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I'm relatively new to the game as well but wanted to play for a very long time. Some buddies at work finally taught me how to play and I have been totally sucked in. As a new player I can go through a few of the items that helped me.

For deck building: learn about the rule of nine. Just google "Magic rule of nine" and you'll find plenty of articles. The basic idea of it is if one card is good enough to have in your deck, it's probably good enough to have four of it. With that in mind and as a beginner deck builder, try to find nine card types (creature spells, instant spells, enchaments, relics, etc.) that you feel work well together, add 24 lands, and voila, you have a 60 card deck.

I know this is an over-simplification, please go easy on me vets, I'm still starting out and so far, the rule has worked out well for me.

For getting more cards: I learned a lot here in terms of what was a waste of money and what wasn't. I do a lot of eBay buying and found some very decent deals on cards. For instance, I was able to get three packs of the dragon's maze pre-release guild promos (two guild specific "booster" packs and four regular booster packs) for $7 each (six packs of cards for $7 when paying retail for them would have cost me at least $20-$24).

Fat packs: I feel these are a waste unless you can get them discounted. At MSRP of $39.99 for nine packs, you could have just bought 10 booster packs at $4.00 each for the same price. The deck boxes are flimsy cardboard and not worth it (in my opinion) and the cheap die they include can be found just about anywhere (a generic 20-sided die will do you just fine).

Pack deals on eBay: To increase my collection I bought several packs of the "4x of every common/uncommon" sets. These sets are just what they advertise, four of every common and uncommon card in a release set. I got mine for around $25-$30. Most of the cards in them are bad (they're mostly commons after all), but not every common is a bad card; Wojek Halberdiers comes to mind as a good common card. If you just want to increase your collection for cheap, I was extremely satisfied with what I got.

Deck builder's toolkit: Can be decent for starters. You don't get great cards in them but you do get around 100 lands (I think) for deck building and a variety of booster packs, so I feel it is a solid investment.

Buying booster boxes: Buying them at MSRP is a tough sell, you could almost just buy 36 of individual boosters for the same price. Depending on the set, if you can find a set for around $90 dollars, it could be a good value as that takes the price down to around $2.50 per pack.

Buying individual boosters: Let's face it, cracking a pack is fun but a gamble. If you are just going to buy a bunch of boosters anyway, you might as well buy a box for as cheap as you can find it to knock the price per pack down and save yourself some money. That being said, each pack has a chance at giving you something nice (I pulled an Archangel of Thune out of one of three booster packs I bought from Walmart yesterday).

Learning to play:

Drafting: I just got the nerve to try and break away from the kitchen tablet to attend a draft at my newer local games store on Saturday. However the one day I showed up is the day no one else did, so I can't speak to how well something like that goes for a new player, but people seem to suggest it a lot as an activity that is friendlier for newer people, although this is going to depend largely on the people in the draft. You can find a booster simulator here if you want to give drafting a try to see what it would be like in a real draft: Link

As I mentioned before, I am only about two months into playing the game so far and I can tell you I made all the beginner mistakes in deck building. I was advised by my friends to keep my decks to 60 cards and I came to the table with 87 (more cards just means I need to add more land right?). I built my win conditions on a card I only had one of in my deck and I certainly didn't have a secondary or tertiary condition for winning in mind. The best way to learn is to find some people to play with and play with them. Let them know you are new and just learning.

Supplies:
Nice deck boxes: Link

Cheaper deck boxes: Link

Card sleeves to keep your cards protected: Link

Nice pages to put your cards in binders: Link

Cheap but large 5" binders: Link

Example of common/uncommon set: Link

Boros event deck I purchased: Link


And lastly a deck I built that has been working reasonably well for me. I only present this as a possibility for you as you can find all kinds of decks that will work better and be cheaper, but hell, this is what I am using, so maybe you will find it helpful.


Boros R/W

Lands:

10 Mountains

10 Plains

4 Boros Guild Gates


Creatures:

Boros Elite - 4

Legion Loyalist - 4

Wojek Halberdiers - 3

Firefist Striker - 4

Guttersnipe - 4

Tajic, Blade of the Legion - 1

Firemane Avenger - 3

Arachangel of Thune - 1

Aurelia, the Warleader - 1


Spells:

Boros Charm - 4

Warleader's Helix - 3

Arrows of Justice - 4


Some things of note: The cards that cost money are: Legion Loyalist, Archangel of Thune and Aurelia, the Warleader, everything else can probably be gotten cheap. I was lucky as I pulled the Archangel of Thune out of a 2014 booster pack yesterday and just put it in (subbed out 1 Firemane Avenger) and I got the Auerlia out of the boros specific pack I got on ebay. I purchased three of the Loyalists for around $2.50 each as I already had one. If you wanted, you could easily find replacements for these cards and still maintain the basic idea of the deck (I haven't priced all of this out but I would think this deck could be put together for under $50 without too much trouble).

Playing it: I play the deck as an aggro deck, attacking early if my opponent doesn't have defenders, and then waiting for my Battalion mechanic to kick in when they do. Attack early with the Legion loyalist before your opponent's defenses are up. Keep adding soldiers to the field and using the battalion mechanic to boost them up in power (Boros Elite) get past their blockers (Firefist Striker) or just fly over them (Firemane Avenger). Use the Arrows and Warleader's Helix's to remove blockers from the field and trample them with an army of soldiers. The Boros charms are one of the most valuable cards in the deck. They can add damage by attacking your opponent directly or giving a hard hitting creature double-strike (Give Tajic double-strike when his battalion mechanic is up) or use it defensively by making your army indestructible for a short time (useful for opponents trying to off your third solider to prevent your battalion mechanic from kicking in).

Another high damage maneuver in the deck is use the Guttersnipes to add burn. If you are able to get two guttersnipes on the field and then follow the next turn with two Boros Charms or Warleader's Helix, you can do some serious hurt (Boros Charm for 4, each Guttersnipe does 2 more for a total of 8 damage from a single charm).

I have some other decks but I won't bother posting them as I doubt they would be very helpful to you; as I said, you can do easy searches and find cheap decks that do more: maybe this one or this one. Keep in mind, what you buy and build depends on the format you plan to play. If you are playing standard/draft/limited etc. you are going to be limited in what you can choose from. If you are going to play modern, I heard it isn't cheap to be competitive. I wouldn't try legacy as a beginner.


All I have for now. As I said, as a fellow new player who started out by buying a 2013 Core deck builder's toolkit on Amazon I think I have some idea of how you feel. Hopefully something of the above will be helpful to you.

This is a large box to store up to 4000 cards, it saves on cost and keeps your whole collection together, but it will get heavy.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000K41E7E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_LEO3BbSNMHCWD

This is a set of boxes with a little less storage room but it accommodate separate collections for you and son, and allow for a lands pool to share. Plus they are far lighter individually when they get full, rather than moving 4000 cards at once.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MWJQ7X6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_mEO3BbBNT9Z75

They are also available direct from BCW shop in larger quantities and generally for a better price.

Also get binder(s) for rares and foils, much safer way to store cards with some market value or the potential to gain value in the future. Don't worry about doing separate binders for sets, if you have rares enough to fill a binder, maybe it's time to build another deck.

I keep most cards that I buy, even if you exceed a play set, if you are a casual player there is no reason to dispose of them, [[Llanowar Elves]] is super common, but they are also the most dependable green ramp card, if you have them why give them away or get a penny per ten at your LGS when you could just keep the two dozen you'll eventually amass?

Lastly, I have played all four of the C18 decks at least a couple of times each and they are all pretty decent, that in mind I would recommend either [[Aminatou, the Fateshifter]] Subjective Reality or the [[Saheeli, the Gifted]] Exquisite Invention deck. They are fun and niche style decks, not that the other two don't have their merits but they are pretty popular concepts for decks, Bantchantress is a common archetype in commander and it is powerful and popular which means upgrades are expensive. The last one being largely lands focused means that your largest avenue of upgrades is literally the most aggressively priced card type, lands, this doesn't make it bad just, again, expensive to upgrade. Now a lot of people have varying things to say about C18 decks but the big thing I can say that is incontrovertible is that Exquisite Invention and Subjective Reality have the most opportunities for upgrades that simply make them the best choice as a starter deck. Artifacts are printed every set, this will mean always having room to grow and relatively easy access to cheap in theme cards if you choose red blue. The other deck I feel is more customizable at a reasonable price point, considering GRN had great Dimir (U/B) cards and the surveil mechanic that feeds solidly into the theme, and the next set will give Azorius (W/B) and Orzhov (W/B) a turn to present their best which is generally really solid, the white blue black deck is also a really solid option. I hope this is detailed enough to help inform a decision, and too much so that it is annoying or long-winded.

Let's start with the big picture. You're going to want somewhere to keep your cards.

For the ones at home, something like this should do just fine. It keeps things mostly organized, is rather inexpensive, and will last. You can make inserts to help subdivide more if needed.

Next, you're going to want something to carry your cards in for the go. Many people just use backpacks or messenger bags, but there are [specialty bags] (http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Zippered-Gaming-Corrugated/dp/B0009F3DQ4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1419647218&sr=8-2&keywords=card+carrying+case) that you can purchase as well.

To keep you decks organized and protected while in the bag, [deck boxes] (http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Boxes-Magic-Pokemon-YuGiOh/dp/B00EA9REK6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1419647294&sr=8-3&keywords=deck+box) are the way to go. They make things nice and modular and will protect your cards even if you just have a normal backpack.

For your trades, if you go that route, a [binder] (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Universal-Round-Ring-Economy-Vinyl-View-Binder/24966030) and some [sleeve pages] (http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Pocket-Page-Protectors/dp/B005HIOVOG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419647392&sr=8-1&keywords=card+pages) should do fine.

Finally, your decks. Sleeves! Sleeves! Sleeves! and Sleeves! The cards in your decks are going to see the most use so you're going to want to protect them the best. I've found that [Dragon Shield] (http://www.dragonshield.com/) and [Ultra Pro] (http://www.ultrapro.com/division.php?d=g) sleeves are excellent for their value and use them on several of my decks. Cards in your deck are often your most powerful and you're going to want to keep them in the best shape possible.

