure you've filled out dozens of these in your life, but remember: your MTG Arena Account is linked directly to your Wizards account. You'll be using the same log-in information whether you're logging into Arena, filing for compensation directly with Wizards, or participating in a sanctioned event at a local game store.

We'll expand on this more later, but when creating a new Arena account, make sure you're comfortable with the username you've selected. It's unlikely you'll be able to change it in the future.

How To Reset Your MTG Arena Password

The easiest way to change or reset your Arena password is to open MTGA and click “need help?” on the log-in screen. This will redirect you to a help screen with a button that says “forgot your password?”

From here you can have reset password instructions sent directly to your email. Follow those directions, then close and reload Arena to log-in with your updated credentials.

If for some reason you can't access Arena but still need to update your password, you can access your MTG Arena account’s password directly from your Wizards account. You'll still have to reset via email and reload Arena from whatever device you're using.

Why Is an MTGA Account Free?

MTG Arena is free primarily as a way to get you to start playing and engaging with Arena, after which the platform incentivizes you to spend actual money for in-game items, add-ons, cosmetics, and so-on. The “free” part is meant to get players in the door, then expose them to micro-transactions down the line. Think of it like a state fair that doesn't charge admission. It's free to go, but if you want to eat while you're there, check out special attractions, or buy souvenirs — that's where they're going to get your money.

MTG Arena has a number of paid currencies, which sometimes earns it the ‘pay-to-win‘ demerit for some players, but you can play Arena completely free without purchasing extras with fiat currency like gems and gold. While players might want to invest money into the game via gems, you can earn gems and gold organically through regular gameplay.

Notably, you also need a Wizards account to use the Companion App, which is necessary to participate in live events like pre-releases, CommandFests, and so on. It's free to make a Wizards account, which in turn gives you free access to an Arena account.

What Do You Get with a New Account?

There are many perks that you receive when becoming a new MTG Arena account holder, starting with 600 gems on your account. New players also have access to once-per-account bundles that are offered to all players. They're usually very good deals and a great purchase for a new Arena user.

You'll also have immediate access to all the updated Starter Decks, which can be used to participate in the beginner-friendly Starter Deck Duel format, and all individual cards from those decks will be added to your collection.

New Arena players should also input as many MTG Arena codes as they can to unlock extra packs, cosmetics, sleeves, and so on. Many of the existing codes for Arena have been deactivated, but you can still redeem codes associated with Standard-legal sets. For example, PlayDMU is still active and rewards you with three free packs of Dominaria United!

Is There a Unique Number Connected to My Account?

Yes, your Arena account will always have a username associated with it, formatted as draftsimuser#53787. The 5-digit number is randomly generated when you create your account, but isn't necessary to log in. When inviting new players to your friends list, they need to provide you with their tag name along with this unique number.

You can always find your own username at the top of the Profile tab. You'll need the entire name, 5-digit sequence and all, if someone else is trying to add you to their friends list.

Can I Have Multiple MTG Arena Accounts?

You can have multiple MTG Arena accounts as long as they’re affiliated with a different email and have different screen names. One MTG Arena account is allowed per email. Depending on how many email addresses you already have, you may have to make a new email account if you want to get a new MTG Arena account.

What’s the Difference Between My Arena Profile and Arena Account?

Your profile is a part of your MTG Arena Account. Your account houses all the information needed to log in, as well as personal information like email, date-of-birth, country, and so on. Your profile houses your in-game data, such as your username, collection, set mastery, competitive rank, and so on.

Can I Change My Display Name on My MTGA?

Wizards typically doesn't allow you to change your display name on Arena. The platform prefers you hold the same screen name once you’ve selected one. However, there have been instances where users have successfully changed their username by contacting Arena support directly.

There's no guarantee this will work, and the process is typically reserved for special circumstances, but if you're deeply unhappy with your display name, you might try these steps out:

• Visit MTGA's support website and log into your Wizards account.
• Create a new request, or go directly to the request form URL.
• Enter the reason for the request as “Account Issues,” enter the appropriate information, and type out a reason you're requesting a username change in the description field. Again, if your reason is just “I don't like my current username,” it's unlikely they'll accept your request. If there's a valid reason you want this changed and you explain that thoroughly, there's a chance they'll accept.
• Submit your request and wait for a confirmation email. In the case that they accept your request, you'll need to enter further account specifics to actually enact the change.

Can I Play MTG Arena On Multiple Devices with the Same Account?

Yes, you can play Arena on any device the game is available on with one account. However, you cannot be logged into multiple sessions at once. Logging in from one device will automatically log you out on any other device you're currently logged in on.

How Do I Link My MTG Arena Account to Twitch for Rewards?

Unfortunately, there are no MTG Arena rewards from Twitch or Twitch Prime, nor is it possible to link your account. It's possible they'll set up a drop or future prime loot reward, but currently there are no available rewards. If you're looking for free codes, I'd recommend checking out our MTG Arena codes article! We meticulously keep it up to date with the latest goodies.

Can I Change the Region of My MTG Arena Account?

No, you cannot change your MTG Arena account region without making a new account. There’s no option for changing the region in the Account Preferences section or in any other section of the Account options.

Altering the region on your MTG Arena account only changes the price of gems and gold for purchase with fiat currency in the Store and the times of current Draft events. No matter the region you've selected for your Arena account, you'll still have access to playing with Magic lovers worldwide.

Can I Delete My MTG Arena Account?

To delete your Arena account, go to the Options in the top right-hand corner of the MTG Arena home screen, then go to “Account” in the bottom left hand corner of that screen. Click on the second option that says “Delete Account” and follow the prompts to finalize account deletion. You can also delete your account online directly from the Arena support website.

Warning: There's no going back on this, so be 100% sure you don't intend to use the account anymore before deleting it.

What Should I Do If My MTG Arena Account Is Hacked?

If you suspect your account has been hacked, you should immediately try to change your password. Even if someone has access to your current username and password, they [hopefully] shouldn't have access to your email, and you should be able to change your password and recover your account that way.

If this doesn't work, contact MTG Arena support to let them know that your account has been hacked. Simply submit a ticket, providing as many details regarding the situation and proof of ownership as possible, and respond to their follow up questions.

Is It Legal to Sell an Arena Account?

Selling an Arena account is legal in the sense that no one's going to be trying to hunt you down and put you away for doing so. However, selling an MTGA account, transferring password ownership, and so on are violations of the terms associated with an account. In other words, you won't be facing hard prison time, but it's also best not to do it, since it runs the risk of having the account deactivated. Worse yet, transferring account information involves sharing important information like email addresses, passwords, and so on, which leaves a lot of room for scandalous activity.

Platforms like PlayerAuctions exist as a means to do this, but we'd recommend either proceeding with caution, or better yet, not proceeding at all.

Wrap Up

Piper Wright, Publick Reporter | Illustration by Rafater

Making an MTG Arena account starts off with a few easy steps. Taking the jump on making an account opens you to a world of virtual MTG fun with players all over the world. Just be sure you choose a display name that you like because you're stuck with it once you've chosen.

MTG Arena's a great too to help new players learn the ins and outs of the game. Draftsim’s Arena Tutor can help you get even further along in your Arena journey, whether you're a new or veteran player. From helping you pilot a difficult Draft to deck-building recommendations based on what cards you have available in your collection, Arena Tutor can enhance your MTG Arena gameplay experience.

Browse the Draftsim blog if you're ready to learn more. When you aren’t surfing the blog, stay updated on new Draftsim content by subscribing to the website’s Facebook page.

Until next time, game on!