Written by Revik on June 28, 2007
An MTGsociety Exclusive: Improving in Magic
Over the past few weeks, I've been playing Magic more and more, and have been picking up some trends from some of the better players on what makes a good magic player. Sometimes it's sheer knowledge, sometimes inborn skill, sometimes incredible hook-ups to other great players. These aren't the case with everybody though, and to become a skilled magic player you need to figure out some tactics to it. Now, I am not going to say i'm a good magic player. Hell, I ADMIT that I'm mediocre. I've been improving lately, though, in large part due to what i've picked up that I'm going to share here. Maybe you will agree, maybe you won't.
One of the first and foremost important things to realize is that you cannot improve by only playing one format. Even branching from T2 into block can call for improvement, as you learn more about special interactions with cards and can be more patient with how you play. One of the most important branches is from constructed into limited. Limited will completely vamp up your card analysis skills, will keep you sharp on the basics of attacking and blocking, and can help your decision-making abilities. I've asked some limited experts on why playing limited is important for improving in constructed, and here are the responses I have received:
<Eliminator> Playing limited is important to build card evaluation skills. Playing a card because you know that it is good is much different than playing a card because it's in a World Championship deck.
<Lunaddict> Limited matches are always rogue on rogue matches. It teaches you to battle with the unknown. It also makes you also go on the fundamentals of the deck design, Like Bear vs. Hill Giant.
<Pollo> Limited is more than being a netdecker machine. There, you get to improve abilities that constructed doesn't offer. For example, mix synergy with other cards, mana curve, archetypes, and signals--last one only in draft; all of that in less in less than 20 minutes in Sealed Deck, and less than 30 seconds in Booster Draft, which requires A LOT of skill to perfect.
Of course, this isn't to put down formats like Extended and Legacy, they are just harder to branch into for a newer player. They require a lot of card knowledge, and mulliganing is much more important in those formats than in, say, Standard.
Another underrated yet incredibly important part of improving in magic is knowledge of the rules (which I'm still working on). Players that know the rules better tend to notice good plays that other players wouldn't, and they also avoid silly disqualifications for rules violations or misinterpretations of the rules. Knowledge of the rules can also avoid the chances of time running out and you being forced to have a tie, because you didn't need to waste round time asking rules questions.
So, how do you learn the rules better? Simple. Ask questions and Read the Comprehensive Rules. Those 2 tactics are the reason I'm starting to understand how the game works better. I've asked some judges on what they think on the subject:
<n¹Ronnan> It's important to know the rules so you dont get cheated. Sometimes you even get a bonus, like sacrificing a creature with Temporal Isolation on it while damage is on the stack to get the damage through.
<mTk-Away> If you actually know how the game works, it makes you better player. And certain cards... say, Counterbalance or Copy Enchantment really require you to know certain things in order to be used efficiently. Think about soccer. It helps if you know the rules of the game, no? You won't end up carrying the ball in your hands quite as often.
<Pollo> I wouldn't say that memorizing the rules per se makes you a better player, but it definitely helps. It allowes you to make better plays and understand things you cannot in normal situations, etc.
Both mTk, Pollo, and Ronnan are saying basically the same thing, which is that if you know the rules you know what you're doing, and if you know what you're doing you are improving.
One thing that newbys and other players looking to improve DO do (albeit poorly most of the time) is ask for help. I'll clear this up right now: Asking for help involves asking, not posting a decklist and saying fix it. If you correctly ask for help, you may make friends with some good players, and gain some different perspectives of your decks. Even asking for advice on how to sideboard or when to mulligan on a deck can be valuable information that you will remember in the future. NEVER be afraid to ask different players for help.
Here's one of the reason I've been held back in improving at magic: Diversity. Playing any kind of deck there is. I used to absolutely love aggro, and I'd play any aggro deck but I REFUSED to play control or combo. Now, this has changed, but it was hindering my growth as a player. Even if you play usin a control deck for a week, you will understand how a player using a control deck works, and will be able to somewhat accurately be able to guess what your opponent is holding in their hand.
But diversity also branches out farther. You also have to consider testing and playing versus many different decks. I'd recommend ALWAYS testing against tier 1 decks, because playing against rogue really will not gain you much information on how your deck works, unless the other deck is so bad it's like a goldfish
(A side note here: Never be afraid to netdeck. Although playing somebody elses deck can make you feel strange, everybody does it. It's an important lessong in learning about the metagame and improving at the same time.)
Another important thing to know in magic is to keep up to date on articles. Some articles can be Ignored more, like Flores's, while others should be read ever week, like Frank Karstens and Quenten Martin's. The only Flores article I recommend is "Who's the beatdown" as it is a very important concept to remember in magic. Also read the Saturday School/Magic Academy article posted on Saturdays, even if they leave you in a trance-like stasis (pun intended) from reading what you already know. You might pick up on some things you have long forgotten. It can also punch into your head one of the things that plague me, which is doing everything so hastily that I make misplays, such as forgetting the eot storage counter or saccing my guys with Cautery Sliver when they die.
As some final notes, I need to stress a few things:
Any deck can win, but it must be piloted by a competant player.
Knowing a card is good is better than seeing that a card is good.
And most importantly: You WILL NOT get better if you don't devote your time to getting better.