Many people, myself included, will argue for getting a [Play Mat] (http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-84314-Grumpy-Play/dp/B00IT5GPZ2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1419647676&sr=8-3&keywords=card+playmat) so that you sleeves won't get torn up as much and will last longer, but it's not absolutely essential.

Oh! I forgot dice! My group have found that dice are the easiest way to keep track of things like life totals, counters, and about everything else you need a number for. Having your own are absolutely essential, there's always someone you can borrow from, but they're a great thing to have around.

edit One thing I want to point out is that everything there can be customized to fit your particular style, so have fun! The way you carry and present your cards says as much about you as the cards themselves!

I do this with my Scion Dragon Tribal EDH deck. I can't tell you his setup, but I can tell you what I've found to work well:

KMC Perfect Fits, as the inner-sleeve, put on upside down, so the opening is at the bottom of the card.

Any Normal Sleeve works as your mid sleeve. For the tightest fit, use KMC Matte (NOT SILK); however I use Ultra-Pro Illustrated ones, because the outer sleeves make the shuffle feel nice; so no worries about the middle one. These are put on normally, opening at the top of the card.

Finally, KMC Character Guards. These go on upside down, with the openings at the bottom; and make the deck feel like a more smooth KMC shuffle-feel. Wonderful together, but be prepared for a REALLY thick deck. Can be tough to shuffle all the cards with smaller hands.

In total; you'll need 1 set of Inner-Sleeves; 1-2 Sets of Middle-Sleeves depending if you buy a back with at least 100 in it; or if you just get a couple packs of 60-80; and 2 packs of Outer Sleeves. It can be a bit pricy, but nothing protects like it; 'cept maybe a top loader over each, haha.

Hope this helps!

EDIT: While I would 100% Recommend Dragon Shield Matte sleeves to anyone who plays Magic; I wouldn't recommend Triple sleeving with them as the middle sleeve. They're a little taller than most other sleeves, and might stick out more with the outer-sleeves. Haven't tested, but be Wary; like good ol' Norin.

It's a little late notice now, but if he played back in the 90's, he probably saw Scrye Magazine at one point. They had an offer for these fantastic counters. That would be my gift of choice for a seasoned older player. I would also consider a nice deckbox, some sleeves, a playmat with favorite art, a custom playmat, or just find him a card he's always wanted, or some art prints.

Hope that helps! Try playing some games with your dad, the best thing to do with your dad is make some fun memories doing something together.

Others have pointed out what singles you should buy and why, and I agree with them. But to answer the question you actually asked (what sealed product to get) I would recommend a couple things.

First you mentioned being interested in planeswalkers, so the obvious place to start is the Kaladesh Nissa deck. You are guaranteed the foil nissa, and even though the card is pretty mediocre at least you can say you have one! It also has a few decent cards for the strategy you are looking to play.

Other than that I would say your next best bet for sealed product is one of the duel decks, since you say you like green and ramp strategies I would recommend either Kiora vs Elsepth or Zendikar vs Eldrazi they both have some powerful ramp spells and big creatures to play that should work well in your deck. Edit: I didn't mention it initially but feel that for completeness sake I should. Duel deck Nissa vs Ob Nixilis also guarantees you a mono green planeswaker, but the deck has much less focus on ramping out big creatures, so I thought the others would be better overall. Still you might find it to your liking.

Note that I just grabbed those links from Amazon for simplicity, you should shop around and see if you can find them for a better price or at a local store. Hope that helps!

So I think that a pauper cube sounds like what you want to do. This is an all-commons cube, which, like you say, will allow fun, well-balanced play. It'll also be a bit lower complexity than a power cube would be, which is better for new players (as opposed to things like putting Eldrazi under a Mimic Vat).

Here's a link to an article about pauper cube with a link to a list at the bottom of the article.

The cards themselves will likely cost less than $100 - you may already have a good number of them - and then you would just need sleeves. I recommend double sleeving with something like the KMC Perfect Size inner sleeves and the KMC Hyper Matte sleeves outside. This will keep your cards in good condition (yes, they're commons, but it's nice if they stay nice looking. Some people also choose to foil out their pauper cube, since it's a lot cheaper to do than foiling out a powered or higher-powered cube, and double sleeving will prevent bending).

All in all for probably less than $200 you can make a fun pauper cube. Good luck!

So this is also a very late reply but for everyone still looking for a solution - I think I found it for me.

After hours of searching I finally ended up buying a card case made by Quiver.
What can I say - the quality of the case is brilliant and it almost seems like it was MADE for those 10 guild kits, considering how they perfectly fit into the case.
https://imgur.com/a/AwDUv3b?

At the top there is still space for some accessories like the 10 life dice, the badges and so on. I put some extra modificator dice in, as well as a self-made summary of all the guilds.
Even with all the accessories the case still closes without problems.
So I think the case is worth its price and I can only recommend it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quiver-Leather-Double-Dividers-Shoulder/dp/B00XYC3MNI/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=8PPVTUNAOIS0&keywords=quiver+card+case&qid=1557417472&s=gateway&sprefix=quiver+car%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

• Take your time learning. Magic is kind of like Chess in the way that it's simple to pick up and play but takes a lot of time and effort to master and no one becomes a guru overnight.
  
  
• If there are any specific cards you're looking for it's usually cheaper to buy them individually instead of gambling with booster packs. There's a chance to pull some $20+ cards from boosters but the odds are heavily stacked against you.
  
  
• Know what your cards are worth and don't be afraid to turn down a trade if you aren't 100% certain of the value of everything involved.
  
  
• Always keep your expensive cards protected and keep your decks stored inside of deck boxes so they don't get crushed or bent. Using rubber bands to keep cards/decks together can seem like an acceptable budget solution until they start to bend or wear the edges of the cards, which turns a $50 card into a $0 drink coaster.
  
  
• It's definitely worth investing into some card sleeves for your decks. They make decks easier to shuffle and prevent your cards from getting dirty. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people open a valuable foil rare from a booster draft, play it unsleeved for the tournament and then find out that no one wants to trade for it afterwards because it's completely scratched to hell.
  
  
• You also might want to look into getting a playmat. It's not nearly as mandatory to have as sleeves but it helps extend the life of your cards even further, it guarantees that you'll be playing on a clean surface and it helps mark your space at a table.

I bought one of these when I first started. Intro packs contain a basic 60 card deck and two boosters. Where ever you move to, make friends at a local game store! Some of my best trades I got were at FNM and prereleases. As for tips on deck construction, I can only wish you the best of luck. Every player is different, and you'll have to experiment to find what kind of deck you like best. For that, I'd recommend Duels of the Planeswalkers . The game has a TON of decks in it with every strategy from milling to ramping to straight aggro. Good luck!

These are all great suggestions, one that I don't see here however, is the clash pack. Here is a link to it on amazon so you know what it looks like and how much it is.

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Gathering-Card-Game-2015/dp/B00KXY3NS4

You say that he's dying to get into it, which to me means he has very few or even no cards and has played with friends cards and the like. This is a fantastic option because it has two preconstructed decks in it which allow you to just jump right in and play with your friends. You could even play with him with this if you and him each took one of the decks and learn the game together. (this comes with instructions too :P)

There are a couple pretty good cards in this pack that will translate into being playable at a more competitive level, something which doesn't always happen with the pre-constructed decks such as this. It's also relatively cheap and you can add a couple boosters packs to it to spice it up a little as a gift.

Any local games store provided by http://locator.wizards.com/ should have these or similar products from past sets.

I just finished the Theros e-book and I was about to make post a synospis/review anyways! First off, I enjoyed the book a whole lot and heartily recommend that anyone with $1.99 to spare Buy the E-Book from Amazon, especially if you are interested in learning the specifics of the stories of Elspeth, Xenagos, Daxos of Meletis, and Polukranos. I was personally disappointed with The Secretist e-book for the Return to Ravnica block, but I believe Godsend is shaping up to show that e-books can really shine as a method to deliver Magic's lore.

That said, spoilers from the e-book Theros: Godsend Part 1 below. Again, the e-book is cheap and small and well-written, so I do recommend people with even a little more than passing interest buy it and read it themselves.

The book starts following Lydia, a young Meletian mother who has left her polis and taken her sickly son Daxos to be cured by an oracle of Athreos in the distant blasted wasteland ruled by Erebos. She realizes too late that she has been tricked. Her son is not ill at all; rather he is an oracle, someone with the gift to speak for and with the Gods. Athreos attempts to claim him for his own use, but Lydia gives her life in exchange for Daxos's freedom.

After helplessly waiting under a tree for days, Daxos meets a young Elspeth, who has only recently begun planeswalking. The two share a need for food and water, and Elspeth helps Daxos up a mountain and to a clean spring. Daxos can see the sky of Nyx above, even during the day, and sees a bloody and gruesome duel between Heliod, who fancies himself the head of the pantheon, and Purphoros, who has forged a sword capable of damaging the fabric of Nyx itself.

Purphoros slices out Polukranos from the constellation's resting place in the night sky, and the hydra falls to the Earth, becoming corporeal. Heliod and Nylea work together to imprison it, and Kruphix, god of Time and Horizons and the oldest of the gods, punishes Purphoros by limiting his memory and cognition. Purphoros drops the nyx-bane sword and it lands on the mountaintop where Elspeth and Daxos rest. Heliod appears before Daxos, searching for the weapon, but frightens the young Elspeth, who grabs it and planeswalks away.

Years later, Elspeth has returned to Theros after fleeing Mirrodin, now New Phyrexia. She still carries the sword from all those years ago. She seeks a place to rest; a home that is incorruptible, and she believes that the Gods may make Theros a prime candidate for that. She works as a mercenary near Akros, and makes trips to visit various temples, although she has put off seeing Heliod's.

Meanwhile, Xenagos, under the title 'King Stranger' (I remember hearing that that is a rough translation of what the word 'Xenagos' means in Greek) rules over the Satyrs and misguided humans of the Skola Valley, who spend their days relaxing and their nights in bacchanalia. Xenagos has ignited his spark and is disdainful of the gods; he openly resents and mocks them, to the shock and fear of his subjects. From a poet he hears that Polukranos has begun to stir from the caves that Heliod and Nylea sealed it in, and Xenagos prepares a plan.

