![]() ![]() ![]() Sometimes, you won't realize if you have a misconception that's causing you to persistently make the same mistake. However, trying to figure out everything by yourself will be difficult. Improving at Magic is going to be a largely internal process. Look to it only after you've left no stone unturned with regard to the aspects of the game that you did have control over. However, be careful not to hide behind that excuse. Many times, your losses will largely be due to bad luck. Have you lost enough games in this same way that you've revealed a fatal flaw in your deck?įinally, after you've exhausted all other options, ask if it was simply bad luck. Did you get mana flooded? If so, was it a fluke, or did your post-sideboard configuration lack late-game staying power?įourth, ask if you're playing the right deck. Third, consider how you could've put yourself in a different position via sideboarding or deckbuilding. If you'd known that your opponent had a permission spell, could you have successfully played around it? Were there any hints that you could've picked up on to help you learn what was in your opponent's hand? Second, look for elements of the mental game that might've helped you turn a loss into a win. Did you miss a potential point of damage early in the game that might've changed things? Asking why is about taking responsibility for your own decisions.įirst, look for technical mistakes or judgment calls you made that could've led to the loss. It requires patience, honesty, and a level head. The exercise is more challenging than it sounds, particularly when you've just lost a game. ![]() When you finish a game, you should reflect on it, and ask yourself why the winning player won. The best way I know to get the most out of your time playing Magic is a method that I call asking why. Is the TV on in the background? Are you multi-queuing on Magic Online? Are you playing while you're frustrated, tired, or otherwise not in your best frame of mind? Not only is this type of playing an inefficient use of time, but if you do it too often, it can also train you into bad habits.Īdverse Conditions | Art by Jason Rainville Quality over quantity!ĭeep focus on a single game of Magic, from start to finish, is a world apart from playing while you're distracted. More important than the number of hours you play is how much you're actually taking away from those hours. When you're playing a lot, you see winning lines of play more easily, you make fewer mistakes, and you understand what's going on in the games on a deeper level.įurthermore, if you're not "in shape"-if the fundamentals aren't coming quickly and effortlessly for you-then it's going to be that much more difficult to improve at the more challenging facets of the game.Īll that said, it's not just about putting in the hours, and having a full-time job or other commitments does not preclude you from being a world-class player. The most dominant winning streaks in the game's history have been put together by players who were simply eating, sleeping, and breathing Magic. If your goal is to improve at Magic, the best thing to do, by far, is play a lot of Magic. Let me tell you everything I know about becoming a better player. Instead, if your goals extend beyond the scope of Level One, the ball is going to be in your court. Before we part ways, it's my duty to prepare you for "Level Two." For better or for worse, a complete, step-by-step manual for becoming a truly world-class Magic player may never exist. Next week, look for a column that packages all of my columns into a single course.īut I still have one very important job left to do. If you've enjoyed any of my articles, please direct intrepid new players toward them, or keep them in mind for any time you might be looking for a refresher course. Over fourteen months, I've tried my best to build a complete, self-contained course that offers the tools one needs to become a competitive Magic tournament player. For the time being, the column will be going on hiatus. This will be the final article that I write for Level One. ![]()
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