Thanks for reading, --Revik
P.S. Thanks to everybody who graciously submitted quotes.
editor's note: the comprehensive rules can be found here
Blah234 on 2007-06-28 21:48 MDT Boooooooring
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kby on 2007-06-28 22:06 MDT made in notepad? lol
----------i read 2 paragraphs then stoped..sorry im just to good for this...
but.. you might of got more credit if u added some bolds, pictures, etc.... either way it just is as said above...a little boring
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also... key to making good decks: take a theme and capitalize on it. such as Scryb and Force :)
too bad that deck isn't what it use to be... damn korlash
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Ffancrzy on 2007-06-28 22:07 MDT Pacino...that just proves your incompetence
Good read overall I too have improved greatly asking that beat me what they think of my deck/ card choices
1 minor nitpick:"Both mTk, Pollo, and Ronnan"
you dont eed "both in that sentence"
Also Flores isnt THAT bad
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coolcreep on 2007-06-28 23:41 MDT Overall a good article, though not as good as the ones I read on www.nambla.com
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Vodka_7up on 2007-06-29 00:38 MDT I think some pretty pictures would have been nice.
One way to get better with rules is to read the judge articles on starcitygames, and some of the faq's that come out with every new set at the pre releases, at least you'll be up to date on how the new mechanics work. Mtgo can also help teach you about the stack, priority, and what not, but sadly it's glitches and stuff doesn't make it the absolute authority.
Good article
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SpareSocks on 2007-06-29 02:14 MDT You're boring and dumb.
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SpareSocks on 2007-06-29 02:14 MDT oh yeah btw
Hope your house burns down.
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Revik on 2007-06-29 04:30 MDT nvm
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Revik on 2007-06-29 04:50 MDT nvm
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RichardDWade on 2007-06-29 05:43 MDT I think its a nice little article. Any longer and it would've been a waste. For the multitudes of mediocre players out there, its a refresher course. I like the balls in hand analogy.
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Jacois on 2007-06-29 06:54 MDT Good work Revik. I enjoyed reading it.
It's good to see people getting involved and writing articles. Sure, you will always get flamed by coolcreep, but don't let him discourage you. You have writing talent, and you are not afraid to stand up in the community. Coolcreep is jealous of you. That's why he simply makes cheap shots at anyone who rights an article or makes a post without becoming pro-actively involved himself.
Over the past 6 months I have seen your game improve greatly, and have seen you go from an unknown scrub to a well known ML'er. Keep up the good work.
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scwizard on 2007-06-29 09:21 MDT tldr
It looks like you have a lot of interesting things to say, but your not that good at holding an audience.
I read a bit though and it made me want to play limited.
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kobisjeruk on 2007-06-29 14:16 MDT if, even the writer said so, who are you to judge whoever said negative things about this article?
btw, i hate u Revik(!top10) but i like this article (maybe i like it just to annoy u, well who cares)
when will you post the real article? im sure it wont be any better than this :/
n dont be dissin niknight :grr:
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SOAD on 2007-06-29 14:52 MDT Sweet Article.
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SaTiVa on 2007-06-29 15:27 MDT Wow really good info Revik *Thumbs Up*
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Dapug on 2007-06-29 16:51 MDT I liked the article, but I have one bone to pick.
"Of course, this isn't to put down formats like Extended and Legacy, they are just harder to branch into for a newer player. They require a lot of card knowledge, and mulliganing is much more important in those formats than in, say, Standard."
Isn't the point of branching out to practice parts of the game you are not used to? If so, it would help mulliganing decisions in T2, if you were to practice mulliganing in a format where mulliganing is emphasized.
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DESTRUCTOR on 2007-06-29 17:34 MDT good article, is refreshing to read something non-involve with a torunament, just something to help improve other players....congratz on writting this so well keep doing it
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Vlada on 2007-06-30 06:20 MDT Its hypocrisy that bad player write article on this subject :(
Hell, I ADMIT that I'm mediocre.- n, you are not
One of most important thing to start improving game, is that you must learn how much you actualy dont know, then when you realize that, you will be able to start learning.
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_SeBaStIaN_ on 2007-06-30 12:44 MDT Thanks for the article :D
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Revik on 2007-06-30 14:26 MDT by Vlada on 2007-06-30 08:20 EDT
Its hypocrisy that bad player write article on this subject :(
Hell, I ADMIT that I'm mediocre.- n, you are not
One of most important thing to start improving game, is that you must learn how much you actualy dont know, then when you realize that, you will be able to start learning.
Oh, really...
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pwnz on 2007-06-30 14:43 MDT YARLY!
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Wiley on 2007-06-30 15:40 MDT ah vlada, wise as usual
Vlada has a point in that "improving in magic" isn't a suitable title for an article written by someone like Revik, who obviously has a long way to go. But, considering the format of this article being one that mostly just elaborates on the wisdom of various decent players, the article itself doesn't come across as pretentious
the notion of rules knowledge/play skill and some relationship between the two is actually very interesting and I've had similar thoughts for some time. You'll get in situations where you have the rack and your opponent has confidant or arena or something, and if you're a smart motherfucker like I am, you'll make sure they take that extra point of sweet, sweet damage.
This comment is basically purposeless but I just wanted to make revik feel special and fuzzy in a way that doesn't involve a feather and his buttocks
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Meldethar on 2007-07-01 03:28 MDT I like this article.
And yes, it makes me wanna play Limited more.
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krowzy on 2007-07-01 16:33 MDT The parts not written by Revik were good. Also, if you can, you should read most of Flores' articles, as, although the article says they're ignorable, they are actually really good at helping you improve your game and understand why some decks lose/win.
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ShadowMaster on 2007-07-03 11:17 MDT Thanks for the article. I'll have to reread the rules before 10th Edition's Prerelease. I have forgotten a lot during months of no mtg.
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WarriorAngel on 2007-10-30 03:14 MDT HI! Revik,
Its really nice article!
Thanks for spending time for the article.
As a beginner its really useful for me.!
Keep writing.