Heliod notices that something is awry. His vision, which should be omnipresent, is lacking and faltering (likely due to Xenagos's scheming). He consorts with Thassa about this, but the two mostly end up bickering and fail to find a solution. He blames Purphoros, but Thassa reminds him that ever since their previous bout, Kruphix has forbidden all gods from fighting each other, lest he enact a Silence that banishes them to Nyx.

Visiting an oracle of Phenax and seeking guidance, Elspeth allows the mindreading priest to discover her planeswalking abilities and the fact that she holds the lost sword. This fact quickly finds its way back to Phenax, who shares it with Thassa. Thassa then communes with Purphoros, who in his addled state was unable to catch Xenagos stealing his golem and crafting partner, Petrios. When Thassa arrives Purphoros constructs a metallic chimera that can seek out the sword. Thassa enters it and then launches away to find Elspeth.

Elspeth, at the advice of the oracle of Phenax, finally decides to visit the temple of Heliod. She begins to pray just as Thassa arrives, and Thassa's attempt to grab the sword is interrupted by the arrival of Heliod himself. He believes Elspeth to be a thief (and he's technically right about that) and attacks her with blisteringly hot rays. Elspeth uses her planeswalking power to cast a reflective spell that protects her however, and that inspires Heliod. He takes her blade, naming it Godsend, and transforms it into a spear before giving it back to her. He then asks her to travel to Meletis, to become his champion and meet with his oracle.

His oracle who happens to be our good friend Daxos. Although he was chosen by Heliod as an oracle, Daxos has the unique ability to speak with all of the gods, including Nylea, with whom he appears to have started a bit of a romance with. Daxos, with his god-sight, sees that Polukranos is freeing himself, and warns Nylea of this, before he is addressed by Heliod to set out and meet Elspeth on the road between Akros and Meletis.

Nylea seeks out Polukranos and finds evidence of magical intervention. Although Polukranos was awoken by the return of Elspeth's blade, it appears he has been baited into lumbering towards the polis of Meletis. She tracks the source of this magic and it leads her to Skola Valley. There she confronts Xenagos and eventually attacks him, revokes her protection of the valley and leaving it a rotting, lifeless husk, before leaving. Xenagos is unfazed, almost happy that he has insulted a god in person, and begins using his magic to regrow the valley undeterred.

Elspeth returns to Akros only to find that foreigners are being rushed out of the city as it prepares for war against a massing minotaur horde. She is given a job escorting a teenage daughter of an Akroan estate in a caravan from Akros to Meletis and sets out immediately. After a few days of travel and alternating friction and friendship between Elspeth and the girl, named Nikka, the caravan is attacked by servants of Erebos. Escaping, Nikka and Elspeth make it to the see on a small boat.

At this point arguments and fighting between the gods have reached a fever-pitch. Heliod and Purphoros blame each other for the empty spots in their vision, and Heliod wrestles with Thassa to maintain protection over Elspeth and the sword. Oceans boils, forests quiver and shake, and storms throw lighting bolt after lightning bolt into poleis. Thassa conjures an enormous wave which reaches up from the see to grab the spear Godsend from Elspeth. After she is overwhelmed by water, the Sun's Champion nearly gives up hope and drops the spear.

That is when Kruphix intervenes. He pauses time and makes good on his promise to suspend the pantheon in Nyx. Nylea desperately tries to stop him, to warn her siblings of the true danger to the world that Xenagos poses, but fails and is restricted to Nyx like all the other gods.

Elspeth and Daxos meet each other on the steppes outside of Meletis and instantly recognize each other. Their touching reunion is unfortunately ruined when Polukranos appears however, and Elspeth sends Nikka to Meletis to warn the guards. After an arduous and deadly battle, which only Daxos and Elspeth survive, Elspeth ultimately defeats Polukranos, and limps with Daxos back to Meletis.

I really enjoyed this story and hope that part two keeps up the great quality. Their are a few typographical, grammatical, and formatting errors here and there, but nothing too worrisome and overall I enjoyed the writing a whole lot. I left out plenty of details though so I recommend one last time that everyone drop the two dollars on the e-book from Amazon.

I bet he will find several thousand more dollars worth of cards in there. He should invest in some sleeves and card holders in order to protect his cards. I prefer to double sleeve, then put it in a magic card binder (NOT a regular 3 ring binder) or in a top loaders.

KMC Perfect Fit sleeves

https://www.amazon.com/KMC-Barrier-PERFECT-packs-Total/dp/B00T3Z72Q8

KMC Hyper Matte Playing Sleeves

https://www.amazon.com/KMC-Hyper-Matte-Sleeves-Sheets/dp/B00VCQXQAW

Rigid Top Loaders

https://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Regular-TOPLOADERS-Standard/dp/B01G1GRLSA

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You take the card and (carefully) put the card upside down into the Perfect Fit sleeves. The card should fit snugly in there. Then you put the card into the Playing Sleeve with the opening of the Perfect Fit sleeve at the bottom. Then put the whole thing into a top loader.

So Card -> Perfect Fit sleeve -> Playing Sleeve -> Top Loader

​

Good luck!.. And no more bend testing for all that is holy, lol.

​

Edit to add: if they are in extremely good condition (like they look perfect straight out of the pack), it may be best to avoid the Perfect Fit because you can cause very small nicks in the corners if you're not careful putting them in which can affect their grade, but if they look like the Black Lotus you have there, then it's probably not a huge concern.

So, here's all the details on how people store Magic cards meant to be played, with links.

The gold standard for the number of Magic cards to store is 75 or 100 double sleeved cards. As long as your container can store this many cards in one section it will be at least useful to the owner. Additionally, no one really likes storing their cards flat like your current box. Cards are much, much easier to retrieve from the container if stored edge on (top or sides exposed as opposed to your front or back, look at the pictures below).

The Boulder deck box by Ultimate guard holds exactly the preferred number of cards, down to sub millimeter tolerance. 100 cards and 75 cards

Ultra pro makes a pretty ubiquitous soft plastic box for 75 cards and 100 cards which does offer a little more wiggle room.

Ultimate guard makes nearly identical boxes. 75 cards, 100 cards.

They call their 75 card boxes 80 card boxes but that's referring to single sleeving and even single sleevers tend to appreciate the extra space for a few ancillary cards like tokens.

Also, we do not double sleeve with penny sleeves but inverted(open end at bottom of card) perfect^1 fit^2 sleeves and with regular^1 sleeves^2 over that.

https://www.tolariancommunitycollege.com/how-to-double-sleeve-your-magic-the-gathering-cards-and-why-mtg/

Being able to hold cards is great but there is also some benefit to being able to hold a whole deck box. The Arkhive is a popular example. It holds snugly 5 x 75 card boulders and 4 x 100 card boulders. It also holds soft plastic boxes but less precisely.

When storing dice they are stored separately from cards. Ultra Pro, Ultimate Guard

Do you have any interest in playing magic at all?

Because if you do, you could be the coolest girlfriend in the world by purchasing a gift for yourself! (You can tell him it's for him if you want.)

There is a magic product called a Clash Pack. It comes with two decks of roughly equal power level that are designed to be played against each other. It is intended as an introductory product. It also includes instructions on how to combine the decks together to make a single stronger deck.

Here is the link to it on amazon for $22: http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Gathering-Card-Game-2015/dp/B00KXY3NS4

If you decide that this is something you want to do, then before you give him the gift, You should download the Magic 2015: Duels of the Planeswalkers for Android or iOS (Free to download). Go through the tutorial and you will know the basics of how to play. Then, your boyfriend will think that you are a quick learner when he teaches you to play!

Anyway, it would make for a few fun hours/date night activity, and even if you don't continue to play yourself, you would come away with a better understanding of this hobby your boyfriend likes. (If you do end up doing this, please follow up and let us know how it went!)

Welcome to magic! If you are playing between friends only, then Khans of Tarkir is a good box to pick up because it has lots of fun powerful cards and good value with fetchlands being worth $$$. For starting decks the Kiora vs Elspeth duel decks is one of the better balanced to play against each other: https://www.amazon.com/ELSPETH-vs-KIORA-Magic-Gathering/dp/B00RYT2DF0/

If however you are playing with strangers at a store under the 'standard' format and rules, then next week you can pick up a box of Kaladesh which is the newest set and some Chandra or Nissa starter deck: https://www.amazon.com/Planeswalker-Kaladesh-Magic-Gathering-Chandra/dp/B01LVUUIG8/

Fat Packs and Holiday Gift boxes do most of my storing. I don't have a big collection though. Staples has boxes such as: http://www.staples.com/Really-Useful-Box-3-Liter-Box-with-Handles-Clear/product_673264

That do nicely for storing as well, can hold 3 rows of cards, as well as stuff on top.

Transporting, I have 6 Satin Towers, I'll only ever bring 4 with me at a time, if that. It all goes into:
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-DSLR-Laptop-Backpack-interior/dp/B00CF5OGP8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419646638&sr=8-1&keywords=dslr+backpack+laptop

Which can nicely store a rare binder, my 4 satin towers, 4 Ultra Pro Deck boxes (regular ones), and my playmat.

Protecting my money cards is fairly easy as most of my value cards are in my decks; Ultra Pro Satin Towers, KMC Perfect Fits, and KMC Hyper Mattes for double sleeving.

If you'd like to play together shoot for a duel deck. It comes with two decks meant to be played against each other, they're a great way to test the waters. They are, for all intents and purposes, geared towards beginning players.


I recommend the Elspeth vs Kiora pack. It's decently balanced and and the set mechanics aren't overwhelming. Plus the decks come with Planeswalkers which is a nice way to introduce that mechanic, too.


If you have any questions shoot me a PM and I'll be happy to answer. I started playing last August with my friends who've been playing for ~13 years and it quickly became my favorite hobby.

Amazon has bulk (1,000) cheapo cards for under $15. You won't find anything super impressive in them, but they will give you all kinds of stuff with different types of rules to learn about. That's how my brother and I got started. http://www.amazon.com/1000-Bulk-Magic-Gathering-Cards/dp/B0028QC50C

These don't have any land, which you will also need, but that's just a few more bucks, http://www.amazon.com/300-Assorted-Magic-Gathering-Basic/dp/B002JAOJJ2 (300 pack) ~$6.

