Don't waste your money. Everything you need to know is available on the internet.
Much of it is available here in the Articles section.
For draft, google "Magic the gathering draft Signaling". Go through new card discussion and read the Limited assessments.
Get an MTGO account, and play a little there to see how the strict progression of phases works.
Read about Mana-curve, Card advantage, Land ratios. Read about the arch-types of: Control, Aggro, Stompy, Weenie, Suicide, Burn, Combo.
Then practice. You don't need a book to tell you how to play, it's all freely available, and tbh, post your deck in the Standard Deck Creation forum here..
I haven't read it, but I'd agree with Gatt, it's probably not worth it. Once you can read a lot of the important articles online (Who's the Beatdown, etc) then you can get a feel for the game.
But I think the best way to get better at Magic is just to, well, play it. Play different formats -- play Limited, Pauper, Standard, Legacy (proxy it if you need to), play as many different kinds of Magic as possible.
This will expand your scope of the game. Some techniques used in Legacy can be applied to Standard, and vice versa. For example, Wastelanding an opponent's land and activating Weathered Wayfarer in response to the Wasteland activation is a common move in UW Tempo. But you can apply this technique to Standard, such as activating two Tectonic Edges when your opponent controls 4 land, one of which is a Tectonic Edge, without passing priority to destroy two non-basic lands so your opponent can't Tec edge you. As you can see, playing different formats allows you to approach the game in different manners and it can be applied in similar fashions across the various formats.
Also, having good players in your playgroup who are more competitive than you really helps. Or just someone of a similar level as you. Either one will give you a motivation to get better at the game.
If you have the urge to spend money on getting better at Magic, buy a Star City Games premium account.
If you still have the urge to spend money after you've done that, buy Pat Chapin's book "Next Level Magic."
If you still have the urge to spend money on getting better at Magic, put any future money you want to spend into Magic Online and draft in the 8-4 queues, watching all your replays to figure out why you lose.
I would rank the pay guide of an irrelevant player whose website looks like he's selling a miracle drug somewhere well below "go visit the Grand Canyon" in terms of how I'd allocate my resources for getting better at Magic.
Maybe this reality is actually an alternate reality of a reality in which New Phyrexia was the joke expansion and Mirrodin Pure was the obvious expansion, except our reality is the Time Shifted reality which is opposite of that other reality which is that actual reality.
I read a book on Poker by Daniel Negreanu, and I started to read Supersystems by Doyle Brunson, but stopped.
Sometimes they include things from their personal experiences or stories that help you learn and make it more interesting to read.
I would say that you could definitely get the information on the Internet, but if you think they're a good player/want to read their writing, then go ahead.
Has anyone saying 'don't read the book' actually read the book?
He's the "champion" of a country that never does well in worlds, and is bragging about gpt top 8's (those are usually 50 people at most and open to the public) and ptq top 8's (larger but same idea) but has no GP top 8's and no PT top 8's, so I doubt he knows magic anywhere near as well as he claims.
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Odds of pulling a JtMS from a WWK pack: 1:80
Odds of pulling any specific rare in 5th Edition: 1:133
So, on average, 1 JtMS every 2.222 boxes or 1 Bird of Paradise every 3.694 boxes. Yeah, I'll take my odds with Mythics, they are easier to get than old rares.
Want to support a LGS that finally branched into the selling online world? Send me a pm with your email for a $5 off coupon (usable on purchases of $10 or more) for a LGS that just recently got onto TCG player.
Has anyone saying 'don't read the book' actually read the book?
Have you checked out his site? It does not look legit at all. Try googling Joe Soh and all you get are dubious advertisements about how amazing the book is.
im not sure if i need this.. can someone that has it tell me if its really worth it? it costs 37$ with 10 guides or something like that here is the link guide
i wanted to do some research before investing in this product.
thanks, zach.
Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
If you want to spend money on learning magic strategy, why in the world would you buy a book that looks like something off a bad infomercial? To be blunt, if you have to sell something THAT hard, there is no way in heck its even close to worth it. Try something like "Next Level Magic" or a Starcity Games membership if your really intent on spending money on something like this.
Side note: How could this book even vaguely look like something worth buying? This is at least the second thread asking about it, and when I saw the ad there was not even a thought in my mind about buying it. Are people really that desperate to get an edge in magic?
As I said in the other thread, it looks very much like a scam. I could be wrong, but why risk it when you can get this stuff for free?
It's not a scam per se. The marketing for it looks shady but the product seems to be legitimate. It is marketed like self help products, some of which work and some of which don't, but they are all marketed the same.
If you can find someone with a copy of his book that you can borrow I would borrow it first. See if the writing is fluid and make sure the book has depth. If it speaks to you then buy it. I wouldn't do so before then though.
Honestly, look at the "testimonials" he has on the site...
I never knew that playtesting often could play such a big role in Magic. I often just pack a deck and head straight to the tournament. Now that I spend more time playtesting, I actually understand how my deck works. I play better, make less mistake and I feel much more mentally prepared for events!
No kidding...
And there's:
I always find myself losing from keeping 1-lander hands or just the wrong hands against the wrong decks just because I was reluctant to go down a card. But after reading your guide, I understand now the importance of mulliganing a bad hand, and stop losing games that I shouldn’t!
so basically, if you have an ounce of common sense and you've played Magic for more than a week, you probably don't need them...
I agree with above. The general basis of the book is just information that can be found online as well as on the big websites like CFB or SCG.
