SELL YOUR CARDS
Magic Starter Kit or Commander deck: which should beginners choose?
Choose a Magic: The Gathering Starter Kit when two beginners want to learn together from one box. Choose a Commander preconstructed deck when one player already wants to join Commander games. A Starter Kit contains two 60-card decks, while one Commander product supplies one 100-card deck for one player.
Starter Kit and Commander deck at a glance
| Question | Starter Kit | Commander precon |
|---|---|---|
| What is in one product? | Two 60-card decks | One 100-card deck |
| Who does it equip? | Two players | One player |
| Best first goal | Learn a head-to-head game | Join a Commander group |
| Official Commander player count | Different format | 3–5 players |
Choose a Starter Kit to learn with one other person
Wizards lists two preconstructed 60-card decks in the Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY Starter Kit. Each person can open a deck, sit down and play without building a deck first. The included deck boxes and tokens keep the first setup straightforward. See Wizards’ exact Starter Kit contents.
The two decks were designed as a matched introduction. That matters more for a first lesson than choosing the strongest-looking character. If both players are learning card types, combat and turn order, starting from the same product gives them a common reference point.
Choose Commander when the group has already chosen Commander
Commander uses a 100-card deck built around a commander. Wizards describes it as a multiplayer format for 3–5 players and gives a typical duration of 120 minutes. A preconstructed Commander deck saves the new player from building those 100 cards before their first game. See the official Commander format overview.
One Commander precon equips one person. Two people buying for a game night therefore need two Commander decks, and the fuller social experience comes when the table grows to three or more. The current Foundations Commander decks use approachable themes such as artifacts in Keen Engineering and Angels in Calling All Angels. Wizards identifies each as a ready-to-play 100-card deck. See the Foundations Commander guide.
Do these products play against each other?
A Starter Kit deck and a Commander deck belong to different formats. Their deck sizes, construction rules and expected player counts differ. Treating them as interchangeable creates an uneven first game. Put two Starter Kit decks against each other, or give every Commander player a Commander deck.
What should a gift buyer ask?
- Is this for two people learning together? Start with a Starter Kit.
- Is the recipient joining friends who already play Commander? Choose one Commander precon that fits the recipient’s preferred theme.
- Are two people starting Commander together? Plan for two different Commander decks, one per person, and invite another player when possible.
Common follow-up questions
Can a Starter Kit deck become a Commander deck?
It can contribute cards to a future deck, but it is not a ready-made Commander deck. Commander needs a 100-card singleton deck built around a commander and its colour identity.
Does a Commander deck include everything for two players?
No. One Commander precon is one player’s deck. The other player needs a separate Commander deck.
Should beginners buy boosters first?
Boosters can add cards later. A complete Starter Kit or preconstructed Commander deck provides a clearer first game because the playable decks are already assembled.
For a first game in Montréal or elsewhere in Canada, decide on the format before choosing characters. If two people are sharing the table, use the Magic two-player setup planner to check how many complete decks are still needed. Then browse Toy Snowman’s Magic: The Gathering collection for the deck type your table actually needs.