Right about $20 total.

It'll probably be tough to build any themed decks, but it'll let you play around on the cheap(ish) with lots of options.

A lot better than a single pre-built deck, in my opinion. And it will cost about the same.

Another benefit of going this path is it'll let you have decks in each color so you can see what you like. Also, you'll have decks enough to play with friends, even if they aren't willing to buy into it.

A Planeswalker is one who walks between planes. There are an infinite number of planes in the Multiverse (which is where the entirety of Magic takes place). Planes can vary from a single landmass (like Innistrad) to an entire world with orbiting suns (like Mirrodin). The ability to move between planes is incredibly rare, and is what differentiates Planeswalkers from regular mages. All the Planeswalkers we've seen have had at least some ability to perform magic, but I'm not sure if it's a requirement.

If you want more lore, there are lots of places to get it. The MTG Salvation Wiki is a great starting point, since all the lore is in one place. Outside of that, the lore comes in a bunch of different mediums. For a long time, Wizards of the Coast published novels. Then they switced to doing short, online comics. For the most recent set, they released a series of 3 e-books, called "The Secretist" (Book 1, on Amazon, is here).

You also get a lot of lore from just playing the game. The card art is fantastic, and many cards have "flavour text", which is just italic text at the bottom of the card to give you a better sense of its flavour.

Do you have any friends that play? You can try bulking up a collection to get you started with something like this: http://www.amazon.com/1000-Bulk-Magic-Gathering-Cards/dp/B0028QC50C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382153940&sr=8-2&keywords=1000+mtg+cards
It's completely worth getting into. Super fun, great community.

Also, once you get the idea of the game down, find a local game store (LGS) near you and ask them if they do events.

I'll save you some time and link directly to the product in question.

I'm currently using one of these myself, and it's pretty good. If I take out all the velcro padding, I can fit all six of my Legion Hoard Plus deck boxes, but it's a pretty snug fit. With the straps, I can fit four of them, as well as two Ultra Pro Pro-Dual deckboxes. (Not a plug for those items or anything, just offering them up for scale.) It has a few side straps over a pocket on the side (meant to hold a camera tripod) that you can use for a playmat, but only if you don't plan on using one of those plastic carry tubes.

Since she is just a beginner, you'll probably want to get her a deck that is ready to play out of the box. I'd recommend picking up the recent Clash Pack that came out a little while ago. This will give her 2 fairly well built decks to start from.

If you want to get her some more stuff, then I'd also say wait and pickup the 2014 Holiday Gift Box. It's a fairly sturdy box for her to store her cards in, and it comes with a bunch of booster packs as well. After that, stocking stuffers such as dice, card sleeves, or playmats are always great gifts.

This is awesome! I actually just recently started doing the same thing. I'm aiming for 60 cards each for CMC 1 through 8. Then it drops off quickly for 9 and up. Please check out my list here (it hasn't been trimmed yet) and let me know if you have any recommendations!

Can you tell me more about your rule changes? Looks like your tokens go into the graveyard--but are they still tokens? E.g. is bounce still removal? I actually like this interaction as it allows for more spot removal. In general I tried to choose cards with lots of interaction.

You also added a morph element? How does that work?

It looks like you're triggering cast effects? Otherwise Desolation Twin seems odd. Also why Prowling Serpopard?

I've also considered being able to activate Momir's ability twice per turn. My slots for 3 and especially 4 have lots of spot removal, so it could be an interesting choice to choose, say, two 4 drops vs one 8 drop when your opponent has a big threat.

Let me know! Excited to hear about a fellow paper Momir player!

PS This carrying case is awesome.

Get the Japanese perfect fits, not the ultrapro. Dragon shield are fine. I use them too, also kmc matte sleeves are great. Just double sleeve your decks, prevents the slipping you're experiencing and protects them better. Also makes it safer and easier to move cards from deck to binder to another deck.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0007N7PB2

A thousand times yes! Now if I could get it in a nice leather, or that laptop case feel without it being a super rigid case. That's really nice, and perfect! Amazing find!

Edit: So far, the best I could find would be this: http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Zippered-Gaming-Corrugated/dp/B0009F3DQ4 ... I'm thinking I'll grab one of these, and put in my own custom cut foam/dividers. Ugghgh. If only that case weren't metal! I really want a shoulder carrying option.

To store my cards on the shelf I use BCW cardboard boxes 500 to 800 long. Cheap and effective. These get worn out pretty quickly in a backpack though.

On the go, I use a KMC Card Barrier Box 1000. It's a little expensive, but the form factor is perfect for a backpack, the box is sturdy and my cards are well protected. The way the box is divided makes it easy to not have the cards rattle. TCC Review

They don't get much love, but I love these. They don't latch - but as long as you are relatively careful I find them to be snug enough. I carry around 3 commander decks in these in a quiver type of case, keeps them totally secure. They also look great on a shelf, with all your commanders facing out.

not to mention they are $2

I use a Quiver case for mine. It's double your price range but I was really happy with it. Sleek exterior, interior built with sleeves in mind. Cards Against Humanity has blessed us with a larger market for people looking for large capacity card cases. I'd take a look at the comparable items to this case and see if anything piques your interest.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XYC3MNI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_vQ.8ybDXA39EQ

https://www.amazon.com/KMC-Barrier-PERFECT-packs-Total/dp/B00T3Z72Q8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527696059&sr=8-2&keywords=perfect+fit


This is likely the best price you are going to get on Perfect fits. Its about what you are going to pay for 4 packs of perfect fits at a store.

As for sleeves, i would be using dragonshield matte sleeves or kmc hypermatte sleeves.

The best price on dragonshield sleeves is going to be at starcity games open events at about 8$ per box of 100. But you can get them for 10-11 at local game stores in the likely situation that you aren't particularly close to an open.

I have the amazonbasics model prior to that one posted, and it has a sleeve that fits binders perfectly fine! I love the bag. Holds up real well.

Edit: this one is what i have. It’s perfect. AmazonBasics DSLR and Laptop Backpack - Orange interior https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF5OGP8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_KSVYCbFHXX06T

Something cool like a custom playmat or a lot of card sleeves. Art prints are nice too, and maybe he'd like some sealed product (a Fat Pack or booster box, for example)

A specific recommendation would be the leather Ultra-Pro deckboxes, they're very nice and hold up to 100 cards in case he plays EDH. It comes in 5 colors http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Magic-Gathering-Magnetic/dp/B004I694KO White, Green, Blue, Red, and Black. Find out what his favorite color is, or what color his main deck is.

I've got one of these deck boxes and I love it! Some cool playmat would be good too, like this one. Personally I'd rather not just get a card, because those are everywhere. The playmats and deckboxes or even sleeves are where it's at. Maybe even a print of a card?

Although, as everyone else is saying, packs are cool too because of the surprise factor. I'd suggest a combination of one of the above along with a pack or two if possible.

I have used these to great success: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007N7PB2/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use those as the inner sleeve and Dragon Shield as the outer sleeve, although I'm sure you could use almost any other outer sleeve as well. As /u/InkmothNexus points out, double-sleeved + top loader and in a safe, dry place is going to do the trick.

I use one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Removable-Compartment-Professional-Organizer/dp/B001G1CUK0

It has 2 large compartments and 8 small ones.

The small compartments hold an ultra pro deckbox (80) with just a bit of extra room (so that they may hold a larger deckbox, I just haven't tried it). They also hold a sleeved commander deck pretty perfectly.

The large compartments either perfectly fit three Ultrapro 80 deckboxes, or perfectly fits one Ultraguard 100 flip'n'tray (which was pretty cool when I discovered it).

I usually devote 1 compartment to dice and tokens.

It's not going to fit the mat (theoretically you could remove a row of bins from inside to fit it, but the rest would rattle around then). But requiring the mat fit into the same case is really going to limit your options. You could add some velcro loops to the outside to hold it, or just put both the box and the mat together in a bag.

I got two of these 1000 card boxes and they work pretty well. I can fit 6 100 card, single sleeved decks and another two 60/75 card decks (1 if I want to use a slot for dice/tokens). If only storing 60/75 card decks, then you should be able to fit somewhere between 9 and 11 decks, depending on how tightly you want to pack the cards in.

These are a nice size for me because I can fit two of the boxes in my backpack.

Depends if he's looking to be competitive quickly or the two of you want to have an activity to enjoy casually: a deckbuilder's toolkit is a great base of lands and other cards to mix & match for some simple decks. Another great option is starter decks that can be picked up from a local gaming store or even Kmart.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Zippered-Gaming-Corrugated/dp/B0009F3DQ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395061431&sr=8-1&keywords=ultra+pro+bag

Is the bag in the picture, and yeah its 20 bucks, claims corrugated insert but it doesn't have the foam one it has the plastic one. We found this out when my friend ordered one to replace his original and promptly returned it do to it being plastic inside.

However if you're willing to spend a few extra dollars, may I recommend this one http://us.battlefoam.com/c4-p-a-c-k-c4-bag-2-0-with-foam/ yeah its 52 bucks but worse things have happened. I have seen this in person it holds 4 flip mana deck boxes, has 2 pouches for dice and I believe you can even put some spare sleeves/tokens in there. Also, on the opposite side of the foam there is another pouch which you could toss a ultra pro binder in and that unzips to a 3 ring binder, so you have a carrying case and trade binder all in one. Just my two cents the only downfall is the fact that it says PACK C4 and is military colored, which if you do a lot of airport travel could cause an issue or two.

Hope I helped.

They're great boxes if you're careful with them, but they're not as strong as they feel. They tend to come apart at the seams if something halfway to heavy is on top of them for an extended period of time (something like, say, another full holiday box). The paint is kinda cheap and exposes the cheap cardboard with minor scuffing.

I mean, it's a $4 box. I can't say I'm terribly upset, but I also now know you can find better ones on Amazon (my buddy uses these, and I'm having him pick one up for me while he's out of town).

*Edit: He's actually getting me the 4-row edition, which is much cheaper. They also sell them in 3-row and probably in smaller (and perhaps larger?) sizes.

Go to walmart and buy a deck builders toolkit

It really is a good value and will give you everything you need to make various decks.

