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MagicCon is Magic’s official convention circuit. Various MagicCon events happen all over the world. MagicCons are events where you can come to play, hang out with fellow Magic fans, attend panels, and meet artists. There is a lot to do at a MagicCon, and it can be a bit overwhelming if you’ve never attended one. This guide will help you know everything you need to know, and what there is to do.
The Command Zone
Commander is one of the most popular Magic formats, and because of that, MagicCon has what is called the Command Zone. This is a free play area, where you can matchmake with fellow Commander players. This welcomes all Bracket levels, from the super casual Bracket 1 to the intense Bracket 5.
If you’re an introvert like me, you might find it stressful to approach strangers for games. Luckily, MagicCon has a matchmaking system you can utilize. There is an area where you can get a sign that shows the bracket level you want to play. You can either go sit down at a table with it, or wait in this area for people who are also looking for that Bracket level.
Once you have a full pod, you find an open seating area. Then, simply play out the Commander game! It’s that easy. The whole matchmaking system is completely optional. You might strike up a conversation with someone and wind up wanting to play together. There are no assigned playing areas here; if there is open space, you can play anywhere in the Command Zone, no entry fee necessary. The Command Zone is open from when the convention floor is open to when the halls are closing for the day.
Although it is called the Command Zone, it is a general free play area. You may find players playing other formats like Legacy or Pioneer. The area is incredibly large, so you’ll always be able to find games all throughout the con and not have to wait long to get a group going.
Pauper Command Zone
There is actually generally an area dedicated to Pauper Commander. This is usually run by members of the Pauper Commander community, and they are there in the Command Zone the entire time. Often, they will have loaner decks you can use to try the format out if you don’t have your own. Pauper Commander is a much smaller community compared to the greater Commander community, but one that is very welcoming and happy to introduce others into the format.
The Pauper Commander area tends to be a small area in the Command Zone. Even if that area is full, you can still pair up with Pauper Commander players to find an open seating area in the wider Command Zone.
Ticketed Events
Unlike the Command Zone, which is unscheduled free play, Ticketed Events are quite different. These run on a schedule, and require buying entry to them before they happen. The more popular events can sell out quickly, so you want to buy entry into these as soon as possible if you’re planning on playing in any.
There is a degree of stakes in Ticketed events. For playing in these, you are awarded Prize Tix. These are vouchers you can redeem on the prize wall. For winning rounds, you get more Prize Tix than if you lost. In some cases, there is an even amount of Prize Tix distributed, regardless of whether you win or lose. Even disruption is more common in Commander events, as these tend to be more casual-focused. Outside of a small handful of events, Ticketed events tend to last roughly 3 to 4 hours.
For Commander events, there are a few different kinds of events. One is Chaos Precon Battle, where players are given a random precon to play the event with. There is no guarantee what precon you get, but you do get to keep the product. There is also Full-Box Sealed, which provides you with a Booster Box that you will use to build a Commander deck out of all the booster packs inside. For those who want to compete, there is a cEDH Cup that is a proper tournament that happens over the course of a day (usually Saturday). Though not run at every event, there is an event inspired by Planechase called Chase the Planes. These have unique rules for each game, representing a Plane. You might get an extra card draw each turn, or all your creatures might gain infect. There is a large variety of gamechangers, making every game unique.
What Are Prize Tix Used For?
Prize Tix are what you’re given for playing in Ticketed events. The number you’re given depends on what event you entered and how competitive it was. The more competitive events are given more Prize Tix rewards. Casual events, to keep the spirit, provide less (and are usually cheaper to enter because of it).
At each MagicCon, there is a Prize Wall. Here, you can redeem your Prize Tix for a variety of rewards. These can be booster packs (both Play and Collector Boosters), up to entire Booster Boxes. Commander precons are also available. You can also claim accessories such as playmats, sleeves, and pins. For those who have a large number of Prize Tix, you can even get oversized cards to use to decorate your room with.
Prize Tix do NOT carry over to other MagicCons, so it’s use them or lose them. You are not allowed to sell Prize Tix, but you are allowed to trade them with other attendees. There is a chance you’ll wind up with an odd number of Prize Tix that can’t be used to buy anything with. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do in this situation. You can try trading them for something; otherwise, you’ll be stuck with them. They won’t work at other MagicCons since they’re labeled. Unless you want a memento, there is no reason to keep them.
On-Demand Events
On-Demand events are exactly what they sound like. These are paid events you enter that reward Prize Tix. Unlike Ticketed Play, On-Demand Events fire whenever there are enough players to start the event. There are On-Demand events for every major format, and Limited for the latest set (and usually Mystery Booster as well). For Commander, there is traditional Commander as well as Two-Headed Giant.