If you are truly looking to buy a good book about mtg, check out "Next Level Magic" by Patrick Chapin. Its a great read and will greatly help you improve your play.
Rather than spend money on this unknown guy, you'd be better off paying 10 bucks for a SCG premium account and reading all of Flores and Chapin's articles.
I can't believe anyone is excited about this card. It is absolutely unplayable. I wouldn't even play her in LIMITED. Easily the worst walker printed since the green elf one. Absolutely terrible.
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Don't waste your money. Everything you need to know is available on the internet.
Much of it is available here in the Articles section.
For draft, google "Magic the gathering draft Signaling". Go through new card discussion and read the Limited assessments.
Get an MTGO account, and play a little there to see how the strict progression of phases works.
Read about Mana-curve, Card advantage, Land ratios. Read about the arch-types of: Control, Aggro, Stompy, Weenie, Suicide, Burn, Combo.
Then practice. You don't need a book to tell you how to play, it's all freely available, and tbh, post your deck in the Standard Deck Creation forum here..
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/forumdisplay.php?f=480
to get good feedback.
But I think the best way to get better at Magic is just to, well, play it. Play different formats -- play Limited, Pauper, Standard, Legacy (proxy it if you need to), play as many different kinds of Magic as possible.
This will expand your scope of the game. Some techniques used in Legacy can be applied to Standard, and vice versa. For example, Wastelanding an opponent's land and activating Weathered Wayfarer in response to the Wasteland activation is a common move in UW Tempo. But you can apply this technique to Standard, such as activating two Tectonic Edges when your opponent controls 4 land, one of which is a Tectonic Edge, without passing priority to destroy two non-basic lands so your opponent can't Tec edge you. As you can see, playing different formats allows you to approach the game in different manners and it can be applied in similar fashions across the various formats.
Also, having good players in your playgroup who are more competitive than you really helps. Or just someone of a similar level as you. Either one will give you a motivation to get better at the game.
I don't bother with most magic theory and am okay at this game.
If you still have the urge to spend money after you've done that, buy Pat Chapin's book "Next Level Magic."
If you still have the urge to spend money on getting better at Magic, put any future money you want to spend into Magic Online and draft in the 8-4 queues, watching all your replays to figure out why you lose.
I would rank the pay guide of an irrelevant player whose website looks like he's selling a miracle drug somewhere well below "go visit the Grand Canyon" in terms of how I'd allocate my resources for getting better at Magic.
Level 1 Judge. I tweet. Member of clan <Limited>. The Dunning-Kruger effect.
Sometimes they include things from their personal experiences or stories that help you learn and make it more interesting to read.
I would say that you could definitely get the information on the Internet, but if you think they're a good player/want to read their writing, then go ahead.
He's the "champion" of a country that never does well in worlds, and is bragging about gpt top 8's (those are usually 50 people at most and open to the public) and ptq top 8's (larger but same idea) but has no GP top 8's and no PT top 8's, so I doubt he knows magic anywhere near as well as he claims.
Odds of pulling any specific rare in 5th Edition: 1:133
So, on average, 1 JtMS every 2.222 boxes or 1 Bird of Paradise every 3.694 boxes. Yeah, I'll take my odds with Mythics, they are easier to get than old rares.
Want to support a LGS that finally branched into the selling online world? Send me a pm with your email for a $5 off coupon (usable on purchases of $10 or more) for a LGS that just recently got onto TCG player.
I'd stay far, far away from this book.
Commander/EDH:
WU Hanna, Ship's Navigator WU
GW Saffi Eriksdotter GW
BW Selenia, Dark Angel BW
W Heliod, God of Sun W
Retired:
Jenara, Asura of War Thada Adel, Acquisitor Jaya Ballard, Task Mage Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Akroma, Angel of Wrath Nath of the Gilt-Leaf Tajic, Blade of the Legion Selvala, Explorer Returned Maga, Traitor to Mortals
Tiny Leaders:
W Mangara of Corondor W
This is by far the most important part of getting better.
guide
i wanted to do some research before investing in this product.
thanks, zach.
help me get my new computer!
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
Second page of this very forum.
Commander/EDH:
WU Hanna, Ship's Navigator WU
GW Saffi Eriksdotter GW
BW Selenia, Dark Angel BW
W Heliod, God of Sun W
Retired:
Jenara, Asura of War Thada Adel, Acquisitor Jaya Ballard, Task Mage Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero Lyzolda, the Blood Witch Akroma, Angel of Wrath Nath of the Gilt-Leaf Tajic, Blade of the Legion Selvala, Explorer Returned Maga, Traitor to Mortals
Tiny Leaders:
W Mangara of Corondor W
Side note: How could this book even vaguely look like something worth buying? This is at least the second thread asking about it, and when I saw the ad there was not even a thought in my mind about buying it. Are people really that desperate to get an edge in magic?
It's not a scam per se. The marketing for it looks shady but the product seems to be legitimate. It is marketed like self help products, some of which work and some of which don't, but they are all marketed the same.
If you can find someone with a copy of his book that you can borrow I would borrow it first. See if the writing is fluid and make sure the book has depth. If it speaks to you then buy it. I wouldn't do so before then though.
No kidding...
And there's:
so basically, if you have an ounce of common sense and you've played Magic for more than a week, you probably don't need them...
If you are truly looking to buy a good book about mtg, check out "Next Level Magic" by Patrick Chapin. Its a great read and will greatly help you improve your play.
k33 th4nk$ b41
help me get my new computer!