If you ever decide to take your game to the next level you may consider playing "standard". This is the format that is most played in magic and consist of cards printed within the current block and the previous one. Right now "standard" decks are only going to have cards printed in "Scars of Mirrodin" Block from last year: Scars of Mirrodin, Mirrodin Besieged, and New Phyrexia. and the present "Inninstrad" Block: Inninstrad, Dark Ascension, and Avacyn Restored - Releases next month

In the summer Wizards releases their yearly "Core" set. With last summers being called M12 - Magic 2012
The Magic: The Gathering game expands every year, introducing new worlds filled with deadly perils, ancient adversaries, and fantastic new adventures. At its center is the Magic core set, the game in its purest form: evocative spells, menacing creatures, and infinite possibilities. But even at its core, the experience is ever-changing. The Magic 2012 core set boldly continues this tradition.

Each cycle normally starts around September so expect Scars of Mirrodin to "cycle" out and for Return to Ravinca to "cycle" in.

Feel free to post here if you have any questions.

Hey dude, I am a newbie myself and after alot of chatter with a store here in the UK they all prety much advised on the 2011 deck builders kit that I got from them http://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Deck-Builders-Toolkit-Board/dp/0786955651/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312813520&sr=8-1 I have prety much got a deck of each colour less a few lands but it comes with everything!

So I have just been messing with this and working out what I prefer colour wise a few days in so far and love it!

If they really were stolen, I hope they get back to their owner soon.

Just an FYI, though, that those cards aren't exceptionally valuable. The Kiora and Elspeth are most likely from the Elspeth vs Kiora Duel Deck, which currently retails for $16.75 on Amazon.

The gold-border Gaea's Cradle isn't tournament legal, so it's worth very little compared to the real thing. It's from a series of commemorative decks from the 1999 World Championship. All of the cards in those decks had the players' autographs printed on the face of the cards (even the basic lands), so there isn't any sentimentality tied up in that signature. The whole deck as a collector's piece might go for a little over $100 on eBay, but I doubt much more.

If you can find the owner, awesome. If not, don't beat yourself up over it. The finder may even be telling the truth about them being in a rubbish pile if someone was quitting the game. Cheers.

do you have friends who play? usually people who have been playing will have troves of extra cards they dont want. But if you are looking for pre built ones there are those. Also what i find great are thrift stores. I found cards fa dayz there.

but your best bet is the deck builders toolkit
it comes with a bunch of cards and lands to learn how to build your own decks

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Gathering-Deck-Builders-Toolkit/dp/0786955651/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1331361340&sr=8-2

This is what I use for my "bulk" cards:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000K41E7E/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

None of the stores in my area carry this, so that's why I buy it from Amazon. Otherwise, it's better to buy this from a local store and save 5 bucks.

Rares/uncommons/commons that I frequently need for decks, go into:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VOPRBM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The best rares go into:
http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-PRO-BINDER-Leatherette-Sideloading/dp/B004FVJDV2

http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Binder-Trading-Anti-theft-Gathering/dp/B0043FLAZM/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1414512398&sr=1-1&keywords=monster+binder

If you are going to start buying cards, I cannot recommend buying a fat pack enough. Having a list of every card in the set is very helpful not only for learning terms, but also for planning card combos. It's the most cost efficient way to get 9 packs of boosters, a spin down life counter die, 100 land cards, and a neat box.

Also, for a staring player, the deck builders tool kit is a nice selection of very useful cards.

I've been moving away from BCW cardboard boxes to these: Card Box 1000. I really like them and they're in between the BCWs and really high end stuff like Aaron Cain custom storage. A similar option that some people like is this one: Stack 'n' Safe Deck Box (480 Cards). Also, /U/professorSTAFF just did a review of some nice options by DEX Protection: https://youtu.be/q8uVQmPU334

You need two different kinds of sleeves. One is commonly called the "perfect fit" sleeve. That goes upside-down over your card. Then you insert your card top-side up into the normal sleeve.

example of a perfect fit brand I use.

I've got an Oloro deck I'm trying to decide if it's going under the knife, getting restructured as another commander, or getting deconstructed. Also, if you're trying to transport a bunch of decks, I've found this to be a game changer. Perfectly fits decks, looks nice, and you can fit 8-10 decks and nice in one case for less than $20

The best MTG novel by a lot in my opinion is "Arena", by William R. Forstchen

https://www.amazon.com/Arena-Magic-Gathering-No-1/dp/0061054240

It's not about any Magic set, but it's set in the MTG World. It's one of my favorite books, I must've read it over ten times.

If you're looking specifically for the set novels, I haven't read a whole lot of them but of the ones I did read my favorite was the Ravnica cycle.

If you want to get a lot of cards for cheap than I suggest Amazon. There are tons of singles as well as huge bulk buys like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0028QC50C/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1418523546&sr=8-1

You are not guaranteed great cards with bulk buys but you can get a collection going. Personally I buy singles to get the perfect deck for my play style though.

For what it's worth, I think your boxes are awesome and I'm not trying to take any business away from you but for those where $20 might be a little cost prohibitive, I wanted to let others know the solution I have been using for years.

The 150 count acrylic boxes are perfect for 100 sleeved cards on their spines.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-150-Count-2-Piece-Plastic/dp/B0002TT3LG

I started playing with some buddies almost a half year ago, and one of my buys was the "Clash Pack" that had two pre-built decks... They actually turned out to be pretty cool and even semi-competitive against my friends who've played for years.

If you're looking to play casually with friends, Duel Decks or Clash Packs are the way to go. They come with two good 60 card decks, and they're fun to play with. The plus side is it is two decks, so you can switch up which one you feel like playing and/or lend the second to a friend that forgot theirs. Also, they are set up so you can upgrade them over time. I recommend Elspeth vs Kiora for $17 on Amazon.

If you're playing competitive standard (if you don't know if you are, ask your friends) then an Event Deck is the way to go. The most recent one is $29 on Amazon, but I thought MSRP is $25 so you may be able to find it at that price at a local shop. Get the Battle For Zendikar event deck because it's most recent so it's still Standard Legal.

Matte Dragon Shields aren't quite as tough as the original, but they feel better when shuffling. Very comparable to KMC.

My personal recommendation would be "KMC Hyper Mat", spelled exactly like that as shown here. If your option is KMC but says Matte instead of Mat it isn't a fake product or anything, but it's not as good of an option so I'd recommend the Dragon Shields instead.

One additional thing to consider is double sleeving. If you have only a single set of sleeves and swap the decks inside, that does put a little bit of wear on the cards each time. Inner sleeves are a lot cheaper than regular sleeves, so you can put inner sleeves on all your used cards and swap out which ones are in the main sleeve as often as you'd like. It's not something you need to bother with right away, but it's a small optimization if you want to keep your cards pristine for as long as possible without spending as much. Also protects the cards from water damage.

The 2015 Core Set Clash pack has a green and a blue deck, and are designed so you combine them into a green/blue deck.

Link to clash pack

It's a great game and I hope she enjoys it!

Here you go. I have only filled it up, haven't really used it. Just got it today. It definitely holds a lot of stuff. I put a dice rolling tray in the laptop sleeve, but you could easily fit a binder in there. Could probably also fit a small binder in the front.

First of all, there's the excellent Salvation Wiki, which is probably the most complete resource you're going to find.

There certainly are books. In the past, each fatpack came with a book and after they stopped doing that, they tried doing less frequent books, which led to Agents of Artifice, The Purifying Fire and Test of Metal. They also gave block novels a shot, but these ended up mostly disappointing and after a planned novel about Liliana was so bad it never made it to print, they axed the book line.

With Return to Ravnica, they tried another experiment: e-books. The first one, The Secretist (in three parts) did well enough that we can expect another e-book for Theros on April 1.

Apart from the books, the Creative team also publishes a short story each week. These vary in quality a lot (but tend to be enjoyable) and give nice little looks in the worlds we visit. With each set (but mostly with the first set of the block), they also give out something called a "Planeswalker's Guide" which is an edited version of the style guide they use for building the plane.

On the main site, you can also find some webcomics, focusing on the planeswalkers which I personally find very interesting. Unfortunately, they stopped making them because they were too expensive.

There are also older comics, but they can be hard to find. There's also a newer line of comics, featuring the thief-planeswalker Dack Fayden, but though they follow the planes we visit, they don't really impact the main storyline.

Finally, you can learn a lot from the online community. I personally hang out here, but the Storyline forum on Salvation is also good (although they're a bit too serious for my taste). Both of those forums have the most knowledgeable person on Magic: The Gathering lore, so any question you have will probably be answered. You could also try just asking here, or on /r/mtgvorthos (although the latter subreddit is a bit dead). Whatever you do, don't visit the official forum, it's a wasteland.

Okay, I think that's all.

Good for holding bulk and keeping it somewhat safe. I mostly use these for storing cards that i don't really use often and sit in my closet for months/years.
-


This one is pretty great for holding 6-7 deck boxes/accessories. I usually store my decks in color coded ultrapro deck boxes and carry them in this

If you have your decks in different colored sleeves (or in smaller deck boxes, like these), you can just carry them in one of the white cardboard boxes that most people store cards in. My LGS sells them for $3 each and I imagine you could fit more than 10 decks in one. They look like this, but this one might be better for you.

You could instead get the Khans of Tarkir holiday box, but I wouldn't recommend it since the quality of the cardboard is pretty low.

I have also seen people use this zippered gaming case to transport cards; one of the reviews says that it can hold 10 deck boxes.

You can buy Perfect Fit sleeves in bulk

KMC 100 Card Barrier PERFECT SIZE (10 packs/Total 1000) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T3Z72Q8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kJhcBb2QT96E3

These might be linked already, but the Ultra Pro 150 card carriers fit double sleeved decks perfectly

I have all my decks in their own carriers then put them all in a box + my other stuff

Get the M15 starter deck instead. It might have slightly lower power to start, but the cards in it are great, and you can start to build your own good deck from that.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KXY3NS4/ref=s9_simh_se_p21_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=search-desktop-advertising-no-results-center-1&pf_rd_r=1FCG0133TTA94CQD3NA2&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=1912906162&pf_rd_i=event%20deck%20courser%20of

So for anyone looking around for a good bag to carry 10-15 deckboxes, playmat, binder, notepad, dice, other accessories. Look for a camera backpack. Often they have them at thrift stores/Goodwill for $5-10 or less. They have foam dividers and sections on the inside that are perfect for deckboxes. Look for one with a side pocket meant for a tripod - this is perfect for a playmat tube.