These events run throughout most of the convention. They are available each day until there isn’t enough time for events to finish before the hall closes. You do have to pay for each entry to an On-Demand event, so be wary of that if your wallet is feeling light. Commander events tend to have a flat Prize Tix, so you won’t get extra for winning. The only difference between a Commander event here and a game in the Command Zone is that you get Prize Tix for playing.
On-Demand events are the best way to enter events if all of the Ticketed Events have sold out. Once a Ticketed Event is sold out, you won’t be able to enter. So, On-Demand events are a good compromise. These have fewer “gimmicks” attached to them, and are generally base-level formats. But, these are still good to enter if you want to earn some Prize Tix for some prizes.
MagicCon Panels
A staple of MagicCon is panels. There are two types of Panels, ones run by the community and ones run by Wizards of the Coast themselves. Community panels are often run by various content creators such as Game Knights or Artists who have worked on the game.
The ones run by Wizards of the Coast tend to involve announcements or go over various behind-the-scenes stories from set designs. The Preview Panel is the most popular one, as it reveals all the new cards and sets that are on the horizon. Some panels will be a Q&A, and others will be interactive game shows.
These happen all throughout the weekend, so there is always something going on if you want to take a break from playing. They are a lot of fun, and depending on the panel, they have a lot of crowd interaction. Panels tend to only run for about an hour, and you can get up and leave or sit down and join one at any point.
Family Events
If you are coming with a family, there are various events for you to enjoy with your kids at the convention. There are a lot of events you can do throughout the convention so your children can have fun too. Throughout the whole event there is a section off to the side of the convention away from all the noise for coloring and crafts. They are all Magic-themed, so it’s a great way to bond with your children over a shared hobby!
There are also art lessons being provided by various Magic artists. No experience is required, so you can jump in with your family without any prior experience. There are also deckbox decoration and friendship bracelet creation events at various times throughout the con. There is also a brief window for Family League Play. These use the Jumpstart format to make it easy for kids to avoid needing to know how to deckbuild. This event is short and limited, so you want to make sure you get there before it closes for the day.
Artist Alley
The most popular non-gaming area is the Artist Alley. This is where all the Magic artists are stationed. Here, you can meet your favorite artists and get signatures and other goodies from them. Many artists sell playmats (both with Magic art and their own original creations), as well as prints. You can also find custom tokens at many booths that you can use for your various decks.
Be warned, popular artists will have LONG lines. Expect to wait for hours for the biggest ones at the event. On some occasions, artists will have a scheduling system to not clog up the lines too much, where you can return to the booth to shop, talk, and get signatures.
Regardless, you can window shop around or be proactive and meet the artists. If the lines are small, many tend to be happy to talk to you for a while. Each artist usually has a good amount of product. In most cases, stock won’t change, so you won’t have to check every day to see something new and miss out on something. Artists can run out of stock, so it’s advised to shop on the first day of the convention to avoid that. Otherwise, you may have to settle for lower choices if you want to buy something from a specific artist.
Buying And Selling
At MagicCon, there are a ton of different vendors at the event. You can buy just about any kind of product. Precons, Booster Boxes, high-end singles, everything you can think of. Since there are so many vendors, you can jump around from vendor to vendor to see which store has the best prices before committing to a purchase. This is less important for lower-cost items, but good for higher-end shopping.
MagicCon is one of the best places to buy high-end cards. Since the vendors tend to be proper stores, you can be assured that the cards you’re buying are real. If you are looking for a specific card, since there are so many vendors, odds are you’ll be able to find it from at least one of them. The one exception is for more niche bulk cards, as since they aren’t worth much, they tend not to be worth bringing to a convention for a vendor. So if you’re looking for a very specific card, unless it’s worth at least a dollar or a staple in some format, you probably won’t find it.
You can also sell your cards at MagicCon. There are no limits to how many cards you can sell. A lot of people come to MagicCon to sell a ton of their cards, bringing hundreds to sell to a vendor. There are a ton of vendors, and many of them have multiple employees working to help the line move. Some vendors have an express line. So, if you’re only planning on selling a small handful of cards, you don’t have to wait in the big lines for the large collections to be appraised.
In Conclusion
MagicCon is a very fun convention, and very worth it if you can make the trip out. There is a ton to do, both as a player and simply as a fan of Magic: The Gathering. It’s hard not to find something to do while there. Whether or an introvert or an extrovert, you can enjoy the con thanks to the structure, so don’t let being reserved stop you from going to the con. If you’re driving, the parking is free at MagicCon as well, helping to save your wallet from annoying costs. Can use that money to buy cards and art instead!
