Magic The Gathering Cards: Game, Card Deck, Prices And List

In recent years, particularly amongst children and teens, there has been an exponential growth of interest in games, books, and films featuring themes of magic, fantasy, and old mythology. It was witnessed as early as the 1980s with the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, and most recently in the Harry Potter books and films. Magic: The Gathering is a card game that has gained an enormous following – around six million fans in more than 70 countries around the world - mostly children, teens, and young adults, and even some older adults. Since their introduction, the Magic: The Gathering cards have also gained status as collector's items.

The idea for the Magic: The Gathering cards was first conceived by Richard Garfield, and they were established as a game in 1993 by the game publishing company, Wizards of the Coast. Magic: The Gathering cards were the first of a series of collectible card games. At least two players are necessary for a game with Magic: The Gathering cards. The aim is to defeat one's adversary by using the magical creatures, spells, weapons, etc., on each card. The one with the most powerful cards in his/her Magic: The Gathering deck typically wins. Besides its theme and more complicated rules, a game with Magic: The Gathering cards is not much different from a traditional card game, except that every card in a player's deck can be unique.

Since the Magic: The Gathering cards have been introduced, so many new expansions have come upon the scene that there are now literally millions of strategies which players can use with Magic: The Gathering cards. As of 2006, there were officially 8,000 distinctive cards in circulation; anywhere between 600-1000 new ones are introduced each year. A Magic: The Gathering deck of cards must be at least 60 in number during a game. Beginners usually start with a Magic: The Gathering deck pre-constructed especially for new players. One exception is when new cards are introduced to the game from booster packs of Magic: The Gathering cards, which contain 15 cards each. Most of the Magic: The Gathering cards come in five different colors – black, blue, red, green, and white - each representing a distinct element and type of magic.

Many Magic: The Gathering cards have gained enough of a value to be auctioned at high values. Card prices are only a few cents for the most frequently found cards, but can cost up to $20 for rare cards. Some cards are extremely rare and are considered collector's item. For example, the notoriously rare Black Lotus card is estimated to be anywhere between $1,000-$3,000. Fans of the game can visit the main site of Wizards of the Coast  in order to view a complete card list of the Magic: The Gathering cards.

Whether it is for a night of gaming fun among teens or a surprising source of several thousand dollars, Magic: The Gathering cards will last for a while as a game and as valuable collector's pieces. Who can say how much these cards will be worth several decades from now?


Sources:
Learn to Play – Magic: The Gathering. PlayMagic. 6 Aug. 2007.
http://www.wizards.com/magic/playmagic/Sizzle/si zzle_en.html

Booster Packs – Magic: The Gathering. PlayMagic. 6 Aug. 2007.
http://www.wizards.com/magic/playmagic/Sizzle/si zzle_en.html

"Magic: The Gathering." Wikipedia. 2 Aug. 2007. 6 Aug. 2007.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gatherin g

How to Play Magic: The Gathering. Magic4You. 5 Oct. 2007. 6 Aug. 2007.
http://www.magic4you.nu/how_to_play_magic_the_ga thering.php

Magic Products. Magic: The Gathering. 1995-2007. Wizards of the Coast, Inc. – Hasbro, Inc. 8 Aug. 2007. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=magic/product s/cardsets