The one I use is a Manfrotto almost identical to their Adventure bag but I got it from Costco for $40 and I love it, but I don't think they sell it anymore.

A lot of people swear by the Amazon Basics camera backpack.

While this is neat, I still prefer the "tried and true" method of just re-using Dragon Shield boxes (<-- edit: added a photo of my Cube):

• 8x empty Dragon Shield boxes.
  
• 45 cards in each box.
  
• Players sit down, crack their "box", split cards into 3 piles.
  
• Draft.
  
  Super simple, no wasted paper, just re-purposed sleeve boxes. I use a Quiver (love this thing) to tote my Cube around, and so it fits real nice. I use a 9th box for dice. The boxes are also a surprise way to slip some boosters into each "booster" for players on special occasions (birthdays, parties, etc).

I use a couple of these, though seeing as I live in Japan they're less than half that price. I can carry 10-11 regular decks (single sleeved) in one of these.

Edit: Ah, I just reread your post where you stated that you wanted a way to carry your existing, pre-boxed stuff. This box isn't so good for that, but if you don't mind just using dividers to separate your decks then it's a pretty good box to carry a number of decks in.

Home Depot, Lowes or Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Removable-Compartment-Professional-Organizer/dp/B001G1CUK0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405177855&sr=8-2&keywords=stanley+bin

Its a Stanley removable bin storage box.
The one in the picture is the small one- it only has ten compartments.
I own the larger one, the FatMax XL, which has 14 compartments.

The REALLY nice thing about these boxes is that those containers are removable, swappable and safely/comfortably hold 100 double sleeved cards.

It's actually what I use for my cube because carrying around 720 cards plus 500 basic land plus all the tokens/emblems/etc can be a bit of a hassle.

But yeah, OP got a good deal.

The ~$4 clear plastic Ultra Pro boxes can fit them, but you have to get a little bit creative. Basically you put the deck in normally with the cards facing the sides, then you put your sideboard on top facing the top. It looks kinda cheap, but it is kinda cheap. It gets the job done though, what more can you ask for?.

Fore reference: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002TT3LG

I am definitely getting him some new packs but would something like this also be helpful? Just to fill out his decks and extra cards he can give to drives?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0028QC50C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A24YO9R9T4AVDQ&psc=1

It's a totally cheesy revenge plot, but the original Arena makes me smile every time and includes a fun, ground-level view of how magic warps a society. Completely standalone; quick read.

https://www.amazon.com/Arena-Magic-Gathering-No-1/dp/0061054240

Awesome. :) I did make all the binder covers myself; I'm surprised that they're not an official product, too.

My binder art (Photoshop files): https://www.dropbox.com/l/u3kR9BKSu29abmYtpOsJ4b

The actual binders: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A6V0JO/

The sleeve pages I use: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00095M5DQ/

They would be a cheap gift imo. They are only a few bucks. If you want a good gift box try one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF5OGP8/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?psc=1

I second this. This is the one I've had for over a year, still going strong. A little more expensive, but probably the best $40 I've spent that wasn't cards. I use this daily, taking about 8 decks, 2-3 playmats, and a binder with me.

I have 9 boulders (100), and 4 more boulders in an Arkhive in this Amazon bag.

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-DSLR-Laptop-Backpack-interior/dp/B00CF5OGP8

Fits in the pockets perfectly and has felt inside to protect scrapes. It also has a small pocket for a skinny binder as well as plenty of space for chargers, battery packs, etc.

This is what I mean when I say Boulder:

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guard-Boulder-Emerald-Large/dp/B06XGR6PVM/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=boulder+100&qid=1563508434&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I'd actually recommend the larger one. It's the one I've been using and it's been great. I've heard the the other one is a little on the smallish side and the larger one works for binders as well. Orange interior is currently just $33, $40 for the grey interior.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CF5OGP8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

As this is your kin I reckon you ought to learn and play with 'em. You can buy the cool new "clash pack" which has 2 decks that are meant to battle, and are 2 different play styles. You can also combine cards from both decks and make a cool single player deck. The pack comes with some fancy shiny alternate art cards which are cool. Also it's about$25 with shipping on amazon.

I have the Amazon Basics camera bag. It works just as well as the pirate lab, but for 1/3 the cost. I love it

Edit: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-DSLR-Laptop-Backpack-interior/dp/B00CF5OGP8

If they are sleeved, i would suggest the kmc 1000 box. I have 1 for my modern stuff and one for my legacy stuff. I have them sorted by color and and have been super happy.

Card Box 1000 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007N7P8K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FuY-BbBQ8Z9D7

>I've heard that aluminum hard cases with foam inserts are ideal for transporting decks

Depends of the requirements. Are we talking driving with a case in your car? Shipping? Taking to your local LGS?

There are some fairly cheap tool container cases that fit ~10 deck boxes and some soft camera bags/backpacks that can fit ~10 decks + a playmat + a tradebinder.

For all my double sleeved permanent decks I use Dragon Shield Mattes with KMC perfect sizes. Dragon shields are relatively cheap and good quality and KMCs are on amazon for ~$4/100

For my draft sleeves I use ultimate guard katanas. They are lovely sleeves with amazing shuffling feel but they are harder to get/more expensive. Since my draft sleeves are the one pair of sleeves I use more than any other I shell out a bit more for them.

I've been putting mine in binders, but most of my cards are since Magic 2015 and my husband and I have opened at least a booster box of each set except the last one. I use these pocket pages that have worked so far pretty good, putting up to 8 of each card in and then putting the rest (mostly commons and a few uncommons) in a separate box to give away or try to bulk sell eventually. which I assume is probably what you were given. I use a binder for each set and go in number order.

If they are all commons, I would probably not bother much sorting them. if you really wanted to, I would probably use those boxes posted and sort them first by set, and then by number (the number order also goes first by color, and then alphabetically.)

Amazon Basic DSLR Bags work great to carry your gear. However, I'd suggest figuring out what formats and decks you're realistically going to play and only bring what makes sense. This also limits the risk in case someone bag swipes you. I carry the linked DSLR bag with 1 EDH decks, and either my Modern or Standard deck along with associated supplies (sleeves, dice, mat). That's still ~$1200 but it's less than others I know who carry all their decks at once. Before I head out, I pull decks that I might want to play that night, narrow it down and then pack my bag. For FNM, I'll only carry a single deck. For a casual day, I'll carry 3-4 depending on the formats we might play (2 Pauper, 1-2 EDH, Modern Jank).

We have a private Discord for the people who are regulars at the LGS and I'll figure out if anyone wants to borrow a deck and I might bring one or two to loan out. Figure out what formats you're going to play before heading out and load up. Leave everything else at home.

Yeah I wasn't really planning on getting rid of them. My brother and I recently started playing. I have a few hundred cards already from a while ago but he has none and has been using mine. This is just to give him a solid base of cards and add to my collection a bit. We will trade between the 2 of us, but that's about it. And like you said, it's only 16 bucks so it won't break my bank account. Here's the amazon page

There’s an Amazon Basics bag for cameras that has worked wonderfully for me. This looks like a newer, cheaper model of it: AmazonBasics Backpack for SLR/DSLR Camera and Accessories - 11 x 6 x 15 Inches, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VPE1WK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XihlDb3DDHV3J

Edit: here is the exact one I have: AmazonBasics DSLR Camera and Laptop Backpack Bag - 13 x 9 x 18 Inches, Black And Orange https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF5OGP8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QjhlDbTVZGNES

Hi! Fellow rider here (car-less for five years!)


I use a standard backpack and a Kriega US-30 drypack on the fender rack. Neither of those are optimal for sorting and securing individual deck boxes, but the drypack will keep them safe from incidental rain if that's a concern.


As far as motorcycle-specific items go, if you're on a sport bike, the Dainese D-Mach might be worth looking at. I don't have any experience with it, but the hard shell and inside straps might be able to wrangle the deck boxes.


Outside of motorcycle gear the Professor has done some reviews on backpacks. There's an amazon camera bag that I've heard other mtg players using, but I don't know how well it rides.

While I can't speak for the Boulder 80+ or use with Dragon Shield sleeves specifically, just to throw another option onto the table, I use the Ultra Pro 2-Piece 150 Count Clear Card Storage Boxes.

4 of them fit snugly in the Arkhive. Each one fits a single sleeved EDH deck with lots of room to spare. I can usually toss in about 10-15 sleeved tokens in with the deck and it still remains easy to pull to cards out or slide them back in. I reckon that this extra room would compensate the extra space needed for Dragon Shield sleeves.

Random booster products might be iffy for entrenched players, since they don't usually get them the cards they need (unless they are drafting with them). I would personally say get him some high-quality personalized accessories, such as trade-binders, sleeves, backpacks (such as the highly rated AmazonBasics), or deck boxes. If he likes commander, maybe get him some of the new precons. Maybe even just take him out for a day of MTG at your LGS, buy him lunch/drinks or something - I know I would love that.

Binders

Ultra Pro 9 pocket 3 ring binder sleeves

Ultra Pro 4 pocket 3 ring binder sleeves

Honestly card organization can be as cheap or expensive as you want, but these are what I've spent a majority of my money on in the last year 6 boxes of the 100 per box 9 up sleeves, 2 of the 25 per box 4 up sleeves and no less than 20 binders. Finally finished card organization project I started two years ago. Just need to print the cover pages/spine inserts.

Best belated birthday present to myself/husband ever!

http://www.amazon.com/Quiver-Exterior-Adjustable-Shoulder-Dividers/dp/B00XYC3MNI

The professor did a pretty good review of it, gave it a B+. Fits six commander decks (although mine aren't double sleeved) and some tokens and stuff in the top compartment. I prefer it to carrying around a BCW long box.

The actual books of course you have to buy, but the short stories are usually on the mtg story page for free.

In 2005-6 original Ravnica had a three book cycle named after the sets: Ravnica, Guildpact, and Dissention. In 2012-13 Return to Ravnica had a three book series called the Secretist Return to Ravnica, Gatecrash, and Dragon's Maze. For this set there will be a War of the Spark book, and some time in June or so there will be a series of short stories that probably will be released on the MTG site.

There's also a Story section to their site that has short stories for each one of the recent blocks. The most recent stories are at the top, and if you scroll down you can open stories for previous blocks back to at least Tarkir.

For lands you can just buy a deck builder kit if you are really desperate for them. Or alternately you can buy them for usually 5 - 10 cents each like here.

edit: doing some quick math buying 24 of each land at .10 would be $12.00. At which point I would just pick up a deck builder's kit for $20 that comes with 20 of each land, 4 boosters, and some other random cards. Here is a link to it at amazon. Seems like a better value for the money.

Best thing to carry it all in. Worth every penny.

It holds 12 decks in deckboxes (or dice pouch/box) I keep my dice in an altoids tin and it fits right next to a couple of the decks, also there is room for pens/ extra cards or whatever beside the decks.

I can also fit two of these (one for standard trade, one for non-standard trades) side by side on top of it all (or you could fit a folded up mat in there.)

It depends on what you want to do with the cards. If you just want to have them, then sure, go for it. If you want cards from the current set that won't be going out of rotation in October (Magic 2013, Innistrad, Dark Accession, and Avacyn Restored) then you might be better off with this instead: http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Gathering-Builders-Toolkit-including/dp/B0089J89S4/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1344462990&sr=1-1&keywords=m13+deckbuilder%27s+toolkit

PS - don't be fooled by the $53 list price, the deckbuilders toolkits retail for $20. If you are having trouble finding them at that price, go check a big-box store like Target or Walmart. Don't get burned!

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Removable-Compartment-Professional-Organizer/dp/B001G1CUK0

as you can see in the pic it has 2 extra large compartments. If you're at a home depot or something just grab the normal sized compartments from a different box and you can comfortably fit 12 commander decks, it's really sturdy, I'm a big fan.

I have this. http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Zippered-Gaming-Corrugated/dp/B0009F3DQ4

It holds 9x 80 card deck boxes and 3x 100+ card deck boxes.

It was designed to have a foam insert, but has been changed to cardboard in the current version. This shows through in that the places that hold the decks is too wide for most boxes.

Also, I recently got the 6x set of the M15 plainswalker deck boxes, and they are too big to fit 2 in the top compartment. I can use the normal solid color ultra pro deck box and the M15 together, but not two M15's.

So, I'm going to how deep do you want to go into the lore?

​

If you want to go from the beginning, this is the first book. Note that the formatting of the books changes drastically around Time Spiral, and after that , most of the lore isn't in actual book format anymore.

​

If you have a question about something in particular, you might even be better looking at the wiki stuff for a summary, and then it'z easier to really dig into it from there. That's usually enough for getting a quick idea of what's going on, especially from like Invasion forward.

​

Additionally, if you go to the wizards website, they have some good stuff. I'm not up to date on it anymore, but they used to host comics about the new walkers. They regularly post things (is it still weekly? I couldn't keep up between school and the website format changing a couple times) and keep a loose archive. I think you have to follow this more aggressively, but some of them are absolute gems.

​

It's not everything, but should be enough to get started.

Your local hardware store has toolboxes that commander decks fit nicely in. Haven't tried them with 60 card decks but I've seen quite a few put commander decks in them. Something like this or this.

If you're looking for a card box that'll hold multiple decks, I'd recommend a Quiver. It holds 1,300 unsleveed or 770 sleved cards and is stylish, durable and reasonably priced. I've got one and it's amazing.

When my cube was 360, it fit snuggly in two fatpacks.

When I expanded to 450, I got this: http://www.amazon.com/KMC-Card-Box-1000/dp/B0007N7P8K

You can get it shipped for ~$20, though it takes several weeks if you live in the U.S.A.

400-410 of the 450 cube cards take the whole top row, and lands and tokens plus the remaining cube cards fill the middle of the bottom row.

The smaller slots on either side of the bottom row are blank at the moment, so if/when I push north of 450, that's where those cards will go.

If I stayed at 360 and shaved back on lands (if I were consistently playing with 4-6-players, for example) then I would use the side slots of the bottom row for card, and use the center well for the dice bag we use.

Are you thinking something like this? As far as I know you only get them if you custom order a sleeve set first. Unless you mean KMC Perfect fits and any other brand of sleeves

If you aren't too serious about playing right now, and money isnt a huge issue. i would buy this: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MrK_Gx9w-ak/UI_3cdK_c_I/AAAAAAAARYA/TDVwtZp-0mc/s1600/MTG+2012+Holiday+Gift+Box+1.jpg gives you a few packs and storage. Otherwise buy this: http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Gathering-Builders-Toolkit-including/dp/B0089J89S4/ref=pd_bxgy_t_img_y less storage, but it has everything you need for deck building basics. Buying singles is more in lines for if you are interested in being competitive.

Edit: Both can be gotten at walmart for 20 bucks

That is how I started.

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0009F3DQ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aQlJzbKNFFXZA

---

Never forget to smile again | ^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0007N7P8K?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I just got this for my 540 card cube and it seems to fit the cards + basics really nicely. About half my cards are double-sleeved.

I'm pretty fond of these clear plastic Ultra Pro 2 Piece. It's pretty sturdy and I feel like if my bag got wet the cards would be safe (wet not under water). I also like being a able to see the commander inside.

Another option I have personally purchased is the Ultra Pro 100+. I like these less but they still do just fine getting tossed around in a bag.

A lot of people really like the Ultra Pro Satin Tower it's very sturdy and has dice storage built in. I think they seem a little clunky but most people love them. They're probably the most "premium" deck box without getting something hand made.

Lastly there are these Ultra Pro Mana Deckboxes that I'd say are good to avoid. The magnetic clasp is far too weak and I've seen people's deck dump in their bag because it didn't hold. I suppose it's personal preference but I think the fake leather looks tacky and makes the box too big. At $15 these boxes are shit.

Sorry I'm a little confused, are you offering the KMC Hyper Matte Black or the KMC Perfect Fit, I'd trade for either but I'm more interested in the Hyper Mattes.

These are some good inexpensive options.

Ultimate Guard Stack n Safe: hold 6 decks sleeved and has nice dividers
Stack 'n' Safe Deck Box (480 Cards) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBYEAZ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gZcjzb6PP7TVY

KMC card barrier: has a better latch than the Ultimate Guard but the dividers aren't as good.
Card Box 1000 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007N7P8K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_P2cjzbKP8XM8B

http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Magic-Gathering-Magnetic/dp/B004I694KO

i have 3 of these and they fit my dragon shielded edh decks just fine, even with my emblems and tokens (in sleeves)

are you sure that you are talking about the same boxes?

$22.50 and could have Super savers shipping on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KXY3NS4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl

versus $26 on massdrop

Buy a Deck Builders Tool Kit It's designed for new players looking to get into the game and deck building, it also comes with how to play instructions and tips fold out. Also if you're willing to put the money into it I'd suggest grabbing a Fat Pack, comes with a nice holding case and life counter dice in addition to the cards and lands.

The cards from both will be enough to keep you busy for months.

This Case has six slots, and the bottom three hold the best boxes ever made.

Shards of Alara lore is in the novel Alara Unbroken

Return to Ravnica has a trio of novellas: Return to Ravnica, Gatecrash, and Dragon's Maze. There's also the Planeswalkers' Guide, and some scattered short stories floating around somewhere.

Original Ravnica has a trio of novels: Ravnica, Guildpact, and Dissension.

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Backpack-DSLR-Cameras-Accessories/dp/B002VPE1WK

Amazon Basics Camera bag is excellent 30$ for something that should cost 70.

One other option is to buy pre-constructed decks. I know the Kiora deck in Elspeth vs Kiora (which can still be found for ~$20 at https://www.amazon.com/ELSPETH-vs-KIORA-Magic-Gathering/dp/B00RYT2DF0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473595349&sr=8-1&keywords=elspeth+vs+kiora) is green and blue, and might give you a base to start off from. It also includes a white deck that you can play against and stuff too. If your'e looking for cards that are in the standard format, it would be better to buy singles and look up deck lists online

The best way is with these white cardboard boxes. They come in a range of sizes and are likely carried by your LGS.

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Removable-Compartment-Professional-Organizer/dp/B001G1CUK0 I love this thing.

I too had to move away from cardboard cases, although for a different reason. I use these & love them,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00XYC3MNI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527303318&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=leather+card+case+mtg&dpPl=1&dpID=51z%2BRTKXuKL&ref=plSrch

I love dragon shield sleeves, and highly recommend them. The box they come in will store a normal deck easily.

For slightly larger, I'd suggest going to a hobby store and asking for cardboard storage boxes. They're a cheap, but suitable option. Or Amazon

Here or at WalMart. Check near the collectible cards (will probably be by the registers). Target may have them also but I cannot say for sure. Have fun getting addicted to cardboard!

Not a deck box but im a big fan of this. Quiver Black Playing Card Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XYC3MNI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zZd4CbAMARDN9 i use it to carry 3 edh decks in boulder cases and still have room for dice and playmat. Give it a thought.

As some other players have mentioned, BCW has amazing boxes for storage. I have a very large collection, somewhere over 8000 cards (rough guess because I ran out of boxes and I still have more cards to put away.)

But I prefer to use the 800 count boxes because they are long, single row, and I can stack them how I see fit.

But if you want all the cards in just a few boxes, BCW also has a 5000 card box. I probably should've gone with these to be honest.

I suggest this to everyone, I've used mine for years and lately a couple of guys at my LGS have jumped on the train too. It's awesome.

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Removable-Compartment-Professional-Organizer/dp/B001G1CUK0

We use this to hold most of our commander decks

I don't know if a deck box will fit in not of the compartments, thin ones might. You can fit two deck boxes from the commander anthology in each of the larger compartment.

this link has a good review of the deck builder toolkit as well as a cost analysis of a couple options for starting a new collection

Ultra Pro 150CT 2 Piece boxes fit ~105 sleeves cards, or ~80 double sleeved. They're cheap, durable, and don't look half bad when stacked.

Many LGSs have them or can get them in, and they're also on Amazon for cheap.

Yep, in the little-publicised eBook that accompanied the Return to Ravnica series, entitled "The Secretist". Not actually a terrible read.

About 50 of these guys (I know this is how most stores near me keep their collections) or 250 of these guys will probably be you're best bet if you ever plan on accessing the collection or keeping it in good shape. You could just get some large storage bins for them, but it probably won't conserve that much space anyways.

If you are new I'd highly suggest you pick up a Deck Builder's Toolkit. Comes with 125 semi-random cards, 100 Lands (20 each), and 4 booster packs (M13, AvR, DA, and Inst) worth $16 on their own for only $20 MSRP. On Amazon they're it's a bit cheaper. Totally worth it for anyone really.

This box is excellent. My Peasant cube has been in the same one for five years.

KMC - Perfect Fit

I am a fan of the ultra pro cases They will hold several decks, space for dice, and you can throw some tradebait in there as well if you want.

Professor recommends the AmazonBasics camera backpack, giving it an A rating for carrying deck boxes. I don't know how well those deck boxes will fit in that bag, but it's probably worth a shot.

Right. I think I'm going with the Amazon Basic Camera and laptop bag.

AmazonBasics DSLR and Laptop Backpack - Orange interior https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF5OGP8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_PFR.Bb6TQTXRH

I'm thinking the laptop section is good for a trade binder and the main section can hold most everything else.

Is the Magic the Gathering Deck Builders Toolkit a good item to buy if I want to start doing FNM?

Sure. How about KMC's Amazon page literally saying that they've been discontinued by the manufacturer?

I do this but it's a product of reading the early MTG books like Arena and the greensleeves trilogy

Ultra Pro Gaming Case with Red Trim https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009F3DQ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aQlJzbKNFFXZA

That's what I've used for years!

Only complaint is it isn't modular, so if you have specific needs you'll have to figure something out.

I.e. I had to slice up the divider to fit my DS for Pokemon VGC events.

Outside of that, I could fit my 2 magic decks (one in the leather mana symbol one), ds, dice, and my Pokemon and yugioh decks, all in one go

Ultra Pro Magic the Gathering: MTG Mana Magnetic Flip Box are by far my favorite: http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Magic-Gathering-Magnetic/dp/B004I694KO

>I think the latest DBTK includes up to the Scars block, so it won't be standard playable, but it'll be a good start to your collection. It also includes tips for building decks and a box to hold your cards.

False. The latest one goes up to INN block.

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Backpack-DSLR-Cameras-Accessories/dp/B002VPE1WK

This bag has been recomended more than once to people on here so I gotta think its popular.

I highly recommend KMC Hyper Matte Sleeves (80-Pack)

Link

I started out with one binder that had anything over a dollar in it, organized by color. As I kept collecting, it became more irritating to go by price alone. ("Aww shucks this card is only worth 98cents, I guess it goes in the box, not the binder")

I eventually said screw it and bought a chunk of these and these

I made one album for each color, one for artifact & lands and 1 for multi-colored and "special" cards (promos, collectors ed etc). I have one separate album for Standard only cards, since that seems to be the most sought after type at my LGS.

Each album (including the Standard) are grouped by set, starting with the most recent. I include all rares and mythics (yes, even Vizzerdrix :P) and good/valuable uncommons and commons. I'm much happier doing it this way as opposed to setting a price barrier.

Honestly, just put whatever you want in there. If you are making the album solely for trading purposes, just load it up with things you feel others would want.

I've gotten into these cheap $2 150 count clear cases from Ultra Pro recently if only because I don't have to open up the deckbox to see what's inside:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002TT3LG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use a big clear plastic box that KMC makes for my EDH decks. It will hold 6 double sleeved EDH decks in total.

https://www.amazon.com/KMC-Card-Box-1000/dp/B0007N7P8K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543519815&sr=8-1&keywords=kmc+box

It's not that hard to modify the box to prevent it damaging the cards though honestly its not worth the effort when you can buy a better storage box for less than $20 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007N7P8K/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_7VnIwbDT1JH0P)

amazon has em for a bit cheaper than you would find them. But stores like Walmart and target usually have a few. My local card stores don't usually carry them, just fat packs.

Amazon sells them, my little cousin just ordered one, he just started playing and bought 2 intro packs and needs land and a beginning to his collection. Heres a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Gathering-Builders-Toolkit-including/dp/B0089J89S4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342941821&sr=8-1&keywords=2013+deck+builders+toolkit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CF5OGP8/ is what I use, it's just like the $110 piratelabs backpacks and is functionally the same.

I personally like the Quiver. (https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Carrying-Exterior-Dividers-Compatible/dp/B00XYC3MNI/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1487019942&sr=1-1&keywords=playing+card+case&refinements=p_89%3AQuiver)

it can hold ~ 5 double sleeved 100 card decks which should be more than enough room for what you have + tokens and dice

I think I found it!

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Removable-Compartment-Professional-Organizer/dp/B001G1CUK0/ref=sr_1_47?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1468759771&sr=1-47

EDIT: Well something close to it.

This version is much cheaper (almost 1/3 the price) and also works very well for storing sleeved cards and deck boxes. I think it is a little smaller though.

From the Professor at Tolarian Community College's most recent video: This Camera Backpack or this Parts Organizer work very well. I have the parts organizer which I currently use to carry 9 commander decks in UltraPro 100+ Deckboxes, the Explorers of Ixalan Tiles, and my Oversized cards (Planechase, Archenemy). I've been considering attaching a playmat tube to the side of the case with zip ties.

Im a fan of the Quiver which also is conveniently wide enough to hold a Sign in Blood Life Pad and deep enough I can store a couple small Chessex containers.

Quiver - it’s sturdy and portable. I use one for commander decks and one for small card and board games -
Quiver Black Playing Card Case - Carrying Deck Case with PU Leather Exterior with Double Zipper, Dividers, Hand & Shoulder Strap - Fits up to 1300 Cards - Deck Box Compatible + 100 Card Sleeves https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XYC3MNI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_J7UJDbSPK42RB

I'm assuming by 30-card starter pack, you're referring to one of those promo decks they give out at cons with commons and uncommons in them and a picture of a planeswalker on the deck box? If so, it's insane to lock into mono-blue just because of that. Especially now that you've purchased an entire box of product. If you're getting hung up about the lack of lands, get them from your friends that keep stomping you, or just head down to the local store and get a bunch for a dollar, or spring for a Deckbuilder's Toolkit.

When I played in middle school I kept my decks wrapped in rubber bands and I'd carry them that way in my pocket, and keep them that way in a little cardboard box in under my bed. Luckily I never owned any good cards because the condition of those cards is awful now (but the first rare I ever pulled is still in the back of my binder).

Anyway this is what I use now, with the cards sleeved in these and these.

The brother's war, Chainer's torment, and Nemesis are the 3 best standalone novels. IE, if you look at the novel alone, not in context of the cycle it's in.

http://www.amazon.com/Brothers-War-Artifacts-Cycle-Book/dp/0786911700/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345670302&sr=1-1&keywords=the+brother%27s+war

http://www.amazon.com/Chainers-Torment-Magic-Gathering--Odyssey-Cycle/dp/0786926961/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345670284&sr=1-1&keywords=chainer%27s+torment

http://www.amazon.com/Nemesis-Magic-Gathering-Masquerade-Cycle/dp/0786915595/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345670264&sr=1-1&keywords=magic+nemesis


Edit * Forgot Arena : http://www.amazon.com/Arena-Magic-The-Gathering-No/dp/0061054240/ref=cm_cmu_pg__header

Spend a couple more bucks and get these sleeves. They'll last longer.

Also, forget the deckbox and the gift card and get him a custom playmat from here.

Okay I just wasn't clear on what you wanted. Just buy some thing like this: https://www.amazon.com/BCW-Monster-Corrugated-Cardboard-Storage/dp/B000K41E7E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1486574540&sr=8-2&keywords=mtg+card+boxes

Cheap, plenty of space, only downside is you'd need to make some dividers yourself.

Quick amazon search and it turns up here:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G1CUK0/ref=twister_B00HHQAN3E?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I have the same thing and got it through amazon. Here's a link.

I use this for my commander decks:

http://imgur.com/hw4exhC

It's an Amazon Basics SLR camera bag:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00CF5OGP8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Where do you get your hyper mats from? They are cheaper for me, here in Australia.

Also, on Amazon, KMCs are still cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Shield-100-Sleeves-Red/dp/B000P0S54I

http://www.amazon.com/Hyper-Matte-Sleeves-80-Pack-Black/dp/B00CJ7415M

Look up the Quiver.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Stylish-Exterior-Dividers-Shoulder/dp/B00XYC3MNI

Prof's review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWGReq91Y6I

What exactly does that mean? I saw that and was confused. Did that mean use them over things like this?

No matter where you go, you won't get much for them. 1000 count boxes go for less than 20 on amazon (and that says it has rares and occasional mythics) and ebay. so you might get 20-25 bucks if you're lucky. If you throw it on ebay with the bidding started low I expect you would get someone to finish it around 15-20 most likely.

EDIT: places like starcitygames also buy bulk, but I do not know the rates.

I'm using this case right now.
https://www.amazon.com/KMC-Card-Box-1000/dp/B0007N7P8K/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&dpID=41yx2KjFJqL&dpPl=1&keywords=trading%20card%20case&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1472781192&ref=plSrch&ref_=mp_s_a_1_31&sr=8-31
I never had a problem with it opening when in my bag or pulling it out. Just recently put some velcro on the latches as a preventative measure.

For EDH, I use these: https://www.amazon.ca/Ultra-Pro-150-Count-2-Piece-Plastic/dp/B0002TT3LG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1495549546&sr=8-2&keywords=plastic+box+ultra+pro

They have enough room for 100 single-sleeved cards, plus you can display your general on top of all your other cards (I place them all vertically but my commander horizontally on top)

You can buy these in stacks from most collectible stores or amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-9-Pocket-Trading-Pages/dp/B00095M5DQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1394132416&sr=8-5&keywords=9+pocket+binder
Might be able to find them at target or walmart, not sure though as I've never looked there.